The Sinful 7 of Delite, Texas 3: Her Double Delite Warriors (19 page)

“I’m worried about Michael and Chad. I think they may be there at that scene.”

“What? Why would they be?” Sally asked.

“A lot of the men in town do special work for the government. BJ and Monte used to. I know that Mason and a few others do as well,” Susanna added.

“Mason, too?” Sally asked, and Alexa saw that Sally seemed concerned about that. Was her sister interested in Mason? He was such a wiseass and seemed arrogant about his muscles and good looks. She stared at her.

“I can’t call them. But what if something is wrong?” Alexa asked.

“Just relax and don’t panic. If they’re involved, then they’ll call you when they can and when it’s all over,” Ava stated.

Alexa stared at her phone and then at the television set. She watched for the next hour, and there were no other updates. It was as if the news dropped the story entirely or as if the earlier broadcast never happened. She turned off the television and went upstairs. She lay in bed holding the phone and prayed that Michael and Chad were okay.

* * * *

Another twenty-four hours passed. It was Friday morning, and she had planned on going into town to see the businesses and other organizations set up for Saturday, the first full day of activities at the Fall Festival. Alexa wasn’t even in the mood to attend the events tomorrow. She was upset. She hadn’t heard from Michael or Chad. She’d heard from Mason. He came by the house to tell her that Chad and Michael were wrapped up in debriefing and that they were involved with the bust the other night. They also had a lot going on in their careers, and they had to take a quick trip to Dallas. Part of her could understand that, but another part of her was hurt. They couldn’t take five minutes to call her themselves? Why had they sent over their friend, a guy from their unit?

What disturbed her even more was that when she asked Mason if they were okay, he gave her an attitude and told her that their jobs were dangerous and sometimes they got hurt. He then added that neither man was dead. She gave him a dirty look and so did Sally. Sally basically called him a moron and told him to get out of their house.

She took the keys to her car, Mel, along with her camera, and headed to town. The little Mazda didn’t make one ugly sound the entire trip. She parked her car and headed toward the center of town. It looked amazing, and despite her sour mood, she was convinced that she could handle Michael and Chad’s lack of communication in this relationship and that when she saw them she would lay out some rules of her own. She might even tell them that she loved them and that if they couldn’t commit, then she was done with them. She was a changed woman. She’d had this conversation with Sally this morning. Sally had teased her and told Alexa that apparently having sex multiple times had brought out Alexa’s inner diva. She was getting mouthy. She wasn’t being a quiet little mouse anymore, nor did she take any shit from anyone. Last night, at the club, Brad and Bull came up to her and started flirting and teasing her. Bull grabbed her ass and she slapped his hand away. He continued to harass her until she asked for a sip of beer from Bull’s mug. She stood up on the step near the bar so that she was almost level with his height and she poured the beer over his head and called him an asshole. Everyone saw it, and he cursed and carried on until G-Force escorted Bull out of Dixie Chix.

Alexa took some pictures but she really wasn’t into it today. She put her camera away, and then did a little shopping. She bought a homemade apple pie and thought she could bring it over to Chad and Michael’s house for dessert and then remembered that they hadn’t called her yet. She sighed and figured the pie would be eaten at her house. Everyone except for Juliet loved apple pie.

Alexa was walking down the sidewalk in town when her cell phone rang. Glancing down at the number, she recognized it as Michael’s. She answered it.

“Hello.”

“Hi, Alexa, it’s Michael. How are you, baby?” he asked her, and hearing his voice after so many days brought excitement into her belly.

“Good. How about you?” She tried for nonchalant and failed.

“You’re angry. I can tell. Please understand that we didn’t intend to be away this long and out of contact with you. It wasn’t our intention.”

“Are you okay? Mason hinted that you might not be but that you weren’t dead.”

“He can be so nice sometimes.”

“Yeah, I haven’t seen that side of him yet.”

“I have, but it is rare. Baby, don’t be scared and upset. Chad got hurt, but it’s no big deal. He’s seen a lot worse.”

“How bad is it?”

“Not bad. Just some stitches on his arm. He’ll survive. We’re on our way back from Dallas. We needed to check on something. We’ll be home in about two hours. Can you get a ride to our place?”

“I have Mel. I’ll meet you there.”

“I thought Mel was dead. I don’t like that piece-of-shit car of yours. You need something more reliable. Chad and I will take you shopping on Monday.”

“Mel is fine, Michael. Please tell Chad that I can’t wait to see him, too.”

“I will, baby. I need to go. Be safe.”

“Bye.”

She hung up the phone and felt a bit better. At least Michael called and apologized for not calling sooner. She would have to learn to understand this secret business they were involved in. She heard that broadcast and remembered some significant information about the bust. It involved a massive amount of drugs, some high-and-mighty drug dealer from Columbia, and an investigation that led to the death of an undercover agent. That had to be Michael and Chad’s friend. She felt the chill as the cold air penetrated her long-sleeve shirt. She really should have brought a sweater. But soon she would be cuddling between Chad and Michael and hopefully in bed. She smiled as she walked back toward the boutiques.

* * * *

“Is she really pissed off?” Chad asked as he looked over the note from Nate.

“I’d say so. We really haven’t been honest with her about our jobs.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. We’re done with this shit. The other night was a fucking close call. I could have been blown to fucking smithereens.”

“Don’t even talk about it. I got some gray fucking hairs from worrying about you.”

Chad chuckled. “You know, I had Alexa on my mind the entire time. I hate being away from her. I don’t like the feelings I have when we’re apart and especially now. I don’t know why, but I’m worried about this fucking case. I’m worried about what we’re going to find on this thumb drive. Have you heard from Virgo, Mason, or Dale about the updated info on the visitor from Santos’s operation?”

“No. Just that if our intel is correct, then the person is in the United States right now.”

“Fuck. I don’t like this. Step on the gas and get me the fuck home to my woman,” Chad stated as he gently rubbed the bandage on his arm.

“You got it, soldier. Alexa is going to freak out when she sees that bandage.”

“I know. I’m just hoping that she’ll be ready to take care of me in case I need some extra assistance getting around.”

“Oh give me a break. You’ve had worse injuries than this. Don’t you dare act like a fucking invalid to get her to nurse you.”

Chad smiled. “You gonna be jealous?”

“Fuck yeah.”

Chad laughed as Michael accelerated.

* * * *

Virgo was walking down the street when he noticed an unfamiliar face near Georgio’s Italian Delicatessen. Just then Alexa walked out of the shop, carrying a cup of coffee. The guy looked at her and smiled, but she shyly turned away. She was a good woman. She wasn’t a flirt or the cheating kind, and he was happy for Michael and Chad. They had risked their lives enough times and now it was time to live. The other night was a close call for all of them. Virgo figured if the rest of the team was backing out of the job, then he might as well do it, too. His unit was his family.

“Hey, gorgeous, what are you up to?” Virgo asked Alexa, and as she realized it was him since they had met before, a huge smile crossed her face and her beautiful blue eyes lit up.

“Hi, Virgo! How are you?” she asked, and he was caught off guard as she leaned forward and stood on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. She really was a sweetheart. A guy as big and muscular as him would love to hold a woman like her in his arms. She was sexy.

“I’m alive. What’s that you got there?” he asked.

“Oh I just got a hot cup of tea. I should have brought a sweater with me. I’m heading to see Michael and Chad in a little bit. Are you okay? No injuries or anything from the other night?” she whispered after she glanced around them.

He knew that Michael sent Mason to talk with her. He and Chad were pretty upset about not being able to see her.

“I’m good, sweetie. How about you? Kind of takes some time to get used to all the secretive stuff, huh?”

She smiled at him then lowered her head to stare at the cup in her hands.

“I don’t know. I guess I’m just feeling a little rejected.”

“What?” he asked as he sat down next to her.

“Honey, Michael and Chad are crazy about you. This is the last job they’re going on. They’re giving it all up for you. They want to be with you, and they don’t want to worry about the danger and the possibility of not making it out alive. A good friend of ours was killed. It hit us all pretty damn hard.”

“I’m sorry that happened. I never even got to talk to Chad and Michael about it. Once I left that day I met you, we never got together again.”

“We all headed out to Austin. That’s where Nate’s sister and kids live. The bastard that killed him sent the body home to her.”

“What? Oh my God, how terrible. How could someone do something like that?” she asked.

“He’s a fucking drug dealer. Been one for decades. He wanted to send a message letting our particular unit know that he was onto us.”

“He knows about each of you?”

“Apparently enough. The raid was on prior to Nate’s murder. We went along as sort of revenge, but something still isn’t siting right about this situation.”

“How could it, Virgo? Men like this drug dealer do not have respect for human life. These types of people can’t be convinced otherwise. They just need to be destroyed, taken down, and eliminated.”

“Wow. That is some hell of a perspective from miss shy and innocent. You know, I thought that Michael and Chad were robbing the cradle with you. You’ve got quite an amount of insight or instincts about this thing.”

She shook her head. “I am not a strong person. I’ve had a pretty bad and violent life of my own. Unfortunately those experiences put me in tune to individuals like this drug lord. So what’s the next step? You don’t think that this guy will continue to try and come after each of you?”

The question shocked him. He didn’t want to think about that at all. Nate was killed in Columbia. Someone from Santos’s operation was in the United States. What exactly was going on?

“You know, Alexa, I don’t think that’s something we considered so seriously. It may be a point I should bring up to Michael and Chad. I wouldn’t put it past these guys to head into the United States to find us. They’re not dealing with full decks if you know what I mean.”

“I know and you should be careful. I’m going to meet Michael and Chad in another thirty minutes at their place.”

“Good. They need to be with you and you with them. I’m going to go make some calls and talk with Dale and Mason. I’ll see you soon?”

“I hope so. If Michael and Chad want to keep me around.”

He shook his head at her. “You make them see that you’re perfect for them and that they’re perfect for you. Then they won’t be able to give you up. Oh, and if they’re really fucking stupid and they actually do give you up, I’ll be there for you. I’m a better man anyway,” he teased then kissed her on the cheek before walking away.

Virgo walked down the street and dialed Dale on his cell phone.

“Hey, any news from Michael about the mailbox?”

“Yeah. We’re meeting Michael and Chad now. Head over here. They have about forty minutes until Alexa shows up.”

“I just saw her. I’ll speed on over right now.”

* * * *

Alexa got into her car and started the engine and turned the heat on. The temperature was dropping and the clouds were moving in. They had predicted a possible thunderstorm within the hour, but then it was going to just rain until morning time. Everyone hoped that the plans for the fall festivities wouldn’t be affected. Alexa wasn’t so fearful about the storms heading their way. By the time they hit, she would hopefully be with Michael and Chad.

She headed out of town and directly toward Farmer’s Pass. Just as she made it along the quiet road, she saw the bolt of lightning. She was concentrating on the sound Mel was making as she took her foot slightly off the gas pedal and slowed down. She was growing impatient. She wanted to see Michael and Chad so badly she was speeding. Getting pulled over by the sheriff or one of his deputies would be embarrassing.

She continued along her way, noting that no one else was on the road. They probably decided to wait out the storm, but not her and Mel. They trekked along until her tire blew out. Alexa gripped the steering wheel, which seemed to have lost all its ability to provide control, and she rolled down into the ditch and hit a tree. Her head hit the steering wheel, and she screamed as she realized that she’d crashed.