“Today? You’ll do it today?”
I roll my eyes and grumble. “I’ll do it today. I promise. Now no more worrying, okay?”
He sounds breathless, almost like he’s jogging. “That’s great, sis. I’m about to be late for a meeting. But promise you’ll call me if you need me. Even if I’m not in town, I can get someone to you...”
I interrupt him before he starts to go through the line of people that would help me and start giving me their phone numbers again. “I promise. I have all the numbers saved in my phone. I’ll call if I need anything. I love you, bub. Take care of yourself.”
He blows out a breath. “I love you too. I’ll call you when I can.”
I lay my cell phone down on the desk in front of me and clench my eyes shut. I know my brother’s going to be okay, but it’s always hard when he leaves for a job. Plus, everything with Paul—well, it’s just too much to deal with right now. Plus, now I have to sign up for some dating service? Ugh.
I should probably get back out front, but instead, I lay my head down on my arms and try to collect myself.
2
Dylan
All eyes are on Nash at the front of the room. As a commander for our group, he gets respect from every one of us, and all eyes are on him. “All right, guys, this is an in-and-out situation. Our intel tells us that there’s an unprotected path once we get there. The bad thing about it is getting there. We’ll fly into Brazil, then have to take a boat. The last leg of the trip will be on foot. It will probably be a few days of walking, but it’s nothing you haven’t done before. Once you have the target, you’ll walk to the designated meetup—just a few hours north. Jaxx will be there to transport home. Everyone clear?”
I nod, ready for this mission. I get a thrill any time the team is called on an assignment. I know we’re needed and can do things most people can’t. We are the last hope for most people in these dire situations, and I love being part of it. Even though a lot of times, I’m serving my part of the mission from a computer, I know my part is important. I get intel and keep the guys safe. I couldn’t think of a more important job. These guys depend on me, and I take it seriously.
I look around the room of guys that are more like family. I don’t know if it’s because I never had a family of my own and was in and out of foster care homes more than I care to count or what. But these guys are my family. I’d do anything for them.
Bear and Knox get up first and walk out of the conference room first, while Nash talks in the corner with Walker, Knox, Aiden, and Bobo. John, who goes by Knuckles, is sitting in the same spot at the conference table, staring at the phone in his hand. He obviously has something on his mind. It was noticeable when he was almost late to the meeting. No one is ever late for a meeting that Nash calls. I close my laptop and walk toward the door, stopping next to him. “You okay, man?”
He’s worried. That much is clear by the way he’s lost in thought. “Look, man, if you’re worried about this assignment...”
He shakes his head. “I’m not. Can I talk to you?”
I nod. “Sure, man. Want to go to my office?”
He rolls his head, flexing the muscles in his neck. So he’s not just worried. He’s pissed too. “Yeah, sounds good.”
He follows me to my office, and I shut the door behind him. He’s pacing the room, and I sit down at my desk, setting my laptop to the side. I watch him quietly and wait. John is a good guy and has been through the wringer the last few years. Even though he’s considered a player, even more so since the death of his parents, he always puts his sister and our team first.
He finally stops and gestures at me. “Are you going on this trip?”
I shrug. The plan is for me to stay here, but plans change. “I can go.”
He shakes his head and takes a step toward me. He’s completely on edge, and I’m not used to this side of him. “What is it? Just tell me.”
He points at my laptop. “Can you do your job from anywhere?”
“For the most part. Sometimes it’s easier when I have my three monitors, but this assignment I can do from anywhere.”
He’s nodding his head and starts to pace again. I stand up and block his path, and he looks shocked to see me even standing in front of him. Did he not hear me get up? He’s not focused, and whatever’s bothering him is going to get him killed in the field if he doesn’t fix it. I hold my hands up in front of him. “All right, listen. What’s going on?”