Page 30 of Deadly Alliance

“Shane,do you have a second before you leave?” Zack asked as Shane went to follow Emme from the room. He turned and shrugged his shoulder before moving back towards the conference table. He agreed with Emme that something didn’t feel right about the whole situation.

He watched Zack as he leaned back against the table, arms crossed, his stance at once relaxed and non-threatening but he was picking up an air of hostility from Zack. Shane was not intimidated by many people, but Zack gave off an air of deadly calm, that when mixed with his service record and reputation in the field, was daunting to say the least.

The man had survived torture, imprisonment, and had been one of the highest regarded commanders in the SAS. Shane had heard stories about him when he had served with SEAL Team Nineteen on a joint mission.

Now that very man was looking at him like he wanted to tear him a new one and he had a feeling he knew why.

“What can I do for you Zack?” he asked letting this play out.

“I have worked hard to protect this team and busted my balls to build a reputation as a leader in the field. As a SEAL, you know how important a chain of command is. What you did in the medical room, overruling me, on my turf, making me look like a fucking idiot to my team is unacceptable. I get that you’re good at what you do, Shane. You are a good operator, I’ve read your file. You should have been made team leader on your last deployment, but for whatever reason, you didn’t take it.”

“You’re right, Zack. I was out of line. I just thought that we were losing precious time and that Lucy would get her way in the end. I got carried away when we had Bolton in custody and I shouldn’t have. Leading is not my thing, but this mission is personal. I hope you accept my apologies and understand.”

Zack nodded, the coldness in his eyes easing. “I do understand, and I’m happy to let it go this time, but if it happens again I’ll remove you from any Fortis missions faster than a toupee in a hurricane and I don’t do second chances.”

“No, I understand and once again I apologise.” Shane held his hand out to Zack hoping that the man would take it as it was intended. After a beat, Zack extended his hand and shook his with a firm grip.

“Can I give you another piece of advice, Shane?” Zack asked as they stood facing one another.

“I guess.”

“Never overrule a man when it comes to his woman. You’re fortunate Jace is easy going. Had you gotten between Ava and me like that, you would currently be using a straw to feed yourself.”

Shane felt his eyebrow raise and realised he had more amends to make. He had come here hoping to help but had ended up offending two people he highly respected. It didn’t sit well with him.

“With respect, Zack, Lucy is her own woman.”

“With respect, Shane, you don’t know shit until you see the woman you love hurt. You may think you do, but you have no idea of the crippling fear and overwhelming feeling of wanting to protect them with your last breath, even if it’s from you or themselves. I see the way you and Emme look at each other. I have no clue what your intentions are towards her, if indeed you have any, but regardless, one day you will meet the woman who will bring you to your knees with a look, or a word, and then you will understand the fucking liberty you took getting involved.”

Shane thought about how he had felt when Emme was drugged—the powerless fear, the need to protect her—he tried to defend it in his mind as being different. Lucy was a trained operative, but so was Emme. How would he have felt if someone had told Emme she could go on that mission with them? His gut clenched as he recognised what Zack was saying.

“I guess I owe Jace an apology too,” he said as they walked to the door.

“That might be a good idea.”

He found Emme talking to Lucy in the gym. Lucy was watching Jace train with another guy he didn’t know. Sparring lightly, they bounced on the tips of their toes, jabbing and ducking as if they had done it a thousand times before. Lance, Zin, and Owen were using the punch bags.

“Hey,” she said with a shy smile.

“Hi, have you seen Bea and Dee?”

“They are in with Will, I think. What time do you leave?”

“Not sure, I need to ask Bea.”

Jace and the other man walked over, sweat dripping off them. Jace instantly walked up to Lucy, hauling her into his chest for a deep kiss, which she happily returned, not caring that he was covered in sweat.

“Will you please not do that in front of me,” said the other guy. Jace responded by lifting Lucy and kissing her neck with a laugh.

“Shane, this is Dane. He’s one of our team leaders and Lucy’s brother.”

“Good to meet you, Dane,” Shane replied as they shook hands.

“You too. I understand you’re about to head back?”

“Yeah, looks like this mission is all wrapped up.” He cast a glance at Emme to gauge her reaction to him leaving. He wondered if it was affecting her as much as it was him. She was quiet, and he could feel her pulling away. He knew why but he hated it.

His eyes went to the ring that still glinted on her finger. A clear sign of ownership, one he liked being there he realised. He wanted people to know she was his, but of course, it was all an illusion. She wasn’t his anything, they had shared a fling and now it was over. It wasn’t meant to mean anything.