“Yes ma’am. Cpt. Jackson is aware. He asked that we inform you he would like for you to come stay with him and his wife until the MSOT can be located. We can drive you back whenever you are ready,” The officer continued. He was trying to be kind, but Daisy wanted to scream at him for being so calm. She knew that she was being irrational which only added to her ire.
“That won’t be necessary. I have things to do here for my brother. There is nothing for me to do back at base except worry. I will be better off here. Luke can keep me busy, so I don’t dwell on it. You will keep me updated right?” Daisy looked to the men for conformation.
“Yes, ma’am. We will be informed as soon as there is word. We will be staying in the area until they are found or you are ready to head back to Camp Lejeune,” the second officer informed her. Daisy just nodded in response.
“Thank you. Do you have my number? You can just call me. You don’t have to hang around here. I’m Navy. I know you have better things to be doing.” Daisy ended with a heavy sigh.
“Yes, Ma’am we have your number, but there is nothing more important than bringing those men home. We will be here for you until there is a resolution to this situation,” the officer replied almost testily. Daisy realized she had offended the man. She didn’t mean it like it sounded. She wasn’t used to being on the receiving end of these situations. She took a deep breath and heaved it out.
“I’m very sorry. I didn’t mean that you would rather be doing something else. I’m…I’m not used to being on this side of these situations. I’m not thinking clearly,” Daisy tried to convey her thoughts with the confusing emotions running through her. “I’m scared for Ace and his team. I know the dangers they could be facing. I’m not sure I can live without him,” The tears began to fall in earnest as she allowed herself to think about how bleak her life had been before Ace. She couldn’t stand to go back to that life again.
“It’s understandable ma’am. This is a difficult situation,” The officer said with a tender tone in his voice which caused even more tears to fall. Luke had moved to Daisy and drawn her down into his lap. He was holding her tightly and running his hand down the back of her head murmuring comforting words. Daisy’s phone began to ring. She dug it out of her back pocket praying that it was Ace calling to say he was fine it had all been a misunderstanding.
She didn’t recognize the number, but quickly answered it. Her face fell when the voice on the other end wasn’t Ace. It was Hawk, Ace’s captain and friend.
“Daisy, it’s Hawk. How are you holding up?” Daisy could hear the concern and worry in the man’s voice. “And don’t say fine. I’m a married man so I know all the bullshit you women try to spout so we won’t worry. I know you have to be out of your mind with worry. Tell me what you need. What can I do?”
“Bring him home,” Daisy whispered into the phone. “I know you are doing everything you can from here to find them and bring them home. I…I can’t lose him Hawk. I need him.”
“I know, hon. We will find them,” Hawk declared. “They are excellent soldiers. I trust them with my life. They are the most competent men I have ever had the honor to work with. They will come home. Hang in there. Please call me if you need anything. I would feel better if you would come and stay with Charlotte and I, but I understand if you want to stay with your brother.”
“Thank you Hawk. I will come back if they aren’t found in a day or two. Luke has a lot going on here so he can keep me busy. It will keep me from dwelling on the situation. I appreciate the offer and I might take you up on it later. Please thank Charlotte for me. I know she is worrying also,” Daisy told him.
“I will tell her. I will be in touch every couple of hours even if there isn’t anything new, okay?” Hawk paused.
“Alright, Hawk. Thank you,” Daisy replied.
“I need to know you are okay. Ace would skin me alive and never forgive me if I didn’t look out for you,” Hawk tried to lighten the mood by making a joke.
“Thanks again, Hawk. I’ll keep my phone close,” Daisy ended the call. She turned to the men in the room. “Luke give me the addresses you need to me to look up. I can’t just sit here. I will go insane,” Daisy huffed as she moved to get a slip of paper from him.
“Daisy, I meant what I said. Surveillance only, okay?” Luke cautioned her.
“I know Luke. I agreed, alright?” Daisy replied as she got the list of addresses. She gathered her purse and keys and headed for her car in the parking lot. She had to keep her mind occupied so she didn’t lose her mind.
Chapter 20
On the other side of the world…
Ace was the most worried he had ever been in his professional career. He wasn’t this worried even when he was shot trying to protect Deadeye on one of their first missions. He wasn’t worried for himself or even his team. They had faced much worse situations than this. He was worried about Daisy. They had been out of pocket for three days. He knew that casualty assistance had contacted her by now to inform her that he was missing in action. She had to be out of her mind with worry. Ace was worried she would react badly. Go off and do something crazy.
The mission had started out routine. They arrived at the assigned location in Kenya without incident. They were updated on the suspected location of the hostages. Several young women had been taken from a school by a radical group known as The Warriors. They wanted the women as wives, to use them as incentive to recruit more soldiers for their cause.
The team had headed out to intercept the Warriors with the hostages. They had managed to catch up to them rather quickly and extract the hostages. Things were going well, until they weren’t. They were headed back through the jungle when they were ambushed by several armed men. As shots rang out, the team ducked for cover.
Virus and Tank were on point when the attack happened. Virus was hit in the left shoulder, but continued to hold his weapon and take out the enemy, one at a time. Tank called over the radio to warn the rest of the team about where the enemy was hiding.
“There are at least ten insurgents at two O’clock,” Tank related to the team.
Just as they were trying to adjust their position, Deadeye was grazed in the right upper arm while trying to get some of the targets to safety. More bullets rained down on them as they sought better cover. A couple of their targets were wounded as they dove into the brush along the trail. Luckily no one was seriously injured. After several more minutes of gun fire, the team had finally eliminated the last of the insurgents.
“SITREP!” Deadeye demanded once the gunfire had ended. One by one each man checked in.
“Tank”
“Wallace”
“Straw”
