She played the scene out, putting all her adrenaline andfear into it. By the time they took Shannon away, she was weeping in Zach’sarms.
He carried her to theirhelo. Hesat down, cradling her on his lap. “You were perfect.”
She sniffled.
“You were excellent, niece.” Her uncle took the copilotseat. “There’s a place for you if you decide to give up the whole clothesthing.”
“Abso-fucking-lutelynot.” Zach’s arms wound around her.
“Oh, hey, maybe not on the missions’ part, but I definitelyneed her on the design front.” Lou looked cheerful now that they were out ofrange of the security cams. “I think the field test went well.”
“I think Kenzie might have thought about her mission more ifshe’d been wearing a chastity belt,” her uncle complained.
The pilot door opened, and Coop hopped in. “Is Shannon offokay?”
“She’s good. Drake’s explaining it to her before they go tothe first site,” Zach explained. “And he’s smoothed things over with the basewe stole this sucker from.”
“Excellent. Jail was not how I wanted to end the day.” Hestarted his precheck.
Kala stepped into the back, followed by a glowing Kenzie.
Kala looked at Devi and made a gagging sound before takingher seat.
Kenzie sat down beside her.
A laugh went through Devi because she felt safe and warm.“Just tell us.”
“She doesn’t have to. We saw it,” TJ complained.
Kenzie ignored them and told her tale.
Devi sat back, utterly happy with where she was.
Zach still had things he would need to do. Huisman was stillout there. Her cousins were in danger.
But as long as they were together, they would win.
Epilogue
Dallas, TX
Many years later
There were days when Theo Taggart wondered what his lifewould have been like had he not had his past ripped from his brain. Days whenthe memories that were still gone would surface and whisper along his mind likea ghost trying to take him to the past.
He’d learned long ago how to deal with them.
Despite the crowd milling around Top’s private banquet hall,he let the world shrink down, followed the training that had become soengrained in him by the deeply caring professionals who had created wholeprotocols to help him deal with his trauma.
In that moment he thanked them. Kai and Eve. He said a quietprayer of gratitude and began the process.
He took a long breath and let the memory flow over him. Avision of the most beautiful woman in the world punching him in the gutassailed him. He could practically feel the air whooshing from his lungs.
Damn, that woman took his breath away. He didn’t fight tostay in the memory, simply let it be.
“You okay, Dad?”
He opened his eyes and his baby girl stood there looking upat him. She was her mother’s mini me at one point, though there was zero doubtthat kid had a lot of his soul. “I’m good.”