Page 22 of Defender (Omega Sector: Under Siege #1)
Today looked to be another long day, involving taking an overstimulated toddler on an airplane.
She needed to be at the airport in a couple hours for her flight that left at eleven. Hopefully Chloe would sleep through part of the flight since it would be sort of her nap time.
Summer got Chloe’s breakfast together and Ashton supervised feeding the baby while she took a shower.
She changed into the one other set of clothes she had that Lillian had grabbed from the safe house.
At this point, she was just going to take whatever she had to Atlanta and buy the rest there.
Good thing Joe paid her a decent salary.
She packed their items into a small suitcase as Ashton played with Chloe, chasing her around the couch.
Summer watched the pandemonium. “Good, help her get out as much energy as possible before she has to sit still on the plane.”
“Have you got everything ready?”
Summer nodded. “Yeah. I’m just not going to worry about it. I’ll beg, borrow or steal whatever I need in Atlanta. At least there are supercenters on every corner.”
Ashton grabbed Chloe up in his arms and walked over to Summer. “You’re going to be gone a few days. A week max. And if it will help, I’ll fly out there so you’ve got an extra set of hands with this munchkin coming back.”
Summer leaned into him. She was so tired and having someone to depend on, someone she knew loved Chloe very much, was nice.
More than nice. Something she could definitely get used to on a more permanent basis.
“I might take you up on that,” she said against his lips, standing on her tiptoes.
“Good, because I mean it.”
Chloe tapped them both on the cheeks with her hands and they pulled apart.
Ashton smiled. “Alright, let’s get you ladies to the airport.”
They were almost out the main door of Omega headquarters when Ashton’s phone began buzzing.
“Hold on,” he said, stepping to the side of the hall. “I’ve got to take this.”
It didn’t take long to realize it was some sort of emergency. The SWAT team—and Ashton—were needed.
She could tell Ashton was going to try to argue his way out of it. She touched his arm. “I’ll be fine. Chloe and I can take a cab to the airport.”
“No. I’m not sending you there alone.”
“Then send another agent with me. They only have to keep me safe for one thirty-minute ride. Nobody knows where I’m going.” She could see how torn Ashton was. She touched his cheek. “You’re needed, Fitzy. Something important. We’ll be fine.”
She could tell he was still hesitant but a few moments later when another agent came rushing down the hall and announced that Steve Drackett had sent him to escort Summer and Chloe, Ashton finally relented.
“Tyrone, you’re not to let them out of your sight for even one moment. Okay? This isn’t a drill. Isn’t practice.”
The large, dark-skinned young man nodded. “Yes, sir. I’ll walk them all the way to the gate. Even past security.”
“You won’t be able to bring your gun through without the proper clearance which we don’t have time for, so leave it in the car. But they will let you through security by showing your badge.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be stuck like glue.”
Ashton nodded at the other man, then turned to Summer. He pulled her close. “I’ll see you soon. Call me as soon as you get there.”
She touched his cheek. “Be careful.”
“Always.”
He kissed Chloe on the nose, brushed Summer’s lips with his, then was gone, sprinting down the hallway.
Summer realized this was how life would always be with Ashton. He could be called away at a moment’s notice when his SWAT skills were needed.
But she was willing to live with that. What Ashton did—what all of Omega did every day—was important. Of course, she and Ashton hadn’t even talked about the future yet.
But she couldn’t imagine hers without him.
Summer turned and faced the big, young agent who’d been assigned to her.
“I’m Tyrone Marcus, ma’am.”
“Thanks for doing this, Tyrone. I’m sure it can’t be too exciting for you.”
He took her bag and began walking with her and Chloe back toward the main exit.
“It’s no problem. Agent Fitzgerald and the other SWAT members have really taken me under their wing. They’re role models for us all.”
“How long have you been an agent?”
“Three years. And I’ve just been accepted into the SWAT training program. Pretty excited about that.”
They were almost to the door when they passed another man, who seemed to be staring at Tyrone.
Tyrone gave him a short wave. “Hey, Saul, they announced the new SWAT training acceptance group starting in the spring. You in this time, man? You were so close the last couple of times.”
Saul, young and muscular like Tyrone but with sandy blond hair that made him look like a surfer, pulled tightly on his tie as if it bothered him, then shook his head. “Nah. I withdrew myself from consideration. I’ve decided to go another route.”
Tyrone nodded. “That’s cool. Everybody has to do what works for them.”
“Exactly. I think I’ve finally found something that works for me.
” The two men shook hands. Tyrone’s smile definitely seemed more sincere than Saul’s.
Probably jealousy about the SWAT acceptance.
Sour grapes. Summer felt a little sorry for the guy.
She tried to give him her friendliest smile as he walked away.
Tyrone led her to the car in the parking garage. “Omega SWAT competition is tough. And it’s not just physical. They’re looking for the whole package. Even going through this training doesn’t guarantee I’ll be selected for the team.”
“I’m sure you’ll make it.”
“It’s all I’ve ever dreamed of doing. I’ve been practicing some with the team for the last couple of weeks. No missions yet, but still absolutely fantastic.” He flashed her a toothy smile. “Heard a little bit about you and some muffins.”
Summer rolled her eyes. “Don’t get Ashton back on my bad side.”
Tyrone chuckled. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
He’d make a good fit for the team, Summer could already tell. She hooked Chloe’s car seat into the back seat of the car. Chloe was climbing all over the front seat with Tyrone next to her attempting to keep her from doing any damage to herself.
“I’m going to sit back here with her if that’s okay,” Summer said. “Try to stop her from falling asleep which she normally does as soon as we get in motion. I want to keep all her sleeping for the plane, if possible.”
“That’s fine. But it’s hard to believe anyone with this much energy could fall asleep so quickly.”
Summer rolled her eyes. “Believe me, it’s like a light switch. And she won’t be happy that I’m keeping her awake. The drive to the airport will not be pretty.”
She got the car seat situated and stepped out of the car. A shriek escaped her when a man moved out from the dark shadows of the garage too close for Summer to feel comfortable.
Tyrone immediately shot out of the car, weapon in hand.
“Damn it, Carnell, what the hell are you doing?”
The man studied them both with eyes that seemed too deep for his face. “Director Drackett asked me to escort you to the airport in a second car.”
Carnell glanced around like he either expected an attack at any moment or didn’t like to make eye contact with other people for that long.
Summer reached in and scooped Chloe off the passenger’s seat.
Either way, he gave Summer the creeps. She was glad Tyrone was driving them to the airport and not the other man.
“I think I can handle this.” Tyrone obviously wasn’t happy about Carnell’s presence.
“I won’t be coming inside the airport. Director Drackett is just more cautious after what happened last month.”
Tyrone glanced at Summer, filling her in. “Drackett’s wife, Rosalyn, was kidnapped last month.”
Carnell interrupted, “While an agent was escorting her back to Omega headquarters. The attacker killed the agent and took Rosalyn.”
“Oh my God.” Summer had thought she would be more than safe enough with just one agent. Evidently not.
“You’re talking to a civilian, Carnell. Why don’t you tone it down a little?”
Carnell studied Summer and Chloe in a way that made her uncomfortable. Like they were a science project or something.
“I didn’t mean to shock or offend you. I just believe everyone should have as many facts as possible.”
“Well.” Summer began buckling Chloe into the car seat. “Let’s just get to the airport.”
Carnell got into a car a few spots down and Tyrone started theirs. “Sorry about Carnell. He’s a strategic genius but not particularly great with people as you can see. He doesn’t really have a filter.”
“I’m surprised your boss would send someone like him to help escort us.”
“Phillip has a mind like a computer. He can spot traffic deviations and dangers before I could ever begin to see them. If something is going down near us while we’re driving, he’s a good person to have around.”
“Okay.” Summer felt better. Kind of.
“Unless he gets on the radio and starts talking about the need for a revolution. Dude is a fanatic about how law enforcement needs to evolve in order to stay ahead.”
Thankfully the ride to the airport was uneventful except for Chloe’s irritation at being kept awake. But once she was given free rein to toddle down the airport hallways, she perked up again.
Summer checked them in and true to his word, Tyrone walked them through security all the way to the gate. Summer gave the man a hug and Chloe blew him goodbye kisses as they walked down the corridor and onto the plane, one of the first ones on since they needed the extra time to get situated.
She attached Chloe’s car seat to the seat next to her and put Chloe in it, immediately giving her a sippy cup and cereal to feed herself. Then she sat back and watched as the other people loaded onto the plane.
Something ached in Summer’s chest. A worry about Ashton. She knew how talented the Omega SWAT team was but just couldn’t shake the bad feeling she had in the pit of her stomach.
Ashton had to be okay. He had to.
She reached partway over Chloe to look out the window. She felt a tear leak from her eye before her daughter’s tiny hand reached up and caught it on her cheek.
“Ah-ta,” Chloe said soberly.
Summer kissed her forehead. “Yes, Ah-ta. We’ll see him soon.”
The rest of the people boarded and Summer prepared for the flight—and days—ahead. Days without Ashton.
Then an announcement came from the front.
“Summer Worrall, if you’re onboard the plane, please press your flight attendant call button.”