Page 122 of Never the Same

Easton. I finally remembered to take a sip of the shitty hospital coffee, and quickly confirmed it was, in fact, shit. “If anything, it’s my team’s fault we let Cassian’s father escape to send off that RP—”

“Don’t.” He killed that line of thought fast.

Needing a reprieve from my dark thoughts, I glanced at Illiana. Her dark lashes fluttered, and I expected her to open her eyes, but she must’ve only been dreaming.

Constantine lifted up a shade to block the harsh overhead lights from hitting her face.

“Should’ve done that before,” he grumbled, probably still getting the hang of being a dad to a newborn, since he hadn’t been in Colin’s life until recently. Hell, he hadn’t even known he had a son until not that long ago.

I opened my mouth, about to say something—no idea what—when I stopped myself at the realization the hall was even more crowded.

A terrified father stood at the center of a group; he was holding his chest as he slowly started down the hall.

I twisted around, catching sight of Easton using his crutches to turn in Wyatt’s direction.

Wyatt’s wife, Natasha, was at his side, holding their youngest daughter, Emory, in her arms. His brother-in-law, Gray Chandler, who co-ran Falcon Falls, was at his left with his daughter in his arms. Gray’s wife, Tessa—Trevor’s cousin—was there as well. Carter, Jesse, and the others were just behind them.

The group moved as one, their silence heavier than the air. It looked less like a family arriving at a hospital and more like mourners walking behind a coffin.

Not a visual I wanted right now.

But Gwen’s not gone, and she’ll be okay. I’d glass-half-full my way through this if I had to.

Wyatt broke away from his wife and the others and headed for his target: his daughter’s room. His body was stiff, face unreadable, as he passed by Easton without a word or even a passing glance.

Natasha nodded a quiet hello to the two of us as Emory held out her little hand and palmed my cheek. I forced myself to smile and then waited to exhale until they were out of sight.

Natasha kept hold of Emory, leaned in, and rested her forehead on Easton’s shoulder for a brief moment. I couldn’t read her lips, but she said something before joining her husband in Gwen’s room. While Gwen wasn’t Natasha’s daughter, I knew she loved her like one.

Easton didn’t look around at anyone else after that, just wordlessly started toward his room on his crutches, and Juliette and Colin trailed after him.

“Any updates?” Carter asked, joining us as the others filtered into one of the nearby waiting rooms reserved for our people.

Constantine gave Carter a grim expression while shaking his head.

Carter stole a look around the shade at Illiana, then rested his hand against the wall and hung his head. “Diana and my son are on their way. I’m sure she’d like to see your family when she gets here with Matteo.”

Constantine nodded, slapped a hand on his shoulder twice, then let us know he was going to check on his family, leaving the two of us out there.

Helpless wasn’t a feeling I knew how to wear. I cleared my throat, searching for the right words. “All loose ends tied up at the compound?”

“It’s as if nothing ever happened,” Carter confirmed. “Everything’s been cleaned up per Secretary Chandler and the prime minister’s orders.”

“Learn anything new before you picked them up from the airport?”

“Just that we were right. Cassian, Orson, Waylen, and their father were the architects behind the betrayal,” he said flatly.

Their father was the bastard who took down the helo, vengeance for killing his sons, and Ryder hadn’t hesitated and put two in his head right after.

“What else did Gideon’s protector have to say? How’d Rowan wind up undercover in the first place? Why not give Gideon a heads-up beforehand?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“Rowan’s cousin called and told him to bail on the training plans because he needed help in Rome. Rowan already knew Kylo had gone there for Hollis, so he assumed it was about her. When he showed up, his cousin gave him a choice the night of the rave. Pick a side.”

At least his story tracked with his brother’s.

“Orson had already drugged Gideon at that point, stealing his memories. So Rowan did what he could to protect Gideon by agreeing to his cousin’s plans.” Carter pushed away from the wall. “Gideon was brainwashed with that mind control shit, making him believe he was protecting his sister in trouble when he drugged her.”

“Tell me you destroyed all the research related to those drugs.”