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Travis touched his earpiece "We’re on our way up," he said simply

The elevator door opened to an eerily quiet hallway Hyde stepped out first, and then Travis with Stella Val followed me, the last to leave She seemed uneasy theher

Travis smiled "A little jumpy?"

Val snarled "Fu" She clenched her jaw, frustrated

Travis ledto the side so I could walk in Everyone stood, tired but s up, frizzy and ratted froht on uncomfortable sofas and pallets on the floor The adults were in worse shape, all staring atfor news The look on my face must have confirmed their fears, because Falyn covered her ed Tyler

"Hey there, sis," Ji a few times to rock himself up off the sofa to stand Ca his best to smile, to stay positive despite the fact that I’d arrived without Thoht

"I came as soon as I could I wanted to tell you in person," I said Already the lie was scratching atit feel raw "Thomas …" I looked around the roo out hope

Travis held me to his side

"Thomas has passed away"

Jim’s bottom lip trembled, and then he took a step back Camille helped him to his seat and threw her arms around him Trenton did the same

"How?" Trenton said "Why?"

Jim fished a handkerchief from his shirt pocket He wiped both eyes and then ed "Sit down, sis," he said, scooting away froan to wail, and Travis set the carrier on the floor, unbuckled her, and quickly put her in my arms It was obvious that he was a veteran dad, already searching her bag for so to helptoward Ji with unbridled pain behind his wet eyes He looked up at me "She looks like you and a little like To my bottom lip tremble "A lot She looks a lot like hier to pet Stella’s fist "She favors my Diane"

I nodded and then watched as Jim’s expression crumpled Trenton curled his arainst his side Camille reached over to squeeze Ji the birth ofthe loss of her father

Taylor’s botto hi away an escaped tear "He wanted to be buried here"

I inwardly cursed the Bureau and this fucking plan The director had called ize, but success would be the only thing that would convinceanyone else in our faeted Their safety relied on Benny’sthey’d retaliated, but just as important, they had to believe that if they continued, they’d suffer more casualties of their own Travis had already taken care of the second part He’d been consulted and had agreed The intel told us faking Thoas, and for now, at least, no hit had been put on Stella or me The moain We had to e risk We were lucky they didn’t aim for the head Tho us all