Free Ignited (Titanium Security Series) by Cross Kaylea

her head. “God, I miss him.”
    “I’ll bet. But coming over here and carrying on his legacy, that’s something to be proud of.”
    If he only knew what a wuss she really was, he wouldn’t think so. “Thanks. You know,” she added, “you’re a lot easier to talk to than Hunter.”
    Gage chuckled. “Yeah, I get that a lot. What can I say, I’m a people person. Special Forces guys have to be, since the majority of our job is spent teaching other people. Did you know that?”
    “No, I didn’t.”
    “See? You and I have something in common. We’re both awesome teachers.”
    She smiled wider, liking his easy going nature and his efforts to soothe her mind. “I knew I liked you for a reason. And if we get a chance, maybe one day you could show me how to do that wicked turn you did back there with the truck.”
    His eyes crinkled at the corners and a chuckle rumbled up. “That J-turn’s pretty slick, huh? Yeah, I could show you how it’s done. As long as you don’t tell Hunt. He’d tear me a new asshole if he found out I was teaching you that kind of stuff.”
    “What he doesn’t know won’t hurt us, right?”
    “Exactly.” Grinning, he stood. “I like you, Khalia. And I know you’ve had a rough start to your trip, but in spite of all that I don’t want you worrying about anything while you’re here. Hunt’s one of the best, which is why Tom’s got him leading this team. You couldn’t be in better hands than his, and the rest of us will take care of you too, I promise you that.”
    He was so sweet. All those badass tattoos didn’t fool her one bit. She wanted to hug him out of sheer gratitude. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
    Gage was still smiling as he made his way to the door. When he opened it, Ray stood there, fist poised to knock. His face was pale and pinched with worry. When he saw her he expelled a sigh and seemed to sag in relief. The moment he stepped inside and held out his arms, Khalia rushed straight into them while Gage quietly closed the door behind him to give them privacy.
     
    Fresh out of the shower after hitting the hotel gym, Hunter glanced up from his phone when Gage entered the room. “How is she?”
    “Just fine. Ray’s with her now.”
    “Good.” He was actually surprised at how well she’d held up so far. Not too many women he knew could experience something like a double suicide bombing with mass casualties without falling to pieces or becoming hysterical. Khalia had done neither. Instead she’d been silent on the way back to the hotel, closed down. Only the trembling in her body and the pallor of her skin had told him just how shaken she truly was. It had taken an act of will to stop himself from holding her tight until she felt safe again.
    “Any word on who claimed responsibility for the attack yet?” Gage asked.
    Hunter nodded at the TV, currently showing a news broadcast about the bombing. More than a dozen people had been killed outright in the blasts, and almost a hundred more were wounded. “TTP, but no surprise there.”
    “Fuckers.” Gage set his hands on his hips. “You want to change the schedule at all?”
    Gage knew him too well. “Yeah, I want to delay her arrival in Saidu Sharif by twelve hours. If someone out there’s gunning for her after all, I’m going to give them a smaller window of opportunity to work with. I’ve already talked to Tom. I’ll update everyone else tonight then hold a full briefing in the morning. In the meantime, let’s go over the map of the school one more time.”
    Together they reviewed the topography of the school’s location, the access roads leading to and away from it, as well as any other trails visible on the satellite map. Plugging up every access point wasn’t an option, so he had to make an educated guess about where the enemy might strike from and make contingencies for it. Working it over with Gage made the task easier. The man was solid, smart, and a great operator. Hunter was glad to have