Page 91 of Her Marine
Killian ran his hand down his face. “Yes, sir.”
“There should be a car to get you in twenty minutes, and your flight back leaves in an hour and a half. We’ll see you when you get here.”
He gripped his phone in his hand after ending the call. Killian knew he needed to pack his things before the car arrived. Because of his position, when he took time off, he was required to let them know where he was for moments like this one.
Killian returned to the bedroom, grabbed his bag, and took it into the bathroom, closing the door. He didn’t want to run the risk of waking Journee before he was ready. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to wake her at all, but he knew not doing so could be an issue. He wasn’t sure where they were sending him and his team, and they never knew how long they would be gone.
Once dressed and freshened up, Killian pulled the hoodie he’d brought but hadn’t worn out of his bag. He exited the bathroom and quietly gathered his things, zipping the bag up before placing the hoodie on the side of the bed where he’d been sleeping.
Killian stared at Journee for a moment. This situation reminded him why he tended to date casually and not commit to anything serious. Because here he was, for the first time, torn between serving his country and saying fuck it and staying with Journee, but he knew he had to go.
He thought about leaving her a note because he knew she would ask him questions he couldn’t answer, but Killian wanted to wake her and tell her he would be gone for a little while.
He turned the lamp on and ran his knuckle up and down her cheek; it took a moment for her to stir. When she did, her eyes opened slowly, and as she took him in, he could see her becoming more alert.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, sitting up.
“I have to go. There’s an emergency at work.”
“What kind of emergency?”
“Nothing I can’t handle,” Killian responded.
“Do you need me to take you to the airport?”
He shook his head as he leaned in, kissed her softly, and then kissed her forehead. “I’ll call you when I can.”
Standing, Killian grabbed his bag from the floor and left the bedroom. He made sure to lock the front door behind him as he closed it. He knew he had a few minutes before the car arrived, but he couldn’t stay in the house. Journee would make him fold if he kept looking into those big brown eyes, and he couldn’t have that.
Killian entered the briefing room after dropping off his bag and phone in his office. The rest of his unit was already in attendance, and as he passed Collins, one of the younger members of his team, he smacked him on the back of the head.
“Get your feet off the table,” Killian commanded.
“Someone’s in a bad mood,” Davenport, another member, stated.
“How can you tell? He always seems to be in this mood,” Collins countered, and Killian cut his eyes at him.
Conversation ceased as Commander Fields walked into the room with the HQ Captain. The pleasantries were skipped, and they got straight to business. As they were briefed on their target and given their orders, Killian remained quiet, but the assignment wasn’t usually one his team would be called in for. He couldn’t classify it under one of their mission types. That is, until they reached the end goal. They were to annihilate the two men on the screen and anyone who stood in the way—direct action.
“We’ve gotten word that they’ve been holding up on a compound they own in Ecuador for the past two weeks and the location. We have reason to believe they will continue to stay there. Your plane leaves in an hour, and you’ll hit the ground running,” Commander Fields stated.
Killian stood with his unit as they began to leave. If they took off in an hour, they would have to move double time to get all their equipment on the plane.
“Major Stoll.”
Killian turned and stood at attention. “Commander Fields.”
“You bring those boys back safely.”
“I always do.”
“Dismissed.”
When Killian walked into the hangar, he found two extra faces and approached them. “What are you two doing here?”
“Come on, Killian. You’re going into enemy territory. It never hurts to have an extra combat medic, and you should want the best combat medics with you in case something happens,” Haney responded.
“And even you have to agree that we’re the best,” Minner tacked on.
