Jaxon

There were a multitude of reasons why I didn’t want to answer Violet’s question, the biggest one was, I’d already been an asshole to her earlier when I told her she was being stupid. My intention was not to call her names, and I took no pleasure in providing her with an education on the seedier side of Clandestine Services. I liked that she worked for the CIA; yet amazingly she still held on to some innocence. Only her naïveté was what was going to get her killed if she didn’t open her eyes.

Like now, she couldn’t understand the value of Manuel taking her. There are things far worse than death and knowing your sister had been sold into the sex trade would be one of those things. Nothing would drive a man like Declan crazier than knowing his sister was being raped and there’d be nothing he could do about it. Then again, it was a risk on Manuel’s part. There was no predicting what Declan would do; I doubted he would roll and give in to Manuel’s demands. A man like Declan would more than likely go ballistic and paint the town red with his enemy’s blood.

“You should get some rest,” I told her.

“Why would he want me?” she asked again.

“To use you against Declan,” Zane told her.

I had to hand it to her, she was trying her hardest to stay strong, but the weight of day had finally knocked her on her ass. She slumped back in her seat and lowered her head in defeat.

“You’ll hide me, right?”

“He won’t get to you,” I vowed.

And in a moment of stupidity I pulled her into me, wrapping my arms around her small frame. I shouldn’t have been touching her, there was a certain amount of distance that was necessary when dealing with a someone you were in charge of protecting, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. And now that she was in my arms, I realized the depth of my lapse in judgement, only it was too late. Violet’s body had relaxed, and she snuggled into my side, pushing her face into my chest.

“Promise you won’t let Manuel use me to get to Declan?”

“I promise.”

I dreaded looking up from the top of Violet’s head. I knew the smirk that would be on Zane’s face would piss me off. Only when my gaze lifted, he was staring at Violet and a look of contemplation weighed heavy on his features. Zane Lewis was a hard man to figure out; he rarely did what one expected him to do. Years of having to make hard decisions that more times than not led to loss of life, even if it was the enemy, had hardened him. He covered most of his deep-seated issues with sarcasm and a devil may care attitude. But we all knew it was an act. Not that any of us would call him on it; he’d earned the right to his privacy and his pain.

He finally nodded and lifted his chin before he walked back toward the others, leaving me alone with Violet.

“I’m sorry I pulled you all into this mess.”

“I’m not. I wish you would’ve come to us sooner, but there’s nothing we can do about that now. Let’s concentrate on moving forward and finding Declan.”

It was hard to stay mad at her when, under no fault of her own, she became another piece in Manuel’s fucked-up game.

When her breathing evened out and she gave me the rest of her weight, I closed my eyes. I was bone tired and I’d need a clear head when we reached the states.

***

Hours later the jet landed in DC. Wolf and his team said their goodbyes but not before he pulled me aside and told me if I needed anything to give them a call. He also expressed his gratitude to Violet. Even if the platoon didn’t actually need the help, at the time Violet didn’t know that. There may’ve been an ulterior motive, but we all believed she would’ve helped whether or not she’d wanted the chip.

With the SEAL team on their way back to San Diego, we were now left with what to do with Violet. She looked worn down and small, not to mention even though she’d slept on the plane, she looked like she needed a week’s worth of rest.

“You can take her to my cabin,” Jasmin offered.

Jasmin had inherited a cabin in Claiborne, Maryland. It was located on the beautiful shores of the Chesapeake Bay. For some unexpected reason I wanted nothing more than to take Violet out there and surround her with the peace and tranquility the cabin offered, but I knew that wasn’t smart.

“I don’t want to be that far from the rest of the team.” It was a forgone conclusion Violet would be staying with me, the question was where.

Taking her to the office was an option; there were bunks there we used when we had watch or were too tired to drive home after we got back from a mission. It wouldn’t be ideal or comfortable, but it would be secure.

“Stay at the barn. There’s a bedroom and security’s tight,” Zane offered. I nodded in agreement and Zane turned to Eric. “You and Jasmin head into the office. I’m sure my brother will be sending out search and rescue if he doesn’t lay eyes on his wife soon. I was happy he read the SITREP while we were OCONUS and I didn’t have to deal with his shit fit in person when he found out about what happened at the hotel.”

“Great, throw me to the wolves.” Jasmin smiled, not caring one bit her husband Linc was pissed. It didn’t surprise me Linc was mad his wife had been involved in a firefight while in Africa. We all knew Jasmin could and would handle business, but no man likes to know his wife was in the line of fire.

“He’s your man. You deal with him. I’m taking Jaxon and Violet to the barn. Do me a favor, yeah? Have him out of there before I get in.”

“Oh, we won’t be there. Don’t worry.” Jasmin winked at Zane and he made his customary gagging sound, the same sound he made anytime either Jasmin or Linc brought up their sex life to him.

“I’ll wait you for at the office, Z,” Eric said before he walked to one of the company-issued SUV’s that’d been left at the hangar for us.

“I’ll be in touch later,” Jasmin told me before she turned to Violet. “Be smart and don’t leave Jaxon’s side. And thanks for…just thanks.”

Zane looked at me, and I looked back at him before we both looked at Jasmin. I think I might’ve momentarily been transported to another universe, one where Jasmin Parker says thank you. Violet, who didn’t even know Jasmin, was shocked into silence. I tried to remember the last time she’d said thank you to anyone on the team and was coming up empty.

“You ready?” Zane asked, cutting off my musings.

“Yeah.” Before I could stop myself, I reached for Violet’s hand and pulled her close. I told myself it was a safety precaution. I also told myself I hadn’t felt the rush of excitement when she held tight and gave my hand a squeeze.