Dominance Never Dies (Masters and Mercenaries Book 11) (38 page)

Long after Erin had talked to Ian, had brought Avery into their circle and formed their plans, after Erin had finally fallen asleep, Case sat up. He sat in his brother’s chair, his mind whirling. The sun was coming up over the horizon but he was staring at his phone.

Mia hadn’t called. Mia could be miles from him by now. He wanted to think that she was in Austin, but he couldn’t be certain. No one would tell him a thing, and according to Riley Lawless, she probably wouldn’t answer her phone if she saw it was him.

Would she listen to a voice mail?

It worked for Theo. Somehow his brother was still giving him advice, still leading the way when it came to this type of thing. When it came to loving someone.

It was barely daylight. Maybe if she was sleeping, he would catch her off guard and have a few precious seconds to talk before she hung up on him.

He dialed her number and was sent straight to her sweet voice telling him to leave a message. Yep, he should have known she would be too smart to leave her phone on.

“Hey, it’s me. I know you don’t want to see me, but I needed to tell you something. I took your advice. Ian and I told Erin tonight. It felt good to tell her the truth. Naturally Erin being Erin, she came up with a plan. I would love to run it by you, to get your take on it. You’ve studied up on the drug she’s using and I could understand it better. Anyway, if you get a moment, give me a call.” He felt like an idiot. “Okay, thanks.”

He hung up. Yeah, he wasn’t great at that.

Three hours later she sent him a report on the drug and everything she’d managed to find out about it. She’d dug deep and gone to various sources, her analysis providing many theories on how the drug would work in combination with certain therapies. At the end of her e-mail, she’d left him with a chilly “best wishes on his search” and she hoped it all went well. She explained she was heading off on assignment and wouldn’t be in touch for a long time.

Very polite. Very much like Mia.

He called her again, not at all surprised to go to voice mail. Her voice mail was very much his doghouse, and he would have to do his time.

“Hey, sweetheart, I wanted to call you before you left. I hate the way I spoke to you that last day in Cartagena. I’m ashamed of how I treated you and I can’t stand the thought that I won’t be able to look you in the eye and tell you that I’m so sorry. I know why you did what you did. I’ve got a temper on me and I know I need to deal with it. I called Kai and I’m going to get some anger management therapy because I never want to speak that way to you again. Because I need you to understand that it wasn’t some convenient thing for me. That week we spent together was everything to me. Anyway, if you want to talk, I’m here. Be safe.”

When he hung up, he opened an e-mail and sent a note to Ezra Fain explaining that if Mia happened to be interested in interviewing a SEAL, he had a friend who’d agreed as long as she would protect his identity. An old buddy of his was willing to show her exactly how his team worked and he’d gotten clearance. He asked Fain not to tell her the invite had anything to do with him. She would likely turn it down.

Fain’s reply had been short, but he’d promised to keep Mia safe. It hurt to know he wouldn’t be the man protecting her, but Case accepted it. For now, Mia needed time.

The days rolled on.

September

“Hey, sweetheart. Therapy sucks. I’ve got to do this group thing where we all sit around like idiots and talk about how much fun it is to beat the shit out of people, except then someone makes us feel bad about it. I thought I had anger issues. Man, do not take Bear’s yogurt. Just a helpful hint I’ve learned. So while anger management sucks, I think I might be getting good at it. Your brother pissed me off today and I didn’t even think about killing him. Not once. Maiming, yes, but I think that’s progress. Drew’s getting better, too. I brought him enough information on Castalano that he just threatened to bitch slap me. He didn’t actually do it. I think the way to get to Castalano is through his partner’s daughter. This business crap is as bad as war, except I don’t get to shoot anyone. Yeah, I know. Back to the couch for me.”

October

“I read the article in
Time
about the Navy SEAL team. It was awesome. You captured the spirit of the team. I can’t believe you actually tried some of the BUD/s training. Well, I can. You’re a little crazy, but in the best way possible. Just wish I’d been there to see it. We’re dressing TJ up for Halloween. Erin managed to find a costume that makes him look like a live grenade. Yeah, I’m worried for that kid. We’re going over to Jake and Adam and Serena’s in an hour or so. It’s a party for the kids. I’m pretty sure Serena and Erin have already set up the kids for marriage or something. Did I mention Serena had a girl? She’s a week younger than TJ and she’s definitely got Adam’s eyes. Brianna. It’s a pretty name. I’ve been thinking about Hutch a lot lately. I think it’s all the Halloween candy. We got a little brush from someone Adam thinks might be him. It’s just a couple of e-mails and some talk in a room on the Deep Web, but we’re hopeful. I think Erin’s plan is working. Happy Halloween, baby.”

November

“Riley’s getting pretty good with target practice. I know he’s not likely to need it, but I want to make sure he’s as safe as he can be going in. It’s weird to think that he’ll be in New York in a couple of months. I think he’s ready. Now all we have to do is find the right way to lean on Ellie Stratton’s current batch of lawyers. I’ll find a way to get Riley in there. While he’s getting good with a gun, I’m trying to be patient. It seems like most of what I do these days is wait. Adam is fairly certain he’s been talking to Hutch on the Dark Web. I think my brother’s somewhere in Pakistan right now, but Ian doesn’t want to move. Any move could spook McDonald, and if she thinks for a second… Sorry. I want to talk about nice things with you. Hope you’re having a good day.”

“It’s Thanksgiving and it’s hard without Theo. It was his favorite holiday. I wish you were here holding my hand. I miss you, Mia.”

December

“So just when I thought I had the uncle thing down, TJ started eating solid food. What the hell? I’ve been in a lot of horrible situations but none of them scared me as much as that first diaper. How could mashed bananas make that smell? It’s never going to end because the team is breeding like rabbits. Charlotte’s pregnant again and Phoebe and Jesse are having a boy. You’ll never guess what they’re naming him. Harry. No. Got you. James. James Harold Murdoch. Ian actually went to church to pray for a boy this time. Just one. I heard him praying to God to bring another penis into his house. I guess the girls are all into princess stuff right now and they like dressing up their dad. My big brother can rock a tiara, let me tell you. Naturally I bought them a big case of princess costumes for Christmas. Heard you were spending the season in London. Riley told me you’re writing a story about Damon Knight’s old unit and the mission that got him the Victoria Cross. I’m glad Ian could set that up for you. I’m sure it will make a hell of a story. Merry Christmas. Stay safe.”

January

“I saw Fain the other day. I was going up to Michael’s place and he was coming out of the building. Apparently he’s got a girl he sees when he’s in town. He said you came home for the holidays at the last minute. I’m glad. Your brothers would have missed you. I know I do. Every day that goes by makes me miss you more. I don’t know if you’re listening to these messages or maybe you’re just deleting them, but I can’t stop. Not until you tell me to. I think we’re going to make a move soon. The person we think was Hutch has been quiet, but I think I’ve pinpointed where they are right now. I found a cluster of well-done bank robberies in Italy. They’ll move soon because the cops will be on them. I think they’ll take Stephanie up on her offer. Protection in exchange for cash. The minute we get a yes, I’ll have to go to Sierra Leone and wait for them. I’ll let you know when I’m leaving. I hope the book is going well. I love you, Mia.”

February

“It’s time. I’m packed and we’re heading out in the morning. It’s just me and my brothers and Li and Kai. Erin is coming with Avery and Charlotte on a separate plane. It’s going to kill her to leave TJ with Grace, but she wants to be there. They’ll stay at a secure location, but she needs to be close. Faith is going to meet us in Freetown and Ten will be there for backup. This is it. I want you to come with me. I want you on that plane beside me tomorrow morning. If I could go back and change one thing, it would be the way I made you feel. You’re so smart. You’re strong and brave. I think you might be the best part of me. If I don’t come back, know that I was better for loving you. That’s what I’ve figured out. Even if you can’t ever forgive me, can’t ever love me, I wouldn’t take it back. I love you. I think I’ll always love you and I’m a better man because I love you. Michael has a key to my place. If anything happens to me, there’s a box in the hall closet. It’s got some pictures and stuff from my Navy days. It’s not much, but I’d like you to have it. If you don’t want it, I guess give it to Ian. But that’s not going to happen. I’ll be back in a few days and we’ll have Theo. And then I’m coming for you. So you should think about that. I’m going to prove to you that I can be the man you need me to be. I’m going to go to New York and help your brothers. I’m going to be in your world. I’ll be there when you need a kiss. When you need strong arms around you, holding you close, I’ll offer mine. If you get lonely at night and need a man who’ll worship your body with every part of his soul, I’ll be down the hall, waiting for you. I’m going to win you back, Mia. It’s going to be my mission in life. I love you. Yeah, get used to hearing that because I love you and I won’t keep that inside anymore. See you soon.”

Austin, TX

Mia stared at her brother. “You want me to do what?”

Riley stood in front of her, a phone in his hand. “I want you to listen to your voice mail.”

She sighed. The flight from Paris had been a long one and the layover at DFW had been particularly rough. Case lived in Dallas. All she had to do was get in a cab and she could be at his apartment in twenty minutes. She could stand in front of him and ask if he’d missed her at all, if he ever thought about her. Did he wish he’d done things differently?

She’d forced herself to sit in the small Irish pub in terminal C and drink a single glass of wine while Ezra had a beer. She’d reread the first two chapters of her book on Damon Knight and when it had been time, she’d gotten on the plane to Austin and come home.

Where she would have to tread very carefully because according to Drew, Case was now a part of the “take down all our enemies and crush them into dust” team. And Drew seemed to not hate him. Awesome. So now she could run into Case at 4L or right in the hallways of Drew’s place. She would have to stay in her room until she was ready to go to New York. She shouldn’t have given up her condo, but Drew wanted everyone close.

Would Case be coming to New York? What the hell would she do if Case came with them on the Castalano job? How would she smile at him and pretend like she wasn’t dying inside?

Six months had done nothing to fix her broken heart. Nothing. The ache was still fresh.

“I’ve listened to my voice mail. It was nothing but my literary agent asking when the book would be done.” Work was what she’d thrown herself into. She’d gotten some amazing opportunities out of left field. She’d been asked to do a feature story on a Navy SEAL team that had eventually been sold to freaking
Time
magazine. Apparently the Navy had wanted a female reporter for a different point of view. She’d gotten an interview with the king of Loa Mali, who was attempting to change the way the planet used energy. And then she’d gotten the deal to write a book about a British military unit and the untold story of their heroism. Naturally that had led her right to McKay-Taggart London. Damon Knight had talked about the Taggarts with great fondness.

Everywhere she’d turned all she could see was Case.

Six months should have erased her feelings for that damn cowboy. Or at least muted them. She’d spent six months with the gorgeous Ezra Fain at her side. After the first few weeks of being depressed, she’d tried to get herself to consider him. Why the hell not? Ezra was a stunning man. He had dark hair and piercing eyes, and an unnatural affection for taking off his shirt when she was around. He found very thin excuses to show off how hot he was.

Nothing. Her girl parts didn’t spark. No deep desire to shed her panties. No desire at all. Ezra was a lovely man but he was like a painting to her. Something to admire, but not touch. She’d been relieved when he would disappear for chunks of time, leaving her with a female bodyguard McKay-Taggart had sent so he could take a couple of days off.

Kayla Summers was awesome. She was up on all the TV shows and never minded when Mia wanted to walk the streets to get some inspiration. Kayla just viewed any super-long city walk as a chance to try all the local street food.

One of the things she intended to talk to her brothers about was a change in bodyguards. Ezra had been perfectly pleasant for the most part, but something about him bothered her. Now that her attention wasn’t constantly on Case Taggart, she’d had time to study Ezra. She’d noted his secrecy. Oh, he tried to pretend he didn’t take phone calls in the middle of the night that suddenly stopped the minute she walked in the room. And then there were the trips to Dallas that he lied about.

At first she’d thought about declaring herself bodyguard free, but then she’d started to feel like someone was watching her. It had begun in Loa Mali. She’d felt eyes on her, an instinctive sense that someone was watching. It had followed her back to Austin. She was probably paranoid, but she wasn’t giving up the bodyguard.

Which meant until she could convince Kayla Summers to come on full time, she was stuck with Ezra.