“I donotsnore,” she insists, pushing herself upright, then freezes when she realizes we’re descending. “We’re landing.”
“Thewholeflight,” I reiterate.
We land just before dawn, the wheels hitting the tarmac with a solid thud that feels final.Secure vehicles are waiting for us when we disembark.
At this hour, it doesn’t take long to make our way into the city. Aegis HQ rises out of the morning haze like something out of a fever dream, a glowing tower of glass and steel. After helping Blake out of the SUV, I lace my fingers with hers and lead her into the building.
Abby is waiting for us—and the rest of the team—in the lobby. She is composed with a clipboard in hand, like it’s an extension of her body. I introduce her and Blake.
“So you’re the miracle worker,” Blake says, gratefully.
Abby smiles. “I prefer logistics witch.”
Mattis appears at her shoulder, a coffee in hand, wearing a hoodie and an unapologetic grin. “Hi. I’m the guy who absolutelydid notcommit federal crimes to get your friend legal status.”
Blake arches a brow and laughs, “Good to know.”
Reese pulls Hawk into a fierce embrace a few steps away, relief written all over her face. When they finally pull apart, Hawk looks steadier, like something essential snapped back into place.
Zahra is taken straight to the on-site infirmary. A clean, bright medical facility inside Aegis, where the staff don’t notify the police over every little knife wound and gunshot.Blake walks with her, doctor mode fully engaged, asking questions, issuing instructions, and already mapping out the road ahead for her friend’s recovery.
When she’s satisfied, Abby leads us to Maryam’s temporary living quarters. The room is warm, softly lit, and furnished with actual furniture—a real bed, crib, and clean sheets. Add in the expansive windows overlooking Chicago, and it’s a palace compared to the abandoned break room she’s been surviving in.
She stands in the doorway for a long moment, eyes growing watery. Placing a hand on her chest, she asks quietly, “Us?”
“For now,” I answer. “And then somewhere better.”
She turns to Blake, emotion breaking through at last, and pulls her into a hug, careful not to smother Aliyah between them. Blake freezes for half a heartbeat, then hugs her back just as tightly.
By the time everything is finally done—everyone is placed, checked, and secured—the sun has risen fully in the sky. I find Blake in the hallway, arms crossed, posture loose in that way that means she is finally allowing herself to relax. “What now?” she asks.
Without hesitation, I answer, “We go home.”
The parking garage attached to Aegis smells like oil, exhaust, and the faint metallic tang of rain that never fully dries. My steps echo as Jagger leads me through the rows of parked vehicles, his hand firmly wrapped around mine, like he’s afraid if he lets go, I might disappear from his life.
We come to a stop beside a car, the glossy red paint catching the overhead fluorescent lights, the headlights flashing when he presses his key fob. I blink, confused, as I look from the car to him and back to the car.
“Really?” I say, deadpan. “Did you forget to tell me you already have a family at home?”
He turns toward me, genuinely offended. “What isthatsupposed to mean?”
I gesture vaguely at the vehicle. “I didn’t expect you to drive a dad wagon.”
His mouth drops open for half a second before snapping shut. “This isnota dad wagon.”
I lift an eyebrow, unconvinced, as he opens my door. “It’s practically a station wagon, Jagger.”
Slowly, his lips curl into a dangerously addictive grin. “First of all, her name is Stella. Second, Stella goes from zero to one hundred in under ten seconds.”
“Oh,” I sass sweetly. “So she’s anovercompensatingdad wagon.”
A rich, deep laugh rises from his chest as he pulls the door wider. “Get in the car, Doc.”
I do, still smirking. Beneath me, the leather seat is cool.The interior is immaculate, clean lines, subtle accents, and understated luxury. He slides into the driver’s seat and starts the engine. It doesn’t roar. It purrs.And it’s sexy.
I barely latch my seatbelt before he peels out of the parking spot, tires squealing as we rocket toward the exit. “Jagger!” I squeal, laughter ripping out of me before I can stop it. He grins wider, one hand steady on the wheel, the other settling lazily on my thigh. Possessive in the most tender way.
The city whizzes past us as he drives fast but precise, threading through the streets with the kind of ease that tells me he knows this place by heart. He hooks a hard right onto the onramp, and he punches it when we hit the highway.
