Seeing Eve—and Cammie—look at him like he was some monster and they were expecting the worst turned his stomach. And Cammie. God. He couldn’t picture her without seeing Charlotte and couldn’t imagine his niece in the same situation.
He—all of KGI—took a hell of a lot for granted. They shouldn’t. Enough had happened over the years for them to know all too well not to take a single moment with their families for granted. And yet it was all too easy to forget the circumstances that others lived in. Despite the fact that they saw the worst in the world on a daily basis.
As he drove away, he picked up his cell to call Sam to see if he’d contacted Maren—and Steele—but mainly Maren. Because Steele could put up a fight all he wanted, but if Maren wanted to do something, Steele didn’t have a chance. Steele would just make damn sure she wasn’t walking into a dangerous situation, and after what Donovan had witnessed, he knew that there was nothing to fear over Maren going to check on Cammie. Whatever the danger was, it wasn’t from Eve. No, whatever the hell it was that had struck terror into Eve and her tiny family’s hearts was out there lurking and waiting for an opportunity to strike. An opportunity that, if Donovan had any control over it, would never present itself.
After Sam confirmed that Maren was in and that Steele had been assured all the bases were covered as far as Maren’s safety, Donovan rang off and drove toward the compound, Eve squarely on his mind.
He activated the key code to open the gate and waited as it swung open, allowing him entrance. The tight security net around the compound reminded him of the reality of his life. His family’s lives. It was a necessary evil, one they were all well aware of. But it brought to the forefront that they would never lead normal lives. That theirs came with an awareness that at any time, enemies could strike at them, at their most vulnerable weakness. Their wives, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews.
Donovan had wondered in the past, as he was sure all his brothers had, particularly when their family had been in jeopardy, if it was all worth it. If what they did was worth the risk to their loved ones. But at the end of the day, the answer was always the same. Yes. They might not be able to solve all the ills of the world, but they could damn well make it a better place, one mission at a time. For every criminal they took down, for every child they rescued, for every hostage they freed, they made a difference.
Maybe that answer would change if they ever lost any part of their family to the enemies they’d accumulated over the years since KGI’s inception. But for now, they were still absolutely devoted to righting wrongs and taking down the evil in the world.
As he pulled up to his house, he was surprised to see Steele’s SUV parked out front. Not that it should have come as a shock. Steele would want a firsthand accounting of the situation his wife was walking into.
But then the passenger door opened, and Donovan saw Maren step into the sunshine, a warm smile lighting her features as she stared toward Donovan. A moment later, Steele got out of the driver’s side, his expression not as warm as Maren’s. Donovan sighed and stepped out of his vehicle. Might as well beard the lion now.
“Hello, Van,” Maren called out. And then she opened the passenger door and ducked in, a second later reappearing with her daughter.
Donovan’s smile was instantaneous. Okay, so he was a total sucker for babies. Sue him.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he said as he walked toward where Maren stood with the baby. “I swear that girl gets bigger every time I see her.”
Maren grinned. “That’s because I’m a twenty-four-seven fast-food restaurant. Clearly she inherited her father’s appetite because I swear I can’t ever feed her enough.”
Steele grunted and then reached for the baby, expertly cradling her in his arms. Donovan shook his head. He still hadn’t gotten used to seeing Steele with an infant. The sight still elicited amusement, and if he was honest, it also inspired envy.
“So what’s the situation?” Steele asked bluntly.
“Why don’t y’all come in out of the heat?” Donovan offered. “I have some iced tea in the fridge and I can brew Maren up a cup of her favorite hot tea. Then we’ll talk.”
“Hadn’t planned to stay long,” Steele replied. “Weather’s supposed to get bad tonight, and I don’t want to have Maren or Olivia out in it.”
Donovan frowned. “Bad weather? What are we talking here?”
Maren rolled her eyes. “Steele has become a regular meteorologist in his spare time. He’s convinced a storm is going to take us out.”
Steele shot her a glare. “It pays to be aware of potential hazards.”
Donovan mounted the steps to his home and swung open the door, gesturing Maren and Steele inside.
“So? The weather report?” Donovan queried.
“Severe thunderstorms. Isolated strong cells. The entire western part of the state is under watch overnight.”
Donovan blew out his breath. Damn. All he could picture was that first time he’d walked into Eve’s trailer and had seen the bowls scattered over the floor to catch the rain. They’d be miserable tonight and with Cammie sick, the last thing she needed was to get rained on inside her house.
“Have a seat,” Donovan murmured. “I’ll get Maren’s tea brewing. Care if I nuke the water and throw a bag in it?”
Maren smiled. “Nope. With my hands full of a starving infant, I’ve learned the art of a quick brew.”