Page 18 of Breaking Into Love

Chapter Ten

I forced myself to smile as Tor and Webb left me at the outpost. Tor looked troubled. Webb just appeared pissed and made no attempt to disguise it. He jerked me to him before he stepped out, possessing my mouth and leaving me shaking when he finally pulled away. Tor ran a finger down my cheek and kissed me softly, slowly, then followed Webb out the door. I was left to watch, fake smile plastered on my face as I stared holes into their backs.

The Liege Commander would be here in a few hours, and I’d be escorted back to the space station I’d called home all my life. Once, I’d never thought of leaving it. Now, the last thing I wanted was to go back.

“Mandy, there you are.”

A woman stepped into the room. She was slightly older, with thick blonde hair that hung around her shoulders and big, bold green eyes.

“I’ve been waiting to meet you.”

“I’m sorry. Do I know you?” I asked, already certain that I didn’t.

“No, but you work for my husband, Liege Commander Diamato,” she informed me. “And we have a mutual friend. Well, actually, two now.”

“You’re the Commander’s wife?”

“I am,” she said and waved me over to sit down with her. “Let’s get comfortable, dear. The others will join us soon.”

“Is the Commander already here?”

“Well, he’s on his way. I left earlier today, while he was in a meeting. I’m afraid he’s a little upset with me and didn’t plan to let me come. You see, I sent Webb and Tor to pick you up and bring you here. They’re good boys. I knew I could trust them to look out for you. My husband, however, wasn’t willing to see reason.”

I bit my bottom lip to hide a laugh. This woman seemed totally incorrigible. I imagined she kept the Commander on his toes.

“I’m Tessa, by the way. Tessa Diamato, and it’s lovely to finally meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too, ma’am.”

I still wasn’t sure why she’d had Tor and Webb bring me here, but my gears turned as I tried to piece it all together.

“Your son is in a triad with Emma,” I said, and Tessa nodded eagerly.

“Yes, I’ve been lucky enough to meet her a few times, though my husband nearly loses his mind every time I come here. I keep telling him that if he doesn’t feel I’m safe here, he should appoint a set of Enforcers he trusts to oversee it. This is our first real outpost here, but we need to grow our presence if we ever hope to make this dimension safe again,” Tessa said, and I realized she was smarter than I’d thought.

“I’d agree with you, ma’am.”

“Please, call me Tessa. Ma’am makes me feel practically ancient. Plus, I get enough of it from the Enforcers who always surround my husband.”

There was a commotion in the hall, and Tessa came to her feet. “That’s either my husband come to yell at me or my son here to greet me. We’ll hope for the latter for now.”

Two men filled the doorway. I remembered Emma hooking up with them before she’d left to become part of her triad in the Alpha Enforcer Squad program. They were in their uniforms just as they’d been that night, and not much had changed about them as far as I could see. It was easy to distinguish one of them was Tessa’s son. He shared his mother’s blond hair and green eyes.

“Heath! Dracon!” Tessa called and held her arms wide.

They stepped inside and headed straight to her, but my eyes were on the door. I knew if they were here then Emma couldn’t be far behind. I wasn’t disappointed. She filled the doorway, standing tall and proud in her Enforcer uniform, her long, black hair caught back in a quetchin. Immediately, I noticed there was now an AS by the tiger emblem on her shirt.

I squealed and burst into tears. I couldn’t help it. It had been so long since I’d seen her. I couldn’t close the distance fast enough, launching myself at her and clinging once we met. She was talking and I was talking, the words spilling over each other as we laughed and hugged.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” We both spoke at the same time then laughed again.

“Seems my mother thought you were missing your friends, Em,” Heath said as he, Tessa, and Dracon walked over to us.

“Oh, Soph will be here, too,” Tessa stated. “I might have sent something to her unit, asking them to meet here for a new assignment.”

“Mother,” Heath groaned. “Exactly how much trouble are you in?”

“Please,” she said with a flick of her hand. “Your father will wave about and yell some, but I know his buttons. And exactly how to push them.”

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