Chapter 50
Austin
John was waiting for us when we pulled into the SSI parking lot with Jay and AJ right behind us.
“Doug’s upstairs; we’ll get you set up with comms, and Cate will give you everything you need to get to the safe house.”
“Thank you. Can you hang back?” I asked. “G, take Nina upstairs, please.”
“Come on, Neen, let’s get you upstairs.”
He gave her a nickname?
Once the door shut behind them, John asked, “What’s up?”
“Just confirming Shepherd Security can track us. Nina doesn’t know.”
He nodded before saying, “You’ll be most vulnerable on the road.”
“We know.”
“Let me increase your escort.”
“One car is enough, but I’ll trust your judgement on how many you assign.”
He nodded, the trademark Sheppard grin on his face.
“What?”
“I expected you to argue more.”
A week ago I might have, but this was bigger than me and I needed the help.
“Let’s get upstairs. The sooner we get Nina to the safe house, the better.”
While we walked, John updated me on Sue’s housing situation. Madi had found a reputable care facility that’d take her. She’d have her own two-room apartment, and it’d be easy for SSI to keep her safe.
“Any objection to me sending Blaszek and his SEAL buddy Kroupa to the safe house once you’re settled?”
“I thought Kroupa and his K-9 were staying with Mrs. Novak?”
“I think his skills are better utilized at the safe house,” John answered.
“Nina already told Mrs. Novak about Havoc, so I don’t want to change that.”
Plus, this was already hard on Nina, adding strangers to the mix could freak her out.
“You care about her.”
It wasn’t a question, so I didn’t answer.
John accepted my lack of response as confirmation.
“She’s a great girl. You could do worse.”
He was the third person to call me out on my feelings in the last four hours.
Feelings I thought I’d been better at hiding.
“She’s too young.”
Are you trying to convince your uncle, or yourself?
It didn’t matter. Her age was a fact, not a matter of opinion.
So was mine.
“Twelve years isn’t that big a deal. Hell, Doug is nine years younger than Beth,” John clapped me on the shoulder.
Somehow, those three years made all the difference.
Doug was an adult with a full military career behind him.
Nina hadn’t earned her degree yet.
Doug was over thirty and had traveled the world.
Nina didn’t know her real name or birthday until I’d told her.
Our situations were different.
John stopped me outside the conference room door.
“Let me give you some fatherly advice.” He waited for me to object. When I didn’t, he continued, “Don’t deny yourself the chance at love because the math doesn’t work inside your head.”
Damn, twenty years later and John still knew how to cut to the quick when I had a problem.
“She’s innocent.”
“No, Austin, she isn’t. Not anymore.”
Because I took it from her.
“Before you blame yourself, remember that they would’ve found her, eventually.”
“Maybe.” It was the closest I’d come to conceding. “But I opened Pandora’s box and brought this to her doorstep.”
“You did, but you also gave her the parents she can’t remember, her history, and her name.”
I had, but the price could still be too steep.
“They’re waiting,” he said, ending the conversation.
With John’s words echoing in my head, I watched Nina as she flipped through the photos Doug had printed for her.
“Thank you,” I said when I walked over to get my earwig.
“It’s nothing.”
“I meant for the pictures; you went above and beyond.”
He smiled. “It’s what we do for family.”
I looked around the room. Nina had no idea how much love surrounded her. She’d convinced herself her only family was her grandmother.
She’s wrong. She has one hell of a family here at SSI, and at Grannie’s.
I smiled.
“Jesus Christ, that’s scary,” Jay said, walking up beside me.
“What’s scary?” I asked, my eyes lingering on Nina as my head turned towards Jay.
“You smiling, Cuz, it’s fucking terrifying.”
“Shut up.” I wiped the inappropriate smile off my face. “Who’s following us to the safe house?”
“Me, AJ, and Cate.”
“Cate?”
“She insisted.”
“You let your wife dictate how you assign projects?” G asked, just to get a rise out of him.
“Dude, my wife secured your safe house. My wife is part of my team. My wife will kick your ass six ways to Sunday while I eat popcorn and watch.”
I laughed. Gibson grinned.
“Do not underestimate my wife.”
“Thank you, Sugar Cakes,” Cate called from the other side of the room.
“You’re welcome, Snookems.”
Half the room made gagging sounds; the other half laughed.
Nina watched with a look of fear and revulsion on her face.
She hadn’t spent enough time with mission ready operators to know this kind of bullshit was normal.