Page 18 of Key Of Dreams

We all immediately agree that this is a priority. Falcon gives each of us our specific tasks, and we race against the clock to pick up a lead. My job is to case the building and the ones around it to try to find out what these guys are really after.

We’re all filing out when Wire puts a hand on my shoulder. “What’s up?” I ask.

“You’re never late. Everything all right?” Wire jokes around a lot. He’s always been calm, but when shit gets deep, you want him on your side. He’s also not the type to meddle in anyone’s personal life. Most likely because he doesn’t want others meddling in his. But he’s got our backs, and if he’s asking, it’s because he cares.

“Maya and I started seeing each other.”

His lips curve upward. “That’s great, man.” He slaps my back. “The way Gertie and Kailyn talk about her, she’s a damn fine woman.”

I give him a lopsided grin. “She is, and she’s funny as hell. Shy and sweet, but she can be funny.”

“Laughter is the best medicine,” he says, pointing out his own ability to make us laugh.

“It’s not what I was looking for. You know what I mean?”

“So what?”

“We’re a different kind of men. You know that. We’re intense and…”

“Kailyn’s with Phoenix, and they make it work.”

“Kailyn was married to a soldier. She knew what she was getting into with Phoenix.”

“You don’t think Maya can handle the pressure?” Wire asks.

“I hope she can, because I don’t think I can let her go,” I admit. The thought of not seeing Maya makes me sick to my stomach.

“I don’t think you’re giving your woman enough credit. If I know you, you laid it out pretty good. Am I wrong?” he asks with a smirk.

“No,” I grumble.

“And she didn’t go running for the hills. I think that says something right there,” he says. “One day at a time, but we deserve to be happy. You’ve busted your ass to make something of yourself. You defied the worst conditions, and you’re still standing. I think you can handle Maya.” He laughs.

“She’s so fucking sweet, she makes my teeth ache,” I mutter. “When she smiles, it’s like the sunshine is pouring down on me. I don’t want to taint her world with the darkness that we see every day.”

“It’s called life. You can’t keep the bad from happening, but you can be there to hold her hand through it, and if she’s the right one for you, she’ll hold on tight to yours,” he finishes, then stalks down the hall.

Fuck me, if the guy who makes light of the bad shit has become a fucking sage. I walk past Phoenix’s office. He gives me a two-finger salute. Phoenix will support me no matter what I choose. He’s been down that road with Kailyn, and I gave him a hard fucking time at the start. Not because we didn’t love Kailyn, but because we were still mourning the loss of Cory, her husband. Phoenix understands better than anyone that you can only deny your feelings for so long before it all catches up to you. He held out way longer than I did. The minute she fell into me and we both dropped to the floor, I knew I was a goner.

I take what’s left of the donuts and set them down on the lunchroom table. The place is empty, but I know the rest of these donuts will be gone by noon. As I’m about to leave, Rebel comes in.

“So, Maya, huh?” He snickers.

“Are we gonna do this?” I huff, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Just ribbing you. She’s a nice woman. Heart of gold, that one,” he says, and he’s right. He peers at my expression. “What’s with that face?”

“How is she going to handle my work? The military ruins a ton of marriages, and this isn’t much better,” I say.

“Maybe not, but if you tell her that you’re on the hunt to save a kid and put him back with his parents, she’ll think you’re a god.”

“I’m not a god. It’s just what we do.” I let out a heavy breath. “I can’t give up this work. It gives me a sense of purpose and I’m good at it.”

“We do it because no one else can. Don’t minimize the impact we’ve made on people’s lives. Think of all those medics we saved. We still get calls from their families thanking us,” he reminds me. “Stop thinking, start living, man. If she cares about you, she won’t want to change you. She’ll accept all that you are.” And after that parting shot, he leaves, taking a donut in each hand on his way out.

* * *

Maya

---