Page 4 of Undefeated Love
The producers would have gladly given him his own trailer right on the set, making it so much easier to get a good night’s sleep. It would also give him someplace private to work on Guardian business in between his work on the movie. Hopefully they’d shoot all the action scenes at the same time so he and his men could finish in just a few weeks.
He would definitely make sure an on-set trailer was written into this new contract.
CHAPTER3
Three WeeksLater
Katlin sprayed the small bathroom on board Black Swan, rinsed and gargled with mouthwash before stepping into the cabin of their plane. She fucking hated to get sick. She’d rather die than throw up, but it seemed like every day since they’d left on this mission, at least once a day, her stomach would revolt and empty.
Katlin was over it.
She’d been able to keep most food down over the past three weeks while they hunted their target and eliminated the kingpin in the human trafficking ring. He was a real dirtbag. The fact that he had dual citizenship didn’t mean shit to her team.
But Katlin was disappointed in herself and her performance. Sometimes it was nearly impossible for her to stay awake during her guard rotation, but she managed by sleeping whenever she could. She knew she wasn’t holding up her part of the team. The others had often relieved her early so she could return to base camp and sleep.
She hated being the weakest link. She was fucking tired of feeling so fucking tired. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt great. She was over this…whatever it was.
Not unusual for your stage of recovery from a traumatic brain injury,her neurologist had claimed. Katlin had never been normal in her life and certainly didn’t want to start now.
“Feel better?” Nita, the team’s medic, asked for the umpteenth time since they left on this mission.
“I can fly the last leg if you need me.” Katlin prayed they would say no. She’d flown the first leg as they headed back toward the U.S. from Brazil. Being able to see the horizon made it easier but once the sun went down, they had to depend on their gauges and dials. That made her stomach roll. Since all five women were able to pilot and copilot their sleek jet, everyone took turns in the front two seats.
“We’ve got you covered. Grab a seat.” Nita was using her doctor’s voice and not the kind one filled with patience. She took Katlin’s blood pressure and checked her oxygen level. “After you eat some crackers and drink ginger ale, I want you to lie down until we get home. I’m going to hook you up to some oxygen. When we land, I’m calling Dr. Tobias. Luckily, your sickness didn’t put us in danger…this time.”
Oh, fuck. Nita was going to ground her. Katlin had waited patiently for months to get back to her team and their missions, but now that she was active again, she wasn’t at her best. Nita was right. If Katlin had gotten sick during a crucial part of the mission, she could’ve gotten them all killed. As it was, the other women were more tired because they’d been making up for her inabilities. Tired on an op was dangerous.
“We’ve been given two weeks’ leave. I plan to sleep on the beach and eat at all my favorite restaurants in Miami.” Katlin forced a smile.
Nita smiled too. “The kids have never been to our beach condo. I can’t wait for them to play in the Atlantic Ocean. And to see Daniel. Have you heard from Alex? Will he be able to join us in Miami?”
“No. He’s out in Los Angeles working on another movie. They’re paying Guardian an insane amount of money to work with the actors on the fight scenes. He might be finished before we leave again.” That particular news hadn’t thrilled Katlin when she’d called Alex to tell him they were on their way home.
Since they had a few weeks off, her team had decided to go to Miami. Katlin owned a condo on Miami Beach with bedrooms for each of her teammates. In truth, she owned the whole building and this time made sure several of the rental condos were available for her friends. Over the past two years, each had found the love of their life. All their men were flying to meet her teammates…except Alex. And Griffin. As manager of Guardian Miami Center, he lived in that building.
“With Alex not there, it might be better for you anyway. Maybe you’ll catch up on your sleep.” Nita went quiet and listened to Katlin’s heart.
Katlin yawned. “All I seem to do is sleep.” She amended her statement. “And throw up.” She looked into her friend’s eyes. “Do you think maybe I came back too soon?”
Nita lifted her shoulders then dropped them. “I don’t know. Everything I’ve read on TBIs indicates that you are doing extremely well. Both Dr. Tobias and Dr. Bowden released you for full duty. When we get home, we’ll run a full spectrum of tests.”
Katlin groaned. “Can I please enjoy my two weeks at the beach first? When we get back to D.C., I’ll run over to Walter Reed Military Medical Center and get a complete checkup, if I’m still sick.”
“I’ll agree to that. Mostly because I want to see my kids and my husband.” Nita packed up her medical equipment.
“Nita, I’m so sorry I’ve been sick this whole damn mission. You had other things to worry about. I just complicated everything.” Katlin truly felt terrible, physically and in her heart.
Nita grabbed her knee. “We just want you to feel better and get back to work on this team. We’ve missed you.” She walked down the aisle and dimmed the cabin lights.
Katlin put the large leather chair into zero gravity, pulled the soft warm blanket over top, and instantly fell asleep.
The next thing she knew, Tori was smacking the back of her seat.
“Time to sit up. We’re on approach.” The tall former model gracefully slid into the seat across from her and buckled her seatbelt. Smiling, she announced, “Marcus is already at our condo. We took the one bedroom down on the second floor. I hope he’s naked and in bed when I get there. Who knew sex was so addictive? BOB doesn’t do it as well as my man does,” she said, referring to her battery-operated boyfriend, a.k.a. her dildo.
Katlin had to agree. The real thing was so much better. Nothing compared to making love with Alex. He read her body, knowing exactly what she needed and when. Suddenly, she was even more disappointed that Alex had chosen to stay in Los Angeles than meet her in Miami. Maybe he would surprise her and show up. They could go visit Jenny, his daughter, together and take her out to a special dinner. But no. Alex had committed to this movie so she wouldn’t get her hopes up.
She could still take Jenny out someplace. Before she and Alex got together, as his daughter’s godmother, Katlin would visit Jenny every time she was in Miami. They’d often dress up and go to a musical matinee followed by an adult-style dinner. She took out her phone, searching forPirates of Penzance, Jenny’s favorite musical.
