Ice (Elite Forces #1)(28)

"Most definitely, Mr. President. We'll be in touch." Kase shuts down the  technology the second we're disconnected from the live feed. We both  look at each other and start planning our mission. It's hard to know  everything we'll need, but one thing is certain. We need cover while  we're there.

"I'll work on getting us into Mexico safe and find us a place to go.  This will be tricky with all of us, but I'm thinking we'll all fly in  separately. I'll check out contacts to see what I can make happen and  feed you the information as it comes in." He's great at this shit. I  have full faith in him.

"I have a trip I need to make for the next couple of days. I'll work  through the night on anything I need to do. We'll use the burn phones to  talk while I'm gone."

"Sounds good. Where you headed?"

"Alabama. I'll go to the compound from there." I stand to grab  everything I'll need. Kase helps me load my Jeep without asking any more  questions about where or why I'm taking off to Alabama.

Thank Christ. I'm not prepared to go into details with him yet. Once I'm  settled behind my wheel, I'm off before I have a chance to grasp what  I've just agreed to. I'm taking Jade to Mexico on one of the most  dangerous missions I've ever considered. I know she can handle herself,  but can I handle myself if anything happens to her?

I move quickly through my house to get enough clothes for the next few  weeks. Leaving the door locked and a few lights on, I shut the door and  begin another journey to yet another mission, but first I need to spend  time with Jade.

The drive to the ranch is long, but it gives me time to think. I'm glad I  got out of there quicker than I thought and get to spend more time with  her out of our element. We both need this, and I can't wait to see what  it does for us.





~~~~


I pull in the drive and text Harris that I'm here. He's at the door  before I finish the text, probably wondering who the hell is driving up  this late at night. It's black out here with only a sliver of the moon  shining in the cloudy sky.

I've had a long day and am looking forward to hitting a bed somewhere with Jade in my arms.

"She's in bed already. You want to have a beer with me out on the back  porch?" he offers, and I decide to accept. This man is extremely good at  what he does and for that I have to respect him.

He hands me the beer, and we both sit on a wooden deck with a fire pit  burning. I can only imagine the conversations that could happen at a  setup like this. "I received a call today that you'd be talking to me. I  can only assume you want me on a mission."

"Yes. That's right. You and Jade both. It's in Mexico. A terrorist we've  been after for years. You'd have to take a temporary walk until we got  back. Going AWOL was mentioned." I can feel the heat of his anger over  the blaring fire. He's pissed about going AWOL, and I don't blame the  man at all.                       
       
           



       

"You expect me to literally walk away from everything I've worked my  life for to work on your team. When I honestly have thought of exactly  how I'd kill you if you hurt Jade."

"That is actually how I know you're perfect. You and I may not agree on everything, but we both want her safe."

"I'm not too sure I'd consider putting her on a mission like this as  keeping her safe. It's actually more of a death mission, if you ask me."

"It's a dangerous mission I know she can handle, just as we both can. My team of men will also do great in Mexico."

"But I have to walk away from the Army to help you. Why would I ever do that?"

"To keep your country safe. To take down one of the most disgusting  human beings on the planet. To walk beside Jade, because you know she'll  be in."

"Good points. Can I have your word that we're good? I can't worry about my fucking back out there."

"I'd never take a personal issue on a mission. We have an understanding  as far as I'm concerned. You know Jade is mine, and I'll understand that  you have a spot in her life that won't cross any lines."

"She made it very clear today that she's worried about trying this with  you, but also talked about how she hopes you two can coexist out here."  Well fuck, next to hearing her finally admit she wants to see what we  can build together, that's the best goddamn news I've heard.

"I can understand that. It's chaos for a person to come and go in the  military. We may both eventually go separate ways, but it doesn't hurt  to make the best of the time we have together now. However, I'm not  planning on going anywhere. I care about her, I really do."

"I agree. And for what it's worth, I believe you." I don't respond to  that. In fact, the silence becomes lighter as we both take big swigs of  our beers. He tosses the cap into the fire, and I watch the flame as he  continues to talk.

"The next few days will be mission-free. I want zero agendas. I want no  schedule, and I plan to take each moment for what it is. I need  relaxation, and this looks like it will be all I have before I walk away  from my career to help you."

"This wouldn't be happening if you weren't the best." That's the fucking  truth. Harris and I may have started out on opposite sides, but this  man knows his shit. And he'll respect the boundaries. He's proven that. I  respect the man more for having this talk with me and for not being  afraid to tell me how he feels.

"I know." I stand. I need to go to bed, and it's time to hold my girl. My girl. I really like the sound of that.

"She's down the hall, second door on the right."

"Good night, Harris." I pick up my bag as I pass back through the main  entry and open the door to her room quietly. There's a dim nightlight,  allowing me to see her on the bed. I move slowly, trying hard not to  wake her. Slipping off my shoes and jeans, I finish dropping all of my  clothes on my side of the bed. Right before I reach for the covers, she  begins to stir.

Her movements become faster and her moans louder. It's as if she's  saying ‘no' over and over. I know better than to climb in bed with a  soldier during a nightmare, so I sit on the edge of the bed and try  talking to her. She doesn't snap out of it and only becomes louder. Her  face is scrunched up, and I reach to touch her head in hopes of pulling  her out of it. She screams just as I touch her. Her eyes fly open, and  she jumps up from her sleeping position and punches the fuck out of my  back.

I stand, knowing I'm fucked because I'm butt-ass naked, praying she  doesn't attack again. The door flies open, and Harris is standing in the  doorway, while I'm holding my dick behind my hands. This isn't exactly  how I thought this night would go.





CHAPTER FOURTEEN


JADE


My heart is racing and my adrenaline is pumped. I'm ready to kill anyone  in my path as I unleash hell on my attackers. I can hear Kaleb talking  in the background, and I know if I can get through this, he'll be here  soon.

All of a sudden, a loud slam of the door pulls me from my apparent  nightmare. I come to and see Kaleb standing naked with Harris in the  room. "What the fuck did I miss?" My voice is panicky.

"You were having a nightmare," Kaleb says. His tone is worried. My body  is covered in sweat, and I stand on the bed just to regain my composure  of where I even am. It takes me a few moments to remember I'm at Harris'  ranch and that Kaleb is here. Shit, that sounds like a real fucking  nightmare. Not to mention that Kaleb is naked.

"Why aren't you wearing clothes?"

"Because I was climbing into bed with you when you started hollering.  You were having a nightmare, and I value my dick enough to not go near  you when you're not clear." Harris chuckles from the doorway. That shit  isn't funny.                       
       
           



       

"Jade, I'm out. See you in the morning." Harris closes the door, and I  close my eyes at the absurdity of this entire situation, trying to calm  my beating heart.

He's still standing with both hands covering himself. My eyes travel  across his chest, and I finally lie back and pat the bed next to me. He  looks at me with a little uncertainty before he exposes himself to me  and moves the covers to get in beside me. Damn, he's hot, even all  disheveled-looking and worried.

"I sleep naked in the States," he admits.

"Of course you do." I may have had a nightmare, but I'm sure as hell  alert now. Especially with him standing there gloriously naked.

"What were you dreaming about?"

"I can't remember." I truly don't remember. I've had a bad dream every  night; half I remember, the other half I just wake up from with my body  covered in sweat.