Realizing what she’s doing, I try to pull away. They don’t want to see me. They don’t need to see me. Their sons are dead, and I was there to witness both.

  “Hush, child,” Phoebe barks, and I’m so shocked, I stop fighting her as we reach them.

  “Lola.” Sam’s mom's breathless word knocks me back a step. I could hear all her suffering in the single sound.

  Scuffing my feet on the floor, I stare down, feeling like a petulant child of seven about to get in trouble for playing in her mom’s makeup case. I can’t bear to look at them. For so long, they played an integral role in my teenage years. Mrs. Dane is the one who talked to me about sex and boys and my period; she’s the one I went to every time Theo left and broke my heart with fear. I couldn’t stand it if they hate me now.

  “Eyes up, child,” Phoebe barks again, and I do as she says. I can’t help it. This must be how she got her boys to behave. I feel the tears hovering as I look at the older couple. Mrs. Dane clutches a shopping bag in her hands as her husband holds her to his side.

  “We love you, Lola, always have. Always will.” And I break.

  The dam holding me together gushes forth, and I throw myself into her arms. For so many years, she was the mom I never got to grow up with. Her hugs held me through every emotional storm under the sun, and now is no different as we slowly glide to the floor.

  “I’m so sorry,” I cry brokenly into her shoulder.

  “For what?” I hear Mr. Dane’s voice catch with emotion as he asks the simple question.

  “For not being a better friend to Sam, not knowing he was hurting so damn much.” The guilt of his death will follow me for my entire life. “For Charlie’s anger. He hated me so much those last days, and I never knew why.”

  “No, sweetheart.” Soft hands grip my cheeks, and I’m forced to blink away the moisture from my eyes. “Charlie was troubled much longer than any of us knew. There were so many things that fell apart in his life. Sam’s death was the final straw for him, and I am so sorry you were the target of his anger. That was never deserved. You are not at fault for anything.”

  “If anything”—Mr. Dane kneels down, placing a comforting hand on my head—“we owe you the apology. Our boys have caused you enough turmoil.” I’ve never in all the years I’ve known this man seen such heartfelt emotion on his face. He’s always been loving, but now, he looks broken. With obvious reason.

  Sniffling, I'm at a loss for what to say. I don’t want anything of the sort from them, I just want them in my life. Before I can say anything, the phone in my pocket vibrates. Pulling it out, I see an SOS from Evie, multiple times.

  “I’m sorry, I have to call Evie.” Hitting her name, the phone rings, and all I hear is screaming. “Evie? Evie, what’s wrong?”

  “I’m going to throttle Foster,” she growls. “It’s time.” My tears of sorrow are replaced with excitement.

  “The baby is coming,” I say, staring around at the Danes and Phoebe. “We’re on the way!” I tell Evie who continues to curse her soon-to-be husband. Foster is going to be so pissed.

  17

  Theo

  “Dangerous" by Royal Deluxe

  Santiago del Estero, Argentina, is beautiful. Somewhere I could see taking Lola. When it’s not infested with one of the world's nastiest cocaine dealers. In a small little villa on the outskirts of the city, along the Rio Dulce River, I sit perched in a treetop hideout with Ryder next to me as we await Nix’s orders.

  “Uhm, dude, we’ve got a problem,” Tac utters next to me.

  “Not a good time for one of those,” I murmur.

  Tac is the only one of us allowed communication outside the team when we’re on a mission. But he only checks it periodically. “Evie’s in labor and threatening bodily harm to Foster.”

  “No shit.” I grin ear to ear. Foster is going to be pissed to miss this. “Lo’s there? She taking care of her?” Lola is Evie and Codie’s proxy in case Ryder or Foster is unable to make it back in time for the births. If this weren’t such a critical mission, I don’t even think Nix would have brought our explosives expert along, knowing how close to her due date Evie was.

  “Yeah, she says they’re good. Evie is dilating slowly, but she’s been in labor ten hours already.” Shit. That can’t be feeling too good. “Doctor thinks it could last up to thirty-six.”

  “So, the sooner we get Foster out of here, the better for his dick.” I chuckle.

  “Basically,” he replies. “You want me to tell Lo anything?”

  Closing my eyes, I can picture her after I left her asleep in our bed, and I find there are a million things I want to say, but none are sufficient when I’m so far away. Instead, I tell him no. I don’t know if that’s the right move or not, but I can’t be worrying about whether or not I’ve upset her or freaked her out with what I want to say.

  Focusing back on my task is difficult at first until I see it. Movement.

  “I’ve got activity going on, southwest corner. Large group of men, looks like…seven.” I can hear Ryder typing away, knowing he’s pulling up drone video.

  “Seven is confirmed,” Ryder relays. “Do we have eyes on the girl yet?” Our mission is to extract Abriella, not take out a drug cartel. Simply rescue the potential asset to US intelligence.

  I’m reasonably sure that once she’s out, Nix won’t allow her to be an asset to anyone but him. We all keep that to ourselves, though.

  “Housekeepers confirm target is on upper level, northeast wall. What’s the complications?” Chaos asks through the comm line. He’s tasked with setting explosive chargers and moving civilians out of range. Even with the baby on the way, he’s slightly reckless but in a more controlled manner.

  “Hang on,” Tac replies beside me. He’s scanning the building with the heat vision on the drone. “Building is empty. All combatants are confirmed on the southeast corner.

  “We’re a go,” Nix orders. He and Shaker will clear through the house while Tac and I remain on our perch, and Chaos heads to the jungle, ready to hit the charges once the rest of the team has cleared the danger zone.

  We may not be here to take the cartel down, but we’re going to make an impression on our way out. By the time they realize we’ve grabbed Abriella, we’ll be on the tarmac heading home. It’s an in and out mission.

  A tense few minutes pass waiting for Nix and West to retrieve the girl as I watch the men assigned to guard her. When I hear a crackle over the line, I can tell it’s not going to be good.

  “Asset is down.” We wait. “Breathing is shallow.” I can hear Nix cursing up a blue streak. “Let’s move.” As soon as the words are out of his mouth, they’re on the move. Tac is following them with the drone, acting as their eyes in the sky in case of any surprises.

  “Clear,” Nix announces.

  Another sixty seconds and Foster hits the first explosive. Tac packs up our gear as I watch the men on the ground scramble.

  Another explosion.

  “Three bodies down.” I smirk. Not minding that at all.

  “Let’s go,” Ryder says, and I follow his lead, packing my rifle away and swinging it over my back. We hike down to the road to wait for Nix and West in the jeep after they pick up Foster. Another explosion ignites, and the sound of gunfire can be heard.

  “We’re clear,” I hear Chaos say and know the men in the camp are shooting out of fear.

  “At your position in thirty seconds,” Nix tells us.

  We skid to a stop on the side of the road just as the jeep comes barreling around the corner. Jumping in, it’s immediately clear that Abriella is in a bad way. She’s been beaten to within an inch of her life. Shaker is doing his best to give her fluids and bandage her up, but she’ll need a complete workover on the plane.

  If she lasts that long.

  “Hey, good news.” Ryder grins at Foster. “You’re almost a daddy.”

  Foster is a lot of things. Reckless, determined, skilled, loyal. But right now, he looks a little sick.

  “I’m gonna fucking miss it, aren’t I?”

  “Doctors told Lo that she’s in slow labor. Could be thirty-six hours before that baby comes,” I tell him as I pass West more gauze and tape.

  “Call her on the plane,” Nix barks, tense because of the girl in the back.

  Abriella remains unconscious while we load her on the plane and get her hooked up to all the monitors West wants, and he pushes more fluids and antibiotics into her system. He’s displeased that she can’t get to a hospital right away, but after a phone call to Asher, he gives a direct order to bring her home and escort her to the hospital from there.

  18

  Lola

  “Fight Song" by Rachel Platten

  I am not equipped to deal with two emotional pregnant women at the same time. Evie is pissed about how long her labor could take. She keeps refusing drugs because she wants to be lucid.

  Codie is worked up about being in the delivery room because of her past experience with losing her baby. I send her out to the waiting with Theo’s parents and the Danes, knowing they can give her their complete attention.

  “Where’s my mom?” Evie asks. I’ve called the woman a dozen times, but I still get no answers. We do know she’s traveling Europe, so she could have no service.

  “I’ll get the guys to find her. Just don’t cry again,” I beg. My ringing phone has her looking hopeful, and when I see Theo’s name pop up, I feel immediate relief.

  Climbing in the bed beside Evie, I answer the FaceTime call. “Hi!”

  “Hey, girls, how you doing?” He grins, but I can see the stress on his face.

  “I have a watermelon trying to pop out of me, how do you think?” Evie snaps at him, and he doesn’t know what to do, so he passes the phone to Foster, and her frown deepens. “You!”

  “Hey, baby.” Poor Foster looks absolutely shredded that he isn’t here. “They taking care of you?”

  “Lola is. These other assholes keep trying to force drugs on me. Where are you?”

  “I’m on my way, Evie.”

  “Hurry up.” She whines as a contraction hits. Dropping the phone on the bed, I let her grip my hands and hide my whimper. I have nothing to cry about, but holy sweet Jesus, can this be over yet?

  As soon as the pain passes, I pick the phone back up. “I love you, Evie. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Foster reassures her, and she nods, worn out from the exertion her body is under. “Lo, can I talk to you?” I can tell by the look on his face, he wants me to leave the room.

  “I’ll be right back,” I tell Evie, and she nods.

  Exiting the room, I find a quiet corner to talk to him. “What’s up?”

  “How is she really?” Evie has spent months on and off bed rest, so his concern is justified. “She’s good. Her vitals are good, the baby is stellar. Everyone is fine.”

  “Why such a long labor time? Ry said thirty-six hours?” Yeah, that was a terrifying bit of information.

  “They said it could take that long. Being a first-time mom, there is no way to predict. However, with how slowly Evie's dilating, it’s going to be a while. Baby is in a good position for delivery, thankfully. Unless complications arise, they aren’t worried.”

  “And her pain? Why won’t she take anything?”

  Before I can answer, I see a man and a pretty blonde-haired person entering Evie’s room. “Hey!” I call out.

  “What?” Foster asks.

  “Someone went in her room.” I rush forward, pushing the door open to see the man hugging Everett. Turning the phone so Foster can see, I relax a little when he chuckles.

  “Didn’t think I’d see you again, man.” This guy is tall, and he's turning around to face me.

  “Heard a rumor, your girl was all alone. I wasn’t going to let that happen.”

  “Thanks, Ares.” Foster seems a little more relaxed now. “You’ll stay with her?”

  “He’d damn well better,” Evie snaps. The woman with Ares is standing to the side, a soft smile on her face. Her beauty is painful to look at. Her eyes, her super light hair, and this aura surrounding her are seriously mesmerizing.

  Flipping the phone back around, I say to Foster, “Tell Ry to call Codie, she’s not doing so great. Theo’s parents are with her, though.”

  “You got it.” The phone is taken from his hand.

  Theo’s face pops back on. “Hey, kitten.”

  “I miss you.” My entire soul misses him.

  I watch as he moves to another part of the plane, probably somewhere more private, so I leave the room again, knowing Evie is comfortable with this stranger.

  “It’s going to take us another twelve hours to get there. Maybe longer.” His voice is rough. “Leaving you is the hardest fucking thing I’ve ever done.” I’m shocked by his confession.

  “But you’ll do it again.” There’s no doubt. He wouldn’t be the man I fell in love with if he didn’t do the work he does.

  “I will.”

  “Is Abriella alright?” He was able to tell me they were going to get the girl my brother had with him when he came home last.

  “No. As soon as we land, Nix, West, and I will be escorting her to the hospital. We’ll be on guard until told otherwise.” He seems troubled.

  “Foster and Ryder can come here, though?” He can’t say it, but I know they’re taking the woman to a military hospital. It’s where she’ll get the protection she likely needs.

  “Yes. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” he promises.

  “I know. We’re good here. Your folks are hilarious and sincerely the best. Everyone is family with them.” I smile with a slight tear in my eye because it’s what I’ve wanted my entire life.

  “That’s true. They’ve never met a stranger.” It’s his turn to smile. “How are you, kitten, for real?”

  Not wanting to worry him further, I give him mostly the truth. “I’m okay. Distracted, so I don’t have time to wallow.” Which is completely true. Taking care of Evie in her hour of need is precisely the thing to keep me occupied.

  “I’ll see you soon, baby. I love you.”

  I hold his words in my heart. “I love you too.”

  Disconnecting from Theo is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Well, one of them.

  Racing back to Evie’s room when I hear her scream, I’m at her side before the other occupants, and I almost wish I’d allowed Ares to have this one.

  “Sweet baby, am I gonna need a surgeon when this is over.” I groan with Everett as she tries to breathe. We discovered a few hours ago that Lamaze is tossed out the window when the real day comes because we both drew a blank about what to do.

  “So, your him, huh.” I eye the man up and down now. Evie told me about Ares. She said he was endearing in a gruff way. Studying him with his girl now, I can see what Evie means because he watches her with nothing but love.

  “Matthew Norbury,” he says. “This is Princess Arianna.” With the way he speaks her name, so much affection, I can tell he’s not boasting about this title.

  “A princess? That’s kind of wicked. I bet you have some stories to tell.” I really don’t know that, but I would assume so. “I’m Lola Bishop.”

  “Lola.” Arianna says my name. “It’s very beautiful.”

  “Thank you. I always thought I sounded more like a stripper. But when you say it, it sounds exotic.” She has a slight accent, and the way she pronounces her words leaves me a little bewitched. “So where are you from?”

  “Graeline,” she answers.

  I think really hard about where I’ve heard that name before, and when it hits me, I feel sorrow. “Where that guy was stealing your people and torturing them?” She nods. “I can’t imagine. I’m so sorry.”

  Evie tugs on my arm. “Water, please.”

  Grabbing the water jug, I pour her a small glass. As she begins drinking, the monitors attached to her start going haywire. “Evie? What’s happening?”

  “I don’t know.” She pales, her body contracts, and she slumps over.

  “Get a doctor!” I yell. Of course, there must be problems.

  Doctors and nurses come rushing in, and we’re kicked out of the room. Even though I’m technically her emergency contact, I can’t do anything for her. I can’t help. I can’t tell her it will all be okay, and I feel helpless.

  A soft hand clutching mine has me looking over at Codie as we watch the doors, waiting, and I can see the agony in every line of her body. This is her worst fear come to life again, and now she must watch her best friend go through unimaginable pain.

  “It’ll be okay, Codes. Everything will be alright.” I try to reassure, but it’s hard when I don’t know that it will.

  Theo

  Abriella is still out cold as we land, and with every minute that she doesn’t wake up, our concern amplifies. She was with the cartel in Argentina for forty-eight hours before we got to her, and with her own family for at least twenty-four before that. We have no idea what was done to her other than what we can see. And that ain’t pretty.

  As the plane lands, Asher is there with a medical team ready to transport her. Nix follows along in the ambulance, but Asher is directing the rest of us to Evie. Something happened while we were in flight, but he can’t or won’t say what it was. Which has Foster all kinds of pissed off.

  We make it to the maternity wing in record time, racing up to the surgical floor to see my parents, Codie, Evie’s mom, and Ares and his princess.

  “Where is she?” Foster demands.

  I don’t see Lola, so I assume she’s wherever Evie is.

  “Surgery.” Codie stands. Ryder wraps an arm around her, holding her up because she looks like she’s about to pass out. “She had a seizure; they mentioned eclampsia. Her blood pressure spiked, and they had to do an emergency c-section, but she’s got an entire team working on her now.”

  West and I catch Foster as he’s about to fall, his knees giving out. Never have I seen Foster afraid, not even when Evie was taken last year. He was calm and cool. This time, however, I believe it’s because we’re all helpless to do anything.