Page 57 of Danger Close
Ezra sipped.“Word’s right.”
“You sure about it?”
Ezra nodded.“I’ve got my niece safe and sound, and I’ve got ...this.A team.A purpose.I want to help build it.Train, protect.If there’s a mission worth fighting for, I want in.”
Bateman raised a brow.“You’ve been running solo a long time.What about your work?”
Ezra shrugged.“Independent contractor.No contracts at the moment.”
Bateman tilted his head.“Looking for new ones?”
“Not exactly.”Ezra took another sip of coffee, then added, “Van and I ...we were independently wealthy.Old family investments, a couple early crypto bets that paid off.More money than either of us could spend in ten lifetimes.”
Bateman blinked.“You’re telling me I’ve got a bona fide millionaire sitting on my deck?”
Ezra grimaced.“It rhymes with that, at least.”
Bateman huffed a laugh.
“I’ve been thinking about how to use it,” Ezra continued.“The kids we save—they’ll need help.Real help.Therapy, housing, a future.I want to build that.Make it part of Van’s legacy.”
Bateman nodded slowly.“That’s one hell of a way to honor him.”
Bateman glanced out toward the ridge, the breeze ruffling the edges of his jacket.“And I have another way.We’re going to burn that ring to the ground, you know.Van’s trail ...it’s still warm.”
Ezra turned toward him.“When I found the key for the trail that led me to that list in the post office box he and I used to send things through, I had no idea where it would lead me to.I followed it to half a dozen other threads and leads.Europe.South America.The last one gave me the full list.Everything he was building.Names.Routes.Accounts.The ring operates everywhere, but Van was close to blowing it wide open.”
“And now we will,” Bateman said.“Together.”
Ezra hesitated, then added quietly, “You know, I asked Van once if he’d found his happiness with the Pathfinders.He never answered me.Not until that message.”
Bateman turned his gaze on him.“The one he left you when he died?”
Ezra nodded.“He said the answer is yes and told me to go find mine.I like to think he’d be glad I did.That it led me to Sophia ...and to all of you.”
Bateman cleared his throat roughly.“He’d be proud.”
Blake reappeared with a third mug, passing it to Bateman before sitting beside Ezra and nudging his shoulder.“So, this house—how many bedrooms?”
Ezra smirked.“Depends.Are you planning on us having the kids every other night to get some alone time with your man?”
Blake scoffed.“Obviously.”
They were still laughing when the world cracked open.
The explosion rocked the Ridge, the sound so violent and close it cut straight through their chests.Windows rattled.Birds scattered from trees like shrapnel.Black smoke spiraled into the sky from somewhere near the Ridge’s perimeter wall.
“Jesus Christ—” Bateman growled as the three of them pulled comms pieces from pockets and jammed them in place.
“Where are the kids?”he barked.
“Over by Marsh’s office,” Blake called.
The alarms screamed to life, piercing and unmistakable.The Ridge’s battle protocol.Not a drill.Not a test.This was life and death.The three of them started running, heading for outside.Ezra was getting to Sophia and would no doubt find Ricky there.Bateman’s voice snapped through the compound, his voice sharp and steady as they moved.
“All units check in!Now!”
“Dale here—en route to impact site, visual on smoke by the gate.”As soon as they were outside, Bateman sprinted for his truck, no doubt heading for the gate where Ezra could see smoke rising up above the trees lining the driveway.Blake and Ezra turned together towards where the kids were.
