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THIRTY-TWO

ZEKE

SLIDING MY phone into the pocket of my coat, I press a pair of binoculars back against my eyes, peering through for any sign of the men who once occupied the building we’ve been staking out for nearly two days.

“Where the fuck are these guys?” Luca paces behind me, his boots scuffing against the filthy floor of the vacant building we’ve taken over. “They can’t just disappear into thin air.”

“They can’t, but it seems like they did.” And I’m starting to get real fucking pissed off about it.

The longer this drags out, the longer I’m stuck being apart from Savannah. The longer she’s stuck in Lydia and Christian’s spare bedroom. The longer I have to wait for our life together to start.

I activate the speaker on my earpiece, connecting to the rest of my team. “Anyone see anything?”

We’re set up all around the building Heidi and the rest of Intel zeroed in on, waiting for some sort of movement. At nearly forty-eight hours with zero action, I’m about to call it.

“Not a fucking thing,” Bryce answers back.

Everyone else chimes in, telling me what I already know. We’re wasting our time here.

I pull my phone out again and dial Isaac’s number since he’s only tapped into our earpieces when we’re active. I’m rubbing my tired eyes when he answers.

“Got something for me?”

“Nope. We’re packing up.” I blink a few times, trying to ease the lingering burn of exhaustion. “Has Intel come up with anything new?”

“Actually, yes.” Isaac’s voice lowers. “You’re not gonna believe this. Vincent emailed Heidi an hour ago wanting help with some shit that went down when he was in Nashville. She just started digging into it, so we don’t know anything yet, but there’s a chance it could be connected.”

I scrub at my face again. “If this shit is Vincent’s fault, I’m going to kick his ass.”

“You might have to get in line. And once Pierce is done with him, there won’t be much left.” Isaac snorts. “Especially if he finds out Vincent’s dragging Heidi into his mess.”

“Glad I’m not there.” There’s no doubt in my mind Heidi will help the old bastard. She’s always had a soft spot for him.

“Let me know what Heidi finds out. The odds of two separate, unconnected attacks here so close together are slim.” They have to be linked. I just can’t figure out how.

“I’ll keep you posted.” Isaac’s fingers tap against his keyboard. “You need me to book you a hotel for the night while we wait?”

“No.” I stand, stretching. “We’ve got a place.” I’m already moving for the door, motioning for the rest of my team to pack up so we can ship out. “Tell Heidi to find these assholes so I can get on with my life.”

“YOU GUYS ARE really getting together again?” I’m asking for clarification. Not because I didn’t understand what he said, but because I’m questioning his judgment.

But Christian doesn’t seem offended. He actually chuckles, slapping one hand onto my shoulder. “We live on the same street, man. Did you not think there was a reason for that?”

Technically, I’ve lived in the same building as most of the men on my team over the years, but we sure as hell didn’t get together five times a week. Not socially, anyway. “I assumed the reason was so you could look out for each other.”

That’s one of the perks of the townhomes where Savannah and her sister live. The majority of Rogue resides within the gated compound, so there’s always plenty of hands on deck in case shit goes down.

The street Christian and his brothers live on is the same way. All but one of them lives here, and nearly everyone has a wife and kids. It makes sense—especially given the past they all share—they would want as much protection as they could get.

Christian shakes his head at me. “You really haven’t made a single fucking friend in all these years?” He clicks his tongue. “That’s fucking sad, man.”

“I have Savannah.” I don’t mention her place in my life is a relatively recent development.

Christian’s brows come together. “That’s not the same thing and you know it.” He turns to the island, collecting the covered dish Lydia made. “You need friends in your life in addition to her.”

“ You’re my friend.” I wouldn’t normally be so defensive. Especially not about something like this. Other people’s opinions of me and my life are none of my business. I generally don’t give a shit what they think.

But I respect Christian. And maybe I envy him a little bit. How easily he’s found people who understand him. People he can trust. People he can be close to.

I would lay down my life for the men on my team, and I know they would do the same, but that’s different. That’s not friendship. That’s about honor. The code of what we do.

Christian balances the tray on one hand as he meets my gaze. “I am your friend, but you haven’t seen me in years. It’s not like we were having sleepovers and braiding each other’s hair.”

I stare at him flatly. “Funny.”

“You get what I’m trying to say.” Christian grabs a wire-framed bag and hooks it over one shoulder. “You need friends who will be an actual part of your life. Not people who you knew decades ago.” He gives me a smirk as he passes. “Especially when those people live across the country.”

“You won’t live across the country for long.” I trail him as we go out the front door onto the porch. Once the door’s closed behind me, we pass down the steps and through the front gate, heading to the largest building on the street. “You better watch out, or I’ll move to Memphis and tell everyone you’re my new best friend.”

Christian laughs, the sound loud in the quiet, cold evening air. “Tate might kick your ass.” He tips his head, mouth pressing into a considering line. “Actually, his wife Piper is way more likely to kick your ass.” His eyes move down to my groin. “So you better watch yourself. I’ve seen her shove a taser into a dude’s nuts and pull the trigger.”

His story would probably shock most people. I’m not one of them. “Sounds about right.” I can’t count on two hands the number of women I know who would do the same.

The front door opens as we reach the porch of the firehouse. We’re the last ones to arrive since I was late getting back from our stakeout and wanted to take a shower before coming over. Savannah offered to wait, but I could tell she was excited to spend more time with the women of the street. There’s an additional woman here tonight, and I’m not surprised to see her plastered against Savanna’s side. I would be too.

Sensing the movement at the door, Savannah turns my way, her eyes lighting up when she sees me. She takes the hand of the woman next to her, bringing the blonde along as she comes to where I stand.

“You okay?”

Okay is relative. I’m no closer to figuring out who the fuck blew that warehouse up, or what in the hell sort of shit Vincent is into, but I’m also no longer hours away from her. “I’m good.”

Savannah beams at me. “Good.” She turns to the woman at her side. “This is Audrey. Audrey, this is Zeke. My...”

Her voice drifts off, and I understand why. Explaining what we are to other people is complicated. It would also likely lead to questions. Skepticism. Doubt.

“I’m just hers.” Whatever she wants me to be, I’ll be it. Boyfriend. Fiancé. Husband. Best friend—even though Christian may not agree with it. He can kiss my ass.

Audrey barely smiles, and I can’t tell if it’s because she’s skittish, or if the side of her face is so swollen it doesn’t move well. “Nice to meet you.” The words are soft, but strong.

Seeing women in her condition never gets easier. I’ve aided many of those women over the years, but the way Audrey is clinging to Savannah, it’s evident my assistance is not needed. This time, I’m happy to be their beverage boy. “Do you ladies want something to drink?”

“That would be perfect.” Savannah turns to Audrey, finding out what the other woman would like before sending me in search of a Coke Zero and a Dr Pepper.

The main floor of the firehouse is huge. Even bigger than it appeared from the outside. It’s got an enormous living room, an open dining area with a table that looks like it could easily seat twenty people, and a kitchen any chef would be proud to call their own.

I tip my head at Christian’s brothers as I pass. I don’t bother stopping to talk—they’re all busy with their wives and families, they don’t need me butting into their lives. I reach the kitchen and go to the large refrigerator, sifting through the cans inside before pulling out what I’m after. When I close the door, Maddox is standing on the other side. His unexpected appearance sends me stepping back, nearly making me fumble Savannah’s Dr Pepper.

“I want to come to Nashville.” He doesn’t mince words. Doesn’t try to start a conversation. It’s odd, because Maddox is usually way more talkative than I enjoy.

“You are in Nashville.” Technically, he’s in Memphis, but the op we’re dealing with is in Nashville, so I know he gets what I’m saying.

“I mean permanently.” He steps closer. “When Pierce gets the new location set up, I want it to be my home base.” He glances behind me. “We all do.”

I turn to find more members of Shadow gathering around me. I look from face to face, trying to figure out where this sudden interest is coming from. “Why?”

Luca shrugs. “Why not?” He gives me a smirk. “It’s obvious you and Savannah want to move here. If the whole team wants to go, Pierce will have a harder time telling you no.”

I’m stunned. Shocked that they all noticed my interest in this area. I’m even more surprised they’d be willing to uproot their whole lives to increase my chances of getting what I want.

“You deserve to have something good in your life for once, man.” Maddox grips my shoulder the same way Christian did earlier. “You’ve always looked out for us, so now it’s our turn to look out for you.”

“And let’s be real.” Luca shrugs. “Fairbanks is full. If we stay there, we’re always going to be shipped out. Rogue has pretty much set up shop there, so if any of us wants to settle down, our best chance of having some sort of a normal home life is here.”

I never intended to have a home life to settle down to, so what would or wouldn’t be an option in Fairbanks hadn’t even crossed my mind. But, based on the expressions on the faces of the men around me, I might be the only one.

“I don’t know what it will be like here.” I don’t want them committing, thinking it will be identical to what’s set up in Alaska. “And I have no idea what Pierce has planned for our team now that we’re not working with Vincent and GHOST anymore.”

I do know that my team is capable of just about anything Pierce tasks us with. Whatever he asks, we can do. Maybe that’ll give me a little leverage when it comes time to negotiate our path.

Maddox grins, finally looking a little more like the man I know. “The weather gets up in the nineties here, so everything else is just fucking gravy.”

I can’t say I disagree with him on that. After spending so many years in the cold and the dark, sweating my balls off for a few months actually sounds enjoyable.

“Okay.” My decision is easy to make. “I’ll make sure it happens.”

“There is one thing we do want as part of the deal, though.” Maddox turns serious. “A little neighborhood like they have up there.” His eyes skim the room before coming back to me. “Like Christian and his brothers have here.”

My brows lift. “You want to be up each other’s asses all the time?” I motion around us. “Like this?”

Maddox’s grin comes back in full force. “Are you really going to argue against not having to feed yourself every night?”

I don’t plan to have to feed myself every night. I plan to have to feed myself and Savannah every night. I can’t cook for shit, but food seems to be important to her, so it’s important to me. “I’m not cooking for your dumb asses every night.”

Maddox laughs. “No one thinks you’re cooking for them, boss.” He slaps me on the back. “You just make our own little neighborhood happen, and we’ll take care of the rest.”

I stand there for a second longer after the men of my team disperse, filtering throughout the room to chat with Christian’s brothers and their wives. Guilt isn’t a new emotion for me. It’s one I carry on a regular basis. But the particular one I’m facing now is foreign. And unexpected.

When Christian asked me earlier about friends, I was confident when I said Savannah. I knew naming Christian was a stretch, but I was ready to argue my case. But that was it. And more than I would have claimed a month ago.

But I was wrong. And an idiot. I was so wrapped up in my own barriers and restrictions that I didn’t see the truth.

I do have friends. Maybe even brothers.

In spite of my fucking self.