Page 15

“From now on, we’ll do better,” Buck reassured her. Then he grinned. “You’re going to be so sick of us. All up in your face, wanting you to hang out. Dragging your ass out of bed to come out to Anchor Point for a beer and to play some cornhole.”

“I’m not playing cornhole with you guys,” Laryn said. “I couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn if my life depended on it. I’m sure you can all sink that stupid beanbag every throw.”

Everyone chuckled.

“He’s right. You’re right,” Obi-Wan said quietly.

“We’ve let you down. Haven’t made sure you realize what an integral part of our team you really are.

Jesus, it’s why the colonel insisted you be included in our contract in the first place, to be stationed here in Norfolk.

Casper made sure you were assigned as our lead mechanic and would go wherever we went. ”

Laryn looked at Tate. Once more, his gaze was locked on hers. “You did?” she asked.

“Yes.”

It was only one word, but the emotion and heartfelt honesty behind it made Laryn feel like an idiot for ever wanting to work elsewhere.

“I didn’t know,” she said lamely.

“Which was our mistake,” Tate said. “We didn’t make sure you knew, and we didn’t make you feel as if you were one of us.

Which ends now. Starting with making sure this Osman asshole knows you’re off-limits.

That you aren’t going anywhere. No means no.

And begging, threatening, or otherwise making you feel vulnerable isn’t going to change your mind.

Will you let us help you? Let us have your back, just as you’ve had ours for the last three years? ”

How could she say no to that? Laryn nodded.

“Good. Now, I never did get around to telling you what the colonel told us in the meeting last night. Bottom line is that he has no doubt the MH-60 will pass the trials, so he’s already arranged to get it to the Mediterranean Sea, to the destroyer ship positioned there.

It’s a change of plans from when we thought we’d be in the Arabian Sea.

We’ll follow and rendezvous with Navy SEALs preparing for missions in that area. ”

Laryn nodded.

“You want to talk about the trials?” he asked, still laser focused on her.

“Not really. The chopper is ready. You’re ready. It’s not a big deal.”

Of course it was a big deal. They all knew that. If something went wrong, if one of the systems that had been installed failed to operate as expected, it could delay the upcoming mission, which would cause all sorts of upheaval in schedules.

“Right. So…I stink,” Tate said. “I could use a shower. How about if we go to my place first, I’ll shower, then back to your ap artment so you can get ready? I’ll make us some breakfast before we head over to the base.”

Laryn’s brows furrowed. “That’s not necessary, Tate. Just drop me off at my place and I’ll meet you at the hangar later.”

“Not happening. Laryn, I was there last night. I saw how badly Osman scared you. We have no idea what kind of reach he has or what he might have planned. I’m not willing to leave you vulnerable until we have more intel from Tex.”

“Who is this Tex guy, anyway?” Laryn asked irritably.

“His name is actually John Keegan. He’s a former Navy SEAL who’s a fucking computer genius,” Buck told her, as he stood and brushed grass off his ass.

“He’s had a hand in the rescues of more special forces personnel than we can count,” Obi-Wan added.

“And many of their partners,” Pyro agreed.

“The government trusts him, the SEALs trust him, the Deltas trust him…hell, all the men and women who’ve gotten out of the military trust him. He’s able to dig up information on anyone and everyone. Nothing is buried too deep for him to find,” Chaos told her.

“He’ll let you—and us—know if this asshole who scared you last night is truly a concern, or if all he needs is some ‘encouragement’ from Tex in the way of a virus let loose on his country’s computers to get him to back off,” Edge said with a grin.

“Speaking of which, where is this Osman from? That’s what you said his last name is, right?” Pyro asked.

“Turkey,” Tate answered, before Laryn could.

The others all swore or muttered under their breath.

Everyone followed Buck’s lead and stood.

Tate held his hand down to Laryn to help her up.

“Come on. Time’s a ticking. And I know you don’t want anyone else messing with your chopper before the trials.

We need to get moving so we can shower and get a good breakfast in before we have to hit the ground running. ”

Laryn reached up for his hand without thought and the second his fingers closed around hers, goose bumps sprang up on her arms. She prayed Tate didn’t see them, or any of his friends.

As soon as she was on her feet, Tate turned and headed for the parking lot where they’d all left their cars…

without letting go of her hand. She had no choice, if she didn’t want to make a big deal out of him holding her hand, but to follow along with him.

The other guys chatted about their plans for the day without seeming to think she and Tate holding hands was anything out of the ordinary.

And she couldn’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy inside at how she was being included in their conversations.

She’d been on the outskirts of their banter for so long.

It was very different to now be part of the inner circle.

When they made a decision, they didn’t fuck around.

They were one hundred percent committed.

Which wasn’t a huge surprise. Night Stalker pilots were some of the most focused and determined people she’d ever met.

Usually that was in regard to completing a mission, come hell or high water.

But apparently it also included righting what they thought was a wrong, as well…

namely, her not feeling as if she was a part of their team.

And honestly, she wasn’t really…but it was sweet of them to think she was.

Yes, she was responsible for their choppers being able to operate under the harshest conditions.

For making sure the engines would do what was asked of them without hesitation.

But did that make her one of them? In her eyes, no.

But apparently these six men thought differently.

The feeling in her belly was one she’d been chasing for years. To belong. To be a part of something bigger than herself. To be an integral cog in the wheel. That’s how she felt when she’d worked with her dad on the cars at the dirt track, how he’d made her feel. And that’s how she felt right now.

She wasn’t too keen on the idea of having a babysitter, but she couldn’t deny that it made her feel a tiny bit better.

Until she found out if Altan Osman was an actual threat, it wouldn’t be a hardship to have Tate hanging around.

She just had to keep her feelings under wraps.

She never wanted him to find out how much of a crush she had on him.

It would likely ruin the newfound camaraderie she had with him and his team.

Laryn could deal with being his friend. Maybe.