Page 56 of Protecting Bree
“Smiley?” Kevlar asked as they stepped outside the room. “Got a sec?”
“See you at the base airport,” Tex said, as he continued down the hall with Cookie at his heels.
“You need to get going if you’re gonna see Remi before we leave,” Smiley warned.
“Already texted her. She’s coming to the base. I’ll be with you before the plane leaves. I just wanted to say…I’m not going to let you down.”
“I know.”
“I mean it. You could’ve picked anyone to go with you, and I’m honored that you chose me.”
“Kevlar, you’re my team leader. You’ve proven time and time again that you aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty. You aren’t going to back down from a firefight. And you don’t give a shit about morally gray if it means helping an innocent civilian or bystander. But that’s not the only reason I chose you. I need you to make sure I don’t lose my shit. If things don’t work out…”
Smiley paused and swallowed hard, not wanting to say the words, but needing to all the same.
“If Bree’s already been moved, or killed, or if she’s too traumatized to even know who I am, I need you to rein me in. Because if I lose her…I don’t know how I’ll respond. But it won’t be good.”
Kevlar squeezed his shoulder. “You don’t need me for any of that, Smiley. Out of everyone on our team, you’re the one who I know willalwaysbe our rock. You’ve always had our best interests at heart and you do what needs to be done. Others might think you’re an unfeeling machine, but I know differently. And Bree has helped bring out that part of you even more.
“You’re the biggest protector of all of us. And it’s because of your mom. Because you want to atone for something that you never needed to atone for. If she was around today, she’d tell you the same thing. You think your mom wasn’t protectingyou? And I’d bet everything I have that the guilt she felt over the situation she put you in as a child ate at her, even more than your guilt eats atyou.
“We’re going to find the women. Of that I have no doubt. Whether that’s in Ensenada or Ecuador, I don’t know. But we aren’t going to stop until they’re safe and back home where they belong. Whatever you need, whenever you need it—it’s yours.”
Smiley nodded, Kevlar’s words hitting him hard.
His mom probablyhadfelt guilty that she couldn’t find her way out of her marriage, and that he’d suffered right alongside her.
It was something he’d never considered. Couldn’t see while buried under his own guilt for so many years. And it was past time to let that go. Kevlar and Bree were both right…he’d been a kid. There really wasn’t anything he could’ve done.
It was his mother’s responsibility to leave her husband. And she couldn’t or wouldn’t.
“Thanks,” he told Kevlar in a quiet tone.
“You’re welcome. Let’s go get your woman. Remi andthe rest of the girls aren’t going to be happy until one of their flock is back in the nest. I’ll check in with her and meet you at the hangar.”
Smiley nodded and followed Kevlar as he strode down the hall toward the stairs. He took a moment once he was outside to look at the clear, star-filled sky.
He thought about Bree. Wondered if she was seeing the same stars he was. He’d found out through his job that the world was a smaller place than most people realized. What happened in one corner would eventually trickle down and affect someone thousands of miles away.
“I’m coming, Bree. Stay strong. You can do this.”
Simply saying the words aloud and putting them out into the world made him feel better. He had no idea how things would turn out, but no one would ever be able to say he hadn’t done everything possible.
“Stay strong. You can do this.”
Bree stopped tugging at the plastic piece and tilted her head. She’d heard the words as if they were whispered in her ear. It was a weird feeling. To hear Smiley’s voice yet know for a fact he wasn’t anywhere near her.
But…even if she was having hallucinations, the words made her feel better. It was something Smiley would absolutely say to her if he could. He’d always believed in her. Thought she was stronger than she was.
“Any luck?” Julie asked.
“Almost,” Bree told her, grabbing hold of the plastic tray once more and pulling as hard as she could.
The piece snapped off so quickly, she flew up then back on her ass, bumping her head on the top of the cage.
Bree stared at the long piece of plastic in her hand. She’d done it!
“Wooooo!” Fiona cheered.
