2. Hyland
HYLAND
WING$ - MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS
I don’t know how to feel about returning to Briar Valley.
After all these years, the mountainside retreat remains the same.
It’s no secret this secluded valley holds dark memories for me. Years back, in the trenches of Willow’s fight for justice against her trafficker, I was stationed here on security detail. How that assignment ended is a tale for another time. But suffice to say, we didn’t close that case unscathed.
When our ex-team leader, Ethan, opted to join his partner here in early retirement, I was happy for him. A lifetime serving Sabre Security doesn’t promise much peace. He deserved to leave on a high once Willow received the justice she worked so hard for.
But not me. The promise of peace holds little appeal. Regardless of the lengths I’ll go to for my teammates and family, the lines I’ll blur and morals I’ll bend to keep them safe… I still love this job. The constant threat and danger haven’t lessened my passion for fighting the good fight.
“It’s just a little farther.” I take long strides to keep in step with Ember. “The town conducts all its business from the main cabin.”
“Are we business now?” Ember mutters.
“Apparently so.”
“What am I walking into here?”
My teeth grit at the sight of her face, the left side misshapen from deep bruising while her eyes are ringed with violent, black and purple splodges.
That motherfucker laid his hands on her.
I don’t give a shit if he’s dead and gone.
I’d have torn Gael’s corpse limb from limb had we not needed to make a hasty getaway for the Estonian authorities to move in.
“Relax, red. Willow’s guys are all good men. As for Ethan… honestly, he was the best of us. Taught me everything I know.”
“Is that why you called them?”
“We needed somewhere soft to land.” I scrub a bead of sweat from my forehead. “Rest, regroup, plan our next move. The past few months since Tom was taken have been a living hell.”
“You’re right about that,” she assents.
“The directors and Falcon Team can handle clean up from the raid. We need this time.”
“I’m not disagreeing with you, Hy. I just don’t enjoy feeling like I’m on the back foot. This is all new to me, and I don’t know these people.”
“Well, apparently, you do.”
“That isn’t fair. I didn’t know she’d be here.”
“And I’m very much looking forward to hearing why.”
Our ragtag group is gathered at the end of a long, winding path that bisects the town centre, gaining the attention of various local residents going about their everyday lives. I recognise a few of the folk chopping wood or hurrying children off to the small schoolhouse.
Varying sizes of luxury cabins are scattered throughout the hills, offering ample land and privacy, but the route to Willow’s home takes us through the heart of Briar Valley.
It’s hard to describe the remote haven nestled among craggy mountain slopes, spindly fir trees and an empty skyline that stretches into infinity.
Willow’s late grandmother established the town as a refuge for those in need, and in the decades since, it’s served to rescue more than one lost soul. Least of all its new owner. Not so long ago, Willow came here in search of safety herself. She hasn’t left since.
Still hobbling on his right leg, Warner whistles in awe. “Jesus. They sure rebuilt the cabin in style.”
Even Blaine looks mildly impressed by the sight up ahead, though it’s hard to tell what that asshole is thinking at any given moment. I fucking hate his infallible poker face.
“This is it.” I nod ahead for Ember’s benefit. “Willow’s private home and the centre of town. People assemble here for important events, meetings, gatherings. They rebuilt it after the fire a few years back.”
Their home is nothing short of breathtaking. A magnificent, three-story beast carved from dark-stained oak, intimidating steel and polished glass. All constructed in a modern design that wouldn’t look amiss on the page of an architectural magazine.
I know one of Willow’s husbands, Killian, did the bulk of the heavy lifting. He’s handy like that. They finished the cabin not long before Willow gave birth to their son, Hayden, a few years ago.
“A fire?” Ember gapes at the impressive structure.
“Long story. Her road to justice wasn’t so simple either.”
“You two remained friends after the case?”
“Yeah, we keep in touch. A bit like Warner and the clients from Harrowdean Manor. Some cases leave a deeper mark than others, I suppose.”
We both frown in sync at Warner, attempting to ascend the wide porch steps with one hand braced on the banister and another balled into a white-knuckled fist. I haven’t seen him remove his leg since before the raid.
“Shit,” Ember curses under her breath. “He needs to rest.”
“Let’s get this done, then we’ll make him go to bed. Sit on him if you must.”
“Is that an invitation or a challenge?”
She spares me a loaded look that makes my scalp tighten, a slow roll of tension unfurling through my muscles. Those ever-shifting, bluish-grey jewels cut me to the bone.
Letting that asshole Blaine trail ahead to follow our team leader, I snake an arm around Ember’s lower back, tugging her into my side. She collides into me with a hissed inhale.
“I haven’t stopped thinking about how I found you both in HQ’s car park since Warner rolled the window down,” I growl into her ear. “So if you want it to be a challenge, then that’s what it is.”
“I never pegged you for the sharing type.”
“People can surprise you, red. You sure as hell surprise me every day of the week.”
Mouth twisted in a wry smile that pulls the cut across her upper lip taut, Ember’s orbs sparkle with dark promise. “I enjoy keeping you on your toes.”
“That you do.”
I steal a fast, furious kiss then release her to follow the others to Willow’s front door. This place may be like a second home to me after the time I was stationed here, but I need to maintain at least a speck of professionalism.
Beating Warner to it, the solid lump of hewed wood flies open to unveil the cabin’s entrance. It takes a second for my gaze to travel down, too busy staring at the empty doorway in confusion.
Our welcoming committee stands far below my height, hands fisted on her hips and perfect blue eyes glaring daggers straight through my exoskeleton.
“You’re back!” Arianna declares loudly.
The others shuffle aside, leaving space for me to step forward.
“Hey, Ari. You miss me?”
The sassy little preteen narrows her eyes in clear suspicion. “Why are you here?”
“You haven’t changed one bit, peanut. Mind letting me and my friends inside? We’re here to see your mama. Work stuff.”
She huffs, stooping to retrieve a backpack from the floor. “Boring. I have school. See ya!”
“No running, kid. It’s icy out there.”
“Yeah, yeah. Bye Hyland!”
Warner casts me a glance then shrugs, stepping over the threshold into the cabin. We’re not left alone for long. The intimidating boom of weighted steps vibrates through the hardwood, drawing ever closer.
“About time you showed your face around here.”
Shoulders brushing the doorframe, Killian scans over our group, his perpetually tanned arms folded. For a while, Willow liked to joke that we were separated at birth. Though I’d argue his beard is a step too far for me, even if we share a similar physique and long hair.
“Kill.” I nod in his direction. “Thanks for taking us in.”
“You know Briar Valley protects its own. Come on, the others are inside having coffee. Sounds like it was a long night for everyone.”
“You could say that.”
The large, open-plan kitchen is much the same—simple, clean but traditional with a huge farmhouse style family table. Around it sits the real welcoming committee, all chugging various types of coffee or tea.
In an instant, Willow rises to stand from the head of the table. “Morning, everyone. Did you all get some rest?”
“Some,” Warner responds, though we all know he’s lying through his teeth. “I don’t think we had a chance to thank you properly for welcoming us on such short notice.”
She waves him off. “You thanked me plenty.”
“Even so. Thank you.”
“Warner, I owe Sabre Security my life. Giving you a safe place to stay is nothing in comparison to what your team did for me and my family.”
When her attention fixes on me, we share a tense smile. Standing from his spot at the table, one of her quieter husbands, Micah, moves to retrieve more coffee cups then starts doling out refreshments. He’s always been introverted.
I let Willow run through introductions, gesturing towards Micah’s loudmouthed twin, Zach. They’re practically body doubles. It’s hard to look at them without thinking about our purple-haired twin and his brother, incarcerated somewhere in the bowels of HQ, awaiting interrogation.
Ethan claps a hand on my bicep when I pull out a chair for Ember to sit in, lingering behind her while glowering in Blaine’s direction. He sensibly chooses a corner to lean in without attempting to sit next to her.
“Will you sit down?” Ember snaps at our team leader. “I’m going to steal your leg and hurl it off a mountain’s edge in a moment.”
From the coffee pot, Micah snorts loudly. Even Killian is smothering a smile behind his big, calloused hand. Zach isn’t capable of keeping his damn mouth shut and bursts into deep guffaws without remorse.
“Satisfied?” Warner semi-collapses into the last available chair.
“Not yet.” She rolls her eyes. “You’ll end up wheelchair-bound at this rate.”
“I’m fine, love.”
“You’re not fine,” I snip at him.
“Don’t you start too. I think we have bigger problems than my goddamn leg, alright? Move on.”
“He’s no less stubborn, I see.” Ethan takes a large gulp of coffee. “Some things never change.”
Huffing, Warner flips him the bird. All Ethan can muster is an amused smile. The pair worked together for years, long before I joined the Anaconda Team. They have the kind of easy camaraderie gained through countless active operations performed together.
Once Willow’s retaken her seat, the table falls silent.
“Shall we do this, then?” Her gaze bounces to each of us.