Page 108 of No Regrets

“Thanks.” He took it gratefully. Both were silent as they opened their cans and took a swig.

“Sam, I’m sorry. It’s just... we’ve always told each other everything. It didn’t feel right lying to her. But I should have cleared it with you first. We’re not in the same unit anymore.”

Sam took another swig before speaking. “I can’t keep having this conversation with you. I told you before if I can’t trust you, this won’t work.”

Dex scrubbed a hand over his face feeling like shit. Sam had been nothing but good to him and he was feeling ashamed at his behavior.

“You can trust me. This way of working is just taking some getting used to. You might not think I take some of it seriously, but you’re wrong. You, Ryan, my team, have had to call me out recently, but I’m listening. When it comes down to it, I won’t do anything to jeopardize this team, Jackson’s, you, or what we do. Onyx means a lot to me.”

“There cannot be another conversation like this, Dex. I hate pulling rank and you fucking know it. This isn’t SEALs. Just talk to me.”

“Understood.” Dex sat back, relaxing a little. “So why is Kelly here?”

“Yeah, about that.” Sam’s face became even more serious, and Dex stilled.

“What is it?”

“After we spoke, I went to see Kelly to ask her to stand down and leave it alone.”

“I bet she took that well,” Dex said dryly.

“As stubborn as you. But she’d found a lead, so I agreed she could continue alongside Mira and keep me in the loop.”

“What was the lead?”

“I’ll get to that. Yesterday she called me. There was an envelope left on her doorstep.”

“What the fuck! Why the hell didn’t you tell me right away?” Dex stood up, glaring at Sam.

“Sit the fuck back down, Dawson.” Sam waited until he did. “You know exactly why I didn’t tell you. What were you going to do? Abandon the op and fly home?”

Dex ran his hands over his face. “What did it say?” His voice was calmer now.

Sam told him.

“Shit, they’re going after her to get to me. How the hell do they know who she is?”

“I don’t know, but I wasn’t taking any chances, so I brought her here.”

“What are we missing here? Me, I get. We already think it’s about an op.”

“They’ve been watching you. Probably saw you with her. Done their own digging. Or it’s someone you both know.”

Dex frowned. “It’s a small world.”

“Yeah, indicates whoever this is may know her, or both of you.”

“This is bullshit. How was she?”

“Pretty rattled. Considering what she’s been through, that’s no surprise. But she’s calmer now.”

Dex sighed. He’d kept her in the dark about the threats. Didn’t want her worried or involved. Turns out she was involved anyway.

“Thank you for making sure she was alright.” If Sam hadn’t been around, this could have been much worse. Dex really did need to work on this trusting thing.

“You’re welcome. And we will protect her, you know that.”

“I do. And I heard you loud and clear. I can’t promise we won't have another conversation, but I’ll do my best to toe the line a little better.”