Page 225 of Rescuing Ally: Part 1

“I know.” I’ve heard it all before—how no news is good news, how they’re the best at what they do, how they always come home. It doesn’t stop me from checking my phone every five minutes.

“Look,” Sophia says, joining our impromptu gathering behind the counter. “We’ve got a great movie lined up for Jenna’s tonight. No more brooding.”

“I’m not brooding,” I protest weakly.

All five women stare at me with identical expressions of disbelief.

“Fine. Maybe a little brooding.”

Jenna snorts. “You’ve been walking around like someone canceled Christmas for two weeks.”

The bell above the door chimes and a group of Delta team operatives enters, ending our conversation as we snap back into barista mode. I plaster on a smile and take orders, grateful for the distraction.

Later that afternoon, I trade in my apron for my laptop and sit with Malikai in the quietest corner of The Guardian Grind.

For a few hours, I lose myself in the work. Theelegant dance of subatomic particles, the clean precision of the mathematics—it’s almost enough to make me forget Hank and Gabe are gone.

Almost.

“You should eat,” Malikai says eventually, pointing to the untouched sandwich I brought hours ago. “Skipping meals won’t bring them back faster.”

“That obvious, huh?”

He offers a tight smile. “I remember how Malia looked when Walt was away those first few times. Same expression you’ve been wearing. Like you’re only half here.”

“I’ve never done this before,” I admit, pushing away from the desk to stretch my tight shoulders. “Had someone to wait for. Someone who might not come back.”

“They’ll come back.” His certainty is almost contagious. “For you? They’d crawl through hell.”

My phone buzzes, and this time it’s not Malikai. My heart leaps, then plummets when I see it’s Harrison—my father’s security chief.

Just checking in. All quiet on my end. Remember the protocols if you need me.

I text back a quick acknowledgment, appreciating his diligence but wishing it was someone else.

“Thanks for understanding,” I tell Malikai, gathering my things. “Same time tomorrow?”

He nods, already deep in another calculation. “Bring your defense notes. We’ll start prepping your responses to potential questions.”

Later that night, Jenna’s apartment is warm and crowded when I arrive. Sophia and Rebel argue good-naturedly about movie choices while Mia arranges an impressive spread of snacks on the coffee table. Max immediately pads over to greet me, his tail wagging slowly.

“Hey, big guy,” I murmur, scratching behind his ears. “Still on guard duty, I see.”

“Always,” Jenna confirms, emerging from the kitchen with wine glasses. “He knows when the men are away. Gets extra vigilant.”

I settle onto the couch, accepting the glass Malia offers me. “Any word?”

“Nothing new,” she says, curling up beside me. “But Ethan sent Rebel a one-word text an hour ago. ‘Tomorrow.’ That’s all we know.”

Relief floods through me, almost dizzying in its intensity. Tomorrow. Just one more night.

“To our men,” Sophia raises her glass, “who better come home in one piece, or we’ll kill them ourselves.”

“Here’s to that,” I echo, the wine warming me from the inside out.

Rebel settles on my other side, her usual reserve softening. “The first long mission is the worst. The onesie and twosie ops are easier to deal with, but when they stretch like this, it’s hard on everyone.”

I nod. “Longest they’ve been gone since I moved in.”

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