Page 9 of Protected from Reprisal
“Sometimes people get lonely,” Tyler suggests. His gaze drops to his ring finger, where there’s just the faintest hint of a pale strip of skin where his wedding band used to be. Then he shrugs. “Living alone, working all the time… maybe she’s lonely.”
A sharp pang hits my chest.
Isshe lonely?
I hadn’t thought about it before, but it’s possible. Shit, I feel lonely sometimes, and I live with seven other people. Well, not technically—I have my own apartment—but living at the Blade and Arrow headquarters with my four teammates and three of their partners ensures I never have too much time alone.
Yara, on the other hand…
What do I know about her life in Seattle, really? I know she puts in long hours at DynaTech Northwest, the robotics company she works for. I know she teaches a robotics class once a week at the local community college. I know she has a workshop in her garage, where she spends most of her weekends on her own inventions, like the specially-modified prosthetic Indy wears.
But does she go out with friends? Does she date? Does Yara hit the bars every once in a while just to find companionship for the night, like I do?
My jaw clenches at the thought.
It shouldn’t matter to me if Yara dates. But shit. It does.
“Yara mentioned something about a mission,” I tell my friends. “And taking MOMP down.”
Webb gives me a curious look. “MOMP?”
“The most obnoxious man on the planet,” I explain. “The guy sitting next to her. She texted saying she was on a mission to take him down. And that she might need backup and to wait for her call.”
Rafe stiffens. His chin lifts. “Backup?”
“Yeah.” I look at my phone again. “She said she was on the move, and would text with the final?—”
Fuck.
What am I doing?
If one of my teammates announced some sort of vague plan, I’d insist on the details. I’d want to be right there, if not within sight, within hearing distance, at least. I’d want to be close enough to jump in if needed.
No, Yara isn’t on my team. But she’s my friend. And being a Green Beret makes her part of my extended family.
And shit, I really, really don’t like thinking about her alone with that guy. Even if shecanhandle herself, she shouldn’t have to.
Grabbing my phone, I push my seat back and stand. “I’m going to check things out. Maybe it’s fine, but…”
“You getting a feeling?” Webb asks. His expression is solemn.
“Yeah,” I reply. “I don’t like it. She tells me she can’t stand the guy, then she heads off arm in arm with him. And this mission? Whatever it is, I don’t want to wait to find out.”
Bea gnaws on her lip. Her brows pull into a worried V. “Do you think something’s wrong, Ace?”
“Probably not,” I assure her, more to keep Bea from worrying than anything else. “But I’d feel better taking a look around for her. Just to be sure.”
Rafe meets my gaze. “I can go with you.”
“Give me a few minutes head start. That way if she is hooking up with the guy”—-my molars grind—“we won’t all come swarming in en masse and embarrass her.”
Tyler nods. “I’ll figure out who the guy is. See if there are any red flags.”
“Sounds good,” I reply. Given that Tyler is Shadow Team’s resident tech genius, I’m certain he’ll find out in minutes.
“Do you think she recognized him from somewhere?” Indy asks. “He doesn’t look like former military, but I guess it’s possible…”
Another glance at my phone tells me it’s been seven minutes since Yara’s last message. Which isn’t long in the scheme of things, but when my gut is shouting warnings and my instincts are tingling? It feels like longer.
