Page 94 of Rogue Hope
“Hence the in-person reveal,” Lawrence explained with the pragmatism of a man who had built a career on evidence rather than conjecture.
Ronan turned to Maya, both still processing this unexpected development. “So we’re ...”
“Step-siblings,” Maya confirmed, looking equally bewildered. “I guess?”
“Well,” Kenji announced loudly, “I just lost fifty dollars on Ronan and Maya’s engagement timeline, but goodness, I should’ve put money on Victoria and Lawrence. That would’ve funded my next three vacations.”
“You knew?” Axel demanded.
“Definitely not,” Kenji replied. “But the signs were there if you paid attention. Lawrence appearing at three of Victoria’s speaking engagements in the past year. Victoria’s unexpected interest in cold case documentaries. Plus they’ve been finishing each other’s sentences since that fundraiser last Christmas.”
“You noticed their sentence structure?” Griffin asked incredulously.
“I notice everything,” Kenji replied with dignity. “It’s called situational awareness.”
The unexpected family development transformed the already festive atmosphere into something approaching controlled chaos. Finn watched as Ronan moved to embrace his mother—awkwardly at first, then with genuine warmth, their physical resemblance striking despite Victoria’s more polished appearance. Something wistful crossed Zara’s expression as she congratulated both couples.
He would give anything to be the source of that happiness for her. But it wasn’t his to give. Never had been.
“Finn.”
He turned—too quickly, sending a stab of pain through his ribs—to find Admiral Knight approaching alongside Jack Reese. Their expressions were serious enough to immediately put him on guard. His muscles tensed instinctively as he prepared for—what? Dismissal? A polite but firm suggestion that his time with Knight Tactical had reached its natural conclusion now that he was injured?
“Sir,” he acknowledged, straightening automatically despite the protest from his wounds. “Jack.”
Reese shook his head. “Dude.”
“At ease before you pull your stitches,” the Admiral said dryly.
Finn forced himself to relax, though wariness remained. “Two senior officers cornering me during my welcome-back party? Can’t blame me for checking exit routes.”
Admiral Knight’s mouth quirked slightly. “Good instincts. Part of why we want you.”
“Want me?” Finn echoed, genuinely confused.
“Knight Tactical. Permanent position,” the Admiral stated bluntly. “Your skills are wasted anywhere else.”
“Even when applied to taking bullets meant for team members,” Jack added, his expression caught between seriousness and admiration.
“Especially then,” Ronin confirmed as he approached and joined in the conversation. “Anyone who would step in front of gunfire for one of our own belongs with us.”
Finn blinked, certain he’d misheard. “You’re offering me a position. After I nearly got myself killed on my first official mission?”
“We prefer to call it ‘demonstrating exceptional commitment,’” the Admiral replied, completely straight-faced.
“I—” Finn began, then stopped, genuinely at a loss for words.
“One condition,” Ronan added, his tone deliberately casual. “Zara’s approval. It’s her team you’d be joining.”
And there it was—the complication that overshadowed everything else. Zara. Would she want him as a permanent fixture in her work life? In her personal orbit? After everything they’d been through, after he’d nearly died protecting her, would she choose to keep him close or maintain a safe distance?
“Think about it,” Admiral Knight said, correctly interpreting Finn’s hesitation. “Offer stands.”
As they headed back inside, Finn felt a curious mixture of hope and trepidation washing through him. A permanent position. A chance to belong. A reason to stay.
But only if she wanted him to.
He closed his eyes briefly, familiar words of scripture rising unbidden in his mind. Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. For the first time in months, he allowed himself to hope—not with certainty, but with quiet trust in whatever came next.
