15. Ember
EMBER
CAN’T LET GO, JUNO - KISHI BASHI
The helicopter ride to a local landing pad a short drive from Gracie’s safe house isn’t enough time to gain my composure. I have to plaster on a brave face. She must be petrified, her family too. I heard her two sisters were inconsolable when they were sent to stay with relatives.
Right now, separating them from Gracie is the safest option. Nolan Madden isn’t just threatening us. Sabre. Our team. He’s targeting those we love, the people we’ve vowed to protect. That crosses a line not even I can tolerate. He’ll fucking burn for it.
“We’re two minutes out.” Phone to his ear, Warner studies the road. “Are Jayce and Luke secure?”
The deep rumble of Hyland’s voice echoes down the line.
“Understood,” Warner clips out. “What time will you be done?”
Faintly, I hear him respond, “Late.”
“Copy that. Check in when you’re headed home.”
Another throaty response down the phone line.
Nodding, Warner moves to end the call. “Tell Axel to remain sharp. Be safe, both of you.”
Splitting up our team for today’s mercy mission wasn’t my choice. With so many moving pieces to organise, it became necessary. Hyland and Axel are handling the relocation of Luke and Jayce while we handle Gracie and her family.
I’m not sure how cooperative his ex-wife is being. Uprooting her entire life and entrusting it to Sabre must’ve been a tall order after the trauma in her past. I understand why she’s protective of Luke, but this isn’t a game. Nor are we doing this for the hell of it.
Ending the call, Warner heaves a drained sigh. “They’re about half an hour from the safe house. Apparently, Jayce took her sweet time packing their stuff for relocation.”
“She doesn’t trust us, Warner.”
“I get that. Not sure Hyland does.”
“He’s terrified, that’s all. We all know what Madden’s capable of. If he’s taking this fight to our families and friends, then all bets are off.”
“How did he even find them?” He shakes his head, strangling the steering wheel.
“That’s what Kade and Hudson are hopefully going to find out.”
“We don’t exactly have time for some long-winded, bureaucratic investigation.”
“You think Hudson is bureaucratic?” I snort.
After a beat, he sighs. “I suppose not.”
After all the coincidences of late, none of us are feeling particularly trusting. Least of all the directors. They’re handling the leak personally, re-vetting every single Sabre employee for any signs of sabotage.
Riding in the back seat of our hurriedly rented SUV, Blaine has held his tongue since touchdown. I have to crane my neck to turn and look if he’s even awake.
“You still with us?”
Lips pursed, he looks up from his phone. “You’re not the only one handling moving parts. I have people at risk depending on me too.”
“Shit. Raye and Spyder?”
“Secure for now; we’ve found a new, safe location.”
“I’m sorry, Blaine.” I wince at myself. “I was being insensitive.”
“It’s fine. I know my efforts are divided in this fight.” Darkness filters over his features. “Yet that doesn’t mean I’m going to abandon those who stood beside me when I had nothing.”
“No one is accusing you of disloyalty.” Warner is quick to reply. “You take care of your people, Blaine. I don’t want to see anyone else caught in the firing line.”
“Do you mean that?” One of Blaine’s raven brows darts up.
“I mean it.”
Witnessing their united front is oddly touching. If I’m not mistaken, a tiny smile plays across Blaine’s lips. He isn’t as immune to the power of belonging as he’d have us all believe. I know this family means a lot to him too.
Despite Hollywood stereotypes, safe houses are relatively normal looking homes. There are no high-tech, locked and bolted panic rooms or shoe racks stacked with high-powered weapons. This three-bedroom home is nestled in the quiet normalcy of the West Midlands.
Rather than opt to drive with us, Gracie’s parents accepted our protection while we follow them to their new home. It must’ve been a hard decision to leave their whole lives behind overnight. Cars, phones, jobs. Everything.
Their compact rental car pulls into the driveway ahead of our SUV. We’ve been tailing them, acting as security. In addition to sourcing the bolthole for our stowaways to be hidden in, Sabre handled obtaining the vehicles without identity checks. All part of the service, apparently.
“Keep your eyes open.” Cutting the engine, Warner parks up on the kerbside. “We should be secure, but I’m not taking any chances.”
Blaine adjusts his leather jacket to check his gun is holstered in place. “Copy that.”
“Let’s get them inside and safe,” I agree.
The three of us climb out, approaching the family car. My heart rate explodes into a galloping run at the sight of Gracie climbing out, bundled in a thick puffer jacket and woollen hat. I haven’t seen her since Estonia.
Warner strides ahead with Blaine, gesturing towards the house. “We need to clear the premises.”
“Go, I have them.” I nod in assent.
“We’ll be quick, Em.”
“I’ve got it.”
The pair disappear inside the safe house after unlocking the front door, leaving me to guard Gracie and her family. Seeing Geoff and Sabrina Livingstone again wasn’t high on my list of desires. My stomach flipflops as Gracie’s dad approaches me.
He stretches out a hand. “Thanks for coming.”
“Mr Livingstone.”
“Didn’t we have this conversation?” He smiles tiredly. “Geoff is fine.”
“Are you and your family okay?”
“A little shaken up, but we’re managing. Receiving a phone call in the middle of the night telling us to pack our belongings was a bit of a shock, I’ll admit. We miss the girls too.”
“It’s better this way. Safer.”
“We understand, but I wasn’t willing to leave Gracie alone in a safe house. She needs us.”
Glancing at Gracie and her mum, both appear pallid and exhausted. I can’t imagine the sheer panic they experienced in that moment. For all they knew, armed assailants could’ve been ready to break down the door.
“I’m sorry it’s come to this.” I sound hoarse, unable to fully keep my emotions at bay.
“You don’t need to apologise.”
“But I feel like I should. All we want is to keep you safe until the case is closed. I never wanted your lives or Gracie’s homecoming to be affected.”
“This isn’t your fault, Ember.”
The sincerity in his words doesn’t mean a whole lot to me. Observing the girl I left behind batting her mother away while casting me furtive looks that scream of terror and panic sure feel like my fault. She should be at home, rebuilding her life in peace.
I drop Gracie’s gaze, turning to study the empty street instead. Just do your job, Ember. Shoot. Kill. Defend. Perhaps if I’d been more successful at it, none of us would be here, running from monsters we can’t seem to trace.
It’s a couple of tense minutes before Warner and Blaine emerge. A nod of confirmation then I usher the Livingstone’s inside, keeping one eye fixed on our surroundings. I’m not taking any chances this time around.
“Let’s get them unloaded and settled.” Warner cringes, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
“You good?”
“Fucking peachy.”
Beside me, Blaine chuckles. “I can relate to that.”
“We all need to catch a break.” I run a hand over my face. “This case is spiralling out of control.”
“Come here, love.”
Despite our surroundings, I accept Warner’s quick, bone-crunching hug. No matter if it’s unprofessional. We’ve skipped from disaster to disaster, and my body has barely recovered from the seizure that chose the worst possible moment to hit.
“Do you want to go speak to Gracie now?” He surrenders me. “We can handle their belongings.”
“Not particularly, but I need to.”
“We need any information she can give us, Em. Names, locations, anything. Sabre hasn’t pushed so far, giving her time to acclimatise and heal. But I’m afraid the time for patience has passed.”
“I know.” A slow, tension-filled gust exits my lungs. “Leave it to me.”
Blaine absently eyes the house behind us. “Think about what you can offer to get her onside. She wants to help, but all humans need sufficient motivation.”
“Like what?”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something, sweetheart.”
“You have a lot of faith in me,” I observe.
He flashes a smirk in my direction. “I always do.”
They move to unload the Livingstone’s meagre belongings from the car, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. Spine steeled, I make my feet respond, carrying me inside the safe house to face the music.
“Where is Gracie?” I ask Geoff.
He lingers in the empty kitchen, appearing mildly shellshocked by it all. “Checking out her bedroom, I believe.”
“Thanks.”
“Can you help her?”
Freezing, I cast him a wary glance. “What?”
Geoff turns to the window, verifying that his wife is still in the garden inspecting the empty flower beds. Then he moves closer, dropping his voice low. Up close, the severe bags under his eyes look almost painful in their size and weight.
“She’s struggling, Ember. Barely sleeps. Doesn’t eat. The walls shake from how loud she screams out in her sleep at night. I’m doing everything I can, but she refuses to talk to me.”
“Talking about it isn’t always easy. You need to be patient.”
“Or talking about it with her dad isn’t an option.” His frown deepens, overcome with visible sadness. “You know what it was like, the things she might’ve seen.”
Throat thickening, I summon the courage to nod.
“Can you get through to her?”
“That’s the plan, sir.”
“Thank you for trying… And for bringing her home to us.”
“I’m sorry it took us this long.”
“No, I won’t accept that.” He shakes his head from side to side. “We’re grateful to have our daughter home, no matter how long it took. You gave that to us.”
Standing in an empty house far from everything they know and love, I’m not convinced I deserve the thanks. A quick nod feels like the safest option before fleeing to climb the staircase.
“Gracie?” I call out.
“In here, first door on the left.”
“Can I come in to talk?”
She doesn’t respond right away. “Sure.”