Page 4

Aiden glanced behind him. Haven was a little wide-eyed, and looked ready to do something aggressive, his hand inside his coat, but Aiden shook his head. These are all people I know and trust, he told him mentally.

Haven immediately eased off, though Aiden knew the man would be on guard in other ways. The former Ranger had come a long way in a year, gaining weight and muscle, and confidence in himself. He was the best recruit they had in the new program. His abilities had grown exponentially, and he was the strongest mentalist they had in the group.

Shannon, his heavily pregnant sister-in-law, pushed through the crowd to give Angela a hug, then she tugged open the Velcro and peered down into the carrier. Fallon’s desperate crying stopped as the flap was removed. She blinked up at Shannon and smiled, just a little curve of the lips she’d perfected in the past few weeks. It absolutely melted his heart. And even knowing Shannon as well as he did, his heart twanged protectively as he watched her remove the seat cover and pick up his tiny daughter.

Their time now had to be shared. Angela caught his gaze, and the look in her eyes… she understood him more than anyone else in the world. He knew for a fact he was neurotic on the best of days. Bad days, he knew he had to be damn near intolerable, but she somehow loved him through it all.

There was a spike of concern from Haven, and he looked up. Zeke, the big, scarred bastard that ran the bar, was easing close to Shannon and Fallon, giving them a lop-sided smile. He reached out a massive hand, wiggling a big finger against the baby’s little clenched fist, and Fallon latched on, grinning widely. Zeke laughed and looked at Aiden. “She’s g-got a hell of a grip!”

Aiden grinned a little. He thought so too. Angela said she was a normal baby, but Aiden had the niggling thought that there was more in her four-month old eyes than a normal baby’s. Not that he’d been with a lot of other babies…

Wyatt and Caden were exceptional, but he wouldn’t expect any less from his brother.

“Where are the kids?”

John waved a hand toward the corner of the room, where a new wall had been constructed. “Frog Dog added on, a little. They’re back there with the older kids.”

Very cool. He looked around the bar. There were a lot of people here, not just Lost and Found people. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, though, and no one really looked at them out of the ordinary.

“E-everyone here is c-c-connected to Lost and Found,” Zeke told him, obviously sensing his anxiety. “Former clients or employees.”

Aiden nodded, taking a breath. “Okay. It’s just a lot of people.”

“Right?” Zeke looked around the room. “Unfortunately, you’re g-going to h-h-have a lot of people hanging around the baby. She’s b-b-eautiful. Truly. And Angela,” he said, turning to her. “Motherhood looks very good on you.”

Angela grinned and waved a hand negligently, but Aiden could feel the pleasure that spiked in her.

He’d told her she was beautiful many times, but sometimes it meant more coming from others.

Shannon had the baby in her arms and was cooing to her. Aiden was surprised that the baby was taking to her so easily. There were days when nothing seemed to appease her, and traveling seemed to have aggravated her. All the way through the flight, she’d cried until she’d fallen into a restless sleep. Angela had breast-fed her several times, but there was no way she could be that hungry.

Even as he watched, Shannon stroked a finger down Fallon’s face, and the baby’s eyes fluttered shut. Within seconds, she was sound asleep, her little face completely relaxed.

Angela planted her hands on her hips, staring at Shannon. “How did you do that? She’s been a bear since we left Virginia.”

Shannon smiled, continuing to stroke Fallon’s cheeks. “Sometimes they can be hypnotized into falling asleep. She’s so tired that she’s worn down. I have a feeling even the noise of the bar won’t wake her for a while.”

Angela let her hands rest to her sides and took a deep breath, her head rocking back on her neck. When she lifted her head, Aiden was alarmed to see tears in her bright eyes. She held up a hand as he moved toward her. “I’m okay. It’s just been a lot the past few months.”

Shannon reached out a hand, resting it on Angela’s arm. “You’re okay. I know how the emotions are right now, and everything seems so insurmountable. Just know that you’re okay. The baby is fine and you’re doing everything correctly.”

Very carefully, Shannon settled Fallon back into her carrier. The baby didn’t even move.

“Damn it, Shannon. You put her to sleep already?”

Aiden looked at Willow, Flynn’s wife. “Don’t you have a baby?”

Willow grinned and gave him a wink. “Yeah, but this one’s all new and shiny. Mine is already developing attitude.” She motioned over her shoulder. A few feet away, Joe Flynn sat with his small daughter, and they were sporting matching grins as they played in a puddle of moisture from Flynn’s glass of soda. Raven, dark haired like her mother, giggled, entranced by her father.

Aiden snorted. Women were so baby hungry. Even in the Elton building, it was hard keeping the women away from Fallon. Angela just smiled when he arrived home to find someone else holding his child. Even some of the residents had come down to meet the baby. He didn’t worry about safety, necessarily. It was just odd that every woman that worked in the building had been in his apartment.

Fallon was special. There was no denying that. Her presence was making him deal with more people than he normally did, though, and he wasn’t sure he liked it.

They moved a little further into the room, and he motioned to Haven. The man joined him, a silent shadow, as he approached John. “John, you remember Haven, right?”

John held his hand out, a grin crossing his bearded mouth. “Good to see you again, Haven. You’re bulking up well.”

The slightest of smiles crossed Haven’s smooth, narrow face, and Aiden realized John was correct. For so long, Haven had been an emaciated mess, traumatized by Shu and expected to die in the camps. When he’d been rescued, several people had told Aiden they didn’t think Haven would survive. Fontana and Jordyn hadn’t thought he’d even make it out of Guyana alive. Haven had some inner strength in him, though, that would not allow him to give up. That determination made him an excellent soldier, which was why he’d signed up for the Spartan program to begin with. As a former Army Ranger, Haven had excelled at every physical challenge, and this one was no different.