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“I can’t believe it,” said Sally. “Like they were made for each other.”
“I never had a doubt,” said Harper. “He’s been looking for a girl to share his life with for years, I think. And man, I know just how happy he feels.”
Later, they sharedtheir news as all three of them sat out on the deck, Sally and Harper sipping whiskey while Lydia sipped her ice water.
“I’m not surprised,” said Sally. “A father, Harper? I can see you doing that and doing it fantastically. Just like everything else in your life. Now this will keep you young. I’ve had friends who’ve had children late in life, and it does do that.”
“I can honestly believe that, Sally.”
She asked about the woman who had been captured and injured by Venom the night of the takedown.
“Maria is recovering in a prison hospital, awaiting a real extradition to Italy, although we’re trying to get permission to try her here. With Lipori gone, I doubt she has the connections, so in Italy, she would certainly serve time, at least that’s what Patterson says,” said Harper.
“Has she given up any of their resources or revealed any names?” asked Sally.
“If I knew, I couldn’t tell you. You understand.”
“Of course. No problem.”
“But my understanding is she’s set on revealing nothing. She does already have an attorney, and they’re pushing to get her out of the U.S., her team.”
“She has a team? Wow. She’s connected then,” Lydia said with surprise.
“Could just be posturing with the Italians. No country wants to see its citizens being manhandled by another country’s assets, but this is different than the extraction we did on Silver Team. This was done on American soil. For that, she’ll most certainly have to stand trial. But we’ll see. These things are complicated. We call them cleanups. We never liked to get involved with any of those on the Teams. No different now. Our job is done.”
“Patterson did tell us they didn’t think their team was very large, that they had just been getting started,” said Lydia.
“So be vigilant, but not to worry then?”
“Nothing is a sure thing, but we think we got everybody. This time.”
That was the elephant in the room. Lydia knew no one could really know when the next attack could occur. Harper had told her how groups changed, morphed into new groups, changed leaders and even countries where they operated. She was well aware it was a cancer that would attack wherever it could, wherever they were most vulnerable.
But they had other things to focus on these days. Harper would be doing ops during her pregnancy, and they’d created a protocol so that Lydia was never left alone again in that event. They’d done everything they could for Plan A and Plan B and Plan C.
After that, it was all strength, anticipation, thinking on their feet, and a lot of luck. But with the new family coming and the love they shared between them, she knew they’d make it.
No one was going to ruin her happily ever after.
They said goodbye to Sally and Maddie, Venom appearing to be sad his new friend was leaving. They calmed him down with pets as they watched Sally back up, turn around, and drive home.
Harper did not see the text message from Patterson:
“Maria has escaped. Facetime me as soon as you get this.”
