Page 82 of Playing Hard to Get

“Please, call me Marco.”

The man glanced around the room. Looked like he was trying to find a way to say something and he wasn’t sure how. Finally, he looked at me. The way his face was scrunched up made it look like he was seconds from breaking down.

“I can't lose my baby girl,” he said, his voice quaking as tears filled his eyes. “I know I don’t show it, don’t tell them enough, but Vivian and Vinny are my world. I love them both so much and I can't stand to lose either of them.”

“You won't lose her,” I promised. “I'm going to bring her home.”

Marco nodded, his lips clenched tight. He ran a hand over his eyes. “You love her?”

His question surprised me, and my head snapped back. But my answer came without a thought. “More than anything.”

“Good, good.” He stepped up to me, extending his hand to me just like his son. His grip was firm, his eyes locked on mine as he shook my hand. He nodded, shook his head, his lips tight and his brow furrowed. “Bring her home,” he said before he turned and rushed out the door.

I tugged my bag over my shoulder. Stepped across the room to the hall. But before I got there, Frankie stepped into the doorway. Her hazel eyes were rimmed in red and a tear slipped down her cheek as she tipped her head to the side. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around my waist and held on to me like I was a life preserver.

“I'm so sorry,” she whispered to me.

“For what?”

“For the way I’ve treated you.” She looked up at me and another tear rolled down her face. “I was so mad at Vivian. I thought she was trying to take you away from me. Never once did I stop to think about the way you felt. Never once did I think you were in love with her.”

“It's okay, darlin’.”

“No, it's not.” Frankie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I've been so concerned with myself, with the company, that I haven't thought about anyone else. I haven't been a good friend, to you or to her. And I'm sorry. I want you both to be happy, I really do. I'm so glad you found each other.”

“I love her, Frankie.” I swallowed hard and gave her a gentle squeeze. “I just want her safe.”

“Me too, Mitch. Me too.”

* * *

The two-hour plane ride passed quietly. In a move I was sure was calculated, Lee pulled Barnes to the back of the plane, away from me, to catch up. Cael, Macevoy, and Weston chatted about their kids. Cael's wife, Chrissi, delivered a beautiful baby girl a few days after Frankie's party, and Cael was beaming like the proudest daddy in the world.

My chest ached every time I looked at him. Couldn't help but think of James and the little boy he never got to meet. Couldn't keep from worrying that our mission would end in tragedy, and there’d be more lost lives on my conscience. More widows and fatherless children for me to look out for.

Once on the ground, we piled into two black SUVs and headed off into the countryside. Regrouped in an open field we were directed to by Vinny and Angel over comms.

The sky was overcast, the weather cool for this time of year. Black clouds loomed on the horizon, threatening storms as a heavy wind pressed down upon us. The air smelled like rain. The cracks on the parched ground were like millions of gaping mouths begging for a life-giving drink from the heavens.

We pulled black bags from the backs of the vehicles. Dressed all in black with bulletproof vests. Strapped handguns and knives to our belts and readied our rifles in silence.

Lee walked through the line of us, looking us over. When he got to me, he stopped. Those emerald eyes were hard as stone as he glared at me. Same as he always had. Like he was worried he’d be called out for showing favoritism if he wasn't harder on me than everyone else. Like his friendship, his loyalty, might be considered a weakness.

“You ready for this, Saunders?” he barked at me.

Years of training and conditioning kick in, but none of it overrode the words that rolled off my tongue. “Been ready for days, just waiting on your sorry ass.”

Those hard eyes narrowed at me and silence turned the others to stone. Lee let out a huff before a crooked grin cracked his face. His head shook as he looked up at the gray sky.

“Alright. Let's get this show on the road.”

Lee turned toward the larger of the SUVs and began throwing bags in the back. I turned to the rest of the team. Found Barnes, Macevoy, and Weston gawking at me, their mouths held slack. Cael was grinning, that tuft of hair sticking straight up at the back of his head.

“Come on, kid, you're with me.”

I clapped Cael on the shoulder, adjusted my gun’s strap across my chest, and took a single step toward the smaller SUV before Lee stopped me. His booming voice echoed across the short distance between us.

“You're takin’ the kid?”