Page 9 of Rescuing Brinley

Shadow shrugged. “Not feelin’ anything yet, one way or another. Why?”

“Don’t know. Just feels as if the colonel probably wasn’t given all the details. I mean, this definitely isn’t our usual kind of thing. Yes, we’ve done some bodyguarding before, but that was more military, generals and stuff. Not the VP and his family. I just have a hunch there has to be a more than credible threat to get our team involved.”

“I agree,” Shadow said without hesitation. “But it doesn’t change how we handle things. We’ll head down to Fiji and do what we’ve trained to do. If there’s an attempt on the VP’s life, or his wife or daughter’s, we’ll do whatever’s necessary to keep them alive.”

Echo nodded. “It would just be nice if we had all the necessary intel to do our jobs before we land.”

“The government does like its secrets,” Shadow said. “If nothing else, at least we won’t have to worry about frostbite on this mission, like we do when we’re training units on their cold weather survival skills.”

“True. Although something tells me that we might actually prefer that to uber-competitive women. I’ve heard that beauty pageants can get downright cutthroat.”

Shadow snorted. “Well, that’s not our problem. If some chick gets pissed at another contestant for stealing her mascara, it’s none of our business.”

“Unless she pulls out a pistol and tries to shoot someone,” Echo said dryly.

“No one is shooting anyone. They’re more likely to run a smear campaign behind the other woman’s back. I remember the mean girls from high school very clearly…even though it’s been years since I graduated.”

“At least a century,” Echo agreed, as he slapped Shadow on the back.

“Shut up,” he mumbled, even though he’d brought the teasing on himself with his comment. There were days he felt as if he were eighty-five, and other days when he was proud of how fit and strong he was. Forty wasn’t exactly ancient, but in the teams, he was getting to the higher end of what the Army preferred. And it wasn’t the dangerous missions, but more the comradery and closeness he felt with his fellow Deltas that kept him striving to be in the best shape possible. He wasn’t ready to give that up.

And while he admired and respected what Lieutenant Colonel Zamora did, he also wasn’t ready to take a desk job.

“You coming to The Staggering Moose?”

“Of course. Someone has to keep an eye on you assholes to make sure you don’t get so drunk you miss PT in the morning.”

“Have we ever missed PT, even when hungover? Or still drunk?” Echo asked with a grin.

“No, but there’s always a first time. See you later.”

Shadow drove toward his apartment…and for some reason, an uneasiness settled upon his shoulders like a cape soaked in gasoline. On the surface, it looked perfectly normal. But all it would take was one spark for the whole thing to go up in flames.

Kind of like the upcoming mission.

It seemed like just another bodyguard mission, but his gut was telling him that Echo was right. That there was a reason beyond precaution for the Delta team’s assistance.

And moreover, he had the strangest feeling that this mission would alter his life in some way. Although how was still unclear.

Shadow did his best to shake off the feeling. He was just feeling antsy because of his recent birthday and turning forty. Everything would be fine. He had to believe that.

Sin Pari. Without Equal. That’s what being a Delta meant. The motto referred to the extraordinary skill, secrecy, and commitment to excellence that he and all his fellow Deltas showed, day in and day out. The upcoming mission would be no exception.

But deep down, he knew he was lying to himself. Something was coming. Something big. And it would change his life, one way or another. Shadow just had to be ready to deal with whatever was thrown his way.

CHAPTER TWO

“You’re seriously going?”

Brinley looked at Cypress. They were sitting on the couch in their apartment, eating pizza and watching a K-pop drama on TV. She paused the show, because she had a feeling the question wasn’t just a one-off, and Cypress was going to want more than a two-second discussion on the topic.

Earlier today, she’d informed her roomie and best friend since elementary school that she was flying to Fiji this weekend for the Miss Globe competition. Cypress wasn’t happy about it, that was for sure. But her unhappiness wasn’t because of the pageant itself. She seemed excited for Brinley and the opportunity it would provide for Diamond Sash Designs, the name of the business she owned.

She was unhappy about the fact that Callista would be there.

Her sister and Cypress weren’t exactly mortal enemies, but pretty close. Cypress hated the way Brinley was treated like crap by her sister and mom. Hated that neither saw—in her friend’s words—how “funny and kind and smart” she was. That they couldn’t get past the bullshit beauty standards Brinley could never meet, at least in their eyes.

Not surprising, since Cypress was Brinley’s staunchest supporter. She was the one who stood up to bullies, who called out others’ bad behavior, and who stood by Brinley no matter what. She was the kind of friend who would stand by her side through thick and thin.