Page 116
Story: Covert Mission
“Give them satellite phones and watches with GPS chips in them so they can call for help if they need it. And please make sure Jillian has some counseling.”
“You got it. Anything else?”
“No, sir. Thank you, Brent. Look, if the expenses run too high and your cashed-in favors don’t cover everything, let me know. I’ll chip in funds to help.” She suspected the rest of Artemis would do the same.
“I don’t think it will come to that. If it does, I’ll let you know. Keep me updated, Teagan. Any big changes occur, I want to know about them immediately.” Brent ended the call.
Some of the tension racking her body drained away. Thank goodness. The people in Otter Creek were kind and would take the couple under their wings. Maybe, just maybe, this would all work out for the best for Rubin and Jillian. Even if they didn’t stay together, they’d live in a town large enough that they wouldn’t have to see each other every day.
A knock on the door brought Teagan to her feet. Seth stood in the hall.
“May I come in?”
She stepped back and closed the door behind him. “What’s wrong?”
“You tell me. One minute you’re fine. The next, you’re upset and walking out to make a phone call. Is there something I should know, Teagan?”
She’d have to be careful of her facial expressions in the future. Apparently, she’d lost her ability to hide her thoughts and feelings. Not good on an operation like this one. “I’m okay, Seth.” When his eyebrow rose, she cupped his cheek. “I wasconcerned about Rubin and Jillian being on their own with no one to help them after the trial.”
“So am I. The odds of them staying off the radar of The Brotherhood are slim. Most people can’t live off the grid, much less teenagers with zero experience in hiding from the enemy.”
“Exactly. I called Maddox and asked for satellite phones and watches with GPS chips in them for the kids. He agreed to provide those and plans to move Rubin and Jillian to Otter Creek, where they’ll have plenty of people who can help them and provide protection if necessary.”
“The bodyguard school, right?”
She nodded. “They’ll be able to go to college if they want and Maddox is working on jobs for them. They’ll have options and a chance to have a life.“
Seth gently tugged her into his arms. “Unlike what you went through.”
“This isn’t about me.”
“Teagan, this mission has been personal for you since the beginning. I hate that this choice is necessary for the kids. I’m afraid they’re too young to know their own hearts and minds.” He eased her closer. “I love that you care so much for this young couple. You’ve been in their shoes and escaped. You know how difficult it is to make it on your own in a world of people who don’t want to help. I love that you went beyond what’s necessary to get Rubin and Jillian the help and protection they need to succeed and survive what’s coming.”
Seth bent his head and placed a gentle kiss on her mouth. “You have a heart of gold, Teagan Paloni.”
Teagan smiled. “How do you know the perfect things to say to me?”
“I pay attention. When you’re with me, no one else matters. Besides, I’m making a study of all things Teagan.”
“Funny. I’m making a study of all things Seth.”
“Good. When this mission is over, we’ll talk about where our relationship is going.”
She froze, cold seeping into her bones. No. Please, no. “What does that mean?”
Seth smiled. “Nothing bad, I promise.”
“That sounds like the prelude to a breakup talk.”
“Not going to happen. I’m in this with you for the long haul, Teagan.”
No matter how she twisted the words, Teagan was afraid to take what he said at face value. No one had ever claimed her for their own except Seth. Was he doing what she wanted most in this world? “Seth, please. Just tell me.”
“I don’t want to distract you.”
“Too late. I’m already distracted, buddy. Now spill it. Are you breaking up with me?”Please, please, please,she begged silently.Don’t let go of me. Don’t throw me away, too.
Seth cupped her face between his palms. “I’m not breaking up with you, baby. In fact, I’m doing a terrible job of telling you I never want to let you go.”
“You got it. Anything else?”
“No, sir. Thank you, Brent. Look, if the expenses run too high and your cashed-in favors don’t cover everything, let me know. I’ll chip in funds to help.” She suspected the rest of Artemis would do the same.
“I don’t think it will come to that. If it does, I’ll let you know. Keep me updated, Teagan. Any big changes occur, I want to know about them immediately.” Brent ended the call.
Some of the tension racking her body drained away. Thank goodness. The people in Otter Creek were kind and would take the couple under their wings. Maybe, just maybe, this would all work out for the best for Rubin and Jillian. Even if they didn’t stay together, they’d live in a town large enough that they wouldn’t have to see each other every day.
A knock on the door brought Teagan to her feet. Seth stood in the hall.
“May I come in?”
She stepped back and closed the door behind him. “What’s wrong?”
“You tell me. One minute you’re fine. The next, you’re upset and walking out to make a phone call. Is there something I should know, Teagan?”
She’d have to be careful of her facial expressions in the future. Apparently, she’d lost her ability to hide her thoughts and feelings. Not good on an operation like this one. “I’m okay, Seth.” When his eyebrow rose, she cupped his cheek. “I wasconcerned about Rubin and Jillian being on their own with no one to help them after the trial.”
“So am I. The odds of them staying off the radar of The Brotherhood are slim. Most people can’t live off the grid, much less teenagers with zero experience in hiding from the enemy.”
“Exactly. I called Maddox and asked for satellite phones and watches with GPS chips in them for the kids. He agreed to provide those and plans to move Rubin and Jillian to Otter Creek, where they’ll have plenty of people who can help them and provide protection if necessary.”
“The bodyguard school, right?”
She nodded. “They’ll be able to go to college if they want and Maddox is working on jobs for them. They’ll have options and a chance to have a life.“
Seth gently tugged her into his arms. “Unlike what you went through.”
“This isn’t about me.”
“Teagan, this mission has been personal for you since the beginning. I hate that this choice is necessary for the kids. I’m afraid they’re too young to know their own hearts and minds.” He eased her closer. “I love that you care so much for this young couple. You’ve been in their shoes and escaped. You know how difficult it is to make it on your own in a world of people who don’t want to help. I love that you went beyond what’s necessary to get Rubin and Jillian the help and protection they need to succeed and survive what’s coming.”
Seth bent his head and placed a gentle kiss on her mouth. “You have a heart of gold, Teagan Paloni.”
Teagan smiled. “How do you know the perfect things to say to me?”
“I pay attention. When you’re with me, no one else matters. Besides, I’m making a study of all things Teagan.”
“Funny. I’m making a study of all things Seth.”
“Good. When this mission is over, we’ll talk about where our relationship is going.”
She froze, cold seeping into her bones. No. Please, no. “What does that mean?”
Seth smiled. “Nothing bad, I promise.”
“That sounds like the prelude to a breakup talk.”
“Not going to happen. I’m in this with you for the long haul, Teagan.”
No matter how she twisted the words, Teagan was afraid to take what he said at face value. No one had ever claimed her for their own except Seth. Was he doing what she wanted most in this world? “Seth, please. Just tell me.”
“I don’t want to distract you.”
“Too late. I’m already distracted, buddy. Now spill it. Are you breaking up with me?”Please, please, please,she begged silently.Don’t let go of me. Don’t throw me away, too.
Seth cupped her face between his palms. “I’m not breaking up with you, baby. In fact, I’m doing a terrible job of telling you I never want to let you go.”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151
- Page 152
- Page 153
- Page 154
- Page 155
- Page 156
- Page 157
- Page 158
- Page 159
- Page 160
- Page 161
- Page 162
- Page 163
- Page 164
- Page 165
- Page 166
- Page 167
- Page 168