Trinity: Military War Dog (14 page)

Darci
.

“You want ‘us,’ too. So let’s figure it out, RockGirl.”

Her lips tweaked in a smile all their own. “I’ll never live that down, will I?”

“And lose one of the ways I can make you smile?”

She swung her gaze to him. He wanted to make her smile? Willing to take things at a different pace just for her? “Are you for real?” “

Let me kiss you, and then you tell me.”

“Ha.” Darci laughed harder, too pleased with the attention and determination of Heath Daniels, and started walking. “Are we going to eat or what?”

            Nine              

D
awn cracked the day with a splinter of blue. That lone sliver of light through the dark sky allowed Heath to take in the bustling base. Teams gearing up to head out for patrol. Others in formation for drill. Beyond the barricade that held in the patriots and kept out the terrorists—in theory—loomed the mountains. In the distance to the north, he saw the same shape that had stolen his career.

No, a bad intel decision and an ambush stole it. Not some innocuous scrap of land. God shut the door on his career and his hopes.

Heath slowed to a lazy jog as he and Trinity skirted the airfield on their third circuit. A stream of people crossed the sand to a waiting Black Hawk. Among them—Jia.

Impulse stopped Heath. Trinity sat, but her panting and a small whimper indicated she had spotted her, too. Stretching his arms over his head, he watched the team board. Yesterday had defined things for him. He wasn’t so sure about her. More accurately, she wasn’t sure what she felt. Probably too tangled up in the past, tangled up in whoever had hurt her that she was terrified to risk a relationship again.

A guy about the same size as Heath spoke to Jia. She glanced over her shoulder to him, the backwash from the rotors whipping her hair into her face. Across those eyes. A smile, shy and still uncertain, flickered across the distance.

Why did he care? She wouldn’t commit to save her life. And he’d pulled out all the stops. When was the last time—
never
. He’d never been that bold or direct. He was messed up.

And yet … he stood here, like a lost puppy, wishing she’d been willing to try.

The desire was there, buried deep in her past. It was okay. He wasn’t going to rush it. Wasn’t going to stress. Something in him said this wasn’t the last time he’d see her.

But that didn’t stop the desperate feeling that she was getting away.

She strapped into the chopper, her back to the pilots and facing Heath.

Trinity barked.

A smile slid into Jia’s face. Her hand lifted an inch.
So. That’s it: good-bye
.

Why was he acting like a chump? He had her figured out, really. That inch of a raised hand was a mile for her, which meant she
was
trying. He could live with that. For now.

He ruffled the top of Trinity’s head. “C’mon.” He made his final circuit, passing several other choppers. Lucky ducks would get a fast trip to wherever they were going. Of course, they were twenty-million-dollar targets for RPGs. Then again, the MRAP and Humvees that would ferry him and the A Breed Apart team to their next gig, though not as expensive, were just as vulnerable.

Vulnerable … yeah, he’d exposed his backside to Jia for a nuke of a rejection.

But then he’d pushed it back into her court, cornered her as best as he could. Convincing her not to repel what she felt for him was like trying to get a cat to take a bath.

At his tent, Heath placed Trinity in her crate with some fresh water and headed to the showers, ready to wash the dirt, grime, and frustration from his body. It was okay. He wasn’t in a place where he could nurture a relationship—or more important, where he wanted to. They had time. And his life was screwed up enough with his uncle in the soldier’s home and his own failings, thanks to the TBI. He hadn’t even told Jibril about blacking out on the way over. Thankfully, it was a short one.

Most people who weren’t familiar with the blackouts would never realize what happened because they came and went in seconds. It’d seem as if he was just disoriented or lost in his thoughts. Still, it was a problem. But if he stressed about it, the symptoms would grow worse.

Back at the tent he shared with the other ABA members, he noted all of Jibril’s belongings packed and gone. Heath double-checked his watch. Not late. But he should get his ruck and head to the rec building to meet up with the team.

He let Trinity out, and she jumped up on his cot and stretched out. “Spoiled.” Pink tongue hanging out, she squinted beneath the rising sun as if to say, “Yeah, so?”

Ten minutes later, he and Trinity ambled across the base to the main gate where two MRAPS idled. Four soldiers stood around talking. The others were already assembled. “Did I miss an earlier rollout time?”

“No,” Jibril said.

“What’s the matter? Lose track of time after your hot lunch date?” Hogan smirked. “She seemed to be into you.”

If Hogan didn’t have such a stinking attitude, he might find her attractive. She was as annoying as a kid sister.

A swirl of rushed movement from the side severed his biting retort. A dozen men rushed toward a chopper, armed to the teeth, determination carved into their faces. Heath took a step in their direction. Saw their patches. Heat zapped through his shoulders, the familiar
tsing
of adrenaline. It was—

Couldn’t be.

He took a few quick steps.

One of the SOCOM guys, eyes shielded by Oakleys, looked his way—and slowed. Watters!

Heath’s body lurched into action two steps before he told himself to stay put. The pounding of the helo’s rotors thudded against his chest. The wind whipped and tore at his face. He offered a two-fingered salute to the man.

The skids lifted, and Heath stepped back as the chopper rose. Its nose dipped down, then leveled and rushed forward to save the troops.

That used to be me
.

And what was he now? Comedic relief. Entertainment. The thought burned and scraped as he swallowed the painful dose of truth. He gulped adrenaline and disappointment by the liters, very aware of the emptiness in his chest. First, Jia … now …

If only they hadn’t gotten bad intel on his last mission. He’d love to wrap his fingers around the neck of the person who had cost him his career.

“Hey, Prince Charming, you coming, or do I inherit your beautiful dog now?”

Heath dropped his gaze, regrouped, and dumped the depression that had swooped in once again. He turned to Hogan. “I’d like to see you try.” Because Heath knew that even if he died, Trinity would never leave him. Her training was now as inbred as her instincts.

Jibril and Hogan headed into the second MRAP, while Heath and Aspen climbed the three steps into the first one. As they settled, the driver became immersed in radio chatter.

“Yes, sir. We’ll wait, sir.” Over his shoulder, he hollered to Heath and Aspen, “We’ve been ordered to hold.”

Heath slumped into a seat, Trinity on the seat next to him, and looked at Aspen, who shrugged.

Ten minutes later, the driver cursed and muttered something to the soldier in the seat next to him. Heath rose and peered out the front heavily fortified window. Two generals and at least a dozen special-ops guys jogged toward them.

Noise drew Heath’s attention to the rear, where the door sat open so he could see another MRAP pulling up behind. Heath leaned in and patted the driver. “What’s happening?”

“Hanged if I know. They told me to wait, so I wait.”

Heath glanced at the guy. He looked young. Too young. “How long you been here?”

“Yesterday.”

Something strange twisted in Heath’s gut. “You ever been off this base?”

“No, sir, but I’m ready.”

Heath choked back his groan as he bent in half, swung around, and threaded his way around Aspen and Trinity to the rear door. “I’ll be right back.”

“Heath—”

A man appeared in the doorway. “Make a hole!”

Heath eased back into his seat. With only four seats in the vehicle, he wasn’t sure where this guy was going, but the authority with which he spoke pushed Heath back down. In his seat, he gripped Trinity’s collar and lured her to a spot between his legs.

The soldier dropped into the seat next to Aspen. Another flipped down the spare jump seat. As he did, Heath noted the trident on the guy’s arm. A SEAL. Interesting. That swung Heath’s attention back to the guy next to Aspen.

His gaze hit the rank on the man’s vest, then ricocheted to the man’s face—eyes burning holes into his own. It was the same general who chewed out Jia last night.

He took in the lettering on his chest. B
URNETT.

The general paused as he stared down Heath. “Of all the …” He muttered something about being cursed, then banged on the hull. “Get it moving, Specialist!”

The back door clanged shut and they lurched into motion.

Though the four-star might want to play the silent game, Heath didn’t. “Is this a personal escort to our next site?”

Blue eyes met Heath’s. “If you want it to be.”

Placating him. Heath would have to dig a little harder without ticking him off. “You and I both know those stars on your chest are more of a homing beacon for trouble than a shield.”

Gaping, Aspen sucked in a breath but said nothing. Her own military training probably dumbed her into submission.

But like Trinity, his training was as much instinct now as ever. He didn’t play dumb. He got info and made a plan. His experience told him something big was happening if two generals were added last-minute to an entertainment convoy.

Heath nudged Aspen’s boots. “This should make an interesting addition to my talk with the troops tonight, don’t you think, Aspen?”

“Don’t drag me down this hole.” Her pale cheeks went pink.

“Oh, c’mon. You know the troops would get a kick out of hearing how two four-stars hitched a ride with us.”

General Burnett leaned in.

In a heartbeat, Trinity read the aggressive move and leapt to all fours. Had her side not pressed against his leg, Heath might’ve missed the low growl of warning that rumbled through her chest.

Burnett was undeterred as the SEAL aimed his weapon at Trinity.

“Hey!” Heath shouted, throwing his hand into the line of fire. “Trinity, out!”