This wasn’t my first time in a helicopter, and each time I went up I swore I’d never fly in one again. It was worse today because I was already on edge. It wasn’t that I got airsick, exactly, but I always got a little queasy. Alice was sitting next to me, happy as a clam, staring out the window as we flew north toward Camp David.

Gerard had received a call from Zane, and, within minutes, there was an executive helicopter on the roof of Z Corps ready to take us to my dad and the rest of the guys. We were told there would be a Delta Force team following us and not to be alarmed, it was simply a safety precaution. Gerard hadn’t given us any information about my father’s condition, and I hoped, for my mom’s sake, he was okay. The past few hours had weighed heaviest on her. Yes, he was my father, and I loved him dearly, but he was my mother’s everything. If she lost him, I don’t know what she’d do.

The beautiful trees of the Catoctin National Park gave way to the retreat. I wanted off this aircraft and to find Colin. I needed to see for myself he was okay. That they all were. Looking around the cabin at Violet, Ivy, and Liv, I knew they were feeling the same as I was. Not to mention, Alice had been worried sick about Colin. Jasmin had stayed back with the twins, not feeling comfortable with them flying yet. She blew it off and said Linc would be home when he was done with his debriefing. But my cousin wasn’t fooling anyone, she was just as worried. I think everyone was right, the babies had softened her, but not in a bad way. The boys had brought out all the best parts of Jasmin. Sure, she was still as brash as ever, but she seemed to show her emotions more. I liked it.

“Two minutes,” Gerard mouthed.

He was the only one wearing a headset, staying in communication with the pilot.

I picked up my mom’s hand and was rewarded with a tight smile. “Everything’s fine.”

For all the reassuring my mom had done today, she didn’t sound fine.

My ears popped as the altitude changed, and it wasn’t long before the pilot gently put the helicopter down. Gerard held up his hand signaling for us to wait, I’d say he had mere moments before five anxious women rushed him and exited whether he wanted them to or not.

The blades whined down to a slow thrum, and the door was opened. Seven men dressed in all black, complete with covered faces stood outside.

Alice stiffened beside me. “It’s okay. Those are the good guys. They’re just making sure we’re safe.”

She didn’t speak but nodded. Gerard got out and helped my mother out before assisting the rest of us. My mother was straightening her skirt and otherwise making herself presentable. I knew it was a nervous habit, but with my nerves frayed I wanted to scream that no one cared how she looked. But I didn’t. Instead, I took my mom’s hand in one of mine and Alice’s in the other. Gerard took the lead and started walking toward the Fieldhouse. We were halfway there when Zane, Leo, Colin, Linc, Declan, and Jax came into view. The six of them looked like tall, strong avenging angels. Violet, Liv, and Ivy walked ahead and were nearly jogging. I didn’t dare let go of my mother and Alice. At first, I thought it was because they needed the support, but I realized it was for me. My legs felt like jelly, and my heart was beating so fast I was getting dizzy. He was safe. Alive. Sweet relief flooded my body.

But my dad was nowhere in sight. Which I told myself was because it was unsafe for him to be out in the open. However, I knew that wasn’t the case.

Colin waited for the three of us to approach while the others broke away and were ushered into the house. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and pepper his face with kisses, but I couldn’t my mom and Alice needed to be taken care of first.

“Did they task you as the one to give me the bad news?” my mom said to Colin when we stopped in front of him.

“Mother!” I scolded.

“It’s all right. Tell me.”

Colin’s gaze slid to mine and his eyes told me everything I needed to know. It was bad. And he needed my help.

“Alice, let’s let my mom and Colin talk for a moment.”

I placed my mom’s hand in Colin’s and pulled Alice off to the side. The two of us were greeted by three of the seven-man Delta team.

Alice hadn’t taken her eyes off my mom, and when Colin reached out for her just as she started to crumble, Alice let go of my hand and strode toward them.

I couldn’t move. I didn’t want to know what had caused my mom, the woman who’d always held her emotions in check in public, to break. It was bad, and I didn’t want to face it.

Strong arms wrapped around me from behind, and when I started to struggle a familiar voice spoke, “I got you, Erin. Relax.”

Fletch.

Even though Colin was holding my crying mother, and speaking to his own, his gaze hadn’t left mine. He was silently giving me the strength I needed.

“Thank you. I’m fine now.”

Fletch’s arms loosened and fell, but I could still feel him standing behind me. Colin nodded and Fletch spoke, “Come on, he’s ready for you now.”

“I don’t know if I am.”

“Sure you are. You’re the strong and brave woman who went toe-to-toe with Colin back in Texas. You survived being run off the road and then kidnapped. You’re the woman who saved Colin’s life. You can do this, too.”

“I didn’t exactly save his life.”

“That’s not what we heard. Word on the street is Colin needed his beautiful woman to come to his rescue. Come on, before he storms over here and kicks my ass for keeping his girl away from him. He needs you.”

“He wouldn’t do that.”

“Oh, yeah? Then you’re not paying attention.”

We began walking, Fletch pushing me along, closer and closer to the bad news I didn’t want to hear.

“Mama?”

“He’s fine, little rabbit. Everything is fine.”

“You don’t look like you’re fine.”

True to form, Clarissa Anderson pulled herself together and dabbed her face with a handkerchief, one of many I knew to be in her handbag. “I am fine. And it’s not polite to point out—”

“Stop, Mom. No one here cares. It’s okay to show how upset you are.”

Mom’s eyes filled with tears again. “I can’t. I’m afraid to go in and see him.”

My mom’s uncertainty triggered a deep strength I didn’t know I had. She needed me to be strong for her. “Come on, we’ll do it together.”

I looked up at Colin and, for the first time, I noticed he’d changed. He also had a white bandage around his arm. “You’re hurt.”

“It’s nothing, sunshine.”

“But—” he shook his head, cutting me off. “Okay.”

With Alice wrapped in Colin’s embrace and my mother in mine, we walked the two women into the Fieldhouse.

My father was in the middle of the large room, pacing like a caged, wild animal. He stopped and turned to face us. Holy fuck. My mom gasped, Alice groaned, and I wanted to burst into tears seeing my daddy so badly beaten.

Dad saw Mom and he didn’t delay, he stalked over to us, pulled her from my arms, and held her to his big, broad chest as she cried.

“Rissa, baby, I’m okay. Everything’s okay.” My dad’s voice was gruff and thick with more emotion than I thought possible.

“Tommy,” she cried.

“I’m safe. We’re all safe.”

Colin pulled me against his side and kissed my cheek. “I love you, Erin.”

“God, I love you, too.”

My big, strong soon-to-be husband wrapped both his mom and me in his arms and held us close. Thank God, everyone was safe, or so I thought.