Page 40 of Rescuing Rebel

We descend on a local pizza joint, bringing the party with us. It’s a hole-in-the-wall place known only to locals and is quickly becoming my favorite. The aroma of wood-fired pizza and hoppy beer fills the air as we lay claim to a large table.

As the evening progresses, we consume beer and devour pizza. Once that’s done, the guys go on the hunt for their own conquests for the evening.

A gaggle of women surround Hank. He’s a charmer and a favorite of the ladies. Walt, who’s more reserved, finds himself a petite brunette to secret away in a private corner in the back.

“You got protection tonight?” Blake nudges Gabe, a cocky grin playing on his lips.

The table erupts in laughter at the pointed dig, recalling an unfortunate incident involving Gabe a few weeks back.

“Learned my lesson. I’m armed and dangerous now. You could say I’m ready for any—mission.” He grins like a fool and holds up two fingers. “Got two on me right now.”

“Only two? You’re not very optimistic?” Blake chimes in, his deep voice laced with humor.

The table roars again, and Gabe’s face turns beet red.

They’re good men, and the women know it. They see past the rough and rugged edges to the honorable, dedicated men they truly are. Over another round of beer, I slowly lose Jeb, Gabe, and Hank until I’m the last man sitting at the table.

Watching my men pair off, it’s natural for my thoughts to drift to a pair of emerald eyes, a fiery spirit, and a woman who captured my thoughts since the moment I saw her.

Rebel.

She’s a constant presence in my mind, a flame that refuses to be extinguished.

Each of my teammates leaves with their chosen company for the night. I get stuck with the tab for the entire evening, which doesn’t bother me. I’m happy to let them blow off a bit of steam. I’m all on board if that means paying for pizza and beer.

A part of me wishes I could cut loose like them. Lose myself in a woman for the night.

But I can’t.

Following the success of our mission, the camaraderie, the jokes, the stories, and the tall tales all make for a good night, but it does nothing to alleviate the emptiness inside of me. I may not have a woman on my arm, but I have my brothers.

That’s enough.

At least, that’s the lie I tell myself.

After paying the bill, I hop on my Harley and ride down the dark, deserted highway. Not ready for the emptiness of my quarters, I drive to The Facility, the place that housed Rebel after I rescued her. The woman who plied me with her charm, stunned me with her beauty, and then captivated me with the warmth of her body.

The woman who betrayed me.

This late, The Facility is silent; its lights dimmed for the night. I spend the rest of the evening walking along the cliffs overlooking the rocky beach below. It’s here where memories of Rebel are the strongest. Each wave that crashes against the rocks reminds me of the night we spent together.

The heat of our passion wasn’t faked. I reject that thought. Despite her disappearance, what we shared was real.

I take a seat on the cliff edge, then lie back on the grass to stare at the stars. Each twinkling light reminds me of the laughter in her eyes. The gentle breeze blowing in off the water rustles through my hair; its touch is a pale imitation of the way her fingers combed through my hair.

I close my eyes, letting the sounds of the sea, the whispers of the wind, and the memories of her laughter fill the silence. She’s a ghost, a phantom that haunts me.

And I can’t get her out of my head.

How long has it been? Why do I still feel her so strongly?

Tonight, I cut loose with my men. We laughed, we joked, we lived. Just another day in the world of the Guardian Hostage Rescue Specialists. Tomorrow is another day, and there’s no way to know what it will bring.

Is it foolish to hope it will magically bring Rebel back to me?

FIFTEEN

Ethan

---