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“Welcome to Bozeman, Kate,” the pilot announced, abruptly pulling her from her thoughts.

Standing, Kate buttoned her jacket and straightened her shoulders. She would face this challenge like she had all the others that had come her way. The instant the door opened and the stairs dropped, she heard the pounding of Ash’s feet. Yes, it seemed he was very anxious to talk. The only thing that helped make this bearable was the softer sound of another set of feet. She hadn’t been sure Jules would show up, but the tension in her bones now felt a little lighter than before.

The man who appeared at the doorway was not the Ash she’d known. This big, brawny, grim-eyed man was the one his enemies faced.

So that was the way this was going to go. Having no choice, Kate eased down and pulled the gun from the holster at her ankle.

Fury flaring on his face, Ash pulled his weapon from his holster and shouted over his shoulder, “Stay back, Jules!”

“What? Don’t be ridiculous, Ash!”

Sneaking under her husband’s arm, her pretty face one of exasperation, Jules snapped at Kate, “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Kate. Put that gun away.” She then turned to Ash. “And you! Put yours away and get that look off your face. You’re both acting like idiots.”

Kate met Ash’s eyes, and they nodded at the same time. She returned her weapon to her holster, and Ash returned his gun to his.

“Good,” Jules said. “Now, let’s sit down and talk like rational adults.”

Kate kept her eyes locked with Ash’s as she watched him drop onto the small sofa across from her.

Jules strode over to Kate and pulled her into a hard hug. “I’ve missed you.”

After returning the hug, she pulled away and said, “Missed you, too. How is my godson?”

“Eager to see you. Which he will, as soon as we mend this ridiculous rift.” She turned back to her husband, who was glaring at her. “Right, sweetheart?”

“We’ll see,” Ash said. He patted the open space beside him. “Come sit down.”

Rolling her eyes, most likely at his bossiness, Jules nevertheless sat beside him.

“Let me say this before the two of you start yelling and the guns come out again.” Tilting her head, Jules looked at Kate. “You are my family, my friend, my mentor. You saved my life when I didn’t think I had anything left to live for. I trust you, and I know you think you had good reasons for keeping things from us.”

“Jules, let me—” Ash began.

“No, Ash. You agreed you’d let me have my say first, and I’m not finished. You know this woman. She helped you find justice for what happened to you and your fellow soldiers. Without her, you and I would never have met. She has helped OZ in innumerable ways. The things she’s kept from us cannot undo all of the good she has done.”

Feeling slightly vindicated, Kate opened her mouth to thank Jules, but she stopped when Jules held up her hand. “Not finished yet.” She leaned forward to glare at her, which at any other time would have made Kate smile. Jules was much too kind to look even remotely mean. “Kate, my precious friend, how could you not trust us with this? You know who we are. You know what we stand for. We’re on the same side. Right?”

The silence that followed was both palpable and expectant. Finally, Jules gave a little laugh and said, “That was it, guys. I’ve had my say. Now, let’s talk like big boys and girls, and figure this out.”

“You’re right, Jules,” Kate said. “I am sorry for the lack of transparency. There are moving parts—still are—that could be destroyed at the slightest breeze. I believed I was doing the right thing. I still do.”

* * *

Ash huffed out a frustrated grunt. The woman in front of him had been one of his most trusted friends for years. Jules was right. Without her, he might never have found justice for the betrayals of his past. He certainly would never have met Jules, and the thought of not having his phenomenal wife and precious son in his life was unthinkable. But the past year or so, it seemed that every time he turned around, Kate had done something that had made him question not only her loyalty but also her character. But he definitely owed her the opportunity to explain.

“All right, Kate. I’ll work on getting over the fact that you pulled a gun on me, but learning that Lars was part of WREN and was, in fact, the first Lazarus? That’s not something I’m going to be able to overcome.”

“The only reason I pulled a gun was because you looked like you wanted to murder me. So self-preservation was my only excuse. However, I’ll go ahead and apologize for that. I reacted on instinct.”

Ash nodded, giving her that out. He had been furious. Still was, but thanks to Jules, he was slightly less so. “All right. Let’s get back to Lars and WREN.”

Visibly trying to relax, Kate leaned back in her seat. She was paler than normal, and her eyes held a sorrow he figured was directly related to talking about Lars.

“You both knew Lars.”

Ash nodded. He hadn’t known the man long before his illness became apparent, but he had both liked and admired the man. If anyone had ever asked him to describe Lars Walker, words like brilliant, ethical, honest, and charitable would be at the top of the list. And maybe at the very top, he would add that he loved his wife, Kate, with every fiber of his being. Feeling the same way about his own wife, Ash could definitely understand that.

But now, knowing he had been associated with WREN, that he had apparently been the very first Lazarus, put a new spin on everything he’d thought he knew about the man.