"I was thinking the same thing."
"I'm going to—" I stop talking when I hear the light sounds of footsteps headed our way. I stand when Libby comes into view.
She no longer has my shirt on. She is now wearing a pair of jeans that fit her snuggly, paired with a pink fuzzy sweater that covers the mark I left on her.
"You like?" Libby asks shyly.
"You look good, Libby." More than good. I honestly don’t know how the fuck I’m going to watch her walk out of here if she chooses. Her choosing to leave might be the one thing that breaks me. It’s almost laughable that the life-threatening missions weren’t the thing that took me down, but a blonde beauty in a pink fuzzy sweater.
"Thanks." A pretty pink spreads across her cheeks.
"Garrett said he'd take us to the diner. Doesn't that sound fun?" Winter says.
"I did."
My phone starts to go off, catching Garrett's attention too because he knows that alert sound.
"I gotta get this."
"Well, I guess we'll head out, then?" Winter's eyes bounce between us all. I don't speak. I can't bring myself to say goodbye to Libby.
"Yeah, guess so," Libby agrees. I keep my eyes on her, but she won't meet mine. In fact, I think she is trying to make sure she doesn't.
"Update me?" Garrett says. I nod, grab my phone, and turn away. I can't watch her leave. I don't have it in me.
"Ace," I say when I answer.
"You get word that Star Team is moving?"
"I'm not on the Star Team anymore," I remind Zero.
"No shit," he mutters. I glance back to see my office empty. My chest grows tight. She's gone. "They're moving in on Heaven's Temple."
"Really?" I walk over and close my office door. "There more I should know?"
I didn't think they'd use the Star Team for this.
"Yeah, that's why I'm calling. A few got spooked and have taken off."
"Shit," I mutter.
“I’m sending you some information over now. I have obtained some video footage of the individuals who managed to escape.”
“When is the raid happening?” I head back out of my office and upstairs.
"They have already initiated a call out."
This implies that the team will arrive within the next two days, if not sooner. The team will be pulled in, briefed, and then they’ll all be airborne this way.
There is no way I’m going to miss this. I’ll have to call in a few favors, but I don’t care. I want to be there when they burn that place to the ground.
16
LIBBY
Ithought this phone was the coolest thing in the world when I got it. Now I want to throw it at the wall. I keep checking to see if Ace has texted me.
Shortly after we left his place, he texted me his number. Then he told me that I can call and message him anytime if I need him. That is the crappy part. I don't need him. I want him. That’s a big difference.