Page 56 of Ace

“You have the most beautiful voice. I just knew you had to be a beautiful woman.”

“What?”

“Oh, I didn’t mean it like that. Just that you are a beautiful soul. A good person.” He stepped back, his face bright red, every freckle standing out on his otherwise pale skin. “I mean. You are beautiful.” He grinned.

“We got the picture, Rocky. Anything else you’d like to say to the lieutenant?”

“Uh, no. Well, yeah. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. You did great. I was proud to bring you home.”

He nodded. Then he left.

Omar waved over his shoulder. “I’ll do the debriefing meeting. We have some things to talk about.”

“I’m coming.” Dex followed him out, but in the doorway he turned around. “I’m gonna win back my top spot.” He winked and then walked out of the room.

“Yeah, whatever.” Gianna mumbled to herself. She was starting to feel tired from her sleepless night and the long flight. “Anybody know where I can bunk down?”

“Follow me.” Ivy waved.

“Oh, hey there.” She shouldered her rucksack again. She was gonna need a good night’s sleep if she was going to avoid Dex and save her villagers all at the same time.

Chapter 20

Dex awoke with a mind full of thoughts. He must have dreamt the whole night through of strategy and maneuvers and flying with Gi. She was the last thing he’d thought of before falling asleep and the first thing when he awoke.

He made his way to a quick breakfast down in the break room. Gianna was nowhere in sight. He checked his phone. She hadn’t responded to his messages or voicemail. Well, he’d known she’d be pretty mad when he left. He’d had no idea she’d show up in his car and demand to come, though he should have known.

The energy between them was obvious. But that didn’t mean that she was planning on acting on it ever again. From what he could tell, she was done.

Commander Wilkins had called a meeting with the Pacific Alliance and Dex’s team that morning, and so he headed up to the control tower to be ready for him.

When he entered the room, Commander Wilkins was already there, and so was Gianna. They were deep in conversation, which might not be a good thing.

“Those northern villagers hadn’t any idea what was going on down in the cities. I’m certain they don’t know any more about things now, unless the Mantukese have made their way up to their village. We have to help them.” Gianna’s urgent tone, her pleading expression told Dex he was going to have a hard time convincing her to stay out of the way. And he didn’t want her out of the way, not really, but he also didn’t need her singular focus on the villagers to lead them to forget the larger issues at stake.

Commander Wilkins noticed him and stood. “Dex Callison. I’m so happy you have returned.”

Ivy, Jed, and Omar joined them. And somehow their team of four had become five in addition to the Pacific Alliance commander.

He gave them the most recent intel he had received from his surveillance operations. “Things are looking worse and worse. There is evidence of a weapons facility. You will hear the Americans speaking of it, but we have the pictures and they are right. The Mantukese are making weapons there. We don’t know why. Panau is a peaceful island. The islands nearby are also peaceful.”

“Perhaps it is for this reason.” Gianna put her finger down on the tabletop. “He wanted to keep them hidden.”

“Wonder how many more facilities like this one he has.”

The room quieted for a moment at the magnitude of that question. It was impossible to fight hidden facilities in impoverished islands all over the world.

Commander Wilkins stood. “What I need for Top Flight to do is to fight these Mantukese. Train us, yes. But train us to fight. Run formations and war drills. You’ve flown in wars. Teach us to win a war with the Mantukese.”

Dex shook his head. “Those, unfortunately, are not services we offer.”

Commander Wilkins’ face turned red. “I am paying you good money.”

“To train your pilots. Which we are doing. They are almost ready to come up with their own formations, their own war plan.” Dex shook his head. “But I cannot advise such an action. War against a superpower could never be won.”

“Not by ourselves, no.”

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