Page 77 of Blind Justice

“You’ll be careful?”

She smiled. “Always. I plan on not putting myself at risk or my t-team.”

“Mateo’s reaction is normal,” Noah said, taking the edge off. “He says the same to me whenever I leave.”

“It’s her first mission. I am allowed to be worried.” Mateo tugged her into his embrace. “For four years I have watched over you the best I could. Now, I can’t be there to protect you.”

She breathed in his fresh scent and the spice of his cologne Noah helped her pick out for Father’s Day. Mateo loved her as much as he would a biological child. For her love was new. She hadn’t understood it until Bronx and Alé, and now, Mateo and Noah. “Bear and you will be watching m-me. F-From a distance. I-I’ll Skype or whatever w-when I can.”

“We’re both extremely proud of you, Bexley,” Noah said. “You’ve come a long way.”

“He’s right, we are.” Mateo placed a kiss to the crown of her head. “When do you leave?”

“Three hours is what Asher said.” Three hours and she’d be leaving the safety of the base for the first time in what felt like forever.

“You know how Asher feels about the rules. He likes the whole dark thing when it comes to taking off. It keeps our place safe.” Noah went to the kitchen. “Which means Bex has enough time to pack and have dinner.”

“Then go pack, mija. We’ll get everything ready for you.” Mateo let her go and for some reason, she didn’t want him to.

Bex held onto his arms a moment longer then went to her room to pack. This was her new life. Her new set of challenges. She didn’t know how long they’d be gone, but she knew every day she was gone, she’d miss her family and she’d look forward to coming home too. Because this time, she had a home to come back to with loving parents and friends who cared about her.

Three hours later, Noah and Mateo saw her off. She climbed into the ass of the C-130 and waited at the ramp as the doors closed. When she turned around, her friends were with her. Mr. Escobar was with them. They would be staying at his home in Los Angeles. The primered Impala she’d crashed several months ago, had been strapped in as well. It was Alé’s prized possession. She’d spent almost as much time helping him repair it as she did training. All it needed was a paint job, something Jacolbi planned on hooking him up with when they got to L.A..

As they lifted off, she stared at the ground as it grew further and further away. Sadness washed over her. She couldn’t explain why she experienced such a visceral reaction like she did other than it swamped her almost immediately. She wanted the pilot to take her back. She needed to go home. Bronx came up beside Bex and tugged her into her side. A moment later, Alé took a seat to the right of Bex. She gave a watery chuckle when the others finally joined her.

“It’s called being homesick,” Bronx said. “I saw it in your eyes the minute the doors closed. I should have joined you sooner. You’re in luck too, because it goes away with time.”

Homesickness? Is that what it was called. Why silent tears tracked down her cheeks. Why she yearned to go home? She’d never experienced it before. Then again, she’d never had a family to miss or people she considered friends to go back to. “I-I d-don’t understand.”

“You will.” Alé pressed a kiss to Bex’s temple. “But, as much as we’re going to work on this mission, we’re also going to have fun, something you’ve seriously been missing.”

“Yeah, I’m taking you to meet my pops,” Jacolbi said.

“We’ll see about that,” Mr. Escobar stated.

“You can meet my dad,” Bronx said. “He sent me to Jamie so I could have a better life. I know he’ll like you.”

“We’ll go to the beach too,” Alé said. “You’ll see Bex, before this is over, it’ll be like no time has passed, and we’ll be home.”

“Until then, Noah will take care of Mateo,” AJ added. “Knowing that man, he’ll sit in your room, just to be close to you. Mateo is a rare gem.”

“Yeah, he is.” Bex gave a watery laugh. “He’s the best. If it wasn’t for Mateo, I’d never have met any of you.” She wiped away her tears and smiled. “You’re my family now.”

“Yeah we are,” AJ replied. “And family sticks together. Always.”

“Always,” Alé agreed. “We love you, Bex.”

“Hell yeah, we do,” Bronx added.

“Speak for yourselves,” Eito said. “We tolerate Bex.” He gave her a wink. Then he continued his conversation with Alex.

“Don’t mind them,” Jacolbi muttered. “They’re assholes.”

She didn’t. Truth be told, she knew Alex and Eito cared about her. Alé told her everything Alex and Eito had done to get information to help her and to protect her. It’d been Alex who figured out the video and Eito who talked to Jannie. She didn’t deserve any of them, but she hoped every day she’d become worthy of them.

“Anyway,” AJ said. “I heard from the pilot we can watch movies back here. We have an almost eight-hour flight and I know we won’t be able to sleep the whole time. So, what do you say? Movie night?”

“Hell yeah!” Bronx thrust her fist into the air. “Let’s do this.”

Bex laughed. Hell yeah. She was right where she needed to be. With her new friends and her family. After years of yearning for a better life, she finally found it, and she’d never take it for granted.