Page 15 of Croatia Collateral

She shook her head. “I found a family among my brothers and sisters of the Sayeret Matkal. We fought Hezbollah and Hamas, never seeming to make a difference. I saw the faces of the innocents in the aftermath of the shelling. They reminded me of my younger siblings. They hadn’t asked for the war. Yet they were the ones to suffer the most.”

Dax nodded, still haunted by the faces of the children crying for their mothers, injured, bloodied and homeless next to the rubble that had been their homes.

“I lost several of my new-found family members in skirmishes. When my dearest friend, Jasmine, was driven out of the military on false charges, I lost my stomach for the military and for a war that would never end. I decided it was time to leave as well.”

“I get it,” Dax said. “I felt like we rarely made a difference. I tried being a mercenary for a while, but it wasn’t much better. I was glad when I got the call to join the Brotherhood Protectors. I’d heard from other guys I’d fought with who’d joined Hank Patterson’s organization. It seemed more of a fit.” He shrugged. “And here I am.”

Giva drew in a deep breath. “I bounced around doing odd jobs as an interpreter, a waitress and even as a translator for an advertising company. Then Jasmine called.” She gave a brief smile. “It was good to hear from my old friend. Even better to know she had work she thought I might like better than translating advertisements. I had nothing holding me back. No family, no husband or children. So, here I am.”

“Never married?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I avoided long-term relationships. I loved my family in the special forces, but I couldn’t commit to any one of them. Not after I’d lost friends in battles. I just couldn’t. What about you? Married? Divorced? Kids?”

“Widowed,” he said. “No children.”

Her brow creased. “I’m sorry.”

He echoed her words. “It’s past. Like you, I’ve had years to come to terms with the loss.”

“Yet, you never remarried?” she asked.

He shook his head. “No. As you’re aware, losing someone you love?—”

“—hurts too much,” she finished. “If you don’t love?—”

“—you won’t hurt,” he said, his gaze meeting hers. For a long moment, silence stretched between them as Dax realized they had more in common than he’d originally imagined.

Finally, he forced a laugh. “Look at us bonding over tea, crackers and cheese. It’s good to know we won’t make the mistake of falling in love with each other.”

She nodded. “Not a chance.”

He drank the last of his beer and set the bottle on the table. “Thanks for humoring me. It helps to know more about your partner when you’re going into a tough mission. Especially this one. We won’t be complete strangers trying to pull off being intimate lovers.” He pushed to his feet. “I need rest if we’re shopping tomorrow.”

“Me, too,” she said, setting her teacup on the end table.

Dax held out his hand.

She placed her palm in his and let him pull her to her feet. They stood close enough he could feel the warmth of her body.

They’d shared a moment, talking to each other. The urge to take her into his arms was so overwhelming he gave into it and tugged her hand gently.

She leaned against him, her arms encircling his middle.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close. Nothing sexual. No intention of taking it further. Just one human holding another.

Giva pressed her cheek to his chest and remained there, making no attempt to push back or put distance between them.

Not until he felt dampness on his T-shirt did Dax realize Giva was crying.

He leaned his head back and touched a finger beneath her chin, tipping her face upward.

Her cheeks were soaked, and tears continued to flow. “I’m sorry,” she choked out. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I never cry.”

“It’s okay.” he brushed his thumb across her cheek. “It’ll be our secret.”

“I didn’t cry when I got the call from my aunt. I was in shock. I didn’t believe they were really gone.”

He tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear.

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