Athena was absorbed in scrolling through ssages on her phone when Aiden’s text caught her eye. She eagerly opened the text.
"Hey, are you guys done? Did you get him?"
After a quick, affirmative response text, she stole a glance at Eric, who was deep in conversation with their boss.
A wave of nostalgia washed over her as she recalled the many tis they had been in similar situations—executing a plan, overcoming obstacles together, and erging victorious.
She sighed and leaned back in her seat, her gaze drifting to Lucas, who had imdiately fallen asleep the mont the helicopter lifted off.
It was no surprise; after spending four long years confined in darkness, deprived of sunlight and the gentle caress of the wind, he was likely overwheld by the sensations that were foreign to him.
As the helicopter soared above the barren landscape fading out of view below, Athena silently thanked her boss for granting them extended ti on this operation.
They had left Lucas’s cell bracing for confrontation with guards, but to their surprise, they had encountered none. This knowledge brought a smile to her lips; it was a risky maneuver, but her boss had played his cards well, managing to outwit the system.
With the security asures in place at the facility—CCTV and computer systems disabled—it would take days for anyone to realize that a prisoner had gone missing. In that silence, she would have ample ti to complete the docuntation necessary for Lucas to be declared a free man. More importantly, it would give her so breathing room to keep the feds off her back.
Yes, all these were risks, but she needed to wrap the case up. She didn’t want to give Ewan or his fiancée any room to outsmart her. It happened six years ago, but it won’t be happening now, not when the stakes were higher.
A sudden tap on her arm pulled her from her thoughts.
"The boss wants to speak with you," Eric said, handing her the phone.
Athena took it, excitent bubbling within her. "Hello, boss! Long ti no talk! Thanks for today!" She exclaid, the warmth of their connection imdiately wrapping around her like a comforting blanket.
Laughter resonated from the other end, filling her with nostalgia. "Anything for my infamous prodigy. How have you been?"
She smiled widely, her heart swelling with fondness. "Fine, thank you."
"Good to hear. So, will you ever consider coming back to the team?"
Athena hesitated, the weight of his question heavy on her heart. "You know I can’t. My kids are more important to than anything else," She replied, resolutely.
"Of course. I suppose I’ll keep mourning then..." His disappointnt was palpable, and she felt a pang of guilt.
"Aww, don’t do that! You’ll be just fine. You have Eric and Shawn, the best of the best with you," She reassured him.
"It was always better with you around..."
She inhaled deeply, the truth of his words hitting ho. The adrenaline rush of running on missions was an exhilarating feeling she certainly missed. Yet, her children were the priority now, and she had made her choice.
"You’ll find soone else to ntor soon enough," She encouraged him, hoping to lighten the mood.
A weary sigh drifted through the line. "I hope so. This man is getting old, and it’s nearing his grave."
Athena chuckled lightly, trying to keep things positive. "You’re still fifty, old man! Stop talking about death!"
"If you say so. Just make sure to greet Aiden for . Tell him his position is still open," He added, his tone half-joking, half-serious.
Athena laughed, the sound brightening the conversation. She knew Aiden wouldn’t return—just as she wouldn’t. "Of course, I will."
"Goodbye, Athena."
"Goodbye, boss. Eat well." She hung up, her heart full, yet lingering with a sense of loss.
Eric jumped in again, breaking the silence. "You know you could always send your kids to us..."
Shawn and Athena shot him glares simultaneously, prompting Eric to raise his hands in mock surrender. "I was just making a suggestion!"
"You can only make that suggestion when you actually have a child," Shawn scoffed, crossing his arms.
Eric pouted, glancing away, and the atmosphere lightened as they settled into an easy banter. Athena savored the camaraderie; it reminded her of the family she’d built outside of her own ho.
Minutes later, the helicopter touched down at the airstrip, the machinery whirring to a halt. The sleek Cadillac imdiately erged from the bunker, gliding toward them with a sense of purpose.
"Take care of him. I want to see him in good condition tomorrow," Athena instructed firmly as they disembarked and felt the cool breeze against their skin.
"Of course, ma’am." Eric echoed, adding a playful salute that elicited an eye roll and an affectionate smirk from Athena.
She turned her attention to Lucas, who looked both fragile and determined. He had been woken up after the helicopter had landed. "If you even think about running, I’ll send Kendra to an orphanage—and not the good kind," She warned, her voice low but firm.
Lucas shook his head fervently. "You have my word, Athena. I’ll be in the elders council. I’ll never abandon my daughter."
His answer pleased Athena. Nodding, she offered him a thin smile before giving Shawn and Eric side hugs of gratitude. "See you all on Wednesday."
Just ten minutes away from ho, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Old Mr. Thorne.
"I’m not going to ask where you disappeared to on a helicopter, blindsiding my n, but I’m glad you did. My n found so of the gang mbers lurking around your street, and they’ve been dealt with accordingly. When should we storm their hideout?" He started, after they had exchanged pleasantries.
"I’m not sure," Athena replied thoughtfully. "Leave them be for now. Let them think they have the upper hand."
"Alright then. See you on Wednesday."
"You’ll be there? I thought cases held by the elder council are only attended by people from the towns involved," She mused, intrigued.
"Yes, but I’m different. Don’t you think so?"
Athena detected a sly note in his words and chuckled softly. "Of course, Mr. Thorne. You are indeed different. See you tomorrow."
After hanging up, she imdiately sent a ssage to Doctor Finn: "Thank you for keeping everything above board. Keep it up; I’ll be back soon."
Her phone pinged with an instantaneous response. "Thanks, Doctor Athena!"
Despite her initial doubts about the young man, he had exceeded her expectations, easily becoming her most valuable hire.
With that task complete, she closed her eyes, resting her head against the seat. Just as she began to relax, her phone dinged again, drawing her back to reality.
"Finally," She muttered, recognizing the sender’s number. Heart racing, she opened the text, her curiosity piqued.
"I’ll be there, love."
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