21. Not a Drill
21
NOT A DRILL
EVERETT
I stride into Millie's Diner, my mind already on the mountain of work waiting for me back at the office. The usual chatter dies down as I enter, replaced by hushed whispers and sidelong glances. Nothing new there. I'm used to being the topic of town gossip since I kissed Kenzie and moved her into my place.
That was almost five months ago. You'd think they'd move on to something better.
I scan the room for Axton, but he's not here yet. Typical. The man's never on time for anything that doesn't involve explosives or heavy artillery.
Betty approaches, coffee pot in hand. "The usual, Everett?"
I nod, not bothering with pleasantries. As she pours, I notice her hand trembling slightly.
Odd .
The bell above the door chimes and Axton bursts in. One look at his face, and I'm on high alert. His jaw clenched tight, eyes blazing with barely contained rage.
"We need to talk," he growls, low enough for only me to hear. "Now."
I'm on my feet in an instant, following him outside. The cool air hits me, but it does nothing to ease the tension radiating off Axton in waves.
"What's going on?"
"It's about Kenzie."
My stomach drops. "What about her?"
He hesitates, and that split second feels like an eternity. "Word is…she's pregnant. With Ian's kid."
I can't breathe, can't think. Because it all comes crashing back—the pain, the betrayal, the lies.
Jillian's face flashes before my eyes. Her words echo in my ears: "I'm pregnant, Everett. But it's not yours."
No. Not again .
I won't let history repeat itself.
I'm moving before I realize it, long strides eating up the distance to my truck. Axton's right behind me, barely making it into the passenger seat before I peel out of the parking lot.
"Where are we going?" he asks, gripping the dashboard as I take a turn too fast .
"Peterson’s Ranch," I grit out. "Kenzie's been spending time there. Maybe they know something."
The drive's a blur. My knuckles are white on the steering wheel as I push the truck to its limits. Memories overwhelm my ability to think straight.
Jillian's confession. The gut-wrenching pain of knowing my wife had been fucking another man. The sleepless nights wondering how I'd raise the twins alone.
I can't go through that again. I won't.
Kenzie wouldn't do that to me .
But a small voice in the back of my mind whispers: What if it's true? What if Kenzie's been lying this whole time?
My grip on the steering wheel tightens. I try to block the thoughts which add fuel to my doubts.
No . Kenzie's not Jillian. She wouldn't do that to me.
To the girls.
But the seed of uncertainty has been planted, and it's taking root fast. Kenzie's face flashes through my mind—her warm smile, the way her eyes light up when she's with the girls. It doesn't fit. She's not the type to deceive, to betray.
Is she?
I've been down this road before, trusted someone only to have it blow up in my face. The memory of Jillian's betrayal still stings. It’s a wound that's never fully healed. And now, with these rumors swirling about Kenzie and Ian, about a potential pregnancy... it's like history's repeating itself in the cruelest way possible.
I want to believe in Kenzie and in what we've built together. But the fear grips me, squeezing the air from my lungs. If it's true, if she's carrying Ian's child...
Fuck…
I don't know if I can handle that kind of betrayal again.
The road to Peterson's Ranch stretches before me, each mile bringing me closer to a truth I'm not sure I'm ready to face. But I have to know. I have to hear it from Kenzie herself, one way or the other.
If these rumors are true, everything will change. And I'm not sure my heart can take another beating like that.
We screech to a halt, gravel flying. I'm out of the truck before the dust settles, not bothering to cut the engine or close the door.
Big Bear meets me on the porch, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by concern.
"Everett? What's wrong?"
"Where's Kenzie?"
He frowns. "Gone to pick up the girls. What's eating you?"
"Nothing," I snap, already turning back to the truck. As I slide behind the wheel, my phone rings. It's the school.
My blood runs cold as I listen to the message. The girls are still there, waiting to be picked up.
"Fuck," I mutter, tossing the phone aside.
Axton looks at me, worry etched on his face. "What is it?"
"Kenzie didn't pick up the girls."
The implications slam into me like a wrecking ball, leaving me reeling. If she's not at the ranch, and she's not with the girls...
Where the hell is she?
I gun the engine, tires squealing as we tear out of the ranch. My mind's racing, piecing together the past few weeks' events. The rumors, Kenzie's strange behavior, her run-ins with Ian that she didn't tell me about.
"You think she left?" Axton asks, voicing the fear I can't bring myself to acknowledge.
"I don't know," I admit, hating how uncertain I sound.
Ghost doesn't do uncertain. But right now, I'm not Ghost.
I'm just a man terrified of losing everything. Again .
We speed through town, ignoring stop signs and blowing past startled pedestrians. I don't care about traffic laws right now. All I can think about is finding Kenzie proving these rumors wrong.
Because they have to be wrong. The alternative is unthinkable.
We screech to a halt outside the school. The girls are waiting on the steps, their little faces lighting up when they see me. But their smiles fade when they realize Kenzie's not with me.
"Daddy?" Harper asks as I scoop them both up. "Where's Miss Kenzie?"
I swallow hard, forcing my voice to stay steady. "She's... she had to go somewhere, peanut. But don't worry, we're going to find her."
Hazel's lower lip trembles. "Is she coming back?"
The question hits me like a physical blow. I pull them both closer, forcing my lungs to breathe and my heart to not break.
"Of course, she is, button. I promise."
But even as I say the words, doubt gnaws at me. What if I'm wrong? What if Kenzie's gone for good?
Did I push her away? Did I drive her back to him?
No… She's just… Missing.
I settle the girls in the backseat, Axton keeping them distracted with silly stories as I drive us home. My mind's working overtime, running through scenarios, trying to figure out where Kenzie might have gone .
As we pull up to the house, I see Mel's truck in the driveway. She's pacing on the porch, her face a mask of worry.
"Take the girls in the house," I tell Axton as I climb out.
Mel meets me halfway up the walk. "Everett, we need to talk."
"Not now, Mel," I growl, trying to push past her. "I've got to?—"
She grabs my arm, and her grip is surprisingly strong. "Yes, now. It's about Kenzie."
I freeze, torn between the need to start searching and the possibility of information.
"What about her?"
Mel takes a deep breath. "The rumors... they're not true. Kenzie never had sex with him. She's pregnant, but it's not Ian's baby."
The world stops spinning for a moment. I stare at Mel, trying to process her words. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying it's your baby, you fucking idiot," Mel snaps. "Kenzie's carrying your child. And now she's missing, and you're standing here like a damn statue instead of finding her!"
The truth of her words sinks in slowly, heavy, and undeniable, leaving me no room to escape it. It’s all I can think about, weighing on me in a way I wasn’t prepared for.
Kenzie's pregnant. With my child. And she's out there somewhere, alone and scared.
I'm moving before I realize it, barking orders at Axton to call Steph and spread the word through the buzz circuit.
I pull out my phone, my fingers moving swiftly over the screen as I type out a simple message.
Everett: Raven's Nest compromised. Assemble.
The code phrase will trigger an immediate response from my team. No questions asked, no explanations needed. That's the beauty of Raven V—when I call, they come.
No hesitation.
Within seconds, my phone buzzes with incoming responses.
Axton: Just say the word.
Then Hawk.
Owen: Gearing up now. What's our target?
Striker's next, and I know he's already packing his sniper kit.
Callum: Roger that.
Maverick's response is last but just as swift.
Jace: Chopper prepped and ready. Where to?
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what's to come. This is why we formed Raven V. This is why I chose these men. This is what we've trained for.
But this time, it's personal.
Kenzie's life is on the line, and I'll be damned if I let anything happen to her.
My jaw clenches as I type out one more message.
Everett: Rendezvous at the Nest in 30. Full tactical gear. This is not a drill.
I slip the phone into my back pocket and march inside to my office. My mind races, formulating plans, considering angles, and thinking through every possible scenario.
This is Everett Logan in mission mode. The doubts and fears from earlier are pushed aside, replaced by a laser focus on the task at hand.
I'm not just Everett anymore. I'm Ghost, leader of Raven V. I'm about to show Ian and anyone else involved why you don't fuck with us.
The next hour is a blur of activity. The team arrives in record time.
Callum, our sniper, is setting up a command center in my office, meticulously organizing gear and laying out intelligence maps. Jace, our pilot, is prepping for aerial surveillance, checking equipment, and ensuring the chopper is mission-ready.
Our tactical expert, Owen coordinates with local law enforcement, gathers intel, and strategizes the best approach. And Axton, our demolitions and heavy weapons expert, is stationed at the door, keeping watch. His eyes scan the surroundings, alert and ready to act as a protective barrier for the rest of us.
And through it all, I'm a man possessed.
Every lead, every scrap of information is scrutinized. We comb through traffic cam footage, interview witnesses, and search every inch of Silver Ridge and the surrounding area.
But as the hours tick by with no sign of Kenzie, desperation starts to set in. What if we're too late? What if I've lost her for good?
As night falls, I find myself on the porch, staring out at the mountains. A couple of weeks ago, Kenzie and I sat in that swing, looking at that view. Planning for our future.
Vacations. A larger garden for Hazel, where she could plant vibrant flowers and create her own little paradise. An art studio for Harper, a sunlit space filled with brushes, canvases, and the colors of her imagination.
I remember the evening Kenzie and I sat on the porch, sharing a bottle of wine. I asked her what she envisioned for our future and what she wanted most now that she had her new start.
Her smile caught me off guard. “I already have it,” she said, her eyes sparkling with conviction.
For a moment, time stood still as I grasped the depth of her words. She wasn’t just talking about dreams. She was expressing her love for me and the girls. In that fleeting moment, we had it all, and I almost ruined it because of some fucking rumors.
I don't fucking deserve her. But damn it, she's mine, and I'm not letting some fucker cut our time short over some bullshit.
God…if you give me another chance. I won't fuck it up.
I'll give her everything on this side of heaven.
I'll drop down to hell if that's what it takes to have her back.
"Boss, we're ready," Axton says, coming to stand beside me. "We'll find her. You know that, right?"
I nod, not trusting myself to speak. Because the truth is, I don't know.
But I'm facing an enemy I can't see, can't fight. And it's tearing me apart.
But as I turn to head back inside, ready to throw myself into the search once more, I promise Kenzie and our unborn child that we'll have that future. All of it and more.
I will find you. I will bring you home. And when I do, I'm never letting you go again.
With renewed determination, I stride back into the house. My team looks up expectantly, waiting for orders.
The team's already assembled, their faces grim and focused. Axton, Owen, Callum, and Jace stand at attention. And as we gear up, I catch my reflection in the window.
The man staring back at me isn't the cold, calculating soldier. But a man scared out of his mind for the woman he loves.
Because I do love her. God help me. I love her more than I thought possible.
Once we're suited, I turn to my team, my brothers in arms, and give the order that will change everything…
"Find my woman."