Page 86 of Dark Reunion

“Missing you,” Wolf answered.

A laugh bubbled up through her tears. “God, I just want to run out of here with you and never look back.”

He grinned, and for a moment, the world outside the warehouse didn’t exist.

A soft cough had her head snapping to the left.

“Jesus, kid, it’s good to see your face.” Morry was standing at the end of the aisle, leaning against the tall rack, rifle slung across her chest.

“Morry?” As pissed as Maeve had been at her, she broke from Wolf and ran to the woman who had been like a mother, a sister, or anything that felt like family. They collided in a tight embrace, and Morry laughed as she stepped back. “You came too.”

“Of course I did. You really think that I wouldn’t?” Morry pulled back and gripped her shoulders. “Fuck, I’ve been so worried. When you went off the grid and didn’t check in…I can’t explain how scared I’ve been.”

“I need you to tell me right now. Why did you not tell me who I was?” Maeve demanded, wiping at her face as Wolf laid his hand on her shoulder.

Morry shook her head hard. “I didn’t know who you were until all this shit started going down. Dean came to me and handed me a photo. He asked me to do him a favor, to find you and look after you. I didn’t ask any more questions after he told me you were important to him. I swear, I didn’t keep who you were from you on purpose.”

Maeve’s throat tightened. “I’m sorry, I’m such a pain in the ass.”

Morry laughed, the sound turning into a sniff. “You’re my favorite pain in the ass, now stop trying to make me cry, you know how much I hate tears.”

That was all it took. Maeve didn’t care and wrapped her arms around Morry. They clung to each other, shaking with the kind of relief that only came after too many near-misses and too little sleep.

When they finally pulled apart, Maeve noticed three other men standing in the shadows, watching silently. A smile split across her face when she recognized Trev, Arek, and Kes. They didn’t speak, just nodded in quiet welcome. Wolf kept a steady hand on Maeve’s back, as if to make sure she didn’t vanish again.

“You’re all here?” She whispered, looking from face to face.

Trev’s voice was low, steady, the same lawyer voice that he’d used from the first day she’d met him.

Trev nodded. “For you and Dean. We would’ve come sooner, but it took a while to figure out what was going on. We’re just waiting for Keene to arrive tonight. Once the bird touches down, we will move.”

Maeve shook her head. “I’m good at sneaking around. I overheard Carlos say that the meeting had been bumped up. Keene’s arriving sometime this morning instead and bringing extra men with him. I don’t know how many. I think they are planning on hunting me down. They think I escaped.”

Trev stepped forward, his arms crossed. “Are they meeting somewhere besides the compound?”

Maeve shrugged. “I don’t think so, why?”

“We saw a huge convoy leave.”

“They are either looking for me or Yasmine.” Maeve smiled.

“So, what you’re saying is you managed to draw a bunch of the guards away from the compound…” Arek said, with a smirk. “Nice.”

“Yeah, I guess I did.”

“Do you know where Dean is?” Wolf asked.

“Yeah, his father found out that he snuck Yasmine and the kids off the property and beat him before tossing him into solitary. That’s why I was in here, I was after weapons to get him out. Also, there are a bunch of guards on Dean’s side, but they won’t act until he asks. I don’t know who they all are, though. Ricco is one, I can point him out.”

“Hmm, this is more complicated if we have friendlies mixed in with enemies,” Trev mumbled.

She looked up toward the ceiling. The low hum of rotors was faint at first, then grew to a pulse rolling through the walls. Dust drifted from the rafters. Her heartbeat synced with it.

Wolf’s chest touched her back, protectively. “Looks like they are doing a very early meeting. You sure you’re up for this?”

Maeve pulled her gun and checked the magazine, the click echoing in the stillness. “I am not leaving until Carlos is dead.”

A faint smile touched his mouth. “Didn’t think so, but you’re not going anywhere without me.”

Morry walked over to a shelf and flipped the lid, pulling out a shoulder strap lined with hand grenades. “Welcome back to the shitshow,” she laughed.

The sound outside grew louder, like thunder, echoing through the metal building. Light flickered across the slats of the high windows. The floor trembled beneath their boots as Keene’s helicopter roared overhead, and then a second. Shadows danced along the walls, long and trembling.

Maeve gripped Wolf’s hand.

“Wolf and Maeve, go rescue Dean. The rest of us will make sure Carlos and Keene never make it off this property alive,” Trev ordered.

Maeve was tempted to argue, but the bay door suddenly opened. Wolf started to run, holding her hand and keeping her right on his heels. They burst out of the main door, staying hidden in the sharp shadows cast by the sun.

“That way,” she pointed to the quiet back entrance of the hacienda as adrenaline flooded her body. As they pressed themselves against the cool wall, she looked up at Wolf.

“Ready?” he asked.

“I was born ready,” she teased, earning a smile.

But there was truth to the joke. Her story had begun with violence, fear, and abuse, but it would end with choice. She’d save Dean, kill Carlos, and finally live the life she’d dreamed of. One built on love, not survival.

That was a promise she intended to keep.