18. Drake

CHAPTER 18

DRAKE

“We’re going to set up a bus outside the compound where we can bring anyone who needs immediate medical attention. Hannah and Lily will be in there with my brother Theo. He’ll assist them however he can,” Cage says.

Running a hand over my chin, I take in a deep breath. Every part of me wants to forbid Lily from going anywhere near that compound. It’s not safe. It might be harmful to her emotionally as well. But another part of me knows she needs to do this.

“What can I do?” Easton asks.

We’re sitting around the large boardroom table in the only meeting room we have at Edge. Easton and I have spent many nights in here working on new app ideas. I really don’t know why we don’t just have permanent residences in the building because we’re here so much.

Cage is sitting across from us with his brothers, Jasper, Theo, and Cassian by his side. They aren’t actually his blood brothers, but that’s what they call each other. And now that I’ve met these other men, Cage seems tame compared to them. Jasper has barely said a word, but even I feel twitchy around him. Talk about terrifying.

“You and your pretty-boy brother can stay out of our way. We want you guys posted right outside the compound to help with whatever we might need,” Cage says with a smirk.

I think the guy gets off on irritating people. He’s doing me a huge favor, though, so I’ll suck it up and let him call me a pretty boy.

“You’re going to make sure Lily is safe and with one of you at all times? Hannah, too?” I ask.

Theo shifts, his eyes turning into slits as he murders me with his glare. “If anyone so much as tries to touch her, I’ll cut off their head and eat it for dinner.”

My gaze moves to Cage, who deadpans like what his brother said isn’t the most unhinged thing in the world. The scary thing is, I don’t think Theo is bluffing. I want to shake his hand for that. I don’t like that Lily will be out of my sight, but these men will protect her by all means necessary.

“We are calling in another group of men to help with the extraction process. Once we’re confident we have all the women and children out of there, we’ll lock it down and hold the men there until we have confirmation that the women and children are in safe houses. After that, we’ll work with the men to find out who wants to live in the real world and lead regular lives and which ones don’t,” Cage explains.

“And the ones who don’t? What happens to them?” Easton asks.

Cassian types on the laptop in front of him. “We have friends willing to help with that. In Siberia.”

I have no idea what he means by that, and I don’t think I want to know. These men don’t live by the law, and the fewer questions I ask, the better. Easton seems to think so, too, because he doesn’t push the subject any farther.

Theo clears his throat. “We want to do this early in the morning as the sun is coming up. Most of the men will already be out at that time, so we’ll be able to sweep in and get the women and kids out of there. We will have distractions in place to keep the men on the opposite side of the land.”

We all stare at the map Cage has unrolled onto the table with every inch of the compound drawn out in detail. It makes me think he’s already been inside the walls of the cult. The houses are all in a cluster on one side, and on the other, acres of land where they grow food and run solar electricity.

“Are you sure this will work?” I hate to doubt them, but this seems like a big operation.

Cage stares at me, the corner of his mouth twitching like he’s fighting a smile. “We’ve known each other a long time, Drake, and I hate to break it to you, but you and your brother haven’t even the slightest clue what we’re capable of. I’d like to offer you references, but, as you’ve already checked, we don’t exist in any database in the country.”

I stare across the table, heat creeping up the back of my neck. Fuck. He knows I’ve tried to check him out. How the hell does he know that? Who are these guys?

“I can’t tell you who we are, but what I can tell you is that we’re an elite team of men who have worked day and night to be the best trained, best equipped, and most lethal group of men in the world. We don’t fail. Ever.” Cage leans back in his chair and kicks a booted foot onto the table. “Besides, compared to most of the jobs we do, this will be a piece of cake.”

My brother and I glance at each other, then back at the men. I nod. “How much should I wire you?”

Cage shakes his head. “This one is on us.”

I might regret asking for his help one day. After all, owing someone like Cage Black is probably a death sentence. But for Lily’s health, happiness, and peace, I’ll take that sentence any day of the week.

“You won’t be with me?”

Lily looks so unsure, so anxious. She fidgets with her hands and squirms on my lap. I just gave her the rundown of Cage’s plans.

“I’ll be there, but I’ll be near the gates. We will have radios on the entire time, so you’ll be able to communicate with me if you need to.”

Her face is paler than I’ve ever seen it. I know she wants to help but I won’t allow it if it’s going to affect her like this.

“Baby, you don’t need to do this,” I say softly.

Sitting up straight, she meets my gaze and sets her jaw. Determined. And cute as fuck.

“I’m doing this. I want to help.”

I wrap my arms around her and pull her closer to my chest, burying my face in her hair. “I love you, baby. After this is behind us, you and I are going to have a talk about you moving in with me.”

She sucks in a breath, and my shoulders tense. That didn’t sound good.

“If it’s too soon, I understand. I know you’re it for me, Lily, and I’ll wait as long as I need to. This is going to go at your pace. Okay?”

Nuzzling into my chest, she sighs. “It’s not that I don’t want to. I just…I’ll feel bad for leaving Hannah and Max. They want to start a family, and I know they’re trying to pay off their student loans before that happens. I don’t pay them much each month, but I know it’s helping so they can reach their goal faster.”

My sweet, thoughtful, caring girl. She’s always going to be the type to think of others before herself. It’s why I’ll always think of her before I think of anyone else. No one has ever put her first. Not until now.

I stroke her hair and kiss her head. “Okay, baby. We’ll figure it out.”

By we’ll figure it out , what I really mean is I’ll take care of everything, and she won’t have to worry about a single thing.