A Night of Redemption (The Redemption Saga Book 5)

by Kristen Banet

  “Last?” She couldn’t stop the question.

  “Well, we have two other old teammates still alive, but…” Thompson sighed heavily. “One left the IMPO, permanently disabled after the other betrayed the team. Our Judas is still in prison. I haven’t told him yet. I’m not sure I want to.”

  “Yeah, you never know what you’ll find on those trips,” Vincent commented, looking away from all of them. Trips to the prison. She knew she hadn’t expected what they would find on their own visit to the Magi prison.

  “I’ll tell you one anyway.” Thompson smiled wearily at them. “The time I caught James with another man.”

  It was Zander who began to sputter. Elijah laughed, the wonderful sound filling the space.

  “There’s not really much to the story. He hadn’t known the fellow was a man until it was too late. There was a lot of alcohol involved. It was a Halloween party while we were in the Academy.” Thompson was now snickering. “Now, this is where James would always cut in and try to tell me to be kind. The guy was nice and I liked him. He was a really decent fellow, but there was some cross-dressing involved that night. I still knew he was a guy. Not sure how James missed it. I think he was lying.”

  “Did he freak out?” Zander asked, looking at the Director with wide-eyed fascination.

  “No. James always slid around on what he was interested in. He was vocally into women, but I had caught him behaving strangely on more than one occasion with another man. From my understanding, once it started that night, it didn’t stop.” Thompson just kept chuckling. Sawyer snorted into her palm, leaning on Quinn. They quieted down, something uncomfortable falling over the group.

  “Who’s going to be our new handler?” Vincent asked, still staring out his window.

  Sawyer made a noise. Now wasn’t the time for that question. From the look on the rest of the guys’ faces, they agreed. What could he possibly be thinking?

  “Thanks to the…nature of your current investigation…” Thompson shifted around, like he was suddenly in pain. He purposefully didn’t look in her direction. “I’m not going to assign you one.”

  “Why?” Vin finally turned away from the window. Sawyer wanted to hold him. He looked beaten down and abused, with dark circles and redness around his eyes. His skin was too pale and washed out. He wasn’t getting enough sleep. She could swear he had dropped ten pounds in the last few days.

  “Because you were important to him, so you’re going to be important to me. You’re going to report directly to me until the time you all leave the IMPO, whenever that may be. You’ll be the first team with the Director of the IMPO as your handler.” Thompson sighed. “It’s the only thing I could think of. There’s no one I would want to place you with. James handled you solo. He had no other active teams. I don’t want to put you with a handler that has another team. Plus, I can get you whatever you need. I have the weight of my position to help you. I think you’ll need it.”

  “Thank you,” Vincent whispered, turning back out his window.

  “Tomorrow, I need you all at my office for one last thing: his will. The lawyers are ready to get through the reading and sign everything to where it needs to go.”

  “Fuck.” Elijah groaned. “Between that and getting a new place that’s secure, we’re going to be in red tape for weeks before we can get anything done about the case.”

  “Don’t worry about that,” Vincent said sternly. “You just need to worry about healing.”

  “Yes.” Quinn patted Elijah’s leg, the big cowboy on his other side. Sawyer wanted to curl up in a ball, remembering how she’d seen him on the pavement. There had been no reason for her to believe he was alive, much less able to heal. He’d been bent and broken, twisted like one of the pieces of metal from the SUV.

  It haunted her. Thanks to that, her mind kept going back to Quinn in the Amazon, and Jasper without his leg for the first time.

  They had all been so broken and hurt, and it wasn’t over. They were still trying to put it all back together, and yet their future hung over their heads. A job.

  A hit.

  She needed to get through this without thinking about it more. She knew she couldn’t let the rage come back up, not yet.

  The talking died off and they arrived at the cemetery in dead silence. They helped get the casket over the grave and onto the crazy lift used to lower it down into the freshly dug hole.

  The priest said a few more words and they began putting flowers on it.

  And sooner than she expected, it was over. They watched the casket being lowered, and it was done.

  The other mourners began to leave until it was just Thompson and the team. She started to get uncomfortable once more. Again, she was hit with the fact that she had never gone to a funeral before. How did someone leave without feeling like they were leaving someone important behind? How did someone tell others it was time to go?

  Thompson left first, without a word. She knew he wasn’t going to go far. They all had to go back to the city together. She couldn’t stay longer. She was amazed she’d stayed as long as she had.

  “Take your time,” she mumbled to them. She touched the closest one to her on the arm - Quinn. He’d been amazingly silent through it all. Since the moment she broke the news, since his initial breakdown. There had never been any tears, but she knew it hurt him.

  “Stay close to Thompson,” he ordered softly, glancing at her. She nodded in agreement. For her safety. The team had guards, a protection detail, thanks to Thompson, just for this. They were discreet, thankfully, had done well to disappear during the service, but there was reason to believe things could get ugly again at any moment. With Axel out, the team’s safety wasn’t secure. She knew from experience that the man was good at surprises.

  She walked away quickly, trying not to look at the other gravestones. The moment she could see Thompson and one of the guards talking in the parking lot, she blinked the rest of the way. It made the guard jump, since she appeared right in his line of sight. Thompson didn’t spook, though. He turned to see what had freaked out the IMAS soldier and waved a hand for her to come closer.

  It was odd. She did step closer and he grabbed her, an arm over her shoulder in a somewhat possessive manner. In some ways, she knew Thompson better than she ever knew James. She spent more time with the Director, and even that was only a few short encounters.

  But she had saved his life. That was something they both knew. He was the first person who spoke to her when the WMC gave her their decision. He’d been furious. They hadn’t told him what was going to happen. She had already guessed. Even if they hadn’t set her to the task, she had been preparing for it the moment she knew he was out.

  “You seem more put together than them,” he noted softly. “How are you, really?”

  “I’ve never been to a funeral, but I’ve lost people. It’s okay. It’s not, but…I have personal experience knowing that it will be.” She didn’t try to pull away.

  He nodded slowly. “If you need anything, any help with them or on your own, let me know.”

  “How are you?” She needed the attention off of her.

  “My oldest friend was just laid to rest, but I also have an organization to run. Just like you have a…”

  “Yeah.”

  The IMAS soldier stared at them strangely. Thompson waved him away and just kept holding her as they watched the guys stand next to James’ grave.

  “When do we tell them it’s time to go?” she asked softly.

  “When they’re ready. Though if we need to drag one or two away, I’ll need your help. It’s possible.”

  It felt like an eternity before Quinn took the back of Elijah’s wheelchair and began to leave.

  “I never read the report on his injuries,” Thompson said, and she knew he was fishing.

  “The accident broke his back in two places,” she answered. She hadn’t yet vocalized the words. Saying it made it seem so real, even though nothing got more real than seeing it, being there. She co
uldn’t even bring herself to say all of it. “The internal damage is just bruises now, but that’s the reason he’s still in the wheelchair.”

  “Is he doing physical therapy?”

  “Yeah. Once a day, along with Zander pumping a little more magic into the healing. The problem is, so much magic has already been used that his body needs to make the last couple of steps itself. Just time and rebuilding the strength at this point.”

  “Of course. I’m glad he’s healing. James was so worried-”

  “I know.” Her throat tightened.

  “About both of you,” he finished, tightening his hold on her. “Sawyer, if you need anything, please tell me. Please. I know they are all grieving and need time, and that leaves you in a strange place.”

  “I’m grieving too,” she reminded him.

  “You are, but you’re a lot like me. And Vincent. I’ll help you stop him from working himself to death.” He eyed her, not continuing as Quinn and Elijah got closer. Neither of that pair said anything as they slowed and stopped next to her and Thompson. Elijah grabbed her hand and squeezed.

  And slowly, the group continued to grow until it was only Vincent standing out there, staring at the grave. None of them said anything, or made any move to go get him until Thompson tried.

  She grabbed him. “I got it,” she whispered.

  This was something she needed to do. She walked back out to Vincent, who didn’t turn to look at her. She reached out and touched his shoulder as gently as she could.

  Even that made him jump and spin. His eyes looked wild. It was the most startling thing. How wild and angry his eyes looked. “What?” he demanded.

  “It’s time to go, Vincent.”

  He looked stricken and turned back to the grave without saying anything. He wrapped his arms around himself.

  She stepped closer, wrapping her arm around his waist. “It’s time to go,” she repeated in a murmur, trying not to be forceful.

  “I’m not ready.”

  “You never will be.” It was a simple truth. No one was ever ready to say goodbye like this. The person just had to be strong enough to keep moving forward.

  “This is Axel’s fault,” he growled.

  “Abstractly, yes. He wasn’t the one who did it, though.” Right now, that distinction seemed important. “The woman who killed him is dead as well. He went down a hero, Vincent. He saved a lot of people.”

  “You don’t need to tell me that,” he snapped, glaring back at her like she offended him. “This is his fault, abstractly or not. Whether James is a hero or not. My brother-”

  “Is going to die very soon, too,” she snapped back. “Don’t forget that.” She never would, since she was the one tasked with the job. Since she was the one who fully intended to deliver that final blow.

  Scars. Every kill was a scar on her soul, but she was willing to take them now more than ever. She would take all those scars on her soul to keep the people she loved alive. Her approach to death-dealing, her mindset about it, had changed over the last months.

  That wiped all the emotion off his face. Then it began to turn green. She pulled him close, his head slamming into her shoulder. She felt guilty for reminding him of it at that moment, but knew it had to be done.

  And finally, the tears came.

  He was grieving a father figure. He was scared and running on fumes. He was in so much pain; she knew he didn’t know how to cope with it.

  She could feel his fingers digging into her back. She had known this was going to come. It was bound to happen eventually. “I love you,” she whispered. “We can do this. One step at a time, Vincent.”

  “And what’s the first step?” he asked, groggy and depressed.

  “Leaving,” she answered.

  He pulled back and glanced once more at James’ grave. Then he nodded, holding out an arm. She smiled weakly, taking it. They hooked elbows and took the first step.

  “What’s the next step?” he asked softly, his emotion level dropping.

  “We go back to the condo. We eat something and get some deep sleep.”

  “And tomorrow is the will reading.” He sighed. “When in there do I start helping you hunt Axel?”

  “After we know our family has a place to live.” She kept moving them forward. He nodded again for her. “We can’t rush this. Not now. We have to make sure Elijah is okay. We need a new home. We can’t keep Sombra and the wolves cooped up in the condo. We have a lot of work to do.”

  “Of course.”

  “You did really well today.” She tried to make it sound casual.

  He leaned and she felt his lips press against her cheek. “What’s after that?”

  She considered that. There were some things they could get started now that would only help them in the future. She needed to give him goals to reach. “We need to set up alerts on the Dark Web. Anything relating to Axel or anyone close to him. It’s something I can work with Jasper and Zander on. I know it like the back of my hand, though they might go through new channels since my identity is outed and the world knows I’m on the other team now.”

  “And?”

  “We need a list of all properties he’s ever used. I know several. You probably know all of the places that mean something to him on a personal level.”

  “Yes. Good thinking.”

  He sounded so professional. They drew closer to the group and Zander opened the door to the limo. Quinn helped Elijah in first and they all piled in after. She stayed glued to Vincent’s side. She had a sneaking suspicion she was needed there.

  She had to hold these grieving men together. The pain wasn’t over yet. She glanced at Elijah. He knew. He knew how to keep moving forward. So did Quinn. And Jasper, someone she knew better than to forget. He started moving forward the moment the news hit, trying to help the rest of them.

  Her men were so strong, but she still felt the indescribable need to hold them.

  Something about all of this felt like it could break them apart, and that was something she would not tolerate.

  2

  Elijah

  Elijah stayed quiet on the trip back into the city. The funeral was now behind them. He hated funerals, but he understood the need for them. A chance to put someone to rest, a chance to openly grieve and let loose the pain of losing them. He’d needed it, even though he hated it.

  He’d needed it, since he didn’t have what his teammates had. He had been in a stupor, drugged and hazy when the news came. He’d had no chance to process it until everyone else was well into their own grief. Quinn had noticed and helped him, explaining that Zander had knocked him out so he could come to the grief with a clear head.

  He’d understood the reasoning, but it hadn’t helped him with dealing with the pain. James was gone.

  “Do you want to walk inside?” Quinn asked him carefully, eyeing him as the limo came to a stop in front of the building. Elijah looked up and nodded. He was tired of the wheelchair but he knew why he had to use it. In a few more weeks, he would be free to work out like he normally did again. He just needed to play it carefully as Zander walked him through physical therapy.

  “Yeah, I can manage getting to the elevator and into the condo.” He got out on his own, trying to ignore the stiffness in his back. There was no more nerve damage and the vertebrae were fully healed, but his muscles needed more time.

  None of them really spoke as they huddled in the elevator together. Sawyer was the only one who took the time to say goodbye to the Director. Elijah wanted to feel bad for not saying anything, but he couldn’t bring his mouth to open anymore. Not for platitudes and social courtesies, anyway. He’d leave that to her.

  Vincent unlocked the door and held it open so they could all shuffle in.

  And it hit Elijah again.

  The tightening of his chest. The pain.

  There were too many memories in the condo. Too much of James and the years he’d obviously lived in the place.

  “Did something happen in here while we were gone?�
�� Zander demanded, looking around ahead of the rest of them. “Did someone break in? Get that fucking security team-”

  “The lawyers came while we were at the funeral to take anything important to the will,” Jasper reminded him. “Nothing was stolen, Zander.”

  “Yeah, Sombra just hid out in the guest bedroom with the wolves during their visit. They didn’t let them touch our stuff.” Sawyer went into the living room and sat down on the couch. “Quinn, did you warn them?”

  “I warned the animals. I got to meet the lawyers beforehand so I could judge their threat level and let them know our bonds would be staying here. Vincent, where’s Kaar?”

  “Outside flying. He can’t handle the feelings in the condo anymore,” Vincent answered softly, walking into the kitchen.

  Elijah sat down slowly next to Sawyer, wrapping an arm around her. He was immensely pleased when she leaned into him, her head going onto his shoulder. It felt good.

  “Say it again,” he whispered to her. He was put out that the first time he’d heard the words was on the edge of dying. He had really thought he was dead and so was she. So he kept asking her, pretending that he needed the reminder. That he couldn’t remember it, clear as day, even though he could.

  “I love you,” she murmured.

  “Just checking,” he teased gently.

  “I’m going to give you real memory loss if you keep treating it like a joke,” she ribbed back.

  He chuckled, glad for the threat. It was normal. It was so wonderfully them, and it showed him everything could go back to the perfect they had before. The only thing that would be missing was the man they had relied on without ever telling him how much he meant. The only thing they couldn’t get back was James.

  His chest tightened again. He willed it to relax. He willed himself to keep breathing. He knew this pain. He could get through it. He knew Quinn was doing the same thing. He had a feeling they all were.