Page 1 of Dustin (Thunder Elites Special Ops #4)

(Dustin)

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I watch as Ethan hugs his girlfriend goodbye. I feel a little bad that I interrupted their time together, especially as they haven't seen each other in a while. But we all have to show up and do our jobs.

I still find it bizarre as hell that most of my teammates are in relationships.

It’s like they’re catching a bug or something.

First, Lucas, who met his girl in Istanbul, then Sam, who met Eliza in Pakistan.

Ethan and his girlfriend, Audra, met a few months ago in Mexico.

Their meeting led to them getting kidnapped.

There were a few hiccups here and there, but they’re safe now and happy.

Well, as happy as two people with tasking, time-absorbing jobs in a relationship can be.

Audra’s a detective, which means she’s almost as busy as Ethan, but I’m sure they’ll make things work.

Sam and Lucas don’t live on the same continent as their girlfriends, yet they’re happy.

Sometimes I like to think I’ll find my own special person. But with my luck, I won’t be getting a happy ending.

“Are you going to tell me exactly how you know Maddie’s back?” Ethan questioned as we headed for my car.

“I just do,” I grumble, not liking how he phrases the question. “Can you please get in? I don’t want to be late for the meeting.”

The faster we get going, the earlier I get there, and maybe I might not be forced to speak to her. Because I know Madison, she’ll try to approach me and talk to me if she can.

Ethan gets in, but I can tell he plans to grill me the entire drive to D.C.

Just perfect.

“Why are you so upset?” Ethan asks after twenty minutes of driving.

“I’m not,” I tell him while clutching the steering wheel.

I don’t have a problem with Madison being in the country. This is America. I don’t care if she’s coming or going. My problem is her presence at the meeting later today. She has no reason to be there, and I have no desire to see her.

“Bullshit, D. Come on, talk to me.”

I really don’t want to .

I never want to talk to anyone about this. Ethan sighs when I continue to be silent.

“You’re all smiles and jokes until the topic of Maddie comes up, and honestly, I don’t get it. Things between you ended five years ago.”

“Look, Ethan, I don’t need you to analyze my feelings right now.”

“Are you planning on seeing her? Just because she’s around doesn’t mean you’re going to run into each other,” Ethan points out after a few minutes.

“Except she’s coming to the meeting today,” I state.

His head swivels to me, and his brown eyes turn inquisitive.

“Why would she even be there?” he questions.

“I don’t know, man.”

I’ve been asking myself the same thing all morning.

“And how do you have this information?”

I decide to keep mute on that.

Ethan stares at me. One second, two seconds, five seconds.

“You’re sleeping with his secretary. Aren’t you?” It’s not really a question.

“Whose secretary?” I say, playing dumb.

“The general’s secretary. What’s her name again? Oh, Clara. She’s been feeding you the information in return for sex.”

“I can’t confirm or deny that statement,” I say dryly.

“You better be careful, Dustin. If you play with fire, you’re liable to get burned,” he sings.

“It’s not like I'm sleeping with her to gain information or any shit like that. She just talks—a lot. And I happened to get some important details,” I grumble.

“All right, then. Whatever you say, man.”

I don’t say anything else after that, and we revert to silence for the rest of the drive. By late evening, we arrive in D.C. I drop Ethan off at the front entrance of the building before going to park my car.

But of course, fate plays me a shitty hand. The one thing I didn’t want to happen happened. Standing in front of the revolving double doors of our headquarters as I approach is none other than Madison Thrash.

I feel my chest tighten as I approach. She still looks the same and yet somehow different.

It’s the first time I’ve seen her in five years, and it takes me a second to get re-attuned to her features.

Blonde hair, hazel-colored eyes, and a body that’s all too sexy.

She looks like a runway model, especially with her above-average height.

And she has the confidence of a woman fully aware of how gorgeous she is.

For just one second, I think of turning and allowing her to head in first. But I’m not a coward.

I continue walking forward. Just before she enters the building, she turns around.

I don’t know if she sensed me or some shit like that, but once her eyes landed on me, they widened for a fraction of a second. Then her expression turns guarded.

Keep walking, Madison.

She doesn’t. She stays put until I’m standing directly opposite her in front of the entrance.

“Hey, Dusty Bun,” she greets.

I immediately cringe at the nickname.

“No, just no. That is not the first thing you say to me after five years.”

She smiles. A tiny smile that causes the dimple on her cheek to pop. It used to be my favorite feature of hers. I have dimples as well. But her dimple is only on one cheek, and I used to tease her about it endlessly.

“You don’t get to control what I can or can’t say, Dustin. You look great, though,” she says.

“Thanks. Wish I could say the same.”

I’m lying. She knows it. Madison never looks anything but great.

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. How have you been?” she asks awkwardly.

My eyes narrow.

“How about we don’t try to pretend things are okay between us? I would prefer it if you didn’t speak to me at all. I don’t know what you’re doing in the States, but until you head off again, don’t talk to me, don’t look at me, or even think about me. I’m sure that shouldn’t be too hard for you.”

Her eyes turn stormy. I can tell she wants to say a few words of her own in retort. But just before she opens her mouth to speak, we’re interrupted by the arrival of Lucas, my team leader.

“What’s going on here?” he asks, walking up to the both of us.

“Nothing,” I immediately say.

He looks between the two of us and doesn’t say anything. Then he turns to her.

“Hey, Maddie,” Lucas greets, pulling her into a hug. “How have you been?”

She nods.

“I’ve been great. I need to see my dad. I’ll talk to you later,” she says to him.

After one last scathing look at me, she heads inside the building. I turn to Lucas.

“What the hell was that?”

“What?”

“What you said to Madison. You can’t seriously still be pissed over something that happened five years ago. Let it go, Dustin,” Lucas states flatly.

Feelings don’t have a time limit or a date of expiration.

I can be pissed for as long as I want. Also, this isn’t some small issue that I can just forget.

Usually, I don’t think about it or remember it, but seeing Madison brings up all the memories I buried.

All the things that I would have liked to forget.

“Stay out of it, Lucas,” I tell him before walking in.

We both head for the elevator. I push the button, and when it opens, Clara’s inside. She grins when she sees me.

I usually don’t hook up with people I work closely with, but I made an exception with Clara. She’s really hot, and she likes me. What more do I need? We’re not dating—just two friends involved in a mutually beneficial sexual relationship.

“Hey, Dustin,” she greets us when we get on the elevator.

“What’s up, gorgeous? How’s work treating you?” I question with a flirty smile.

“It’s been a little stressful. What do you say about meeting up later and helping me unwind?” she asks suggestively.

She’s bold; I’ll give her that, especially since Lucas is standing right next to us. I grin. A woman that knows what she needs and isn't afraid to go for it is sexy.

“We’ll see,” I tell her with a wink.

She grins and then steps out onto the third floor. We’re heading up to the fourth and last floor of the building. I pointedly ignore Lucas’s disapproving smile.

I have other things on my mind.

What could we have to discuss at the meeting that would require the presence of Madison Thrash?