CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

"Where are they?" asked Sydney, looking over the shoulders of the men in the comms room.

"They're close. They're going to find a place to stay out of sight and then wait to see how the Osprey does," said Pigsty. She could only nod, nibbling on her lower lip.

"There is a way into the palace if they need it," said Erica, standing behind them.

"Sorry?" frowned Cam.

"I have never been back, but when my mother took me out of there, there was a door in the southeast corner near the wall. It was the president's way of getting out of the palace if he needed to, quickly. I'm not sure if it's still there."

"Let's take a look," said AJ, staring at the screen. She noticed the images becoming closer and clearer and frowned.

"How are you getting those images?" she asked.

"They're drones. We have them camouflaged, and they'll be able to get very close without detection."

"This is amazing," she whispered. "I remember so much of these images, even as a child. Go to the corner there, where the cherry blossom tree is located. That's it. There."

AJ narrowed in on the image, searching for something that would tell him it was still a door. Just as he was about to give up, she saw it.

"There! At the bottom of the door. The president is a very small man. He can't reach up high, so they put the lock and knob lower. I remember because I could reach it. My mother's arms were full."

"Well, I'll be damned," smirked AJ. "That's going to be very helpful to the team, Erica. Thank you."

She nodded, feeling better about herself already. Jennifer was happy and loving all the attention she was getting. She was able to collaborate with Amanda, Mia, and Bull, and now she was actually helping to stop her father.

"You did good," smiled Sydney.

"I think I'll go get some food. Are you guys hungry?" she asked.

"No, it's late. You go to bed. We'll be fine."

Erica nodded, heading out the door to get back to the cottage. Brittany was sitting on the sofa, watching the little girl for her so she could speak to the comms team.

"Thank you," she smiled at the girl.

"Are you kidding me? She's awesome. Any time, Erica."

"Brittany? Thank you. All of you for using my new name so effortlessly. Sometimes I hear it, and even I think, ‘who is that.'"

"It's you," smiled Brittany. "You're Erica, and you're one of us."

The young woman waved as she left the cottage, closing the door behind her. Erica engaged the lock and then checked on Jennifer, who was sound asleep with her three new stuffed puppies and one very large real puppy at her bedside.

She showered and changed into pajamas, then grabbed a book that Charlie had given her to read. It was a romance novel, not something she believed in any longer, but maybe it would help her to sleep. When the book slipped from her fingers, she turned out the lights and rolled over into sweet dreams.

It was nearly three a.m. by the time Moose made it back to Belle Fleur. He'd never been so excited to see a bunch of small cottages in his life. AJ stuck his head out of the office doors, waving at him.

"Saw you come through the gates," he smiled. "Welcome home, brother."

"Thanks, man. I'm damn happy to be home." Before he could say anything else, Moose was practically jogging toward his cottage.

Staring at it a moment, he wondered if there had been any changes made since he'd left. He'd have to get rid of anything of Ece's, but he was more than happy to do so. Pissed at first, then hurt, he was now pissed again.

Using his key and handprint, he opened the door and smelled something different. Maybe it was the lingering scent of Ece's perfume. But he didn't remember this scent. It was cleaner, fresher, different somehow.

He set his bags on the floor and opened the refrigerator, grabbing a bottle of water. When he turned, Beast was standing behind him.

"Whoa. Hey, boy, what are you doing in here?" he asked, frowning at the dog. Beast just nudged his hand, giving it a playful lick, and walked back to the spare room. Moose followed the dog, then looked up to realize there was a crib in the bedroom.

"What the hell?" he muttered. He stared down at the sleeping face and nearly wept. Layers of thick dark hair lay across a sheet of circus animals. Her full red lips were pouting as she held onto a stuffed dog, two more at her feet.

"Holy shit, you're a cutie," he smiled. "But if you're here, where are your parents?" Beast stared up at the man and actually rolled his eyes. Walking across the hallway to his own bedroom, he was shocked to see a small figure in the center of the bed.

Not wanting to startle her, he just looked at her. She was very small, her dark hair matching the little girl's. It was long and shiny. He could see that even in the darkness. Wearing the prettiest silk pajamas he'd ever seen. He actually thought it was sexy. There was nothing overtly sexual about it. It was just casually sexy, he thought.

Backing out of the room, he pulled the door halfway, then crawled into the bed where the crib was located. Staring at the ceiling, he whispered to himself.

"I don't know who you are, little angel, but you're safe here."