Reed coughed into his fist, clearly calling her on it, which earned an eye roll from Hollis.
Carter slung his knapsack over his shoulder and spun his finger in the air as a directive to his team to move out. Everyone would be parting ways now except Gray. He’d be coming with us to the vault in Tasmania to hopefully retrieve the evidence Mitch had planted there.
We were still waiting on Echo Team’s arrival with Eden and Trevor before we could fly out.
I couldn’t begin to imagine how Eden was feeling right now. Trevor too.
“Sooo.” Hollis turned toward me. “You ready for tomorrow?”
“If it means putting this all behind us once that vault is open? You could say that.” I nervously brushed my thumb along my lips.
“You’ll figure it out; I have faith in you.” Her gaze seemed to snag on something on my hand before she pointed out, “You’re still wearing the ring.”
“Forgot it was there.” I held my hand out in front of me, but before I could decide if I’d be taking it off now or later, two Suburbans rolled up in place of the Falcon’s vehicles that’d just departed.
You’re here.
Trevor stepped out first, catching my gaze. He circled the vehicle as Wyatt emerged beside him, and they both helped Eden out of the back seat. She looked pale, dazed, her eyes flicking around like she didn’t quite believe this was real. Beau—or whatever his real name was—had twisted her entire reality into something unrecognizable.
I stepped away from Hollis to get to them.
On the way, I met Alejandro’s eyes. He was standing just inside the open hangar, arms crossed, quiet but watchful, alongside my brother. He gave me a small nod, and I knew exactly what that nod meant.
No jealousy. No questions. Just his trust wrapped around me like armor.
Tears blurred my vision as I nodded back.
And then Trevor caught me in his arms for a hug.
“Thank fuck you’re okay,” he said into my ear, his voice rough.
“You too,” I whispered, eyes falling on Eden as she melted into Gray’s embrace.
“You know what I had to do, don’t you?” Trevor pulled away, eyes red. “He was unarmed. But I didn’t have a choice. If I didn’t take the shot, she would have. She froze up when I did; then Wyatt disarmed her before she could finish him off.”
“And you did exactly what you needed to do,” I said, trembling. “You saved her. Saved her from a life of regret and guilt.” I blinked back an ugly-cry and stared up at the ceiling, needing to steady myself. Then I looked him in the eyes. “But, Trevor?”
“Yeah?” His shoulders dropped, the weight of everything he’d carried etched deep into his face.
“You didn’t kill him. And you could’ve.”Easily.
He squeezed his eyes shut, forehead dipping to rest against mine.
“You found a way to protect your sister from a mistake ... while also protecting your own peace. And I’m so damn proud of you.”
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Alejandro
Tasmania
Remote private bunker site; vault 212
Thick concrete walls surrounded us, embedded with steel and reinforced glass. The room stretched wide and high, its design more military grade than financial—a fallout shelter crossed with a weapons depot.
There were multiple guards in paramilitary gear flanking the single reinforced entrance, and security cameras buzzed softly overhead. Even without seeing their weapons, I could tell these weren’t the rent-a-cop type.
“Cutting it close,” the woman in charge said. “Almost disappointed you made it, to be honest. Something tells me what’s inside this vault is worth more than the fee you’re paying to pick it up.”
