Page 107 of The Eagle's Vault

As our lips separated, I held her close, reluctant to let her go. Boston was a good city—home to a lot of craft breweries, after all.

“I’m happy you’re coming home with me, Declan,” Leigh whispered into my chest.

“I am, too.”

As she placed her delicate hand in mine, I couldn’t help but marvel at how perfectly we fit together—both in body and soul. The past weeks had been a whirlwind of passion, adventure, and self-discovery for both of us, and I’d never be the same.

Chapter 42

Jayce

Thesleekbodyofthe Gulfstream G650ER was a welcome sight. I stepped onto the jet, the familiar smell of leather and ambition filling my nose. The team trailed close behind, exhaustion coloring their faces in the afternoon sunshine.

“Patricia,” I called, making a beeline for our flight attendant. “Please tell me you restocked the nut mix like you promised.”

She opened a galley drawer with an over-dramatic flourish. “But of course.”

Satisfied, I snatched a bag of nuts and a water bottle from the fridge. A few steps past, I slid into a plush leather seat near the front, popping the cap and taking a sip from the water.

Leigh came through the cabin next, her arm looped through Declan’s. The girl was glowing. It was almost infectious.Love can do that, I suppose.A lot had changed for her over the past two weeks, and she was different now. Her confidence shone. No more hunched shoulders or downcast eyes.

I’d only met two of the women Declan’s mother had convinced him to date. Daphne and… I couldn’t even remember the other’s name. He’d been miserable with both of them.

But the ease between him and Leigh was a wonderful thing. He was better with her. Happier. They made their way to the mid cabin, sinking onto the divan, their body language telegraphing an intimacy that made me want to avert my eyes.

“Hey, you two,” I called, pointing my bottle at them. “No canoodling on the flight, you hear me?”

Leigh’s blush could’ve outshone the sun. I took another gulp of my water. No way would they listen to me.

My attention shifted as Scarlett and Malcolm entered the cabin, their bodies brushing against each other in whispers. I watched as Malcolm leaned in, murmuring something that sparked a smile on Scarlett’s face, a sight that was more myth than reality a month ago. Now they were inseparable.

Malcolm’s hand ghosted down Scarlett’s arm, tracing a path that seemed all too familiar to them. The tactile connection was as constant as it was conspicuous. I mean, literally, all the time. His fingers trailed up her arm, brushing a loose curl off her face, his touch lingering for a moment. I caught Scarlett’s eyes flickering closed, a soft smile playing on her lips.

That smile, it was brighter, more frequent. It was a sight I hadn’t seen on Scarlett’s face in years. Something had shifted, settled between them, and it brought out a version of Scarlett that had been buried deep within for far too long.

They chose her usual spot in the rear cabin.

Downing the rest of my water, I turned my attention away, praying that the remnants of the nut mix would be enough to distract me from my lovey-dovey co-workers.

My gaze bounced between the two couples, their intimate whispers and lingering smiles awkward but welcome at the same time. Seeing Scarlett and Declan genuinely happy was a sight to behold. Not that I’d ever admit it out loud.

Still, a warmth filled me as I watched them, a sense of satisfaction that my friends found a happiness that was all too rare in our line of work.

Yet, a sharp contrast stabbed at me—a tinge of loneliness. A faded memory of a past where happiness was a routine away, a gold medal within reach. A time when I was on the brink of Olympic stardom, a path violently interrupted by an unfortunate accident.

The man I’d lost. The mother who’d moved on.

My throat tightened.Stop thinking about it, Jayce.

A life that could have been. A dream which had shattered and reshaped itself into something unexpected. I swallowed down the pang of regret. Despite everything, I was happier now. I was more than an athlete, more than a gymnast. I was Jayce. The snack-happy thief. The greaseman.

With the Reynolds team, I’d found a family that would never leave me behind. They accepted me for who I was—quirks, snark, and all. They saw me, not the former athlete or the skilled thief, but Jayce. And that was worth more than any gold medal.

As Emmett and Rav took their places opposite me, Patricia breezed through with her usual pre-flight instructions. She pointed this way and that, the regular routine of reminding us to buckle up and where the exits were.

Proving how amazing she was, she also handed me a fresh bottle of water.

The jet began to move, the cabin vibrating as we taxied onto the runway. I stared out the window as we climbed, the city dropping away. I stole a glance at Leigh, her eyes locked with Declan’s. Her brother was with Fenix. A knot of worry clenched in my stomach for my new friend, but she seemed oblivious, wrapped in her quiet conversation.

---