Page 31 of Inevitable Dream

In minutes, we’ve added our own bug and collected a couple of disks that Mitchell had hidden in the back of his closet while Falcon and I talked bullshit about plugs and wires to make it sound good for the idiots listening in. We move to leave, but Mary grabs my arm and mouths,Please find them.

“Have a great day, ma’am,” I tell her with a wink.

Sure enough, Emmanuela is standing out on the stoop, watching as we walk back to our truck. We made sure to bring two separate vehicles to make it look good. We go to four other houses and pretend to check out the electrical units, just in case Emmanuela keeps watching.

Phoenix and Bull meet us back at Storm to debrief before I head home to my Sadie.

Sadie

A movie with the girls is just what I needed to distract myself from thinking about Rebel all night. We’re at the tail end of the movie when all our cell phones go off within seconds of each other. Rebel’s name flashes on my screen, and I grab it before the second ring.

“Hi, honey,” I say.

His gruff, tired voice greets me. “Hey, sweetheart. I’ll be home in twenty.”

“Are you all right?” I just need to know he’s okay. My heart thuds rapidly in my chest.

“Right as rain, babe. It was a productive night, and we have more to go on now than we did before we started.”

“Come home. I miss you,” I say quietly.

“Gonna let you go so I can get in my car. Sooner I get there, the sooner I’m home,” he murmurs.

“Bye.”

“Wait up for me,” he replies before hanging up. I look up to see that both Maya and Kailyn are practically out the door.

“They’re on their way home. Yay!” Maya exclaims cheerfully.

“Thanks for keeping me company tonight. It’s good to have friends to lean on. I’ve been so busy working and finding my footing since moving here that I haven’t had the time to dedicate to good friends. I’m glad we found each other,” I tell them.

Kailyn comes in for a hug. “I am too.”

Maya then throws her arms around both of us. “It’s fate. We were all meant to meet and become gal pals,” Maya says with a giggle. “Tomorrow, ladies.”

I hardly have time to tidy up before Rebel comes through the door and heads right for me. He doesn’t slow his pace, and before I can blink, I’m lying on the sofa with Rebel half covering my body, his large hands framing my face. His mouth comes down hard on mine with a kiss that surpasses any other we ever had. His lips are soft, yet firm, slowly exploring, our tongues melding in a fine dance. He’s saying how much he loves me, just not in words. I feel the words in my heart. And when we draw apart, I can’t help but want to weep from the absolute beauty of his kiss.

“Good to be home, babe,” he says, his thumb grazing over the apple of my cheek.

I grin, clasping my hands over his still on my face. “Dinner for one isn’t fun,” I tease.

“I promise not to make it a habit. But it’s going to happen, Sadie.” He looks deeply into my eyes, searching for my response.

“I have to work shifts. There are going to be nights when I’m not home,” I remind him.

“Fuck that! I’ll come to the hospital and bring dinner, and we’ll eat together,” he replies with a snort.

“I know you’re kidding, but just saying, any time I get with you is fabulous.”

“Just wait and see, sweetheart,” Rebel says, then lifts himself off the couch, taking me with him and walking us both to bed.

Chapter14

Putting It All Together

Rebel

The team decides to regroup later the next morning. Only, when I come in, I see Wire in the same place I left him last night. He didn’t go home at all, and although we’ve all been trained in combat to be alert and have stayed up for hours on end on many occasions, we did this with the team, and each of us took turns as a lookout. We all need sleep because our minds and reactions aren’t as quick when we don’t rest.

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