Page 119 of Forget-Me-Nots and Apricots

Lucas's hand found mine, his thumb tracing gentle circles against my palm. "For one thing, we caught his men. And they talked."

"Extensively," came a deep voice from the doorway. I looked up to find Gabriel standing there, his imposing frame filling the entrance. A bandage covered the cut on his temple, but otherwise, he looked as commanding as ever, though exhaustion lined his face. Dakota stood slightly behind him, his dark eyes immediately finding mine, a silent question in them—are you okay?

I nodded slightly in response to his unspoken concern before turning back to Gabriel.

"What did you learn?" I asked, my voice stronger than I expected. Gabriel moved into the room, Dakota following close behind. They both looked exhausted but alert, the tension in their bodies telling me they were still in protection mode.

"Enough to build a case," Gabriel said, his blue eyes intense as they met mine. "Blackwood has been running this operation for years, using private contractors to eliminate threats to Meridian's business model. Dr. Thompson wasn't the first researcher he's targeted, just the most recent."

"We have names, dates, financial records," Dakota added, his deep voice rumbling through the quiet room. "The men we captured gave us everything once they realized Blackwood had abandoned them."

"Abandoned them?" I echoed.

Theo adjusted his glasses. "Standard protocol for operations of this nature. Once operatives are compromised, their employer cuts all ties to maintain deniability." Gabriel moved closer, his expression grim. "Which means the contractors had nothing to lose by giving us information."

Lucas squeezed my hand gently. "They gave us everything—names, dates, financial transactions. Enough to bring Blackwood down."

"We've already handed the evidence to trusted contacts in federal law enforcement," Gabriel added, his voice carrying that quiet authority that seemed to steady everyone in the room. "Blackwood will be arrested within hours, along with several of his associates."

Despite this reassurance, anxiety still coiled in my stomach. "But what if he has other people working for him? What if—"

"He doesn't," Dakota interrupted, his deep voice certain. "We've identified his entire network. Every contractor, every informant." His dark eyes met mine, steady and reassuring. "We're thorough, Vivian. This ends today."

I wanted to believe him—wanted desperately to believe him—but after everything that had happened, fear wasn't so easily dismissed.

"I understand your concern," Gabriel said, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. His presence was solid, grounding. "Trust doesn't come easily after what you've experienced."

"It's not that I don't trust you," I said quickly, not wanting him to misunderstand. "It's just..." I gestured helplessly, struggling to articulate the knot of anxiety that had taken up permanent residence in my chest.

"The trauma response is entirely normal," Theo offered, his analytical voice somehow comforting. "Your body's defense mechanisms remain activated, preparing for additional threats despite logical reassurance of safety."

Lucas gave him a look. "Could you be any more clinical about it?"

"I find precision comforting," I admitted quietly, surprising myself. "It helps make sense of the chaos."

Gabriel's expression softened slightly. "What Theo means, in his own way, is that it's okay to still be afraid. Your life has been threatened repeatedly. That's not something you just shake off."

Dakota moved closer, his solid presence providing another layer of security. "But you're not alone anymore," he said, his deep voice gentle despite his imposing frame. "We won't let anything happen to you."

I nodded, trying to accept their reassurances even as fear continued to gnaw at the edges of my mind. "What happens now?" I asked, focusing on practical concerns to keep the anxiety at bay.

"For the immediate future, you stay here," Gabriel explained. "This location remains secure—only the five of us know about it."

"And once Blackwood is in custody?" I pressed, needing to understand the full plan.

"Federal agents will take him into custody within hours," Theo said, consulting his phone. "The warrants are already being processed. They're moving simultaneously on Blackwood and his key associates to prevent any warning or evidence destruction."

"Once he's in custody," Gabriel continued, "we'll work with federal prosecutors to build the case. The evidence we've gathered is substantial—financial records, communication logs, testimony from the contractors."

"What about my shop?" I asked, the thought of my little sanctuary suddenly overwhelming. "My home?"

Lucas's expression softened. "Your shop is fine, flower girl. Dakota had a security team keeping watch over it."

I turned to Dakota in surprise. "You did?"

He nodded, his dark eyes meeting mine. "I know how much it means to you."

The simple acknowledgment of something so important to me—my livelihood, my passion—made my throat tight with emotion. These four men had thought of everything, protected everything that mattered to me, even while fighting for my life. The realization made tears sting my eyes.

---