“No one knew about this except Colonel Johnson and our team. Deiter knew we were going to be there. Somehow, he knew.” I can hear Rafe’s teeth grinding.
Rafe growls and pulls out his phone. As soon as he's in range, he'll report to Colonel Johnson: Mission Aborted. We failed, but we’ll live to try again another day.
When we’re back at HQ, I pull up my phone and check to see if Sadie's texted me. I don’t even have a picture of her, only her name and number saved in my Contacts folder, but seeing her name makes me scent her candy sweetness.
“Deke’s texting his girlfriend,” Lance singsongs.
I bare my teeth at him, and he chuckles and elbows Channing. “I’ll bet you twenty bucks says he has her under him by full moon.”
I don’t think, I don’t pause. Red washes over my vision, and the next thing I know, I’m on top of Lance. He’s on the floor, and I’m pounding him with my fists.
“What the fuck,” Channing shouts and tackles me, dragging me off of Lance. Lance’s pretty face is bruised and bleeding, but the fucker is laughing hysterically. I push Channing away and retreat to the corner, trying to get my wolf under control.
“Settle down,” Rafe orders as if we’re kids roughhousing on a playground instead of three fully grown werewolves trying to kill each other.
“Well, you can’t say this wasn’t fun,” Lance grins at me, his teeth streaked red. He’s as crazy as I am, he just hides it better.
“Plane’s almost here. Get cleaned up, so we can go,” Rafe orders.
“Any other missions?” Channing asks Rafe.
“Nope. Next few weeks are quiet. Two security gigs and some surveillance. Oh,” Rafe shoots a glance in my direction, “and visiting Sadie Diaz’s kindergarten class.”
My heart thumps when I hear her name. My wolf gets agitated in a new way. A far more frisky way.
Once I’m on the plane and strapped in, I reach into my pocket and find my phone. I swipe my thumb across the surface, touching it like a talisman.
The aftermath of battle has always been hard on my wolf. I’ve been honed into a killing machine, and it’s difficult to come back to civilian life. The bloodlust, the need for battle hums in my veins.
But when I’m with Sadie, all that pressure lightens. I forget that I’m a killer. I can remember that my wolf isn’t just a weapon, he’s a wild creature, and there’s more to life than fighting.
Chapter 6
Sadie
Career day comes, and my students haven’t been this excited since I brought them the jackalope toy. I have them sit in a circle and caution them to be on their best behavior, but when the four towering soldiers arrive, the classroom erupts with excitement. I try to smooth my features but can’t stop smiling either, as my heart thumps wildly. As usual, Rafe takes the lead, greeting me and addressing the class in a smooth, deep voice that settles the children faster than I ever could. Deke hovers in the back, his thick shock of black hair making him a bit taller than his friends. He’s stone-faced and silent. Not once does he look my way, which is fine. I need to focus.
Rafe introduces his brother, Lance, and I recognize the blond from the alleyway. He winks at me, and I narrow my eyes at him. The fourth and final member of the group is Channing, who waves to the class before crossing his arms in front of his chest, making his biceps pop even bigger. All four of our guests look badass in a mix of camo and civilian clothes. Deke’s in an unbuttoned camo shirt with the long sleeves rolled up. Underneath he’s in his usual outfit of black jeans and t-shirt.
I tear my eyes away from him and get back to doing my job. “Everyone, this is Mr. Rafe Lightfoot. He and his friends are here to talk to us today about their service in the Army. But first, can we name the four branches of the military?”
The kids sing-song “Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines,” in dutiful chorus. Except for Jackson in the back, who thinks it’s funny to replace “Marines with “GI Joes.” The two kids next to him immediately inform him, “That’s wrong. It’s the Marines,” and I have to settle their squabble before things get too heated.
“The Army’s the best,” little Owen in the front row pipes up. “My dad said so.”
Rafe crouches right down in front of Owen, his eyes crinkling. “Can I tell you a secret?”
Owen nods, wide eyed.
“Your dad is right. But it’s a secret. Don’t tell anyone. Because then the service members in the Airforce, Navy and Marines will be jealous, and they’ll all want to become soldiers like us.” He winks at Owen, who’s overcome with awe and rises. “Every branch of the military is important. We all make a team. Teamwork is important.”
For the rest of Rafe’s talk, I fight to keep from looking over at Deke. I lose the battle, but when I glance over, he’s wearing his shades over his eyes. Lance notices my attention and gives me another wink. I roll my eyes.
Rafe is almost done, and the class is getting restless, ready for recess.
“Do you have any questions for Mr. Rafe and his friends?” I ask. Ten hands shoot up. Owen has both his hands up when I call on him.
“Did you shoot lotsa bad guys?” he asks, and there’s a swell of sound from the rest of the class, who are excited by the prospect of learning about violence.
“Sometimes,” Rafe answers seriously. “But only if we were sure they were bad guys, and we had done everything else we could to keep the peace.”
“Do you have lotsa guns?” Owen asks at the same time Jackson shouts from the back. “Did they die right away? Was there lots of blood?”
“Okay, that’s enough questions!” I trill. “It’s time for recess. Everyone say, thank you, Mr. Rafe.”
“Thank you, Mr. Rafe,” half the class singsongs. The rest want to know the answers to Jackon’s questions. I had no idea they were so bloodthirsty. My teacher aide comes to help the kids into their coats for recess. I’m caught up in a swirling eddy of brightly-clothed children, but head over to Rafe as soon as I escape the tide.
“Thanks again,” I say.
“No problem. Great kids.”
“You guys are great with them.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see Owen approaching Deke. The big soldier kneels to help the kindergartener tie his shoes, and my ovaries melt.
And as I leave for the day, I’m even more determined to figure out what’s going on with Deke. What’s stopping him from getting close? It’s like he has this big secret, something he’s keeping from me and the rest of the world. And I just want to throw my arms around him and tell him I don’t care.
That’s what I’ll do, I decide as I get in my car to drive home that night. I’ll lure him out and seduce him. Or something. Enough of this sitting around. I’m all in on Operation Deke.
I just have to figure out how to do it.
Normally, I’d call up my girlfriends and get them to come over for wine and a brainstorming session, but they’re super busy right now. Adele is taking more catering jobs to cover the slow season at the chocolate shop, and Tabitha is helping her. Charlie is busy too, with some secret project she’s not telling any of us about. Besides, they’re not entirely pro-Deke. They’re firmly pro-Sadie and seem to think I don’t know what I’m doing when it comes to him. I get it—I haven’t made the best choices when it comes to men. They don’t want me to get bulldozed by a domineering man again.