Page 5 of SEAL's Angel
Chapter 2
“How soon can I catch that flight? I need to get to Colorado ASAP,” Rafe said after he hung up with Dawn.
Jake nodded. When Dawn had told him what happened, he’d known they were going to Colorado and set the plan in motion while Rafe talked to her.
“Unfortunately, Knox said there’s no transport until tomorrow. That wouldn’t work, so I booked us on commercial. We’re on a Delta flight out of Norfolk in two hours.”
Rafe quirked his eyebrow. “Thanks. Wait? We? You’re coming with me?”
“Yeah,we.I figured you could use the backup. Your sister and I have been friends for a while, and there’s no way I’m not going to be there while her world is falling apart.” Jake crossed his arms over his chest and waited for the explosion he knew was coming. But he’d only take so much from Rafe, even if they were like brothers.
“What do you mean you’ve been friends for a while? You had to go after my sister? She’s a single mom, for fuck’s sake.”
“We’re friends. I’m not sleeping with her, and if it were any other time, I’d deck you for saying that. Dawn is a beautiful, loving, sensitive woman, and I care about her. I know you’re pissed, and if I could have avoided having this conversation now, I would have.”
“No shit. I just—”
“Go ahead, take your best shot. But you only get one, then you need to suck it up. We have a plane to catch.”
“I’m not sure one would be enough. You know the hell she’s been through. And fuck, she’s my sister.”
“We’ve only been chatting with each other, texting. I’m her friend. I’m there for her when she needs to vent, or someone to just share her day with.”
“Then why keep it from me?”
Jake sighed. The sidewalk in front of the Ready Room was not where he wanted to have this discussion, but he couldn’t do anything about it now. Nothing in this world would keep him from getting on that plane. “I’m sorry. Dawn knew it would piss you off and wanted to keep it between us. None of that matters now, not really. Your nephew is missing, and your focus needs to be on the mission.”
The muscle in Rafe’s jaw flexed as he glared at Jake. Oh yeah, the man was seriously pissed off.
“Copy that.”
Jake nodded at his second-in-command. “Let’s go tell the team. Knox said if we need backup, he’d send the rest of the Black Eagles tomorrow. But we need to get moving. We can’t miss that flight. It’s the last one out tonight.”
Rafe grumbled something Jake couldn’t ascertain, but it didn’t matter. They were elite special operators, and this was a mission, even if it was personal.
Rafe pulled open the door to the bar and strode inside with Jake on his heels. Pam, the owner of the Ready Room and Sky’s mom, had to be thrilled with the turnout. After everything they’d been through, they definitely deserved it.
As they approached the table, Jake looked at his team with pride. They were his family really, all that mattered to him. Each of them had found love, even Murph. No one had seen that coming, but Sky had stolen Murph’s heart when he wasn’t looking. They’d all found love. Except him. He was the last single guy on the team, and he’d be lying if he didn’t admit he was jealous of their happiness.
Rafe’s fiancé, Meghan, must have caught Rafe’s terse expression as they made their way through the crowd. She rushed over.
As she stopped at his side, she grabbed his arm. “What’s going on, baby?”
Jake nodded at Rafe. “I’ll talk to the rest of the team and meet you out front.”
“Copy that.” Rafe pulled Meghan farther from the crowd to tell her what was going on with his sister.
Ryan McLaughlin had his arm wrapped around his girlfriend, Chrissy, when Jake stopped at the edge of the table. He elbowed Cam Patterson, who’d been laughing at something his fiancé, Miranda, had said. Drew “Murph” Murphy and Sky weren’t at the table, but he couldn’t take the time to hunt him down.
“What’s going on, boss?” Ryan asked as Jake sat down in one of the empty chairs.
“Rafe’s nephew is missing. We’ve got a flight out to Colorado tonight. Knox is aware, and if we need you, you’ll be on the first transport out tomorrow.”
“Chase is missing? Or is it worse?” Cam leaned closer to make sure Jake could hear him over the loud music.
“I don’t have an answer for that. We think he might have run away, but it’s a best guess at this point. Dawn is a wreck.”
“Maybe we should all go,” Ryan said.
