Page 36 of Dangerous Mission

“We land in a few hours but need to head to the base to have a debrief. I won’t be home until late tonight. Have things been quiet?”

“Someone sent me a video. For the past few months, someone’s been watching me.”

“I’m going to have Gumby come to the house. Hold while I send him a quick text.”

“Stop. Angel is here. I sent the video and message to Tex. I’d planned to go talk to Angel, but you called. Things are under control.”

The line was quiet for a few seconds. “Okay, but I’m worried. Why would this person send you this when they had months to?”

“I don’t know.” Terri placed the phone on speaker and tapped the video. “Honestly, the person said to beware of people close to me. The problem is I don’t have anyone close to me. Hex was the only person, and he’s...”

She’d even jeopardized Axel, because he was close to her. Tex pulled all images down of Axel from a week ago. If the video was released, she didn’t know what the media would do. People would spend hours looking into her life, and they would notice him in each video.

“How about we go to my families beach house after the charity event on Friday?”

“I’d like that, but I can’t with Hex still out there.”

“I’d planned to tell you in person, but we have Hex.”

“He’s okay?”

“Yes. A little beat up but alive. I can’t tell you much over the phone. We’ll talk tonight.”

“Can I talk to him?”

Axel sighed. “He’s with Doc right now. The man needs rest, but I promise you can talk to him in a few days. He asked about you.”

“Did you tell him about his sister?”

“We will talk later or tomorrow.”

“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”

“I love you, T.”

Her breath hitched. She wanted to say it back but in person. “Hurry home.”

“I like hearing you calling my place home. Bye.”

“Bye.”

Terri eyed the plug on the nightstand as she rolled off the bed. Then she walked down the stairs and out onto the back patio.

Angel was glaring at her phone as she typed.

“Casanova?”

Angel had told her a little about Axel's other teammate. She tried to keep up with the call names and which went to who. Richy is fine for Axel, but she figured frogman fit him better. The man loved the water. In high school, she spent hours doing homework in the hot, humid pool area. When she sat in the lounge chair next to Angel, she let out a sigh.

“They will be back tonight.” Angel didn’t sound as excited to see him as Terri was to see Axel.

“Casanova wants to talk?” Terri asked.

Angel nodded as she set the phone to the side. “Yes. After debriefing, he’s off for the week,” she continued. “So he invited himself as my date to the charity event on Friday. Instead of asking me, he contacted Xavier. It’s like we get into a good space, then one of us always fucks things up. A few months ago, I said something I shouldn’t have. He didn’t talk to me for a few weeks. Not sure why I didn’t take it as a sign and move on, but fuck. He’s like catnip, and I can’t walk away from him no matter how much he pisses me off.”

“It’s hard to walk away when your heart gets involved.” Terri knew it from experience. But she was ready to fight to make the relationship work. Unlike last time, they would work it out together. If she had to hide everything from the world for a few years, she would.

“Oh, my heart isn’t involved,” Angel said, her brow furrowed. “I’m not even sure I have a heart. I can’t have emotions and be in this line of work.”

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