Page 33 of Zorro

She nodded, still handling that brutal banter. “More or less.”

Bear gave one slow nod. “That’s enough for now.”

“Come on, boy,” Bear said as he turned. “Let the girl breathe.”

Flint gave a soft chuff, then leaned in and pressed his forehead lightly to her thigh before trotting after his handler.

Just like that, they rejoined the team, leaving her standing with her heart bruised and melting at the same time.

They ran hard.

His mind drifted to last night after she’d typed, I think you’re beautiful, too. How she had looked when she was bluffing Joker down. He’d sat on the edge of his bed, phone still lit in his palm, chest aching, fingers frozen mid-reply. He’d read the words again. Then again. Then dropped his head into his hands and whispered, “Jesus, Doc…” Just like that, sleep had never felt farther away.

The narrow streets near the beachside hotel opened into morning light, and the cadence of footfalls on pavement became its own drumbeat. Zorro deliberately kept his pace brutal or he was going to make a U-turn and go back to…oh, no. Don’t go there.

Then this morning…she’d opened the door wearing his shirt.

No underwear.

No shame.

His team had seen it. Catalogued it. Weaponized it.

Buck fell into step beside him for half a block, grinning. “So. Doc Sunshine wears your shirts now?”

Zorro didn’t answer.

Behind him, Blitz whistled. “Lift. Run. Shoot. Was that the game plan or just your morning cardio?”

D-Day let out a theatrical groan. “You coulda warned us, man. I needed sunglasses for that view. Glare off those legs nearly blinded me.”

Zorro’s jaw clenched.

He should’ve known D would be relentless. After months of pushing him about Helen, maybe this was his payback. But that wasn’t D’s style. He didn’t want to examine too closely what was at the heart of it. Then he’d have to ask himself what had he done to deserve such men as these? He was mouthy, pushy, and cared way too much. Was that enough?

It kept coming.

“I gotta ask,” D-Day said, not even pretending to breathe hard. “Was that a tactical maneuver? Or are you trying to brand her?”

“I didn’t sleep with her. Stop pushing.”

D-Day laughed softly. “Yeah, we’re not blind, and we can feel your howl in the fucking air. Snatch is snatch.”

“She’s not snatch! Fucking shut your mouth.”

Bear huffed out a breath. “Drew, that was poorly done. But I understand.” It was the gentlest rebuke Zorro had ever heard Bear give. Somehow, it hit harder than a shove. “Zorro means something to all of us. Each one of us has benefited from his skill, his dedication, and his unfailing devotion.

“She’s made no bones about the fact that she blames special operators for her husband’s death. She could be baiting you,” Blitz muttered.

Professor added, “She doesn’t trust us. Not really. You’re setting yourself up for heartache you don’t need.”

Zorro finally snapped. “All of you shut the hell up.”

D-Day grinned like he’d won something. “Aw, Z, don’t get testy now. Just making conversation.”

Buck offered, deadpan, “He’s got a point. You’ve been awfully smug about other people’s personal lives lately.”

“Oh, you wanna talk smug?” Zorro growled. “Each one of you took a risk, and each one of you got the shit kicked out of you. But you married the woman of your dreams, steadfast SEAL babes who fight for us as much as we fought for them.”