by Stacy Eaton
I tossed and turned for a while and finally fell into a deep slumber until my alarm went off. As soon as I opened my eyes, thoughts of Greg flashed into my mind, but I shoved them away. I had no time for him today, and I was going to prove to him that we could be adults and work together even if we were attracted to one another.
After pouring my coffee, I took another hot shower to ease my stiff muscles and was thankful that today wasn’t going to be as physical as yesterday. We were going to the range this morning and then doing some classroom work after lunch. I hoped that we could cover everything quickly and get done earlier than yesterday. I needed to make an appearance at the paper.
My boss had sent me several annoying text messages about the fact that I didn’t do the piece on the hostage situation at the coffee shop. I think he still wanted me to do it, but I wouldn’t. Greg was right. I would rather see the two men locked up than to build my career off something that could result in them getting free.
After I got my mom off to her day program, I collected the gear I would need for the range and left. In the car, my mind fell back on the package I’d received the night before. Who would send me a rat? I didn’t think that I had any enemies, but I guess one never really knew that unless they were confronted by one.
Rats signified sneaky creatures that went behind your back. People that you once respected but no longer did because they had become disloyal to you. Who had I been disloyal to? I could not think of a single person that I had wronged, especially one where I might have gone behind their back. Was I overthinking this? Had someone killed the first animal they came across and sent that to me as a warning? My hands clenched the steering wheel as an eerie feeling slipped down my spine. Was someone threatening to kill me?
No! That was absurd. Who would want to kill me? No one, that’s who. It had to be a random incident. Some kid was playing tricks, wanting to scare me. Yeah, well, that wasn’t going to work on me. I’d have to speak to my neighbors and see if anyone else had something similar happen.
I put the stupid dead animal into my mental closet and realized as I fought to close the door that it was starting to get a little full. When I’d opened it to store the rodent inside, memories of last night with Greg tried to explode out, but I’d caught them and wrestled them back. I was going to have to start dealing with some of those things or I’d run out of room for good.
A few minutes later, I pulled into the range lot and gathered my gear. I had my rifle bag in my left hand and my range bag in my right. I’d brought my handgun and my father’s hunting rifle. I hadn’t shot that in a while, but I did know how to use it. When my father was alive, he had taken me hunting, and I’d taken down a few deer in my day.
I had always enjoyed using the rifle, but these days I didn’t have much of a chance to train with it. It wasn’t like I had plans to climb in a tree stand anytime soon.
I found Trevor inside the building at the counter, speaking with an employee. I glanced around as I approached him, but I didn’t see Greg anywhere. There had been several trucks outside, although I hadn’t looked at them carefully to see if any were his. I told myself that I didn’t care. If I kept telling myself that, maybe it would become true.
“Morning, Trevor.”
“Hey, Maggie. I need your license, and if you have your carry permit with you, that will help too.” I pulled them out and passed them over to the man waiting. He leered at me slightly, and I forced myself not to roll my eyes.
“How are you today?” I asked.
“Doing well, what about you? Did you get any rest last night?”
“I did.” I laughed. “I actually slept well. I think the fact that you all kicked my ass yesterday might have had something to do with that.”
He chuckled and glanced over my head, nodding to someone that I assumed was Greg. When Alex paused next to me, I did a double take and then looked behind him. “Hello, Alex.”
“Hi, Maggie.”
“What are you doing here?” Trevor asked as he turned and leaned back against the counter, arms crossed.
Alex’s gaze shot toward mine quickly and then to Trevor. “Blaire had some things come up. He asked me to cover for him today.”
I clamped my jaw shut, forcing myself not to react, and that lasted a whole two seconds before I snapped, “What a chicken!”
Trevor laughed. “Ah, man, what happened after I left your house last night?”
“Wait—” Alex put his hand up. “Why were you at her house?”
“That’s a long story,” I told Alex. “And one that has no business in today’s course of events.”
Trevor was frowning, but then he shrugged. “Okay, you’re right. Let’s focus on what you need to get through.”
A few minutes later, the paperwork was done, and we were given a key. Trevor explained that the key was to a training area, not open to the public, and I followed them down a hallway to a dark-gray door. Trevor reached in and turned on a few lights.
“Maggie, why don’t you get your stuff out so I can see what you have. I’m going to have Alex help me bring in our gear. We’ll be back in a few minutes.”
I nodded and watched the door close. I glanced around; there was a small classroom area with four tables and eight chairs. There was a whiteboard on the far wall and a large glass window that opened up to a range area. I set my bags down and went to check it out.
On the far end, targets hung, and there were lines painted on the cement ground at different intervals in different colors. There was a partial wall built on the far side, with a door in the middle, and two large metal barrels randomly set on the range. I assumed they were for concealment fire.
I glanced back at the door and wondered what Trevor and Alex were really talking about out of earshot. Had Greg not come today because of last night? Had Greg told Alex about what happened? I didn’t think so, but what had he told him?
I was almost done setting my stuff up when the door opened, and Alex and Trevor returned, both with their arms full of stuff. Okay, so maybe Trevor really had needed Alex’s help to retrieve all the gear. “Wow, you could have asked for help.”
Alex chuckled. “That’s okay. I needed the workout. I’ve missed the gym this week.”
I took a seat while they got things together, and then Trevor and Alex looked over my guns, showed me a few of theirs, and asked me safety questions. It didn’t take us long to load up our magazines, and they gave me a vest to wear and had me load up on ammo. They also told me I was using a different gun and fit me with a thigh holster. Then Alex helped me get an earpiece secured into my ear and showed me how to control volumes with the headphones I would be wearing over them.
“I can hear you on the range; why do I need to wear these?”
“Because when we are on the job, this is how we talk when we are separated. We can be in different rooms or different cars and still stay in touch. This will give you a chance to try it out, start to get used to it.”
It didn’t take long to get used to it or to hearing their voices whispered into my ear. I wondered briefly what Greg’s voice would sound like through the earpiece, but I dismissed that quickly.
We worked on the range for about three hours, and while it was work, it was fun. I learned quite a bit and tried some different firearms. It was obvious that I knew my way around a gun, and even when they got my adrenaline going, I was still consistent with my shooting. Both Alex and Trevor appreciated that, and I could tell they were impressed. Would Greg have been? Who knew—who cared?
After we finished, Trevor and I went to a deli on the way back to the training facility. Alex had begged off, saying he had a meeting he had to attend and that I was in good hands with Trevor.
Trevor and I had just gotten our food and taken a seat when he gave me a long look. “So, you going to tell me what the hell happened last night after I left?”
I stopped, my mouth wide open, my sandwich almost to my mouth. “I’m not sure what you are talking about.”
�
��Bullshit, Maggie. When I left, Greg was in a decent mood, and you two seemed to be getting along.”
“What makes you think that we aren’t getting along now?” I stuffed my sandwich into my mouth.
“Because Greg isn’t here.”
I shrugged my shoulders, wiped my mouth, and then finished chewing. “I thought Alex said he had something else to do.”
“Yeah, that was a lie, and you know it.”
“Sorry, I can’t help you there,” I told him.
“Maggie, I’m trying to help here. I know, and I’m pretty sure you know, that Greg doesn’t want you to go. He doesn’t think you’ll be safe, although this is going to be one of the safest ops we’ve ever done.”
“Yes, I am very aware that he doesn’t want me to go.”
“Did he tell you why?”
I took another bite and chewed methodically as I mulled over how to respond. “Yes, Greg told me that I was a distraction and not only to him, but the other guys wouldn’t need my kind of distraction.”
“Your kind of distraction?”
“Yes, because I’m a woman.”
He laughed. “Because you are a beautiful woman, and Greg wants you for himself.”
I pointed at him. “That he does not want. He specifically said that last night. Of course, that was after—” I stopped and shoved a chip into my mouth as his eyes went wide.
“You slept with Greg.”
I pursed my lips. Crap! “We most definitely did not sleep. We had sex, quick and dirty, and in the kitchen no less. Then he threw a fit and stomped out of the house.”
I expected Trevor to back his buddy, but he laughed and said, “You got under his skin! That’s awesome. I mean, I knew you were already there.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, it is obvious that Greg is really into you, but he’s scared to get involved with anyone. I’ve known the man for like fifteen years, and he’s never been in a relationship with anyone that lasted more than a week.” Trevor blinked and then started laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. I just remembered something Greg told me years ago. You know, he used to carry your picture around with him.”
“What?”
“Yeah, when I first met him, we bunked together while we were in a training class, and he used to take your photo out every night and look at it. I completely forgot about that until now.”
“Maybe it wasn’t me.”
“It was you. I have no doubt. Greg told me he let you go so that you would move on and have a great life.”
“Stupid,” I said. “He could have given me a great life.”
“Maybe, or maybe he needed to get to this point in his life before he realized that’s not only what he needs, but wants.”
“I don’t know about that, Trevor. Besides, he’s going to do everything he can to keep me from going on this trip.”
“Yeah, but I think you should go. Jake thinks you should go, and now that Alex has seen you shoot and heard about your day yesterday, I’m pretty sure he will be on our side.”
“So, you’ll back me on this? You won’t side with him?”
“No, I think you can carry your weight.”
“Will I be a distraction to you?”
He shook his head. “No, not me. I might think you are a beautiful, sexy woman, but there is no way I would think more than that. Even if I didn’t have Davina in my life, as far as I’m concerned, you, Maggie Valor, are taken.”
I laughed. “I am far from taken.”
Trevor grinned at me. “You had sex with Greg last night and got him so flustered that he ran away with his tail between his legs. Trust me, girl, once he gets his head out of his ass, he’ll realize that he screwed up and will come crawling back to you on his knees.”
“Yeah, and if he does that, I might just make him stay there for a while.”
Trevor laughed and held up his soda cup. I tapped mine to his. “You are my kind of girl, and if Greg pushes the issue of you not going because he doesn’t want to be responsible for you, I have your back.”
“Thanks, Trevor. That means a lot to me.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Gregory
I slept, but it took a while to get my mind to calm down and turn off. I was up earlier than I wanted to be, so I decided to hit the street and get in a run. As I moved, I tried to work through the frustration that I felt at myself. I had acted like a complete ass last night, and I couldn’t believe that I had told her that I wouldn’t be able to concentrate with her around—that she would be a distraction. I had meant it, but I shouldn’t have said it the way I had.
I didn’t do distractions. I’d trained to shove that shit deep down inside and focus. To focus on what my mission was, what the operation was, what the ultimate goal was. I should have been able to put her out of my head. I should have been able to pretend like she was no one to me, just another civilian contractor we were escorting. There had been a few women who had traveled with us recently, and I’d been assigned to oversee them. Several had been attracted to me. A couple had even managed to get into my bed for a few hours.
Those women had been distractions, but only momentary ones. After we parted ways, I never thought of them again, just as I’m sure they didn’t think of me either. Was Maggie thinking about me today? What names was she calling me if she was?
Maggie—she was still as much trouble as she always was. Damn her for trying to get even with that guy because they had looked at her wrong. What kind of woman did that? And the rat, what the hell did she do to get a dead rat delivered to her house?
The rat reminded me of the counter, and that prompted the memory of her sweet, sweet body at my mercy. I almost stumbled as I ran, thinking of her crying out as I shifted deeper into her.
Yeah, Maggie and I had sex when we were teens. It was pretty vanilla back then. The most outrageous thing was having sex in a car. Otherwise, it was on the couch, the floor, and maybe once in a while in her bed. The missionary position was the norm unless we were in my car, then she was sitting on my lap. Oral sex was occasionally tried out too, but neither of us was great at it back then.
I guess as it went for sex between teens, it was pretty good, but last night. Gee-zus! Last night put every single one of those previous escapades to shame, and it had only lasted ten minutes, maybe fifteen at the most, but it had been incredible.
Maggie had grown into one fine woman. Her body was firm and toned, her ass tight and round, her breasts small and perky. She had the perfect athletic body, and I could imagine working that body out to its limits. I knew without a doubt that Maggie was no prude. She would be a wild cat in bed if we ever got there.
The problem was, I didn’t know if we should get there. Jake had suggested I go out with Maggie because she might not have an issue with me traveling, but what if she wanted to go on every run that we made? Some of them were too damn dangerous—shit, there were some I didn’t even want to go on.
As I finished my run, I got caught on that last thought. What if I didn’t go? Would Jake give me shit if I didn’t do this one? Would he fire me? I didn’t think so. He probably wouldn’t be too happy about it, but I didn’t think he’d fire me if I told him I wasn’t going.
If I didn’t go, then one of the other guys would be tasked to watch her. I knew that Harvey, Trevor, Mike, and Alex would all be great candidates, although Mike and Harv were single. Even Jake would be okay; it was his idea that Maggie join the group anyway. Maybe he should be required to watch her—that might teach him a lesson.
What about Rob, Brett, Drake, Cliff, Bill, Wyatt, and Joe? They were all the part-timers that we brought in to do operations as needed. All of them were single, and all of them total fucking dogs—well, Drake and Wyatt weren’t as bad, but they were still single.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure if Jake had decided which PTer’s were running this job. I knew that the proposal stated that there would be between eight and ten people. If Maggie went, then t
hat would leave us with nine spots. Five FTer’s, not counting me, and four PTer’s. I could remain back here and watch over things.
That was actually a good idea. Alice and I could hold the fort down, and I could give up my spot to one of the other guys. I’m sure they could use the money. With that decided, I arrived home and called Alex while I was filling my water bottle.
“Hey, how are things with Maggie? I heard about last night.”
“That was a shitshow,” I replied.
“Trevor said she got questioned by the police.”
“Yeah, Maggie decided to stick her nose where it didn’t belong, but she managed to get it cleared up.”
“That’s good. Trevor said she did well yesterday.”
“She passed.”
He laughed, echoing my words. “She passed.”
I so did not want to talk about Maggie. “Yeah, hey, I have a favor.”
“What’s that?”
“Can you hook up with Trevor today and help him at the range? They are going there first thing this morning.”
“I have a meeting at one.”
“Trevor would only need your help at the range, and she’s an experienced shooter, so she will probably run through things quickly. They probably won’t be there past eleven.”
“Why aren’t you going?”
“Because I forgot I needed to get a blood test done today.”
“You’d rather get your vein pricked than spend a few hours behind the trigger? Are you ill?”
I chuckled; he knew me well. “No, routine shit for my physical that needs to be done ASAP.”
“Why can’t you hit the lab and then go to the range?”
“Because I’m asking you to do it.”
“Are you avoiding Maggie?”
I hesitated just a fraction of a second too long. “No.”
“Bullshit.” He sighed. “Look, I’ll help Trevor out because I’d like to see Maggie in action, but you need to get your head out of your ass. She’s going with us, and you’re going to need to deal with that.”