Page 52 of Fighting Salvation

Niall raised his head and glared at Titan. “Yes. Of course it’s a yes on tea. When do I ever say no to a cup of tea?”

Titan shrugged before walking away, whistling something she didn’t recognise.

“I’m gonna murder those fuckers before this is over.”

“No, you’re not. They’re family and you love them.”

He continued grumbling as he got out of the car and placed his hand on her back as they walked inside.

A steaming cup of tea was waiting on the side table with a package of his favourite biscuits—honey crunch creams. She looked at Lotus who winked, and she smiled back. She might give Niall a lot of shit, but she loved him like a brother and knew exactly how to keep him sweet just like any little sister would. It made her think of Rafe and a pang of guilt hit her for not calling him.

Hurricane handed her a mug and she smiled as she wrapped her hands around the liquid comfort. Novem was fast asleep on the couch, a blanket pulled around her tiny frame, one of Hurricane’s T-shirts clutched in her hands. The bond they’d forged so quickly was sweet and it proved to her that children really did have a sixth sense about people. She knew in her heart that he was good and kind, and she was safe with him, no matter what.

Despite his size and his deep baritone voice, he had kind eyes and was one of the best human beings she knew. She just prayed he’d realise that he wasn’t alone in what he was facing.

“Right now, I have a small update.” He popped the last of the dunked biscuit in his mouth and chewed before carrying on. “Lopez found where Watchdog was taken.”

He went on to tell the team everything he knew about the snatch and where they were. He then updated them on what he’d found at his childhood home and his memory of the tattoo. She moved closer, wanting to give him comfort, knowing that admitting this and opening himself up wasn’t easy for him.

“This might be where it started but why did he end up with Project Cradle?” Titan folded his arms across his chest and crossed his ankles as he leaned back against the kitchen island. His posture was relaxed and he was a man of few words but he was smart and insightful in a way the others weren’t. Their different pasts all gave them an edge the rest of the teams didn’t have.

“I don’t know. Maybe money or power, influence. He was always sure he’d go into the military when he was younger and he graduated a year before anyone else. I don’t know his motivation but I have a feeling if we figure out why he killed my family, we’ll be closer to finding out. Which leads me neatly to my next topic. The street vendor.”

Niall placed his hands on the island and leaned forward, his face earnest. “We both know the first rule of not getting caught is varying your pattern. Hansen hasn’t stayed off our radar for years by breaking that, which means if he’s regularly going back to the same vendor it’s because he wants us to know how to contact him.”

“It’s a trap.”

Val glanced at Duchess and saw the strain on her face.

“Exactly. I propose I go and meet him tomorrow and see if I can draw him out.”

“No.” He turned to her and she folded her arms. “Absolutely not. Duchess just said it’s a trap and we know it too.” Fear and dread made her stomach churn wildly until she thought she might pass out.

“Val, you know this is the only way.”

“So you just go off and sacrifice yourself to this animal, and what? He kills you or tortures you like Watchdog?”

His hand gripped her arm and he pulled her closer. She stumbled into his arms losing her footing. “Baby, no. We put a plan in place so that doesn’t happen.”

The tender tone he used almost broke her and she sniffed, ignoring the fact they were in a room full of her colleagues. “He will have thought of that.” Her head dropped and he forced her head up with his knuckle. “I can’t lose you, Niall.”

“Yes he will, but he doesn’t have this team behind him. We’ll call in the others and have a plan so that doesn’t happen. Do you really think I’m going to walk willingly into a trap when I finally have the best reason in the world to live in my arms?”

“I’m scared.”

He gently pulled her head to his chest and she allowed him to hold her tight, savouring every second of being in his arms. “I know, mo chroí. I know, but this is the only way for us to have a chance of getting Watchdog back.”

“Fine. But I want in on this plan. You’re not leaving me out of it.”

She felt him stiffen but then he nodded against her head. “Okay, that I can do.”

When she stepped back it was to see the rest of the team busying themselves around the kitchen, giving them a modicum of privacy.

Niall gathered her hair in his hand at the back of her neck and tenderly tipped her head back. “You good?”

She nodded. “Yes, I am now.”

“I won’t do anything to risk what we have, Val. I spent a lifetime not living until you. Now I have you, there’s no fucking way I’m going to allow him to take me from you or vice versa.”