Page 68 of Wrecked
“What doyouthink, Addison?”
Her dad never asked for her opinion. He barked orders, people jumped to execute them. Like the paintings before them, this was something new.
“Well, I’mnotgoing into hiding. You didn’t raise a coward.”
That made him smile.
They paused to admire an abstract piece of art.
“Your art is so much better than this,” he murmured.
She put her arm around him and gave him a little squeeze. “Thanks, Daddy.” After another second, she said, “I’m going to watch my six and live my life.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They continued through the new exhibit, mostly in silence, until one of them commented on a painting.
Her dad had a tell, too. He’d pulled his phone from his pocket and was holding it in his hand. Phone in hand told her he was itching to make a call.
“Daddy, I’m going to the restroom.”
“I’ll wait in this salon for you,” he replied.
Addison left, then circled back. She peeked around the corner, her gaze sweeping the busy room until she found her target.
Philip Skye was a man of action and he was going to ensure nothing happened to her. While she appreciated his concern, she didn’t want someone reporting back to him on every move she made.
As she suspected, he was on his phone, his hand cupped over his mouth so no one could hear him or read his lips. Her father was paranoid, but for good reason. On more than one occasion, someone had tried to take him out.
He finished the call, slipped the phone back into his pocket.
There were some things her dad didnotneed to know. Giving ALPHA Operative Nicholas Hawk a blowjob was at the top of that list.
10
INVITATION TO ESCAPE
Late Wednesday afternoon, Hawk shifted his attention from the monitor on the wall to the four ALPHA Operatives—Emerson, Slash, Barry, and his cousin Tommy—sitting around the conference table at ALPHA HQ.
“The mission is Sunday, 4 a.m.,” Hawk said. “Meet here at midnight for prep, then we’ll fly to the Eastern Shore. Like every mission, we go in together and we leave together.” He glanced around the table. “Tommy is a seasoned pro, but we gotta look out for him.”
“I got you,” Slash said to him.
“Same,” Barry replied.
“Cooper, Danielle, and I are headed to target practice after this,” Emerson said. “You guys are welcome.”
Slash and Barry declined.
“I’m in,” Tommy replied.
“Hit me with your questions,” Hawk said to his team.
There were none. Everyone filed out, except Tommy.
“How’s your first week going?” Hawk asked.
“I love working here. Donetta’s been super helpful explaining different aspects of the organization to me.”
