After my run in with the guy near the park and they completely cut me off, Ronnie says that the organization’s activity has slowed to almost nothing. When they were busy and on our radar, it was nerve-wracking but at least we had an idea of what they were doing.

Now it’s radio silence.

Ronnie keeps me almost as busy as Taran does at the shop. Every day it’s looking at more emails, trying to pinpoint if anyone is familiar or rings a bell in my memory.

I think I’m all tapped out on that. It’s been weeks and nothing new has come to me. Ronnie and Varos both think that I’ve remembered as much as I’m going to.

And what I remember is nothing to be ashamed of. The biggest holes left are the months leading up to Rayne’s kidnapping. I still don’t remember a lot of that, nor do I have any recollection of being shot.

In talking it over with Taran, I’ve decided not to go back to the doctor. My accelerated healing took care of my shoulder. What more could a human doctor do for me? Tell me I still have memory loss?

I should know I do. It’s my memory that still has holes like Swiss cheese.

It doesn’t interfere with helping put the final pieces together.

“So, I’m thinking your friends have gone to ground, Carlo.” Ronnie is tapping a pen on his laptop as we read the last flurry of emails before it trickled off.

“That’s my thinking. I guess my disappearance-slash-defection has spooked them.” Standing, I stretch my arms over my head. My back has started to ache after I sit for too long. Kuras says it’s from my body starting to make the adjustments to my changing center of balance. My belly is poking out there now. I’m used to being busy and useful. Clearly my body isn’t built for all the sitting.

He shuts his laptop. “All right. I’ll get this information to Carson’s people and we’ll see what happens.”

“Great. If you don’t need me for anything else, I’m heading to the front to get coffee. Want some?”

“No thanks. I need to get to the office and put in some face time.” Ronnie follows me from the office, laptop tucked under his arm.

“I thought you were their rockstar coder?”

He shoves playfully at me. “I am, but even rockstars have to show up at the office. They’re generous to let me work from home but I still have projects to do, reports to file and work groups to contribute in. All that corporate shit.”

“I couldn’t do that. Wearing a tie and a suit.”

“Dude, you so did before you were shot.”

He has a point. “But I bet I hated every day of it.”

Ronnie laughs on his way to the door. He holds the door open for Annika as she comes in. “Hey, Carlo. Is Taran in?”

“Yeah, he’s in the storeroom taking inventory.”

“When he has a minute, I need you guys to come by the shop to talk for a minute.”

“Sure. I’ll pass it on.”

She disappears out the door again.

I duck into the back to give Taran the news, then swing by Sako’s station to see if he needs anything since he’s cleaning his equipment. He blows me a kiss and shakes his head before he ducks back to finish.

I love watching him work. Even when it’s just housekeeping. He keeps his machine spotless. I could even say he gets anal-retentive about his chosen profession.

He’s such a picky guy when it comes to his art, spending weeks working on concept sketches before he gives the client a choice. He’ll spend hours trying to talk them out of a tattoo that, in his estimation, is a bad idea. No concept of ‘customer is always right’ with him.

Taran comes out with his data pad. “Nyve, Sako, Carlo, head over with me. Varos, man the phones.”

* * *

Annika’s shop is empty when we get there. She gestures for us to come in and Goldie locks the door behind us. “So, I just got off the phone with Carson. Ronnie’s information helped them turn up an address for what they think is the organization’s headquarters.”

“That’s great!” I say. “Right?”

“It can be,” Taran says, but he sounds cautious. “You have something in mind, don’t you?”

“I do and I have a favor to ask of you.” She pulls Goldie over and takes her hand. “The area where they suspect these assholes are located is in the backlands.”

Sako whistles. “That’s a really big area to cover.”

“It is. I’m heading out there to scout it out, see what I can find.”

Taran’s brow furrows into a frown. “Who are you taking with you?”

“No one. This is solo. But I know my way around there. I spent time as a kid in that region and know the perfect places to hide.”

Nyve sucks air through his teeth. “Are you sure about this? I’m sure Taran can cut one of us loose to go with you.”

Sako nods along with Nyve. “I can go. I have the lowest profile of all of us.”

What? He’s lost his mind to offer to go now. Even if it’s necessary. Mild panic sets in. He can’t go!

He squeezes my hand in reassurance.

I’m not terribly reassured.

“I’ll work better alone, and, no offense, you dragons are too hard to hide, even low profile ones.” Annika assures us, although Taran and Nyve don’t look convinced.

“What do you need from us?” Taran asks.

She wraps an arm around Goldie’s shoulders. “Goldie’s watching the shop while I’m gone.”

Goldie smiles wanly. “I told her I’m not ready.”

“You’re more than ready, and you’ll have five artists just across the street to tap if you run into trouble. Send clients there, call them for advice or whatever you need.” She kisses Goldie on the cheek. “If that’s all right with you, Taran.”

“We’re more than happy to help. Carlo can man your counter if you need some relief. He’s getting the hang of how to schedule and he handles the stockroom like a boss so he can keep your inventory up to date.”

“Yeah. I can be a runner if you need me, Goldie.” I’m still reeling from the realization that after all this time, we’re really, truly starting to see progress and a possible endgame in sight.

I don’t know whether to be relieved or scared for everyone.

“That will be great.” Annika squeezes Goldie’s shoulders. “You’ll be fine.”

“When do you head out?” Taran asks.

“I’m heading out tonight. I have no idea what I’ll find so make sure to stay up with Carson and Lars. I know they’ll plan to hit the headquarters as soon as they get the last of the information they need. You’ll be a big asset to them.”

We leave Annika’s shop, Taran and Nyve heading back to Treasured Ink. I pull on Sako’s hand to slow him to a stop so we can talk.

“What was that in there?” I say, emotion choking in my throat.

Sako’s eyes open wide. “What was what?”

I punch him in the shoulder. “Your offering to go with her!”

“Oh, that. What I said was true. Of all of us, I have the smallest flight form and, by reason, the smallest silhouette.”

“And what about me? You were going to leave me alone.”

Sako gathers up my hands and holds them close to his chest. “You wouldn’t have been alone. All the guys, they would have looked after you. Carlo, this is our chance. I love you, you know that. You’re having my baby and there’s no better reason to come home. But I had to offer. Annika shouldn’t take the risk by herself.”

“Gah.” My head tips back in frustration. “Why do you have to be so noble?”

“It’s a dragon thing.” He wraps his arms around me and kisses me softly on the lips. “But I’m sorry, I should have talked with you about it before I volunteered.”

“Yes you should have.” It was over and done. Annika politely declined his help and he’s not going so there’s no reason to keep dwelling over it. “Just don’t do that again without at least talking to me first?”

“Cross my heart. What can I do to make it up to you?”

I make a show of thinking about it before giving him a wicked grin. “We need to start shopping for baby gear. Kuras gave me a list of things I need to start collecting now.”

Sako swoons with a dramatic groan.“Shopping? Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“Can I fob you off on my mother?” Sako swings our hands as we stroll slowly back to the shop. “I was hoping to take a long weekend and head down to the small town where my folks live. It’s by the beach. Have you ever been surfing?”

“No and I’ll be perfectly content to watch you.”

“Is that a yes, you’ll go?”

I kiss the back of his hand. “That’s a yes, I’ll go. But we’re still going shopping.”

* * *

I take pity on Sako and his reluctance to go shopping, agreeing that I’ll start to price out baby furniture and come up with a list so he can help me make the final decision and he finalizes the plans for us to go visit his parents for the weekend.

I’m in parts excited and nervous. I don’t know how much he told them about me and the circumstances on how we met. I will just have to trust him.

Nosko offers to fill in for Sako and we make a day of it. Charity is only a few months old but he’s already gotten the hang of it, so he’s filled with good advice. We have a really nice day out, just the two of us, as I get to know him better. I remember how he was put off when he realized that I had been in his gallery when I was with the organization but apparently I’ve proven myself to him and he’s actually very relaxed around me now.

I ended up spending way more than I planned when we are keying into the apartment. Our apartment, now. Sharing my life with my mate, having his baby…it fills me with a sense of contentment and stability.

Sako meets us at the door, glancing in bewilderment at the numerous bags we lug in. “There you are. Why haven’t you answered your texts?”

I grin sheepishly at him before I ask for a kiss hello. “I never heard my phone. I guess it’s dead.”

“Carlo,” he says in a serious voice. “You have to keep up with that.”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry. I’ll go put it on to charge now. What’s up?”

“All right, Carlo, I’m going to take off and get back home to start dinner and take over baby duty from Taran.”

“No you won’t.” Sako stops me before I get out of the living room, pulling me to sit and gesturing for Nosko to sit next to me. “Not until you see these.”

Sako hands his phone to me.

The picture is Kuras looking tired and rumpled, but smiling with such happiness it makes me smile just seeing it. In his arms are two sleeping infants. One has a blue beanie on his head, one has a pink. A boy and a girl.

Nosko makes a soft squealing noise. “Wow, they look beautiful. Their color is good.”

“Really?” I get a better look at the picture. “They seem awfully red to me.”

Nosko twists the phone to glance at it. “That will go away in about a day. They’re getting used to breathing on their own.”

I narrow my eyes. “Are you sure?”

“I was worried about the same thing when I had Charity. Kuras assured me it was just fine. And she was.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it.”

Nosko pats me on the shoulder before he stands. “We’ll be there for you, Carlo, to keep you from panicking. Don’t worry, okay? I’ll see you guys later.”

Sako lets Nosko out while I look at the rest of the images again. Kuras looks like he has run a marathon but both him and Bronaz are beaming so proudly with their new babies.

“Will I look like that?” I ask when Sako sits next to me.

“Probably.”

“Promise me you’ll let me comb my hair first before you start taking pictures.”

“I think by the time the baby is here, that’s going to be the last thing on your mind.”

“Whatever. Just promise.” I hand Sako his phone.

“Sure. Promise. What did you two buy? Does the store having anything left in stock?”

“That’s just the start of it. I have a list of furniture prices. Some of the stuff on the list we won’t have to get until later so I didn’t buy them.”

“My blue card thanks you.” He draws me with him as we stretch out on the couch. I snuggle close to let his body heat warm me from head to foot. His hand rests protectively on my swollen belly.

I have no idea where this is going with my life. I started out in a confused fog of disjointed and broken memories. Some of them have returned. Many have not.

Why I ever thought to join that hateful organization, I’ll never fully understand. I’m glad I got out.

Through it all, I have found a man who means the world to me and we are starting to build our life together, making a home for a new baby.

It’s a second chance.

I don’t intend to blow it.