“Well, you better. We have no choice now.” She laughs at me.
The whole way back to the compound, I sit next to her, holding her hand. I can’t wait to find out what we are having. I’m going to make her move up the wedding though because I won’t wait to make all three of them mine. Jen said everything was looking good but wanted to see us next month. She wants to check on Nikki and keep a close eye on her because of the previous abdominal surgeries from the attack.
My girl is brave, but I can tell she’s scared. Luca must feel the thickness of our emotions because he doesn’t try to make small talk and he doesn’t take us to the office. Instead, he takes us straight to our home.
“I’ll pick up Dane from school and take him to the gym,” he offers, and I thank him. Nic moves like she’s in a fog toward the house without acknowledging him. I watch her as she paces the kitchen. She keeps looking at the bottle of whiskey on the shelf that she uses for making hot toddies. She ends up grabbing a glass and filling it with water. I’m standing on the other side of the island watching her take it all in. Finally, I’ve had enough, and I move around to stop her pacing.
“Nic, are you okay?” I tilt her chin up toward me.
Her emerald eyes are shiny with tears. “I’m scared I won’t be able to carry them both.”
“Baby, we will do whatever Dr. Jen wants us to. She said let her worry and you relax. So let’s do that. You go get changed and we can watch mindless reality shows.” I should be at the office with everything that is going on.
Someone who works for us has been feeding information to Sir. Only the core members know about this, as well as me because of my position as the sniper. Nikki doesn’t know that technically we are at DEFCON 3, as the US government says. As I’m thinking that, both our cell phones ping with an incoming text.
Maya: Office. Now.
It’s a group text, meaning we aren’t the only ones out of the office.
6
NIKKI
As we make our way to the office, my hand drifts down to my still flat stomach. Am I crazy for doing this now with Sir after us? And I know there is something going on the team hasn’t told me. Zach and the main team have been in meetings for over a month now.
We step into the office, and I see my mom. She knew we had an appointment today. She smiles at me expectantly. I want to tell her our news, but I hold off because I know Maya wouldn’t want me to hold up the meeting. When we step into the main conference room, Maya follows behind us and the big doors shut. I watch as both Bekah and Timothy, the team computer techs, work on their computers.
“We are as secure as I can make us,” Timothy says.
“I’m scanning the room now,” Bekah adds, and I look between them and the group around the table. Everyone who is a member of the team and currently on the compound is here. After a moment Bekah signals Maya, and Maya looks down at the table before she stands. Joshua does the same from his end of the table. They both lead us, not one or the other but both. I can see that both are tired, worried about something.
“It’s time we had this conversation with everyone here. About a month ago we found out there is a mole within Securities International. I trust all of you and doubt it’s you. Bekah has scanned you for listening and tracking devices,” she says, and tips her head to Joshua.
“I trust all of you too. I’ve bled with several of you, served with you, and even entrusted my family in your hands. I don’t doubt your trust, but until further notice, you are to only contact the New York office with one of us present. You are not to leave the compound without a full two-man team. No one is going on assignments until further notice.”
“What about the members out there?” Zach asks, and I know he’s worried about Andy. I slide my hand into his. “What about Piper?” he asks the question I was worried about.
“Duchess?” Joshua asks, and I turn to see Mikayla standing against the far wall. She’s got a car seat with her two-month-old son in it.
“I’m in contact with Piper’s detail. She’s safe.” That’s all she says about my daughter.
“Andy has his mom and went to ground to protect her. He went silent. We won’t hear from him until he’s sure they are safe. His mother was targeted,” Maya supplies, and I can’t hold in my gasp. Tori is a nice woman. She helped my mom when she needed a job, and I grew close to her after Zach and Andy were hurt.
“Last we heard, she was safe.” Joshua’s commanding voice breaks through my worry. “Taliah had a hit squad come after her, and we just found out a close friend of hers was killed. She wasn’t able to supply too much information, and she is now dark. She has our newest member Quentin protecting her, along with another friend. Noah is securing members of the New York office, telling them to work from home due to needing to exterminate the office.”
Maya sets her hands on the table and leans forward. “I want to stress I trust you all, but if you need to tell us anything, do it now before Timothy or Bekah find out.”
Everyone stares back at her, no one saying anything. The phone rings from the center of the table, and we all look at it. Maya breaks the tension by reaching for it and hitting the speakerphone button.
“I’m returning your call.” A deep voice I recognize with a thick Irish accent comes across the line.
“Aidan.” Maya doesn’t give anything away.
“Maya, we are on a first name basis now after our last interchange?”
“Yes. I need your hacker’s help.”
“He is still recovering from his injuries.” A couple months ago Aidan’s organization was attacked. “But I have some information for you. Hawaii and Australia, he knows about the Hawaii one but not the other yet.” He hangs up, and I look around until Mikayla catches my eye. She reaches for her son and moves to leave the office.
