Poor donut never stood a chance.
Liam gets everyone up to speed on the situation with Vadik Orlov and his less than savory associates. Jayden and I also fill them in on what we have learned.
“The Feds are desperate to bring in Orlov and his family,” Liam says. “They’ve unofficially asked for our help. Which means you’ve all been temporarily pulled from your current assignments.”
“That’s great—but what does that have to do with Isabelle?” Jayden might be successful at keeping what he’s thinking off his face, but there’s no missing the scowl in his tone.
Liam levels his gaze at him. “She’s part of the team. She proved that she’s a valuable part of it, beyond what she was doing before, and will be a good operative.”
“Does anyone else have any objections to me joining the team?” I ask the rest of the guys, already knowing the answer.
“Hell, no.”
“I’m good with it.”
“I’m all for it.”
They might be good with it, but that’s not enough for Jayden. The scowl moves from his tone and takes up residence on his face.
“Glad we’ve got that settled,” Liam says, ignoring Jayden’s reaction. “Landon, you and Isabelle are partnering up.”
A grunt rumbles deep in Jayden’s chest. “Hell, no. If you’re insisting on her joining us, then she should be partnered with me.”
“You’re still on medical leave.”
“Really? Because you had no trouble letting me go to Huntington Beach with her.”
“That’s because I didn’t anticipate you ripping off your sling well before you were supposed to and playing her knight in shining armor. Although in retrospect, I should have known better.”
“I didn’t have a choice. You would have done the same if it were Ava.”
“You’re right. I would have. Because she’s my wife, the mother of my child, and the woman I love.”
Four knowing smirks are leveled at Jayden. I pretend to be busy inspecting the donut I have no intention of eating.
“You can stay with Connor and be our communications guy.” Liam’s tone bars all further argument.
Jayden throws him anoh-goodieglare.
* * *
My doorbell ringsas I’m folding my laundry in my bedroom.
For a second, the idea that it’s possibly Jayden, coming to apologize for being an idiot, pops into my head. But that hope crashes and burns when I open the door to find Ava standing on my front stoop. Her adorable, eight-month-old baby is jabbering away in her arms.
“Hey, how’s my favorite little girl doing?” I ask Cassie. The ends of her short blonde hair peek from under her pink sunhat.
She gurgles in reply.
I open the door wider to let them in.
It’s not the first time Ava and Cassie have visited my house unannounced. Even though Ava has her group of mommy friends she spends time with—the wives of Liam’s buddies, who are also his little sister’s friends—she and I have a different bond than what she shares with those women. Their husbands’ jobs aren’t considered dangerous.
Even though until recently I hadn’t admitted to myself that I love Jayden, it was still tough to watch him leave for missions when I knew there was a chance he might not come home alive.
It’s that deep-rooted uncertainty with each mission that strengthened the friendship Ava and I share.
“Are you busy?” Ava asks.
