Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“You’re crazy. You know that?”
Ellis smiled at Brett. Damn the man looked handsome. Jeans, tee, sweater. A healthy dose of scruff. He was leaning against the doorframe, Arms crossed. Muscles rippling. Stretching against the cotton. Making her want to slide on over and taste all the smooth, skin. Feel that steel grip enfold her.
She dabbed a bit more concealer over the bruises and the red around the lacerations, not that it seemed to help. “About you? Definitely.”
“I meant in a more general way. Though, you’ve got a concussion so…”
“Slight concussion. Nothing serious. Besides, you rattle my brains more than that floor did.”
“I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or a medical crisis in the making.”
She smiled, gave up trying to hide the marks, and moved over to him, tracing the outline of his shoulders, then joining her hands behind his neck—the big jerk didn’t even uncross his arms. “Well, you do increase my blood pressure. Make my heart pound. See double, so…maybe we should have Ice on some kind of retainer.”
“Trust me, he isn’t straying far for a few days. Strange, he doesn’t trust you to follow his instructions. Can’t imagine why.”
“He’s a worrier.”
“I believe the word you’re looking for is realist.”
“Yeah. A real worrier. Are you ready?”
“You’re serious? You only just really woke up a few hours, ago, and yet you want to sit in a vehicle for seventeen hours?”
“Only if you’re driving. I can make Vegas in under fifteen.”
“Is that before or after you drive us into the back of a tractor-trailer? You’re not driving.”
“Fine. Then, we’ll just make out in the back. Let Six or one of the others drive.”
She pressed against him, waiting to see how long he’d hold out. He made it exactly five more seconds before finally wrapping his arms around her. And yes, all that hard, strong grip holding her tight. Making her feel safe. Loved.
“I’d like to keep the man as my friend. Not give him a reason to want to stab me in my sleep.” He furrowed that amazing brow, looking incredibly sexy and serious. “Don’t you want to wait? Have some big party with a fifteen-tier cake and a gazillion flowers?”
“I’ve always been more of a pie kinda girl.”
“Which is also insane. Nothing beats cake, sweetheart.”
“We can agree to disagree on that one. I also don’t care about flowers. Or music. Or finding some perfect venue. All I need is right here in my arms.”
That earned her one of his killer smiles. The one with crinkling eyes and a hint of a dimple. “You really don’t fight fair.”
“This isn’t about fair. This is about not letting another second go by without having some kind of legal tether around you.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Never, again. Promise.”
“No one can guarantee the future, baby. Which means I intend to take advantage of every moment. And I want all of those with you.” She wiggled a bit, grinned at how he inhaled. At the hard ridge pressing against her stomach. “Are you trying to tell me you’ve changed your mind?”
“Hell, no. I would have married you on that damn pier if we’d had someone to officiate. I just…”
She brushed back the golden strands from around his eyes, knowing she could stare into them—stay just like this—for the next sixty years. “Just what?”
“I want this to be perfect. A day you’ll remember. Make up for all those lost years.”
“You do know that sooner or later, you’re going to have to forgive yourself, right?”
“I let you down.”
“And you’ve saved my life ten-fold, since. Try thinking of it as a five-year engagement. Spent OCONUS.”
His eyes widened, then he laughed. A rich full one that made her smile more. “Only you would think of all that time as an engagement outside the continuous United States, sweetheart. Okay. I’ll work on the forgiveness. Now about the wedding. You really don’t want a big one? Here?”
“And give up getting hitched by Elvis? Now, who’s the crazy one. Ice said he knows just the place.”
“I don’t have a tux. You don’t have a dress. And we need rings—”
“I thought you Delta guys were all about adapting?” She laughed at the attempted death glare he gave her.
It wasn’t even close. “We can hit up a jewelry store there. I’m sure we’ll find something.
If not, you can get me a ring pop as a stand-in.
But I expect blue raspberry. Not just cherry.
And we can go to one of those chapels that have costumes. I’m thinking you. Chain mail…”
“I’ll consider the chain mail, but blue raspberry? It’s strawberry or nothing.”
“Fine. Strawberry. I also thought we might make it a double wedding. Get Cannon and Jericho to join us.”
“Get Cannon and Jericho to do what with you?”
She jumped at Cannon’s voice, glaring at the man over Brett’s shoulder. “Christ, Cannon. I would have drawn my damn gun if I wasn’t holding onto Brett. All you guys need to start making some noise while inside.”
Jericho swatted the man in the chest. “See? I’m not the only one who thinks that.”
Cannon smiled, dipped down to give her a kiss. “I’ll try harder. And after all we’ve seen and heard, I think Ellis is the one we should be afraid of. All those spooky skills of hers.”
Ellis snorted. “Are you ever going to get tired of using spooky whenever you can fit it in?”
“Nope.”
“Men.”
“So, what were you hoping we’d join you for?”
“Vegas. A chapel. High probability Elvis will be involved.”
Jericho’s eyes widened, and she all but squealed. “You guys are getting married, now? In Vegas?”
“Just have to pack a light bag.”
Cannon shook his head. “Women. They spoil the surprise every time.”
Ellis frowned. “Surprise? What surprise?”
Brett beamed. Actually beamed. “You act as if you’re the only one who knows how to read people.
I had a feeling you might want to bug out.
Head south. So, while you were sleeping in my arms on the ride home, I was grilling Ice for all the details.
Told Cannon he should join us. Surprise Jericho once we got there. Make a team party out of it.”
Jericho’s mouth gaped open as she turned to Cannon. “Do what, now?”
“Long overdue, sweetheart. If, you’ll have me?”
She slapped him on the chest, again. “Like there’s any other answer but yes.”
“Hooyah. My bag’s already packed. Why don’t you go throw some stuff together?”
She lifted up—planted a wet kiss on his lips, then darted out.
The other man watched her go, and the look on Cannon’s face—Ellis swore it was borderline dreamy. He turned back to them, nothing but hard lines, again. “I also wanted to tell you that Art just called. It’s no surprise the CIA wants to handle things…internally.”
A sick feeling tumbled through her gut. She’d been dreading this. “Which we all know means McCormick will get some kind of hall pass.”
“The outcome’s unclear. From what I’ve heard, the CIA’s pretty pissed.
Something about bad publicity. But, we knew it was a possibility.
However…I talked with Jericho’s uncle. Admiral Jonathan Hastings.
He’s let the superiors at the Agency know that if anything happens to you or Colt, he’ll personally see that every bit of evidence you collected gets plastered all over CNN.
Needless to say, they’ve personally guaranteed your continued safety. ”
“They don’t know McCormick.”
“And he doesn’t know us.” He paused, scrubbed a hand down his face.
Ellis groaned. “Whatever you’re trying not to say, just spit it out.”
Cannon sighed, glanced at Brett, then back to her. “They also wanted me to tell you, they’ll be contacting you regarding a position in their counterterrorism center. Apparently, they’re very impressed by your stats.”
Ellis lowered her arms, stepping away from Brett. “I’m sorry, but I thought you just said the CIA wants me to stay? Join the CTC?”
“You’re a talented field agent, Ellis. They’d be stupid not to offer you a position. An official one, this time.”
She looked away. This was just too…surreal.
Brett nudged her. “If it’s what you really want, you know I’ll support you, right? Whatever your decision.”
“But in case you’re looking for other options, we’d love to have you officially on the team.” Cannon grinned then winked. “Thinking you could put those ninja skills to good use.”
Ellis laughed. “Become a bounty hunter?”
“We prefer the term, Recovery Agent. But yeah. You’d be one hell of a hunter. Or bodyguard. Bet you could break into almost any facility. Make us a million in security consulting fees, alone. There is one possible issue, though.”
“What’s that?”
Cannon thumbed toward Brett. “You’ll have to team up with Colt. Guy can be a pain in the ass.”
“Don’t I know it.” She giggled when Brett picked her up. “Fine. I’ll work with mother hen, here.”
Brett held her close. “If you’d like that to be your code name, then keep on saying it…”
Cannon shook his head. “Afraid she already has one of those, buddy. One she’s kept hidden. Isn’t that right…Phantom?”
Her feet hit the floor then her back the wall as Brett loomed over her. “Your callsign is Phantom?”
God the way he was looking at her. She wanted to stop time. Memorize it. The guy was irresistible when he was all serious. “McCormick gave it to me.”
“Why Phantom?”
“Why Colt? You never did tell me.”
Cannon moved over to them, swatting Brett up the backside of the head. “You never told the lady?”
Brett shrugged. “It didn’t seem important.”
Cannon shook his head. “You know that saying? God made man—”
“But Sam Colt made them equal?” She inhaled looked at him. “Is that what you do? Make the playing field equal?”
“And he doesn’t even need a gun. So, you’re turning the CIA down, then? Joining us?”
Ellis cinched her arms around Brett, again. “That sounds about right.”
“Hell, yeah. I’ll go call Jack—Admiral Hastings. Have him relay the news. Let them know they won’t get a very warm welcome if they come snooping around. And I’ll rally everyone. We’ll make a convoy down to Vegas.”
“Think that convoy can hold off for thirty minutes?”
Cannon groaned. “You’ve got twenty-five. But don’t make me walk in on anything.”
Brett arched a brow as the door shut behind Cannon. “You sure? I’d understand if you didn’t want to give up being an operative. McCormick was right about that. You’re one hell of an officer.”
“Screw McCormick. And yeah. I’m sure. Never wanted it. You, on the other hand…” She lifted up, kissed his jaw. “I believe you have a promise to keep.”
“That so?”
“To pick up where we left off the other night.”
“Pretty sure I already did that.”
“Try, again.”
“As soon as you tell me why he chose Phantom.”
She nipped his jaw, then licked the slight hurt. “It’s because no one ever knew if I was really there or just a figment of their imagination.”
His smile damn near blinded her. “That sounds like a challenge. And you know I love a good challenge. Probably why I love you so damn much.”
“Twenty-four minutes, soldier.”
“And you’re going to be coming for twenty-three of those. So, deep breath, Phantom. Things are about to get real.”