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“Good.” Pierce leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers.

“Get us that list. I’ll put Intel on it immediately to see what they can find out.

We’re still in the process of vetting possible contact points within the Memphis Police Department, but that task isn’t turning out to be as simple as we were hoping it would be. ”

That has my brows lifting. “Is there something I should know?”

Audrey’s already called their hotline, so if there is a problem within that department, it could theoretically affect her. Especially since we’re hoping to handle at least part of this situation in a legitimate fashion to ensure Trevor goes down publicly for what he’s done.

“At this point, we’re having trouble even getting our foot in the door.” Pierce purses his lips, looking irritated. “We were aware there was some general disruption in the Memphis and Nashville area, but I don’t believe we understood how far it reaches.”

“If we can’t find a viable contact within the Memphis PD, I don’t know that I can ever feel comfortable leaving.” My eyes drift in the direction of the bathroom where Audrey is. “Unless Trevor’s taken care of, she’s always going to be in danger.”

“Then take her to Nashville. If she’s impossible to find, it’s likely he’ll eventually turn his attention elsewhere.” Pierce lays it out like I haven’t already considered doing exactly that.

“She won’t go.” I can say it with complete certainty.

Pierce’s head bobs back in surprise. “You’ve already suggested this to her?”

“I don’t have to.” My jaw begins to tense, and I force it to relax.

“She won’t risk bringing danger anywhere near Savannah.

” If she was hesitant about making real life friends, then Audrey is surely not going to risk Savannah.

“But if it comes down to it, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep her safe. ”

Even if Audrey hates me for a little bit.

It’ll be worth it to make sure she keeps on living. So if I have to drag her to Nashville, kicking and screaming, that’s what I’ll do.

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” Pierce straightens, dropping his hands. “We will do everything we can here. See what information you can get from her and if there’s a way to get our hands on that flash drive. It’s possible there’s more information on it than she realizes.”

I nod. “I can do that.” I grip the edge of the computer screen as Audrey steps out of the bathroom. “I’ll keep you posted.”

Closing my computer, I turn to face her. “Feel better?”

She perked up a bit after spending a little time chatting with her online friends, but as the day wore on, I could tell she was beginning to struggle.

“Better is relative, I guess.” Wrinkling her nose, Audrey gives me a shrug. “This just really isn’t how I saw my life going.”

She walks toward the bed, but I reach out, snagging her by the arm and pulling her into my lap. Tucking her close, I lean back, feeling better about everything now that I’m touching her.

“We’re doing everything we can to figure this out so you can get back to normal.”

Audrey gives me a sad smile. “That’s the thing. I was talking about my normal.” Her eyes drop as she picks at a loose thread on her pajamas. “It’s not like I wanted anything big or amazing. I just wanted to be happy and loved and appreciated.”

The pain in her voice makes my chest ache. “It’s going to happen. I promise.”

Audrey’s blue eyes lift to my face. “It makes me sad that I almost don’t even care about those things anymore.

” She pulls in a shaky breath. “Now I just want to survive.” Her gaze holds mine.

“And I want to make sure Trevor doesn’t hurt anybody else.

Tell your boss I’ll write down all the names I can remember and who they are.

” Her full lips press together, flattening for a minute before she continues.

“And if you say I can trust him with the flash drive, then we can go get it tomorrow.”

So much for having a quiet conversation while she was in the shower.

“I trust Pierce with my life.” I continue, because I want Audrey to know the full scope of my belief in the people I work with. “I would trust anyone at Alaskan Security with my life.” A small smile tugs at my lips. “And that includes all the kids.”

Audrey’s chin tucks, her brows coming together. “Kids?”

I chuckle, because I probably should have explained that a little bit better.

“Don’t worry, we don’t employ kids.” I smooth one hand over her thigh, the soft fabric of her pajamas rubbing against my palm.

“There are multiple teams within the company. Shadow is the team Zeke and I are both on. Rogue is the main team in Alaska. Stealth is there too, but it’s a smaller group.

Then there’s Alpha and Beta, but those guys are all over the place all the time. ”

Alaskan Security is large. Employs over fifty people, and now we’re spreading across the country. It’s been amazing to see the company grow, and I’ve loved every minute of my time there.

But one specific bit has been my favorite.

“All the men on Rogue are paired off and a bunch of them have kids.” I think of all the little hooligans running around and smile. “Pierce, the owner, also has a daughter, and she’s cute as hell.”

And I love every damn one of them. I don’t get to see them as much as I’d prefer—especially now that I’m in Nashville— but when I do, it’s fucking magical.

Their little voices and wild laughs. The pure way they accept everyone.

The love they dish out without fear or concern it won’t be offered back.

Audrey stares at me, still looking confused. “I guess it never occurred to me that mercenaries could be daddies.” She snorts. “Which is stupid since Savannah’s pregnant.”

I grin, not even a little bothered by her slightly lacking assessment of my profession. “Mercenaries can be anything they want to be.”

Shifting my arms, I scoop her up and push to my feet, carrying her over to the bed to settle her into the spot she seems to prefer. “It’s actually kind of a cool situation. There’s a whole community in Fairbanks where almost everybody lives, so the kids all get to grow up together.”

I watch them and wonder what it might have been like to grow up around people who understood me. If it would have changed anything. Or if I eventually would have become the same—occasionally awkward—man I am now.

Audrey’s smile is warm as she slides under the blankets. “That does sound really nice.” She situates her head on the pillow as I climb in next to her. “It would be really nice to have so many other people around. Especially if everybody gets along.”

“For the most part everybody gets along.” I scoot in close. “Zeke does get a little pissed when I sneak into his house and eat all the cookies Savannah makes for him.”

“Maybe your parents and siblings don’t get you, but it sounds like you were able to find an extended family who does.” Audrey reaches up to smooth back a little of my hair. “That makes me really happy for you.”

My eyes almost slip shut as her nails gently scrape across my scalp. I love having my head scratched. All my muscles instantly turn to liquid, along with my brain, which is why I say, “They would all love you.”

“Actually,” she uses her free hand to grab my phone from the nightstand.

“I got a friend request from someone I think you might know.” She swipes across the screen, pulling up the Instagram app.

Sure enough, Heidi has requested to follow her.

She chews her lower lip. “I didn’t accept it, because I didn’t know if it would mess anything up. ”

“Is your account private?”

She nods. “People can find me and see my profile picture, but they can’t see who I follow or who follows me.”

“Heidi’s also a super skilled hacker, so if it was an issue, I don’t think she would have sent the request.”

My eyelids are getting heavy as Audrey continues sliding her fingers along my scalp.

But then they suddenly go still.

My lids are heavy when I look her way, but the look on her face has me wide awake. “What’s wrong?”

She’s still looking through Instagram, but now she has her messages open.

“I got a message from a woman who said she knows someone connected with Trevor.” Audrey starts breathing faster, her expression pinched with shock.

“She says she tried reporting him to the police, and no one did anything.” Again, she flips the screen my way.

“She’s worried he might try to shut her up. ”

I scan the lengthy message that confirms our suspicions. Sitting up, I gently take the phone from her hand. “It sounds like we’re going to need to get in touch with Becca.”