Page 44 of Recon Rendezvous

“Don’t go. You’re so good at running out. Let’s try something else today,” I say when I can no longer take the silence.

She shakes her head. “See you around, stud.” And with a quirk of her lips, she’s gone.

No strings attached, huh… yeah, I’m fucking familiar with the concept, but it’s never felt this empty.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

XANDER

The bustle of the diners in the restaurant fades away as my gaze moves around the round table, meeting and holding eye contact with three different pairs of wide eyes.The Council.I know what they call us behind our backs,The Four Fucksmen, but for this endeavor, I think they could use some distinction. My three comrades in arms, hopefully. I give nothing away as my heart races a bit and they look at each other, giving subtle nods before they all provide me their attention.

“What do you need from us?” Sasha asks.

Leaning forward, I meet her gaze, scanning them all again. “You’re in?” My voice rises in surprise. I thought I’d have to argue them down. Plead my case for needing their help to get closer to London.

“Of course, we’re in,” Mia chimes in.

Gem nods. “Duh. We’ve already been singing your praises.”

A laugh of relief falls out of me as I expel a breath. “Thank you, ladies. I don’t know what I was worried about.”

“Lesson learned. Never doubt us. We’re full of surprises,” Mia says.

Waving me off, she continues, “We’ve already decided you’re going to be together. You are perfect for each other.” She sighs, her hand rests on her heart as if she’s swooning.

I want to deny it, tell them to chill, but it’s just something about her that makes my need for her grow more every day. No pressure. Nodding, I work to gather my thoughts, as Sasha makes the come on gesture, prompting me to answer her question.

“Well, previously, I asked Sasha to help me out with some recon on that she-devil, London. And, no offense, your recon sucked, and four minds are better than one, so help me out. What can you give me?”

After months of scouring London’s social media and consuming work-related articles about her online, I had more questions than I had answers. Her social media was bare, and now that she’s shared a bit more about her past, I’m assuming it was due to removing all the pictures she had with her ex. With seven years of deleted memories and the few pictures she’s posted since their split and us meeting at the wedding, I’m still in the dark.

“No offense taken. My horrible recon was purposeful, silly. We wanted to see if you’d persist on your own.” Her eyes shone with a challenge I’d never seen from her.

“Yeah, we wanted you to work for it, to see you try, before we spilled our guts,” Gem adds.

“Now that you’ve proven yourself to us, our infinite wisdom is at your service,” Mia says in some weird voice.

“You have to show her who you are. Who you really are. She has… thoughts about you. Prove her wrong,” Sasha adds quietly.

The Council has spoken.

“London?London Cameron, is that you?” I call out to her back. Her drawn-up shoulders tell me yes, yes, it is her. When she doesn’t turn around but picks up her pace, I laugh and snake through the crowd to catch up to her, although I already know where she’s going.

When she whirls on me outside of a steel and glass high-rise, my grin is already firmly in place, as my eyes roam over her beautiful, upturned face.

Three… Two… One…

She looks down at the vibrating phone in her hand, frowning as she reads the text.

Ushering her closer to the building and out of the path of foot traffic, I feign concern. “Is everything okay?”

She glances up, those hazel eyes flashing gold as the sun hits them and time stands still, the world around me quiets for the briefest moment as our gazes collide before the blaring of our surroundings burst around us, breaking our connection.

Her eyes dart away as she clears her throat. “Umm, yeah, Sasha was supposed to meet me, but something came up last minute with her dance studio.”

Before I can respond, a short, curvy woman with dark hair and dark eyes approaches us. “London, it’s so good to see you again,” she says before turning to me with a smile.

“Ana Alvarez.” She extends her hand.

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