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“Black!” a deep voice bellowed across the busy parking lot the second I opened the door, and I found myself smiling despite my nerves.
Losing my team had been awful and was still something I struggled with, but seeing Eagle here reminded me of the good times. Playing cards around a fire, celebrating a successful mission, waking up in the middle of the night to their fucking snores. He wasn’t a part of it, necessarily, but he’d always been something close to friendly.
We met in the middle of the parking lot, hands out to shake.
Edward “Eagle” Finn was a giant, with skin as dark as rich, wet earth, eyes to match, and a presence that seemed to vibrate around him.
“Eagle,” I said after he patted me on the back with his huge mitt of a hand.
“Black.” I was man enough to admit he was handsome, just like I could admit I didn’t like him looking at my angel. He’d locked on to Mari immediately, and I had to swallow the urge to drag her close and put my claim on her, but he saw. He always saw. Eagles had the best vision.
He smirked at me, clearly enjoying my territorial moment, before holding a professional hand out to her. “Edward Finn, ma’am.”
Mari had to tip her head back just to meet his eyes. “Marianna Marcosa. Thanks for coming.”
“Anything for Black. Whatcha been up to, bud?”
“Oh, a little espionage. No big deal.” Mari’s answer was dry, but her eyes were warm with laughter when she looked at me.
Eagle’s eyebrows rose when I didn’t contradict her, then he laughed loud and deep. “Why am I not surprised?”
“Because it’s a very Nate thing to do,” Mari answered. “Where are you taking Marjorie?”
“We’ve got a few black sites that no one can get into. One of them is a hospital about this size. Same comfort level, too. It’s typically where we house older agents who have too many secrets and no filter to keep them in anymore, so she’ll have company and safety.”
He said the last bit for me, and some of the guilt I’d been carrying slipped away. Choosing to commit your parent was a hard enough decision, but at least at Shady Oaks, I could see her. That wouldn’t be the case now. She’d be in completely unfamiliar territory, far away from me, and I couldn’t help but wonder if that made me a shit son.
“She deserves the best,” Mari said, picking up speed when she saw my mother huddled by the front door in a blanket.
At first, Mom’s eyes glazed over me, but then she jerked her head back with a small cry. “Nate.”
“Hi, Mom.” I leaned down to hug her, knowing that I might not have another chance to do it. If things didn’t end well with my brother, these could be our last moments. I was so fucking grateful that she remembered me right now.
She pulled back and looked me over. “You’re not sleeping. You need to rest, Nate.”
“I know, Mom. We’ve had a rough time lately.”
At we, she turned to Mari, and I saw the faintest hint of recognition before she grinned. “You got her back, then?”
“He did.” Mari’s smile was just as big, and suddenly, I was grateful for the space we were about to have. Those two together would get into some trouble.
Mom winked. “I hope you made him work for it.”
“I did.”
They didn’t hug, just squeezed each other’s hands with a sense of camaraderie I’d never expected them to feel.
With their moment over, Mom turned back to me. “Your brother?”
“I left.” Not going into the gory details was an easy choice. Just because she didn’t always remember didn’t mean she wouldn’t worry.
“They’re moving me so he can’t keep using me as leverage.”
Thank fuck she was coherent today. I couldn’t imagine moving her on a day when she was struggling with reality. “Are you okay with that?”
“I want you happy and away from him. If that means I’m stuck in a hole somewhere, that’s fine.”
“Not a hole,” Mari promised, glaring at Eagle in warning. “You’ll be taken care of.”
