Chapter 15
M ASON MUTTERED A CURSE as he stood in the bullpen on base the next morning. He crossed his arms and gazed at the massive TV screen, dressed in his fatigues and combat boots, as his CO moved through a series of photographs of a terrorist camp they’d be infiltrating in the Middle East.
The rest of his teammates stood around him, eyes on the screen as well, ready to roll out.
“This is a new incident unfolding,” his CO said, his voice grim.
“We received this updated intel at oh-six-hundred this morning. We’re going wheels up in one hour.
The team will descend on the camp under the cover of nightfall and nab the target, then be back in the air almost immediately.
The insurgent’s wife is the American woman that defected to Syria.
She was trying to get back into the U.S.
last night but was arrested immediately upon arrival by U.S.
Customs and Border Patrol. She was taken into custody and agreed to cooperate with the authorities. ”
“If she defected, what the hell is she doing back here trying to enter the U.S.?” Jacob asked, his eyes narrowing. “Was she involved in some sort of terror plot?”
“Affirmative,” their CO said. He clicked through a new series of images. “She received training on building bombs and using suicide vests at the terrorist camp in Syria. It’s believed that she was intending to detonate her suicide vest in the middle of Times Square.”
“Holy shit,” Hunter muttered.
“She’s been detained and questioned by U.S.
authorities. Fortunately, she had a change of heart after being caught.
The threat of lifetime in prison can do that to a person.
Plus, she was informed that she’s six weeks pregnant.
After agreeing to cooperate with U.S. authorities, she provided us with critical information on her husband, his training camp, and the whereabouts of others in the terror cell.
The Pentagon wants him brought in immediately.
When the terror plot doesn’t go off as planned in two days, he might begin to question her loyalty.
We’re going to move in and grab him before the plot was ever supposed to occur. ”
Hunter nodded, clapping his hands together as he stood. “Let’s do this. One terrorist mother fucker coming up on a platter. Let’s deliver this bastard straight to Guantanamo.”
Mason eyed him as they walked out of the bullpen. “You seem chipper this morning.”
“Hell yeah,” Hunter affirmed. “Let’s get those bastards. That terror cell blew up a section of the market in London last week. Emma was in tears when that was all over the news. Now that we have confirmation of the location of the bastards responsible for it? I’m all in.”
“Time to pay the price,” Jacob agreed, falling in step beside them. “We don’t usually get the location of a terror cell so quickly after an attack. This is fucking gold.”
“Hell,” Mason muttered. “I was supposed to help Taylor go get her car back today. I didn’t even say goodbye to her this morning—just left her sleeping in her bed. I have to admit I didn’t see this op coming.”
“None of us did,” Hunter agreed. “But we move in when needed. It’s hard leaving your woman behind—I’m not going to lie. Our op down in Bogota was the first time I left Emma. Do you think I want her alone while I’m gone? But we do what we have to do.”
“I know,” Mason said, clenching his fists. “I’d just feel better if Taylor’s asshole ex wasn’t showing up all the damn time. I’ll ask the other guys on the Alpha team to watch out for her while I’m gone. She has Ice’s number for emergencies.”
“She’ll be okay,” Hunter said. “We’ll be back in what, thirty-six hours? I mean hell. She dated the guy for years, right? He’s been bothering her for weeks. A day or two won’t make much of a difference.”
“I know,” Mason said, tension coursing through him. “I just have a bad feeling.”
“You’re in love,” Hunter said, ribbing him in the side. “Welcome to the club.”
Jacob chuckled beside them. “That’s one club I never intend to join.”
Colton smirked as he followed them into the locker room to grab their gear. “Famous last words. I sure as shit didn’t intend to fall for Camila. Hell, she was my target down in Florida. I was supposed to bug her luggage, not sleep with her.”
“How’d you manage to get that job anyway?” Hunter asked with a chuckle.
“I was in the right place at the right time. Worked out to my advantage in this case. What if the notorious cartel leader in Bogota had a middle-aged son instead of a gorgeous, single daughter? We would’ve hauled ass down to Bogota with exactly zero intel.”
Mason shook his head as he grabbed his gear. None of it was the same thing. Colton and Hunter weren’t worried about leaving their women behind because they were safe. Rescued from the men after them. They’d left their homes and come to live here with their men.
Taylor might already live here in Virginia Beach, unlike when they’d met their women, but her ex was here, too. The last thing Mason wanted to do was fly across the Atlantic until this thing was solved.
Until he knew she’d be safe.
There wasn’t a hell of a lot of options though, either.
He dialed Taylor’s number, hoping she’d wake up.
He’d left her alone in her bed this morning, brushing a chaste kiss across her forehead as she slept.
She was used to a completely different schedule than him, working late hours and then sleeping in.
Aside from that, it had been a stressful day yesterday.
Her ex showing up, the police. As much as Mason would have loved to awaken her with heated kisses all over her body, taking the time to make love to her again, he had to be on base. And she deserved to get some rest.
Quickly typing, he sent her a text message since her phone kept going to voicemail.
We have an unexpected trip. Stay safe while I’m gone. Don’t get your car without me. Xoxo Mason
It wasn’t much, but what was he supposed to say? He couldn’t exactly tell her where he was going. He sure the hell couldn’t text the information. Groaning in frustration, he dropped his gear onto the ground, stuffing his phone into his bag.
The long flight across the Atlantic would give him plenty of time to think. And he had a feeling he’d be spending most of it worried about her.
***
T AYLOR YAWNED AS SHE finally awoke several hours later, stretching her arms above her head. Her sheet brushed against her bare breasts, reminding her of how she’d slept naked wrapped in Mason’s arms last night.
She was deliciously sore, her body well aware of how thoroughly Mason had claimed her. She blushed just thinking about screaming his name, about his hard cock thrusting into her again and again as she surrendered in ecstasy.
They’d awoken at some point in the middle of the night, his erection pressed up against her ass, and he’d gently parted her legs and made love to her again, holding her in his arms. His fingers had rubbed against her clit as he’d thrust into her, and she’d exploded again, crying out in his arms before they’d fallen back asleep, Mason’s cock still buried inside her.
Glancing at the clock on her nightstand, she saw that it was already ten in the morning. Although she kept a late schedule with her work hours, this was sleeping late even for her. Grabbing her cell phone from the nightstand, her eyes scanned over the text from Mason.
An unexpected trip?
Confusion washed over her. She knew Mason and his friends got sent out when needed, but she’d assumed she’d have at least some notice that he’d be gone. She’d imagined making passionate love before he kissed her goodbye, promising to return soon.
A quick text from him after they’d made love the night before wasn’t exactly the same thing. He hadn’t even woken her up to say that he had to go.
Sighing, she stood up from her bed, her skin heating as she realized his scent was all over her skin. Mason always smelled of soap with a hint of spice, but there was something else erotically male as well. She wrapped her arms around herself, not wanting to let the moment go.
When she showered, she’d wash off his scent. The memory of him in her bed would be more distant, too. Sinking back down onto her bed, she swiped a few tears from her eyes.
She missed him.
She knew he’d be up early this morning to head onto base, but she’d assumed she’d see him again soon. Mason had told her himself he never knew how long he’d be gone when his team was sent out.
Would he be back in a few days? A week? Longer than that?
Rationalizing that she was being silly, she decided to go shower and dress.
Her entire life didn’t revolve around a man she’d gone out with a couple of times.
It’s not like they lived together or were married or something where she’d always be sure to see him before he left.
When he packed for whatever mission he had to go on and rushed out the door.
They’d...slept together. Again. Sure, he cared about her, but she shouldn’t make this into something it wasn’t.
Her phone buzzed with an incoming call, and for a brief flash, she thought it was Mason.
She tried to ignore the disappointment in her chest as she saw Bailey’s name flash across the screen.
She clutched the sheet to her chest, somehow feeling like she needed to cover herself even though her friend couldn’t see her.
“Hi,” she said, hating the slight waver of her voice.
“Hey hun, what’s wrong? You sound sad.”
Taylor laughed despite herself. “I said one word to you. How on Earth did you interpret that as sad?”
Bailey laughed. “I’m your best friend. So spill. What’s going on?”
“Mason left,” Taylor said.
“Left as in you broke up?” Bailey asked, sounding surprised.
“Left as in he had to for work. Deployed. Got sent out. Whatever you want to call it. He spent the night, and I knew he had to be on base early this morning. The next thing I know, I wake up to a text saying he’ll be gone. I mean, do you think he purposefully didn’t tell me he was leaving?”
“Oh, sweetie, no. He’s not like that. Why would he go through all this trouble to help you deal with Eric only to sneak out?”
Taylor sighed. “He didn’t exactly sneak out. He told me last night that he had to be up early to be on base. I just assumed it was for training or something and that I’d see him later on.” She went on to explain everything that had happened with Eric yesterday.
“Hell no,” Bailey said. “Eric did not show up at Anchors and say that.”
“Oh, he did,” Taylor said miserably. “He wasn’t acting like himself at all—he was angry. Mason came right away when I called him, but now I’m right back where I was before. Mason can’t be around every second, and honestly, I’m surprised Eric didn’t show up at my place last night.”
“Maybe he was passed out drunk. Let’s go have a girl’s day,” Bailey suggested. “Lunch, shopping, maybe a mani/pedi. I don’t have to work until tonight.”
“Yeah, me either. My shift is from seven until close.”
“Perfect. How about if I swing by in an hour? We’ll get you out of your apartment, have some girl time, and before you know it, you’ll be off to work. You probably shouldn’t be alone too much right now, what with the pending restraining order and stuff.”
“I don’t even know how that works exactly yet. We talked to a detective at the police station yesterday. He should be in touch to give me an update.”
“All right, that’s a good thing. If you don’t hear from him, call them for updates. The squeaky wheel and all that. Get ready, and I’ll come by to pick you up soon.”
“Shoot. I should try to go pick up my car today, too.”
“Is it ready?”
“It was supposed to be. Mason told me not to go without him, but I have no idea how long he’ll be gone. I can’t have everyone keep driving me around forever. It’s already been a week and a half.”
“Okay, let’s go pick it up later on. It’s at Eric’s friend’s place, right?”
“Yep. It’s actually near the salon.”
“Perfect. We’ll get our mani/pedis and swing by before we have to head into work.”
“All right, I’ll call them to say we’re coming later. Mason talked to Jake yesterday, so I’m assuming it should be all set. I’ll see you soon.” Taylor ended the call and set the phone back on her nightstand, taking another glance at the rumpled sheets on her bed.
How long would it be before Mason was back?
She had no idea how military wives or girlfriends handled frequent deployments. Mason didn’t even really deploy—just got sent out on mission after mission. It’s not like he’d been gone for six months or a year. There were plenty of local families who dealt with more than her.
They’d barely even begun dating.
She sighed as she stood, letting the sheet fall.
The slight ache in her core reminded her of just how intimate they’d been with one another. And even though he was gone, he’d be on her mind all day.