She recognized Warren’s deep alto and stiffened, terrified of the uncharacteristic intimacy between her and Lyons and what Warren must think. Instead of backing away, Warren knelt beside them. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and leaned his forehead against her temple, placing the three of them in a close embrace.
“It’s okay, T,” Warren said. “It’s okay.”
She sniffled and wiped her nose. “I’m sorry, guys,” she said. “Didn’t mean to fall apart.”
Warren took to his feet. His hand rested on her shoulder. “Sometimes, all we need is a hug.” He handed Lyons something. “Barracks assignments are there. I’m gonna…” He paused and released her shoulder. “Sorry, but I kind of need to talk to my wife. I’m gonna leave you two, if that’s okay.”
“We’ve only got one pack left,” Lyons said. “Tia and I’ve got it.”
Tia glanced up, mortified for not realizing how the whole incident had to have affected Warren. His hands shook with the same fine tremors as hers.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Of course. Lyons and I will finish up.”
“Thanks,” he said and then backed away. His gaze drifted to the packs and then zeroed in on Lyons. “Take care of her,” he said.
“You bet,” Lyons’s affirmation couldn’t be any louder or clearer.
With Warren’s abrupt departure, she shifted away, feeling more than foolish by her momentary weakness. “I guess we should wrap this up.”
“Yeah, we’ll do that, but then we need to talk.”
Talk?No way in hell was she going to talk, especially after she’d become everything she hated about the female stereotype. Women warriors faced an uphill climb every day. What she just did? Crying? It affirmed everything Lyons thought about women in combat. They weren’t strong enough—not only in their physical build, but also in their emotional makeup. Well, she wasn’t going to be that woman.
“Don’t,” she said. “Don’t treat me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like a woman who’s incapable of dealing.”
“I’m not.”
“You know you are. Do me a favor and show me enough respect to admit it.”
“You’re right yet so very wrong. I care about you. It’s because I fucking care that I’m not leaving you to cry it out alone. But, even if I didn’t care about you, I wouldn’t leave you to face this alone. Sure, if you were one of the guys, I’d take you to a bar, pound back a cold one, and make sure your head was screwed on right, but yeah, you’re right. You’re a woman, a chick, and I treat you a little different. Don’t ever think it’s because I don’t respect you or that I don’t think you can do this job. I do. I sure as fucking hell respect the crap out of you. Here’s the rub though. I. Care. About. You. There, I said it. I care about you, and that means things havechanged. I care about your feelings, and I’m concerned about where your head is. Shit, Tia, did you ever stop to consider I might be a little shaken up by what happened, too?”
“Are you?” She narrowed her eyes with suspicion.
“I came to in the bus…alone.” His voice shook. “I didn’t know where the fuck you were, and you were my very first thought. Warren was grabbing packs and tossing them out of the bus. I had Bent beat up and broken beside me. No sign of you. You don’t even want to know what was going on in my head.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, realizing his point. “It was chaos after the bus stopped spinning. Everyone was yelling. There was so much noise. I didn’t know what was going on or what to do. Collins started shouting orders. The security detail took over. Before I knew it, I was lifted up and out of that bus. You were…you were out, and I checked on you, but then they pulled me away. They didn’t let me stay. And I’m so sorry, Ryker. I’m so damn sorry.” Shame filled her entire being as she realized what he must have thought. She’d heard him when he came to. There’d been no way to hide his shout.
“Shh,” he said, cupping her face.
The warmth of his hands cradled her cheeks, and all she wanted was for him to lean forward, close the distance, and press his lips against hers. She needed to feel that connection. She needed to feel alive.
“It’s always like that,” he said. “Look, I don’t blame you for not staying with me. If Collins had ordered my ass out of that bus, I would’ve left, too.”
“Don’t say it,” she said. “Please don’t lie to me.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You’re telling me that you would’ve obeyed Collins andnotstay with me?”
“I might have made a strong argument, but he was in command, Tia. He had an image in his head of what needed to be done, and that included you getting out of that bus.”
Her entire body shook. Whether strung out from adrenaline or crashing after a burn, she felt toasted, almost high, and needed to move.
“I’ve gotta get out of here,” she said. “My skin is itching, and the air feels thick.”
