“Can we focus on the mission and not trivial things like sex?”
“Sure, sure,” he nodded, then shook his head. “Man, you kill me.”
Ignoring them, I focused on driving. We were almost at the airfield, which meant we were that much closer to getting FNG back. But dammit! Now they mentioned Duke, all I could think about was the sexy mechanic and what it would feel like to finally give in to the urges and fuck him like I really wanted.
I shook that thought from my head as we approached. I followed the other vehicles through the gates at the private airfield. Cash must have called ahead to ensure the gates would be open for us. In the distance, I could see a smaller plane getting ready for takeoff. There was still a chance to end this and get FNG back.
I screeched to a halt and got out, running toward the plane. Fox and Dash were on my six, and the other teams spread out, all of us encircling the plane.
“Does anyone have eyes on FNG?” Cash shouted over comms.
“Negative,” Thumper called out.
“I’ve got shit,” Lock answered.
I ignored the rest of them and continued circling the plane until I got to the other side—and that’s when I saw him. “Boss, I’ve got eyes! Fox, can you confirm?”
“Fuck, yes!” he shouted. “That’s—”
A violent, deep boom ripped through our victory as the plane burst into flames. The shockwave hit me with a force strong enough to lift me off my feet and catapult me backward so hard that the air was knocked from my lungs. I couldn’t move as I stared up at the darkening sky. I tried and failed desperately to suck in air, but my body wouldn’t function properly at the moment.
My head lolled to the side and I stared at the flames shooting toward the sky. I had failed FNG. He was on that plane and now he was gone. I should have found him sooner. I should have done more to get to him.
“Rae!”
I tried desperately to suck air into my lungs as a figure hovered over me, but the face blurred as everything went black.
I fucking hated hospitals. Not that I really ended up in them very often. I was usually much better at not getting injured. I’d broken my record for the longest anyone at OPS had gone without ending up in one of these beds.
I heard a slight chuckle and peeled my eyes open with a groan. Fucking Fox was sitting in a chair beside my bed eating Funyuns. He munched on them happily as he watched something on the TV. I tried to swallow, but it felt like razors in my throat.
I struggled to sit upright as a coughing fit took over. That darkening sky I had been staring at was smoke from the fire, which explained why I smelled like smoke.
“You’re all fucking stupid,” Duke muttered as he slipped a hand behind my back and helped me sit up.
I tossed a glare in his direction, but he was already turning away from me, grabbing a cup of water for me. He pressed it to my lips, acting like I didn’t have two hands of my own. But when I tried to take it from him, he narrowed his eyes at me. Relenting, I took a sip of water. The cool water felt like heaven to my parched lips. When I finished, I rested back in bed and closed my eyes. I was more than happy to tune everyone out. But there was still the matter of Duke being here.
“Is there a reason you’re sitting by my bed?”
“Actually, there is. Did you guys ever think of leaving a few men behind in case something like this happened?”
“Like what?” I asked, confused by his question.
“You know, a massive explosion that would knock out the entire OPS company.”
My eyes swiveled to Fox, who was still happily eating his nasty snack.
“Well, most of them. He’s just a relentless bastard.”
“Again, why are you here?” I asked, refusing to meet his brilliant blue eyes. I could get lost in those eyes if I didn’t look away. I hated how much of an effect he had on me, and though I desperately tried to ignore the connection between us, every time he showed up, my lady parts did a happy dance that he was near.
“Because someone had to drive the ladies here, for one. And second, there’s no one else here to keep watch over you. Not to mention, a few of the guys are hassling the staff.” He gave a shoulder shrug. “I decided to take pity on the nurses.”
“Then go watch over them,” I snapped.
A wide grin split his lips as he stared at me. “But you’re so much more appealing than any of them.”
I rolled my eyes, wincing at the pain that shot through my head from the movement. Just then, the curtain jerked open and Edu tossed his cup at Duke’s head.
“I said I needed some more water! Where’s the fucking nurse?”
Duke stood to his full height and ripped the curtain back in place after stomping into Edu’s space. “She left me in charge because you’re an asshole.”
“I need water!”
“You need to be nicer to the staff.”
I heard his loud groan. “I fucking hate hospitals. Just bring me the paperwork and I’ll check myself out.”
“And how are you going to sign with a broken wrist?”
“I’ll use my teeth!”
Duke’s deep rumble vibrated through my body, sending the most delicious tingles between my legs. Damn, I needed to get laid.
“—lay back down before I tell her you need a colonoscopy!”
The curtain was jerked back and Duke stalked back over, slopping his giant man-body in the chair beside me. “Fuck, that guy is driving me insane.”
“And everyone else?”
He waved his hand. “Cash is insisting on leaving immediately, as if I didn’t know that would happen. I stuck Eva next to his bed. That seems to be helping somewhat. Most everyone escaped with a few bumps and bruises. Slider had to be taken for more tests.”
That made sense considering he was still recovering from several concussions.
“What about—”
Heels clacking on the floor distracted me from what I was about to ask. Quinn came rushing into the large room, looking around desperately for Scottie. Her eyes landed on Duke and she scowled. “Where is he?”
“Um…”
“Oh, fuck.” I heard Scottie groan. “Brock, you gotta get me out of here. Quinn’s here,” he hissed.
Quinn narrowed her eyes and stalked over to the curtain adjacent to mine. She ripped it back and Scottie flinched, doing his best not to sink any further into the bed. “You got blown up?” she asked incredulously.
“Yeah, but—”
“By a plane?”
“Uh—”
“You fly planes,” she ranted. “You throw up on planes!”
“Yeah, but—”
“Does everything with you have to be about planes?” Scottie’s jaw dropped open, but nothing came out. “And if you say anything about building a fire, let me tell you, there’s one blazing at the airfield right now. Just say the word and I’ll toss you in!”
And I thought I could kill a mood. So much for the happy reunion between two people that supposedly loved each other. I pushed up out of bed, ready to call it a day.
“Well, this has been fun—”
“Whoa, where do you think you’re going?”
“Home, where there aren’t people bitching at each other.”