Angel on Fire (21 page)

“Okay, okay, just tell me the story,” Angela encouraged, her hands making the go on motion. 

“Once upon a time,” Chase teased, and Angela giggled.  “There was a fighter pilot who was shot down in territory officially not part of a conflict.” 

“Don’t you mean war?” she interrupted. 

Chase shook his head.  “A fight is only a war if Congress officially declares war.  The U.S. has fought in lots of places where war hasn’t been declared.  Sometimes it’s referred to as peacekeeping or police action.  Anyway, the U.S. forces were engaged in fighting, and the plane landed in territory where the pilot wasn’t supposed to be.  The enemy knew the plane had crashed and was actively searching for it.  Our military wasn’t permitted to participate in an official rescue for political reasons.  Instead, four men stepped up to the plate and initiated an independent operation.  Zach, Mac and two other members of their unit entered enemy territory, stole a chopper, and flew to the last known location of the plane.  Three men parachuted into the area and located the hiding pilot.  The use of their own chopper confused the enemy long enough for them to land and pick up the injured fighter pilot. Once the enemy realized what was happening, they started firing.  Two of the team members were hit.  Your dad jumped out of the chopper, grabbed one man while returning fire and got him safely into the chopper.  An enemy soldier shot him just as he was loading his teammate.  The pilot shouted for him to get on board, but Mac refused and ran back for the second man.  He was hit a second time before he managed to get back to the chopper carrying the wounded soldier.  Your dad saved three lives that day:  the fighter
pilot’s
and two of his teammates’.  Very few people have that kind of courage.”

“Wow,” Angela breathed.  She knew her father was a good man, an honorable man, but she couldn’t imagine ever being that brave. 

Angela woke slowly, her cheek resting against the cool glass.  When she opened her eyes, she caught a glimpse of Chase’s reflection in the window.  His expression was pensive so she remained silent wondering what was running through his mind.  What was it that drew her to this man?  She felt a deep connection to him even though they had only known each other for a brief time and in the worst of circumstances.  Was it the danger she was in that made him so appealing?  She didn’t think so. 

Chase made her feel safe and secure.  He seemed to appreciate her, flaws and all.  When they were together, he actually listened to her - unlike most men she had dated.  He didn’t always agree with her and certainly hadn’t liked the fact that she had ditched him at the motel.  But instead of yelling at her for being careless, he had taken care of her.  Sometimes, it was nice to let someone else make the decisions, at least for a little while.  With Chase nearby, she didn’t always have to be strong.

The corners of her mouth tilted up in a small smile as she realized that Chase reminded her of her father.  Her dad had always listened to her, encouraged her and, when she failed, given her the boost of courage she needed to try again.  She always felt safe in her father’s arms.  Chase’s embrace offered the same comfort along with some physical yearnings she had never anticipated. 

Angela shifted in her seat as Chase pulled off the highway.  “Where are we?”  She sat up and rubbed her eyes. 

“On I-80, just at the Ohio-Indiana border,” he replied.  “I need a break from driving for a bit.  I thought we’d look for a hotel for the rest of the night.” 

“Actually,” Angela glanced around the exit, trying to get her bearings.  “I think we’re only about two hours away from Cat’s place.  I could drive for a while.” 

“Maybe.”
 He shrugged, pulling into a service plaza and turning off the engine.  “Why don’t you stretch your legs while I’m filling up the car?  Just stay where I can see you.”

Angela rolled her eyes.  “That’s not possible.”  When he lifted an eyebrow in question, she blushed.  “I have to use the bathroom.” 

Chase simply shook his head.  “Let me get the pump started.  Then I’ll walk you inside and check the bathroom.”

“What are you checking it for? 
Creepy crawlies?”
  Angela crinkled her nose distastefully.

“Yes, the two-legged kind,” he replied.  “A beautiful woman like you makes the perfect victim.” 

Conceding defeat, Angela leaned against the car and waited for Chase.  Her eyes traced his physically powerful form, while her body hummed as she recalled being held against his strong chest, cradled in his muscular arms.  Her eyes lingered on his lips, evoking memories of the delicious kisses they had shared.  Feeling a sudden rush of heat, she dragged her eyes up upward, meeting Chase’s hungry gaze.  Slowly, he stalked toward her, like a predator afraid to spook his prey, and pulled her into his arms, his body pressing her against the car door.  She could feel every hard inch of him as his lips lingered a breath away from hers.  Rising on her tiptoes, she closed the small distance between them, tracing his lips with her tongue before Chase took over the kiss, delving deep into her mouth with his tongue while fisting his hands in her curls to hold her in place.  Chase pulled back once they were both breathing heavily and after dropping a final quick kiss on her wet, swollen lips, escorted her to the bathroom. 

While she took care of business, Chase grabbed a few bottles of soda and water, along with some snacks.  As Angela exited the bathroom, he threw a package of condoms on the checkout counter as well.  When the clerk smirked, Chase shot him a look that dared the man to comment.  Hurriedly, the man bagged the supplies and handed them to Chase just as Angela arrived. 

Chase slipped an arm around her waist and guided her from the store, the bag under his arm.  When Angela walked to the driver side door, Chase shrugged, opening the door for her and latching her seat belt before rounding the car to slip in the other side.  “Where to, babe?” he teased.

“I thought I’d drive to Cat’s house.”  She wrinkled her nose, confused by his question.  To her, the destination was obvious. 

“Tomorrow, babe,” he advised quickly.  “It’s late, and we’re tired.  Is there a hotel nearby?”

She nodded quickly.  “There’s a good sized hotel right off Interstate 65 in Merrillville.  It’s about ten minutes from Cat’s house.” 

Chase closed his eyes but kept talking despite his obvious fatigue.  “I thought you said Cat lived in Crown Point?”

“She does.  Crown Point’s a small town so it doesn’t have any hotels.  It has a nice downtown area with shops and restaurants.  It’s fun to walk around there in the summer.  Cat’s house is on the square.  She runs her counseling business from the downstairs portion and lives upstairs.”

“What kind of counseling does she do again?” 

“Primarily couples’ counseling.
  You know, like for couples who are considering divorce.  She does some domestic violence counseling as well.  That’s her personal passion, but unfortunately, it doesn’t pay the bills.  Most of her domestic violence cases are pro bono.”  Suddenly, the darkened interior of the car seemed too intimate so she prattled on.  “It’s ‘
cuz
of her mom, you know.  No one helped her, so Cat feels – I guess compelled is the best word – to protect other women.  Her mom and dad were seeing a counselor that year, and the counselor heard her dad threaten to kill her mom.  The counselor didn’t report it so Cat’s always been real mindful about protecting her clients.  Some of her pro bono clients have actually come out of her couples’ counseling practice.”  Angela paused for a
second,
thinking about some of the situations Cat had talked about. 

“Most of her clients are run of the mill couples who’ve simply forgotten that they love each other or who can’t communicate.  Cat tries to teach them how to reconnect.  She’s had a few real conniving abusers though who’ve tried to use counseling to avoid being punished by the judicial system.  Last year, she notified the authorities about one of the men she was counseling.  They ignored her complaint, and he killed his wife.  Cat was so angry we thought she might kill someone.  She risked her license to report his threat, and no one bothered to even follow up.  We finally hauled her up to
Maddie’s
cabin in order to calm her down.” 

“The system doesn’t always work,” Chase admitted.  “That’s why I could never work for the FBI or other law enforcement agency. 
Too many rules and restrictions preventing me from doing the right thing.”

Angela sighed loudly.  “As an employee of the FBI, well, probably former employee at this point, I tend to agree.  Procedure is more important than results all too often.  I can’t imagine that it started out that way though.  I wonder when justice started taking second place to method.”

“When the politicians started taking over,” Chase retorted. 

“Don’t you work for the government, Chase?”  She waited for his answer with baited breath, unsure whether the question was too intrusive.

“Officially, no,” he replied after a long pause.  “Zach runs his own organization.”

“But you do government work?” she probed, curious to learn more about Chase and her godfather.

“We have no government protection.”  His eyes twinkled as he avoided answering the question. 

She groaned.  “So, your ‘organization’ - and I use that term loosely - operates independently from the US government and without government protection or oversight.  Do you work for the highest bidder then?” 

Chase’s head snapped toward her.  “I warned you I wasn’t a nice guy, babe.  But to answer your question, no, I don’t work against my own country.” 

She released her breath, relieved.  She couldn’t imagine falling in love with someone who would betray their country. 
Falling in love?  Oh, no.  That’s not a good idea, Angela. 
Falling in lust, okay.
  But falling in love with someone who refuses to be in a relationship is a recipe for heartache. 

“What made you join the FBI?”  Chase changed the subject.   

“I believed in truth, justice, and the American way.  I wanted to be one of the good guys who protected the American public from danger.  Dad wanted me to work for him, but I refused.  Now I wish I had stayed with him.” 

“This wasn’t your fault.”  Chase placed his hand on top of hers on the steering wheel and squeezed once before letting go. 

“Maybe not, but it sure feels that way.  If I hadn’t left Manchester, none of this would have happened.”  She clenched the leather steering wheel tightly as she navigated around a slow moving semi.   

“Guilt won’t change things.” 

Angela suspected that Chase understood that sentiment all too well.  She pushed a wayward curl behind her ear and sighed.  She had a feeling Chase wasn’t going to let the conversation end.  “Intellectually, I know that, but it doesn’t change how I feel.  Dad gave up so much for me, and I abandoned him.  If I had stayed and worked for him like he wanted, he’d still be alive.”  Her throat tightened and she choked out the last few words. 

Chase placed a warm, reassuring hand on her thigh but remained silent.  Angela focused on the road, grateful for his silent comfort.  Sympathy was the last thing she needed right now.  They drove quietly for the next hour until she pulled off the highway and entered a busy parking lot lit with soft, ambient light.  Cars buzzed by her as people exited the area. 

“What’s going on?”  

Angela’s eyes lit up.  “The hotel’s attached to a large theater.  There was probably a concert or a play tonight, and the locals are heading home.  Maddie and I brought Cat here for her birthday last year.  We had dinner at the restaurant, attended the concert, and then hit the poolside bar before collapsing in one of the suites.”  She raised her right hand and playfully admitted, “I promised Dad I’d never drink and drive, so we stayed overnight even though Cat’s house is only a few miles away.  We slept late and ate a huge brunch the next morning before hitting the mall.  Talk about a fabulous weekend.”