Page 48 of Operation: Reckless Angel

“Why’d you have to ground him?”

“A playdate with a friend didn’t work out yesterday because the boy’s mom got sick, and Dale got mad and kicked his door. That boy’s got a temper just like his dad.” She shuddered.

“Yikes,” Briana said. “Yes, have to curb that fast.”

“I wonder if he remembers his dad’s outbursts and thinks it’s normal or acceptable. He rarely talks about life before we left his father, and I don’t bring it up. I’m doing online research to see what I can do to give him some home therapy. I’m scared to death to bring him to a counselor, but I see his extreme reactions to disappointments, and I know I have to do some sort of intervention with him.”

“Makes you wonder if it’s genetic. I know you shielded him from his father’s anger as much as you could.”

“And he hasn’t seen any of that kind of behavior since we left. I don’t know. I’m at a loss,” Nikki confessed.

Briana wrapped her arm around her. “All I know is that you’re an amazing mom. You’ll make sure he’s okay.”

The evening from there went well. Dale was happy to see Aunt Briana, and she saw no sign of the temper Nikki had spoken of. They enjoyed dinner and played a couple of board games. After Dale was in bed, Nikki poured them glasses of wine and they settled on the couch to chat.

Briana told her friend about the near miss with the authorities and her return to business as usual.

“So, tell me more about this, Sebastian,” Nikki prompted.

“There’s nothing more to tell,” Briana said. “He’s my point of contact with that team and when he summons, I’m supposed to answer. He’s text messaged a few times this past month.”

“What did he want to know?” Nikki asked.

“Nothing. He messaged on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve both and said he was just reaching out to wish me a good holiday.”

Nikki raised an eyebrow. “Really, hum, sounds personal.”

Briana laughed at that. “No, he was checking up on me to see if I’d answer as I’m supposed to. He’s messaged Cam a few times, too.” Her thoughts drifted to those kisses they’d shared and the flirty text messages they’d shared planning this fictional camping trip.

“You’re smiling,” Nikki charged. “You kissed him, didn’t you? Or did you sleep with him, too?”

“No! I didn’t sleep with him,” Briana argued.

“Oh, but you did kiss him.”

“Before I knew he was a fed investigating us.”

Nikki laughed. “Oh my God! You do like him.”

“I did before he handcuffed me.”

“A lot of people do get into that,” she teased.

“Stop,” Briana moaned. “He’s fun to flirt with, has a cute face to look at, and has a nice body I’d sure like to feel up against mine, but he’s a fed assigned to watch my brother and me. That’s where any other thoughts about him stop. I’m probably never going to see him again and given that I’m still carrying on with business-as-usual despite what I promised, it’s in my best interest to never see him again.”

“Pity,” Nikki remarked. “You know you and Rivera were good together. I seriously think you could never have a relationship with a normal guy. And let’s not forget you almost became a fed.”

“In a completely different lifetime,” Briana said. “Besides, I get things done now that I’d never be able to if I had to operate within the letter of the law.”

“And you think the feds do?”

“Well, I know for a fact the CIA doesn’t,” Briana said. “And I don’t think Sebastian and his group exactly do either.”

“Yeah, if they did, you and Cam would probably be behind bars. Seriously, Bree, you need to be careful.”

“I am,” she insisted. “I’ve been lying low. I only took a couple of jobs last month. You’re not having second thoughts about helping me out on this next job, are you?”

“No, no second thoughts. Your client can stay here for a few weeks until she gets her hands on the money she needs to start over. You know I’m always willing to help a woman who needs it. Just be careful. That’s all.”

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