Page 84 of The Last Morgan

When they finished, they looked lighter. Brighter. Like chains had been cut.

Lucy rose and shook each of their hands.

"Thank you for your strength." she said.

"No," Sofia whispered. "Thank you for believing us."

When the room cleared, Byron approached her. "You did good." he said.

Lucy let herself sag into the chair, the exhaustion finally hitting her.

"It’s only the beginning." she said.

Byron knelt in front of her, surprising her.

"It’s a hell of a beginning."

He kissed the back of her hand lightly, sending a shiver up her spine.

Lucy smiled, a real, tired, beautiful smile.

Chapter 23

The long drive home was silent, arriving back at the mansion was meant to give Lucy the peace she craved but instead shewas greeted by Corey who insisted she had a look at the security reports that he had dumped in her hands.

"We’re not safe," Lucy finally said aloud, breaking the silence after skimming through the reports.

Barnaby snapped his head up from his screens. "Nope," he said, popping the "p." "We’re really not. And I can prove it."

Everyone leaned in closer.

Barnaby held up a small, cracked piece of the brooch between his thumb and forefinger. The device beeped steadily, like a slow heartbeat.

"I’m tracing it," Barnaby grinned. "And guess what? Whoever left this trail — they didn’t go far."

Lucy’s stomach tightened. She pushed her chair back and stood.

"Pack up," she ordered. "We’re going hunting."

It was late in the evening when Lucy decided to go ahead and propose what she called "The hunt."

The house was heavy with tension. Barnaby was bouncing on the balls of his feet like a kid high on too much sugar and excitement, laptop under one arm and his device strapped tight to the other.

“It’s not too far out,” Barnaby piped up, his voice sharp and eager. “An hour’s drive tops, if we don’t get lost.”

Lucy stretched her arms over her head, her tactical outfit creaking slightly as the material moved with her.

"Erm, does anyone have any spare headgear and armor for me?" Barnaby said. "I have to come too. I'm not letting any of you monkeys handle my precious equipment."

Everyone laughed — even Byron cracked a rare grin. The thought of Barnaby in a bulletproof vest and helmet was hilarious, but Lucy, being Lucy, took him seriously.

"I suppose if there's anything you should protect," Corey teased, "it's definitely your head, genius boy."

Barnaby muttered something about ‘under-appreciated talents’ while pulling a vest over his hoodie.

Within minutes, they packed up the SUV, loaded into two cars, and followed the directions Barnaby barked from the back seat.

Lucy sat in the front passenger seat, one foot tapping anxiously against the floor, adrenaline thrumming in her blood.