Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

February 9 th

11:57 A.M.

They were all there.

All of them.

Not just her team and the Prey guys, but all the guys’ wives and kids as well. Which was kind of a dirty trick because they all knew she loved those children and would do anything for them. There was no real need for them to be there, they’d had nothing to do with the whole mess. The oldest of them was Spider and his wife Abigail’s seven-year-old son RJ, the youngest King and his wife Faith’s two-year-old daughter Indigo, they were all too young to even understand. The wives had nothing to do with it either. She had no idea if they’d also believed the worst of her, but if she knew the guys, and she did, they wouldn't have told their wives what was going on until they had her in custody, so there was a good chance they’d been none the wiser until she got home from Mexico.

While it definitely wasn't uncommon for the wives or kids to hang out in the Prey building, Ella knew why they were all there today.

To reinforce the idea that Prey was a family.

She certainly wasn't na?ve enough to believe that families never hurt one another, that they didn't mess up, that sometimes they didn't even do the unforgivable. It was just that knowing that in theory and living it in practice really were very different things.

It wasn't even the forgiving that was making this so hard. Truth was, with enough time Ella was sure she could forgive every single one of these people, after all, she loved them like family.

Trust was the issue.

How could she ever trust them again?

And if she couldn’t trust them, how could she work with them?

Prey Security’s strength was that Eagle Oswald had worked hard to make the company one great big family. A lot of the teams had known each other before joining Prey, some had even been teams in the military first. There was camaraderie there, bonds had been formed, and there wasn't anything you wouldn't do for one of these men or women or the people who were important to them.

Which was why this all hurt so much.

She’d given that kind of support but hadn't received it in return.

That’s why she had to leave.

“Every single one of us let you down, Ella,” Fox spoke. “No one is denying that, we’re all owning our mistakes.”

That was evident from the expressions on everyone’s faces. Even the kids, young as they were, seemed to sense that something big was going on, their little faces were somber, missing their usual brightness.

“We all suspected that this was what you were going to do, and Eagle and I talked it through. He won’t accept your resignation,” Fox informed her.

Ella’s mouth dropped open in shock.

Eagle couldn’t just decide not to let her leave.

If he wouldn't accept a resignation, she’d just quit.

One side of Fox’s mouth quirked up into a smile. “I can see your brain running a mile a minute. Eagle said he won't let you leave Prey, but if you decide you can't stay here and work with us, you’ll have a job at Prey’s main office.”

Surprise—and an unexpected dose of gratefulness—swamped her. That could be the answer she was looking for. The last thing she wanted to do was leave Prey. They were the best of the best, a wonderful company to work for, and not just because of the pay and benefits.

It was that whole family thing again. Eagle had believed in her, and she would feel comfortable working for him directly or being assigned to another team, or another job in the East Coast office.

Fox’s smile turned sad. “I can see you like that idea. None of us want you to leave, Ella. Not a single person. I asked Eagle for a compromise.”

“Compromise?” she asked, somewhat suspiciously. Why did there always have to be a catch?

“It’s not the worst thing in the world,” Fox assured her. “At least I don’t think it is. I’d like you to give us a month.”

“A month?”

“To make things up to you, rebuild some trust, see if there’s a way we can keep you here where you belong. If at the end of a month, you still feel like you can't work here, then Eagle will transfer you.”

Could she do that?

Stay there a month and give it an honest try at making things work?

It sounded like a lifetime, but in reality it was only thirty days. In the scheme of things it wasn't that big an ask, especially if she knew she had an out at the end, a safe place to go where she could still do what she loved with the people she loved. Picking up her entire life and moving it across the country would be hard, especially leaving behind her family, but it wasn't like she’d never see them again and it would be nice to have a fresh start.

“One month, then if I want to leave I can?” she confirmed.

“One month,” Fox agreed. “But I hope you can give us a real chance, Ella. We want to make this up to you, show you that we know how badly we messed up, and that it won't happen again. No excuses, but I think the stress of the last month has worn us all down and we just snapped in the worst possible way.”

“You deserve better than that,” Night spoke up.

“You deserved the benefit of the doubt,” Chaos added.

“We know you, know you're not the kind of person who would ever betray the people you care about,” Spider said.

“If nothing else, we should have known the only reason you would sneak the Reactivator out of here was because you’d been threatened,” King told her.

Everyone was keeping a respectful distance, giving her space. In the end, the first person to approach her was Shark. Of all the former SEALs who now ran this office, Shark was by far the scariest of them. At least he had been. Before she met him, before he met his now wife Claire and fell in love, Shark had gotten his nickname because of the blank look behind his dark eyes. She hadn't known that man, but even now, with as madly in love with his wife as he was, with his twin four-year-old daughters having him wrapped around their cute little fingers, she still saw glimpses of who he had been before.

Now he stood before her, his expression serious. “Human beings make mistakes, Ella. Not to downplay us not believing in you like we should have. It was a mistake, a big one. I know a little something about making mistakes. I made a huge one walking away from my woman.” Shark glanced over his shoulder to where Claire stood smiling at him, each of her hands holding one of their twin daughters. “I’m thankful every day that she was able to forgive my stupidity and build a life with me.”

“Your life is here, Ella,” Cassie said, rushing forward. “Please give us this chance.”

“I know it’s unfair to ask so much of you when you're hurting,” Lucy added, also stepping forward. “But we’re a team?—”

“A family,” Scarlett inserted, coming to join them.

“And we’ve all been through so much,” Lucy continued. “I know how much I need you guys, and I know deep down you need us, too, even though we hurt you and you're angry with us.”

One thing her mom had always taught her was not to hold onto grudges. Even when someone legitimately did something to hurt you, maybe even on purpose with the express intention of causing you pain, when you clung to those feelings it was like consuming acid that would slowly eat away at you.

Over the years, Ella had tried to follow that advice. If people hurt her, she always made sure she forgave, never held onto things, and never let them fester. This was the first time she’d ever had to work at it though.

Nothing this big had ever happened to her before and it was throwing her through a loop.

Still, everyone was being honest, acknowledging that they messed up, asking for an opportunity to make things right, and it felt like if she didn't give it then she would be letting them down like they’d let them down.

Worse, it felt like she would be letting herself down.

The last thing she wanted was to be consumed by anger, especially not when she already had so much to deal with.

When she looked at herself in the mirror, she wanted to like the person she saw looking back at her. After all, in life the most important relationship you had was with yourself, because you were stuck with yourself every second of every day from the moment you were born until you took your final breath.

If she wanted to be able to find peace, find her footing again, and move forward, she had to find a way to move past her hurt and feelings of betrayal.

Especially given that the mole was still out there and standing together with the people she considered family at her back they had a better chance of finding them and eliminating them once and for all.

Because if they couldn’t then she could lose everything, including her life.

February 9 th

8:28 P.M.

For some reason, it felt weird walking up to Ella’s front door tonight.

It was late, much later than he’d told her he’d be there, but according to Luis, who had gotten a text from Cassie, Ella’s attempt to hand in her resignation had wound up backfiring on her. Everyone had gathered, her whole Prey family, and announced their determination to earn back her trust and show her that she was family, and they didn't want to lose her.

Even though Luis had invited him to attend the Prey party Miguel had declined.

They weren't his family, he wasn't part of them, and at the back of his mind was a lingering fear that he didn't want to acknowledge.

Maybe Ella didn't need him now that she was making up with her people.

He’d told her he would be there for her as long as she needed him, that he would be a friend she could count on. Even after allowing himself a tiny taste of what life with Ella could be like if he could get past his fears and ask her out on a date, he’d determined to just be her friend, to keep himself in tighter check and not allow another slip-up.

It would be easier for them if Ella had the support of her team back and no longer had a use for him. Then he could just slip away and banish all thoughts of her from his mind because his craving for her was growing, and he didn't know how much longer he could spend time around her and not do something stupid like confess he wanted her and damn the consequences.

But he couldn’t do that.

Not when the consequences could be so severe.

Having lived the life of an abused and neglected child who came in a distant … nothing … compared to his mom’s habits there was no way he would ever risk putting someone in the position of being on the receiving end of his addiction.

Taking that first step with Ella, admitting he liked her, was attracted to her, and interested in her seemed innocent enough. But one date would lead to another and then another. All too easily, he could see himself becoming addicted, and once he was, he’d ask her to marry him. Obsessed as he was, there was no way he’d be able to keep his hands off her and soon they’d have a house full of kids.

What happened when something knocked his perfect world out of sync?

How would he cope?

Could he guarantee that if something awful happened, he wouldn't go running back to the cold comfort of drugs?

Until he could, he had no business getting involved with anyone.

And he certainly had no business standing on Ella’s doorstep.

Yet there he was.

Couldn’t seem to stay away from her.

Since she’d partied at Prey, he hadn't brought pizza around like they’d discussed. He’d also been so afraid that she’d tell him thanks for being there for her, but she didn't need him anymore that he’d given her the impression without outright lying that his team was working on something and kept his phone on silent.

She’d gotten the hint and not texted, leaving him feeling … lost.

Which was why he was there when he should be at home doing his best to forget about sea-green eyes, silky blonde locks, about sweet determination, and more courage than he could ever hope to have.

All he was going to do was check on her.

That was it.

Nothing more.

No showers.

No cooking for her.

No falling asleep holding her.

Just a quick hi and make sure all was okay. Then he’d say goodnight and head back to his place. Honestly, it was crazy he was even there. If he needed to check on her, all he had to do was call or text, he was sure she’d answer.

Yet it wasn't enough.

Miguel kept finding himself consumed with a need to see Ella. To hear her voice. To touch her. Just being in her presence filled him with this soothing warmth he couldn’t seem to get enough of.

Nervous butterflies fluttered in his stomach as he knocked on the door. It wasn't since middle school that he’d felt anything like that. The first time you asked a girl out, even if you had only just turned thirteen, and the date was nothing more than hanging out after school, it was a nerve-wracking experience.

This, on the other hand, should not be.

There was not going to be any asking out, no dating, no falling in love, no marriage, no kids, no future.

No anything.

After waiting a full minute without getting any response, a tingle of unease wiped away the butterflies.

Ella was home, he knew that because the men watching her had texted to tell him. The car parked across the street confirmed that she’d also been watched since she got there. Nothing should have happened to her, she should be safe in her own home, and yet …

Scarlett had been kidnapped from her house.

Only a month ago this entire ordeal for Athena Team had begun when Scarlett was snatched from her bed in the middle of the night and spirited away to Mexico where Raul Castillo had attempted to torture the formula for the drug out of her.

Was it really outside the realm of possibility to believe that the mole couldn’t get to Ella even if she was being watched?

No, it wasn't.

Not wanting to alert anyone else yet, because Miguel was all too aware of the fact that he was more than likely overreacting, he picked the lock and slipped inside Ella’s house. There was every chance she was just sleeping, or maybe taking a bath, but until he saw her with his own two eyes, nothing was going to calm his racing heart or remove the knot of fear constricting his chest.

With his hand hovering above his weapon, he moved through the house. It was quiet and dark like nobody was home, but Ella wouldn't pretend to come there only to sneak away. Why would she? She wasn't a prisoner. If she wanted to go somewhere then she could, there was no need for theatrics.

He was halfway up the stairs before he heard it.

The soft sounds of music.

Amazing music.

Since he knew Ella had been a child music prodigy before she’d decided to take a different road in life, he knew it was her playing.

Knowing she could play, knowing she must have been good to be performing to sold-out audiences before she hit the first grade, knowing that she was good enough to still put on concerts even though it wasn't her primary job, couldn’t have prepared him for this.

Feeling like he was being pulled in by a siren playing classical music on a cello, Miguel climbed the rest of the stairs and followed the strains of music coming from one of the spare bedrooms.

The door was open, and when he stopped outside it the sight before him took his breath away.

Ella sat on a chair, her hair hanging down her back, catching the light from the moon that shone through the open window and shimmering like threads of spun gold. With her eyes closed and her head tipped back she was lost to the music she was making. Dressed in a pair of leggings and a tank top that molded to her beautiful breasts and accentuated her arms as they weaved the bow and made magic happen.

He had no idea how long he stood there watching her, listening to her, completely and utterly enthralled.

This was amazing. Ella was out of this world good at what she did, and even knowing the good she did at Prey and what a valuable member of the team she was, he wondered how she could have given up doing this for anything else.

Watching her, it was more than obvious that her gift wasn't just being able to play with proficiency it was being able to play with her soul. You didn't just hear what she was playing you felt it. Each note hit felt like it was speaking directly with the deepest parts of you, talking in a language you didn't even know existed.

How did the woman get to be even more amazing?

After seeing firsthand her determination to save her family and protect her drug in Mexico, Miguel hadn't thought it was possible to think more highly of her. But then she’d killed Raul Castillo herself, been brave enough to ask him for the things she needed, and forgiving enough to give her team another chance.

Now she was there bewitching him with the most perfect melodies and he had no idea how he was supposed to keep pretending he could handle just being her friend. Reminding himself that keeping some emotional distance was the only way to ensure that Ella was able to keep making beautiful music like this, touching hearts and souls, was only going to work for so long before he cracked and did something he shouldn’t.