Page 25 of Puck Me Twice Over

“Deal.” Flick bit her lip and nodded, gripping my arm tight.

Not completely happy with that outcome, but relieved she seemed okay for now I turned my attention back to the other person still a part of our three-way conversation. “Are we handling this ourselves?”

“Yeah. Ward’s on his way. We'll be there in half an hour. Find the asshole.” Valentine hung up.

I looked down at Felicity, my chest tight for failing her. For leaving her exposed and for not dealing with the boyfriend earlier. So much fucking earlier on my own. But after tonight she'd never have to worry about him again.

“You’re safe, beautiful.”

“No police, right?” Felicity seemed to get the idea pretty fast.

I nodded, cradling her against my chest where my heart beat slow and steady for her.

She leaned her head on my shoulder and cried silently.

Hux stayed in the house with Felicity while the rest of us went hunting. He argued that Garry boy wouldn’t have hung around afterward and that we’d never find him, but I knew how a stalker thought. Hell, I'd been one for years, if a little less intrusive on my girl’s life.

Or maybe not from what Garrett seemed to have said to her. Either way, I needed to find the man and end him. Apparently, the other Chimeras had experience in the matters and were more than willing to help. Valentine, I knew about. Coach⁠—

He was present simply to keep us from going too far. When he handed me a loaded 9mm, I wondered if I’d made the right call.

“Would she be dead if you hadn’t found her within a minute?” he asked, his voice preternaturally calm.

When I couldn't answer, he walked away, checking his own weapon, and then leaned against his car and waited for me to outline a plan.

If ever there was an exception about giving my coach orders, tonight was that moment. But this was my sandpit, metaphorically speaking, and he appeared content to listen.

For now.

I gave them both everything I knew about Garrett. From how he treated Flick and through their history—an abbreviated version—to the more recent events that lead us through to tonight, the trip to the house we’d all attended notwithstanding.

“Make it clean,” was all Ward said.

The gun didn’t weigh half as heavy in my hand as Hux locked the cabin door behind us.

Then we walked into the darkness, and I hoped I was right.

Flick didn’t ask questions eight hours later when we reentered the house. Hux took one look at the silent version of each of us, and made a feral sound, kissing the top of Felicity’s head before he left.

I watched him leave, knowing the team relationship would change after this. Then my gaze returned to her.

“I missed you,” she said simply.

“Good. I’m going to shower. Then we can talk.”

She smiled faintly and held up a cup of tea. “Hux says I shouldn’t for a while,” she murmured.

“He’s right.” I looked at Ward and Valentine who each had stripped off their clothes outside and changed clothing at their cars. “Thank you.”

Valentine nodded. “See you at training.”

“I owe you."

“No, you don’t.”

Ward considered me. “Two days. We don’t have that much of a fucking luxury. Don’t ask me for a honeymoon this year. Ma’am.” He inclined his head in Felicity’s direction.

She giggled, and pressed a hand over her mouth as Ward Bishop departed, taking Valentine with him.