Page 26 of Hawk on the Hunt

Now it was Zara who chuckled. Dylan smirked. “Not a problem.”

“So, to get back to your question,” Ace now said. “There is one thing that makes us recognize each other.”

She furrowed her forehead, and looked at all five men in turn, but there was nothing that made them stick out as different. “How?”

“We feel a prickling at our nape when we’re near another precognitive,” Dylan explained in Ace’s stead.

“Wow. That’s astonishing! I mean, do you all feel that right now?”

“Yep,” Dylan said.

“You get used to it,” Fox said. “After living together with these guys for a few months now, I barely register it.”

“But it’s still there? Or does it fade?” Zara asked.

“It doesn’t fade,” Fox answered.

She glanced back at Ace. “Dylan said that you asked him to live here now.”

“That’s right.”

“Uhm, he said, uhm that I…”

Dylan put a hand on her forearm. “Let me.” He turned to look at Ace. “I told Zara it would be okay if she stayed here.”

“It is. As long as you teach her how to spot if she’s followed. We can’t have anybody being followed here,” Ace said looking serious.

“I’ll take care of that,” Dylan said. “Besides, she won’t be leaving the house much.”

Zara already opened her mouth to protest, but didn’t get a chance when Phoebe suddenly winced in pain.

“Ouch!”

“What’s wrong, baby?” Ace instantly turned to her, taking her hand and leaning in closer. He suddenly wasn’t the determined leader of this motley crew of ex-CIA agents anymore. He was a concerned boyfriend and father-to-be.

“He’s pressing hard on one of my nerves. I think I have to get up,” Phoebe said and braced herself on the table.

Ace helped her up and supported her weight. “How about I take you upstairs so you can rest?”

“I don’t wanna interrupt your dinner,” she said softly, while she put one hand in the small of her back, exhaling sharply.

“I’m done eating anyway.”

“Liar.”

He laughed and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I got you in this condition. Now I’d better take care of you.” He turned his head briefly. “Night, guys. See you in the morning.”

As everybody wished them a good night, Zara’s gaze lingered on Phoebe as Ace led her out into the hallway, supporting her weight as best he could.

She suddenly felt Dylan’s hand squeezing her arm, and looked at him. He smiled at her, and she knew instinctively what he was thinking, because it was the same as she was thinking: an ex-CIA agent on the run could be with the woman he loved, and could even have a family. Ace and Phoebe would welcome a child into this world soon despite the situation they were in. Everything was possible if they wanted it bad enough. Did she and Dylan want it bad enough? Did they want each other bad enough to take this risk? To be together even if it meant they had to make sacrifices? Wasn’t that what love was all about? To make sacrifices for the ones you love? To live every day as if it were the last, yet hope life would never end?

15

Dylan walked down the large staircase of the mansion. He could already hear voices coming from the kitchen. Zara had awoken just as he’d gotten dressed.

The smell of coffee drifted to him, and he followed the aroma into the kitchen. Sun streamed in from several of the windows, making the room feel airy and light. Olivia, Tiger’s girlfriend was at the stove, tossing eggs into a pan, while Ace poured himself a cup of coffee. Yankee and Lilly sat at the table, drinking coffee and eating toast.

“Morning,” Dylan greeted them, and received the same greetings in response.