Chapter 17 #3
“I’m not sitting by anymore, Zeke. I can’t.
This proves what I should’ve been doing from the beginning.
” I gesture to Damien’s computer before looking back up at him.
“I’m finding my husband, and I don’t care what it takes.
He would never sit by and leave me in the hands of someone else.
I won’t do the same to him.” I look up at him with such desperation that my throat tightens.
He stares back down at me like he wants to argue, but we both know there’s no use in it.
I can’t keep going like this, and as horrible as it may be, I know that he understands what that feels like.
“I don’t want you getting hurt, Ash. I wouldn’t be able to handle it, and we all know that if something happens to you while D is away—”
“It won’t.” I shake my head vehemently, because even though Damien is gone, I know without a doubt in my heart that the three of them will do everything they can to keep us safe.
Like he can read my mind, he takes a deep breath and turns sharply.
He steps to the edge of the room with purpose and swipes something from one of the cabinets before he walks back over to me.
My brother gently grabs my hands and pulls me to my feet.
“The moment this stops fitting, you’re done.
” He holds up a bullet-proof vest. “You let us handle it. Any time you step out of this building, or out of your house, this is on. You don’t leave our sight.
One of the three of us is always with you.
No matter what, you put that first.” He uses his index finger to lightly poke my pregnant belly. “Am I clear?”
I look down and take a deep breath, using the moment to caress the bump with my palm.
I’m feeling more confident than ever before, and this determination is unwavering.
There’s still a piece of him with me, and we’ll be whole again once we find him.
This baby needs him just as much as I do.
Just like he needs us. I know if the roles were reversed, that I would beg Damien to put our child before me.
As much as it pains me, Zeke’s right. I’m going to do this.
I’m going to bring Damien home, but I also need to do it as carefully as possible for our baby’s sake.
Another tiny flutter bubbles in that little swell, and I can’t help but grin as I look back up at Zeke.
“Crystal.”
He stands a little straighter, and then gently slips the vest over my head so he can adjust it to fit me properly. His gaze doesn’t waver from the armor, but he speaks to Alex and Carter.
“Initiate the ‘First Lady’ protocol, and make sure it’s active until further notice.”
“Already on it,” Carter replies with a satisfied grin of his own, and I look back and forth between them.
“What’s the ‘First Lady’ protocol?” I ask them. Zeke chuckles and shakes his head.
“It’s one of Damien’s latest procedures.
We call that whenever you’re on the property.
It commands everyone to attach their silencers, and it lets them know not to touch explosives while you’re within range.
There are a few other points too, but that’s the gist of it.
Apparently, gunshots are bad for growing ears.
” He pokes my belly again, and I can’t help but huff out a small giggle.
Of course Damien would make something like that happen. My eyes get watery once again, and Zeke shakes his head.
“Please, don’t cry again. I can’t take anymore today,” Zeke begs and chuckles playfully. I just shake my head and sit back down once the measurements are done.
We sit and talk for what feels like hours.
They help me sort through and plan out everything that needs to be done, making sure that nothing is missed or overlooked while we set the guys up for the next few weeks.
We’ll still need someone to cover the technical side of things while we focus on Damien.
So, after a lot of deliberation, we decide to appoint Kade to that position.
Damien clearly trusted him enough to give him the authority he did, and it’s crucial that we follow his wishes.
Satori’s involvement is a longer conversation.
Zeke clearly still has a big problem with him, and I can’t say that Carter and Alex feel any different.
But as much as we all hate it, his experience speaks for itself.
We decide to let him lead the training hours for the next few weeks, as well as escort a couple of teams during public safety rotations.
Kade will still be above him on the totem pole, though.
But at least this way, there’s a little more structure as we all take a step back to bring Damien home as quickly as possible.
We may not be any closer to finding him yet, but now that there’s less to worry about, the path seems clearer somehow.
It’s like there’s really nothing standing in our way anymore, and we finally have the tools we need to focus.
I doubt any of the new system entries will lead us anywhere, but I’m examining them like there’s a hidden meaning.
Everything I do from this point forward will be to bring Damien home, and I’m not going to let anyone get in my way.