Blue(83)

It's slight, but Tommie stiffens, as if she's reacting to something she heard via her earpiece. My gaze moves over her facial features, which have tightened with pursed lips and furrowed brow. I don't know what it is, but I know something is about to happen.

In the next instant, the screen's aglow with brilliant, blazing yellows, oranges, and reds. Thousands of pieces of debris of varying sizes shoot out in all directions, and it's indiscernible if it's wood, metal, or who knows what. Several shipping containers have exploded and the camera swings away from the heat source.

As if the camera's been thrown through the air, the picture is fast and fluid, fragments sailing past the lens before the only things visible are asphalt and the night sky. There's blackness with small specks of glowing pieces landing on the ground in the distance, and that's all we see. He's down. A large metal scrap crashes to the ground only feet from the camera, from Evan.

Tommie gasps, Tripp releases a string of expletives, and Anna lets out a small sob, her nails digging into my flesh. My stomach bottoms out and my heart twists as tears sting my eyes. Dammit, he's got to be okay.

"He was thrown from the explosion," Tripp says, his explanation as much for us as it is for himself.

"Yeah." Tommie's voice cracks as she fiddles with her earpiece, pushing it farther in. "They're coming to get him."

The lens rises. It appears Evan is upright, and a man comes to stand directly in front of him. He's saying something, but he too has a mask on, so I have no clue what. He nods his head, the image wobbles up and down, and then it's shaky and jumpy as he begins to run. We all exhale simultaneously as Tommie slams the laptop shut.


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My heart hammers against my rib cage and the tumultuous churning in my stomach lessens somewhat, but it's still there. I need to see him, touch him, to make sure he's okay.

"They should be home within the hour. It's over." She tucks the computer under her arm and before she can leave, I grab her hand.

"Thank you." I squeeze it in gratitude. Nodding, she returns the gesture and marches to the kitchen.

It's almost two hours before Evan's home and I don't even let him put his pack down before I launch myself at him. His strong arms envelop me, and I laugh and cry into his neck, drinking in his scent mixed with smoke and an oily almond odor.

"Hey, I'm okay," he soothes, rubbing my back and pulling me tight to him.

"Thank goodness," I murmur, loosening my hold on his waist.

Evan still has me tucked to his side when Anna runs in for a hug and we both embrace her. She really is a tiny thing and my heart swells and warms at seeing how much her brother means to her already.

"Anna, it's all good. We did what Franco wanted and now you're with us." He kisses the top of her head and she gazes up at him with a wobbly smile.

"Thank you so much." She returns the kiss with one of her own before stepping out of his hold.

Tripp gives him a wry smile and shakes his head. "Never a dull moment with you, man. Call me." He pats Evan on the shoulder and says, "And I'm glad you came back in one piece." We all nervously chuckle at his poor taste in jokes.

Tommie's on the periphery of the room, her eyes locked on Evan, disquiet evident in her dark, exotic eyes. She was worried, really worried. With my concern a thing of the past now that I have Evan in my arms, I'm able to see that this also took its toll on her. Evan sees it too, and he brings me with him as he walks toward her.

"Tommie girl, come here." His gruff, low voice snaps her out of her fear-induced trance. She straightens and smirks before going in for a hug.

"Don't ever fucking do that again," she admonishes, while clinging to him.

Her head rests on his chest and her eyes on me. We share a mutual understanding. He has me and Anna, and he also has a sister in Tommie.

She'd burn the world for him. I don't fully understand their bond but I'm not threatened by it; in fact, it's the opposite. I embrace it, loving that Evan has her.

"I'm gonna leave you guys, but call me, Van. I want a debrief." She's all business as she gives both Anna and me a goodbye.

"Yes, ma'am."

Anna's next to excuse herself, but not without giving her brother another hug and thanking him, again, for all he's done for her. 

"Alone at last," he says as he shuts our bedroom door. He comes to stand behind my back and his arms encircle my waist as I lean my head on his hard chest.

"Yes, finally, and I know what I want." My voice is low and sultry.