I heard Alex's voice in the background, her tone clipped and urgent. "Get Sabine in the van. Everything's wired. I'm coming."
The kitchen fell silent except for the soft hum of the refrigerator. Kara stood by the doorway, her hand resting on her holstered weapon, eyes alert and focused on something beyond the walls. Ellie remained beside me, her breathing steady despite the tension radiating from her body.
We looked at each other, three women caught in a moment that felt suspended between what had been and what might come. The air between us vibrated with unspoken words, fears, and promises. I saw in their eyes what they couldn'tsay aloud: that they would die before they let anything happen to me, that they had accepted this responsibility without reservation.
Kara broke first, turning toward the door with fluid precision. Her shoulders straightened as she stepped into her role as our leader, our shield. She moved into the foyer without looking back, trusting we would follow.
Ellie snapped the laptop shut and tucked it under her arm. Her warm fingers wrapped around mine. She squeezed once, the pressure firm and reassuring as she pulled me gently from my chair. Her touch anchored me to the present, to the reality of our situation.
I followed Kara's straight back through the doorway, feeling Ellie close behind me, her presence a comfort I hadn't expected to need so desperately. We moved in formation toward the waiting vehicles, toward whatever waited for us beyond this temporary sanctuary.
Together.
33
Ellie
I had one job:get Sabine into the van and keep moving. Fourteen years of training kicked in as I guided her across the driveway, my hand firm against the small of her back. The engine was already running, Cam hunched forward in the driver's seat, fingers tapping against the wheel.
"Watch your head," I murmured as Sabine ducked into the backseat. The cat carrier was already secured, the little gray one pressing its nose against the metal grate, mewing softly. Sabine slid in beside it, her face pale in the dim interior light. Her jaw was set in that stubborn way I recognized, trying so hard to look brave.
My heart twisted. I wanted to tell her everything would be okay, that Alex would make it out, that we had contingencies for our contingencies. Instead, I leaned in before closing the door. Her lips were soft under mine, trembling slightly. I kept the kiss gentle, a promise wrapped in the only reassurance I could offer.
"Buckle up," I whispered against her mouth, pulling back just enough to see her eyes widen slightly. Her fingers fumbled with the seat belt as I closed the door.
I took a deep breath, scanning the property. No movement by the tree line. No unexpected vehicles. Just Kara standing sentinel by the house door, waiting for Alex. The air felt electric against my skin, like the moment before lightning strikes.
We were running out of time.
I caught Kara's eye across the driveway. She stood like a sentinel by the house door, her posture rigid as she watched for Alex. The afternoon sun caught on her blonde hair, turning it golden.
"Rendezvous at Alpha?" I called out, keeping my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
She nodded once, crisp and certain. "Yes, Alpha. Keep your burner on. I'll call if anything changes or we need to divert."
The words were few, efficient. We'd been running ops together long enough that we didn't need lengthy explanations. Just the essentials. Alpha meant the first stop on the way to our secondary safehouse. Burners meant our disposable phones. Simple, clean.
I climbed into the passenger seat beside Cam, who sat with both hands on the wheel, her dark eyes fixed on the rearview mirror. Her jaw worked silently, the only sign of tension in her otherwise calm demeanor.
"Alpha," I told her. "Burner stays on."
Cam nodded, her movements economical as she shifted into gear. The van rolled forward with a gentle lurch, tires crunching over gravel as we moved slowly toward the south gate. Not the main entrance with its ornate archway that we typically used, but the service exit hidden behind a row of cypress trees. The path less traveled. The one nobody would expect us to take.
I kept my eyes fixed on the side mirror, watching the house for any sign of movement. My breath caught when the heavy oak door finally swung open.
Alex emerged with three thick blue books clutched against her chest. A fur coat draped over one arm trailed behind her like a silver shadow.
"Nice coat, Alex," Cam murmured, eyes never leaving the rearview.
I couldn't help the smirk that tugged at my lips despite the tension knotting my shoulders.
Sabine watched Alex intently. I noted how her shoulders relaxed slightly when Alex reached the Range Rover safely. The connection between them was palpable, even now. Especially now.
My training told me to stay focused on the mission parameters, but something made me glance back at Sabine again. Her eyes remained fixed on Alex, as if memorizing her every movement, storing it away for whatever uncertain future awaited us all.
Cam's hands tightened on the wheel. "Ready?"
I nodded, turning my attention forward. "Ready."
