Page 105 of The Wrecked One

“They’ll Cain-and-Abel their way out of this.” Jack squeezed the back of his neck. “Someone’s going to be sacrificed, and I’m guessing it won’t be Stef’s firstborn. Like hell will Senior let his son live after pulling the move he did.”

“That’s their problem. One less Soren to deal with two nights from now is fine with me.” Carter reached into his pocket, producing his phone. “We should get to work on a plan. We’ll have to study every square inch of space at our destination. We need to be prepared to fight them, but also devise a plan to get Mya and Gwen off the island when part two begins.”

“Finally something I can get on board with.” Wyatt ignored the eye roll from his daughter. “I’ll make some calls,” he said, motioning to Teddy, the only other SEAL there, to follow him from the room.

As Gray began dividing up tasks, Sydney crossed the room to me. “You sure about having your parents on the island, too?”

I squashed the desire to come up with another biblical analogy about a child having their parents murdered, because what a horrible choice even if they were guilty as sin. But I couldn’t hold my true feelings back from my closest friend. “As far as I’m concerned, they’re no longer my parents.”

Oliver tightened his hold of my hand at that, offering his support. The man knew what it was like to lose both parents but in different ways. And at that point, I was more concerned with his life than the Vanzettis’. It wasn’t hard to feel that way considering they’d tried to kill him and my friends. So yeah, fuck them. Remaining detached from the idea they were really my mom and dad would also be the only way I’d get through this.

“Well, the Sorens didn’t dispose of them despite everything that happened. And the fact they even let them have a shot at saving your life in Canada must mean they’re pretty important to the Sorens,” Sydney said, not holding back her thoughts. “We should try and keep them alive for questioning. If nothing else, they have intel that can help dismantle The Collective.”

“Okay.” The word came out soft and barely there, so I added a nod with it.

She gave me an apologetic look, rubbed my arm twice, then joined the rest of the team already at work.

At that, I faced Oliver. There was still another obstacle we had to surmount before part two—the fight against Mr. Bloodsport. A man who’d potentially be even more off-kilter if he killed his brother.

“You’re sure about fighting three rounds?” I couldn’t help but ask him.

Oliver squinted. “When I looked into that man’s eyes tonight, what I saw was someone who isn’t afraid of dying.”

“Not helping.”

“That means he has nothing to live for.” He pointed out in a deep, gravelly voice, “I do, though. I have you.” He swallowed, then lifted his eyes toward the others in the room. “I have this team.”

“Does that mean you’re back for good?” Gray asked, evidently eavesdropping on us.

“You still want me?” Oliver’s voice was nearly hoarse that time.

“What do you think?” Gray shot back, his tone as low and deep as Oliver’s had been.

Oliver dipped his chin, eyes returning to my face while whispering, “Then yeah, I’m back for good.”

40

MYA

“You need your strength for what’s coming. Go to bed. We’ll keep at this.” Gray stepped in front of me to confront Oliver.

Oliver gently stroked the back of my hand with his thumb. “I’m not going to bed while you plot and plan. That’s not right. If we’re going to be a team, then we have to work like one.”

“The team needs you to have your strength, and it doesn’t look like you’ve slept in days,” Gray returned without hesitation, and I had to agree with him there.

“As soon as we get to our next location, I’ll train with you,” Jesse offered, coming up alongside Gray. “I’m sure Adam McGregor and Asher Hayes can give you some advice over a web call, too.”

Both Adam and Asher had experience inside a fighting ring, probably even more than Jesse. Although they’d be suiting up for war against the Sorens, they’d be joining for backup after the matchup with Hugo ended. We couldn’t risk them being seen beforehand.

“I’ve been practicing some stuff for a few months now, too,” Oliver shared, his tone almost somber-sounding. “But yeah, I’ll take all the help I can get.”

“Start with listening to us when we say to sleep,” Gray demanded, “Now, go put him to bed.”

I couldn’t help but grin at that order. It was certainly one I didn’t mind obeying.

Gray set his hands on his hips and gruffly tossed out, “You know what I mean. Now go.”

“Come on, we don’t want to piss him off.” I let go of Oliver’s hand so I could hook my arm around his. “Sydney, I, um . . .”

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