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For one brief moment, he considered forgetting the team’s briefing entirely. But then he remembered Carol Jenkins and the man he’d fought off the night before.
“I have to go into headquarters this morning,” he told her. “Emmett wants the team together to discuss next steps.”
“Good. I want to hear what everyone thinks.”
Blake took a beat, hating the thought of her leaving the safety and security of his apartment walls. Devon noticed this, of course.
“I’m going with you.”
He set his mug down. “I know.”
The relief in her expression made him glad he hadn’t argued.
After a rushed morning fueled by little sleep and enough caffeine to function, they were finally walking across the lobby at Echo Team’s official headquarters.
“This is impressive,” Devon muttered, glancing around.
“Wait until you see my office,” he teased.
“Good morning, Mr. Savage.” Claire Sullivan greeted him with a smile from behind the reception desk.
“Morning, Claire. And call me Blake. Mr. Savage makes me sound like my old man.”
She chuckled. “Noted.”
“Oh, and this is Devon Brighton. Our newest client.”
Devon’s gaze flew his way. “I’m a client?”
“Among other things.” He winked, muttering low enough only she could hear.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Brighton.”
“Call me Devon.” She smiled. “And it’s nice meeting you, too.”
“The others are already back there.”
He figured, given they were running about ten minutes late.
“Thanks.” Blake flashed the other woman a smile.
With a hand on Devon’s lower back, he led her down the lengthy hallway, passing his and his teammates’ private offices along the way.
The familiar sounds of a busy morning at headquarters surrounded them. Quiet conversation traveled. Footsteps moved as someone walked around inside the room they were approaching.
Normal activity that Blake welcomed. After the past twelve hours, normal felt pretty damn good.
They entered the conference room to find Emmett standing near the front. Draven occupied a chair on one side of the expansive table, looking far more rested than Blake felt.
Gwen sat beside him, scrolling through something on her tablet while Lucas stood a few feet away, near the windows. Janie was there, too.
The moment she spotted Devon, she rushed across the room.
“Oh, my God.”
Devon barely had time to react before her best friend wrapped her in a hug.
Blake watched the two women hold onto each other. He’d called Emmett after the break-in, and Emmett had filled Janie in on everything once Devon was safely in D.C.
