29. alessia

29

ALESSIA

I was furious. The teasing had me frustrated…and even worse. Sexually frustrated. So when Zeke asked to take me to the firepit, I said yes without hesitation.

Zeke isn't scared to ask me on a date or pursue me. He's been persistent, and I think I'm ready to explore more. I sit next to Zeke while holding a Shiner Bock in one hand, staring at the fire while rock music plays. There's a movie playing on a projector pinned to a white wall.

It's nearing midnight, and I'm not the least bit tired. My mind is fully awake, and I keep thinking about my stalker, my job, and Daegan.

I'm going back home soon, and there's still so much left unfinished between him and me.

Guerra's laugh snaps me out of my self-pity moment, and my eyebrows raise at the familiar tune. My heart cracks because of that laugh. Oh, it's that silly, give me all your undivided attention, your are so funny laugh, it's so familiar to me.

She's flirting…but with who?

I search the crowd, and when I see her toss her head back and then forward against someone's broad shoulder...my heart drops. She's holding him by the bicep as she laughs, blushing even.

It's Daegan.

He wears his mask, a full one this time. He's not in uniform, like everyone else, for once. He's in civilians. A black sweater, black jeans, and boots. His scarred eyes look in her direction, and a pang of jealousy hits me like a train.

It was only two seconds. Two seconds to watch my friend flirt with my bodyguard, and I hope he didn't see me.

So, is this why he switched shifts tonight? To be with Guerra? My friend?

The trauma of Jack's betrayal pierces through me, and I feel like I'm drowning. This man had his lips on mine, moving against me on my own desk, and now? He's with my friend?

I know we're not together, but I didn't expect him to do that.

I shift in my seat and glance at Kane behind me. He looks at Daegan and then at me. His dark blue eyes harden, but he doesn't say anything.

He knows. He knows exactly what I'm feeling. His eyes soften as if he's apologizing to me on Daegan's behalf.

I purse my lips in acknowledgment and turn back around. I'm going to enjoy my date. If he can…so will I.

"Who do you think is the one who gave up Ari and Grim for the bounty? It has to be someone in intelligence. And they better not be here in Iraq with us." Operator Doom speaks from Zeke's right, tapping his fingers on the bench to the beat of the music.

He's a dog handler for the SEAL team, Hellhounds. His brown eyes flick between Zeke and me. I don't like to comment on things like this, so I keep myself busy this time and go on my phone to scroll.

"I don't know, man. I have suspicions, and I think it's a special operator. Someone who popped up on the teams at the same time those targets made their way into Georgia. SEAL Team Executioners got mixed up with human traffickers." Zeke replies, taking a swig of his beer.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Doom furrows his brows, waiting for Zeke to respond.

Zeke brings his beer to his lips again and nods.

"Creature seemed to have shown up just when everything went to shit. What a hell of a coincidence that once Ravenmore added him to Grim's team, he was almost killed, and Ari was taken for money." Zeke states with no remorse.

"He's weird, man. There's something clearly off about him." Doom shrugs, grabbing a beer of his own. "I've never seen him take a day off of work or engage in a normal conversation about anything. He doesn't talk to anyone. The dude hums when he shoots."

Even though I'm angry with him, maybe even a little jealous, I can't stand when people gossip. We're all on the same team here. We all want to find out who did this to Grim and Ari, but to point fingers at someone just because he's new and may seem off to other people. I won't stand for it.

"Look, I don't know too much about Hannibal, but he takes his job very seriously. There's no way he had a part in that." I interrupt their theories and surprise myself when I catch myself defending Daegan. I didn't mean to add any fire to this conversation, but it feels wrong for them to accuse Daegan just because he's the new guy.

The man doesn't want to touch me because he doesn't want to risk his spot on the team. Being a Navy SEAL means a lot to him, I can tell. My job means everything to me. I can relate to Daegan in that way.

Doom gets the sharpened tone in my voice as I give him a blank stare. "Sorry. Maybe you're right."

Zeke turns to me and smiles as Doom focuses on the movie playing.

A part of me hopes and wishes that his smile does something to me, but I'm only left with disappointment. Especially when my stomach twists and turns uncomfortably, when his hand reaches the inside of my thigh and gives it a gentle squeeze.

"Want to get out of here?" Zeke leans into my ear and kisses my cheek.

He moves towards the shell of my ear seductively. His mustache brushes against my skin, and it takes me back to the night Daegan kissed my breasts. I'm begging my body to want Zeke's deep voice and his touch, but it's not his voice that turns my world upside down. It's someone else's. Someone in a mask.

"Actually, I want to stay for one more drink, and then you can take me back to my room."

I subtly remove his hand from my thigh.

"Or I can take you back to my room." He counters, the smell of alcohol seeping into my nose. "We can keep it a secret."

His mouth brushes over my neck, and I giggle from the ticklish sensation it gives me. Maybe I should give in? Zeke isn't all bad and is on a SEAL Team Hellhounds. That's the only reason why Ravenmore hasn't lost his mind on the whole situation of showing up here tonight on Zeke's arm.

Zeke's phone pings loudly, and he coils back in his seat. He holds the phone in his palm, waiting for me to give him an answer.

But I'm quiet.

"I'll let you think about it, Alessia. I have to take this," he flashes me his white teeth as he smiles and stands, giving Doom a knuckle touch before he walks away. I'm left alone, and I'm tempted to wave Kane over and tell him I'm headed to bed. I don't dare to look in Daegan's direction any longer.

I lift the beer to my lips and notice that it's empty. I tell Kane I'm headed for more in the USO room, and he doesn't follow me. His phone rings and his girlfriend's picture reflects on his screen saver. His eyes light up and sparkle with anticipation. The man is so in love.

"Just take it. I'll be fine. It's just the USO room." I encourage him, pointing to the empty small building behind him. Everyone is either sleeping or at the firepit.

"It's a clear sky tonight, with twinkling vivid stars. It's a perfect night for you to video call this mystery woman of yours." I gently nudge his shoulder with my knuckle. "Talk to her. I won't say anything, and I'll be back in a few seconds."

"You're the best." Kane towers over and nods. With his big hand, he reaches over my head and ruffles my curls in a brotherly fashion. I slap and push his chest away playfully as he slides the button to answer, already walking away from me.

I walk into the empty, cold building that sits across the hangar where helicopters are stored. I grab the beer out of the ice chest and turn into a fucking wall.