“If you have something of the kid’s that he’d recognize…a photo, keepsake…anything. Give it to Terry.”
“Why?” She met Terry’s gaze, confused. “And why can’t I just bring it with me?”
“Because you’re staying here.” Clicking on a single seat for a flight to Vegas leaving at 7:00 a.m. the next morning, Terry continued. “I land at 10:30. Text me where I’m goin’, and I’ll meet you there.”
“Excuse me. You are not leaving me here. That’s my nephew. You wouldn’t know about him—or any of the other kids—without me.” She couldn’t keep the outrage from her voice and scooted away from Terry. “Book me a seat.”
“Hell, no. X? I’ll call you back.” He jabbed the screen, turned to her, and fixed her with a hard stare. “It’s not safe. And Xavier doesn’t know you. The man doesn’t trust anyone. Sometimes, I’m not even sure he trusts me. But we’ve worked together enough he tolerates my presence on these types of ops because I know how to talk to the kids.”
“You can’t keep me out of this.” Pushing to her feet, she took their beer bottles and carried them into the kitchen, as much to give herself something to focus on as anything else. “If you won’t book me a ticket, I’ll just do it myself.”
Terry’s frustrated growl both angered and thrilled her. The man was protective to his very core, and while she loved not being alone, she had to be there when they rescued Micah. Had to see the past three years of hard work, of sacrifice, of late nights, of surviving on ramen and Hamburger Helper, of worrying every single day that the boy she once knew was gone forever through to the end.
“Fine. But you’re stayin’ at the hotel. I’m not takin’ you with me when we breach wherever the kids are.” Picking up his laptop with a heavy sigh, he booked the seat next to his. “Pack enough for three days and find somethin’ of Micah’s to bring. If you don’t want Laura stayin’ here alone, I can call my sister. Trina has two kids, so she’d have to bring Laura up to Vermont, but…”
Dana ached to throw her arms around Terry’s neck and kiss him. To thank him for everything he’d done since their lives had collided—was that just three days ago?—but the set of his shoulders told her he wasn’t happy with this situation at all.
“I’ll ask her. And I’ll get Micah’s soccer jersey. Laura sleeps with it under her pillow.” She paused with her hand on the bedroom door and waited for Terry to meet her gaze. “Thank you. For everything.”
He didn’t reply, holding her stare until the door closed between them.
11
Terry
This was a bad fucking idea. He knew it. Xavier knew it. And when he’d told the man that he was bringing Dana with him, the string of expletives he’d been subjected to? He hadn’t heard anything that bad since he’d retired from the Army.
The look on Laura’s face? That had been worth every single moment of X’s tirade. As was Dana’s hand entwined with his as the plane started its descent in to Las Vegas.
“Listen, man. She was in the Army for years. She knows how to handle herself. Handle a weapon.”
“There’s no way in hell I’m bringing her a gun,” Xavier spit out. “She stays in the room the whole time or I won’t tell you where we are. Those are my terms. Take ‘em or leave ‘em.”
Terry hadn’t been happy with X’s ultimatum, but he couldn’t blame the man either. Not when he was putting his life on the line—for free—and endangering at least two members of his team on an unsanctioned op that could get them all killed or arrested.
As they left the rental car counter with keys to a red coupe, Terry’s phone vibrated. “Got the address for X and his team. Travelers Hotel. It’s two miles off the strip.”
“That’s it? No word on Micah?” Dana sunk down into the bucket seat, her arms tight around herself, and chewed on her lip.
“He’ll give us an update in person. Try not to worry, sweetheart.”
“I’ve been worried for three years now. You might as well tell me not to breathe.”
He tried to stifle his laugh, but it came out as a snort. “Fair enough. We’ll be there soon.”
Half an hour later, after a quick drive-thru meal of burgers and fries, they checked into a clean, but very dated room at the roadside motel. Dana set her small suitcase on the dresser, and Terry double-checked the deadbolt. He’d tossed and turned most of the previous night, and between the lack of sleep and the 4:30 a.m. wakeup call, he was dragging.
They both were. Dana was in the middle of a yawn when the door to the adjoining room swung open. Terry swept Dana behind him, tensing until Xavier stepped into the room.
“What the fuck, mate? Next time, knock.”
At six-foot-two, Xavier Brennan was slightly shorter than Terry, but he radiated deadly calm and control, and his presence filled the room. “Next time, realize who you’re dealing with. Mate.” X smirked and stared around Terry at Dana.
“This is Xavier,” Terry said, stepping aside so Dana could shake his friend’s hand.
“Do me a favor and forget my name when this is all over,” X said. “My job’s a hell of a lot easier if no one knows I exist.”
Dana didn’t let go of his hand, instead pulling him close and wrapping her free arm around his broad shoulders. “I’ll never tell anyone. Not even Laura. But I’ll never forget you. You found Micah.”
