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He moved his hand and stroked it down her arm until he could tangle his fingers with hers. She had such a kind heart. He hated all she had been through.

“When my sister was four years old, she was diagnosed with a rare kind of cancer. She was in and out of the hospital as a child until she was nine years old. It was at that point that they thought they had cured her, but the thing was, she went in for yearly scans, because apparently once you have cancer, you're susceptible to having it come back. Three years ago, it did.”

“The same kind?”

“No, this time it was different. I’ll let CiCi explain. That is if you want me to set up this meeting.”

He could see her considering the idea.

“Are you sure it wouldn’t upset them to talk about their past?”

“I know these women. They are just like you. They would want to help.”

“What do you mean, just like me?”

“They have big generous hearts.”

13

“How’s Jase doing?” Brax asked the men leaning around Gideon’s granite kitchen countertop. He knew that his teammate was currently with his parents in Missouri, with Bonnie and the twins, but he hadn’t heard much more than that.

Everybody looked over at their lieutenant who shrugged. Brax definitely wasn’t going to get any answers from that quarter.

“I talked to him four days ago,” Nolan said. “He sounded in great spirits, and I didn’t believe a word of what he was saying. In Germany they did a great job on repairing the break. He has a lot of hardware in his body now. The doctors were really hopeful that he could get back to eighty to ninety percent of where he was. But it’s the surrounding muscle that’s the problem. In another week he’s going to go to Walter Reed for some intensive physical therapy. He’s bound and determined to get back to where he was.”

Nolan took a long swallow of his beer. So did Kostya. It was clear that neither one of them wanted to say that a full recovery wasn’t likely.

Dammit.

It was time to change the subject, and Gideon did.

“She’s got one hell of a case,” Gideon said, referring to Jenny.

They all looked to the women huddled in the living room.

Brax had worried when so many women had shown up, but as he looked them over, he realized that they would be gentle with Jenny.

“I don’t think she wants to sue New Era Cyber Tech,” Brax said as he leaned his forearms against Gideon’s counter. “She’s just trying to get through each day. I’m hoping talking to the ladies will be the impetus she needs to go to a psychologist so that she can start living her life again.”

“Is she still in the hotel?” Linc asked. “Or has she returned to her apartment?”

“That’s the problem, she doesn’t have an apartment to return to. She moved out when she took the long-term assignment in Dhaka. She hasn’t left the hotel since she got there, except for the three times with me. This field trip makes four. The only apartment-hunting she’s done has been online.”

“Agoraphobia?” Nolan asked.

“Maybe,” Brax admitted. “I’m really not sure. That’s why I think she needs to talk to a professional. I’ve seen her have two panic attacks. One at a crowded mall and another when we went to a quiet restaurant. Then there’s the fact that she doesn’t feel safe in the hotel room. She shoves a heavy chair in front of the door each night.”

“Maggie ended up with night terrors after Kyle tried to kidnap her. She’d wake up screaming. No matter what I’d do or say, they weren’t getting better. She ended up seeing someone in Jasper Creek. The woman really helped Maggie,” Nolan explained.

“I really thought you would stay there,” Kostya said.

“Maggie likes it here. All the Omega Sky women have been great, but she misses the small-town feel of Jasper Creek. I’m not sure, but I think she would be happier down in Tennessee. If that’s true, then we’re moving. Trust me, boss, if that ever comes to pass, you’ll be the first to know,” Nolan told his lieutenant.

“Dammit, don’t tell me that my old boss is trying to recruit you for his shitty security company. You’re a SEAL, dammit,” Kostya growled.

Brax, Linc, Gideon and Nolan laughed.

“I dare you to call Onyx Security a shitty security company in front of Simon Clark.” Gideon grinned.