38. Blake
THIRTY-EIGHT
Blake
The rhythmic thrum of the plane’s engines vibrates through my body as I make my way to the rear of the plane.
Sophia’s huddled on a bench, a blanket wrapped tightly around her shoulders. Luke is fast asleep beside her, his small hand clutching her shirt. Our eyes meet, and for a moment, the world stands still.
“Blake,” she whispers, her voice barely audible over the engine noise. Her gaze is distant, likely filled with painful memories.
In an instant, I’m across the compartment, kneeling before her. Her face is gaunt, and there are dark circles under her eyes, but a fierce light in them takes my breath away.
“Are you okay?” I ask, my voice rough with emotion. “Did they hurt you?” Silly question. Malfor did far more than hurt her.
Sophia shakes her head, tears welling in her eyes. “I’m fine. I’m so sorry. I never wanted to betray you, to betray the Guardians. I had no choice. They had?—”
“Luke,” I finish for her, glancing at the sleeping boy. “Your son.”
I settle on the bench opposite her, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. “Why didn’t you tell me?” We’ve had this conversation before, but it was in the heat of a battle. I have so many questions.
“I told you.”
“Tell me again.” I place a hand on her knee rather than pulling her into my arms. That’s what I want, but my senses tell me it’s too soon for her. “Tell me about Luke.”
She takes a shaky breath, her hand absently stroking Luke’s hair. “I couldn’t tell anyone. Malfor threatened to kill him if I… If I…” Her entire body shudders.
Again, I want to hold her, but she needs to do this alone.
“I want to explain everything. You deserve the truth.”
“I’m listening.” I steel myself for her words.
Her eyes cloud with painful memories as she begins her story, her voice low to avoid waking Luke. “It started long before Malfor took Luke. It started with his conception.”
“What do you mean?”
Sophia’s hand absently strokes Luke’s hair as she continues. “When I was first taken, they put all of us on birth control. Pills for the women, condoms for the men we... serviced. They were meticulous about it, but I was part of the 1% where it failed.”
My fists clench at the mention of the things she endured. Fury bubbles up inside me, but I force myself to stay quiet, to let Sophia continue.
Gabe notices our conversation. He jerks his chin toward Walt, and the two of them slowly approach. We’re all curious. Not in a morbid way, but because the things that happened to Sophia impact our next steps.
Greaves and Malfor are both going down for the atrocities they’ve committed.
“When Jonathan Greaves discovered my pregnancy, I thought…” Sophia’s voice breaks. “I thought he’d force me to get rid of it… Get rid of Luke. But he didn’t. He kept me healthy and treated me well. It was as if I was somehow… special. I received the best medical care and was treated exceptionally well. I didn’t have to…” She pauses, unable to continue. We all know what she means. “Anyhow, Luke was delivered, a healthy baby boy. ”
Luke stirs at the sound of his name. Violet, who’s been hovering nearby, steps forward. “Here, let me put him down.”
Sophia nods gratefully, and Violet takes Luke and settles him on a makeshift bed of jackets. Once he’s settled, Sophia continues, her voice even lower.
“For the first year, I wasn’t forced to... serve others. Just Jonathan. He allowed me time with Luke. It wasn’t freedom, but it was... bearable.” Her eyes cloud over. “Then, one day, something changed. I still don’t know what happened, but suddenly, Luke was taken from me. Used as a weapon to control me.”
My fists clench, and fury bubbles up inside me. I force myself to stay silent and let her finish.
“I was loaned out again, forced to serve other men. My access to Luke became increasingly restricted with each passing year.” Sophia’s voice is hollow, her eyes distant. “Then Malfor showed up on Jonathan’s yacht.”
Ethan, Hank, and Rigel join us, settling in a loose semi-circle around Sophia.
“Malfor?” Ethan leans forward, his face grim. “What did he want?”
“Jenna,” Sophia says. “He wanted the girl who got away. He and Jonathan concocted this plan to get Jenna back, but it wasn’t just about her. They decided to use me. Not to get to Jenna, but to infiltrate Guardian HQ.”
The implications of her words settle over the group like a heavy blanket.
Walt breaks the silence, his voice gruff with emotion. “So the rescue from the yacht, that was all?—”
“A setup,” Sophia finishes, her eyes finding mine. “An elaborate series of events to place me exactly where they needed me—on Guardian HQ grounds. Once Malfor got involved—I don’t know all the details—he took Luke from Greaves. From me.”
The implications of her words felt like a dagger to the heart. Our entire relationship, the foundation of trust we’d built, suddenly feels like it’s built on lies .
“So, us… Was any of it real?” I hate how vulnerable I sound, but I need to know.
Sophia reaches out, grasping my hand. Her touch is warm and familiar, sending a jolt through me. “Please believe me. My feelings for you—they’re real. They’ve always been real. That’s why this was so hard. I fell in love with you while being forced to betray everything you stand for.”
I want to believe her. God, I want to believe her so badly. But the doubt gnaws at me, and it’s relentless.
“I tried to leave clues,” she continues, pleading. “Malfor was watching me the whole time. I left notes in the coffee beans at the Grind. I was so scared Malfor would figure it out, but I had to try something.”
“We found them.”
The plane’s intercom crackles to life. “We’re beginning our descent. Please secure all loose items and prepare for landing.”
The announcement stops that conversation. We move to secure equipment. As I help Sophia with Luke, I can’t help but notice Ethan glancing at Violet, his brow furrowed in thought.
The landing is smooth. We’re home, but nothing feels the same.
The next few hours pass in a blur of medical checks, preliminary debriefings, and hushed conversations. Sophia and Luke are whisked away for thorough examinations, while Violet and her daughter, Zephyr, are taken to a secure area for questioning and care.
Debriefing occurs immediately. I lean against the wall, arms crossed, watching my team gather around the long table.
Watching Sophia.
She sits at the foot of the long conference table, her fingers absently tracing the wood grain. Her eyes, red-rimmed, dart to the door where Luke sleeps just outside, watched over by Guardian personnel.
Violet perches on a chair nearby, her posture tense, ready to bolt at a moment’s notice. I know who she reminds me of.
The resemblance to Rebel is uncanny. Questions burn in everyone’ s eyes. But those will have to wait. Right now, we have a debrief to get through.
The leadership team files in quietly: Sam, his usual stoic expression tinged with concern, CJ, thumbing through a tablet with furrowed brows, Mitzy, her eyes glued to a laptop she carries, Forest, his massive frame filling the doorway as he enters, and Skye, Forest’s sister and head of Medical. Her keen eyes assess everyone in the room.
Sophia’s earlier revelations hang heavy in the air between us. I can’t help but feel a mix of relief, hurt, and uncertainty as I watch her.
Sam clears his throat, breaking the uneasy silence. “Alright, let’s get started. Sophia, I know you’ve already shared a lot on the flight, but we need to go over everything again. Every detail could be crucial.”
Sophia nods, her hands clasping tightly in her lap. “I understand. Where should I begin?”
“From the beginning,” Forest rumbles, settling into a chair that creaks under his weight. “How did Greaves and Malfor orchestrate this whole thing?”
As Sophia takes a deep breath to begin her story, the door opens, and the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafts into the room. Jenna enters, carefully balancing a tray of steaming mugs, followed by Carter, who carries a box of croissants and scones.
“Thought you all could use some fuel,” Jenna says softly, setting the tray on the table.
Carter places the box beside it, then steps back, leaning against the wall next to me.
“How are you holding up?” My twin keeps his voice low, speaking just loud enough for my ears only. His eyes, mirror images of my own, search my face with concern.
I exhale slowly, my shoulders sagging under the weight of the past few days. “Still standing.” I shake my head, grateful for my brother’s steady presence. “But the ground keeps shifting under my feet.”
“I bet.” Carter nudges me with his shoulder, a gesture we’ve shared since childhood. “You’ve had one hell of a week, bro. Sophia, Luke, all these revelations…”
“Understatement of the year,” I mutter, raking a hand through my hair.
Carter’s gaze drifts to Jenna for a moment, his expression softening. “Not that you need me to say it, but take one day at a time. You may have had the rug pulled out from under you, but I think you should give it a chance.”
My throat tightens, and my words are momentarily stuck behind the lump in my throat.
“I thought I knew her. I thought what we had was real.”
“Hey.” He grips my shoulder firmly. “From what I’ve seen, it was real. Complicated as hell, but real nonetheless.”
“Thanks, bro.” His words hit home, and some of the tension in my muscles eases.
“That’s what brothers are for, right?” Carter grins, lightening the mood. “Now, let’s grab some of that coffee before it gets cold. Something tells me we’re going to need it.”
Grateful murmurs fill the room as people reach for the offerings. Sophia wraps her hands around a steaming mug, letting the warmth seep into her palms. The familiar scent of coffee from The Guardian Grind brings memories of our time there—both genuine and manufactured—flooding back.
“It started long before the yacht.” She takes a deep breath as if fortifying herself. “Greaves has been planning this for years. When Malfor came into the picture, things escalated quickly.”
She pauses, her brow furrowing. “A few months ago, something changed with Malfor. He became twitchy and urgent. It had something to do with an asset they lost, and he was on edge about it.”
Mitzy’s head snaps up. “That’s about the time we took Citadel down. We rescued a lot of women in that operation.”
“That’s when Malfor sent me that text telling me to stay away from Sentinel.” Stitch tightens her grip on the edge of the table, her knuckles whitening as the realization sets in.
“Greaves finally found Jenna,” Sophia continues. “He wanted to take her, but Malfor forced him to wait. They needed a connection to Guardian HRS and came up with a plan to take her. Those girls you rescued…” Sophia turns her attention to Carter. “They knew you were a detective and that you were interested in Jenna. They took those girls because they knew you’d reach out to Blake. Blake would bring in the Guardians, and the Guardians would shelter me inside HQ.”
“That’s a fucked-up plan with a million ways it could’ve gone sideways.” Sam taps his chin. “They depended on a lot of things going the right way.”
“Maybe, but it worked.” Sophia’s expression falls, and her eyes cloud over. “I was ordered to get close to one of the Guardians…”
I shift against the wall, my jaw clenching. Sophia’s eyes flick to me, then away, guilt etching lines around her mouth.
“Which I did, and I’m sorry for that.” Tears slip down her cheeks, and this time, when she looks at me, her gaze holds. “I never wanted to hurt you. I never expected to fall in love with you. That’s why I left those messages. It was the only thing I could think of that Malfor wouldn’t know about. I hoped it might reduce some of the damage he forced me to…”
“Those notes you left were crucial.” Mitzy’s fingers pause over her keyboard. “We already initiated Protocol Zero after Mia Chen’s rescue, so we were well situated for such an attack.”
“Protocol Zero?” Confusion flickers across Sophia’s face.
“It’s a failsafe we put in place to protect Guardian HQ in case of a breach.” Sam leans forward, his elbows on the table.
The conversation continues, with Sophia detailing every aspect of Malfor’s operation she can remember. Time passes, the coffee gets refreshed, and still, we press on. Violet remains quiet, her eyes distant, lost in her memories.
After a few hours, Sam, Skye, CJ, and Mitzy excuse themselves, moving to a corner of the room for a hushed conversation. When they return, Sam’s attention turns to Violet.
“Violet, we want to hear your story too. Anything you can tell us about Malfor’s operations is important,” Sam says gently.
Violet flinches at the sound of her name. Her gaze snaps to Sam. She opens her mouth to speak, then closes it, shaking her head.
Skye leans forward, her voice gentle. “It’s okay, Violet. You’re safe here. Take your time. But first, we have something for you. Are you up for a visitor?”
Violet’s brow furrows in confusion, but she nods hesitantly.
The door opens, and Rebel steps into the room. She’s older than Violet but has the same fiery red hair and high cheekbones. Her eyes scan the room before landing on Violet, widening in disbelief.
“Oh my God.” Rebel breathes the words. “Vi?”
“R-Rebel?” Violet stands so fast her chair falls over backward . “It can’t be…”
The room falls silent as the two women gaze at each other, years of separation hanging between them like a tangible weight. Then, with a choked sob, Rebel rushes forward, enveloping Violet in a fierce embrace.
“I thought I’d lost you forever,” Rebel whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “My little sister…”
I look on, moved by the reunion but feeling like an intruder in a deeply personal moment.
Violet clings to Rebel, her body shaking with silent sobs. Tears stream down both their faces as they hold each other, years of pain and longing pouring out in this moment of reunion.
Ethan stands and moves to Rebel’s side. He places a supportive hand on her back, his eyes glistening with emotion as he watches the sisters reunite.
After what seems like an eternity, they pull apart, tear-streaked faces breaking into watery smiles. Rebel cups Violet’s face in her hands, studying her as if memorizing every detail.
“You’ve grown so much,” Rebel says softly, her voice catching. “I’ve missed so much…”
Violet manages a shaky laugh, wiping at her eyes. “I never thought I’d see you again.”
“Where’s your…” Rebel’s voice catches, her eyes meeting Ethan’s with gratitude and regret. “I tried finding your child. I did th ings I wish I hadn’t done.” She swallows hard, tears threatening to spill over. “But I never stopped looking. Never.”
The sisters cling to each other, years of separation dissolving in a flood of tears and whispered words. A knot forms in my throat as I watch them, an ache blooming in my chest.
My thoughts drift to Sophia and Luke, their presence a harsh reminder of how drastically my world has shifted in mere days. Everything I thought I knew is turned upside down.
Sam clears his throat gently. “I hate to interrupt but, Rebel, your experience might be invaluable here. Would you be willing to stay and help Violet tell her story?”
Rebel nods, keeping an arm around her sister’s shoulders as they sit down. “Of course. Whatever I can do to help.”
With Rebel’s reassuring presence, Violet begins. Her voice grows stronger as she recounts her years in captivity, the horrors she witnessed, and the bits of information she managed to glean about Malfor’s operation.
“The security was tight.” Violet’s voice is stronger now, growing more confident. “But there were patterns, routines. I started to notice things, especially in the last few months.”
CJ leaned forward, his interest piqued. “What kind of things?”
“Guard rotations, delivery schedules. And there was a room… A room no one was allowed to enter except Malfor and a few of his top men.”
Forest exchanged a glance with Sam. “Sounds like it could be his command center.”
Violet nodded. “That’s what I thought. I never got close enough to confirm, but?—”
“It’s a good lead,” Sam said. “Anything else you can remember?”
As Violet delves into more details, the weight of recent revelations presses down on me, making the air in the conference room feel thick and heavy. I glance at Sophia, noticing the fatigue etched on her face. She keeps glancing toward the door.
I make an executive decision .
I push off from the wall, cross to where she sits, and crouch beside her chair. “Hey. You okay?”
“I—I need some air.” Sophia shakes her head, her eyes squeezed shut.
“Why don’t we take a break? I’m sure you want to check on Luke.” I help her to her feet. “I’ll take you to him.”
Relief flashes across her face. She nods, pushing back from the table.
“Thank you.”
We excuse ourselves quietly, slipping out of the room as the debriefing continues. Luke is curled up in a small cot in a neighboring room, and a Guardian agent sits nearby, watching over him. The agent nods to us and quietly excuses herself, giving us privacy.
Sophia kneels beside the cot, gently stroking Luke’s hair. The boy stirs, his eyes fluttering open.
“Mommy?” he mumbles sleepily.
“I’m here, sweetie,” Sophia whispers, gathering him into her arms. “Everything’s okay.”
Watching them, I’m struck by a memory of our descent down the cliffs of Malfor’s estate—the way Luke clung to me, how we distracted ourselves by talking about superheroes as we navigated the treacherous path—it feels like a lifetime ago.
A complex blend of emotions swirls in my chest. Relief that they’re safe, lingering hurt from the deception, and a growing warmth as I observe the love between mother and son.
“Hey, buddy,” I say, crouching to Luke’s level. “How are you holding up?”
“When are we gonna play superheroes again?” Luke’s face brightens.
“Maybe later, champ. Right now, the grown-ups need to talk about some important stuff. But how about a high five for being such a brave kid?”
Luke grins and enthusiastically slaps his small hand against mine. The simple gesture warms my chest. He’s a cute kid.
Sophia watches our interaction, a mix of gratitude and something deeper in her eyes. “Luke, why don’t you thank Blake for helping us.”
Luke regards me solemnly for a moment before a shy smile spreads across his face. “Thank you for helping us, Mr. Blake.”
“Just Blake is fine,” I say, my heart melting a little at the boy’s politeness. “And you’re very welcome. I’m glad you and your mom are safe now.”
“Hey there.” Rigel knocks on the door. “Sorry to barge in, but they have a few more questions for Sophia.”
I stand, offering a hand to help Sophia up. She hugs Luke tight.
“Sweetie, I have to go for a bit. Will you be okay waiting for me here?”
Luke’s lower lip trembles slightly, and I surprise myself by speaking up. “I can stay with him if that’s okay. We could find something fun to do while you finish up.”
Relief washes over Sophia’s face. “Would you? That would be wonderful.”
I crouch to Luke’s level as Rigel leads Sophia to the conference room. “So, buddy, what do you like to do for fun?”
Luke’s face brightens. “I like to draw. And play with Legos. Do you have any Legos?”
I chuckle, surprised by his enthusiasm. “I’m not sure, but let’s go on a treasure hunt. Maybe we can build our own Guardian HQ out of whatever we find.”
We set off down the hallway, Luke’s small hand in mine. His excitement is contagious, and I get caught up in his childlike wonder. We rummage through supply closets, finding colored pencils, paper, and even a battered old box of building blocks.
Luke and I are lost in a world of imagination for the next hour. We build towering skyscrapers out of blocks, draw fantastic creatures with too many eyes and not enough legs, and create elaborate stories about superhero squirrels saving the day.
Luke’s laughter fills the room. It’s a sound I never knew I needed to hear, and it stirs something profound within me. I’ve never given much thought to having kids of my own, but watching Luke’s face light up as he shows me his latest creation makes me think that maybe, someday, it might not be such a bad idea. Luke’s energy starts to fade. His words become punctuated with yawns, and his eyelids grow heavy.
“How about we take a little rest, buddy?”
Luke nods sleepily, crawling onto the cot. To my surprise, he curls up against me, his tiny body warm and trusting. Within minutes, his breathing evens out, and he’s fast asleep.
I sit there, hardly daring to move, marveling at the strange turn my life has taken. Just days ago, I was a Guardian focused solely on the mission. Now, I’m cradling a sleeping child, my heart full of emotions I can’t quite name.
The minutes pass, marked only by Luke’s steady breathing and the fading light outside the window. I’m lost in thought when soft footsteps approach.
Sophia appears in the doorway, exhaustion etched on her face. Her eyes soften as she takes in the scene before her. A soft smile plays on her lips as she takes in the sight of Luke and me surrounded by our creations.
“Looks like you two have been busy,” she says, her voice warm.
Luke stirs, then jumps up when he sees his mother. He runs to show her his drawings. “Mommy, look. I drew our new home.”
As Sophia kneels to admire Luke’s artwork, our eyes meet over his head. So much is left unsaid between us, so many questions and complications. But for now, in this moment, there’s a fragile peace.
“ Thank you, ” Sophia mouths silently to me.
I nod, offering a small smile in return. “Anytime.” A lump forms in my throat, and getting my words out is challenging. “Sophia, I…”
“We have a lot to talk about, I know.” She cuts me off gently. “But can it wait until tomorrow? I’m exhausted, and?—”
“Of course.” I carefully shift Luke so I can stand. “Get some rest. We’ll talk when you’re ready.”
Despite everything, my feelings for her haven’t changed. They’re complicated now, tangled up with hurt, betrayal, and uncertainty, but they’re still there.
With a deep sigh, I clean up the scattered toys and papers. Tomorrow will come soon enough, bringing the next chapter in our ongoing struggle against Malfor and his sinister plans.
I head to my quarters, a small bachelor pad outside Guardian HQ, a space I’ve barely thought about in weeks. As I unlock the door, the familiar scent of my apartment hits me—a mix of old books and a faint trace of coffee.
Everything is exactly as I left it, almost eerily so. The bed is made with military precision. The dishes are in the rack by the sink. Not a thing is out of place.
I run my hand over the smooth countertop, realizing with a start that it’s been weeks since I’ve slept in my bed. The thought of crawling under those cool sheets alone fills me with profound loneliness. I’ve gotten used to Sophia’s warmth beside me.
Memories of our time together flood my mind. The curve of her smile in the dim light, the feeling of her skin against mine, the way she whispers my name in the dark. My body responds to these thoughts, a familiar tension building.
I shake my head, trying to clear it, but the physical reminders of our intimacy persist. Our exploration of each other, both tender and passionate, the roles we’d played, the trust we’d built—it all seems so distant now, yet my body remembers every touch and every kiss.
Sighing, I strip off my clothes and step into the shower. The hot water cascades over me, but it does little to wash away the ache of desire and loneliness.
Under the steady stream, I allow myself a moment of release, Sophia’s name on my lips, as the tension within me finally ebbs.
Afterward, I fall into bed, my body heavy with exhaustion. The sheets are cool against my skin, a poor substitute for the warmth I’ve grown accustomed to.
The soft click of my bedside lamp signals the end of one of the longest days of my life. As I lay my head on the pillow, my last thoughts are of Sophia’s smile and Luke’s laughter.
What will happen between us? Can we rebuild what we had, or has too much changed to salvage what we once had?