The marina of the men's club was big. It made sense, as most of the members were made of money, and they could borrow the girls for pleasure cruises or just come by on their boats and avoid the traffic. We motored past with our running lights dimmed so I could study it with my binoculars, and I noticed three other boats docked there. I wasn't sure if they were occupied or not, but I'd have to check them out. I could also see a pair of guards in the area, and they would have to go before I went inside.

"Okay, pull it back around," I said to Lexie, who was currently manning the wheel. I'd given each of the women a chance to drive, and she'd been the most adept at it, so she was in charge while we were getting ready. I couldn't have us dock in the marina itself, as the guards would come to greet the boat, but we could anchor a hundred yards west, and I could go in with my flippers and a small inflatable raft for my gear. I could be quiet and invisible in the darkness, since the only lighting on the marina docks were small ones along the planks to aid with members walking to and from their boats. Evidently, they never expected anyone like me to come pay them a visit.

I planned on killing them all, so I doubted any would be left to learn from that mistake.

"Is this good?" Lexie asked once we'd gotten further away from the marina.

I checked things out and thought it should work. There was a good amount of distance between us, and with the darkness, we'd be hard to see with the lights out. "This should be perfect. Drop the anchor."

She pressed the little red button that controlled the anchor, and a rattling clank rang through the night as the chain fed out. We weren't too deep, so it didn't take long for the anchor to hit the bottom of the lake, but I knew that the guards would hear it. There was nothing to see, it wasn't as though we were right next to them, so we kept on with the plan.

"Fuck, that was loud!" Bella whispered up the stairs. "Are we okay?"

"We're good. We had to do it, and we're not moving so they'll ignore it after a bit," I replied softly. "Keep an eye out while I get ready."

I crept down the stairs while all three girls kept an eye on the marina. In my imagination, there would be a guard with a flashlight or thermal binoculars, but they would see nothing but a rapidly cooling engine on the back of the boat. Nothing unusual. At some point later the boat would start back up while the girls joined me, but there would hopefully be nobody left at the club to witness that. I stayed in the cabin getting ready while letting time lapse on their attentiveness. I'd inflated the little raft on the way down from Chicago, not wanting to add the noise of the compressed air cylinder to the anchor, and started piling the gear into it. Two flare guns, Petra's transmitter, both pistols, and the automatic shotgun were first, followed by the body armor and explosives. My knives would stay in the sheathes on my back. I would love to wear the armor in the water, but stealth was more important, and that would make me bulkier. Once I got ashore, I could put that on, assuming I had time.

The last thing I did was to put on some waterproof green and black makeup on my face. It wasn't perfect, but it would keep my head from being as visible while I was trying to sneak up on the guards. With that done, I lowered the raft into the water, and sat down to put on my flippers.

"Jesse? Can we talk to you for a minute?" Willow asked, motioning me into the cabin.

"Yeah, of course." I stood up, and followed them into the cabin, only for Bella to wrap me up in a hug.

"Please be careful, Jesse. I know I just found you, but I really want you to stay my big sister. Come back!" She was sobbing by the end of her plea, and I could feel tears in my own eyes. I'd been concentrating so much on the plan to save the girls in the club that I never realized what my friends would be feeling. I'd been doing things on my own for so long, that I hadn't considered it. That needed to stop now that I had them all in my life.

"I'll be back. I wouldn't leave you, okay Bella? I'm sticking around."

She nodded rapidly, wiping away the tears on her face before smiling a little. "I'm going to give you alone time," she whispered into my ear. "They're so scared for you." Once she let go, she went up the stairs, and I was left alone with Lexie and Willow.

They both moved close and wrapped me up in a group hug. "Jesse, I know we haven't had a lot of time to discuss the baby situation, but we will. I promise, we really want to do this with you, and I know this is the wrong time to ask, but please come back to us, okay?" Lexie begged.

"We want you to be a part of our life. Of our relationship," Willow added. "Ever since we found you again, we've wanted you to be a part of our family. But that means you can't get your hot ass shot. Please be safe, okay? We love you so much!"

"We really do!" Lexie agreed quickly.

"I'll be safe, I promise. You know I love you both too, and I'll do my best." I pulled them into me, my eyes filled with tears, even as I was terrified to consider what that might entail. There were two bodies not 20 feet from us that I'd killed. They couldn't really consider being with someone who was a murderer, could they? But I knew at a minimum that we should have a discussion about this. "When we're done, we'll have a talk about our options. But I know I'll help you to get the babies you want."

"The babies aren't all of it, and you know it!" Willow pointed out.

"I know you're dodging the rest, but we'll wait. We know you have a busy night. Just don't forget we're here to help if you need. If you get shot or anything, we want to come there for you." Lexie was quick to offer up their help. She was right to do so, because I wasn't used to having that support for a mission, and I'd have probably forgotten.

"I'll be careful, and I'll signal if I need the help." That was what the flares were for, though I hoped I wouldn't need them. There was a green one for signaling all was well, and a red one for help needed. I was hoping to only need the green.

"Jesse, I love you," Lexie leaned up and kissed me softly on my lips, and I was too stunned to move.

"I love you too." Willow followed up with a kiss of her own, and I had no idea what to do. We really needed that talk! The kiss was stirring something within me that I hadn't felt in so long, and I just couldn't think about it just yet. The face makeup on their lips was cute too!

"You're both amazing, you are. And I love you too. I know we need that talk when this is all over, and we will, I promise." Was I in love with them? Or did I love them like sisters? I had a feeling that I knew, but I'd have to sort all of that out. If I could just admit it and get out of my own head.

"Go get those girls." Lexie said.

"I'd say don't do something crazy by being a hero. But we both know that's exactly what you're going to do." Willow squeezed my hand softly. They both leaned in, one at a time and gave me a soft kiss, one that I knew that was meant to get me through the night. They kept me in the hug for a few minutes, and I knew it was hard for all of us to let go. All of us had tears in our eyes, and for the first time since Lessa died, I felt a shiver of fear that I had something to lose now.

That was something I'd have to process when the night was over though. For now, I had a mission. A mission that innocent lives depended on being a success. They finally released me from the hug, and I was ready to go. "I'll see you soon."

Walking back out to the deck, I sat down on the deck and put my flippers and snorkel gear on. I was doing my best to keep my mind clear, but it wasn't easy now that I had three people that were becoming such an important part of my life. I'd never say I didn't like it; I was just confused by why they wanted me around. Yes, I'd bailed them out of a tough situation, but why would they want to stay with me? No! Stop! That was the thinking I was trying to get rid of. We really needed that talk.

I couldn't dwell on it. They must have their reasons, and I'd have to see what they were. With one last sigh, I slipped feet first into the cool water, letting it wake me up as I grabbed the tow line for the little raft. I stayed out in the lake, keeping well out of the light from the marina and leaving nothing but the top of the snorkel above the water. I'd pop my head up briefly to check my progress, and when I had one of the other yachts that was tied up at the marina between me and the club, I turned into the shore, picking up my speed until I was right up next to the hull.

It was time to light these fuckers up.