23. alessia

23

ALESSIA

My first day on the job was a whirlwind of stress. I digested a lot of information. I sat down and was briefed on all recent events and targets. Learning about our next high-priority target was sickening. They call him the Surgeon. He is an evil man who worked under Omar. He's the same man who kidnapped Violet Redd and Damon Hawk. He was one of his right-hand men. He did dirty work for him, killing and kidnapping innocents, and still does even after Omar is no longer here.

He has carried on to do more evil things. Winters filled me in, and today is the day we give SEAL Team Hellhounds their next mission. It's a conference-looking room, a big screen with a PowerPoint on all of the target's known information and whereabouts and maps that hold highly confidential information that only needs to know personnel can decipher.

Slaughter and Hannibal sit in the back of the room, watching me like a hawk, with their hands behind their back in the corner behind about forty special operators that include Army Special Forces, SEALS, etc.

Daegan twirls a bullet in his hand out of boredom, I presume. But his grey eyes are pinned on me, watching me like his life depends on it. He makes me nervous, and all I want to do is prove that I belong here. I thought I already did with the numerous tests and schools I had to get through. Winters told me that some people think I got to my position because the Admiral is my stepfather. Kane gives me a warm, comforting smile like he's encouraging me. His eyes say I'm doing a good job for my first day.

The room is quiet, full of men who are ready to hunt down their next target.

"The Surgeon kidnapped a family working closely with us to catch him. We've been informed by intelligence of his coordinates. SEAL Team Hellhounds will run this one since Grim isn't here. Creature and Bane are on babysitting duty, and Texas…well, he works best with Grim and Bane together." Enzo Rooker, Operator Cobra, informs the room with a southern accent voice that's riddled with years of wisdom and experience.

He's a handsome man. Tall, masculine, and built all around. 6'4, with colored eyes, but I can't tell if they're emerald hazel, light brown, or even blue. I've never been close enough to get the details. He has a blonde beard peppered with a few white strands, and his peppered curly hair is grown over his ears. From what I know, he's the oldest on SEAL Team Executioners, happily married to his wife with twin daughters.

Winters and I received the crucial information this morning, so the Teams need to act fast to capture ‘The Surgeon' before he kills and tortures more innocent people. He's a criminal, murderer, rapist, and extremist—pure evil with no redemption in sight for his heinous actions.

"We're going to need Creature for this mission. You know we need him. If he's not going to make the shot to take HVT's out, we need him as overwatch. We don't have Grim, and now our best Sniper?" Lopez sits up in his seat, throwing a tantrum. He looks around the room, and other operators nod in agreement. All the special operators look and turn to each other, and a ruckus of chatter ensues. I grow uncomfortable knowing that I may be the reason Hannibal and Bane can't do the job they truly desire.

I look down at my feet, placing my hands in my pocket. My teeth pinch my bottom lip nervously, and I start to pop my fingers while my entire body boils into nerves. I want to leave the room now. But I don't want to do that to Slaughter. Kane asked me if we could sit here when the information was being delivered. He still wanted to attend the meeting, even though his assignment is to watch over me.

"Stop feeling sorry for yourself…" Hannibal's voice whispers into my ear over the loud commotion. His comment is high enough for me to hear but low enough so no one else can. I look up to my right, trailing my vision from his big arms, his last name patch, and finally, his mask, which has a creepy smile where his mouth is. Sharp teeth, like triangles, slither all the way into his cheeks. I immediately get glued in, locking and getting lost in shades of ice. "I'm not sorry about this assignment, so don't you dare be sorry," Daegan orders me in a grumpy tone as he keeps playing with the bullet. It dances in every single one of his fingers until, finally, he stops and stares at me with so much intensity that I could melt into this wall.

He can't look at me like this. I'm afraid that our entire night of "pretending" will be revealed with just one look.

"I may be one of the newer guys on the teams, but—" Rooker interrupts Lopez.

Vicente Lopez, Operator Texas. He's the youngest in the group, maybe even in the entire room. He's very good at his job and dedicated, but he has a reputation for being a flirt and goofball. He's beautifully tanned with black hair that always looks combed back perfectly. He has a big Texas flag with a cow skull tatted on his arm.

"I understand your concerns, but we got this. Creature is needed somewhere else right now. Stand by and take your orders, Tex. Don't argue." Rooker demands and the entire room grows quiet. Everyone in the room straightens their back and is attentive to Rooker. "A job needs to get done. So, let's get it done."

Rooker's eyes narrow in a fatherly manner. He's straightforward and yet cold and curt. He gets his point across without having to raise his voice, show an ugly side of himself, or throw in words of humiliation to lead.

He reminds me of Danny Rider.

It's lunchtime, and I sit next to Winters and Guerra, eating a Caesar salad in the dining facility. Kane and Daegan sit with their team across from me. Even though this assignment is unnecessary, they can catch up and watch over me. I'm sure whoever this person who's doing bad things isn't here in Iraq.

"Alessia, you're here. I'm so surprised to see my crush here at the same time as me."

I turn to a cheeky, handsome Zeke. He throws his arm around my shoulder and gently squeezes me as he settles in the seat next to me. He drops his arm and scoots closer until our thighs touch.

"Zeke. How are you?" I ask as I stuff my mouth with my lunch. Winters blushes, and Guerra gives me those flirty eyes.

"The real question is, how are you? I heard about Jack and Bailey." My welcoming smile falls, and I start to chew my food slower as the memories of me catching him in the act come back to haunt me in public. Flashes of Bailey riding my ex-boyfriend make bile rise in the back of my throat, and the pain comes back distastefully.

I look to see if Guerra or Winters heard that, and I shrink in my seat. My shoulders slump, and I play with the lettuce, poking it with my fork over the slices of avocado.

"We're going to get some dessert and be right back. Right, Guerra?" Guerra looks at Winters perplexed with food still in her mouth, but then quickly agrees and stands up, nodding. Winters tilts her head at Guerra to follow her to the kitchen, and they both leave Zeke and me alone.

"You didn't deserve that. He didn't deserve you in the first place." Zeke points out, giving me a playful nudge with his knuckles.

"I really don't want to talk about Jack." I swallow my food and wipe my mouth with a napkin after.

"Good. Neither do I." Zeke takes out his wallet, and I watch him pull out a small piece of paper. He gives it to me as my cheeks warm into a mixture of emotions. I open it up and realize it's his number.

"Zeke…" I hold the paper in my hand, unsure of what to say. I stare at the numbers and then place the note into the pocket of my jeans.

I just got out of a relationship, and I'm not sure of what I want, but I know for a fact that it's not dwelling in the past and letting my trauma hold me back from being happy. Maybe I need to see what it's like to date around. I've only been with one person, and the thought of being vulnerable again is…nerve-racking but so tempting.

I'm attracted to Zeke; there is something there. But I'm not sure if it's enough to explore the feeling. When it comes to Zeke, I'm unsure. Meanwhile, there's no hesitation when it comes to a certain masked, scarred man. When it comes to Daegan, it's just a straight road I want to drive down with no bumps to make me swerve or change my mind.

Zeke holds my hand over the table, his grey eyes searching for a chance in mine. "Let me take you out. I have some time here before we head out on the next mission. I want to show you the firepit. We can talk and watch a movie. Maybe even?—"

A tall shadow casts over Zeke and me. Zeke pauses mid-sentence and watches whoever interrupted him settle in before us. I follow his gaze and realize it's Daegan. He's masked with that same creepy, sharp teeth smile over his mouth.

"So we're going on a date?" Daegan chirps sarcastically. "Where are you taking us, Zeke?"

Zeke scoffs, pissed off. "What do you mean, ‘us,' Creature?" He retorts and lets go of my hand, balling his own into fists on his lap.

Daegan hums.

"Well, you know, since watching over Alessia is my assignment, Bane and I have to follow wherever she goes. So, I'm going to ask you again…" he says sinisterly, his humor painting each syllable. His eyes crease like he's smiling big, and the scars on his one side twitch with excitement like he's daring him to say the wrong thing. "Where are you taking us?" He repeats his questions and leans his chin on one palm as if intrigued to know the answer. He taps his fingers on his chin like he's impatient.

"You know I haven't heard you talk this much. In fact, I've never heard you say much ever since you joined the teams. And yet, Every. Single. Time. I'm near Valentin…you can't seem to shut up." Zeke points out something that I haven't even thought of. He smiles, which provokes Daegan harder.

Is he asking for a Death wish? Because of the way Daegan is looking at Zeke right now…it's the same way he looked at Frankie right before he stabbed him.

Daegan straightens his back, staring blankly at a taunting Zeke. He widens his planted feet as he twirls the bullet in his finger faster and harder until finally he stops it, palming it on the table with a loud smack.

His grey eyes can freeze the room with how piercingly wrathful they look. In a deep, monstrous tone, Daegan says, "Careful."

One word. One threat. One sentence is enough to have Zeke cowering in his seat.