Page 29 of Wounded Hearts

“If that’s all, get to it. I want a briefing in twenty-four hours, and I want some answers. This could be a fast-moving case and there’s a lot at stake. No fucker sleeps until we have answers.”

“Excuse me, aren’t you forgetting somebody?” Lucy was glaring at Zack as she folded her arms across her chest.

Zack faced off with his team member, every inch the boss at that moment. “If you think for one second I’m putting you at risk when you’re expecting, then you don’t know me at all.”

“This is ridiculous. You know how capable I am.”

Jace moved towards her, and Drew saw he was ready to jump in at any second if things got heated between Lucy and Zack.

“Of course I do. I wouldn’t have hired you otherwise, but it’s just too dangerous for you to be in the field. Plus, I have a theory after what happened in the hangar.”

Everyone looked at him.

“Go on,” Jace said.

“Every time the sisters are together, we know something happens. At the hangar it looked like an invisible force field protected us. I know it sounds crazy, but I’ve watched the footage a hundred times and I’m sure it’s the case. That being so, protecting Megan, Lizzie, and Lucy is paramount.”

“You think we’re the sisters the text talks about?” Lucy frowned as she looked between Zack and Jace, everyone in the room silent as they digested the new information.”

“It’s a strong possibility.”

“Fuck.” Daniel and Jace uttered, but Drew was watching Smithy, who swallowed and looked even paler than before.

“Is it possible Winslow knew?” Smithy asked.

“I don’t think so, or she never would’ve allowed Megan to escape as easily as she did.”

Smithy nodded. “Makes sense.”

“Will, can you provide everyone with a watch and tracker with an updated health monitor and help provide digital back up to the team? Lucy, you can help with that as Will is going to have his hands full.”

“Are we telling everyone what’s going on?” Drew asked wanting to know how much to share with Mara.

Zack paused as if giving it thought, although Drew knew he’d already decided. “For those that know the history, share everything you can for safety but for those that are new, just the basics. The less they know regarding details the better. She’s been through enough. If Mara realises what she’s in the middle of, she could freak and bolt, and she’d be extremely vulnerable.”

Drew agreed in part, but he also hated keeping anything from the woman who was coming to mean everything to him. “Okay.” Drew nodded accepting what Zack requested for now.

Everyone had their mission objectives and he could feel a determination in the air around him. The men and women of Fortis, Eidolon, and Zenobi were ready for this to end, however that came to be.

Jace moved towards him after kissing Lucy and watching her walk away with Will. He could see the worry on his friend’s face. His wife was everything to him, he’d loved her for half his life. Their path to happiness and this child she carried hadn’t been an easy one, but no one who saw them together could doubt they were soul mates.

“Will won’t let anything happen to her.”

Jace glanced at Drew as he spoke and nodded slowly. “I know he won’t, but I also know Lucy, and that woman is as stubborn as a mule.”

Drew chuckled. “I wouldn’t let her hear you say that.”

Jace’s grin was lopsided. “Nah, her bark is worse than her bite.” Jace seemed to shake off the worry and concentrate on the job at hand. “Do we have a plan of action?” he asked as he crossed his arms over his chest, the brown leather jacket pulling tight over his biceps.

“My dad’s personal effects were seized by Eidolon after his death in case we needed any of it. If Jack can sort us access, then that’s the best place to start.”

“Sounds like a plan. Why don’t I organise the key and you go check on your girl?”

Drew felt himself blush at the inference Mara was his girl but beneath that was a rightness that made him feel content, so he didn’t deny Jace’s words and pulled open the door. “Meet you at the car in ten minutes?”

Jace nodded and they went their separate ways. He didn’t have long, but he wanted to check in on Mara and make sure she was okay. He didn’t want her to feel abandoned.

He poked his head into the kitchen and realised he needn’t have worried. Mara held him spellbound as she threw her head back and laughed at something Lizzie was telling her. Her face was open, eyes bright, cheeks full of colour as the sound of her happiness enveloped him. Her eyes landed on his as he stepped inside and the radiant smile she gave him filled his heart with pure joy.