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The Texans ran up to her.
Matt smiled and gave her a hug. “It’s good to have you back, Erica.”
“Really good,” Sean added.
Dylan and Cam had told her how the Texans were part of her search team. “I understand you guys helped find me. Thank you.”
“We’re not done yet,” Matt said. “We still think the hacker is connected to your abduction.”
Sean looked at Dylan and Jason. “We’re close to finding his location.”
“Let’s talk soon. I want to know what you’ve found out so far. Keep me up to date on everything,” Dylan told him.
Reed tapped a glass with a knife. “May I have your attention?” The crowd settled down immediately, everyone turning their attention to her brother. “I’d like to offer a toast to Destiny’s favorite daughter, Erica Coleman, my little sister.”
Applause broke out in the room along with several whistles and happy shouts.
“Everyone, please sit down now,” Alice said. “Curtis and Eddie have been slaving away in the kitchen for you. I don’t want the food to get cold.”
Erica felt her fatigue from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet as she sat down in the center booth. Even more, she felt her hunger. She was starving. The aromas filling the room got her stomach to growling. The biscuits at Blue’s were the best in the state.
She was between Dylan and Cam in the booth, and that eased some of her anxiety as more people filed by with their sweet words.
Alice poured them all coffee. “I’ve got your favorites set up,” she told them. “And not that silly bagel you eat during the week, Erica. This is the big breakfast. Bacon and eggs. Biscuits and gravy. Followed by hot pancakes.”
After everyone was chowing down on the delicious meal the Blues had prepared, the line of people greeting her stopped for a bit.
Dylan leaned over. “Eat up, Erica. I know these people. They are ready to go until sunup. But you’re exhausted.”
“Yes, you are.” Cam touched her cheek. “I can see it in your eyes.”
“We’re going to take you home,” Dylan said.
Her gut tightened. “I really don’t want to be alone.”
“We’re not going to leave you, sweetheart.” Cam’s fingertips traced her face. “We’ll stay the whole time, on guard, while you sleep. I don’t care if it’s twenty-four hours.”
“We want you to get completely rested.” She gazed at her own reflection in Dylan’s sunglasses. He grabbed her hand. “And the only way you are going to be able to do that is if we are there with you.”
“But you’re tired, too.” How could she ask them to do more than they’d already done? “I can see if Nicole and my brothers can come stay at my house.”
Dylan smiled. “I never sleep with both eyes closed, honey.”
“Who would know?” Cam shook his head. “You never take off those damn sunglasses.”
She laughed.
Matt and Sean, the two Texans Dylan had brought to TBK to weed out Kip Lunceford’s code, walked up to their booth.
“Mind if we join you for a second?” Matt asked.
Cam motioned to the other side of the booth. “Have a seat. What have you found out about the hacker?”
“Did you locate the bastard yet?” Dylan asked, clearly back on the job as head of security.
Matt shook his head. “This guy is good. The warehouse we found in Wyoming was loaded to the brim with the best computers available.”
“Same in Utah,” Sean said. “We’re dealing with a pro. I think we almost got the guy. There was a pot of coffee that was still warm to the touch when we got there. I checked the perimeter. Nothing. Following protocols, I set up a stakeout with local authorities in case the dude returned. They were happy to help after I let them talk to Mr. Black at the Agency.”
