Chapter 21
Tyler
I hated leaving her. Hated it. Hooked up to the comms system, I addressed my team, forcing myself back into my interceptor role. I described the mission and what I wanted from them while they drove out into the dark night.
“Crew names only this evening. Kane, from now on, you’re Thorn. Congratulations on earning it.”
It had come to me on hearing his nickname for Lovelyn. She was his flower girl, and he was a thorn in the side of whoever we hunted. Fitting.
Or I was romantic all of a sudden.
“Loud and clear, Ghost,” he replied.
I picked up the hint of pride in his voice, and a low cheer of approval came from the others on the call. Ash and Heretic had joined the crew with their own names, but I’d award them the same ceremony when they’d established my trust.
Convict made a complaint. “If I’d known you were choosing a name, I could’ve made suggestions.”
“Thank fuck he didn’t ask. I can only imagine the shite you’d come up with,” Kane grouched.
“Tiny, Hulk, Mammoth,” Convict mused. “Maybe Brick, or Goliath. Ooh, how about Mr Big?”
I shook my head. This was exactly why Convict would never be allowed near a naming ceremony.
“Someone shut him up,” Kane begged.
Ash answered, “His car is two ahead of mine. I can ram him for you? Clean hit.”
Convict hissed. “Who asked you? Ah, damn, I have the best one. Candy. Like Candy Kane? All stripy and sweet.”
Ash cracked up, Convict joining in. I pictured Kane rolling his eyes and Heretic ignoring them all. I should’ve been out with them, but I couldn’t regret staying behind. It felt good to have a mission underway. Their trackers moving on my screen and a target acquired.
Still, my focus slipped.
Dixie upstairs in white sheets.
Dixie coming so sweetly in my arms.
Her tears against my skin.
My chest hurt, constricted by something fierce when I thought about her, and I had to contain those images if I was going to function with my team tonight.
“Just think, you’re going to be my brother-in-law,” Convict continued. “You get this for life, baby.”
That got me back on track. If Dixie kept me around, maybe one day, I’d be joining them.
Yet the thought came with a warning. If she’d asked me to fuck her tonight, I wasn’t sure what I’d have done. Or how I’d handle my own demons when it came to sex.
I had to work through some shite for her.
Perhaps that meant taking Arran up on his offer. I knew enough of his past and the terrible facts we had in common. On that final thought, I returned my focus to my job.
One battle at a time.