Page 11 of Trapped Truth

Shoulders brushing the doorframe, Killian scans over our group, his perpetually tanned arms folded. For a while, Willow liked to joke that we were separated at birth. Though I’d argue his beard is a step too far for me, even if we share a similar physique and long hair.

“Kill.” I nod in his direction. “Thanks for taking us in.”

“You know Briar Valley protects its own. Come on, the others are inside having coffee. Sounds like it was a long night for everyone.”

“You could say that.”

The large, open-plan kitchen is much the same—simple, clean but traditional with a huge farmhouse style family table. Around it sits the real welcoming committee, all chugging various types of coffee or tea.

In an instant, Willow rises to stand from the head of the table. “Morning, everyone. Did you all get some rest?”

“Some,” Warner responds, though we all know he’s lying through his teeth. “I don’t think we had a chance to thank you properly for welcoming us on such short notice.”

She waves him off. “You thanked me plenty.”

“Even so. Thank you.”

“Warner, I owe Sabre Security my life. Giving you a safe place to stay is nothing in comparison to what your team did for me and my family.”

When her attention fixes on me, we share a tense smile. Standing from his spot at the table, one of her quieter husbands, Micah, moves to retrieve more coffee cups then starts doling out refreshments. He’s always been introverted.

I let Willow run through introductions, gesturing towards Micah’s loudmouthed twin, Zach. They’re practically body doubles. It’s hard to look at them without thinking about our purple-haired twin and his brother, incarcerated somewhere in the bowels of HQ, awaiting interrogation.

Ethan claps a hand on my bicep when I pull out a chair for Ember to sit in, lingering behind her while glowering in Blaine’s direction. He sensibly chooses a corner to lean in without attempting to sit next to her.

“Will you sit down?” Ember snaps at our team leader. “I’m going to steal your leg and hurl it off a mountain’s edge in a moment.”

From the coffee pot, Micah snorts loudly. Even Killian is smothering a smile behind his big, calloused hand. Zach isn’t capable of keeping his damn mouth shut and bursts into deep guffaws without remorse.

“Satisfied?” Warner semi-collapses into the last available chair.

“Not yet.” She rolls her eyes. “You’ll end up wheelchair-bound at this rate.”

“I’m fine, love.”

“You’re not fine,” I snip at him.

“Don’t you start too. I think we have bigger problems than my goddamn leg, alright? Move on.”

“He’s no less stubborn, I see.” Ethan takes a large gulp of coffee. “Some things never change.”

Huffing, Warner flips him the bird. All Ethan can muster is an amused smile. The pair worked together for years, long before I joined the Anaconda Team. They have the kind of easy camaraderie gained through countless active operations performed together.

Once Willow’s retaken her seat, the table falls silent.

“Shall we do this, then?” Her gaze bounces to each of us.

“I don’t know where to start,” Ember admits, rubbing between her brows. “When did you escape?”

“It wasn’t long after the final time we saw each other.”

“You’re the last person I expected to see when we stepped off that jet.”

“I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see you again after I fled Mexico,” Willow agrees with a sad frown. “Of course I heard about your return through the news and updates from Sabre. I thought you’d reach out sooner.”

“I had no idea you were here,” Ember responds. “It’s been years.”

The two women exchange a long, loaded look that speaks volumes of a shared history we can’t possibly begin to fathom.