Page 11 of Tango

“Ivy,” he moved in front of me and clicked a button, “just hear me out first.” A map appeared on the wall behind him. “First, take this.” He handed me a twenty-dollar bill. “This is me asking for a session with you.”

“Why?”

“Because this needs to stay between us, and if there’s money involved you can’t legally share, correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.” He nodded once and went back to what he was showing me.

“I want you to know I’ve never shared any part of a mission with a civilian, until now.” I went still, unsure exactly what he planned to share with me. “I asked for permission and am laying myself on the line to share this with you. I need you to see I know every step of my mission inside and out. I’m not reckless, Ivy, but this is something I must do, not just for me, but for us.”

I nodded, unable to speak. Today was emotional enough as it was.

“I leave for Washington in a few days, where I’ll be briefed and provided with everything I need. Then, the next day, I leave with another team. They have a whole other mission. The seven of us will be dropped here,” he pointed on the map, “and travel by foot across here.” He dragged his finger farther along. “At this point, I’ll branch off on my own, and head east until I get to this town.” I pressed both hands against the table to steady them as my stomach plummeted. I needed to stay calm because I knew how important this was to him. He double tapped the clicker and zoomed in on the map, and using a marker, he circled the town. “This house here is where Brown was killed.” His face fell for a moment, but he kept going. “After forty-eight hours, I’ll meet the other team here,” he drew an X outside the town limits, “and from here I return to Washington, and then from there I come home to you.”

I nodded and tried to blink the tears back. I knew what it must have taken for him to share something like this, and I also knew he had to be struggling to let me in this much.

“I have a question.” I could barely get the words to form on my tongue. “What if you don’t find anything. Then what?”

“Then I know I’ve done everything I could, and I can cross Afghanistan off my list of places I need to dig.” He tossed the clicker on the table and pulled out the chair next to me. He pulled me to him and tucked my knees between his and took my hands. “Ivy, I know this is scary, but you have my promise that I wouldn’t even dream of doing this if I didn’t feel a hundred percent sure about all of it.”

“I know.” More tears fell. “I’m just so scared that something will happen to you.”

“I feel the same way about you.” He used his fingers to dry my cheeks.

“Why are you worried about me? I’m in a safehouse.”

“I’m worried because this is the first time in my life I’ve loved someone.” He held my gaze as my eyes widened. “I hate the idea of leaving you, and now I’m even more terrified given what’s happened to—” He shook his head. “It’s one thing for them to hunt us. Soldier to soldier we can handle, but to go after our wives or girlfriends, that’s—”

“Ty,” my voice was soft as a delicious warmth spread through me, “I’m terrified because I’m in love with you, too.”

He scooped me up and sat me on his waist to straddle him then moved his hands to my face on each side. “You love me?”

“I do love you.” His silly, teary-eyed grin made me lower my lips to his, and we sealed our truths. There was a part of me that felt terribly guilty for sharing a moment like this at such a time, but Lexi’s passing had given us the push we needed.

He rested his forehead against mine. “She loves me,” he whispered.

“I do.”

After our stolen moment, we walked together back to the others. The sadness simply simmered in the room. Cole had his face stuck in his phone, and Frank steadily watched his screen as well. Abby and June hovered. They were so alike, and they needed to do things for the others, anything to make sure everyone had whatever they might need. Mike, John, and Mark sat quietly with Keith, who still looked completely checked out. None of them spoke or did more than glance at us, and Ty went to join them.

“Ivy,” my uncle appeared, “may I have a word?”

“Of course.” We stepped outside the door.

“I don’t think we should attempt to speak with anyone today about how they’re feeling. We need to just let everyone digest this terrible news.”

“That’s my thought, too. I just want to make sure they know I’m around in case they need me.”

“Good idea.” He gave me a tight smile. “I’ll do the same.”

“I wanted to talk to you, too.” I took his arm, and we walked toward his office.

“What is it?” he asked as he closed the door.

“I know none of this is my business, but I can’t help but notice a change in Frank. Is everything okay? Is the house in some kind of danger? I feel there’s more going on than what we’ve been told.”

“You always were quick to pick up on a vibe.” He chuckled sadly. His face scrunched up as though he contemplated what he could share. “It’s the informant, the one who tried to get Lexi out. Now he’s been compromised and is on his way here to stay.”

“Oh, I see.” I shook my head. “The fact that this person didn’t succeed in getting Lexi out,” I thought of all the ways it could go wrong, “it might be very upsetting for Keith to have him here.”

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