In the following months their relationship grew fast as Fiona lived on base, under their protection. She brought smiles to a team that faced horrors on a regular basis. Her presence was a blessing, especially when their reeducation began.

But an injection of stress came into the mix thanks to the child welfare office. The job of foster father fell on him like a piano dropped from twenty stories above. His studies suffered as he became distracted by his new, parental duties. Sparring matches became a painful reminder of his inadequacies. And though he didn’t feel up to the task, Fiona took to the idea and ran with it. It was a responsibility King never wanted, but was duty bound to take on.

What surprised him the most was that now that she had been taken from him, he was terrified he might lose her for good. Because despite all his fears, discomfort, and doubts, he’d become smitten by her. He wanted his parents to meet her. He wanted to finish reading The Hunger Games with her. His career-oriented five-year forecast was in disarray because it now involved a girl he had no right raising. And he knew child services would agree.

King checked his watch. The others should have completed their missions by now. He powered up his cell phone, which he’d shut off during his and Pierce’s nighttime search of the Roman Forum, and found eight messages, which was an unusual amount since only seven people in the world had his number. He ignored the messages and dialed the number he knew would get him answers.

The line clicked as the connection was established. After a single ring, a familiar feminine recording asked him to leave a message. He gave his name, “King.”

The feminine voice followed with, “Voice print confirmed,” and the phone began ringing again.

The ringing was quickly replaced by the voice of Tom Duncan, Deep Blue. “Where have you been?”

King immediately heard the tension in Duncan’s normally relaxed voice. Things were not going well on the home front. “Rome. I’m on my way to Haifa now, with Alexander Diotrephes.”

Duncan’s voice brightened. “You found her?”

“She was here, but … I lost her. Alexander had fifty people, all speakers of dying languages, hidden beneath the Roman Forum. They’re all dead now.”

King heard a whispered curse on the other end before Duncan’s voice returned in full. “What’s in Haifa?”

“A physicist slash rabbi Alexander thinks can help.”

“What do you think?”

“I’m rolling with the punches,” King said. “How about you? Are the others back yet?”

“Knight, Queen, and Bishop are en route as we speak. They should be ready to deploy wherever you need them within four hours.”