“It was one of our first missions as a team.” Dalton held out a bottle of water, and she put the photo back and took it from him. “I’m not sure who took the photo. We all have one.”
The fact that they were still friends all these years later showed the strength of their connection.
“Is it rare for SEALs to stay friends for as long as you guys have been?”
Dalton led her over to the couch, and her earlier assumption that it looked cozy was correct. She sunk into the plush cushion.
“Nope, not rare at all,” he responded. “Most members of the teams always stay in touch after they’ve left the service. There’s a connection that’s forged when you’re in life and death situations and need to rely on each other to stay alive. There are some guys that need to totally disconnect from their time in the service when they get out. We were lucky that Ox was looking to expand the team at Alliez when we were thinking of leaving.”
“What about the others, Ox, Angel, Growler, and Irish? Did they all serve together?”
“Yes and no. Growler and Angel were both SEALs, but on different teams and based in different locations. Ox and Irish were Deltas, but again, not on the same team. They knew of each other.”
“And everyone gets on well? It seems to me that with the background you all have that there’d be a lot of huge egos amongst you all.”
When she’d been at the paper, she and Cynthia had become instant friends, but some of the other women reporters were bitches and preferred to work alone.
“You’d think so, but we’re all equals at Alliez, and even though Ox is the boss, he doesn’t lord it over us. He gets in and takes some of the shitty security assignments along with the rest of us. We did have a little issue with our FBI contact, Julian. Well, I didn’t, but Deal did.”
Steff was surprised to hear that considering the way they’d all been when she was in the office earlier. “Is it okay now?”
“It is. Deal and Julian worked it out, and it was more a Deal issue than a Julian one.”
The journalist side of her wanted to question him more to find out the details, but she kept the questions to herself. “It wouldn’t be good to have conflict with the person who’s providing you with intel. That’s what Julian does, right?”
“Uh-huh.” Dalton stood. “I’m just going to pack a bag, and then we can get out of here. I’m sure you’re anxious to get home.”
“Okay.” Yet the thought of going back to her place didn’t sit well with her. There were still no answers as to how someone knew her apartment number. She sat on the comfortable couch with a soft thump.
Was she really safe at home?
What did that note in the box mean?
It made no sense to her, but it did to whoever had sent it. No one had said anything to her face, but the thought flitted through her mind that it could have something to do with her kidnapping.
Had Cynthia received one as well?
She grabbed her phone from her purse, the urge to check with her friend immediate. It couldn’t be related, but she’d feel better knowing Cynthia was okay.
Steff controlled her breathing as she waited for the call to connect.
“Hey Steff, what’s up?” Cynthia’s cheerful greeting had her relaxing.
“Good. I’ve got a question for you, but it’s a little weird.”
“Okay. Ask away, and I want to say nothing you ask will be weird.”
Steff was aware of Dalton coming back into the room. “Have you received any weird packages in the last couple of days.”
“No. Nothing’s been delivered. Why?”
A small part of her was disappointed, which was an unfair feeling to have toward her friend. She should be glad that Cynthia hadn’t got anything. “A box was hand delivered to me yesterday and all it contained was a note saying, ‘It’s not over yet’”.
“Thatisweird. Are you okay? Do you need me to come over?”
She smiled at the sweet gesture by her friend. “No, I’m fine. Dalton is with me. Just keep a look out, okay?”
“I will, and you take care, too. I’m glad Dalton’s with you.”
