Page 6 of No Regrets

“Dex, we’re going as fast as we can,” Ryan said.

“I know, it’s just...” He didn’t finish the sentence. Instead, he sank down into a chair, exhausted. He knew his team were all tired too.

“We get it, Dex. Kelly means a lot to all of us. We may not know where she is yet, but the agencies have been searching for Lazir for three years, so we know where he isn’t. We will narrow it down, and we will find her.”

“The video’s being analyzed. When they find something, I’ll know,” Mackie added.

Dex looked around the table at his team. He was grateful to work with such an amazing group of guys. The team had been together for five years. While he may have known Ryan for longer, they were all brothers. They shared a bond that could never be broken. His team would follow him anywhere and he loved them for that. As much as he wanted to board the jump plane right now and go out there to search every inch of Daram, he knew he had to be patient and wait. Joe assured him a team was on the way. Going in unprepared would get them killed and that would not help Kelly. Joe was right about the team needing to be mission ready.

“Go get some sleep and some food. All of you.”

“We’re good, boss. We’ve gone longer without sleep,” Donnie said.

“I know. But you all just told me we are waiting for information, so let’s use the time wisely. That means recharge and refuel. Sleep and eat. Go.”

The boys filed out, except Ryan.

“How are you holding up?”

“I don’t do well with waiting, you know that.”

“I do brother, I do. I’m here. So is the team. I know Joe told you to stand down, but whatever you want to do. Just say the word. She’s family to us too.”

“Thanks, man.”

Ryan stood. “You need to take your own advice and get some sleep.”

“I will. I’m right behind you.”

Ryan nodded and left him alone. Dex did need to sleep, but it wasn’t going to be easy. They were trained to sleep whenever and wherever the op allowed. But this wasn’t a regular op. This was personal. Every inch of his body was tense. He needed to let out some of it before he exploded. Standing, he followed Ryan out the door. Instead of heading to the sleeping quarters, he went to the gym.

Ten minutes on the punch bag, imagining Lazir’s face, started to help. He kept going, and he tried to keep focused on Lazir and getting his anger out. His mind inevitably wandered to Kelly.

The woman was a part of every childhood memory. Good and bad. His father, Matthew Dawson, had been a Navy Commander, now retired, and deployed a lot. Dex idolized his dad, but when his mother had died from cancer when he was fifteen, the Kimber family had watched over him when his father deployed. The Kimbers were an extension of his own family and he’d thought of Kelly as a sister. Until six years ago.

Dex attacked the bag again, but his punches were getting weaker.

Kelly had her own fair share of heartache growing up. Her mom walked out on them when she was seventeen and had cut all ties with her, leaving Kelly devastated, confused, and angry. They had both mourned the loss of their mothers, but they came through it together. It had brought them closer.

Wiping the sweat from his face, Dex took a drink of water. He was tiring now, which was good. Maybe he would sleep easier. Ten more minutes.

“I’m enlisting.”

Hell, he’d been shocked when Kelly had uttered those words. Ever since he could walk, Dex had wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. Kelly had never shown any interest.

“You’re what?”

“Enlisting in the Navy.”

“I don’t get it. When did you decide that?” They were shooting hoops together on the court at the beach. He’d enlisted the previous year and was home on leave for a couple of days.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while, but you persuaded me.”

“I did?”

“Yes. I never knew there were so many opportunities in the Navy, and you clearly love it. Since Mom left, I've been drifting. I need a purpose, a challenge. I looked into the Navy and Naval Intelligence looks like a good fit for me.”

“Wow. Well, that’s great. But you do realize it’s pretty tough. The training, I mean.”

---