the fucker and now it’s standing up for business again.
“What’s going on?” Her blue eyes droop with exhaustion. The poor thing’s been running on adrenaline for too long and is running out of steam. Despite our fight, her head bobs and her eyes keep falling shut. She’s moments away from total collapse.
“Nothing.” I lay her head against my chest and run my hand over her hair. A mess of knots, there are tangles in her tangles. My heart hurts imagining what she’s been through. Moira’s not had an easy life. “We’ll be touching down soon. Try to get some rest. It’s going to be chaos once we land.”
“Okay.”
I’m surprised she doesn’t fight me on this. Moira seems to take pleasure in resisting everything I tell her to do. Her anger, that resistance, is her strength. It’s how she survives.
Hate to say it, but I like her spunk and look forward to what that promises. I need someone strong enough to stand up to my bullshit and call me a jackass when the shoe fits.
I need someone who can deal with what I do for a living, the calling I chose to accept as my guiding principle. A weak woman won’t do. She won’t be able to endure the long nights when I leave her alone to save others. Moira has that strength and more.
But first, there are a few bumps in the road we need to overcome. I brace for one hell of a ride.
While she rests, Speed fills me in on the details.
The muscles in my jaw bunch as he tells me what Alpha team found. I look at my woman with a great deal of respect and a shit-ton of concern. I know what it means to take a life. There was a time when I wrestled with what that meant.
Now Moira must travel down that path. I’m afraid of what she’s going to find. Knowing this, it’s even better I stopped that kiss.
The psychologists at the Facility need to know what Alpha team found, and I can only hope they’re able to offer Moira the support she needs.
As for me, I’m not saying a word until Moira tells me herself. But if she doesn’t, I’ll help her process as best I can. How do I start up a romantic relationship on top of what she’s endured?
The thing about Moira is that I feel her all over, against my skin and in my blood. She’s the beating of my heart, the stirring of my soul. She’s already a part of me.
When I touch her face, a soft caress, she settles against me with a sigh. The poor thing tries to keep her eyes open, but her lids continue to bounce. I don’t think she’s aware that she’s dozing in and out.
Sapped of adrenaline doesn’t quite describe her current state, but at least now, she’s in my arms, protected and safe.
As we return to our rendezvous point, I check in with my team. They subdued the crew and are staying with the ship for as long as possible to extract information, which kind of sucks. Messing-with-people-so-they-tell-you-shit, aka torture, is my wheelhouse. I excel at getting people to spill shit they don’t want to tell me.
Support sucks, but given a choice, I’d much rather be here, comforting Moira.
Ariel closes in on the airport. After she drops us off, she’ll head back to pick up Alpha and Charlie teams, who joined Alpha on the ship. They’re headed to exfil as we speak.
As expected, the moment the bay doors slide open, we’re inundated with activity. Moira climbs out of my lap and makes her way out of the helicopter under CJ’s care. He reaches up and gives her a hand down.
Forest Summers is there, watching me with a tight-lipped expression. I can’t tell if he’s pissed I went against CJ’s orders or pleased with my actions. Not that it matters. I jump out after Moira and take her from CJ.
He’ll want to have a moment alone with me, but I’ll stay with Moira as long as possible.
Behind me, Ariel’s clear voice rings out. “Sorry about the problem with the comms. They can be finicky.”
“Finicky?” CJ arches a brow. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
“Yup. I had to make a decision. I know it wasn’t my place, but as the pilot, I’m used to being mission commander. I saw an opportunity and took it.”
“What do you have to say?” CJ glances at me, then his gaze slides over to Speed.
“Something like that.” I