Logan
Hampton, Virginia
The house is buzzing with laughter and chatter. I’m still riding the high from asking Lila to marry me, and everything feels right. We’re settled, our little family starting to take shape. Lila’s stuffing bites of her homemade peach cobbler into my mouth and stealing kisses in between.
Wells is cracking jokes, his usual charming, loud self, smirking at whatever story Alinna is spinning from the living room couch. Dalton looks completely captivated by Ivy, an unreadable expression on his face. It’s one of those nights that feels untouchable, like nothing could go wrong.
The doorbell sounds, ringing through the easy rhythm of the evening.
I glance toward the front door, half-expecting Townsend to just walk in since he texted earlier saying he’d be late.
But then the doorbell sounds a second time.
“That’d be our flight commander,” I say, pressing a quick kiss to Lila’s mouth before stepping around her.
When I open the door, it’s not Townsend standing there. It’s Sergeant Wade, one of the Delta guys.
He’s in civilian clothes—a dark jacket, jeans, and boots—but the tension in his posture is unmistakable. His eyes scan the house over my shoulder, sharp and assessing, before they land on me.
“Wade,” I say, leaning casually against the doorframe, though my pulse kicks up. “Didn’t expect to see you here. What can I do for you?”
His jaw tightens, and he steps closer. “I need to speak to Ivy. Is she here?”
The question catches me off guard. Wade’s reputation precedes him—Delta doesn’t just show up at someone’s house for small talk.
I don’t answer right away, my brain trying to connect the dots. “Is this about work?” I ask, my tone cautious.
He shakes his head, his voice low but steady. “It’s personal, mostly. I just need to talk to her.”
My gut tells me to tread carefully. Behind me, I hear footsteps approaching, and when I glance back, Dalton is standing there, his arms crossed over his chest. His gaze flicks between me and Wade, instantly reading the tension.
“You good, James?” Dalton asks, his tone calm but laced with an edge.
“I’m fine,” I say, though I’m not so sure. I step back and let Wade inside, motioning toward the living room. “Ivy’s here. But you want to tell me what’s going on before you just walk in?”
Wade barely acknowledges the question. His focus locks on to Ivy the second he steps inside. Her posture is rigid, her dark eyes flashing when she sees him.
“Kyler.” Her voice is barely above a whisper.
I freeze. Kyler. It clicks into place like a puzzle I didn’t realize I was solving. Kyler Wade. Ivy’s ex-husband. I wish I realized sooner. I’ve worked with him on a handful of missions and I actually like the guy, though I’m probably not supposed to now that I’m engaged to Lila.
Ivy’s wineglass is trembling in her hand. Dalton gently takes it from her. “What are you doing here?”
Lila walks over, slipping her hand into mine, with Wells and Alinna close behind.
“I need to talk to you,” he says, his tone gentle but insistent. “Now.”
Dalton steps forward before she can answer, planting himself between Ivy and Wade. “She doesn’t have to go anywhere with you,” Dalton says, his voice calm but firm.
Wade smirks. “Everett. Nice to see you protecting my wife, but I’ll take it from here.”
Dalton narrows his eyes in obvious confusion and looks at me.
“Dalton,” Ivy says quickly, placing a hand on his arm. “It’s fine.”
“It’s not fucking fine,” Wade snaps, his composure slipping for a moment. His eyes shift to her, softening slightly. “Ivy, I need you to listen and take this seriously. You and Hadley are likely in danger.”
I feel Lila flinch beside me, her fingers gripping mine tighter.
Her face goes pale. “What are you talking about? Hadley’s with my mom—”
“I know,” he interrupts, his voice lowering. “That’s why I went there first. She’s safe, for now. But we need to talk. Somewhere private.”
Alinna takes a few steps closer to Ivy.
Ivy tilts her head, narrowing her eyes slightly. “You can talk here, Kyler. Whatever it is, these are my friends.” She motions to Dalton and me. “And since you clearly know them…”
Wade looks at me then, his jaw working like he’s debating how much to say. “It’s classified.”
“Of course it is,” Dalton mutters.
At that moment, my front door opens. Townsend steps in, a casual grin in place until he takes in the scene. “What’s going on in here?”
“Perfect timing,” Dalton says dryly, nodding toward Wade. “Looks like we’ve got ourselves a situation.”
Townsend’s gaze sharpens as he looks at Wade, then at Ivy, whose hands are trembling slightly. “Wade,” Townsend says, his tone shifting to something more serious. “You’re not here on official business, are you?”
“No,” Wade admits. “But it doesn’t mean this isn’t urgent.”
Townsend shuts the door behind him, his grin fully gone now. “Then spit it out. What’s the problem?”
Wade takes a deep breath, looking between each of us and then at Ivy again.
“You’re going to hear about it soon anyway, when they inevitably call for another joint op.
So I’ll make it simple. The mission from a few months back—it didn’t stay clean.
Target got out. Disappeared. And before he vanished”—Wade pauses— “he gave us one final gift. The leak? It’s not just military intel.
It’s operator names. Family members. Addresses.
” He looks between Townsend, Wells, Dalton, and me.
“Delta’s been compromised.” He swallows, his eyes locking on to his ex-wife. “Ivy, your name is on that list.”