He and Alexa had arrived early for the first official meeting about the Walker case. Clay had compiled new data, and iPads sat in front of each chair, a link to their encrypted network pre-loaded for everyone at the table, Alexa included.
She’d proved her loyalty the night of the assault on the hotel. There were still plenty of obstacles in front of them, but she was one of them now if she wanted to be.
Declan scowled. “Don’t sound so surprised.”
He dropped into one of the chairs as Julia entered the room with the baby carrier in her hand. She set it on the table and Nick leaned in to peer at John Thomas, his face angelic as he slept, rosebud mouth pursed.
“How’s the little guy today?” Nick asked.
“Almost slept through the night last night,” Julia said. “It was better than sex.”
Alexa laughed. “Come get me if you ever want me to take him so you can get the real thing.”
“Ew,” Declan said. “Stop.”
Julia rolled her eyes. “I'm a mother now, Alexa. Don’t you know that means I’m a sexless madonna who’s not allowed to talk about getting down and dirty?”
“I’d love to talk about getting down and dirty,” Ronan said, stepping into the room. He bent to kiss her and for a few seconds they seemed to recede from the room, Julia looking into Ronan’s eyes as something deep and secret passed between them.
Nick reached over and squeezed Alexa’s hand. Somehow Ronan and Julia weren’t nearly as annoying with Alexa by his side. It scared him how much he enjoyed having her in the house, having her in his life. He'd gotten used to falling asleep next to her, to waking up to her beautiful face.
He didn't know what the future held for them. Matis Juska was still out there, and more importantly, so was Frederick Walker. He had no doubt Walker had come for them the night of the fire because of the press assault launched against Leland by MIS.
It had failed, but it had still tipped their hand.
Now Frederick knew they meant business, and that meant Frederick wouldn’t stop coming for them. Leland was surging in the polls, the election just three months away. Frederick had everything to lose, and as Nick looked at Alexa, his heart constricted with a new realization.
So did he.
The only way to keep her safe was to get them out of this mess with the Walkers. And the only way out was through, which meant taking Frederick — and Leland — off the table for good.
And eliminating anyone who stood in their way.
It was time to figure out their end game.
“Can we please get to work?” Declan asked. “Some of us have stuff to do.”
Ronan took a seat at the head of the conference table and looked at everyone seated around it. “Whatever it is, it’s not more important than family.” He looked at Nick. “You want to take us through it?”
Nick looked around the table, his gaze settling Alexa. Ronan was right: nothing was more important than family — and Alexa was his family now too.
He reached for the iPad in front of him. “Let’s begin.”