Page 111 of Breaking Conviction
Wes nodded.
“Good.” He scrubbed his fade again and turned away from them.
“You okay, Hawk?” Wes asked, he’d never seen the man look so rattled, but he could understand where he was coming from. Wes had basically just told him their life’s work had hurt countless people and there were still those out there possibly suffering.
He shook his head slowly. When he spoke, his voice was thick with emotion. “I-I just need a minute. Can you call the others? Give them the CliffsNotes version?”
Wes nodded. “Of course—”
Hawk left the room before Wes could finish his sentence and he finally gave Naomi his full attention.
“This is insane, Wes...”
Wes nodded. “Yep, but we’ll figure it out.” He hadn’t said what he’d been thinking, that maybe Phoenix had been in on the entire operation, Rahab Foundation, re-trafficking the women, Yemen, maybe even Eagle’s death. That was too much to come to terms with after just figuring out everything else.
Naomi leaned against his shoulder and he soaked in the calmness her presence gave him. His previous life’s purpose may have been tainted, turned and twisted into something awful that he couldn’t—think about, but his purpose now? Thea and Naomi. Ever since he’d met them both, they’d captured his heart. He would do everything in his power to make sure his queen and her princess were safe in their kingdom. They hadn’t needed a white knight, but their happy ever after was now his top priority.
“I love you,” he whispered and kissed her head. Naomi lifted hers to face him with a small smile.
“I love you, too.” Her brow crinkled with worry. “It’s just Thea. We just got out of my relationship with her father. Then all that mess with him. She’s been through so much...”
“I know it’s soon,” he began. “But... I’m in this. All in. I know having a kid changes perspective, but you don’t have to worry about Thea with me. Everything we’ve done has always been on your speed, love. I’m not going anywhere until you kick me to the curb.”
She laughed. “I don’t see that ever happenin’.”
He grinned back at her, letting the words soak in the air.
“Good.” He leaned in and kissed her, loving the way she melted against him. He had so much to do, but being in this moment with her was exactly where he needed to be.
His back pocket vibrated and he groaned. Despite the fact that all he wanted to do was take Naomi and make love to her like they had the night before, bombs had been dropped, metaphorically and physically. Whoever was calling had to be important.
“One second and then these lips are mine,” he whispered before pulling at her bottom lip with his thumb. She blushed before he pulled his phone from his pocket and frowned.
“What is it?” Naomi asked, immediately seeming to sense the change.
“It’s Nora...” He slid the green button over to answer. “Hey Nora, what’s—”
“Superman! Oh thank God, no one’s answering the phone—” Her words were coming at a mile a minute. “I’m at the hospital—”
“Is Jules okay?” Wes interrupted.
“Yes, she’s fine, well, I mean. Babs is in labor but—”
“Jules is in labor?” he asked. “Does Ellie know?”
“Ugh, yes, I’m sure she does, but that’s not why I’m calling—”
“Okay, why are you calling?”
“Will you freaking listen to me? It’s Drake!”
“Draco?” Wes’s stomach leadened as he used his teammate’s call sign. “I know the doctor said it was...” He swallowed, remembering what the doctor told the team his suggestion was.
There was a choked sob on the other line and Wes felt his lips go numb as he asked the question he didn’t want the answer to.
“Do we need to come... say goodbye?”
“No... no,” Nora answered and seemed to take a steadying breath. “He’s awake.”
