Hero Unbound (Heroes of Oak Creek) by Janie Crouch

Author:Janie Crouch [Crouch, Janie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Calamittie Jane Publishing
Published: 2023-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

19

It wasn’t nearly cold enough for a fire, but Theo built one in his fireplace anyway. He made hot tea for Eva as she sat wrapped in a blanket on his couch and stared into the flames.

When she didn’t say anything, he thought maybe he’d made a tactical error with the fire—perhaps it reminded her too much of her car. But it didn’t seem to upset her. She just looked…lost.

Maybe opening up about himself would make it easier for her to express herself. He wasn’t great at talking about his past—hell, he wasn’t great at talking about anything—but he was willing to try. Hopefully showing her he trusted her with private details about himself might encourage her to trust him with the same.

“I’ve never really gone anywhere outside of Wyoming.”

She blinked over at him, eyes truly focusing for the first time since he’d gotten her home. “You haven’t?”

“Well, technically, I’ve been to Europe. My sister Savannah and I fled there with our grandfather when we were kids and ended up here. I don’t remember much about my childhood there.”

“Have you ever thought of visiting?”

“I’ve considered it, although my life is here now. My family is here. I love Oak Creek. Going back to Ukraine wasn’t ever really what I wanted. What I really wanted, especially when I was eighteen, was to join the military.”

She turned to face him more fully. “Why didn’t you?”

“I almost did. I was consumed with joining the Army like my parents. But hell, I was even willing to slum it and become an Air Force Combat Controller like Derek.”

“I’m not sure what that is.”

A lot of people weren’t—CCTs didn’t get the same sexy press as the other special ops teams. “Think being able to do all the badass stuff SEALs or Special Forces can do, plus provide air support through planes or helicopters—that’s Air Force Combat Controllers. It’s impressive.”

Theo could still remember itching to be one.

“Sounds really exciting and dangerous—right up your alley. Why didn’t you pursue it?”

“I couldn’t.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Theo Lindstrom doesn’t officially exist, according to any government. When Dorian and Ray adopted us, we had to take on fake identifications for their safety and for ours—the people who killed our grandfather would come after us if they knew we were alive.”

“Oh.”

“I had, and still have, a very complex fake identification system in place, but Mom and Dad knew that with my skills and aptitude, I would be pulled into Special Forces if I joined the military. Especially since I’d be tripping over myself to volunteer.”

She nodded. “I’ve seen you spar and teach self-defense—I’m sure you would’ve made a really good soldier.”

He shrugged. He would’ve. It wasn’t conceit to think so. “But my parents knew that my joining wouldn’t work. Eventually, someone would discover the truth about my identity—or at least enough about it to raise red flags. Once that happened, it could’ve led back to Ray and Dorian—who were much bigger targets. There are people who still want them dead to this day.

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