Page 74 of Operation: Valiant Angel

Reina never had family in her life, let alone an extended family. She never even had too many girlfriends, not real ones anyway.

Wilson could see the discomfort wash over Rae’s face as her thoughts obviously occupied her mind. He leaned forward and took her hand in his. “There’s this incredible new life ahead for you. You and Lilly are going to be blown away by the family you’re about to become a part of.”

“Become a part of, just like that?”

“Yes, just like that,” Jackson answered. “We’ve seen it happen every time one of the men meets someone and they become a couple and introduce a new woman into our group. The wivesinstantly befriend them. Because of the job we do, no one outside of our group can understand what it’s like when we’re away for work. You know about the danger that comes with the job we do. Our wives know too. It’s not easy for them when we head off on a mission. They support each other. They’re a family.”

Reina’s gaze went to Jackson. “I look forward to meeting your wife and the others.”

“You will shortly. After we land, we’re headed to the office for a debrief and to unpack our gear. And I’m sure Shepherd, our boss, will want a private meeting with Wilson.”

“Don’t let Jackson fool you. He and Garcia share the number three spot at the agency. He’s already had a conversation or two with Shepherd about you and me.”

Jackson laughed. “I’ve let Lambchop have that honor being team lead for this mission.” His gaze went back to Reina. “Angel makes a great cup of tea, always has time to listen, and is good at keeping people company who are waiting for meetings to be over. She even keeps toys at the office to keep kids occupied.”

“She sounds wonderful,” Reina said.

“She is,” Jackson agreed. “And she has the proper security clearance to hear anything and everything.”

Reina recognized the airfield they had landed at. It was the same one they flew into last year from Norfolk. This time, though, the Marshals wouldn’t be waiting for her at the hangar. From what Lambchop said, they’d approved her request to be Lilly’s guardian, and they would assign identities for her and Lilly to remain there in the Chicago area. Jimmy’s boss, a man she’d just learned was named Shepherd, would arrange it all.

By the time the team had transferred all their gear and the carrier containing her cat, Teddy, to the two waiting SUVs, it had started to flurry out. Lilly had woken up during the bumpiness of the landing. She now sat in the middle of the backseat between her and Jimmy. Jackson drove and Sloan sat beside him. The others were in the second black SUV. Jimmy had told her the cars were owned by the agency, as was the plane. And they were now heading to the team’s headquarters. She had to admit, she was a little intimidated by it all.

Her gaze focused on Jimmy. The three of them were going to stay at his condo tonight. A short-term resolution to their housing problem. She couldn’t help but feel excited at the prospect of being with him tonight. After the kisses they shared, she was sure tonight would be incredible.

She also knew the team was planning to go after Stella Adams and Blake Henning as soon as they found them. The thought of being left alone with Lilly in an unfamiliar place was a bit unnerving, even if she would suddenly become a member of this big close family, as Jimmy and Jackson had said. She wouldn’t vocalize that feeling, though. She didn’t want to give Jimmy any doubts that she could handle the job he did and this new life. She wanted this new life to work so badly.

Jimmy told her where they went as they drove. Schaumburg, Illinois, was where their headquarters was located. And soon, they drove into the parking garage beside the ten-story building. They drove deep into two sub-basement levels. Jimmy explained the security behind the gate and the two garage doors that required codes to be entered into keypads to open. Then they pulled up in front of an elevator that didn’t look like it belonged in what Reina had completely forgotten was a parking garage.

“I just messaged Angel to come meet you and bring you to the kitchen near her office while we unpack the cars,” Jackson said. “It’ll be more comfortable for you than waiting around.”

“Thanks,” Wilson said. “You’re going to like Angel.”

“I’m sure I will,” Reina said. She was surprised that the garage was warm when she got out of the car. She held Lilly’s hand, and they waited off to the side of the elevator door and out of the way of the guys as they unloaded the vehicles, carrying their gear through a door near the elevator.

The chime sounded and the elevator door opened. Whatever Reina had imagined Jackson’s wife to look like, the beautiful black-haired woman with the infant on her hip wasn’t it. She had a warm smile that focused on Jackson. “Welcome home,” she said softly after he’d rushed to her and wrapped her in his arms. After he kissed her, he took the baby from her and kissed her too, before holding her close. “Daddy missed you, baby girl,” he said.

“We all missed you,” Angel said.

“Angel, this is Rae or Reina and Lilly,” Jackson introduced. He handed the baby back to her.

“It’s nice to meet you both,” Angel said with a genuine smile. “Let’s go back up to my office. I can take a break and make us some tea.” She crouched down to Lilly’s height. “And I keep some toys by my desk too, for visitors like you. And some snacks if you’re hungry.” She stood back up and hit the elevator button.

“I’ll bring Teddy to my office and set him up with his food and some water out of the carrier. We’ll probably be here for an hour or more,” Wilson told her.

“Thank you,” she said.

The elevator door reopened. They stepped in. “I get to have my kids at the office with me a few days a week, so I’m sure we’ll find something to keep her busy.”

“How old is she?” Reina asked.

“This is Johanna. She’s nearly eight months. And our son Sammy is three. He’s at preschool today.” She glanced at Lilly. “Jackson said she’s four. The place Sammy goes has a great four-year-old program. A good friend’s daughter was in it last year. This year they have her there in the pre-K program. I’ll make sure I get you the name of the preschool.”

“Thank you, that’d be great. I worked as a teacher’s aide at Lilly’s preschool. I liked it.”

Reina watched the lights count the floors as the elevator ascended. It stopped on the fifth floor, and they got off. They were in the hallway of an ordinary-looking place. She followed Angel past a few closed doors and one open one that showed an empty conference room inside. She wondered if that was where Jimmy and the others would meet with their boss. Angel directed her to the next door on the right. It was a large kitchen with windows that ran the entire wall in front of them and looked over the big Woodfield Mall.

“Can Lilly have a J-U-I-C-E-B-O-X?” Angel asked, spelling the word out.

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