Chapter 17 #2
Disconnecting the call, he looked up and told them what he knew, which wasn’t much.
“There’s been no word from the kidnappers yet, or agents, or whatever you want to call those assholes.
No leads either. An APB was put out on the agency vehicle.
Dev called in a few favors with the locals, and so far, they’ve agreed to keep the DEA out of the loop despite the connection.
He also put a call into Keon just in case we need to override the local law enforcement. ”
Their contact in the FBI, Larry Keon, was the Deputy Director, otherwise known as the number two man in the agency, and would help them with whatever they needed.
“Henderson is alive but still unconscious. He lost a lot of blood, and they took him into surgery. His partner didn’t make it.
Dev’s pulling in everyone he can and using our local contacts and snitches. Nothing so far.”
“Why did they take her? I mean, Jimmy has never even met Jenn.”
Angie wasn’t seeing the big picture, but the men were.
Ian squeezed her hand. “Angel, they obviously don’t know you well enough yet.
Otherwise, they would’ve gone after one of your friends.
It would’ve taken them a while to figure out who you would run to save.
You have no other family except for Athos and vice versa.
The only connection they could figure out fast is Brody since he helped you.
Brody’s trail led them to Trident. Their best chance to get you, and ultimately Athos, was to take either Kristen or Jenn.
Kristen hasn’t left the compound, so Jenn was taken.
We’ll get her back, but for now, we wait until they contact us. ”
Her bottom lip trembled, but she didn’t break down. “They want you to trade me for Jenn, don’t they?”
Ian tugged on her hand until she stood, and he pulled her down on his lap.
Wrapping one arm around her hips and holding her to him, he cupped her chin with his other hand and ensured she was looking into his eyes.
“That’s not going to happen, Angel. I’m scared to death for Jenn’s safety, but I’ll throw myself on the gates of Hell before I trade your life for hers.
Once we find out where they’re holding her, we’re going to get her back…
alive. It’s what we do, sweetheart. Dev’s called in some former team members who can get to Tampa fast. Boomer’s dad is already on his way to help along with a few others.
These bastards will rue the day they ever messed with Jennifer Mullins. I can guarantee you that.”
Tiny chimed in. “Don’t worry, Miss Angie. We got this covered.”
Angie’s gaze moved to each brave man’s face, and she saw their determination.
She nodded but knew it was evident she was still terrified for Jenn’s safety.
Climbing off Ian’s lap, she headed to the jet’s bathroom, which was twice the size of regular airplane facilities, and shut the door.
It wasn’t until she was alone that she allowed her tears to fall.
She didn’t want the men to know how upset she was because they had enough to deal with without her breaking down in front of them.
It was a few minutes before she got herself back under control and began to splash some water on her face.
There was a knock at the door, and she did a pat-dry of her hands and face before tossing the paper towel into the trash.
When she opened the door, she was surprised to see Jimmy, and instead of standing aside to let her out, he stepped into the small space with her and closed the door behind him. “What are you doing?”
He took her hands in his. “I wanted a moment alone with you, and this was the only option. I’m sorry, Ang. You have no idea how sorry I am that you and Ian’s niece are in jeopardy because of me. I’m sorry I put my need to avenge Mom’s and Ruthie’s deaths before my relationship with you.”
He stared at their joined hands. Swallowing hard, he struggled to find the right words.
“Before I got called into my CO’s office and was told they’d been murdered, I was planning to finish my tour and get out.
I was going to come home and ask you out on a real date.
” Angie gaped at her best friend while he lifted his sad eyes and shrugged his shoulder.
“I know, crazy, right? But being away from you, so far away, I realized how much you meant to me. Somewhere in the middle of our letters, phone calls, and my rotations home, I fell in love with my best friend. Hell, I’d been in love with you long before that but refused to admit it to myself. ”
“Oh, Jimmy. Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“In the beginning, before… I was just plain scared. Here I was in Special Ops, and a cute, sassy little blonde, who means the world to me, had me scared shitless, thinking she wouldn’t say yes to a date.
Besides, I wanted to tell you face to face.
I didn’t want to give you time to overthink things.
Then, my world fell apart, and I was so bent on revenge.
When Artie approached me with a way to get even with the dirtbags who sold drugs to my sister and millions of other kids like her, I took it.
And I didn’t like who I’d become afterward.
I couldn’t expect you to fall for a man who’d become so bloodthirsty he was willing to throw away the best thing that ever happened to him.
You. You have been my world since the day I met you in ninth grade English and picked up the book you’d knocked off your desk and gave it back to you. ”
She gave him a sad smile. “I felt that way too, but I thought you didn’t want to ruin our friendship for something that might not work out.”
“I didn’t. I thought if it didn’t work out, I’d lose you altogether.
And when I was finally ready to face my fear…
” He took a deep breath and let it out again.
“Sawyer is good for you. I watch him watch you. You come before everything else for him. I can’t say the same, and you have no idea how sorry I am for that.
At one point in my life, I thought we were soulmates, you know?
Now, I think you may have been mine, but I was never yours.
But if he ever hurts you, there will be hell to pay. ”
She started to say something, but he shook his head, stopping her.
“I want you to be happy, baby, and despite everything going on, I see how you look at him too. I know you’re in love with him, and I’m okay with it.
Well, maybe not at the moment, but I’ll get there.
Maybe when this is all over, I’ll start looking for my true soulmate if she’s out there.
But honestly, Ang, you’ll be a tough act to follow. ”
By the time Athos finished talking, Angie was crying again. He pulled her into his arms and held her until the tears stopped a second time. Then he let her go, but not before he placed a lingering kiss on her forehead. “I love you, Ang. I always will.”
“I love you, too, Jimmy Andrews. You’ll always be my best friend.”
When the two of them stepped out of the bathroom together, Ian saw her swollen, red eyes, and she could sense the anger blasting through him as his stare shifted to the man who’d made her cry.
Before he could say or do anything, Angie hurried over to him, climbed back into his lap, and wrapped her arms around him, needing to soothe him and herself.
She felt his body relax when she whispered in his ear, “It’s okay, Ian.
He had some things he wanted to tell me, but it’s you I want to be with.
He’ll always be my friend, but it’s you I’m in love with. ”
Ian tugged her hair, pulling her head back until he could look into her eyes.
He had to see the truth there—she was in love with him.
Her heart belonged to him and only him. He leaned down so his mouth was next to her ear and spoke so no one else would hear.
“And I’m in love with you, my sweet angel. ”