“At the family plot. Near where you’ll build.”
“That’s where she’d want to be.”
“Close to Mikhail. Close to everything,” Lyra said.
Anna pressed her palm to my cheek and held it there. My babushka used to do the same. “She already is, Katarina. She’s right here with us all the time.”
Henry shook Bishop’s hand and hugged me.
“We should head down to the command center,” he said. “I’ve just received word that Kingston and Gunner have arrived.”
On our way out, I noticed the urn that held my grandmother’s ashes sitting on a table near the windows that looked out over the lake. I brought two fingers to my lips, then pressed the kiss to the urn.
“You can feel her here, can’t you?” Anna asked.
“I can.”
“She was your guardian angel last night too. Both she and Bishop were.”
I kissed her cheek, then the five of us walked to the boathouse together.
Kingston and Gunnerwere at the far table when we came in. Doc sat across from them.
Kingston stood when he saw us and met Bishop halfway as he crossed to him. The two embraced and spoke in quiet tones, saying words only meant for each other.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said when the two separated.
“I heard it was a rough night,” he said.
“Part of the job,” I said, which made both men chuckle. “Fortunately, this one had my back.” I nudged Bishop, who put his arm around my shoulders.
“So I asked her to marry me.”
Kingston’s eyes opened wide, and he shook Bishop’s hand. “Other than Amaryllis and me, I don’t know two people better suited for each other.”
“And Merrigan and me,” said Doc, joining us.
“And Henry and me,” said Lyra.
“We’d like to take a few days to celebrate,” said Bishop.
“Where are you thinking?” Kingston asked.
“Mom and Dad’s place in the Bahamas.”
“Excellent choice.”
“If we can arrange leave,” Bishop added.
“About that,” Doc began. “Before the briefing gets underway, there’s something I’d like to discuss.Mercury, Gunner, Razor, and I, along with the two of you.”
“Of course. Where?” I asked.
“The conference room on this level. Give us ten minutes.”
Doc and Lyrawere standing when we came in. Gunner and Razor were on the far side of the conference table. Bishop and I sat across from them.
“When Gunner, Razor, Eighty-eight, and I founded K19 Security Solutions many moons ago, we had no idea what it would grow into,” Doc said. “In that time, we’ve built partnerships with agencies and governments around the globe. We’ve also added four operational units run by their own managing partners. When we say we’d like to add a fifth, we don’t do it without careful consideration.
