Page 47 of Protecting Salvation

“I know but I’m hoping we can get it handled and then she can deal with it.”

“I get that. McCain is under review by the Code of Ethics committee and will likely be suspended for misconduct over his treatment of Peyton. By all accounts, Aubrey has come back from maternity leave early and is losing her mind about a few things. She wants her department cleaned up and doesn’t care how many heads she has to roll to get it done.”

Hurricane grinned. “I always liked her.”

“She’s badass.”

“Anything I can do to help? I feel like a lost limb.”

“Just keep your girl safe and call Marni. That kid is missing you.”

He couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face at that. He loved that kid and the bond they’d formed in South Africa was tight. Of all the people she could have trusted, it had been the biggest, scariest looking one of them all.

He said it out loud and Lotus shrugged. “Kids have good instincts about people. They can spot a fraud or a good person a mile away and you, my friend, are one of the best.”

“She’s a good kid. I’m glad Bás killed that bastard who created her.”

“Yeah me too and seeing him and Val so happy makes me happy.”

Hurricane wasn’t usually touchy-feely but since Rykov had died Lotus had softened in some ways. It was as if she was looking internally and doing everything she could to be everything to everyone to fix a mistake that had never been hers.

So he reached for her hand. “What about you, Naz?” He used her real name so she knew he was being serious. “You deserve to be happy too.”

Her eyes filled with tears and she looked up and furiously blinked them back. “You don’t know some of the things I’ve done, Hurricane. I don’t deserve happiness and even if I did, who would want a broken woman who wakes up every night screaming or can’t close her eyes without seeing all the shit she’s done, all the hurt?”

“Have you spoken to someone? Peyton could help you.”

She shook her head and laughed. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine and I think any man would be lucky to have you.”

“And I think you have rose-coloured glasses on since you fell head first into whatever love potion you and Peyton drank that night at the bar.”

“I’m sure it seems sudden but, honestly, we grew close when she was recuperating after her attack and then I pulled away because….”

“Because you’re a complete dumbass.”

He scowled. “I was going to say I didn’t want to hurt her or drag her into my health nightmares.”

“And now?”

“Honestly, I still don’t want her involved because I know it will hurt her, but I can’t seem to stay away. If the shoe was on the other foot, I’d go mental if she locked me out.”

“Yet I bet you take all your calls from Dr D away from her and don’t share shit about your symptoms worsening.”

“How do you know that? Did Watchdog hack me? That is not cool.”

“No, don’t be daft. I know because it’s what I’d do and you just told me.”

“Shit.”

“You okay, big guy?”

He knew she was asking about his symptoms. “Yeah, I will be.”

“Good because I can’t lose you. This team needs more wins before it can cope with another loss.”

“I’m going to be fine.”