Marine's Mission - Rebecca Deel Page 0,58
they disappeared from sight. She prayed Owen and Wolf Pack were successful in their mission and returned home without injuries.
“We should go,” Elliot said, voice gruff. “He’ll be fine. Owen has more to live for than ever.”
“He doesn’t know what he’s up against. They didn’t have enough information to formulate a good plan.”
He snorted. “We never do. You gather as much intel as you can, hope for the best, and plan for the worst.” He stared down at her. “Either you deal with the job, Gigi, or walk away before you hurt him.”
“Are you trying to make me angry, Elliot? If you are, you succeeded.” She’d never hurt Owen.
Caleb chuckled. “Elliot doesn’t have to try to make anyone angry. He’s a master at it.”
“Shut up, bro.” Elliot’s dark gaze pinned Gigi. “You have the power to rip my brother’s heart out if you aren’t serious about supporting his choices.”
Gigi thumped his arm with her fist. “Listen, buddy, I want him to be happy. If this job fulfills him, I won’t stand in his way, but I’m not walking. Owen means too much to me.”
“How much?” he demanded. “Enough to stick with him through multiple deployments when you might not hear from him for days or weeks at a time?”
“That much, and a lot more. I’m still here after years of military deployments.” She refused to admit to Elliot, Levi, and Caleb that she was in love with Owen before she told the man himself.
“You weren’t involved with him then, Gigi. The loneliness and fear for his safety will wear on you.”
“The only thing I need is for Owen to come home to me. I’ll deal with the rest.”
Satisfaction filled Elliot’s dark eyes. He gave a short nod. “That’s what I was hoping to hear.”
She scowled. “Are you kidding me? This was a test?”
“Maybe.”
“Don’t do that again.” She thumped him, refusing to flinch when the light punch to Elliot’s rock-hard biceps sent pain shooting up her arm. “If you do, you’ll find your B & B coffee and muffin supply cut off.”
He winced. “Ouch. You play hard ball.”
“When it comes to Owen, you bet I do. Nothing you say will change my mind.” Elliot and the rest of the Montgomery brothers didn’t understand that Owen had the power to break her heart into a million pieces.
“We need to get Gigi out of here,” Levi murmured. “We’re attracting attention.”
Gigi glanced around, suddenly uneasy. “Good idea. More men might be involved in kidnapping Toni and Ellis.”
Elliot wrapped his hand around her upper arm and steered her toward his SUV. “We have you covered.”
Yeah, but would he catch her if her knees gave out? Thankfully, she didn’t have to find out because Elliot got her inside his SUV seconds later.
Gigi relaxed against the seat, already missing Owen so much she could barely breathe. She’d told Elliot that she could handle Owen’s absences. Time to show the Montgomery brothers that she was as good as her word.
When Elliot climbed behind the wheel, he turned toward her. “You sure you’re okay?”
“How much of a wuss will I look like if I admit that it’s a good thing I’m sitting down right now?”
He chuckled. “Adrenaline dump. It’ll pass.”
“How do you deal with this all the time?”
Elliot shrugged. “You get used to it. We’re trained to think and function through the crash and burn.”
“Must be nice.” She fastened her seatbelt and wrapped her arms around her middle, cold to the bone.
He drove from the parking lot with his brothers behind him. After a glance at Gigi, Elliot cranked up the heat. “You’ll be warm soon,” he murmured.
“Thanks, Elliot. Sorry for being grumpy earlier.”
He snorted. “No, you’re not. I wanted to know where you stood. He’s my brother, and the Montgomery brothers have each other’s backs, even if we don’t think we need the help. Owen might be late to the party, but he’s crazy about you.” Another glance at her. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
She stared. “How did you figure that out?”
“Does he know?”
“No, and you won’t tell him. I want to do it.” And she would as soon as she worked up the courage to bare her soul.
He scowled. “Have you ever known me to have loose lips?”
Gigi laughed. “You barely talk most of the time, so no.”
“Exactly. Want a piece of advice?”
“You can share. Doesn’t mean I’ll take it.”
“Tell him soon.” His hands tightened around the steering wheel, knuckles turning white. “Life can throw you curve balls when you least expect them, and you