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“We both know I didn’t really have any other option but to show,” Ace told him. He wasn’t even trying to hide the fact that he didn’t want to be there.
Ace had thought he was out for a while. His last undercover job had taken him too long, and he needed a long break. He wasn’t even sure if he ever wanted to come back. But that wasn’t something he needed to share at the moment. If he chose to leave the CIA, it wouldn’t be out of fear, and he wouldn’t have regrets. He’d do it because it was the right move for him.
Bill gave his version of a smile, lifting of the right corner of his upper lip slightly. It was more of a scowl than anything else. Ace’s expression didn’t change.
“Why are you summoning me here?” Ace finally asked. He didn’t feel like sitting around, shooting the breeze.
Bill pulled out an envelope and slid it across the table to Ace. Not sure why, Ace’s blood ran cold as he looked down at the insignificant sealed yellow envelope. He didn’t reach out for it, didn’t think he wanted to know what was inside. What he knew for sure was the clock was ticking down. He knew he was going to be leaving, but that envelope in front of him ensured it would be sooner than he wanted. If he didn’t open it, then he wouldn’t have to go anywhere, he tried telling himself.
But after a long moment, he sighed. Ace had never been one to run away from things or hide his head in the sand. Still, the longer he was able to live in denial, the longer he could try to move forward with his life.
“What is this?” he asked Bill.
“We’ve been putting this together for months,” was Bill’s only reply.
Ace knew he couldn’t turn and walk away like he wanted to do. He had to face whatever was going on. With dread, he opened the flap and pulled out the materials resting inside.
“When?” Ace asked. He’d wiped all expression from his face. This was the life he’d chosen. It was what he’d wanted, he thought with determination. He ignored the voice in his head telling him that that was no longer true.
“Two weeks, wheels go up,” Bill said.
“Getting blown up doesn’t give a person much time off,” Ace grumbled.
Bill gave his best impression of a smile. “You weren’t blown up,” Bill told him. “Just blown onto the ground. And you’ve been through worse. We can’t sit on this too long.”
He’d barely been home. And now he had to leave again. Would his family forget all about him once more? Would Dakota? Why did he even care?
“And what if I don’t want to do this one?” Ace asked. Bill looked surprised. It wasn’t something Ace had ever said before. Bill schooled his expression and leaned back as he analyzed Ace.
“You’re my best agent,” Bill said. That wasn’t an answer.
“I just . . .” Ace trailed off. What was he going to say? This was his profession. He couldn’t tell Bill he wasn’t ready to leave yet, that he wanted to be with his family . . . and with Dakota.
“In this line of business, not everything is black-and-white. You know that, Ace. It’s why you stayed away from your family for so long. Maybe it’s safer for you to get back to work sooner rather than later,” Bill told him.
He knew Bill was right. He was only stating out loud what Ace had been thinking about for the past couple of weeks. But hearing the words spoken to him drove the guilt of putting those he loved in danger even deeper.
“I’ll be there,” Ace finally said, accepting what had to be. Bill nodded.
“I knew you would,” Bill told him.
“I have to go now.”
Ace stood up and moved swiftly through a group of high school cheerleaders checking into the hotel. A hand brushed down his arm, but he ignored it. His time with Dakota had begun ticking down, and the way he’d walked away from her earlier irritated him. He suddenly had to get to her—and fast. Yes, he was most likely the most dangerous person in her life, but he needed to say good-bye, even if she wouldn’t know that was what he was doing.
Ace reached the stand and stood impatiently while his vehicle was retrieved. Why in the hell had he valet parked his car? He needed to go now. The kid running the booth obviously saw the urgency in his eyes, because he had gone scrambling away to collect his car. Ace needed to be with Dakota.
The kid pulled up with his car, and Ace jumped inside, throwing him a hefty tip in an attempt to make up for his brisk attitude. The need to get back to Dakota made a cold sweat break out on his neck. He should fight it, should force himself to drive in the opposite direction of Dakota’s place. But he didn’t.
The drive back to her house seemed to take an eternity. As he drew closer to her neighborhood, something seemed off, and his spidey senses were definitely on alert. He’d been too
relaxed since coming home, hadn’t been as aware of his surroundings as he should have been. That needed to change.
He pulled up near Dakota’s home, and all seemed to be fine from the outside. But Ace was abnormally sensitive to things that were out of the ordinary. There was a black sedan parked half a block away. Ace knew something was wrong. He’d learned long ago not to ignore his instincts.
A couple of houses across the street from hers had their lights low. Ace could see the flicker of a television screen behind lace curtains, a couple relaxing on their couch as they watched some mindless sitcom.
Nothing seemed out of place, but Ace knew it was all wrong. Dakota was in trouble. And whoever had dared put her in danger was about to get the surprise of a lifetime. A murderous protectiveness filled his eyes as Ace went to his trunk and opened the secret compartment in the back, pulling out his sidearm.
