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He was glad for the couple, though. They looked amazing together, and were very obviously in love. Even as he watched, Zeke slipped behind Ember, leaning down to whisper something in her ear. Her dark eyes lit up, and a smile spread her mouth. Zeke had gone to a lot of trouble to surprise Ember with a wedding she would always remember.

3

Haven was feeling overwhelmed. There were emotions flowing from every direction. Most of them were good, but there were a few off-key notes in the symphony. There was a blond woman across the room that was main source of the problem, and he very casually moved in her direction. Though the woman smiled, he could feel dark emotion behind the facade.

She was looking at Shannon, who was sitting in what looked to be a nylon camp chair. Maybe it was more comfortable for her very pregnant body. The woman was tiny. Very short. But her belly projected out away from her body, almost comically. Had Angela’s belly been that pronounced? He couldn’t remember. He didn’t think so.

The blond woman sat down beside Shannon, and her aura changed to one of immense sadness. Even as he watched, the women spoke a few words, and tears filled the blond woman’s eyes. The clanging emotions changed, muted a little. She wasn’t a source of danger, just immense sadness.

Grabbing a bottle of water from a table, he moved to find a shadowed corner. From here he could watch all the comings and goings at the front door, and baby Fallon was less than twenty feet away with her parents, still sleeping in her car carrier. She had been so upset the entire trip, the feeling of her discontent strong in his mind. As she slept, it also allowed his own mind a respite.

Haven wasn’t sure why he could feel Fallon so clearly in his mind— they weren’t related in any way— but he did. It was almost as easy as hearing Aiden when they spoke mind to mind. Fallon hadn’t figured out words yet, so she was speaking by throwing out emotion.

Haven knew Aiden wanted a completely normal child, but that wasn’t going to be Fallon. She was going to be extraordinary.

They needed to find a way to keep that special-ness out of government hands. Three times now, Haven had felt scrutiny on the child. The first time had been just a day after she’d been born, a lingering sense that someone outside the building was trying to get a feel for the baby.

When he’d felt the presence, he’d thought it was one of their own men, outside the building for some reason. Then he’d realized, when he focused, that it was no one he’d trained with. The presence was slightly familiar, though.

When they rescued Belladonna from Senator Hall in New York, two men had gotten away. There had also been a former secret service officer, enhanced, who had been lingering around. The man’s name was McCullough, and Noah had fought to apprehend him, but he’d gotten away. As far as the Dogs of War and the Omega team knew, he was still in the wind, on the run. Haven wasn’t sure what McCullough’s thinking was, but Haven had picked up on his presence two more times in the past few months. As soon as he became aware, the presence disappeared.

Haven didn’t think they were under direct threat, but it was aggravating feeling under scrutiny. When he was a Ranger, he’d gotten used to it, but now that he was enhanced, the feeling made his skin crawl. Because he was different. Like, on a genetic level.

And people always wanted what was different. Especially if it was dangerous different.

There were servers wandering through the party, serving drinks and handing out appetizers on little plates. He needed a Coke.

Weaving through the crowd, he headed to the bar. Men were lined up along the bar length, and a few were watching a football game at the far end. The petite, dark haired woman behind the bar smiled at him. “What can I get you, handsome?”

Haven frowned at her. “Aren’t you Ember? Why aren’t you at your own party?”

The woman chuckled. “Yes, I’m Ember. Well, to tell you the truth, I was, but my bartender had to leave. She has a sick child at home.” She shrugged one shoulder. “I would be home with my son if he were sick, so…”

Haven gave a nod. “Can I have a Coke on ice?”

“Absolutely.”

Within seconds he had a drink on the bar in front of him. He reached for his wallet.

“No charge for that.”

“Thank you,” he said, taking a big swallow. Yes, he knew it was bad for him, but this was his one vice.

“Are you Haven? Zeke said Aiden was bringing a buddy with him.”

Haven blinked, nodding. “I am. “

“I’ve heard a little about your… what do you call it? Base? Building? Complex? Sounds like you have a pretty good group of people in there.”

Haven nodded, unsure how much he wanted to divulge to this woman. Yes, she was probably harmless, and her questions were just chatty, but the protection of the men had to be paramount. Now that he had come back into himself, he felt a responsibility to protect those that couldn’t do it for themselves, yet. “Officially it’s called the Elton Recovery Building, but we call it the Dog Pound.”

Haven knew Aiden had called it that to John several times, so he didn’t feel like he was divulging any secrets.

Ember snorted. “That’s pretty funny. And kind of sad, now that I think of it. You’re not keeping men there against their will, are you?”

There was a teasing light in her expression, but he could feel her genuine concern. He appreciated that someone who knew nothing about any of them could be worried for them. “No, no one is there against their will. Wulfe and Elizabeth have made sure to let the men know that they are as free as they want to be. Many of us, though, appreciate the camaraderie.”

Ember nodded, smiling slightly. “I can see that. Zeke missed his squad terribly for a long time, and still does to some extent. But the Lost and Found guys have filled that hole in his heart. It sounds like you’re building a safe place out there in Virginia, as well.”