Impact Zone

by Cara Carnes

  Everything clicked into place in Rhea’s mind. Her heart clenched. Every music lover knew about Graveyard Justice, how they’d gotten their start together in an orphanage. God.

  Fallon had been part of that.

  One day, when he was ready, she’d make a reunion happen. He deserved closure on that chapter in his life. Together they could do anything.

  “Boss!”

  Sanchez’s greeting made Fallon laugh as he entered Donovan’s room. Spade and Walker sat on the windowsill, blowing smoke from their cigarettes out the open window. Sanchez sat in a seat beside Donovan, who offered a half-smile from his bed.

  “How’s it going?” Fallon asked, his gaze on his injured second-in-command. “Sorry as fuck I didn’t make it to San Antonio, but I’m glad you’re home.”

  “Home, huh?” Walker said with a smirk. “I’m thinking Doc’s worming her way under someone’s skin.”

  “More like he wormed into her,” Donovan said with a chuckle. “It’s cool. The boys stayed with me. The others let me know how our girl was doing. She good?”

  “Yeah, man. She’s good. Thanks to all of you,” Fallon said. His gaze locked on to Spade. “Never thanked you for taking the risk you did.”

  “That’s what we do, right?” Spade shrugged. “It was better than hanging there.”

  Right.

  “Teams headed to Russia a couple hours ago,” Walker commented. “We tagging in on that?”

  “Not yet,” Fallon said. They’d be on hold until either Donovan had recovered fully or Fallon temporarily replaced him. The latter didn’t sit right. The man didn’t deserve to be sidelined off the team, not when he’d been the one fighting for them to be a real team in the first place.

  “I’ll be operational in a few weeks. They’re saying six, so I’m aiming for three,” Donovan said with a grin.

  “Well, I’m finally going to get that surgery Logan’s been on my ass about,” Fallon said. “Promised Doc I’d do it. We’ll be recovering together.”

  “It’s about time,” Donovan said.

  A knock sounded at the door. Fallon glanced over his shoulder as a short woman with bright blue hair gawked into the room. She clutched a clipboard to her chest like a shield as her head swiveled from Fallon, to Donovan, then over to the window.

  “You shouldn’t smoke in here,” she said, her gaze on Spade and Walker.

  Both men chuckled but tossed their cigarettes out of the window after Spade pushed the screen out in the corner.

  She gasped. “You didn’t just do that.”

  “Pick your battles, lady. You didn’t want us smoking so we tossed them.” Spade shook his head and looked over at Sanchez with an eye roll.

  “Can we help you?” Fallon asked.

  “I’m here for Lucas Donovan.” As if realizing she had a real purpose for being there, she firmed her spine, raised her chin two notches. “I’m his physical therapist, or one of them. Doctor Mendez will handle a lot of it.”

  “Damn. I think I have an ache I suddenly need help with,” Sanchez commented.

  Geez. Save him from the idiots. Fallon shook his head as his team ribbed the new physical therapist. He was more than surprised a PT team was already at The Arsenal. Apparently, the Masons were on top of shit.

  Red rose in the woman’s face. Fallon was tempted to intervene, but if she was going to hang at The Arsenal, she needed to manage the operatives herself. Men and women who put their asses on the line daily tended to get rowdy during the little downtime they got.

  He looked down at Donovan. “I’ll check in with you later.”

  Fallon slid past the pint-sized therapist and walked straight into Logan. The two men glared at one another a moment, then the doctor shifted his stance. Arms crossed at his waist, he regarded Fallon.

  “You looking for me?” Logan asked.

  “Nope, but I suppose we should get this over with.” Fallon’s jaw twitched as he followed the man into a nearby room. The doctor shut the door.

  “I’ve made a few calls.”

  Fallon offered no comment. He’d promised Rhea last night he’d have the surgery as soon as possible. Last night had…

  There weren’t words to describe how Rhea had already impacted his life. He saw everything differently. The nosiness of The Arsenal crew wasn’t annoying now—it was concern that he appreciated. Yeah, he’d do just about anything for the woman he loved.

  He ran his hands through his hair. “Okay.”

  “Okay?”

  “Yeah. I promised Rhea I’d do this. So tell me when and where, and I’m there.”

  “You’ve got a few options in the way of doctors,” Logan broached.

  “Don’t give a shit, man. You pick the one you trust, and I’m there.”

  “Just like that?”

  “Just like that,” Fallon affirmed.

  “Wow.”

  Fallon’s eyebrows rose.

  “To what do I owe this metamorphosis? Or to whom?”

  He didn’t comment. The doctor laughed and slapped him on the back. “Thrilled for you, man. She’s one hell of a woman.”

  “She is.”

  24

  Rhea swiped the tear from her cheek as she watched her parents and Rhianna drive away. As much as she hated seeing them go, she realized they’d had their lives on hold too long. Work and life awaited.

  “You okay?” Bree asked, her head on Rhea’s shoulder, arms draped around her waist.

  “Yeah. She’s amazing.”

  “She is,” Mary said. “So much like you.”

  Gravel crunched beneath Rhea’s feet as they made their way from the visitor’s parking lot to Ellie’s office area. The woman expended a frustrated growl when they entered. She clicked on her mouse, then slammed it on the desk.

  “Hey, chica, what’s wrong?” Zoey asked, moving to the other side of the desk.

  “Sorry. Sorry. It’s been a morning. Ariana was up all night with a nasty tummy ache. It took every bit of my determination to keep Jesse from taking her to the emergency room.”

  Mary laughed. “Dylan’s the same way with baby Jessie.”

  “Jud is holding Vi hostage,” Zoey said, pulling up a text on her phone. “See? She’s asking for an exfil.”

  Ellie laughed and sat at her desk. “Seriously, I’m so happy it hurts.”

  “So why are you abusing the mouse?” Rhea asked.

  “It’s stupid.” The woman’s cheeks reddened.

  Bree moved behind Ellie, hugging her tight. “Give it to us. No judgment, remember?”

  “Fine, but I warned you. It’s really stupid.” Ellie sighed. “Jacob is training on the dots and doing such a good job. I mean, he’s a natural. He’s already making recommendations for improvements. Meanwhile, I’m frantically flipping through my huge notebook trying to figure out how to even start the dang program.”

  Rhea tightened. Ellie was scared and upset she hadn’t taken to learning the system quickly enough. “Hey. It’s a complicated system. Jacob took to it because he’s like Mary and Vi and Zoey. They don’t think like us mere mortals.”

  “Like you’re a mortal,” Ellie said.

  “Look who’s talking,” Bree said. “You have every operative on the compound in love with you. Jesse growls every time someone comes in here.”

  “They just want my cookies.”

  “No. You’re their heart now,” Rhea said.

  Ellie’s eyes widened. “No I’m not.”

  “Yeah,” Mary said. “You are. Honey, the way you waded into Jesse’s troubles and took them on without blinking—there’s not a single person here who wouldn’t crawl through the fires of hell for you. Do you have any idea how special you are?”

  Ellie blinked. Tears formed. “Of course I took on Jesse’s troubles. Why wouldn’t I?”

  Rhea laughed. She wouldn’t have understood the statement when she’d first come to The Arsenal. Now, with Fallon in her life, she did. Jesse’s problems were Ellie’s problems. Two halves of the same whole.
r />   “You know what? You need a break,” Bree declared. “I think it’s time.”

  “Time? No. No. It’s not time,” Zoey said, shaking her head. “We can’t just do this now.”

  “We can.” Mary pulled out her phone and typed something in. “Come on, Ellie.”

  “What’s going on?” She looked around. “Guys, seriously.”

  Rhea hated the worry on her friend’s face. Everyone meant well, but some people just didn’t handle surprises. “This is a good thing. Trust us just a little bit longer, okay?”

  The woman nodded as Zoey shut her computer down and Bree grabbed her things.

  “Where’s Ariana?”

  “With Jesse.”

  Rhea smiled. Jesse rarely let their daughter go from what she’d witnessed. Mary dragged her phone out again.

  “Okay, let’s go. We’re meeting everyone in the parking lot.”

  “Everyone?” Ellie asked, eyes wide.

  Moments later, everyone converged in the parking lot. Jesse drew Ellie into his arms and glared at everyone gathering around them. Levi chuckled from nearby. Rhea wished Nolan and Marshall were there, but both men had taken their teams to Russia.

  “Vi won’t make it,” Mary said. “Everyone, pile into a truck.”

  “What the hell is this?” Jesse asked.

  “Get in the truck,” Dallas ordered.

  “It’s a good thing, I promise,” Kamren said.

  “I’ll drive,” Riley offered.

  Fallon helped Rhea into the back of one of the trucks. She laughed when he tickled her side and kissed her face. “I’m thinking Ellie and Jesse don’t like surprises.”

  “I’m thinking they’ve gone through enough to not want them.” Rhea kissed Fallon. “In the interest of full disclosure, I kind of did a thing earlier.”

  Fallon sighed. He ran his hand down her back. “I figured you would.”

  “You did?” Rhea looked up. “You have no way of knowing what I did.”

  “You reached out to them.”

  Rhea swallowed. “I did.”

  Fallon’s jaw twitched. “Love you, Doc, but I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”

  “I had to leave a message with their management company. I should’ve probably had Zoey or someone get a direct number to one of them, but…” She hadn’t wanted to share what Fallon had given her. He’d trusted her to keep it safe, and she would. “Just between us.”

  “I figured you’d make contact,” Fallon admitted. “I guess a part of me hoped you would.”

  “You did?”

  “They were the only good thing from back then. Having you in my life, waking me up to how good it can be, the hurt from back then doesn’t hit so hard.”

  Rhea hoped they got back with her soon. If not, she’d ask Mary and Zoey to help her. Fallon deserved to get that part of his life back. “I’m gonna start looking for Eddie, make sure he’s a good person to have in Rhianna’s life.”

  “That’s a good idea. Be prepared for when she asks.” Fallon put an earbud in her ear. “For you, Doc.”

  Rhea stilled as the music began. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she listened to the acoustic guitar and Fallon’s gorgeous voice. The throaty, raw sound vibrated deep inside her.

  He sang “Peaceful Easy Feeling” by The Eagles, then rolled into a song she didn’t recognize, followed by another. He flipped it off after the third. She pushed up off him and realized they’d arrived at the ranch house outside Marville.

  “Fallon, God. You’re so talented,” she whispered.

  “That was another life. You’re all I need now,” he said.

  “Teach me those two songs, the ones at the end. I want to play them with you.”

  “Tonight.” Fallon helped her out of the truck.

  “Why are we here?” Jesse drew Ellie closer, wrapping her in his arms. “Start talking now.”

  “Marshall and Nolan rattled a few cages, got our lawyers involved,” Cord said. He held out a stack of folded papers.

  Rhea held her breath as Jesse took them. Unfolded them. The man’s eyes widened as he handed them to Ellie. She gasped.

  “How?”

  “With enough determination, anything’s possible,” Dallas said. “We were very motivated to give you back what you and your mom lost, Ellie.”

  “It’s the least we could do for the woman who got our brother back,” Cord said.

  “Never thought I’d say this, but I want this one day,” Fallon whispered in Rhea’s ear. “With you.”

  Rhea’s breath seized. She looked at the gorgeous ranch house sprawled across the Texas landscape. A freshly painted white fence surrounded the property. “We could adopt.”

  “Yeah, maybe older kids if you’re game. I’ve been in that system, seen firsthand how it chews up a kid’s soul, seeing the younger ones always get a home.”

  “I’d like that.” Rhea swallowed. “Maybe we could foster, when we’re ready.”

  “When we’re ready,” Fallon said.

  Ellie powered forward and hugged both the brothers. Jesse followed suit. Everyone hugged everyone. Rhea and Fallon laughed and joined in.

  “God, Jesse. There’s so much to do.”

  “No,” Bree said. “It’s done.”

  Mary held out a set of keys. “All you need to do is get your mom and bring her home. We set you both up in the master bedroom. Brant’s brothers renovated the entire house, did some reconstruction so there’s a connecting room for Ariana. It’s your home, but a brand new interior. A fresh start.”

  “This is too much,” Ellie said, tears rolling down her face.

  Jesse drew her close once again. Head down, he whispered to her softly.

  “We’ll need to do some work to make it happen, but we’ll get a fast enough Internet connection in the area so we can establish a HERA link here,” Cord said.

  “Internet barely exists in Marville,” Kamren said. “And only along the main road.”

  “We’ll get them and you hooked up,” Mary said.

  “Come on, everyone, let’s meet up at the Sip and Spin, grab some grub and drinks. Jesse and Ellie need some time alone,” Dallas said.

  “I could use some alone time with you,” Fallon whispered in Rhea’s ear.

  Anticipation zinged through her. She laughed and roped her arms around his neck. By the time everyone piled into the truck, Bree had pulled her away from Fallon and dragged her into a different truck.

  Rhea waited until Dallas had gotten the vehicle under way before looking over at her best friend. “You okay?”

  “I was about to ask you that. Though, if all the smiles and laughs are an indication, the Fallon-is-a-sex-god ship has sailed and you’re fully on board.”

  Rhea couldn’t fight the grin that spread on her face. “I’ve never been happier.”

  But dark circles darkened the area beneath Bree’s eyes. The haunted, lost look in her friend’s gaze hadn’t been there before, not to this extent.

  “Talk to me, Bree. I know you’ve been having trouble for a while. Let me help you.”

  “I’ll work through it,” the woman said. “It’s a process, trial and error. I’ll find what works.”

  “You aren’t alone. Can you clue me in on what the problem is?”

  “We never know when it’ll happen,” Bree whispered. “Mary had no clue. Vi. Kamren. Zoey. Ellie. None of them had any clue.”

  Dallas caught Rhea’s gaze in the rearview mirror. Concern flashed in his blue eyes.

  “Bree.” Rhea hugged her friend close. “Everyone’s okay.”

  “For now. When won’t they be? I mean, we thought you were okay until we found that damn facility in Cuba. Now Addy’s over in Russia with a bastard Zoey is pretty sure raped her or something equally horrible.”

  Rhea tensed. “We’re okay.”

  “We aren’t. We so, so aren’t,” Bree said. She took a deep breath. “But that’s okay. I’ll get us there. Somehow, I’ll get us there. They won’t hurt any of you again. I’ll make sure.”r />
  Dallas’s eyes widened in the rearview mirror. Yeah, that didn’t sound good at all.

  “How will you make sure? Sweetie, The Arsenal is one of the most secured compounds around. A lot of that is because of your tech. You’ve done your part.”

  “It’s never enough. We can’t be lazy, Rhea. We got comfortable here, you know. We were like the fat pigs in Kamren’s pens. We wallowed in our slop, happy little shits at our new home. We weren’t ready for the next boom to hit.”

  “Bree,” Dallas said from the front seat, “we’re solid. We’re ready for whatever boom comes our way. You know that, right?”

  Clearly, she didn’t.

  Kamren turned in the front seat. “He’s right. Whatever strikes next, everyone will be ready.”

  Rhea suspected her friend had PTSD or some other issue brought about by all the recent attacks. “We’ll sit down and talk stuff through with Sinclair tomorrow. I’ve gotta go in and start my sessions. I’d love if you could come with me.”

  “I’m not crazy,” Bree spat, anger in her voice.

  “No, neither am I. Should I not go get the help I need because people might think I’m nuts? Should we tell Jesse and Mary to stop going because folks might get the wrong idea?”

  “That’s nuts! Of course they need to keep going. So do you. All of you were traumatized by assholes who hurt you. I wasn’t,” Bree said, tears streaming down my face. “This is just me being me, always making it about me.”

  “Sweetie.” Rhea blinked back the tears. “You’re one of the most important people in our lives. When something brings one of us low, we all sink beneath the weight. Hit one, you hit us all. You know this. Hell, look at Jesse’s brothers. You and I talked about how much his problems impacted all of them. Remember?”

  “That’s different,” Bree whispered.

  “It’s not,” Dallas said.

  “I was devastated by what happened with Riley,” Kamren admitted. “I’m still talking with Sinclair. And I’ve started journaling. It helps.”

  “It does,” Dallas said.

  “You go to Sinclair?” Bree asked, her eyes wide. “Why?”

  “Thinking he doesn’t want to share,” Rhea added into the silence.

  “You go to Sinclair?” Bree repeated.