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As soon as we were alone, she turned to me, her eyes full of tears. “Please reconsider this, Evan. This mission is too dangerous. Sebastian said so himself—you're not trained for it.”
“Mariah, I have to do this. I can't let Jax and Porter pay the price for my error in judgment. I got the ball rolling on this. They're my responsibility."
She bit her lip as her gaze dropped to the floor. “I know, but I feel guilty. In a way, it’s my fault. I brought Jax into this mess, and now he's in danger because of it.”
I cupped her face in my hands, making her look at me. “Jax chose to help us, Mariah. He knew the risks, and he went in willingly. You can't blame yourself for his decisions.”
She nodded. “I’m so afraid of losing you,” she whispered, so quietly I almost didn’t hear it. But then she steeled herself, squaring her shoulders as she exhaled. “Just promise me you'll come back, Evan. Promise me you'll be careful.”
“You aren’t going to lose me, baby,” I said, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. “You and Sofia are my world. I’m doing this for us. I swear nothing will happen to me."
Just then, Sebastian appeared in the open doorway, his expression serious. “The jet's ready, Evan. We need to go.”
I grabbed the essentials, turning to give Mariah one last embrace before following Sebastian downstairs. I didn’t look back as she watched us leave, afraid I might not be able to focus if I saw that fear in her eyes once more. I had to keep my mind alert, on the mission ahead.
“Remember your promise, Evan!” Mariah called after me. “I love you. Come back to us safe.”
I did glance back at her then, despite the ball of dread that formed in my stomach. This was dangerous. There was the very real possibility that I might not come back if things went badly, but I wouldn’t let her see that. “I will, I promise. Take care of our baby girl.”
She nodded, tears streaming down her face, and I pulled her to me once more, brushing them away before covering her mouth with mine, letting all my love for her shine through.
“I love you.” And then we left.
* * *
The tension in the jet was palpable while we soared through the sky, the steady thrum of the engines doing little to ease my nerves. I stared out the window, watching the clouds below us, but my mind was elsewhere.
Sebastian, seeming to sense my apprehension, leaned closer and spoke quietly. “Evan, are you sure you want to go through with this? This is your last chance to change your mind.”
I turned to face him. “Porter's safety is the key to protecting Sofia. We need him safe, and we owe Jax for everything he's done for us. There's no question in my mind that we have to see this through. That I have to.”
Sebastian nodded resolutely. “Okay, then.”
Once we touched down just outside Atlantic City, a black SUV was already waiting for us on the tarmac. The driver stepped out, a tall man with short-cropped hair and a no-nonsense expression that screamed military experience. He introduced himself as Colton Reeves, a rescue and tactical specialist.
“Let's not waste time,” Colton said as we climbed into the vehicle. “I’ve been briefed on your situation. You both have unique strengths that we can use to our advantage, but remember, causing minimal damage is our priority.”
“Understood. Colton is the best of the best,” Sebastian told me.
“Your dragon forms should only be used as a last resort.” Colton looked directly at me, as if he were sizing me up, and from the look on his face, he viewed me as the wild card. “You two might be able to level the place, but be assured there are plenty of shifters there. The last thing we need is an all-out battle that could put Porter and Jax in even more danger.”
“Right,” I muttered, pushing down the growing impatience inside me. Every minute spent talking was another minute they were in danger.
“Trust me, Evan.” Colton sounded softer now. “I know what I'm doing. We'll get them out safely.”
Sebastian met my gaze, his message clear: follow orders, no going rogue.
The sun was setting when we turned into the warehouse district, casting ominous shadows on the dilapidated old buildings. The atmosphere was rife with anticipation as the SUV pulled to a stop, parking down the road out of sight from the entrance of Tomas’s warehouse. We climbed out of the vehicle and gathered the tactical gear from the back.
“Remember, minimal damage,” Colton whispered as he gave us a final once-over us and we stealthily headed toward the building. I knew Colton’s team was around, remaining out of sight, ready to provide reinforcement when needed. He and Sebastian had determined the best course of action was to go in with as few people as possible, calling on the others once we’d scoped out the place.
The smell of oil and rust filled my nostrils as we drew closer, keeping to the shadows, and I could hear the distant sound of muffled voices inside when we came upon the door Jax and Porter disappeared through.
"Ready?" Sebastian said, barely audible. He gripped my shoulder, his eyes without an ounce of fear or doubt. I nodded, swallowing hard, drawing on my inner strength to stay in control. As much as I wanted to burst through the doors in dragon form, burning a path of destruction, I knew it would be reckless. We had to use strategy.
Colton met our eyes, silently counting down from three on his fingers. As one, we turned, slipping through the shadows and entering the warehouse through the door.
I instantly knew we’d need backup when we were met with half a dozen armed guards, their faces twisting in surprise at our sudden appearance. But they’d been trained well. They didn’t hesitate in coming for us.
