Page 64 of Wounded Hearts

Epilogue

A week had passedsince the incident at the hospital and Drew still struggled to sleep. Visions of Mara hurt, coupled with losing Smithy, was playing on his mind night and day. But today wasn’t a day for sadness. Today he was taking Mara out. He’d planned a surprise for her. But first they had an update meeting at Fortis.

Nate slid into the chair beside him. “Hey, Drew.”

“Hi, Nate.”

“How’s the wound?”

Drew rolled his shoulder and touched a hand to his chest. “Good.” Lauren had all but removed the scar, leaving just a small line he was happy to keep as a reminder. “How’s Nancy and Noah?”

Nate smiled at the sound of his kids’ names. “Great. Noah dotes in her and she has him wrapped around her little finger.”

“Not just Noah I bet.” Drew grinned at the man’s joy. He wanted that with Mara.

“No.”

Zack walked in with Jace beside him and the room fell silent as all the chatter stopped.

“Let’s get down to business. Smithy’s tracker is working and so are the others. We tracked them to Ireland and then back to the UK. They’re now settled in Snowdonia. We’ve enlisted Eidolon who are going to do a recon mission. Our drones will be going up tonight.”

Zack flicked a piece of paper over and read it. “The text, along with the meeting we had with the professor, confirms what Winslow said. In basic terms, it states three sisters will be the ones to rid the world of the weak. Megan is making progress with the drug and the information Smithy sent her last night is proving helpful with that.”

Zack dropped the paper and looked up at them, pain on his face. “I don’t need to say this, but Smithy is taking a deadly risk by being there, sending us this info, and I don’t like it one fucking bit. That is why we’re mounting a rescue mission to bring him home. It will be just a few men and we go in dark.”

“Thank fuck for that. Lizzie is beside herself,” Dane stated as the others nodded their agreement with the mission to bring their brother home.

“I want in.” Jace looked at Zack who nodded.

Dane and Daniel spoke at the same time. “Me, too.”

“The mission will be led by Jack and myself and will include Jace, Dane, Daniel, Will on comms, and Reid from Jack’s team.”

“Good bloke, that.” Kanan crossed his ankles on the desk.

Drew agreed with that statement. He’d killed more than half the men on the rescue mission, working his way through the building with a calm born of experience. Drew had watched the feeds from the bodycams, as had the others. They now knew Rhea had always had an escape plan in the form of several motorbikes hidden in the vineyard.

“We also have a vital piece of information that Mara has given us.”

Drew watched the rest of the team, knowing this was news to them, but not to him. She’d shared it with him almost a week ago, having learned a lot about precious and semi-precious gems in her time at Well’s side.

“The opal ring Rhea Winslow wore when she confronted Drew, Dane and the ladies at the hospital, is a one of a kind and belonged to the Czar of Russia before it was stolen during the massacre of the Royal Family there. It was bought by a dealer in Germany who sold it on. We’re still following that lead, but my guess is if we find the buyer, we find the husband.”

Lucy rubbed her growing bump. “Wow, that’s great.”

“It is and I think we’re on the home stretch with this now. Get home to your families but stay vigilant. Tomorrow the hard work begins.”

Drew was on his feet and heading towards the door in seconds. He had a date with the woman he loved, and he wasn’t going to waste a second of it.

* * *

“Close your eyes.”

Drew laughed as Mara tried to peek over his hands as he shielded her eyes. He’d brought her to the one place he knew she felt at home, felt happy. It had taken a little organising but when he wanted something, he could be romantic. He led her in and smiled at the faces around them with happiness in his heart. He’d lost a limb and it had brought him here to these people who’d given him so much in return. “Ready?”

Mara huffed, but he felt her humour. “Yes.”

Drew took his hands away and Mara blinked her eyes open, taking in the sea of faces as they all shouted surprise. Mara turned to him, her eyes full of joy and love as she accepted the hugs from the children at the rehabilitation centre who crowded her. A banner reading ‘welcome back’ had been hand-drawn by the kids who’d all been treated by her in some way or another.