Page 35 of Deadly Hope
“Speaking of strategic ...” Deke’s grin turned wicked. “Anyone else notice the Axe-man’s strategic positioning? Always managing to be in Dr. Kane’s personal space bubble?”
Axel kept his face carefully neutral. “She’s our client.”
“Uh-huh.” Izzy’s eyes sparkled. “That why you cooked Nonna’s special risotto?”
“I cook risotto all the time. It’s the weather.”
“Yeah, but you don’t always look like you want to feed it to someone personally,” Kenji chimed in, finally putting his phone down.
“Don’t you have some sports scores to check?” Axel grumbled.
“Nope. All caught up. Free to observe your obvious?—”
“Play a card or forfeit,” Axel interrupted, but he could feel the heat creeping up his neck.
The team’s teasing was familiar territory, comfortable ground. But they weren’t entirely wrong. He’d noticed himself gravitating toward Olivia, finding reasons to be in her space. And while part of him felt guilty about it—she wassupposed to be his therapist, after all—that ship had clearly sailed the moment they brought her here.
Besides, his symptoms were better lately. The nightmares less frequent, the anxiety more manageable. Maybe he didn’t need a therapist. He just needed absorbing work.
Maybe he just needed ... her.
“Earth to Axel,” Zara called. “Your play. Unless you’re too busy thinking about?—”
“I will put you all on perimeter duty,” he threatened, but he was smiling as he laid down his card.
Outside, the snow continued falling. Inside, surrounded by his chosen family’s laughter, Axel felt something settle in his chest. Whatever came next, they’d face it together.
And if his thoughts kept drifting to a certain therapist’s smile ... well, that was nobody’s business but his own.
18
The next morning,Olivia sat at the cabin’s kitchen counter, her client files spread before her like a complicated puzzle. Each sticky note represented a life, a trust she couldn’t breach, even in crisis. She’d been making calls since dawn, coordinating with trusted colleagues to ensure her patients wouldn’t lose momentum in their treatment.
Fresh snow blanketed the valley outside, transforming the safehouse’s sweeping view into an untouched canvas of white and blue. She cradled her second cappuccino—perfectly crafted, complete with a leaf design in the foam that suggested Axel’s hidden talents extended well beyond tactical operations. The accompanying cranberry-orange muffins, still warm from the oven, had surprised her even more. Apparently, the big security specialist stress-baked.
She shifted her phone to her other ear, stretching muscles tight from tension. Three hours of calls down, at least that many to go. “No, Lisa, I completely understand.” Olivia kept her voice steady, professional, though her free hand kneaded the tension at her neck. “If you’re okay with it, Dr. Leipheimer will have full access to your files, and she’s excellentwith combat-related trauma. Just temporary coverage until—” She caught herself before saying ‘until this is over.’ “Until I’m back in the office.”
Not that she had any idea when that would be. Each call felt like admitting defeat, even though she knew ensuring continuity of care was the responsible choice. Her patients needed stability, not a therapist who couldn’t guarantee her own safety, let alone theirs.
Across the great room, Zara’s array of laptops cast a blue glow over her intent expression. The cyber specialist hadn’t moved from her command center all morning, fingers flying over multiple keyboards while lines of code reflected in her glasses. Behind her, Kenji had transformed the dining table into an analyst’s dream, screens displaying surveillance footage alongside complex pattern recognition software.
Axel moved between them like a shadow, coordinating through his earpiece in that clipped, efficient language she was starting to recognize as mission-speak. But she didn’t miss how his gaze regularly swept the perimeter, lingering on the tree line, the access road, the deceptively peaceful morning landscape that could hide any number of threats.
“Yes, I’ll call as soon as—” Olivia broke off as Zara suddenly straightened, her posture screaming alert. “Lisa, I need to go. I’ll check back with you soon. You’re in good hands with Dr. Leipheimer.” She ended the call just as Zara’s voice cut through the room’s focused quiet.
“Got something. Multiple somethings, actually.” Her tone made everyone stop what they were doing. “And you’re really going to want to see this.”
Axel was already moving toward her station, his hand brushing Olivia’s shoulder as she rose to join them. The casual contact felt steadying, though she wasn’t ready to examine why.
“Show me,” he said, and Zara’s main screen filled with scrolling data that made Olivia’s breath catch in her throat.
There, amid the technical readouts and timestamps, was her brother’s name. On a bank account. Three years after he died.
“These aren’t random hits.” Zara enlarged the data stream. “Someone’s been pinging your brother’s bank account. Sophisticated. Professional. Like they’re searching for something specific.”
Ronan, who’d been quiet all morning, pushed away from his observation post by the windows. “Show me the timing.”
Data points highlighted across the screen. Ronan paced, muttering numbers under his breath. “Tenth ... Thirtieth ... Tenth ... Thirtieth ...”
