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Nick didn’t exactly feel great about that, but he knew it was necessary.

They’d managed to get out of the area of the explosions and the Archangel site without anyone following them. They stopped well outside the secure area around the Archangel-owned facility, and Kit changed the digital ID on the vehicle in case they were still being hunted.

She warned them that changing digital plates could only be a temporary measure, particularly given everything that just went down; it would buy them time, but not more than twenty-four or forty-eight hours, she guessed.

They were in a parking lot now, in a shadowed area not far from the water.

Kit knocked out the one surveillance camera that pointed to this spot, and was monitoring to make sure no one noticed or seemed alarmed in an inset on her screen.

They also had sensors out looking for possible drones.

So far, nothing.

And hopefully Zoe would keep the authorities and the media and everyone else who might be hunting for them busy for the next six or so hours.

For now, all they could do is wait.

Nick looked around at everyone still left inside the van, pausing only for a few seconds on Damon’s slack face, and James Morley’s pale one where he slumped against the window by the driver’s seat, and Wynter, who was looking at him with a combination of worry, relief, and maybe a little like she wanted to smack him again.

Nick’s eyes finally stopped on Forrest Walker.

Nick was now glad as fuck they’d brought the hybrid with them after all.

He’d been the most vocal by far about his preference to leave Walker under that church in the Cauldron during the op, along with Charlie. Neither preference had been malicious; Walker wasn’t in the best physical shape, and neither was Charlie. Nick worried they might be feeding Walker, especially, back to his torturers if they all got caught.

He’d intended to go back and pick Walker up after they’d freed Jordan, assuming they pulled it off, but now it was looking less and less likely that they’devermake it back into Manhattan, not just tonight but very possiblyever-ever.

Nick glanced at the hybrid now, and found the man looking back at him.

For a few seconds, neither of their expressions changed.

Walker looked exhausted, and like he was in a lot of pain. Nick found himself wondering if anyone thought to bring a stash of painkillers with them, to make sure Forrest would have more when his last big dose wore off.

Unexpectedly, while Nick was still assessing the other man, Walker smiled.

It was a small smile, a weary smile, but Nick found himself smiling back.

“You’re sure they’re not going to drown us when they get here?” Nick grunted, resting his arm on the back of his seat. “We’re a fuck of a lot bigger group than what they bargained for, aren’t we? And we’re not exactly Mi6.”

Forrest continued to smile, but a faint sharpness rose in his eyes that Nick read as wry amusement. “I think they’ll make an exception,” he said. “Just this one time.”

Nick’s left eyebrow rose. “Oh?”

“Yeah.” Forrest cleared his throat. “I might have told them you saved my life. That you and your friends are the only reason I’m alive. And that you’re the ones who sent the vampires to Madagascar to get me out of that hellhole.” Before Nick could answer, Forrest shrugged and went on in his posh-sounding English accent. “It’sessentiallytrue, mate. Brick likely would’ve gone down there and ripped the place apart, regardless… but he gotmeout because of you.”

Nick grunted. His own voice turned wry.

“Did you happen to mention you were only in there in the first place because of me?” he asked.

Forrest smiled wider. “I might’ve left that part out.”

Nick nodded with mock thoughtfulness, but couldn’t quite stop the smile tugging at his lips. “Got it. So you’re still coming with us, then? All the way, I mean? You still want in on our crazy suicide plan?”

Relief made Walker’s face relax, as soon as he seemed to understand what Nick said.

“Yeah. I thought I would,” he said. “No objections?”

Nick shook his head, feeling his own shoulders relax.