Chapter 19
Leo took a slow breath as he reviewed the latest intel from Afghanistan. Their mission sped up fast. It might mean they’d spin up tomorrow. Why didn’t Whiskey send this over last night?
He loved his friend dearly, but since he returned home, Whiskey seemed stuck in his own little world.
Leo constantly covered for him to avoid hurting his feelings, but lately, he resented it.
Every day, he watched Whiskey leave at fifteen hundred without a care in the world, to go home to Samantha and their two kids.
In the evenings, Leo caught up on everything Whiskey had forgotten.
“Morning, Leo,” Whiskey said, setting a cup of coffee and a custard-filled donut in front of him. “I stopped by Bryanna’s and got the good stuff.”
“Thanks,” Leo said, accepting the hot beverage and taking a bite out of the donut. “When did these come in?” he asked Whiskey.
Whiskey scratched his head. “I think it arrived yesterday. Yeah, Colonel Rutherford called and left a message. I set it on your desk.”
“Damn it, Whiskey, I waited for his call,” Leo said, walking down the hall to his office.
“I know, but then you found Catherine and spent the day in the ER. I figured it’d wait until morning. I planned to come to your house, but you called and said you decided to come to the office,” Whiskey explained.
Leo reached for the bottle of acetaminophen, already feeling the headache coming on. “I’ve been here almost all day. Where’s the note?”
Whiskey scratched his head, and Hope whined, telling him his friend felt stressed.
“I’ll find it. Call the team in while I call the Colonel,” he said, flipping files over, searching for the number. Finding the handwritten message from Whiskey, Leo groaned as he read it.
Liam passed his doorway with Apollo.
“Hey, we’re having an emergency meeting,” Leo called to him.
“Do I have time to help pick up Zeus? I promised Addyson.”
“Yeah, make it quick. We’ll be spinning up sooner than I thought,” he said. “You got half an hour before everyone else arrives,” he ordered.
“Got it,” he said. “I’m leaving Apollo in his crate located in my bunk room. Cole suggested I keep them away from one another while Zeus recuperates.”
“We’ll keep an eye and ear out for him,” Leo assured him. “Hurry up and get your ass back here.”
Closing the door to his office, he made the call. “Colonel Rutheford, it’s Leo.”
“We have six units carrying specialized weapons. They’re leaving in four days.
I sent the intel over. Sergeant Ford pulled one of the dogs from one of those units, claiming it’s having respiratory issues.
They called in a different handler with another K-9.
I think I know which unit they plan to hit and why.
How soon can you be here?” Colonel Rutherford asked.
“We’ll spin up at six hundred tomorrow. It’ll give us roughly two plus days to get everything in place,” Leo assured him. “Do you have the unit contact’s name?”
“Keven Miles. He goes by Siren,” Colonel Rutherford said. “You understand there’s someone higher up, pulling the strings. It’s imperative you’re here as a private contractor who discovers this. If this gets out, my military career will be over. My contact said you’ll operate with discretion.”
“Yes, sir. We know what’s at stake. We’ll find the traitors and take them down,” Leo promised.
“We’ll see you soon,” Colonel Rutherford hung up.
“Shit, shit, shit,” Leo said, pounding his desk. He finally made it home to Kit Kat and made some headway. This blew his plan all to hell.
* * *
Liam met Addy at Jake’s. Excited, she already went inside and spoke with Jake about Zeus’ care.
“He’s doing great,” Jake informed her. “Zeus can walk fine. He only needs help loading and unloading until his check-up next week. Continue with the antibiotics until they’re finished. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me. We’re always headed your way to check on Catherine.”
“Thank you very much. I can pay you by card or check. Which do you prefer?” she asked, digging in her purse.
“It’s already taken care of,” Jake assured her. “We, elders, don’t like to hear about people in our town getting hurt or ambushed.”
“Awww, thank you,” she said as she put Zeus’ leash on him.
Jake rubbed the dog’s head. “He’s a sweet boy, and he listens. You’ve done a great job training him.”
Addy beamed with pride at her fur baby as she rubbed his scruff. Liam shook Jake’s hand and followed Addy and Zeus to her SUV. She already placed blankets in the back for him.
Bending to the dog’s level, Liam spoke softly, letting him sniff his hand and giving him a few rubs before he picked him up and sat him inside her vehicle.
“Hey, do you want to have dinner with Zeus and me?” she asked, peering at him.
“I can’t. Leo wants me back for an emergency meeting. I must return in twenty minutes,” he informed her.
“Oh, I guess we’ll be going then,” she said, disappointed.
Liam followed her to her house and helped Zeus down. Addy punched in the code and slowly escorted Zeus inside.
“I can hold dinner if you want,” she suggested, gazing at him.
“I don’t know how long we’ll be. I’ll text you when we finish. If it’s not too late,” he added.
“All right,” she said, glancing down at her feet.
Liam wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her, but today’s events put a damper on his feelings. He didn’t have the heart to fight with her or even tell her how it hurt to see her longing for Sam.
“Did I do something?” she asked nervously, biting her fingernail.
“No, Addy. I’m in a rush to get back to a meeting. Do you need anything before I go?”
“No. We’re fine. I can get Zeus settled on my own. Thank you for your help,” she said, rising on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
“You’re welcome,” he said before returning to his truck.
His stomach twisted, and he barely glanced at her as he backed out of the driveway.
It felt like they connected on several levels, and yet Addy couldn’t forget about Sam.
Forget. It didn’t seem like the right word.
She refused to move on. Liam wanted a future with her, not a relationship where she wished he were someone else.
Instead of wishing she’d move on, Liam told himself maybe he’d be the one walking away.