Chapter 48

48

Even if he'd been a master of farewells, Cody knew he'd botched this one beyond repair. And he hadn't even said a word.

Clearly, he didn't have to. Paige knew he was leaving. He could see it in the tight set of her face. The jerky movements as she jumped up from the table.

He'd stared down the barrels of terrorist guns, defused bombs with seconds to spare, and slipped undetected into enemy strongholds. But nothing in his years of training had prepared him for the gut-wrenching ache that seized him as she faced him, laptop clutched to her chest like a talisman against heartbreak.

The air between them crackled with unspoken words and barely contained emotion. He could almost hear the rest of the team trying to fade into invisibility, their movements exaggeratedly careful as they edged away from the epicenter of tension.

"Let's get these dishes done," Mason muttered.

"How long for the antidote?" he asked, his voice sandpaper-rough.

Paige's movements were stiff, almost mechanical, as she turned towards her room. "A day? A week? I have no idea." Her words carried a bitter edge that sliced through him. "You don't have to wait around. The team will get you a copy as soon as it's ready."

She walked away without another word. He watched her go, the urge to follow her, to explain, to beg forgiveness, nearly overwhelming. But he held back. She had every right to her anger, and he had no business trying to rob her of it.

Instead, he gathered an armload of dirty dishes, porcelain clinking softly as he made his way to the kitchen. The familiar scents of dish soap and leftover lasagna did nothing to quell the storm raging in his chest.

Mason was there, his hulking frame incongruous among the gleaming stainless-steel appliances. Cody shooed him away with a curt nod. "You've done enough."

The sniper's eyes flicked towards the empty hallway, his expression a mixture of concern and exasperation. "I was thinking the same about you, man." He jerked his head toward Paige's room. "You should fix that, bro."

Cody's hands tightened on the edge of the sink, his knuckles bleaching white. "Wish I could. There's no way."

Mason walked off, shaking his head, leaving Cody alone with the dirty dishes. The quiet hum of the refrigerator mocked him, a constant reminder of the domestic life that would forever elude him.

Cody scrubbed at a stubborn bit of sauce on a plate. The sound of footsteps pulled him from his brooding, and he looked up to see Bridger and Tai entering the kitchen.

Bridger grabbed a dish towel without a word. "Thought you could use some help."

Tai nodded, picking up a sponge. "So, what's the deal with this Seven-Five?"

Cody sighed, rinsing suds off a glass. "The analysts I talked to think it's a reference to the ‘Seven Sages' of ancient Greece and the ‘Five Elements' in Chinese philosophy."

Tai made a choking sound. "Take themselves serious much?"

Bridger dried a plate with more force than strictly necessary. "Listen, Cody, you don't have to disappear. I could talk to the team about bringing you on board."

His hands stilled in the soapy water. "You're the best team I've ever worked with. That's a great offer, but I don't know that it'll fly with your other personnel." His gaze shot to the hallway.

Tai's eyes narrowed, studying Cody's face with unexpected perception. "Scared to take the next jump. I feel you."

"Look," Tai continued, his usual bravado softening, "I've got this girl, Tenaya. Been dragging my feet about taking the next step. Not ‘cause I don't want to, but what if she doesn't? What if I faceplant harder than a drunk raccoon on roller skates?"

Bridger groaned at the analogy, but Tai pressed on, his eyes intense.

"Then I realized, you gotta take the chance. Put yourself out there. Like my nona used to say, ‘You can't catch a fish if you don't wet your hook.'"

Bridger's eyeroll was practically audible.

"Speaking of ‘all talk,'" Bridger added, fixing Tai with a pointed stare. "How about you show us some action?"

Tai's hand dipped into his pocket, emerging with a small velvet box. He cradled it like it might shatter at any moment. "I'm asking Tenaya to marry me. The second we touch down in Redemption Creek."

Cody felt a pang in his chest, a bittersweet mixture of joy for the big Marine and a deep, aching longing. His gaze drifted down the hallway towards Paige's room, Tai's words echoing in his mind.

"Running won't protect her," Bridger said. "If that's what's stopping you."

Tai nodded sagely. "And it won't lessen the guilt if the Consortium gets her. There's nowhere to hide from that."

Probably not. He pressed the heels of his hands into the edge of the sink. These guys were right. Running wouldn't keep her safe. And it wouldn't keep his heart safe.

Maybe it was time to wet his own hook. The thought both terrified and exhilarated him, much like the woman who'd stolen his heart without even trying.

Cody stared at the velvet box in Tai's hand. Could he actually grasp at a bright new future? A life with Paige? The possibility both electrified and terrified him, setting his nerves alight with conflicting emotions.

His fingers tightened on the edge of the sink, knuckles bleaching bone-white. The fear of dragging her deeper into the abyss of danger warred with the soul-deep ache of wanting her in his life. He'd spent so long pushing people away, keeping them safe by maintaining a careful distance. But now ...

"You like her, right?" Bridger asked, his tone as serious as a judge's gavel. "I mean really like her."

"Yes. Sure. I mean, absolutely. It's not that ..." Cody fumbled for words, feeling like a teenager again.

"Paige has faced down danger since the day we met," Tai added, his usually jovial face uncharacteristically solemn. "You don't need to protect her."

Cody wasn't so sure about that. The remnants of the Consortium, whatever sinister name they now operated under, would likely hunt down her and her entire team anyway. But they'd want him worse, like sharks scenting blood in the water.

Bridger wrapped an arm around his shoulders, the gesture both comforting and grounding. "Here's the thing. Either you want to build a life with Paige, or you don't. The rest of this garbage can't factor into your decision. There's already way too much evil in this world. Don't let them steal this from you, too."

"But if you're not sure you're ready to be a one-woman man, you should walk away now," Tai said, his eyes glinting with protective steel.

"Or run," Bridger added, his tone brooking no argument. "Because if you're toying with our girl ..."

"I think I need to talk to her," Cody said, his voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking the words too loudly might shatter the fragile hope building in his chest.

Tai's face split into a grin as bright as a Texas sunrise. "Now you're talking! But listen, buddy, you're gonna have to go big here."

A slap on the back nearly sent Cody stumbling. "Trust me. I'll hook you up. I know from big."

"Thanks," Cody managed, a potent cocktail of gratitude and apprehension churning in his gut. He was grateful for the support, but Tai's idea of ‘big' was slightly terrifying, like staring down the barrel of an unpredictable weapon.

Bridger chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't look so scared. It can't be worse than defusing a bomb, right?"

Yeah, it could. This wasn't just about his life anymore. It was about Paige's too. About their future, stretching out before them like an uncharted wilderness.

He closed his eyes, trying to center himself in the eye of the emotional storm. In the end, he'd have to lean into his faith. The Lord would guide him in the right direction, illuminating the path ahead. The Lord would make things right. All he had to do was summon the courage to follow his heart's true north.

Cody took a deep breath, the mingled scents of dish soap and friendship grounding him in the moment. He opened his eyes, meeting the supportive gazes of his new friends, seeing in them a reflection of the man he could become.

"Alright," he said, squaring his shoulders like a soldier preparing for battle. "I'm in. Whatever you've got planned, Tai, I'm in. But I need to talk to her before we fly out." If she turned him down, he had no intention of joining the team on the West Coast.

In fact, he'd repack his go bag now. That way, he could melt away into the shadows, dragging his shattered heart with him.

As Tai launched into an enthusiastic explanation of his plan, his words a rapid-fire burst of ideas, Cody's gaze drifted towards the hallway leading to Paige's room. His heart raced with a heady mixture of fear and anticipation. He was stepping into unknown territory, more perilous than any mission he'd ever undertaken.

Missions required mental focus. This required laying bare his heart.

But for Paige, it was worth the risk. For a chance at a life with her, he'd face any danger, scale any mountain.

Dishtowel in hand, Bridger leaned close, his breath warm against Cody's ear. "Don't worry. Much. Tai hasn't blown anything up in weeks. This'll be great."

Cody ran a shaking hand over his face, feeling the rough stubble beneath his fingers. The only thing likely to blow up was his heart, and he prayed it would be in a shower of joy rather than shrapnel of regret.