Page 71 of With One Breath (Blackhawk Security)

Then she closed her eyes and pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose. She’d managed to catch a few hours of sleep last night with Dev, but she’d spent the last three days pulling strings and making arrangements. Bringing her agents in from the field. Debriefing all of them.

“I’m sure you know that a lot of Taliban soldiers are heading for Kabul,” she began. “The government appears to have given up already. Lots of lawmakers and cabinet members have already fled the country, and the president is either in hiding or has escaped. The country is devolving into chaos and disaster.” She sighed. “We need to get our people out ASAP, and that includes the Afghanis who helped the U.S. forces.”

“What do you need from me?” Jase asked, his voice even. Steady. Like the soldier he’d always been.

He frowned as he studied her, and Mel knew she looked exhausted. Like she was barely holding it together. Because she was. She’d never realized how much she counted on Dev to be her rock. To keep her steady.

Until he wasn’t her rock anymore.

Shoving those unproductive thoughts out of her head, she sat straighter. Ordered herself to focus on right now. “Tell me about your chartered jet,” she said.

“It should be here later today,” he said, no inflection in his voice. And no clues in his expression about where he’d gotten the money. “It can hold twenty people. With the Al Kamen villagers and Laila, I have room for six more. Figure out who else you want to send with them.” He leaned forward. “Just make sure they’re cleared to leave by late today.”

“I have a few contacts my agents were using who are in immediate danger. I’d like to get them on your plane,” she said. “I’ve arranged for Laila’s people to be assigned to the processing center close to Madison, Wisconsin.” She shook her head. “I can’t imagine going from an essentially middle-ages, agriculture-based culture into the modern world so abruptly. Having Laila close by might help ease their way.”

Jase nodded. “Thanks, Mel. Laila’s been worried about that.”

“What about you? Are you going to see Laila once you’re back in the States?”

He shifted in his chair and didn’t meet her gaze. “Probably not.”

“Really? When I talked to her,” Mel said carefully, “I got the sense you were... involved.”

“She say that?” he shot back.

“Of course not.” Laila had held her cards very close to her vest. Mel leaned back in her chair as she studied Jase. “It was more a feeling I got. That she... cared about you.”

“I ‘care’ about her, too,” Jase said, slashing air quotes. “But I don’t get involved.” His eyes were flat, his expression unreadable. “The teams always have to leave on a moment’s notice. Always a chance you don’t come back. I’m a good-time guy. I do hookups. Not long term.”

“Lonely way to live,” Mel said. She tilted her head to study him and lingered on the shadows in his eyes. “There are married SEALs. And there are married SpecOps guys, too.”

He was shaking his head before she’d finished. “Not me. Long term? Marriage? Not in my vocabulary.”

Mel nodded as if she understood, but she wondered why. She wouldn’t ask, though. Jase’s personal life was his own business.

Clearing his throat, Jase said, “What about you and your teams?” he asked. “What’s the plan for us?”

“As soon as everyone is back in Kabul, we’ll catch a plane back to D.C. The rest of the agent runners will do the same. You guys may be in Washington for a while, or you may be assigned to another agent runner.” She shrugged. “Lots of things up in the air right now. No one’s had time to figure anything out.”

“Okay, Mel. Thanks.”

Jase stood up to leave, and Mel leaned forward in her chair. “Pack your stuff. Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.”

“Will do, boss. Have you already told Cody and Dev?”

Sadness pressed down on her momentarily, then she straightened and banished it. “I’ve spoken to both of them.”

Jase tilted his head as he studied her. “What’s up, Mel?” he asked softly. “Something going on with Dev?”

Mel looked down at the mess of papers on her desk to hide the sudden moisture in her eyes. “Dev’s, ah, staying in Afghanistan for a while. To help with the evacuation. To gather intel on the Taliban. To generally cause problems for them.” She’d pleaded with him to evacuate with her and the rest of the team, but he’d said he was staying. That he’d catch a later plane. Hadn’t been able to look her in the eye this morning when he’d said it, and she’d known what it meant. She and Dev were over.

She’d asked him why, and he’d shrugged. “I still have work to do over here.”

She knew damn well that wasn’t the reason. Dev had freaked out because she’d told him she loved him last night. She’d heard his quick inhalation. Felt his muscles freeze and sensed his subtle withdrawal. They’d made love again after that, but it hadn’t been the same. Dev was apparently allergic to love and commitment. And now he was ghosting her.

Jase frowned. “What the hell? Why isn’t he evacuating with the rest of us?”

“Because he wants to stay,” she said. She slapped her hands on her desk, hoping to signal that conversation was over. “Make sure you see Laila and her group to the plane,” she managed to say. “Since it sounds as if you have no plans to see her again.”

“I’m on active duty,” he pointed out. “I have no idea when I’ll get a chance to see her again.”

“You could apply for leave once you’re back in the states. Don’t you have a lot of leave time accumulated?”

He looked away. “Better if I keep working.”

“Okay, then,” she said. “I think you’re a dumbass, but you’re an adult. Capable of making your own dumbass decisions.” She stood up as well. “I’ll let you know when the team is leaving. Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.”

“Always am,” he said, slipping out the door and closing it softly behind him.

Mel dropped into her chair and swallowed the lump in her throat. Dev had surprised her last night, and not in a good way. She was damn good at her job, and she’d continue being good at it until she was back in the States. But she’d leave her heart in Afghanistan.

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