Page 212 of Override

Two SUVs turn through the gates one after the other. The first belongs to Bullet. The second—Of course. Matt and Rachel.

I close my eyes for exactly one second.

"They brought supervision," Wheels announces proudly as he strolls toward me. "Probably because you have a history of poor decision-making."

"I have one documented incident."

"You kidnapped an Irish mafia princess yesterday."

"Technically, I extracted—"

"Kidnapped."

Maeve opens her door before I can get to her. Rachel is already moving. She doesn't hesitate. She walks straight across the driveway with her arms open, and for half a heartbeat I watch Maeve freeze, uncertainty flickering across her face.

Then Rachel wraps her in a hug. Maeve melts. Not dramatically. Not all at once. Just enough that her shoulders finally drop for what feels like the first time since I met her. Something in my chest loosens with them.

Rachel murmurs something too quiet for me to hear before pulling back and brushing a strand of hair away from Maeve's face. "You doing okay?"

Maeve nods. "I think so."

Rachel smiles. "You don't have to be."

I feel Maeve instinctively take half a step toward me when the conversation ends.

Without thinking, I close the distance too, my hand settling lightly against the small of her back as she comes to stand beside me.

Not holding her. Just...There. Bullet notices. Of course he does. His gaze flicks from my hand to my face. One eyebrow lifts. He doesn't say a word.

Matt, unfortunately, has no such restraint. "What," he says flatly, "are you doing?"

"Standing."

"I wasn't talking about your feet."

"I assumed."

Rachel sighs. "Boys."

Wheels points between Matt and me. "See? This is why I came."

"No," Matt says. "You came because nobody invited you."

"I came because family doesn't wait for invitations."

Matt opens his mouth. Closes it again. "...Fair."

Matt mutters something under his breath. Then he looks back at me. His expression sobers.

He holds up a thick manila file. "I think we found what you were looking for."

Every muscle in my body stills.

Maeve looks between us. "What is it?"

Matt's eyes stay on mine. "The truth."

Before any of us can move toward the house, the front door swings open.