“You can’t hide forever, Angie.” Lexie’s voice through the glass came out muffled. When she didn’t budge, she held up the bakery box in her hand. “C’mon, I stopped and picked up the next best thing to liquor or Novacaine for a wounded heart, Meg’s chocolate éclairs.”
Resigned, she opened the door and got out.
“Sure. You don’t respond to me, but for chocolate, custard and melt in your mouth pastry, you open the door.”
“I’m easy. A fifth of tequila would have done the trick, too.”
“I’m sure Megan has something fruity with a kick to guzzle while you spill your guts. In fact, I think I hear the whirr of the blender already.”
Holding the white box with the Decadent Delights logo by the string, Lexie put her arm around Angie’s shoulders and steered her toward the front porch. As they walked slowly, she dropped her head on her friend’s shoulder and murmured, “It hurts, Lex.”
“I know, sweetie, and although it doesn’t make things hurt any less, we’d all like to kick Lil T’s ass. And that collective all, includes the guys.”
“I knew better.”
“No. You were new, like a babe in the woods and had no idea how charming and seductive these Doms can be. And Lil T, has both of those skills down to an art form. We all spent considerable time with him while he played bodyguard for each of us at one point during all the cartel crap. We love him like family, but that doesn’t mean we don’t blame him for hurting you—”
“I don’t want that.” She straightened and wiped away the single tear that had tracked down her cheek as they walked in the front door without knocking. The unmistakable whirr and loud crunch of a blender crushing ice greeted them as Lexie predicted. “What I do want is mass quantities of sugar and carbs. Oh, and an éclair would be good too.”
*****
Her indulgence showed the next morning when she came to work in dark glasses, no amount of Visine able to erase her bloodshot and once again tear swollen eyes. As she stopped by the front desk to pick up her messages, the receptionist gave her one verbally from Cap as well.
“The boss called a meeting with the whole team at 9:30 sharp.” Trish, the very attractive, fifty-something, platinum blonde was nearly bursting with curiosity. “He emphasized sharp. It must be something big.”
Trish had come on board sometime after her. She’d learn quickly enough that with Rossi they were almost always dealing with “something big”, so Angie wasn’t nearly as intrigued. She was eager for coffee, however, and with a glance at her watch realized she had time for little else.
She was seated at the conference table on time as the rest of the team filed in. Dan was one of the last to arrive and was closing the door as a familiar voice called, “Hold up.” A second later, T’s big hand flattened on the door. Angie stiffened. Her stomach twisting into a knot.
This meeting was inevitable, but she wasn’t prepared for it yet, thinking she’d had a little more time while he was away. With two remaining chairs, she didn’t know which would be worse, having him sit across from her and having to look at him for however long this took, or taking the empty chair beside her and being close enough to smell him. Damn.
Dan slid in beside her leaving T the only one left, straight across from her. She averted her gaze as he sat, looking to the front of the room and focusing only on Cap as he started the meeting.
“Men.” His eyes snapped to her. “Sorry, Angie, I’m still not used to having a woman on board.” She waved him off. “We have a black box E&R. Jonas, cue it up.”
As the screen behind him came to life, Angie glanced around and saw no confused faces. Other than herself, they were all military and used a completely different language than she did. She was still trying to decipher all the acronyms.
“Extraction and rescue.”
Her head turned toward T who had murmured the explanation. She nodded, glancing back at the screen as the picture of a pretty brunette appeared.
“Melinda Carpenter,” Jonas began, clearly on top of today’s intel. “She and eleven of her fellow college students left on a mission trip to Central America two weeks ago. Six days in, all communication with the kids ceased.”
Cap jumped in next. “Forty-eight hours ago, Senator Carpenter and the other parents received ransom notes. They are unwilling to wait for the state department to work through proper channels and have asked us to step in.”
“Where?” Several male voices inquired as one.
“Guatemala.”
Jonas brought up a map. “They were working in a small village south of La Mesilla, near the Mexican border. All leads point to a guerilla group who has been menacing the region for the last year or more. There have been rumors that another, smaller group of missionaries was held hostage about nine months ago. Also, handled off the books. Apparently, the pickings were so easy, they came back for seconds.”
Cap waited until the grumbling subsided before he took the lead back from Jonas. “Dex met with one of the former hostages and his family. From that, we were able to pinpoint a general area. Satellite imaging has given us a precise location. The ransom deadline is tomorrow. We go in tonight.”
“That doesn’t give us much time,” T grumbled.
“We’ve had the case for less than two days and already the Senator’s beating his chest and threatening that heads will roll.”
“Cake Eater,” Dan muttered.
“What’s that?” Angie asked him.
“A career politician. A self-involved, fat cat who’s never seen a day of active duty in his life.”
Cap’s laser intense gaze shifted to Dan. “That may be true, but I’m cutting him some slack because he’s a frantic father.” His comment had Dan grunting with understanding as the only other dad in the room. “As you can see,” he continued, “we’re a skeleton crew. Regan went into labor this morning, so Rick is out. Sean, Jason and Fletch are all on assignment. L.A. doesn’t have anyone available until after the deadline. So it’s us, plus Kyle and Dex who left last night to recon to the AO.”
Angie elbowed Dan, who translated in a hushed tone. “Area of operation.”
She nodded again. Feeling eyes on her, she looked up. T was staring at her with a scowl, which he subsequently switched to Cap. “Not Angie.”
“We need her. She’ll be FFP with Pete.”
Her brows knit together as she tried to figure out yet another new acronym.
“Final firing position, a sniper term,” Jonas murmured from her other side.
“For Christ’s sake, the general, too?” T snapped, drawing everyone’s attention. “So we’re going in hot with a fucking senior citizen and a girl?”
“The day I can’t give you a run for your money, youngster, is the day I hang up my rifle for good.”
Attention shifted to the low rumbling of retired general Peter Davis who stood in the open doorway glowering at T.
“No offense, sir,” T intoned in a slightly less volatile tone, “but we don’t know what we’re looking at here.”
“I’m not planning to brawl in the dirt, Minelli, or didn’t you hear Cap say FFP?”
“Um, excuse me, but I’m not clear on my role in this?” Angie quietly and bravely entered the fray with her question.
“You and Pete will be taking up sniper positions on the perimeter, providing cover while the rest of us penetrate the compound and locate the hostages,” Cap explained.
T’s objection was directed at Cap. “She’s not ready for that. Last time she was in the simulator, she couldn’t hit a bull’s ass with a bass fiddle.”
“That’s not true. I’ve improved,” she remonstrated quietly.
“In controlled conditions,” he challenged, angry eyes still focused on the boss, trying to sway him. “No one knows how she’ll do in a live situation. She’s never been field tested.”
“How else do I get field tested unless I go on a mission?”
“It’s not happening,” he declared.
“It’s not your call,
T,” Angie bit out through gritted teeth.
“She’s improved,” Dan put in. “I pulled her stats this morning,” he went on, directing his comments to T. “She’s averaging eighty-three percent over the last few weeks.”
“Can you stop talking about me like I’m not here?” Angie demanded sharply.
“She’s not going,” T stated, talking over her while glaring at Cap.
She slapped her hands on the table in front of her as she jumped to her feet and leaned toward him, repeating more heatedly, “Dammit, T. This isn’t your decision to make.”
At last, he paid her attention, standing as well, bulky arms crossing over his chest. His hard eyes met hers, his expression set with resolve. When he spoke, it was with an edge of steel to his voice. “You aren’t ready and that’s the end of this discussion. As your trainer—”
“Not anymore. Or did you forget that I’ve been reassigned?” She was angry, but in comparison to the rage emanating in waves off of T, she was surprised his head didn’t explode.
Cap turned to Dan. “Looks like that makes it your call.”
“She’s ready,” he said quietly, eyes locked on T.
“I agree,” Cap stated with finality, watching T intently as he did so. “I’m expecting a briefing from Dex at 1400. Expect to be wheels up at 1700. Dismissed.”
Everyone began shuffling out.
“T, you hang back,”
Angie felt his angry eyes on her as she moved to follow the others.
“You stay too, Angie.” Cap ordered as he moved to close the door. “Obviously my little lecture prior to the mission in L.A. didn’t stick. What the fuck, T?”
“She’s too green. We’re better off leaving her behind.”
“I’m ninety-eight percent consistently on the range, Cap.”
“With stationary objects. Do you think the bad guys are going to stand still and let you shoot them, darlin’?”
“Kiss my ass, T,” she hissed.
“Love to, sweetcheeks, right after we settle this. And if you don’t stop defying me with every breath, I’ll be spanking it too.”
She threw up her hands in exasperation. “There goes the freakin’ spigot again. For the last time, this… is… not… your call!” As she bit out the words, her voice rose steadily ending a decibel short of a shout.
“For Christ’s sake,” Cap barked, patently fed up. “Can you leave your back and forth shit for couples counseling and focus on the mission?”
T ignored his crack. “Put Jonas with Pete and we’ll manage.”
“No. Jonas might be needed for alarms and computer systems.”
“Dex or Kyle?”
“We need their muscle. It’s decided, T.”
“I’ll be fine,” Angie murmured.
He fisted his hands on the table top, imitating her position of only minutes before, but with much more authority and intimidation. “You will stick to me like glue, do exactly as ordered, or you’ll answer to me, trainee. None of this OFP crap like in L.A. If you are not adhered to my side, you are glued to the general’s. Is that clear?”
“No. It’s not. I’ll stick by Dan.”
“Don’t fuck with me, Angie. I am your handler for this op or I shut it down. Agreed, Cap?”
Tony’s eyes shifted between the two, his black brows practically knit together as he frowned at them. Finally, he nodded. “Agreed.”
“I don’t agree,” Angie protested.
“You don’t get a vote.” Disregarding her subsequent cursing, Cap faced T. “You’ve got seven hours. Take her to the simulator and see if you can get her up to at least ninety percent.”
“I’ve got that thing in Houston to reschedule.” Still angry, his gaze snapped to Angie. She almost felt scorched by his glare. “I have some calls to make. Meet me on the range in fifteen minutes. Do not be late.” Dismissing them both, T stalked out of the office.
Once he was gone, she exhaled, the tension going out of her body as her shoulders drooped and she slumped down into her chair.
“You’re in love with him.”
She opened her mouth to deny it, but snapped it shut when she realized Cap’s astute gaze had her pegged. “It doesn’t matter, Cap. He doesn’t want my love.”
“He does, Angie. It’s just that he doesn’t know what to do with it. I don’t know what happened in his past—”
“I do,” she interrupted. “Though it’s not for me to share, I can tell you it was horrific and life altering, needless to say. The shields he’s built around his heart since then are impenetrable. I’ve tried to break through, but he keeps pushing me away.”
“I see him keep pulling you back.”
“Yes, I mentioned that to him, as a matter of fact. He claimed he was doing it out of selfishness, wanting some of me, at least. But for me, that’s not enough. And this hot and cold routine, like just now.” She shook her head sadly. “My heart simply can’t take it. When we get back, I’d like to talk about a transfer to L.A.”
“I hope you’re not serious.”
“I am.”
“But this is your home, Angie, your friends and family are here. I know Megan would miss you terribly if you leave.”
“I’d miss her too, Cap, also you and the boys, Regan and Rick, my parents… But it’s simply too painful for me to stay.”
“I think you need to dig in with him, Angie. I’m not going to ask what happened. I know whatever it was made him afraid to give any woman his heart. But you have it, I’d swear to it. Show him, prove to him that you are the woman he can trust with it.”
Their last argument came back to her vividly. He thought her a lying, manipulative woman like his cheating wife. How did she alter that perception? “That boat has already sailed, I’m afraid.”
“He’s got demons, Angie. We all do, some worse than others.”
“His are the worst.”
“All the more reason he needs your help to fight them.”
Looking down, she saw and then felt the hot splash of a tear drop on the back of her hand. She hadn’t realized she’d been crying until that moment, in truth, she didn’t think after the last two weeks she had any tears left.
“If you love him as you say, you owe it to the both of you to fight for him.” He stretched out his hand, which was as big as T’s, not for the first time she marveled over how much they looked alike. Gently, he brushed a tear from her cheek. “However, if you feel a move to L.A. is what you need, I’ll make that happen.”
“Thanks, Cap.”
“Megan is gonna have my guts for garters, you know that. She wanted me to warn T off weeks ago, afraid you were fixing to get hurt.”
“This isn’t your fault. She warned me too. All the girls did, but fool that I am, I didn’t listen.”
He pulled her in for a big, brotherly hug. “You only have about eight minutes before you have to meet, T. Dry your tears. If you decide to fight, go for his soft spot, dig in tooth and nail and don’t let go.”
She gazed up into deep brown orbs so reminiscent of T’s. “His soft spot?”
“That’s you, Angie. I’ve known him for ten years and have never seen him this torn up over a woman. Get in there and show him what he’ll be missing if he throws you away. You’re one hell of a woman. Prove to him he can’t live without you and he’d be a fool to try.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The truck jerked, the wheels finding yet another pothole in what could only in the loosest of terms be referred to as a road. Of the passengers in back, only Angie was thrown from her seat. Nearly twice her weight, Dan, Cap, the general and T, not a one of them was less than two-hundred and twenty pounds, she’d put money on it. They swayed a little in the jarring vehicle, but kept their asses on the seatbelt-less bench seats. Despite bracing herself, the next jolt sent her flying again. Before her cheeks were reacquainted with the ripped stained vinyl, strong hands grabbed her in midair and dragged her down to a hard lap, anchoring her in place with a heavy arm around her waist.
She thanked the big man who rescued her, yet again, and relaxed against him, feeling safe and secure, however briefly. Unfortunately, the arms that held her didn’t belong to the man she wanted to make her feel that way.
“I’d have three less teeth by now if not for you, Dan.”
“Don’t mention it, babe.” He squeezed her affectionately. “You’re not as sturdy as I remember. Less padding too, I think. Have you lost weight?”
She didn’t answer, caught off guard by a loud metallic bang. They both turned abruptly to find the general and Cap studying a clearly displeased T who sat between them.
“Problem, Lil T?” Dan’s tone and the emphasis he placed on the Lil in T’s nickname plainly confrontational. Angie shifted on his lap, attempting to retake her seat, but he held her firmly. Twisting to frown down at Dan, she noticed a glint in his eyes, which were aimed and locked on T.
“Yeah,” the bigger man bit back. “I’d suggest getting a room, Dano. Although I’d be afraid you’d take me up on it right away. Can you at least wait until after the mission?”
Two hours in the simulator with T was tedious on a good day. Twice that when at odds was excruciation. It turned out they didn’t have seven hours to prepare, which in hindsight she took as a blessing. Following Cap’s phone briefing with Dex, their departure was moved up again. Add to that the stress of her first commando mission—let’s face it, whether they liked the label or not, that’s what they were—and the constant tension from being around T, Angie snapped. Breaking free of Dan’s hold, she pushed to her feet. Hands clenched in tight fists by her sides, she spread her legs to keep her balance in the moving vehicle and managed to get right in his face. “What—the hell—is your problem?”
He surged to his feet, stooping somewhat to avoid hitting his head in the low ceilinged vehicle, which only brought him in closer. “I don’t care to be a voyeur as you get acquainted with your new boyfriend.”
What About Love (Club Decadence Book 6) Page 30
