Page 80 of Midnight Escape

Chapter Thirty-Seven

After telling Moira he loved her and getting nothing in return, Danny was fit to be tied. The two of them had to report back to HIS where Moira would meet with a DEA agent to discuss what she’d overheard—or had recorded—plus her kidnapping. While she was tied up with the agent, Danny sought his team leader.

Sitting alone with Boss, and maybe being in such a sour mood, he voiced his fear. “Sometimes I don’t feel like I’m good enough.”

Boss eyed him before speaking. “Is this in reference to HIS or a young lady?”

Danny snorted at that. Both, but that wasn’t what he wanted to discuss with his boss. “No, when I led the team, sometimes I felt inferior to the spec ops guys. I know the brothers put me through an intensive training, but I need more. My background is DEA.”

“There’ll always be someone better at some things. That’s their specialty. We count on the team to do things we can’t and shouldn’t. Like Doc—specialized. Cowboy—crazy but specialized. The twins—specialized. Do you think you can be all those and lead a mission?”

“No. But—” Boss broke in before he could say that Boss could do all that. Danny knew that now that he was their helicopter pilot, he was valuable to the teams, but he wanted to be even better on the ground.

“Would it make you feel better if Cowboy, Doc, and I teach you deeper skills? Ones that we’ve used, even though we’re from different branches of the military?”

He brightened. “Yes. Definitely yes.”

“Understand, no matter how much you learn, your skillset needs to be leadership. Never lose that focus.”

He and Boss fist bumped before his team leader left. The easy thing would’ve been asking the men directly. Easy didn’t come into play when someone’s pride held strong.

Danny wasn’t alone long because Justin arrived to meet with the DEA agent Moira was currently with.

“What’s wrong?” Justin asked, as he took a seat in a chair in the lounge.

“Is it that obvious?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, it’s personal.”

“I won’t judge.” A grin spread across Justin’s face.

“It’s nothing like that, pervert.” Danny laughed, glad to know his brother could bring him back from a mood. “It’s just— I mean— Well, I told Moira I loved her, and she didn’t say anything.”

Justin looked serious. “Was she awake?”

“Yeah.” She’d been plenty worn out, but she’d been awake.

“Did you read her wrong thinking she would say the same thing to you?”

Had he? He knew she was a free spirit, but he could’ve sworn she felt more for him than a fling. “I guess I did.” And that put him back in a mood. He didn’t want to lose her. He’d planned to agree to several trips to Ireland a year. He’d find a way to pay for them. He just wanted her happy, and he knew leaving her homeland forever would not do that.

“Cheer up. You’ve still got time. They can’t go home until I straighten out their fake deaths.” Justin grinned, and Danny laughed. His brother had his back.

Getting serious, Danny asked, “Did you go see Mom?”

Justin exhaled loudly. “Yes. She chastised me so much I had to leave.”

Danny burst out laughing. “She is good at that.”

“It was like she built it all up during these years.”

“Yeah, but I bet she also spoiled you.”

A sheepish grin escaped his brother. “Yeah, she made my favorite cookies, did my laundry. She even ironed my jeans.”

“They’ve got him.” Danny didn’t need to explain to his brother the change of topic. He’d know the meaning. The authorities had their father’s killer. Well, the man who’d ordered it. They already had the actual killer.

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