Page 53 of Lost Hope

“Dad,” Maya said carefully, “every cop in LA County knows your face.”

Lawrence’s expression darkened. “I can be discreet.”

Christian stifled a laugh.

Lawrence shot him a look.

Maya rubbed her temples.

Ronan leaned closer. “Parents, right? If my mother were here ...”

“Woof,” Axel added with a grin.

Jack pulled up the logistics screen. “Alright, we’ve got my Phenom, the Agusta, and it looks like my father-in-law’s got one of his Pilatus PC-12 NGXs ready for action. My wife and her dad own a private air transportation company.”

“Must be nice,” Ronan muttered.

“Three birds, three pilots,” Austin noted. “Jack and I can take two, but we need?—”

“Ronan,” Axel interrupted, eyes gleaming. “Though I have to ask ... can you even handle something built in this century, Ro?”

Jack raised an eyebrow at Ronan. “Want to try? The Pilatus has that new Pratt & Whitney PT6E-67XP engine ...”

Yeah. He did. In the worst possible way. He could already feel the controls beneath his hands. Smell that new-plane smell ...

“Touch screen avionics?” he asked, trying and failing to sound casual.

“Full Honeywell Epic 2.0 suite,” Jack confirmed.

“You sure you’re up for all that modern gadgetry?” Axel’s grin widened. “No more analog gauges to tap when they stick ...”

“I piloted one last month, actually.” Ronan paused. “In a simulator.”

The room erupted in groans and laughter.

The teams were finalizing assignments when the command center door swung open.

A shockwave blew through the room. It was always like this. Every. Time.

His stomach dropped.No. Please, no.

Victoria Quinn swept in, all five-foot-nine of her wrapped in a designer suit that easily cost more than his monthly rent. Her signature red hair was shorter now, but she still moved like she owned whatever room she entered. His mother. The last person on earth he expected.

Or needed here.

Her gaze went straight to him, assessing. Concerned.

Apparently reassured he was still in one piece, she addressed the room like a monarch addressing an adoring crowd. “I heard you could use some help,” she announced, then stopped short at the sight of Lawrence Chen.

Her green eyes widened. “Well. The legendary Detective Chen. That serial arsonist case in ‘98? Brilliant work with the paint analysis.”

Lawrence, who’d been reaching for his badge, froze. “You ... you followed that case?”

“Darling, I tried to get an interview with you for months.” Her smile was pure charm. “But you were so delightfully elusive.”

Maya rolled her eyes as her father actually blushed.

“Mom,” Ronan ground out. “How did you?—”

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