“Okay.” He gave his boss and his team a nod. “Here’s what I need from you.”
Less than four hours later, Jake and Gabe were landing R.I.S.C.’s company jet onto a private airstrip located in San Diego. The rest of the team had stayed behind in Dallas with orders from Gabe to be ready at a moment’s notice.
From the pilot’s seat, Jake turned and faced Gabe. Concern crossed over the man’s dark blue eyes. “You sure you don’t want me to stick around?”
Gabe shook his head and unbuckled his seatbelt. “I’ve got this. Besides, I think it’s probably best if I ease Elle into the idea of having a bodyguard before springing an entire team on her.”
The entire flight here, Jake had tried talking Gabe into going ahead and bringing in his team. Gabe understood his boss’s concern. Anytime Walker came into the picture, shit usually hit the fan.
Luckily, he’d talked Jake down by pointing out the fact that if Adrian Walker wanted to hurt him, the bastard would’ve taken his shot earlier. The second Gabe stepped foot inside his apartment.
Despite his boss still not being too keen on the idea of dropping him off and flying back out, Jake agreed to do just that. Why? Because they were R.I.S.C., and the trust and respect they had for each other was thicker than blood.
“I don’t like it, but I get it. First sign of trouble, though…”
“Don’t worry. You’ll be the first person I call.”
“Good. In the meantime, I’ll contact Ryker. See if he’s heard any recent chatter involving Walker.”
Jason Ryker was an agent with Homeland Security. He ran a covert team out of the Dallas branch, and was also R.I.S.C.’s handler for when they took on jobs for the agency.
“Might give Ghost a call, too. Sometimes those guys find shit out before the suits.”
Keane “Ghost” Bryson was the captain of one of the best Delta Force teams in existence. He and his men were as solid as they came. They’d also been invaluable assets in the rescue missions involving Nate’s, Matt’s, and Zade’s women.
And if that right there isn’t a reason to keep Elle away from my world…
If Gabe didn’t know any better, he’d think the men of Bravo were destined to fall in love with women in peril. Just another example of why he’d made the right choice to walk away from Elle when he did.
“Good idea,” Jake agreed. “I’ll put feelers out with them both and let you know what I find out.”
With a firm handshake and a nod, Gabe thanked his boss for the ride and exited the plane. He wasn’t sure when the formidable man had found the time, but the guy had even arranged for a cab to be waiting when they landed, ready to take him straight to the hospital.
For the entire duration of the drive, Gabe’s mind was filled with a lifetime of memories. Both good and bad, they were all moments he’d shared with the woman he was about to see.
Moments he’d never forget.
“Sir?”
The gravelly voice snapped Gabe’s attention back to the present. From the back seat, he met the driver’s gaze in the rearview mirror.
“Sorry, what?”
The man pointed toward something outside. “I said, we’re here.”
Gabe turned to look out his window. The sight of the large, brick building caused a familiar ache to spread painfully inside his chest.
The last time he was here had been the beginning of the end.
Pushing the past away, Gabe dug some cash from his wallet and paid the driver. Sliding his way out of the car, he grabbed his bag from the leather seat and shut the door.
Huge red letters shone brightly over the hospital’s emergency entrance. After a moment’s hesitation, Gabe sucked up his pride and headed for the automatic doors.
His Ellena was in there, somewhere. And she needed him.
She’s not fucking yours, Dawson. Get that through your thick skull.
The tiny voice was right, but Gabe knew it didn’t matter. He had always thought of her as his. Always would.
