Page 58 of Fighting for Lucy

Fox’s dark eyes shifted to Zander. “The weapons deal went down last night, right when and where your intel said it was going to.”

Zander didn't relax or rejoice at the news because they both knew something else was coming.

“But?” Zander asked.

“But Zafir Mostafa’s younger brother was able to escape with a handful of men before their camp was raided,” Fox informed them. “Zimraan wasn’t among the dead or those taken into custody, and word is, he’s out for vengeance against the man he believes to be responsible for his brother’s death.”

Fox didn't have to name names.

The Syrian terrorist wanted revenge against Zander.

January 26th

12:19 P.M.

His head was still reelingfrom everything they’d discussed at the meeting.

Zimraan Mostafa was out to avenge his brother’s death and he was placing the blame squarely on Zander’s shoulders.

That meant he wasn’t safe.

Worse than that, it meant Lucy wasn’t safe.

As far as he could tell there were only three options. One, he hunt down the Syrian terrorist himself. Two, go into hiding and just disappear, something that was absolutely doable, if he wanted he could just fall off the face of the Earth and nobody would ever find him unless he wanted to be found. Or three, he stayed there, watched Lucy’s back, protected what was his, and trusted that Prey had his back.

Trusting anyone was hard after what he’d been through. Just because it wasn’t betrayal, just faulty intel that got him and his team captured, it didn't mean he hadn't lost faith in the system. His faith in everything, most importantly himself, had been shattered.

Running was what his brain was urging him to do. The darkness inside him as well. It whispered insidiously that he couldn’t protect Lucy, that he’d fail her just like he failed the rest of his men.

“We can do this, Zander. We have your back. All of us. I know you lost your team and having another one must be terrifying, but these guys are some of the best, just as skilled as your guys were. Prey will be there for you, every step of the way. Please don’t run. Trust us, or at least trust me, to have your back.”

Looking down at Lucy, at her imploring blue eyes, there was no way he could say no to her.

“I’ll stay, baby. But I think you're the only one here who wants to be on my team.” Zander couldn’t help but feel like the others were only tolerating him because of Lucy, looking down on him for betraying his sister like he had.

“No,” she said, shaking her head so firmly her blonde locks went swishing about it. “Absolutely not. If Eagle didn't trust you,there is no way he would have let me get on a plane with you. And if these guys didn't trust you, then you wouldn’t be here. Trust me on that. Prey is a family, andyouare part of that family. Because you're important to me, sure, but I'm not the only one who you're important to.”

When Lucy looked over his shoulder to the other end of the long conference table, Zander reluctantly shifted so he could follow her gaze.

Scarlett was sitting there along with Tate, and all throughout the meeting she’d been shooting him looks he couldn’t decipher. Zander no longer knew how to read his twin sister’s expressions, even though it used to be as natural as breathing.

“Every single one of these guys knows you were in an impossible situation. They all understand why you faked your death, and I don’t think any one of them could say they wouldn’t do the same in your situation. You should know,” Lucy added, “that Tate had your sister arrested because he thought it was the right thing to do under the circumstances.”

“He did what now?” Zander growled, making Lucy chuckle.

“Everyone makes mistakes, Zander, because we’re all human. Go talk to your sister, she misses you, and she’s scared of losing you again, it’s why she’s pushing you away.”

“Did she say that?”

“Yeah, she did. Go.”

With a nod, he slowly pushed away from the table. Scarlett watched his approach, only looking away briefly when Tate whispered something in her ear and dropped a quick kiss to her lips.

Since she didn't tell him to get the hell away from her, he pulled out the chair beside her and took a seat. The SEAL guys had left about ten minutes ago as had the Prey guys, so it was only him, Lucy, Scarlett, Ella, Cassie, and Tate left in the conference room. The others had gathered down near Lucy andno one was looking at him and his sister, and he appreciated them giving the two of them some space.

“I'm sorry, Scarlett,” he said. It didn't seem like enough for what he’d put his sister through, just like it hadn't seemed like enough this morning when he’d been with Lucy. But it was all he had to give her. There was no going back and doing it all over again. What was done was done, and they all had to live with the consequences of his choices.

“I don’t understand why you'd tell Mom and Dad you were alive but not me.” The raw pain in his sister’s voice tore at his heart, ripping off the scabs of wounds that were only just beginning to heal and making them bleed freely all over again.

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