Forsaken Duty (Red Team #9)(59)

“Roger that, boss,” Max said. “We’re on it.”



Addy took a quick shower. Troy wasn’t back from his sleepover yet. She’d read Owen’s letters during the night, getting through about a third of them. They were filled with his loneliness, all of them, but his sorrow had slowly given way to quiet rage. He’d known no peace in their years apart. He’d confessed to her the times he’d been with other women. There hadn’t been many, and none that he’d truly enjoyed.

She was nervous about seeing him this morning. Nervous and excited. She dried her hair and put her makeup on, a ritual she wanted to do for him, so different from how she’d hated doing it for Cecil. She was tired, but she hoped Owen would look beyond that and see her…see that she knew how wrong she’d been about him.

There was a knock on her door. She opened it, thinking it was Mandy bringing Troy back before breakfast. It was Owen. He was dressed in beige cargo pants, beige everything, even Kevlar vest. She stepped back into her room. He followed her. The door shut behind him.

He looked over her head to what he could see of the bedroom. She’d put all of his letters away—she hadn’t wanted Troy getting into them. When Owen’s gaze returned to hers, he seemed uncertain.

“I read them. Some of them. The bouquet you got me after our night, when…when—”

He kissed her before she could finish, a hard, possessive kiss. He pulled her up against his body, crushing her against his vest. It hurt. And it felt wonderful. She tightened her arms around his neck and bent her head, giving him more of what he wanted. His hand forked her hair, holding her head so he could devour her mouth. Heat shot through her body, making her want more, making her whimper.

He eased up, hearing the sound she made. He still held her off the ground. They were face to face. He was breathing hard. “I have to go.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t leave the house without Selena or one of the guys. Promise?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll be here when I get back?”

She huffed a little breath with her smile. “Try to get rid of me.”

“Never.”

He set her back on her feet, then turned at her door for a last look. She tried to smile, she really did—she just hated the thought of him going away.

“Be safe, Owen.”

“I will.”

She stared at the door for a long minute, fighting the urge to chase him down the hall and give him another kiss goodbye. Her whole body was tingling. She kept still, savoring that feeling, one she’d only had from him.

After a few minutes, she made her way to the dining room. Troy was already there, sitting next to Rocco, Mandy, and Zavi. Wynn was there too. Kit and Ivy and their daughter came in from the kitchen. The big table was filling up again.

“Mom! Zavi was right. Look at all the food. I ate pancakes and sausages and some fruit. I want one of the pastries, too. Can I?”

Addy smiled. “No. If you’ve eaten all of that, you don’t need any more. Let’s save some for everyone else. There are a lot of people to feed here.” She made herself a plate, though she had little appetite. “Thank you, Mandy, for letting him sleep over last night.”

“He was good as gold,” Mandy said. “The boys really get along.”

“They do.”

“Did you get some rest last night? I know it has to be a shock coming here. It was for all of us,” Mandy said.

“I didn’t get much sleep, but it’s my own fault, I was up reading.” Addy sipped her coffee. Troy and Zavi did a lot of talking and laughing. Those two had become friends instantly.

“Why don’t you come to class with me tomorrow, Troy?” Zavi asked.

Classes…school…she’d forgotten about all of that in their evacuation. He could miss a few days, but keeping him out of school for too long would not be good.

“That’s a great idea,” Wynn said. “Would you mind if he joined us?”

“I-I haven’t given it any thought,” Addy said. “He had a tutor at our house. I don’t know where he’s at with his studies in relation to where Zavi might be.”

“No worries there. I can do an assessment over the next few days.”

“I’d like that, Wynn. Um, I just don’t know how I’ll pay. I don’t have any money.”

Mandy reached over and touched her hand. “Don’t worry about it. We can figure that out later. Let’s just get him started with his studies so he doesn’t lose ground.”

“Then yes, if you’re certain it won’t be too much of an imposition.”

“None at all. We’ve been studying with the watchers in the gym, but they’ve”—Wynn paused—“ah, gone on a field trip for a bit, so let’s use the classroom in Mandy’s wing, okay?”

“They’re gone?” Casey said, interrupting the conversation. She looked crushed. “When are they coming back? They are coming back, right?”

“Case, don’t worry about them. They’re doing one of their exercises,” Kit said.

Casey looked from her dad to her mom. “They’ll be back before you know it,” Ivy said.

Addy wondered at Casey’s concern for the boys. “Sure,” she said, answering Wynn’s question. “What about supplies for Troy? I don’t have anything. I should have packed that, but didn’t even think about it.”