Chapter 70: The Rescue Team

Chapter 70: The Rescue Team Extraction. That was the movie that came to Ewan’s mind as he watched Aiden talk about Athena’s security and how her retrieval would take place. Wasn’t this just a driver? How was he so versed in the act of warfare? This particular thought was usurped by another; a thought that came with the image of the twins, Nathaniel and Kathleen. The thought consisted of the twins entrusting him with the safety of their mother, when he had finally arrived at their house. He had just been about to leave with the entire security team, when the twins had held his shirt. ’Bring mommy home...’ The girl had admonished, while the boy had dared him with a cold glance to do otherwise. The boy was his exact replica. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed true to him. Sandro had kept quiet about the matter but he was sure his friend knew what was happening. His friend knew the chances of Nathaniel being his son. If they were his children... Ewan shook his head, shuddering all the same, at the implication that would bring. It would explain Athena’s discomfort around him, yet he wouldn’t be happy with the deceit. He hated lies so much. If she had been pregnant six years ago, why hadn’t she let him know? Aiden’s steady words droned into his ears again. So, he decided to listen to the driver talk, and think about Athena when she was safe, and think about the children when he had the DNA tests in his hand. Standing between Zane and Sandro, he folded his arms across his chest, and watched Aiden point at a drawing on the light wood which had been used as a makeshift board. Watching the man speak, and the terms he used, and the way his and Zane’s security detail listened with respect, he couldn’t help but think the man wasn’t a mere driver, but a soldier. But why would a soldier become a driver for Athena? Ewan shook his head again. Just who was Athena? If she was really married, who was her husband? And why was she in harm? Who was behind her kidnapping? So far, he has heard the man talk about the nature of the people they would be dealing with soon, but the latter hadn’t really spoken on the specifics of their foes or why they were after Athena. He hadn’t even give the name of the notorious gang. Why was he being secretive? Well, Ewan trusted Sandro to do his due diligence after all of this. "So...that’s all about it. Let’s gear up. According to our technical team, the loaction is just a few miles away. Let’s go." Ewan tried moving with the security detail, with Zane and Sandro, but Aiden stopped them. "I’m sorry, but you three won’t be joining us. I suggest that you return to Athena’s place and wait." Ewan furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean?" Aiden sighed tiredly. "You three aren’t trained in the art of combat, at least not in the way I know." A pause. "So that I wouldn’t be tasked with looking after you three too, you need to head out. This way, you can help us to do our work better..." Ewan didn’t like this. He could take care of himself well enough! He didn’t need a babysitter. He looked at Zane and Sandro to speak up, to quote it as it was in his mind, but the two males rather nodded, and wished Aiden goodluck. Ewan held back a scoff. He couldn’t return to Athena’s place without Athena. How would he face the children? He shook his head mentally. But in reality, he nodded, and walked away from the temporary hideout with his friends. "Do you know who Aiden is, Zane? Who he really is?" Ewan asked, as they approached a lone car by the west wing of the temporary hideout. It dawned on him then that Aiden had planned their absence from the extraction for a while. Meanwhile, Zane furrowed his eyebrows at Ewan’s question. "Not really. I just know that he is a good driver. I’m not sure of their history, but I’ve heard in passing of them being in trouble like a year ago. Athena didn’t go into details. She is quite..." There was a pause. Ewan threw in a word. "Mysterious. An enigma." Zane nodded. "That’s it. She is exactly that. She’s quite protective of the information she holds, and the people she holds dear to her heart." Ewan didn’t think he was among the people; he hadn’t earned it. The three men entered the car, and started moving toward the city. "Is Athena married?" Ewan asked after a while, breaking the silence in the car. Zane took his lips in. He had expected this question about Athena when he had seen Ewan speaking with the twins, but he also knew he couldn’t break his promise to Athena. "I’m not sure. She hasn’t spoken of it. She doesn’t really talk about her family..." "So, you don’t know who the father of her children is?" Ewan asked, staring at Zane intently, gauging every emotion and body movement his friend was expressing. Zane shook his head. "You don’t feel like they resemble someone you know?" Zane shut his eyes for a microsecond, then shook his head. But the mini silence was enough for Ewan. His friend suspected the twins were his. Were the twins aware too? Was that why they had looked at him earnestly when they made their request? He shook his thoughts away. He needed DNA test results, before making any plans. He also didn’t want his hope to soar and crash over nothing. When they got to a certain crossroad, he asked to get down. "Where are you going?" Sandro asked as he parked the car. "I want to see someone that stays around here. It’s important." Zane looked out of the window. They were still in the outskirts of the city, but he said, ’Okay, be fast and return. The guys may be back soon.’ Ewan nodded and got down from the car, ignoring Sandro’s gaze that was burning into his back. Trust his friend and assistant to suspect his moves. As he watched them drive away, he wished them well, hoping he would see them again, that he wouldn’t fall to the bullets that would be flying right about now. The children had given him a charge, and he will not fail them.