Page 20 of Fierce Hope (Hope Landing: New Recruits #3)

“Trouble sleeping?” Deke asked, glancing up as Jade padded into her living room wearing gray sweats. She’d changed after their team meeting, but exhaustion still lined her face.

From his position on her small couch, he watched her cross her arms—a defensive gesture he’d noticed she made when feeling exposed. She eyed the sparse condo, taking in the bare walls, the single framed photo of her with church friends, the conspicuous absence of any family mementos.

She lived in generic surroundings, like someone prepared to disappear at a moment’s notice.

The heating system hummed quietly in the background, and outside, the city had settled into its nighttime rhythm. But Deke remained alert, aware of every creak and whisper in the building. His mind kept circling back to the evidence board at headquarters, to the name that had made Jade go pale.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “For giving up time with DJ to be here. I know this can’t be easy.”

Deke attempted a wry smile, though the mention of his son sent a familiar pang through his chest. “Probably better for him to have a break from me right now anyway. He’s ... not exactly thrilled with me these days.”

The words came out more bitter than he’d intended, and he caught the flash of empathy in Jade’s eyes. She was getting better at reading him, and he wasn’t sure if that was comforting or terrifying.

“You’re a good father,” Jade said quietly, settling into an armchair. “DJ just needs time. Believe me, I would’ve given anything for a dad who actually cared.”

The raw honesty in her voice hit him hard. Deke leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Karen and I—DJ’s mom—we married fast. Too fast. I was gone all the time on ops, living mission to mission. By the time DJ was born, we were practically strangers.”

He’d never told anyone this, not even his team. But something about Jade’s vulnerability made him want to offer his own truth in return.

Her eyes were gentle when they met his, though sorrow flickered there. “So you’ve been trying to make up for lost time?”

“And not doing great at it, obviously.”

“At least you’re trying. That counts for something.”

The silence stretched between them, filled with shared understanding of what it meant to carry the weight of family wounds. Outside, a siren wailed in the distance, then faded. Deke studied the way the lamp light caught in Jade’s hair, how her guard had dropped slightly in the quiet of the night.

He wondered what else she wasn’t telling them about the life she’d left behind. But he couldn’t bring himself to push—not when she was finally starting to trust them.

Trust him.

“Are you nervous about tomorrow?” he asked, breaking the weighted silence. “First time in our Eurocopter.”

Jade’s eyes brightened slightly at the change of subject. “A little. I’ve never been in any kind of helicopter before.”

“Don’t worry—much smoother than military birds. And I promise no combat maneuvers,” he added with a hint of a smile. “Though Kenji will pout.”

She uncurled slightly from her defensive position, the tension in her shoulders easing. “Is it ... is it weird that I’m almost excited? Despite everything?”

Deke shook his head. “Not weird. Sometimes a little adrenaline helps cut through the fear.”

Her expression sobered. “I keep thinking about Sebastian—about seeing him again after all these years. He was ... kind to me, in his way. Even after I walked away from that life.”

“Did your father ever try to reach out?” The question slipped out before he could stop it. “After you cut ties?”

Jade’s face darkened. “I never allowed it. I gave him a choice when I was twenty—go straight with me, or I’d disappear.” She swallowed hard. “He chose the con. Like always.”

Without thinking, he shifted forward, closing some of the distance between them. “His loss.”

She looked up, their eyes meeting in the dim light. Something electric passed between them, an understanding that went deeper than words. For a moment, Deke could almost imagine reaching out, brushing away the sadness etched in her features.

But his phone buzzed sharply, shattering the moment. DJ’s name lit up the screen. With an apologetic look at Jade, he answered.

“Just wanted to say goodnight,” DJ’s voice came through, guarded and distant. “Izzy told me to call.”

“I’m glad you did, son.” The words felt heavy, inadequate.

A noncommittal mumble was the only response before the line went dead. Deke lowered the phone, the tender moment from seconds ago evaporating like mist.

Jade had already retreated, both physically and emotionally. She stood now, arms crossed, the wall between them rebuilt. “I should get some sleep. Early start tomorrow.”

“Yeah.” Deke set his phone down, forcing a small smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Get some rest.”

She hesitated at the hallway entrance. “Deke? Thank you. For everything.”

Then she was gone, leaving him alone with the whisper of the heating system and his churning thoughts. He settled back onto the small couch, staring at the dark ceiling. Outside, wind whistled against the windows, a lonely sound that matched his mood.

Tomorrow they’d face Sebastian Deveaux, dig deeper into Jade’s past. But tonight, lying here in her condo, Deke couldn’t shake the feeling that he was balanced on a knife’s edge—torn between duty and desire, between protecting Jade and letting her in.

Sleep would be a long time coming.