A phone began to ring, the peeling sound cutting through the afternoon air. At first, Evie paid it no attention until another phone rang. And then…
Another.
She and the other women all turned and looked at the guys. All four had their cells to their ears, and from the expressions on their handsome faces, it wasn’t good news.
“Well, Evie,” Nicki spoke to her from across the flickering flames. “It looks like you’re about to get your first real test.”
“Test?” Evie’s brows bunched together. “What do you mean, test?”
“She means, the guys just got called up.” Avery pushed herself to her feet and sighed. “Andthatmeans, you’re about to see if you can handle being with a Tac-Ops man.”
Her gaze slid back to where he was standing, and her chest instantly grew tight. A giant fist reached inside and squeezed her heart as she thought of him running headfirst into danger.
A few days of awesome sex and in-depth conversations was one thing. But staying behind while the man she loved went to places unknown to risk his life for God only knows what…
If he and his team didn’t do what they do, you and the girls would be dead.
It was that thought that had her rising to her feet to make her way across the patio to where Beckett stood. As hard as it was to think of him risking his life, she understood better than most what an impact he and his team could make.
Besides, Nicki and the others were right. Thiswasa test of epic proportions. And she intended to pass with flying colors.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Thirty-six hours later…
“On a scaleof one to not a fuckin’ chance, what are the odds these guys are actually gonna show?”
Beckett sat in his designated seat on the private jet owned by his boss and waited. The last time Tac-Ops had been slated to buddy up with another team, Beckett and the guys had been left high and dry right at go-time.
Not that it was the other team’s fault. They’d simply been following Uncle Sam’s orders.
Regardless of the reason, however, any major last-minute op changes—like the one they’d faced in Afghanistan—risked screwing the whole damn pooch. Luckily the mission to rescue Evie and the girls had gone off without a hitch, despite the unexpected change in plans.
Lucky for Evie and her students. And damn lucky for me.
“That hurts, Bones.” A teasing female voice sounded throughout the luxurious cabin from the jet’s state-of-the-art telecom system. “After all this time, I thought you trusted in the genius that is Shadow.”
Beckett grinned. “Oh, I trust you plenty, darlin’. It’s the random team we know squat diddly about that’s got my knickers in a twist.”
“Well, get ready to iron out those pesky wrinkles of yours because these guys are the real deal. And I’ve already been in contact with Mustang, and he and his team are at the airstrip, and they’re waiting foryouto arrive.”
“Mustang?” He frowned. “Who the hell’s that?”
“Uh…the leader of the SEAL team you’re working this op with. They use nicknames in the field, just like you guys. There’s Mustang, Midas, Aleck, Pid, Jag, and Slate.” The woman paused a beat before asking, “Wait. You said you don’t know anything about them, but I personally sent each of you a detailed file on each of the six SEALs running assist on this one. Did you not get it?”
A purposeful silence stretched on for a handful of seconds before Beckett let her know, “Oh, I got it, and I read it. I just wanted to see if you’d take the bait, is all.”
“Always the comedian, aren’t you Bones?” Shadow’s lack of actual amusement was obvious. “But you know, one of these days, you’re going to need my help, and I just might not pick up the phone. Then what will you do?”
“Ah, come on, now, darlin’,” he crooned. “You shouldn’t even joke about a thing like that.”
“Hey, you started it.”
“Fair enough.” Beckett’s grin lifted into a full-blown smile. “My apologies.”
“Thank you. Now, let’s go over the plan one last time, shall we?” Her focus shifted as the tech genius got down to business. “In about twenty minutes, you’ll land at the private air strip our fearless leader’s friend was kind enough to let us use. Once there, both teams will drive to the launch site on the island’snorthern beach where you guys and the SEALs will suit up and swim to the target’s location.”
“Quick question…” Apollo got the mysterious woman’s attention. “Hypothetically speaking…what would happen if I forgot to pack my wet suit?”