“I take it that was not what you expected, boss?” Bear asked at his back.
He leaned over with his hands on his knees, trying to figure out what had just happened before answering. Running over everything, he tapped on his headset and spoke into his mouthpiece. “Shadow, put me through to the command center. I need to speak with Ella, right now.”
He paced back and forth before he headed downstairs, running back inside the room. He glanced over at the man whose blue eyes caught his before snapping shut.
“His pulse is weak. When’s the medic coming?” Zander kept his finger on the man’s neck.
Marcus wiped his mouth. Never in his entire fucking life had his heart beat so fast. His men rushed by, performing a medical assessment on Issac, inserting lines and giving fluids before transporting him to the helicopter. But he waited for the voice on the phone, needing to hear Ella.
“Sorry, boss. The message from command is Aella has gone walkabout.”
Hearing the team’s name for Ella, his heart sank. “What—where?” he shouted.
The silence stretched eternally, and Zander called to him, but his heart thudded as he waited for a response.
“Boss, it’s Jake. We don’t know where she is. The truth is, she had a meeting with Lady Tenille twenty-four hours ago. I had a message this morning saying she was spending the day at your mother’s place, and we were all caught up here, watching your mission. I sent Sparkles to check in on her and the house is empty. I’m not sure she even made it there. Boss, are you there…she’s gone…Marcus, did you hear me...”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Ella tapped in the password and searched the secret email they shared with Henry, their undercover agent working with the Padre, to check whether there was any news, but the screen was blank. She slouched back in her chair, letting it bounce back and forth as she chewed the tip of her nail. The command center was busy and the chatter lively. In the office, she could pretend nothing had changed, even imagining Marcus working somewhere in the facility.
“Mrs. Drayton, Lady Tenille is here with Huron.”
Since Marcus had left, she had slid into the role of leader of Orion, ensuring everything ran smoothly. Having Isabella at her side helped. Although she worried about her friend, who acted as if nothing had ever happened between her and Roman. The witch’s laughter boomed around the large room as she joked with Jake, slapping his shoulder like old times.
“Look, Hollywood, I know that’s not your real name, but please can’t you call me something else?”
The muscular young man dressed in dark pants and matching top smiled and nodded. Something about his knowing smile made her think the team had a name for her already.
“Unless you have one?”
The man ran his hand back over his short, dark hair, glancing sideways at the others in the command center, as if making sure no one was paying them any attention before he spoke. “Since day one,” he uttered with a dimpled smirk.
Standing up, she folded her arms, curious now, and cocked her head to the side. “Well… come on, spit it out. I have to go in a second and I want to know—now.”
Hollywood leaned in and whispered in her ear.
“Ella…what? That’s my name. Are you messing with me?” she said, her hands on her hips.
He smiled. “Aella, not Ella. It’s Greek, meaning stormwind or whirlwind. In mythology, Aella is a double axe-wielding warrior. Gateway’s into mythology in a big way. He came up with the name when you married the boss because you caused such a whirlwind and he believes you’re a true warrior.”
Biting into her lower lip, she stared over at Jake, shocked. He bent over, chatting with a few of the men and Isabella. They were running Marcus’s mission in Wales. She didn’t dare take charge, or intervene; it wouldn’t work well. She nodded, astounded by the man’s vision of her. “I see. Is that how they all refer to me, even my husband?”
“Yes.”
Never in her life did she feel less of a warrior than right now. Her hand trembled as she reached for her water bottle. “Well, how about we just use Ella or boss. I’m fine with either.”
“Okay, boss.”
Ella smiled. She knew it was their title for Marcus and somehow hearing it gave her solace. She grabbed her water and headed out to meet Lady Tenille, giving a quick glance back at the team who carried on, unaware of her leaving.
“Hollywood, you don’t need to escort me. The team needs you, and it’s only Lady Tenille.”
“Boss…I’m not supposed to leave your side. He gave me orders.”
Ella frowned, knowing right away who he was. “I insist. I’m in command here, and your shadowing me is a waste of time. Take a look at this file on the Padre and write me a report on his activities of late. I want an update when I return.”
The festering hulk of muscle and male testosterone opened his mouth as if ready to argue, but ducked his head. “Yes…boss.”
Once she reached the upstairs, she entered Steel’s office. Nothing had been changed since his passing. The stale smell of his cigar smoke lingered in the bookcases, rugs, and drapes. How she missed his brusque, fatherly guidance. His passing didn’t feel real. Lady Tenille sat there, looking as serene as ever with the dutiful Huron.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t attend Steel’s funeral. I had a situation that required my urgent attention. But his loss is felt deeply within the Assembly. Everyone is saddened by his loss.”
“Thank you. We are doing our best to continue the work he believed in. To keep mankind safe.”
The lady nodded. “Do you have any news of Marcus or your brother?”
Sighing,
