It was barely daylight. Maybe if she was sleeping, he would catch her off guard and have a few precious seconds to talk before she hung up on him.
He dialed her number and was sent straight to her sweet voice telling him to leave a message. Yep, he should have known she would be too smart to leave her phone on.
“Hey, it’s me. I know you don’t want to see me, but I needed to tell you something. I took your advice. Ian and I told Erin tonight. It felt good to tell her the truth. Naturally Erin being Erin, she came up with a plan. I would love to run it by you, to get your take on it. You’ve studied up on the drug she’s using and I could understand it better. Anyway, if you get a moment, give me a call.” He felt like an idiot. “Okay, thanks.”
He hung up. Yeah, he wasn’t great at that.
Three hours later she sent him a report on the drug and everything she’d managed to find out about it. She’d dug deep and gone to various sources, her analysis providing many theories on how the drug would work in combination with certain therapies. At the end of her e-mail, she’d left him with a chilly “best wishes on his search” and she hoped it all went well. She explained she was heading off on assignment and wouldn’t be in touch for a long time.
Very polite. Very much like Mia.
He called her again, not at all surprised to go to voice mail. Her voice mail was very much his doghouse, and he would have to do his time.
“Hey, sweetheart, I wanted to call you before you left. I hate the way I spoke to you that last day in Cartagena. I’m ashamed of how I treated you and I can’t stand the thought that I won’t be able to look you in the eye and tell you that I’m so sorry. I know why you did what you did. I’ve got a temper on me and I know I need to deal with it. I called Kai and I’m going to get some anger management therapy because I never want to speak that way to you again. Because I need you to understand that it wasn’t some convenient thing for me. That week we spent together was everything to me. Anyway, if you want to talk, I’m here. Be safe.”
When he hung up, he opened an e-mail and sent a note to Ezra Fain explaining that if Mia happened to be interested in interviewing a SEAL, he had a friend who’d agreed as long as she would protect his identity. An old buddy of his was willing to show her exactly how his team worked and he’d gotten clearance. He asked Fain not to tell her the invite had anything to do with him. She would likely turn it down.
Fain’s reply had been short, but he’d promised to keep Mia safe. It hurt to know he wouldn’t be the man protecting her, but Case accepted it. For now, Mia needed time.
The days rolled on.
September
“Hey, sweetheart. Therapy sucks. I’ve got to do this group thing where we all sit around like idiots and talk about how much fun it is to beat the shit out of people, except then someone makes us feel bad about it. I thought I had anger issues. Man, do not take Bear’s yogurt. Just a helpful hint I’ve learned. So while anger management sucks, I think I might be getting good at it. Your brother pissed me off today and I didn’t even think about killing him. Not once. Maiming, yes, but I think that’s progress. Drew’s getting better, too. I brought him enough information on Castalano that he just threatened to bitch slap me. He didn’t actually do it. I think the way to get to Castalano is through his partner’s daughter. This business crap is as bad as war, except I don’t get to shoot anyone. Yeah, I know. Back to the couch for me.”
October
“I read the article in Time about the Navy SEAL team. It was awesome. You captured the spirit of the team. I can’t believe you actually tried some of the BUD/s training. Well, I can. You’re a little crazy, but in the best way possible. Just wish I’d been there to see it. We’re dressing TJ up for Halloween. Erin managed to find a costume that makes him look like a live grenade. Yeah, I’m worried for that kid. We’re going over to Jake and Adam and Serena’s in an hour or so. It’s a party for the kids. I’m pretty sure Serena and Erin have already set up the kids for marriage or something. Did I mention Serena had a girl? She’s a week younger than TJ and she’s definitely got Adam’s eyes. Brianna. It’s a pretty name. I’ve been thinking about Hutch a lot lately. I think it’s all the Halloween candy. We got a little brush from someone Adam thinks might be him. It’s just a couple of e-mails and some talk in a room on the Deep Web, but we’re hopeful. I think Erin’s plan is working. Happy Halloween, baby.”
November