“I don’t know everything that you’ve gone through, but—” He paused for a moment. “One friend is quite vocal about getting you back. He’s sent yet another message to me about how he needs an ETA.”

“Roan.” Only Roan would make demands from someone like my father without fear.

I missed him. The ache was real and physical. I tried not to think about Roan while I was on Abaddon, but now as my father spoke about him, I needed my best friend. He’d know how to handle this better than I did, and I could tell him more than I could my mother. He wouldn’t judge or worry about what had already happened. He’d help me focus on what’s next. That’s what I needed right now.

“He’s okay?”

“I should say so.” My father grinned for the first time, and it was nice to see it. “Interesting character, that one.”

I grinned back. It was the first real smile I’d had in a while. “He’s the best.”

My father gave me a small, slow nod. “I wouldn’t expect otherwise from a friend of my daughter, but Lorne just messaged about an argument he and Declan were having.”

I really, really didn’t want to start out getting to know my father with a fight, but if that’s what had to happen then that’s what I’d do. “I survived the last couple weeks thanks to some friends. Declan found out they might be in trouble, and I won’t leave them behind.” I didn’t leave any room for negotiation in my tone.

He let out a long sigh. “Ah. I see. I saw them in the videos, but you going back now is idiocy.” He frowned and I knew I wasn’t going to like what he said next. “Not everyone can be saved in war.”

“Maybe not, but I have to try. And I wasn’t planning on stepping foot on Abaddon again.”

Lorne and Declan looked at me.

“You weren’t?” Lorne asked.

“No. I have another plan.” I huffed a soft laugh. “Might be a crazy one, but I think it’s pretty solid considering…”

“Go on,” Rysden said.

“How far from Abaddon are you, Declan?”

“Six hours and change.”

That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. “You’re too far away for what I need. I want to do this quickly. Can you get to his ship?” I asked Lorne. “Can you tow it to Abaddon while cloaked?”

His eyebrows went up. “I can tow him and get it very close undetected, yes.”

I knew he was okay with seeing where I was going with this, but I wondered if he’d back me up on my insane plan. I couldn’t do it without him. My father was too far away to stop us, but Lorne could.