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She worried about them, not herself. Soon enough, she’d be at the Cusco hospital. There, Nate would remain at her side at all times. He was a highly trained 18Delta corpsman. He knew the tests, the procedures and, more importantly, he knew how to read the lab reports. Even better, he could talk medicalese with her doctors and then break it down into bite-sized chunks for her to understand. What lay ahead for her? Sierra found herself not concerned one way or another. Her heart was centered on Mace. On her worry for Nate and Cale. The only other time she’d felt this much out of control was when Jeb had died in her arms. And when she’d she miscarried. Those were special hells.
Lauren Parker-Kazak and her husband Alex Kazak met Sierra at Reagan International Airport. They waited outside the security area, hugging and holding her when she appeared. And she’d cried unashamedly as they bracketed her and walked her toward the trains that would take them to the baggage pickup area. Sierra was wearing light civilian clothes: jeans, a sweater, and her denim jacket. But in late January, the snow lay like a white blanket across the airport. Alex carried her gear as they walked out of the Baggage Claim. Lauren had brought a winter coat from Sierra’s cabin. And a set of mittens and a bright-red knit hat for her head. Sierra was grateful for her friends doing so much for her as she put all the cold-weather gear on. They cared. The family atmosphere at Shield Security was one of the big reasons she’d gone with them instead of some other security company.
In the SUV, Sierra sat in the passenger seat while Lauren drove the car over recently plowed roads. The sun was shining overhead, the black asphalt gleaming with shimmering rivulets from the melting snow. It felt good to be home. But she ached for Mace. For his face. For his low, growling voice. For that wry smile that would sometimes tip up that corner of his mouth. And especially to see the hardness leave his eyes, see them turn warm with yearning—for her.
Alex leaned forward, his hand resting gently on Sierra’s shoulder. “Tell us how you are doing?”
“I’m okay,” she said. Touching her head briefly, she added, “There’s a small blood clot in my brain. I don’t really feel it. I feel fine. The Peruvian neurologist said that, in time, it would dissolve and go away on its own. I asked him how long and he just shrugged his shoulders. He said he didn’t know. Sometimes, it takes up to a year or more.”
Alex nodded. “Yes, that is true.” He gave her a gentle look. “So, that means you are grounded, Sierra. No more ops for you. Too much activity, too high a blood pressure and it could influence that clot. You know that. Yes?”
Sierra loved the Ukrainian combat medic. She smiled a little. “I got it, believe me.”
Lauren reached out and patted her thigh. “Jack is assigning you a desk job, Sierra. The guy is expanding so rapidly that he’s hurting for in-house people who know the business. I know he’s going to ask you to work in the mission planning section, with Cal Sinclaire. Do you think you’d be okay with that?” and she gave her a quick, concerned look.
“It sounds good,” she said. “The neurologist said as long as I led a somewhat unexciting life for at least six months, that I could go to work and do normal things. Just not a lot of violent exercise or exertion, is all.”
“He is correct,” Alex said, patting her shoulder. “You must allow us to help you, Sierra. We live five miles from one another. If you need anything, you will call on us?”
“Yeah,” Lauren said, giving Sierra a one-eyebrow-raised look as she drove. “No heavy lifting. You hear us? Ryan is already in touch with the best neurologist in our area. He’s got a list waiting for you of do’s and don’t’s. And you had BETTER ask for help. Okay?”
Sierra felt warmth fill her chest. “I promise, I’ll be good. And yes, you’re the closest to where I live. I’ll ask for help. I promise.”
“Even in grocery shopping,” Alex reminded her with a scowl. “No lifting of sacks of groceries, Sierra. You will take me or Lauren with you. We will be your pack animals until you are well.”
Tears burned in Sierra’s eyes. She had always loved the people who worked at Shield. Sky and Cal, Alex and Lauren, were her closest friends. And she knew they would be there for her. “I’m all yours, guys,” she teased, giving them a broken smile. “I’ll behave, I promise.”
Alex said, “Jack has an appointment set for you with Dr. Janice Ardmore tomorrow afternoon. He’s giving me time off to drive you into downtown Alexandria, to make it. Are you okay with that?”
“I am, thank you.” Sierra longed to be back at her cabin. Longed to have Mace there, waiting for her. But it wasn’t to be. Already, she was fighting angst and worry for him and his team. Where was he at? How was he feeling? Was he missing her as much as she missed him? How safe were they? Was Kashnir hunting them down? The anxiety over their situation haunted her as nothing else ever had.
She folded her hands in her lap, feeling tiredness sweep through her. All she wanted right now was her warm cabin filled with her beloved antiques from the mid-eighteenth century. To lay down on that soft velvet quilt across her bed. And to sleep. And dream. Dream of Mace kissing her, his mouth so strong and yet so incredibly life-giving and gentle as it skimmed her lips. Her heart ached. Her soul cried out for him to be in her life.
As she opened her eyes, watching the snow-covered landscape, the snaking freeway heading toward the rural area outside of Alexandria in the distance, Sierra felt so torn. Would Mace even try to contact her? In three months, he’d have two weeks of R&R in Cusco. Would he try to email her? Skype or Zoom her? How badly she wanted all of that.
Even though Mace had a satellite phone, she knew it was for CIA and military use only. Yes, he had her cell phone number. But that meant nothing. Sierra expected not to hear from him until at least three months from now. Sometime in early April, if even then. She couldn’t protect herself from her own heart where Mace was concerned. No longer did Sierra try to hide from what she already knew. She had fallen artlessly in love with Mace Kilmer, and there was no backing out of it. Now, all Sierra could do was wait. And hope.
CHAPTER 16
“Why so glum?”Lauren asked, coming into Sierra’s small office at Shield Security. She had just come from the firing range, put her weapons in the armory and was about to go to lunch with her husband, Alex.
Raising her head, Sierra looked up from the paperwork spread across her maple desk. “Hi, Lauren. How’d range shooting go with the new women? With such springlike weather in March? They should have had some good shooting scores.”
“You’re right, the day is wonderful. Spring is here, but in Virginia, it comes early like this,” she said, leaning against the doorframe, arms across her green sweater. “These gals are from three different countries, but damn, they do know how to shoot.” She glanced out the door and down the hall. “Alex and I were going to eat down in the cafeteria.” She looked at her watch. It was noon. “Aren’t you hungry?”
Grimacing, Sierra said, “No… not really.”
“You’re pining away for Mace. Aren’t you?”
Sierra could never keep much of anything from Lauren. She was the head of the sniper school here at Shield, and at times, she swore she could read minds. “Yeah, I am. I know it’s stupid…”
“You love the guy,” Lauren said, giving her a soft look.
“He never said the words. And neither did I.”
“Wimps.”
Grinning a little, Sierra always liked being in Lauren’s brusque, non-diplomatic world. “We are.” But there were reasons, and she wouldn’t share them with anyone. Mace had entrusted her with his deepest wounds, and she would never give them away. It was a treasure he’d given her. And she was the safe it was locked away in.
