Raiden (The Kent Brothers #2) - A.M. Hargrove Page 0,43
we were finishing up, Drex dropped the bomb. “We’re leaving for Ireland the day after tomorrow.”
I knew this was coming, and coming fast, but it hit me like a speeding car at a hundred miles per hour. I was speechless.
“I know it comes as a shock,” Drex went on, “but we need to get this op moving before O’Brien makes a move of his own.”
My lips compressed into one line and all I could do was slowly nod. My heart battered my ribcage, and it was difficult to breathe.
Scottie pinned me with her gaze. When the adrenaline surge eased, I said, “All I ask is that you be as careful as possible.”
“That’s what I wanted to reassure you of. We have every detail planned from beginning to end. If our op runs as we hope, we’ll be back in two or three weeks, maybe less. Everything depends on O’Brien’s cooperation.”
I added, “And whether he retaliates.”
“We’re making it damn difficult on him. If he tries, we bring her here,” Drex responded.
“Can I ask a favor? Will you keep me informed?”
Everyone sort of fiddled with their napkins. This was suspicious.
“Scottie?”
She glanced at Drex, and he dipped his head.
“We will until we go dark,” she answered.
“Dark?”
“Once we get the girl, we won’t be communicating with anyone, except for O’Brien. When we’ve received communication that he’s done as we’ve asked, then we’ll open up our lines again.” Her explanation made me shiver.
“Fuck. How long will that take?”
“Can’t answer that. It depends on him.” It was Drex who spoke this time.
I stood, grabbed my plate, and said, “Nice dinner. I’ll be heading up now.” I had to clear my head. This was overwhelming. How was I going to tolerate her being gone and not being able to speak to her?
Chapter Twenty-Two
Scottie
Watching Raiden walk away was worse than I thought. I could handle his anger. Hurt was a different matter. I knew he hated this op, but I would not give it up.
“That went well,” Gemini said.
I cringed. “It was bad.”
“He’ll be fine,” Drex added. “Once he gets used to the idea.”
“You’re such a smart-ass. Would you be fine?” Gemini asked her husband.
“Fuck no.”
“Scottie, if there’s anything we can do to help reach out, okay?” She grabbed my hand and gave it a hard squeeze.
“Thanks, but I don’t think he’ll be okay until I get back. And here’s the thing. If I’ll be doing these ops, this isn’t the only time I’ll be away.”
“It’s hard when you’re on the other side.” Drex was right. To an untrained civilian, the danger was extreme. But our training made it less so. We knew how to handle certain situations and would institute the correct protocols in case something happened. Raiden couldn’t see that and to be fair, it was difficult when you weren’t in the middle of it.
“Yeah. It’s just going to be a tough few weeks.”
The next day wasn’t easy either. He avoided me that night. I went to his room to talk. It was my last night here, and I wanted it to be special, only it turned out to be the opposite.
“Raiden, can’t you put your dislike of this aside, just for tonight? I’m leaving before sunup tomorrow.”
His shoulders slumped as his chest caved. “Every time I look at you I get a sense it may be the last. I’m sorry, Scottie, but I suppose it’s self-preservation.”
Wow. What could I say to that? If he was distancing himself now, would he still be around when I got back?
“Are you ending things with us then?” The question begged to be asked. If he was putting me out of his mind, then there was no sense in me wasting time thinking about him while I was away. My focus on the op was important and any distraction could end in disaster.
“No. I’m protecting my heart.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” The man thoroughly confused me.
“It means if something happens to you, I’ll be prepared.”
“Fuck, Raiden. You talk as though I’ll die.”
“That’s more than a remote possibility.”
“Everything’s a remote possibility. I don’t know what to say to you anymore.”
“Now you know how I feel.”
“That’s not fair.”
He stalked toward me, anger sparking in his eyes. “No? I think it’s very fair. You’re putting yourself in a high-risk situation. How do you expect me to feel? What do you expect me to say or do? Offer you a bagged lunch and say, ‘Honey, have a glorious trip?’”
My arms flew up in frustration, but he caught them in a vise-like grip.