In the Likely Event(103)

She. Loved. Me.

“She did.”

I nodded. Good. Who the hell knew what the food situation would be like at the airport.

“She flying out military or civilian?” Graham asked, concern furrowing his brow.

“Civilian.” My jaw flexed. “Up until a few hours ago, they were taking off the most frequently.”

“Hmm.” Graham watched as the civilian woman across from Izzy rose and shook her hand.

“You getting attached to Ms. Astor there, Sergeant Gray?” Elston asked, his beard twitching as he smirked.

“I’m more attached to Green over here keeping his shit together.” He cocked his head to the side as the civilian passed by, carrying her file. “Plus, I like her. She’s nice.”

I moved forward as Izzy stood, rolling her shoulders.

“You doing okay?” I asked, forcing myself to keep my hands at my sides. I couldn’t kiss her. Not here. Not unless we were alone.

“Just trying to get as many people through as I can,” she said, smiling softly at me.

Fuck, I’d missed that particular smile. It was the one she gave me when she wasn’t just happy or laughing, but content. “You’re remarkably calm for someone at the epicenter of a war zone.”

“Sergeant Gray got ahold of Serena for me.” She grinned. “She’s halfway here.”

“Checkpoints?” I asked.

“They’ve made it through every one so far, and I may have . . .” She scrunched her nose.

“May have what?” My stomach tightened.

“May have convinced the ambassador to accept Taj’s interview over the phone in return for my services.” She winced. “I mean, my interview services, not . . . other services.”

“I would hope not.” The corner of my mouth tilted upward. “So Taj’s visa is good to go?”

She pivoted and leaned over the table.

I didn’t look at her ass.

But if I had, that would have been okay, since she loved me, right?

“Right here.” She waved the paperwork. “I need to put it in my bag.”

I took it from her and stored it in one of my pockets. “I’ll carry it. If shit goes south fast, there’s no telling if you’ll get to take your bag, but you can bet your life that you’ll be taking me.”

Her gaze dropped to my lips. “I like the idea of you coming with me.”

My stomach twisted. “As far as the airport.” It had to be said. I’d have new orders the second I delivered her to safety.

“I know.” Her smile turned sad, and I debated kicking myself for having to say it. She glanced past me. “Next one is here.”

“I’ll leave you to it.” My hand curled, but I didn’t lift it to brush against her cheek the way I wanted to. “Stay close to Sergeant Gray. I have to get the next group to the roof.” She nodded, and I turned away from her. “Don’t let her out of your sight,” I ordered Graham.

“She’s not leaving the room until it’s time to fly,” he agreed.

Making my way into the hallway, I found Torres nodding toward my room.

I glanced back at Elston. “Five minutes.”

He agreed, and I walked into my room, Torres on my heels, before I closed the door. “The city is going to shit,” I said to him, throwing the rest of my stuff in my pack so I was ready to go.

“Seems like it.” He grimaced, sitting on the edge of the small desk.

“What’s up?” I adjusted the chain around my neck so it sat more comfortably under my Kevlar.

“Checking on you.”

My eyes narrowed in his direction as the faint scent of smoke reached my nose. They’d started burning sensitive documents.

“Hey.” He put his hands up like he was under arrest. “If your focus isn’t just on Izzy, but wrapped up in Izzy, then you’re not doing anybody any good out there.”

“I’m not distracted if that’s what you’re implying.” I headed to the bathroom and took care of that while I had the chance.

“I think it’s a safe assumption,” he said over the sound of the flushing toilet.

I washed my hands and shook my head. “I’m fine.”

“You’re leaving her in a matter of hours, and speaking from experience, you’re always a little fucked up after you say goodbye to her.”

Yanking open the door, I full-on glared at my best friend. “I’m not always—”

He arched a dark brow.

I relented. “Fine. It’s . . .” I searched for the right word that wouldn’t get me thrown at a shrink and off the mission. “It’s concerning to find Izzy again, come within inches of actually having her in my life, and then send her back, not just to the States, but into the same cycle we’ve been stuck in for ten years.”

“Right.” He nodded, and I started to pace.

“I mean, is this really the best we can do?” I let the frustration out of the box I’d tucked it into, and it consumed me. “Ten years, and I’m going to what? Say it was amazing to see you again, and I’ll see if I have a weekend in six months?”

“It’s always worked for you before.”

“It’s never worked for us before. That’s the damned problem. She wants more, and I can’t give it to her. She wants the life, the house, the dream—”