Page 4 of Condor’s Vow

“Reid said he’d call you later if he gets chance, but he has some super-secret spy stuff to do first.”

Clay heard Callie laugh as Reid must have done something he didn’t want to know about. “Bye, Clay, love you.”

“Love you too, brat.”

She was already gone, and he couldn’t help but smile, wanting that kind of love for his sister but also realizing he wanted it too. His career had eaten away all his time and now would be no different, yet he couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel to be someone’s everything. Shaking his head, he got in his truck and headed back to his apartment. The task force was what mattered. Getting justice for the victims of these sick fuckers was what counted.

Clay showered and changed into comfy jeans and a white polo shirt. He wanted to be casual and smart without the restrictions of a button-up. Grabbing the beers he’d picked up at the store on the way home, he headed out to Cruz and Mickie’s place. He hoped today would serve to tighten the friendships he could see forming within his team.

As the SAC, he was slightly removed, having to make the tough decisions, but he vowed to be hands-on too. He had been in their boat and was as much one of the team as anyone. He refused to be bogged down by paperwork and politics.

He noticed a few cars when he pulled up and smiled when he saw Dax and Mack getting out of the truck parked just up from him. Those two hadn’t had an easy start to their relationship, but to see them together now, no one would ever know the trauma they’d shared. Mack was talking a mile a minute to Dax, who had his arm around her and was listening as if she held the answers to world peace.

Mack spotted him, and a huge grin split her pretty face. “Clay!” She wrapped him in a hug, reaching up on her tiptoes to do so.

“Mack, you look great as usual.” He saw her blush and turned to Dax. “Tell me again how you keep a woman like Mack?” He was kidding. Dax adored Mackenzie as much as she did him.

Dax chuckled. “Must be the cowboy hat, man.”

“Yeah, must be.”

They walked toward the door together, and Dax rang the bell. “Have you brought a date, Clay?”

“No, my work is my one true love.” The words he usually used sounded hollow this time, as if he didn’t quite believe them anymore.

“Nonsense, work won’t sustain you when you’re old and gray.”

“Mack, baby, he’s already old and I’m pretty sure there is some gray hiding in there somewhere.”

“Dax!” Mack warned and smacked him on the arm playfully, causing Dax to pull her to him and kiss her quickly.

“You know, I have a friend coming today that would be perfect for you. We do yoga together. Although not hot yoga because that’s crazy. Why would you do that to yourself?”

“Mack, I don’t think Clay needs our help.”

“Pfft, what do men know.”

“Nothing, apparently.” Dax chuckled as Cruz opened the door.

“Come on in. Some of the guys are already here.”

Clay handed him the beer and followed him through to the lounge, which led to an open plan kitchen and deck. He could see Hawk and Sandstorm talking on the deck with someone but couldn’t see who it was.

Clay greeted Mickie with a hug, as well as Calder, Hope, TJ, and Milena. This was a good group, loyal and supportive. He was glad to have found them and been welcomed into their group as he had.

“Beer?”

Clay turned to Cruz. “Thanks.”

Clay took a long pull of the craft beer he favored and then moved toward his team. Hawk and Sandstorm were engrossed with whoever they were talking to, and he was intrigued, guessing it was a woman and most likely this friend of Mack’s.

“Hawk, Sandstorm.”

The two men moved to greet him, opening a space until he could see who they were talking to. Clay felt the spit dry up in his mouth as he caught sight of who’d held their attention. The woman who’d plagued his dreams, who’d played a part in every fantasy he could think of over the last six months, and whose words had helped him keep his shit together when somebody had kidnapped his sister.

“Nurse Pollard.”