Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
T he men settled around the fire pit in the middle of Zale’s backyard. The crew normally met up at Jerico’s house, but Zale had asked to host this time. He was glad it was just the team tonight. At Jerico’s, a neighbor joined them from time to time.
Hopeful Savannah would be the Little he’d searched for, Zale had made it his mission to spend time with her. Unfortunately, they hadn’t made a connection that encouraged him to get to know her romantically. Savannah was beautiful and interesting. Zale hadn’t understood what was missing. But it hadn’t been there. When he’d noticed her attention lingered on another member of the team, Zale had known he hadn’t found his own Little. Zale didn’t poach anyone’s girl.
Having the gathering at his house seemed to be easiest with his newly discovered Little. He wanted her to be comfortable and have a place to retreat to if she needed some alone time. Zale loved his team, but they were a lot. Competitive and physical to the core, the team magnified a simple game like corn hole into an epic battle.
He was happy about how close the women had become. Aspen was obviously delighted to have a friend. The two Littles had a great time roasting hotdogs and s’mores. He could tell Aspen helped Pippa feel more comfortable in being herself in the crowd. Zale would have to thank her privately for being such a good friend.
“Daddy?”
Zale smiled at his little girl who stood by his side with a gooey s’more in her hand. “Did you make that for me?”
“I burnt the marshmallow just how you like it,” Pippa assured him.
“How about if you come sit on my lap and we’ll eat it together?” The last thing he needed was another s’more, but she’d had so much fun roasting marshmallows he hated to refuse. He took it from her hand and lifted her with one arm onto his thighs.
“I don’t want any more, Daddy,” she said, leaning back against his chest.
“Are you okay?”
“Just over sugared,” she confessed.
“How about if I distract you then?”
She nodded eagerly.
“I promised Pippa that I would tell her about other things I found in the woods,” Zale announced to the group as he set the s’more down on a napkin on the small table next to him.
“Not the jungle story again,” Koa bemoaned.
“The jungle story?” Aspen asked, climbing up on Jerico’s lap to listen as well. “Have I heard it?”
“It was before Jerico joined the team,” Caden added.
“And me,” Hank chimed in. “Is the story appropriate for… everyone?”
“Definitely,” Zale assured him. “So, we’re out on a mission and we’re waiting for some bad guys to shift so we can slide past them. The terrain was heavily wooded, with lots of wildlife. Everyone was hunkered down.”
“We’d been there for several hours,” Koa pointed out.
“We had,” Zale agreed. “Caden communicated that a snake had bitten him.”
When the girls gasped and pulled their legs up further from the ground, Zale reassured them, “No snakes here,” before continuing. “Luckily, he’d killed it and determined it was not poisonous. Nevertheless, the wound needed to be treated. I was making my way back to him.”
“And I was dangling from a tree,” Koa jumped ahead, trying to speed up the story.
“Not only was Koa hanging from an overhead branch up ten feet…”
Koa interrupted. “He caught me with my pants down.”
“Wait. Koa was hanging from a tree with his pants down? His… stuff was hanging out?” Aspen asked, giggling throughout the entire question.
“Even better, a swarm of rats marched through the jungle under his feet. He’d had to jump up to avoid them,” Caden shared.
“A lot of them?” Pippa asked.
“There had to be over three hundred. I took shelter in a tree as well,” Zale said.
“Did you see them coming?” Aspen asked. “Were they friendly?”
“They came from behind me. I just heard this rumble of chittering. I don’t think they wanted pets, Aspen,” Koa told her.
“Why were they swarming?” Pippa asked.
“It turns out the bad guys had blocked the river to flood the area. Thank goodness he got caught with his pants down. We had enough warning to get to higher ground,” Zale said.
“So, if Koa moons us, we should run to the top of a hill?” Aspen said, struggling to keep her face straight.
“I am never going to live this down, am I?” Koa asked, rolling his eyes.
“Probably not. It’s the perfect storm of memorable events—pants down, rats, forest,” Zale pointed out.
“What else have you found in a forest?” Pippa asked, as if trying to distract everyone from teasing Koa.
“We had that camel that fell in love with Max,” Caden suggested.
“I think he fell in love with her, too,” Hank pointed out.
“She did have the longest eyelashes I’ve ever seen,” Max said with a straight face.
The laughs around the fire felt good. Zale squeezed his little girl as he considered his teammates. They were all so different, but linked by their dedication to their jobs and their commitment to each other.
“You’re really lucky to be on a team with these guys,” Pippa whispered in his ear as if reading his mind.
“I am, kitten. I’m even more fortunate to have you in my life.”
“Especially because I’m the favorite thing you found in the woods. I have to say, it’s not too tough to beat rats and camels. They spit,” Pippa pointed out.
Zale chuckled. “Definitely. That’s another reason the camel liked Max. He can spit farther than she could.”
“That was never proven,” Max called, and Pippa dissolved into giggles.
Glancing around the fire, Zale celebrated being here with everyone. Life kept getting better. An ominous shiver ran down his spine. Was he jinxing something bad to happen?
The clean-up went fast. All the guys pitched in as the Littles dozed in their chairs. Soon, the fire was extinguished, and all the containers brought by the men returned to them.
Koa gave him a one-armed hug. “Congratulations, Zale. I’m glad you found her.”
“I hope your Little shows up soon.”
“Me, too. It will happen when it’s supposed to. Do you have a plan for your Little?”
“Keep her happy for the rest of her life?” Zale suggested with a smile.
“I mean, when we’re out of town. Do you think the threat is over for her?”
“The chatter is sounding more like they’re going to send us soon, isn’t it?” Zale said, instantly serious. He thrust a hand roughly over his military short hair. “I wish I could move her on base.”
“Is there any way to do that?” Koa asked with a skeptical expression. “Ask Caden. He knows.”
“Ask me what?” Caden asked, hearing his name.
Zale explained his question and watched his teammate nod in confirmation.
“Yep. You just need a letter from your commanding officer and a background check,” Caden informed them.
“They’re doing a background check on her for her new job. That should work for this as well,” Zale suggested. “I’ll contact our team commanding officer and get an approval.”
“Have him leave the dates open for several months. You’d think anyone interested in her would give up after a few days, but you never know with these scumbags,” Caden growled.
“Good suggestion. Thanks, Caden. Now, if we’re not sent out for a few days…”
The sound of notifications hitting their phones interrupted the conversation. The entire team turned to look at Zale.
“Fuck. Too late to take care of that.” He shook his head. “Okay, everyone, get your head in the game. I’ll meet you at the base.”
Immediately, all the men exited silently, Jerico heading for the backyard with Zale. He picked up a sleepy Aspen in his arms and carried her to his truck.
“Daddy? Is it time to go home?” Aspen’s voice drifted back to him as Zale lowered himself to one knee in front of Pippa.
He brushed his fingers through her thick wavy hair, brushing it off her cheek. “Kitten? I need you to wake up for me.”
“Daddy? Is the party over?” Pippa asked, sitting up and rubbing her beautiful green eyes.
“It is. I need you to listen. I don’t have a lot of time.”
He hated how her eyes widened with fear. “Everything is okay, Pippa. Daddy’s team was just activated. I have to report to the base immediately. I want you to wake up so you can drive me there. That way you’ll have the Jeep.”
“You have to go away?” she asked.
“I do. Hopefully, for a short time, but there are no guarantees.”
“Can you call me? You know… every once in a while?”
“I can’t, kitten. That would endanger the team. No matter how much I want to talk to you, I can’t do that,” he told her as his heart broke. “I need you to be very brave and very careful while I’m away. If you get scared, pack a bag and go to Aspen’s. I put the address in your new phone earlier.”
He hated to scare her, but forced himself to add, “Drive around a bit to make sure no one is following you before you head to her house. Call the police when you can.”
“Do you think I’m still in danger?”
“I don’t know, Pippa. I need you to take very good care of yourself while I’m away. I put my supervisor’s number in your phone as well. He’ll help you if you need him.”
“I better not lose my phone,” she whispered.
He could tell she was trying to show him she wasn’t scared when she was petrified. His brave little girl. Zale pulled her close and kissed her tenderly.
When he leaned away, he asked, “Will you come with me while I get my bag?”
She nodded and let him pull her to her feet as he stood up. He pulled her close for a quick hug before leading her to the main bedroom. There, Zale stepped into the closet and pulled his go bag from the back corner.
“You’ve already packed?”
“Yes, kitten. We have to be ready to go at all times. Do you need to potty before we leave?”
She hesitated and then shook her head.
He could tell she was lying. “Go. I won’t leave without you. It will be a long trip back and forth with a full bladder.”
After Pippa scurried to the bathroom, Zale leaned against the wall, trying to remember everything he needed to tell her. He’d tried to put everything in her phone so she would have it all together. Zale had even organized her copies of her driver’s license and the police reports together and placed them in a sling bag for her to take with her. She’d teased him about being Mr. Organized.
She darted back to him and flung her arms around his waist to give him a hug. Zale closed his eyes, trying to memorize the sensation of her body against his as he rubbed his hands up and down her back to reassure her. He hugged her close one more time before setting her away from him.
“We have to go, kitten. Before I forget to tell you, there’s money in an envelope in the top of the chest. Use whatever you need.” He pulled the drawer open and withdrew a thick envelope to show her where it was before returning it. “I don’t know how long I’ll be away. You may need to shop or have other expenses.”
He held his hand up to stop her protest. “No arguments. I’m counting on you to let me take care of you while I’m deployed.” When she nodded, he walked forward to pat her on the bottom. “Go grab your bag.”
She hurried ahead as they walked down the hall to grab it from the wall next to the door leading into the garage. “I’ve got it.”
“Do you have your phone?”
“Crap!” She raced down the hall to the bathroom and returned, waving it.
When she stopped in her tracks, Zale asked, “What’s wrong, kitten?”
“I don’t have any pictures of us. Can we take one? Is there time?”
“Of course. Here. Hand your phone to me. I have longer arms.” Zale wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Smile!”
After taking a few photos, he drew her in for another kiss. He took a few pictures, hoping to capture a few more shots for her of them kissing. That would be a good surprise for her to find later. Hopefully, he had the camera facing the right direction.
He handed her back the phone and ushered her into the Jeep. He didn’t tell her that no one had ever driven his baby. Knowing Pippa, she was already worried about driving by herself. Zale cursed himself. He should have taken her out to drive around. They needed more time together before he deployed.
“Explore the house, kitten. There is nothing off limits for you,” Zale reminded her. He wanted her to settle in fully at home.
“Okay, Daddy.”
He could tell she was trying to sound positive. His brave little girl. “Good girl.”
The trip to the base took such an incredibly short time. He held her hand the whole way, needing to be in contact with her. Zale stole a couple more kisses before he grabbed his pack from the back and headed inside. He looked back and waved as she stood slumped against his Jeep. She was so alone. His job had never seemed harder. Squaring his shoulders, Zale walked into the building where the team gathered before a mission.
Keep her safe. Please.