Free Marked (Hostage Rescue Team Series) by Kaylea Cross Page B

day, they had each others’ backs.
    She turned her head to study him. “So why are we going to see them?”
    He didn’t see the harm in telling her the truth, since she was going to find out anyway. “They’re teammates of mine. I want to fill them in, have you get to know them a bit so you feel comfortable with them.”
    “Why?”
    He shrugged, kept his eyes on the road. “I want them to help keep an eye on you. Our schedules rotate, depending on a lot of different things. I’m tied up with scheduled training most of the week if we don’t get called out, so the guys can take over when I can’t be there.”
    Her eyebrows shot upward. “You’re putting a personal security detail on me?”
    Wasn’t exactly protocol to do it himself, but he and his teammates could protect her as well as anyone, and the control freak in him wanted to pick her detail himself. The guys he worked with were definitely the best. “Yes, ma’am. For now, anyway. If you’re not comfortable with me and the guys doing it I can let the Baltimore office handle it, but you definitely need protection until this guy’s brought in.”
    “What about my place and my job?”
    There was no easy way to say it. “I think you know you can’t go back to your place. And unless you can work remotely, you’ll need to take some time off.”
    Rather than get pissed off or argue about it, she stared at him for a long moment before relenting with a sigh. “I’ll talk to my bosses once I hear back about my brother.”
    “Sure, but given everything that’s happened, they’ll want you to take time away until this is all cleared up. And I wouldn’t worry about them blaming you for the stolen files. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
    It didn’t surprise him that she was more worried about Brandon and her job than her own safety. Rachel was like that, always thinking of the people she cared about, putting them first. He’d once been included in that select group. He’d been stupid not to stay in touch more, a fucking moron to believe he could ever get over her.
    All this time he’d told himself he’d been doing her a favor by letting their communications lapse, especially while he was overseas or in training at Quantico. She’d e-mailed him once a week without fail at first, never once chastising him if he didn’t reply, but gradually they’d begun to trail off —whether she’d finally gotten fed up with him or she’d realized he wasn’t worth her time, he wasn’t sure—and he’d let them drift apart until she’d finally moved on.
    Biggest mistake of his life. She wasn’t Linda and it wasn’t fair of him to assume she couldn’t handle or want to adjust to the demands of his career.
    When she didn’t respond, only twisted her hands in her lap, he reached across the console to take her hand again. It was important to him that she understood she wasn’t alone, that he wouldn’t fade out of her life again. She had him to lean on now. “Whatever happens, I’m here for you, okay?”
    At that she looked over and gave him a tremulous smile that made his chest ache as she squeezed his hand. “Thanks. I’m glad I called you.”
    “Me too.” He was only sorry it had taken this for her to re-establish contact.
    Wishing he could go back and undo all of that as he drove south toward Quantico, Jake vowed to make sure he never pushed her away again.
     
    ****
     
    After an hour long drive, Jake finally turned the truck into a residential neighborhood and into the driveway of a two-story brick, traditional-style house.
    “This is your place?” Rachel asked him as he parked beside another pickup with dirt bikes loaded into the bed, unable to hide her surprise.
    “What, you expected a trailer park or something?” he said, his tone teasing.
    “No, you just used to be a turnkey kind of guy. Condo or townhouse maybe. No yard, no maintenance, able to just lock the door and go whenever you want.”
    “Oh, that’s still me. Just figured it was