Page 50 of SEAL's Angel
Dawn nodded, not trusting her voice. Then stood on tiptoes like Cindy and kissed him.
She couldn’t watch him leave, and she closed her eyes as the front door closed.
* * *
By the time Jake and Rafe’s flight landed in Norfolk, it was late afternoon. Tony told them to report to base as soon as they’d landed, but neither had packed a uniform. Jake dropped Rafe at his apartment. Meghan came running out as soon as she saw them pull up and jumped into her fiancée’s arms. Seeing them together reminded Jake just how far away he’d left his heart.
Jake pulled into his driveway, parked the truck, and grabbed his pack from the backseat. As he unlocked the front door, he sighed. After being with Dawn and the kids for the last few days, his place was just too damn quiet.
Stalking to his bedroom, he pulled out a uniform and dressed quickly. Then he restocked his go-bag and headed back out to the truck. As soon as he turned on the ignition, he used the hands-free option to call Dawn. But no one answered. It was three hours earlier in Colorado, and they were probably busy. Jake tried not to worry, but couldn’t shake the heavy feeling in his chest.
He called Tony next to let him know that he and Rafe were on the way. The drive to JEB Little Creek, home of the East coast SEAL teams, wasn’t far from where he lived, and that was one reason he’d bought the house. Ten minutes later, he pulled onto base.
Rafe had arrived first and was standing next to his truck when Jake pulled into the parking lot on base.
“I talked to Tony. He said to come to his office,” Jake said as he climbed out of his truck. “Meghan looked happy to see you.”
Rafe grinned. “Oh, yeah. Though she wasn’t too happy when she found out I’d be leaving right away.”
“I bet. But she and Miranda both seem to deal with it okay,” Jake commented as they walked into the building housing their home base of operations.
“I think it helps that they saw firsthand what we do. Though, it could easily have made it harder for them to accept. Are you worried about Dawn?” Rafe asked.
“Maybe, yeah. I am. She’s been through enough already.”
“She has, but she knows how it works. And I really think the girls having each other makes it easier. They’re not in it alone,” Rafe reminded him.
“That’s true. I promised you I wouldn’t hurt Dawn, and I’m going to do my best not to. But some things are out of my control.”
“And she knows that. I could see the difference in her after you returned from your hike. I don’t want to know what happened, but it brought my sister back to life. And that’s good enough for me.”
“Thanks, bro. I love her. I haven’t told her yet, especially with us having to leave so suddenly. It’s all too new,” Jake confessed, a dull ache in his heart. They needed more time, but it would have to wait.
“I get it. But I know for a fact she’s stronger than she seems. Don’t sell her short.”
“Noted.”
They reached Captain Knox’s office, and Jake knocked on the door. Knox yelled, “Enter,” And they went inside.
“Sir.” They saluted.
“At ease, gentlemen. Take a seat,” Tony Knox said without looking up. He shuffled through some papers on his desk and pulled one out of the stack with a nod. Then leaned back in his chair and studied them. “I was happy you found your nephew so quickly, Rafe.”
“Thank you, sir. Me, too. We got lucky.”
Tony nodded. “I hated to bring you back so soon, but we have new intel that required you be recalled. Tex located Azfaar before you headed to Colorado. It took until last night for the CIA to verify the information.”
“I’m surprised they verified it already,” Jake commented.
Knox nodded. “No shit. But since he’s on their most wanted list, it made verification a top priority.”
“It’s about fucking time. It’s been over a year since he kidnapped the missionary group,” Rafe said.
“Agreed. But you know how this works. And we can’t go until we’re told.”
They nodded. Most of the time, it seemed like the wheels of government moved so slowly they lapped themselves.
“What are our orders, sir?” Jake asked.
