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Foster laughed. Hard. “Wouldn’t have it any other way. Are you okay watching Greer tonight? Mac and I can spell Chase off.”
Bodie waved him off. “Got it covered. Besides, you guys have a house to rip apart.”
Foster shook his head, chatting with Bodie as they made their way back to the door then out to his truck. He gave the man another pat on the shoulder. “Thanks, again.”
Bodie gave him a small salute. “Anything for you, Major. But get some sleep. You two look exhausted. Though, maybe that’s not from Voss.”
Mac rolled her eyes as Foster chuckled then slid behind the wheel. “Why do I get the feeling I’ll be the one flying his ass around when he needs a favor?”
Foster shrugged. “Like you wouldn’t jump at the chance. Though, don’t count me out, just yet, sweetheart. Maybe I just need the right motivation to get behind the controls, again.”
Though she suspected he’d meant it to sound casual, she didn’t miss the tightness in his voice. Or how he clenched his right hand and released it a couple times.
Mac slid closer and brushed her hand along his arm. “You know it’s okay if you decide that part of your life is over, right? That you don’t owe anyone, anything.”
“Other than your father?”
“Foster…”
“It’s fine. Atticus means well and hell, maybe everyone’s right, and I just need to man up. I’m just having a hard time compartmentalizing what happened that night. How to sit in the damn chopper without seeing all the blood. Hearing Sean…”
He swallowed, looking as if he wanted to puke before shaking it off. “But seeing as you already sold your soul to Greer when you promised to fly her anywhere she needed to go…”
She swatted him, noting the shift in topic away from him. “In for a penny, I suppose.” She frowned when Foster turned onto the road leading to the Raven’s Watch parking lot. “Foster? Why are we at the hanger?”
Foster merely grinned as he parked the truck out front before twisting to face her. “I thought since we were going past and your dad hadn’t seen you since last night, you might want to drop in and say hi.”
Mac snagged his arm before he could slip out the door. “Beckett. You did not stop by on a whim. So, why are we really here?”
He stared at her for a few moments, then grabbed his cell, unlocking the screen before holding it out to her. “Your father wanted proof of life. I thought this was easier than explaining why I was taking your photo.”
She stared at the screen, heat burning through her cheeks as she read the message. “I’m going to kill him.”
“You’re all he has left. And after that insane rescue yesterday, I can’t fault the guy for worrying.”
“Christ, you’re going to be sending me the same damn proof of life messages when I’m out on a call and late, aren’t you?” She held up her hand. “Don’t bother answering, it’s written on your face, and I’d hate for you to lie to me when I still have all these big plans floating around inside my head.”
“I wasn’t going to lie. I absolutely will be demanding proof of life if you miss your check-in time, so make peace with that now, sweetheart. And no, it’s not because I don’t think you handle any situation. It’s because I care.”
“You make it extremely hard to argue with you.”
“Funny, you haven’t had issues with that before.” He jumped out, waving to her over the hood. “Come on. Kash and Zain will be demanding food on the way back.”
She met him at the front, smiling when he took her hand and headed for the door. Her father opened it when they were still a few feet back, crossing his arms over his chest.
Foster merely walked past. “She’s still breathing, so stop scowling at me, Atticus.”
Mackenzie stopped and faced her father. “Why on earth did you text Foster and not me?”
Atticus shrugged. “Because I knew he’d answer. You would have ignored me.”
“I used to hunt cartel. I think I can handle a few cuts and scrapes without needing to check-in.”
“And that’s why I texted Beckett.” He looked between them. “Is that his shirt?”
She smiled. While Foster had washed and dried her clothes, she’d elected to keep wearing his stuff. “And his sweatpants. Is that a problem?”
Atticus muttered something under his breath. “Saylor’s here. You might as well say hello before you take off.” He walked off, giving Foster those creepy “I’m watching you” fingers.