KALEB
Leaving her is one of the hardest things I've ever done. Its right there, dead-even with when I left for basic training all those years ago, watching my mom and sister balling.
Jade had tears in her eyes when I held her in my arms this morning. It made me smile into the mess of her hair when she said she was crying because she wanted to spend more time with me. Not because the next time we see each other, we'll be in full combat mode. I loved hearing her say that. I love even more that when this is over, we'll take off somewhere. Sure as shit won't be Mexico. No fucking way. It will be tropical. Where I can watch her parade around in a bikini. Fuck. Maybe not. Maybe it should be the Swiss Alps, where she's covered up in ski gear. That way I won't be beating every man's ass who looks her way.
"You're an idiot, Maverick. That woman only wants you. Dominate in the bedroom only, you asshole. She's the one who's dominated your ass." I laugh. Now I'm talking to myself.
I turn on the stereo, flipping through every channel I can find. "Jesus, I like country, but fuck. Not a single damn classic rock station." I settle on some shit I've never heard of and put my mind to this mission. To capture this asshole and get the hell out of there. Before I know it, I'm pulling into the gates of the compound.
It's been a while since I've been here. Our home away from home. Our safe place. Log cabins nestled in the woods. Ten acres between us separating each other, yet close enough that if anyone found out about us being here, we wouldn't have far to get to each other.
I pull my truck up to the office after shutting the gate up tight with the remote and park it alongside Pierce's truck.
"It's about damn time, fuckface. Kase said you had business in Alabama. You care to share?" That damn devious expression of his needs to be slapped off his face.
"No. It's my business, not yours, dickhead. What the hell are you doing here anyway? Don't tell me you're our personal contact to The President?" Pierce snaps his head back as if I'd bitch slapped him.
"Well, fuck you too."
"Shit. You are. Damn man, are you sure you can handle a gun? I mean, you've been behind a desk for how long now?" I'm goading him, and he hates that shit. He's always so touchy about his desk job. While Harris can speak any language under the damn sun, Pierce was born and raised in South Texas. He knows Spanish as well as English, and he has one of the best aims with a knife out of anyone I have ever seen.
"When you have no idea what the hell people are saying, you'll be glad I have your back. Now go help Kase with the beer and chips. Seems the fucker lost his way." Our threesome has always been this way. Easy bullshit. Tease a little. We're real. A bond only to be shared between the three of us. It's authentic to a point no one will ever get in, nor will they understand the things we've been through. I served months overseas with these two and battled and killed alongside both of them. We've saved each other's lives and talked into the dead of night about our families and home. We would die for each other, and we've always promised that none of us would be left behind.
"He's hiding here. It's an old, abandoned building in the middle of Tonala, Mexico. It's busy as hell down there. This place is known for all of its markets and vendors. He's smart. I give him credit." Pierce takes a sip of his beer while showing us the map. The town is down by Guadalajara. Busy as hell is right. Street vendors selling their hard work everywhere. It'll be full of innocent people.
These fucking men we go after don't give two shits if the men and women who work their asses off are killed or not, but we sure as hell do.
"It looks like another night raid. It still won't be easy. Some of these places are open all night. There're tons of bars. And foreigners will be on vacation. We're going to have to walk in and escort that bastard out," I tell them both frustratingly.
"Not necessarily. Look behind this building. It's an open field for at least a half mile. I think we're definitely in for a night drop, but it's nothing we haven't done before. We got this shit." I quirk my brow at Kase, while we watch Pierce tap away in confidence on the computer bringing up different angles. He moves his mouse here and there, marking with an X. This is his expertise. It's the reason they wanted him working for the government. He can work you into the smallest hole and help you weasel your way out.
"Done. Now." He spins around in his chair. "Tell us about these two specialist. It's obvious they impressed you." That's an understatement if I've ever heard one.
"Captain Harris and Captain Elliott of the United States Army Special Forces. Harris is a translator and one hell of a shooter. He's confident in everything he does." I pause briefly. Christ, I know these guys, they love women as much as I do, but neither one of them has battled alongside one before. My temper flares before I even tell them about her. I slam it back down my throat before they catch wind to the fact there's more to me and Jade than what I'm about to tell them.
"And Elliott?" Kase presses.
"Captain Jade Elliott," I announce.
"What? A woman? Explain, asshole." Pierce slams his beer down on the desk.
"I've heard of her. She's the first woman to make it through Ranger school. Well, there were several of them, but fuck, I had no idea she was on this last mission with you." There are a lot of things about her they don't know, and I need to keep it that way. My hands want to clench in a fist and punch him in his damn mouth for his reaction.
"She's damn good. Not only did she save my life out there by killing a young boy we never saw, but she can shoot like no one else I've ever seen, and I mean ever. She's good, really fucking good, and I want her." They both look at me like I've lost my mind or I'm growing another head and it doesn't resemble the one currently sitting on my shoulders.
"What the hell do you mean you want her? Have you been fucking her?" My anger spreads from Pierce to Kase when he talks to me like he's my parent.
"Hell, no. What the hell is your problem? She's a woman. And a soldier. A damn fine one. She's willing to give up her career for this, just like Harris. The only difference between the two of them is, she has a pussy and he has a dick. But that woman has balls like a damn man when it comes to her job. She's dedicated." I need to shut the fuck up about her. The three of us are partners, yes, but each one of us has a specialty in how we run our business, and they damn well know mine is setting up the best team I can find.
"You like her," Pierce says more out of curiosity than a question.
"Of course I do. She's a damn good soldier." He smirks at my answer.
"That's not what I mean and you know it, Maverick. You like this woman. She means something to you. I can see it all over your damn face. There's no denying it. Shit, man. I hope to god you know what the fuck you're doing." I stand there for the longest damn time, my gaze darting back and forth between my two best friends. My brothers.
"Listen. I'm not going into details with the two of you about what's happening between Jade and I, but come the fuck on. Do you really think I would jeopardize anyone's life? This woman knows what the hell she's doing, and for the two of you to say otherwise is nothing but pure bullshit." I sink my ass down in the chair and let them think about their reaction to what they are actually saying. It's wrong.
"We know you wouldn't put anyone's life on the line. That's not what the problem is here. The problem is you. I'm concerned for you. Can you handle being out there with her? Watching her back while still leading this team?" Kase asks. Then he slugs down the rest of his beer.
"I get it. And I'm damn happy for you, man. I truly am. I hope she's the one; hell, I would gladly welcome her into our family if she is. We just need to know that your head is clear and that you shoved aside the fact you care about her. If you can look at us and tell us you can, then great. This conversation is over. Done. But if you lie to us like you did when you said you weren't fucking her, then man, we have a serious fucking problem here. These orders come from The President. You need to keep your shit under control. Let her do her job and get all of us the hell out of there." Kase rubs his hand across his forehead in complete testiness.
"I can handle it. She was with me once before, remember? That's where it all started. I completed my mission, successfully I might add. Trust me, I know what I'm doing. The choice is yours to believe me or not. And I get where you're coming from. Who knows, if the tables were turned, I might feel the same way. I'm asking you this though. And listen to me, okay? She doesn't want you two to know. In fact, I gave her my word I wouldn't tell you." Kase's lips twitch. Pierce doesn't hesitate to lean his head back and fucking laugh. The bastard. This shit means something to her and he's laughing.