Page 43 of Damned
“Understood.” Kruze rolled his eyes. If Chance only knew the surprise Kruze was keeping from him. “Thanks. I appreciate the help.”
“Are you okay?”
“Sure. You bet. Never been better.”
“Kruze, really. What’s wrong? Something’s going on. I can hear it in your voice. Talk to me.”
Never.“No problem I can’t handle. I’ll check with you once we hit the safe house and—”
“I can be there in five hours if you need me. All you have to do is ask.”
“I don’t and I won’t,” Kruze replied a little too quickly. He backtracked and added quietly, “Berfende’s just a pain-in-the-ass loose end. I should’ve taken him out in Turkey. I will now. Like I said, it’s just a job.”
“You mean, before he hurts Bree Banks, the woman you rescued in Turkey? The woman you have feelings for? Feelings, Kruze. You care about this woman, I can tell. That’s what I’m hearing in your voice.” Chance always was an astute son of a gun.
“I’m just doing the job Sullivan gave me.” And suddenly this conversation had gotten way too personal. It was time to back the‘Kumbaya, my Lord’train up. “Listen, we’re late. Call if you find something. I’ll be in touch.” Hurriedly, Kruze thumbed the END button on his cell and wished everyone would stay the fuck out of his business. Especially Chance. He had a wife and baby to take care of. They should be his first concern, no one else.
“I’m just a job?” Bree asked, her voice soft and—sad?
Oh, there was his jacket. On her lap. She was fingering it nervously. If it’d been a snake, it could’ve bitten him. Unless she bit him first. Kruze shook his head, keeping his eyes on the road. Thankfully, they were at the rendezvous point, a busy truck stop outside Morristown, and he didn’t have to respond with anything but, “We’re here.”
Stewart’s team was already there waiting. Damned if he hadn’t sent Walker Judge and his wife Persia to takeover guarding Robin and her grandparents. Walker was a Navy SEAL. His wife was either former CIA or FBI, Kruze wasn’t sure which. Didn’t matter. They both worked for Stewart now.
Introductions and transferring Bree’s parents and Robin from one SUV to the other went smoothly. Robin took to Persia like they were old friends. That eased some of Kruze’s trepidation about having to tell Robin goodbye. Keeping her safe was paramount and dividing this family, leaving them with these specific guardians, was a sound decision.
But when he held her in his arms for the last time, his world screeched to a full stop. He’d just met this little girl. Sending her away was hard. Too hard. He buried his nose in her hair, his palm pressed flat to her back, and her body snug against his chest. He could feel her tiny heartbeat. He could smell her breath. All the things he might never get to do again if this mission went sideways.
Walker slapped a hand to his back. “On my honor, Kruze, we’ll keep everyone safe.”
“I know you will, but…” If there were a way, he’d absorb this tiny soul, so he could keep her with him always. Bree and Robin were everything. To lose either of them was unimaginable. It’d kill him.
When Robin squirmed, he knew he’d asked too much from a three-year-old. “Listen to Uncle Walker and Aunt Persia,” he told her.
“She’ll be fine,” Persia said as she lifted Robin out of Kruze’s arms and harnessed her into the booster seat in the rear seat of The TEAM’s heavy-duty SUV.
Robin giggled. She was excited to be going on another adventure, and she had no trouble chatting with everyone. Even the father who was telling his baby girl goodbye for his very first time. “Bye-bye, Mister Kruze!” she called out from between her doting grandparents.
“Bye, baby girl.” Kruze blew her a kiss, trying to hold it together, but failing miserably. For the first time in his life he doubted another skilled operator. Walker and Persia weren’t parents. They had no idea of the treasure Kruze had just entrusted them with. His inner caveman bellowed to take her back. To hide her with her mother, somewhere. To keep her to himself. Who could protect them better?!
Giggling, Robin pretended she caught his kiss, then blew one back to him. This little darling was in his heart to stay. Kruze waved and stepped back. Sending Robin and her grandparents away was the smart thing to do. Walker and Persia would die to save these three. Kee-rist, Kruze still wished he were twins, one to go with Robin, one to stay with Bree.
“Bye Mommy! Love you!” Robin called out next.
“Love you, too. Be a good girl for Nana and Grampa,” Bree called back, her voice strained. She hadn’t yet pitched a fit or even asked questions. Kruze hoped that was a good sign.
“She’ll be fine,” Lark told Bree through her open window. “Call me if you can. I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you too, Mom and Dad. Keep my little girl safe and warm and—” Bree’s voice cracked.
“This will be over soon, sugar,” Kruze murmured. Saying goodbye to the people she loved had to be tough, especially since Bree hadn’t been prepared for the separation. He was standing behind Bree, so he put both hands on her shoulders and tipped her shoulders against him.
“Bye-bye, Mister Kruze!” Robin yelled again, waving both hands.
“Bye, Robin!”
At last, Walker gave Kruze a quick, two-fingered salute and drove away. And there it was again, that elusive something Kruze couldn’t seem to grab onto for longer than a night. That intangible thing Walker had with Persia. Kruze had worked with him before. That Alex had sent Walker and Persia to watch over Robin and her grandparents was damned good thinking. They were a strong, capable couple who worked well together, rescuing little ones caught up in the notorious sex trafficking in Southwest Asia.
It still took everything he had before Kruze turned away from the scene that was tearing his heart apart. “You ready?” he asked Bree.
