Page 78 of Damned
He already has…“I can’t lose him,” Bree murmured, sounding more like a helpless little girl, instead of the resourceful woman she used to be.
But she’d never tell anyone about Panama. That was Kruze’s secret to share. Knowing that he’d opened up to her, just her, lit a fire inside Bree’s nervous heart. Senator Sullivan was spot on. Juliana’s ghastly death had eaten Kruze alive all these years. Bree had sought counseling as soon as she could after she’d returned home from Turkey. But most days, she still felt like one of the walking dead. What must Kruze have felt like, after all the years of holding that much agony inside, never sharing? Not even with his brothers. He must’ve felt like a disgusting loser, especially since they’d both married. They’d all been SEALs. Surely they would’ve understood. Yet he’d only shared the worst failure in his life with Bree.
“You recently survived one hell of a terror ride all by yourself, didn’t you?”
She nodded, her heart set on the stubborn man in her life. Kruze had opened his heart to her. Just her. Which made the telling more precious than gold. The humility of his priceless gift stuck in her throat, choking her. “W-what else can you tell me, sir?”
“You don’t know?” Senator Sullivan asked, then corrected himself and said, “Never mind. I don’t suppose you would.”
“I don’t know what? Tell me.”
He cleared his throat. “I can’t go into specifics, ma’am. Just know that Kruze will be home soon. I’ve received word our PJ is on the ground—”
“What’s a PJ?” Surely this US Senator wasn’t talking about pajamas.
“PJs are Air Force Special Warfare Pararescue specialists. They’re highly-trained medics who rescue and treat downed military personnel all over the world, even in combat. They’re brave as hell, ma’am.”
That made her feel a little better. Folding her legs, Bree sat on the floor and listened. It was either that or fall down.
Senator Sullivan continued. “Their motto is:These things I do that others may live. Sounds a lot like what the Sin Boys do, if you ask me. Trust me, Kruze is in real good hands.”
“He rescued me right out from under those rebels’ noses,” Bree said quietly. “I was in Turkey. Josephus kept me in a hole. It was… it was awful.”
“I know, honey, and I’m sure sorry you had to go through that. Who do you think sent Kruze to get you?”
“You did. I know he works for you, but who asked you to send him to me? How did you even know where I was? But you must have. Kruze rescued me the same day you sent him to find me. Did you know that?”
“That’s what he was supposed to do. But as far as who asked me to bring you home…” Senator Sullivan cleared his throat again. He was hedging. She could tell. “Let’s just say he’s one helluva good friend of mine. I’ll introduce you someday.”
“I’d like that. Thank you.”
“Now, I don’t want you taking this the wrong way, ma’am. I try real hard not to be sexist, but my secretary tells me I’m old generation, and I am. I know that and I own it, but—”
“I think we’re all a little sexist, Senator,” Bree said quietly. “What can I do for you?”
“Well, the guys will be hungry when they get back. It’ll be late, and I was hoping—”
“I’d fix them something to eat while I wait? I’d love to. It’s the Golden Rule, sir. It’s not sexist. It’s kindness.”
“I’m going to have to remember that.”
“Of course, now if you’d asked me to fix breakfast, lunch, and dinner because I’mjust a woman, and a woman’s place is in the kitchen, you do know there’d be hell to pay, don’t you?”
Senator Sullivan’s big, delicious laugh seemed to fill the distance between Bree and him. Because of the mellow Texas twang to some of his words and his rich baritone, Bree pictured him sitting in his office wearing a white cowboy hat.
“Yes, ma’am, I do know that. Even an old fart like me knows a woman’s got the right to find her place in the world, and it isn’t necessarily in the kitchen. How’s that little girl of yours? You raising her to be just like her mother?”
“Yes, sir, I am,” Bree answered. “I hate to ask, but is there any way you can get in touch with my parents and tell them I’m okay? I haven’t had time to call them, and my phone was bugged and—”
“I’ll do you one better. Hold on a second. I’ll get them on the line and…”
Bree listened to her phone click and Senator Sullivan shuffle until…
“Mommy?” Robin asked.
Tears filled Bree’s eyes at the sound of her sweet daughter’s voice. “Hi, baby.”
“Whatcha doing? Nana! Grampa! I’m talking to Mommy!”
