Chapter Sixteen #2
“Yeah, and I was the same. I admit. I’m a little more patient now. Have to be to deal with you lot.”
The men laughed and Charlie smiled. If these guys were smiling and joking, they could not be too concerned about Donnie’s mindset. She glanced over her shoulder to where Donnie sat alone on the balcony. Her heart squeezed. He must be able to hear them laughing.
“Guys, give me a moment to talk to him alone,” Sam said, then turned to her. “It was nice to meet you, Charlie.”
“You, too.”
Sam went out to join Donnie.
“Sophie said she’ll be here in ten minutes,” Ryan said.
“OK, great. Thank you.” Charlie was relieved to be going out even more now. “I’m looking forward to meeting the rest of the ladies I’ve heard so much about.”
“Except Megan. She's with Grandma,” Steve said. “Not that she didn't beg to be allowed to go, but Diane wanted some adult time while she still can.”
“Diane is pregnant, right?” Charlie recalled Mackie saying something about that.
Steve smiled. “Yes. Seven months. Megan is nine and very eager to meet her baby brother or sister.”
“It must be exciting for her.”
“It is. Listen. Like Dex said, don't worry about Donnie. We've got his back and we'll get him through this. Sophie would never have told him he would get some sight back if they weren’t certain. Whatever happens, he will be fine. Go out and have a good time with the ladies. You’ve earned it.”
For the next few minutes, while they waited for Sophie to arrive, the men chatted with her, setting her completely at ease.
They asked about her work and seemed impressed with some of the projects she had been involved in.
By the time Ryan said Sophie was downstairs waiting, she felt like she’d made six new friends.
Ryan escorted her down to meet Sophie.
“It was good of you to come and visit him. Help him out,” Ryan said in the elevator.
“We have a long history. I was worried and I had some time off work before my next assignment, so it was no big deal.”
“It is a big deal to us. Knowing he has someone else to look out for him.” Ryan smiled down at her before the doors opened.
Sophie stood waiting in the lobby. Ryan stepped forward and scooped her up in his arms, giving her a deep kiss. Sophie squealed and pushed at him to put her down.
“Ryan, stop.” Sophie’s voice was playful.
“I missed you.” He settled her on the floor.
“Christ. I saw you eight hours ago.”
“Too long.”
Charlie smiled at them, trying to ignore the pang of envy in her chest. They looked so happy and in love. It had never been like that with Simon. Not even in the beginning. It must be wonderful to have a man want you like that.
“I see you met Ryan already.” Sophie smiled at Charlie.
“Yes, and the rest of the team.”
“How’s Donnie?”
“Donnie is being a grump, but the team are going to change that tonight, so you ladies go and have a good time.” Ryan gave Sophie another quick kiss.
“OK, then. Charlie, are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go introduce you to the best women you'll ever meet.”
***
DONNIE HEARD LAUGHTER from inside his condo but ignored it.
Charlie had said she needed to get out of here.
Had she left? Gone home? He didn’t realize how much he wanted her here.
Needed her here, until now. He should go after her, but how?
Perhaps it was better that she left. He didn’t deserve her. Not now, not ever.
He heard the door slide open and sensed someone sit beside him.
“Donnie. Sorry I haven’t been to see you sooner,” Sam said, surprising him.
“I’m sure you’ve had your hands full. Any news?”
“Nyx are monitoring the situation.”
“No sign of the Aziz brothers?”
“Not yet. No. We’re on it. It takes time.”
Donnie mentally cursed. He wanted to be on the team to go and take them down when they found them. He wanted to look them in the eyes and pull the trigger, and he wouldn't have an ounce of remorse at doing it. But he wouldn’t be. Not now.
“I heard there was good news today,” Sam said.
Donnie seethed. If anyone else told him it was good news, he was going to lose his fucking mind. “I don’t see how being told I might not be able to operate again is good news!” he snapped.
“Might being the important word here,” Sam said unfazed by his outburst.
“Come on, Sam. I can’t see. Even if I get some sight back, I’m not going to be able to shoot a rifle.” Why did no one else get it?
“You do remember your SERE training, right?”
“What?” What the fuck did survival, evasion, resistance and escape training have to do with this?
“Do you remember your SERE training?” Sam repeated. “Or do I need to send you back for a refresher?”
“I remember. Why?”
“What is one of the most important tactics they teach you?”
SERE pushed you to limits you never thought existed.
Taught you how to get through physical and mental torture and interrogation.
How to survive, escape, and evade in the worst conditions.
How to keep a positive mental attitude throughout.
Not everyone made it through SERE. Physically, most could take it. Mentally, many couldn’t.
“Mindset.” Donnie answered, now understanding why Sam was bringing it up. But he scoffed, “This is different.”
“Why?”
“I’m not in enemy territory. Not on an op. This is a battle I have no control over.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. You do have control.
Perhaps not over how much sight you get back, but you control how you handle it.
You also know from that training that a positive mindset is everything.
This fucked up self-pity I’m hearing about is not what I expect from an Onyx operator.
You don't give up before the finish line.
You keep fighting. That is what we do. You said this isn't an op. I disagree. This is probably the most important op of your life.”
Donnie swallowed. Sam’s voice was as steady and calm as always. Calm and in control. Something he had always admired. The man didn't rattle easily. Donnie was rattled. He was fucking scared.
“It’s OK to be scared,” Sam said, as though reading his mind.
“But it’s not OK to give up the fight. You’re stronger than that.
Better than that. And you have Onyx supporting you.
You need to get your shit together because you are still an Onyx operator, and I am still your captain.
” The firm, pulling-rank tone was not something Sam did very often. It felt like a bucket of ice water.
“Yes, sir,” Donnie said automatically.
“Good. Because when we find the Aziz brothers, I expect you to be back with your team to go take them down in whatever capacity you can. Unless you want to quit?” Sam challenged.
Donnie flinched. Quit wasn’t a word he’d ever associated with himself and hearing it from his captain hit home. Hard.
“No, sir, I don't want to quit,” he said honestly.
“Then I expect you to start acting like it. Show me that you still want to be here at Onyx. Get back to physical training. Start eating right. It’s your eyes that aren't working, not your body. Get yourself ready for when your sight returns.”
“Yes, sir.” He hated Sam was calling him out, but he had needed to hear it. More than he realized.
“Good.”
Donnie’s shoulders relaxed, glad the ‘talking to’ tone had gone. He was fucking lucky to be a part of Onyx, and he respected the hell out of Sam. He wanted to keep his place on Onyx. He couldn’t imagine doing anything else. But—
“What if my sight isn’t good enough to be a sniper?” he asked quietly.
“Then we’ll discuss the options then. What’s important is that Dr. Swanson believes you will get some sight back. This complete blindness is temporary. You should be fucking celebrating, not stewing in self-pity.”
“It’s hard, Sam. I never thought about what might happen if...” Emotion filled his voice and he tried to swallow it down. “This team means everything to me.”
“Hard is what Onyx does. You guys have overcome challenges many wouldn’t. This is no different.”
Donnie took a drink of water to get himself together. He already knew he had the best team ever. These men would always have his back. No matter what.
“You got a lot of people around you who want to help. Sophie, Claire, and a certain lovely young lady that I just met. Start letting them,” Sam said.
Charlie. He needed to apologize. Again. Had she really left?
“Is Charlie inside?”
“No.”
Donnie cursed. He was a fucking idiot.
“The ladies have taken her for dinner. She’s coming back.”
Relief swept over him.
“Are we good here?” Sam asked.
“Yeah. Thanks, Sam.”
Sam’s hand squeezed his shoulder. “Let’s go get a beer with your team.”
He stood and let Sam guide him inside.
Quit? That one word held more power over him than any other. It broke through the fog and reminded him of everything he had overcome to get to be an Onyx operator. He was not going out as the operator who quit. And he sure as hell wasn't quitting on Charlie.
***
THE RESTAURANT WAS busy. It was happy hour on cocktails and fancy colored drinks were being served at a steady pace to the packed tables.
Charlie’s mouth ached from smiling. She was having a great time.
Sophie, Mira, Kelly, and Diane had instantly made her feel comfortable and welcome.
Initially, she’d felt guilty, but the ladies were quick to reassure her that the team had Donnie, and she deserved a break.
Sophie also reminded her Donnie was going to get some sight back and that was worth celebrating.
Ryan and the guys would be making sure Donnie celebrated that news, too.
Now, a couple of margaritas in, she was really relaxing.
Charlie already knew Kelly and Mira worked with the team, which was pretty badass. Diane was a lawyer and Sophie a doctor. These were successful, beautiful, confident women who had been brought together because of their men and now shared a unique bond.
“OK, Charlie, it’s time to spill. What’s the deal with you and Donnie?” Kelly asked.
Charlie couldn't stop the blush hitting her cheeks. “No deal. We’ve known each other since we were kids. Went to the same school.”