Forsaken Duty (Red Team #9)(98)

“Then I’m going to take a shower. I have to get Edwards’ blood off me. After that, I need to check on my team. You go ahead and rest. Call me if you need me.”



Val refused the wheelchair as they left the clinic. Ace and Greer flanked him, just in case his stubborn ass got dizzy.

“I’ll go get the SUV,” Greer said.

“I can walk,” Val growled. “I’m fine. Besides, the pain meds haven’t worn off.”

They got Val into the backseat. Ace just stood there, next to the open passenger seat, trying to find the words to tell Greer about her fight with Santo. When she didn’t move, Greer sent her a worried look.

“I’m sorry,” she said to him.

“For what?”

“I want didn’t want to kill Santo. I thought I did. I thought terminating one of Omni’s Medusa heads was good, but things aren’t so black and white for me anymore. He wanted me to kill him.” She fought back tears. Assassins don’t cry. Val reached out and took hold of the fingers sticking out of her fresh cast. “I wanted to hear his story. I wanted to make sense of what happened to us. I wanted him to face his family and tell them the truth. I wanted…I don’t know…I wanted…”

“Justice,” Greer said.

“Yeah.”

Greer gave her a sad smile. “I think Justice is a myth, Ace. I’m not sure it really exists. I think we just take what we get and learn to live with it.”

“I disappointed you.”

Greer shook his head. “Oh, no. Not possible. I couldn’t be more proud of you than I am right now.” He pulled her into a hug. “Let’s go home.”

Val scooted over to make room for her next to him. He pulled her in close and kissed the top of her head. “I’m proud of you, too.”





30





Owen was bringing coffee to Addy the next morning, when he saw Troy come out of his room, rubbing his eyes. The boy came over and leaned against Owen’s leg. Owen’s hands were full, so he couldn’t give him a hug or pick him up. It was weird and wonderful to have affection offered so openly.

“I’m taking Mom some coffee. Want to wake her up with me?”

Troy nodded and ran ahead into Owen’s room. He hurried to the edge of the mattress, then slowly climbed up like a little cat prowling. Addy opened her eyes and smiled at him.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Hi, baby.”

Owen watched them hug. They talked about normal things, like the night’s sleep and the coming day. Nothing about death or sickness or crazy murdering Omni bastards. Owen set the mugs down on his nightstand and got under the covers with them. This was what it was all about. Peace. Joy. And family.

Owen handed Addy her coffee and sipped his. “Where’s Augie? Still sleeping?” he asked Troy.

“No. I don’t know where he is. He wasn’t in bed this morning.”

Cold fear iced out all the warmth Owen had just been feeling. Addy sent him a panicked glance. Owen set his coffee down and used the team’s security app on his phone to see where his son was. It indicated Augie was still in his room. Owen tossed the covers off and went to check. He wasn’t there.

He sent a text out to the team, doubting they were on comms yet.

After the longest thirty seconds ever, Lion texted back. I have him. We’re out back talking.

See me in the den when you’re finished, Owen responded.

Copy.

Owen went back into his room. Addy was scrambling for a sweater to cover her pajamas. Owen caught her shoulders and gave her a reassuring smile. “He’s with Lion. He’s okay.”

“You couldn’t find him by his security necklace?” Addy asked.

“He didn’t have it on.”

“He can’t take that off.”

Owen nodded. “I’ll talk to him about that.” And other things.

Addy released a long sigh and leaned her head against his chest. Owen wrapped his arms around her slight body, feeling the softness of her breasts against his ribs. “Why don’t we all get dressed so we can go to breakfast?” he said. He tilted his head and looked at Addy. “That is, if you’re up to it.”

“I am.” She smiled.

Troy left the room as fast as he’d come in. Owen shook his head. “Your boy likes his breakfast.”

Addy smiled. “That, and he gets to see Zavi.”



Lion looked at Owen’s son. His former cub. The boy had just begged him to let him stay with the pride. They walked out to the half-wall separating the two tiers of lawn.

“The thing is, Augie, you aren’t one of us,” Lion said. “We’re orphans; you have parents—parents who are good people. Strong people. People who put you first. Every one of us in the pride would kill to have what you have, and you waste it. Pride members don’t waste anything, least of all people.”

Augie’s shoulders slumped.

Lion put his arm around him. “I’m proud of you.”

“For what?”

“For surviving.”

“I was scared. I cried.”

“I cry, too.”

“You? When?”

“When it all gets to be too much. Then I usually round you all up, and we go do some training. Feels better to take action than to drown in fearful thoughts.”