Trent, who was one of them.
Trent, who had taken me apart in all the best ways last night.
Trent, who was still at my side, his hand warm against my back.
He leaned down, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “You okay?”
I sucked in a breath, squared my shoulders, and nodded. “I am now.”
CHAPTER 14
EVELYN
Dutch’s cabin,which had seemed reasonably sized for four people, suddenly became laughably small with the addition of the Edge Ops team. Bodies filled every corner, gear stacked in any available space, the air thick with coffee steam and the smell of gun oil and leather. Voices overlapped as everyone claimed territory, unpacked equipment, and fell into what seemed like familiar routines. I tucked myself into the kitchen doorway, watching these lethal professionals transform the rustic space into a high-tech command center in minutes.
Sophia stared, wide-eyed, at all of the strangers, her eyes going wide as she clutched Mr. Hoppy against her chest. I moved toward her, but Flynn beat me there, dropping to one knee to meet her at eye level.
“Well, hello there,” he said, his voice gentler than I’d have expected from the confident operative I’d met outside. “You must be Sophia. I’m Flynn.”
She stared at him, uncertain, her fingers tightening around her bunny.
“I see you found your friend. Trent told me he was missing,” Flynn continued, undeterred by her silence. “So I brought another one for you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small plush penguin. “This is Agent Waddles. He goes on all our missions for good luck.”
One of the guys groaned softly, but I couldn’t tell who it was. Someone else stifled a laugh. Apparently, there was a story behind the penguin.
Sophia’s gaze fixed on the stuffed animal, curiosity winning over caution. “Agent Waddles?”
“Yeah, and the thing about Agent Waddles is that he’s very brave, but very shy.” Flynn pitched his voice up an octave into a ridiculous penguin voice: “I only talk to kids who are even braver than I am.”
A tiny smile tugged at Sophia’s lips.
“Do you think you and Mr. Hoppy could look after me during this mission?” Flynn-as-penguin asked. “I’m a little nervous.”
Sophia reached out but hesitated before touching the penguin. “I’m nervous, too,” she whispered.
“That’s okay,” Flynn said in his normal voice. “Being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared. It just means you do what needs to be done anyway.” He glanced up at me with a quick smile. “Like your mom.”
A laugh bubbled from Sophia’s throat as the penguin “waddled” up her arm, Flynn’s fingers walking it with exaggerated movements. The sound—so normal, so childlike—felt out of place among the tactical gear and grim-faced operatives. Yet nobody seemed bothered by it. If anything, I caught several smiles from the team members as they worked.
“She’s a resilient kid,” came Lyric’s voice beside me. She’d appeared without a sound, her movements silent even on the creaky floorboards. “Gets that from you, I imagine.” Her eyes softened as they tracked Flynn, and I noticed her twisting awedding ring around on her finger. The pieces clicked into place. They were a couple.
“Do you two have children?” I asked.
Lyric smiled. “Not yet. And not for a while. But maybe someday.”
“He’s good with kids.”
“Yes, he is.” She laughed a little. “That man never ceases to surprise me.”
Flynn introduced Sophia to Leo, who immediately produced a small chocolate bar from his pocket. Across the room, Alistair had cornered Dutch at the kitchen table, medical bag open beside him.
“It’s just a scratch,” Dutch protested as Alistair peeled back the makeshift bandage on his arm.
“I’ve heard that one before,” Alistair replied dryly. “Hold still.”
“Been taking care of myself for sixty years,” Dutch grumbled. “Don’t need some fancy doctor fussing over me now.”
Alistair didn’t look up from his examination. “And I’ve been putting soldiers back together for fifteen. Seems we’re both good at our jobs.” His hands moved gently despite Dutch’s complaints. “The wound is clean, but you’re running a low-grade fever. Antibiotics and proper dressing will help.”
