Page 15 of Devlin

Dipping her head, Mia stood. “You may use my office as long as you like. I need to check on my staff.” Her voice was calm, but her feet itched to carry her far away. Without waiting foracknowledgment, she nodded to the others before pushing past Devlin and heading out the door.

She battled the desire to race down the stairs but forced her feet to descend slowly, her movements deliberate. Spotting Farid across the warehouse, she crossed to him. “I need to check on the villages. Can you handle locking up after Margarethe and the others leave?”

“Of course.”

Relief softened her features as she gave him a grateful nod. She stepped outside and climbed into her Jeep. When she started the engine, she looked over her shoulder. The three men were leaving the building, but she only felt Devlin’s sharp, unyielding, piercing gaze through the growing dusk. She needed to put as much distance between her and him as she could. Her chest tightened, and she gripped the wheel tightly before driving away.

7

The moment Mia left the small office, a hollow ache settled in Devlin’s chest. It was a void he hadn’t felt in years but recognized instantly. Her absence had hit him harder than he could have imagined, leaving him grappling with the heartache he had buried long ago. But even amid the weight of that pain, a strange clarity came with seeing her again. It was a bittersweet relief, like taking his first breath after holding it underwater for too long.

Before he could follow her, the room’s tension sharpened. Three sets of eyes fixed on him, unrelenting in their scrutiny.

Margarethe arched a brow, her no-nonsense demeanor cutting through the quiet. “Do you want to explain what just happened? I’ve known Mia a long time, and I’ve never seen her like that.”

Devlin shifted uncomfortably, his gaze flicking between Margarethe and his two fellow Keepers, Cole and Todd. Their expressions revealed a mix of curiosity and concern, paired with the expectation that he’d handle this without derailing the mission. He recognized it because it was exactly how he’d look if the roles were reversed.

He scrubbed a hand over his face, releasing a heavy sigh that felt as though it had been lodged in his chest for years. Whenhe finally looked back at Margarethe, her steady, expectant stare bore into him. He wasn’t just talking to colleagues… this was Mia’s supervisor. Whatever he said now could affect her job, and the last thing he wanted was to bring more trouble to her door.

“I know her,” he admitted, his voice gravelly with restraint. “And before you ask—no, she wasn’t some casual hookup from my past. I met her when she was fifteen. I was sixteen. We dated for ten years.”

“Holy shit,” Todd muttered, his surprise breaking the charged silence.

“The one from your past,” Cole added, his tone laced with realization.

Devlin hesitated, debating how much to reveal. A team thrived on trust, but revisiting the pain of his history with Mia felt like walking barefoot on shattered glass. Still, honesty was nonnegotiable.

“She didn’t just get away,” he said, his voice quieter now, the weight of his admission dragging it down. “I pushed her away. Ten years ago, I broke her trust, and I know I broke her heart. What she never knew was that mine was broken, too.”

He glanced up, his gaze locking on Margarethe’s. Vulnerability clawed at him, leaving him feeling strangely exposed under her unwavering stare.

“Fuck,” Cole mumbled under his breath.

“You can say that again,” Devlin replied with a grim nod.

Margarethe leaned back in her chair, her expression carefully neutral, though her piercing eyes missed nothing. “I only have one question for you.”

Devlin stood straighter, bracing himself. “What’s that?”

“Is this going to be a problem?”

“No.” His response came quickly, too sharp, and even he knew it sounded defensive.

Her brow arched again in a silent challenge. “Are you sure about that?”

He opened his mouth, but the truth caught in his throat. With a frustrated exhale, he looked down at his boots, hands resting on his hips as he collected his thoughts. When he raised his head again, his eyes were steady.

“I hope not,” he admitted, his tone softer but resolute. “Mia is dedicated to her cause, and I’m just as committed to keeping her safe. Whatever happened between us before—it won’t interfere with the mission.”

Margarethe studied him for a moment longer before nodding and standing. Her commanding presence made the gesture feel like a dismissal. “All right. I’ll take your word for it. For now. I suggest you all get some rest. I’ll review the files tonight, and we’ll regroup in the morning.”

Devlin released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding as she walked out. His thoughts, however, refused to settle. His team might have accepted his assurance, but the storm between him and Mia wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Cole hefted the chairs and carried them down the stairs with Todd close behind, their easy camaraderie filling the space. Devlin trailed them, his mind elsewhere. As they descended, his eyes scanned the warehouse, searching instinctively for Mia. The place buzzed with activity. Voices overlapped as workers moved supplies, but she wasn’t among them.

He headed out into the cooler evening air, the scent of dust and faint traces of cooking fires mingling in the breeze. Just as his hopes began to wane, he caught sight of her.

Mia sat in a Jeep parked at the edge of the warehouse, her profile illuminated by the sun low in the sky. She looked so achingly familiar yet like a stranger all at once. Alone in the vehicle, she seemed small but undeniably resilient.

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