But before I could press further, he said, “Emma, I’m so sorry, but Maurice and Maria are trying to nex me. I have to update them on the situation. I’ll nex you back later.” He paused for a moment, then added, “I love you.”
The call ended abruptly, leaving me with his words and the echo of his voice still lingering in my ears.
JAMES
As I ended the call with the Maumars, frustration slammed into me like a punch to the ribs. I tossed the Nexus down onto the table, harder than I meant to, and it skidded across the surface with a clatter.
Maurice’s insistence on coming to Crown to help me recruit them to our cause was adding to an already unbearable situation. I needed to clear my head, and I decided to find Sean and Caden.
Pushing open the door to Caden’s study, I found them both settled comfortably in the cozy room. It was the kind of place where comfort and sophistication blended together, filled with books lining the walls and a selection of Scotch prominently displayed. Sean and Caden were seated in plush armchairs, each nursing a glass of the good stuff.
Sean was still clad in his bloody Offensive attire, his ever-present smile plastered on his face, even though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Today’s losses had struck him hard. I’d seen firsthand how deeply connected all these Offensives were to one another. Unlike the ones at Cyclos—who merely worked together as a team—these Offensives functioned like a family.
Caden, on the other hand, looked more like a billionaire mafia prince than a warrior—a sharp, tailored suit replacing his battle-worn gear. His immaculate appearance was almost a stark contrast to the bloodshed he’d just returned from. If it weren’t for the quiet fury simmering behind his composed demeanor, I might have thought he’d stepped out of a high-end magazine instead of a battlefield.
The moment I stepped into the room, they both looked up, and without a word, a glass of Scotch materialized in front of me. They didn’t need to ask—it was automatic, a silent acknowledgment of the crap we’d gone through together, and our mutual coping mechanisms.
“You okay there, Walker?” Sean’s voice was soft, his eyes scanning me as he took in the tension radiating from me.
The question made me pause, and I realized for the first time they could offer more than a sympathetic ear—they could help. I steadied myself as I stepped further into the room.
“I might need your help,” I said, my tone firmer now. “It’s about Emma.”
Sean’s brows drew together, curiosity flickering in his gaze. “Who’s Emma?”
I took a deep breath, knowing this conversation was about to change everything. “The woman I love.”
The words had an instant impact. Both men straightened in their seats, their casual conduct instantly replaced by a piercing focus. Sean’s eyes narrowed slightly, and Caden’s previously relaxed posture became taut with attention.
“Tell us everything,” Caden said, then set his glass down before leaning forward.
So, I did. I spoke about Emma with the kind of openness which only came from sharing deeply with people you trusted—even if I’d known these men for less than a day. Battling alongside someone had a way of forging trust. You either connected, or you didn’t survive. And with these incredible warriors, I had no trouble finding mutual grounds.
Colt saving my life certainly helped.
When I finished my story, Sean grinned, shaking his head in disbelief. “So. James Walker has a girlfriend, eh?” He gave me a playful punch on the arm, and despite everything, I couldn’t help but smile.
“Yeah. Turns out I’m not all that terrifying,” I quipped, a hint of sarcasm slipping through.
Sean laughed. “Don’t worry, mate. Ye still scare the shit out of me.”
I snorted.
Sean’s grin widened. “So what’s the problem? Can’t get it up? Don’t know if we’ll be able to help; we’ve never had such issues.”
Caden rolled his eyes at his best friend, his whole manner still unsettlingly calm—a weapon as integral to him as his disarming smile. The guy could shift from charming to lethal in the blink of an eye, a contrast which never failed to unnerve me.
If Sean was the poster child for “what you see is what you get,” Caden was his perfect opposite—unpredictable, layered, and impossible to pin down. The kind of person you could never fully trust, even when he made you want to.
“She was attacked.”
That grabbed their full attention. Sean’s smirk faded, replaced by a look of concern.
“When?” Caden asked, his eyes narrowing.
“Last year,” I replied.
“Who?” Sean pressed, and anger flashed in his expression, which I appreciated.
