Then he internally slapped himself for that thought because she was with him. He also reminded himself that she’d said she’d only talked to him once two years ago.
“He made Delta Force last year. He’d been assigned to our team for the last six months.” Teddy replied, shaking his head.
“I thought your team was full already?”
Max looked at Teddy before sighing heavily. “He’s only temporary. Or so we’re being told.”
“Was he assigned before after Ike was hurt?”
Max looked at Desiree’s expression. Something was bothering her about Daniels being assigned to his team.
“After. Ike is out for another two months. By then, the team they are putting Daniels with will have a spot opened for him.”
“Oh, okay. Please, both of you be careful around him. He’s always been friends with Bradley and Blevins. Stephens was planning to turn both Blevins and Daniels into command when we got back stateside after overhearing them bragging about a girl they had sexually assaulted at a bar before we’d been sent out on the op.”
Chapter
Nineteen
Desiree stood up from the couch and started pacing. Flashes from the past started making an appearance in her mind.
A past she wished would leave her alone. She knew she was worrying everyone when she felt Max pull her into his arms.
“Baby, it’s time. You need to talk about it.”
Desiree wanted to punch him, badly. He’d ambushed her with that question whether he’d realized it or not.
“Sis, what is he talking about?” Jose asked, standing up from his seat.
“Fuck!” Desiree grumbled as she rubbed her face with her hands.
“I’ve got your back, hellcat. I’m not going anywhere.” Max said as he rubbed her back and kissed her forehead.
“On my last op, the one before I separated from the Army, our team was captured because of Blevins and Daniels. Blevins outright hated me, Daniels didn’t really care either way. He didn’t think I should be allowed in Special Forces but only joined in when Blevins started running his mouth.” Desiree started, her hands fiddling with each other.
“Assholes, both of them.” Andrea grumbled, shaking her head.
“Blevins felt that because his dad was a senator, he was untouchable. For the most part he was. He’d started running his mouth, shouting at Stephens when he’d confronted him about the girl he had been bragging to Daniels about them bagging. It gave our position away to the terrorists we’d been hunting, so we were captured.”
Desiree jumped when both of her brothers shouted out in anger at what she’d just told them. Max steadied her with his hand on her arm as he rubbed it up and down with his hand.
Damn this man knew how to calm her down. No one had ever really been able to do that to her, other than riding her motorcycle and going to the beach.
“Settle down, both of you. She’s right here. Let her finish the damn story.” Max advised both of her brothers, showing that he would protect her, even from them.
“Sorry.” Jose mumbled as he rubbed his face.
Desiree had to bite her lips to keep the smile from her lips when Andrea grabbed the waist of Jose’s jeans and pulled him down onto the couch and put her legs over his to keep him seated. Seems like something was going on between those two.
“That wasn’t the worst part. While the terrorist interrogated us, Blevins had made the suggestion for the terrorists to have their way with me in place of the rest of the team to be freed. He stated if they raped me and tortured me, I would give them whatever they wanted. They didn’t even want me on the team. They wouldn’t tell anyone where I was if they were let go. For once, Daniels kept his mouth shut, but Stephens and another teammate refused, telling Blevins to shut the hell up.” Desiree sighed heavily, trying to keep herself steady.
“Please tell me this Blevins fucker got his ass handed to him?” Tiny pleaded, leaning forward placing his elbows on his knees.
“Stephens was killed by Blevins to prove to the terrorists he was on their side if they would let him go. But he wanted to watch as they raped me, even offered to join in.” Desiree answered instead of answering Tiny’s question.
“Why were we never told about your team being captured?” Jose asked, looking at Desiree in confusion. “How long were you held captive?”
“They were only held captive for forty-eight hours. You weren’t told because a rescue operation had already been underway by this time. My team and I were sent in to not only locate them but rescue them and terminate the terrorists who had them. Blevins was injured by Ike when we infiltrated the place they were being held. Desiree was unconscious at the time. We later found out from one of the other teammates what had actually gone down. Ike, Hef, Bull, and myself were still Green Beret at that time. We changed into all black gear, covered our faces and handled Blevins old school while he was taking a shower and running his mouth.” Max informed everyone with a wink toward his brother.
