25. alessia

25

ALESSIA

By the time we walked into the shelter-like room, the attack was over, and everyone was safe. No one was hurt or injured by the mortar attack that landed outside my office building. The war is intensifying, and more people are getting sent home with injuries…and in caskets. Luck was on our side that day when the bombings went off on the base, while the devil kept trying to sabotage any type of fun I sought, especially if it was with Zeke.

I texted Zeke one night before I fell asleep, and we've been talking. It's mostly innocent, with the occasional flirty messages he sends me.

It's nearing the weekend, and after a few weeks of routine work days, it's time to go to the shooting range and brush up on my shooting skills.

Unknown: Pretty girls shouldn't put their noses in businesses where the big sharks swim. That masked bodyguard of yours fits the perfect description of someone who would be involved in such things.

What the hell?

It's my stalker…and this time, it's scarier than I thought. How did he get into my WhatsApp? How does he know about my job, where I am, and who Daegan is?

"What's the matter, Valentine? It looks like you've seen a ghost." He walks next to me, matching my pace, and I quickly shield my phone, digging the screen into my hips. I don't want him to know what this weirdo has been texting me.

"Nothing." A high-pitched squeal leaves my lips. "I was wondering if your friend has found the person who's been texting me. Or shot at my window?" I arch a brow, hoping for an answer. I forgot to ask him if there's an update.

He changes his death stare and looks at the sandy shooting range before us.

"No."

We get to the range in no time, and I walk away, heading toward my group of friends. Daegan stops following me and stands next to Staff Sergeant Julian.

"Operator fucking Creature. Well, I'll be damned. If it isn't the sniper that never misses. What are you doing here in a place like this?" Julian looks at Daegan with so much respect. It radiates off his bright hazel eyes.

"Orders," Daegan spits out with no emotion. He looks up and down the range, inspecting our surroundings. He watches the enlisted shoot their targets while I finally catch up with my co-workers.

"Huh...well, we're fucking honored. Would you mind showing everyone why you hold the title of the best sniper in the world? I could use a little help teaching these kids how to shoot today."

"Sure." He replies nonchalantly. His muscles beneath his top tighten as he walks.

"Oh my god...he's your bodyguard. Stop it right now." Henderson says to my left.

"I can't even see his face, and I'd let that man destroy me in all three of my holes," Guerra says to my right, tugging on her bottom lip hard.

"He's a tall drink of yummy. Masked McHottie?!" Henderson says, pushing Guerra out of the way so she can get a better view of him.

"What do I have to do to get on that list so I can have him as my bodyguard, too?" Guerra wiggles her brows up and down.

"Right? Why couldn't I be the Admiral's stepdaughter?" Henderson complains, frowning. She elbows me in my ribs frivolously.

"Y'all stop. He's a pain in my ass. I'm not allowed to do anything without him knowing about it." I roll my eyes as they admire him. They're making it so obvious as they blush and flutter their lashes at him. They have giddy smiles plastered on display without a care in the world. But Daegan still has his back turned to us as he talks to Julian.

"There are rumors about him," Henderson softly whispers loud enough for us girls to hear, and we crowd in a circle.

"Like what?" My own curiosity is getting the best of me. I hate gossip. I despise it. But if there are rumors about Daegan, I need to know. He invades my personal space every day.

"I have friends of friends in intelligence and CID. Many tips are pouring in with Hannibal's name in their mouths. A lot of people think he had something to do with Operator Grim Reaper and his wife's capture."

"No! Not my masked McHottie!" Guerra complains with a pout. She peeks over to Daegan, but he's still deep in conversation with Julian.

"Yup. Supposedly, everything went to shit when he showed up on the teams." Henderson continues.

"Wow…that's crazy." Winters makes her input, shaking her head like she's disappointed.

"I've looked him up and can't find anything on him. There's no social media under Daegan Hannibal. No Instagram, no TikTok, no Facebook." Guerra counts the social media apps one by one, and I furrow my brows.

"Enough!" I wave my hands in a stop motion. I'm so tired of people gossiping about Daegan as if they know him. "Henderson, don't talk about Hannibal like this. These rumors could be damaging to his reputation and career, and…"

All three girls stare at me like they're stunned by my defensive tone. I shrink down in size and try to gather my heightened emotions. "I'm just saying there's no evidence to back up those claims. I've seen people's lives get ruined over baseless accusations just because someone wants to destroy someone's life maliciously. My stepfather would not have allowed him to watch over me so closely like this. He wouldn't have let my life fall into his hands if there were allegations like this against him. Leave it be, Henderson." I tell her with a cold stare.

They all grow quiet. I watch them disperse, shrug my shoulders, and go to my station to shoot.

After about ten minutes, I grow frustrated. I'm out of practice, and I keep missing my target.

"Great." I miss my target again and sigh, frustrated. Looking away from my crosshairs and instead at the floor.

"You're too tense, Valentine." I almost drop my damn rifle at that voice.

"Mr. Hannibal."

My heart jolts when I realize he's right next to me. Hovering over my ear, whispering. He kicks my feet apart with his boots, spreading my legs apart. His body heat immediately fires me up, or is it the lust that's fuming?

I try to keep my eyes forward when I can feel his stare eating me alive from behind.

"Bend over." He orders.

I start to sweat.

"Umm, what?"

"Bend forward slightly at the waist." His hand palms my hip, tight and hard, making my stomach turn into knots. I follow through, letting him put me in a new position. My heart beats out of my chest practically.

Can he hear it?

He runs his arms around my arms, adjusting the rifle into my shoulder. His cool, icy breath kisses my skin, sending a shiver down my spine and into my core. He only feeds the need to touch him, memories hitting me hard as his lips brush against my ear.

"Roll your shoulders and shoot." He demands, low and husky.

Is he teasing me? Or is this all in my head?

I clear my throat and hiss at him. "Daegan."

"Close that mouth of yours before I do it for you, and shoot, damn it." He scolds me.

I look into the scope and pull the trigger.

The metal pings, signaling a target hit. I look through the scope and see a hole in the center. "Bullseye," I murmur. I've never been able to hit a target that perfectly before.

"Good girl," he praises darkly into my ear, and I grow weak when I look into his grey eyes. He towers over me as I clutch my rifle tight. I can tell he's smirking underneath the obsidian mask because of the way his eyes crease and brighten.

"Mr. Hannibal, I think I need help. My rifle might be jammed." Guerra calls out for him two stations down, and I know she's lying.

I'm internally laughing at her attempt to flirt with him, and he gives me one last stare, and I swallow. The tension between us is so thick, so deep, I break first when I realize I'm throbbing in between my thighs. I blink a few times, tearing my gaze away forcefully.

He walks away without another word and walks toward Guerra. She's looking at him with doe-eyes and a flirty expression.

I go back to shooting while trying hard to suppress a jealous feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Winters pops up beside me as I pull the trigger, hitting my target with Daegan's advice. Another bullseye brings me satisfaction. My aim is getting better because of him.

"You know the HVT we've been trying to find? The Surgeon?" Winters gets close to me, and I stop shooting, arching a brow at her.

Why is she bringing that up, and why now?

"Yeah," I reply as I readjust the gun on my shoulder.

"He was the one that did that to Daegan's face…his body." I go from holding my gun tight to letting my hand relax, and my eyes widen. A strong wave of sympathy washes over me, and my gaze softens when I see Daegan. I look for him through the crowd of other service members, and he towers over a blushing, cheerful Guerra with his combat boots planted in the ground, wearing his navy blue shirt on top of his camo pants. His arms are crossed over his chest, his sleeve tattoo on display, and his sweat glistens from the sun's rays.

This must frustrate him, being assigned to me while the others search for the one who tortured him.

"Show me more tomorrow. I want to know more." I clear my throat, and Winter shrugs her shoulders. I spot Daegan again, and this time, he takes out a cigarette as a group of soldiers and sailors surround him like he's some sort of celebrity. Bellowing questions at him, he lifts his mask up just enough to place it between his lips and take a hit.

"I have to keep you on track, anyways. I'm in charge of you, and more information has rolled in. They go out on another mission soon, and you get to be the one that informs Rooker."

Great.

"Hey, I have to ask for a favor," I whisper.

Winter's eyes light up in curiosity. She takes a can of tobacco out and opens it. She lifts a chunk of it and places it in her mouth. "What's up, my padawan?" She taps my head playfully with her fingers. Winters is taller than me at 5'11.

I roll my eyes and giggle softly at her Star Wars reference.

"You're more experienced, right? You have connections with people that do top-secret squirrel stuff and people that have access to programs that we don't, right?" I ask, hoping I'm not stepping over any boundaries.

"Like what? Where are you going with this?" She arches her dark brows, concerned.

I look around to make sure no one can hear me. But with the sounds of rifles being shot and chatter, I grow more comfortable opening up about my stalker.

"I need you to take a look at my phone. I've been receiving weird texts. Is there any way you can get into contact with someone who can find the trace?"

"What kind of texts?"

"I'll fill you in later."

She smiles in a way that makes me feel warm. She brushes the sweat off her forehead and nods.

"I know someone that may be able to help." She admits before returning to her station. I take one glance at Daegan, and he's still surrounded by a lot of people.

I put the rifle back into place against my shoulder and readjust myself into the same position Daegan taught me to be in when I shoot. I relax my body, and the last thing I see before I look into my scope is Daegan winking at me.