“As soon as I can possibly get there, I will. Right now, we’re doing surveillance, making sure we know as much as possible before we make our move.” He pauses for a second then chuckles.
“What?”
“You called the househome.”
I smile. He’s right; I guess I did. “Yes, well, it is my home now.”
“Hmmm,” he hums into the phone, “it sure is.”
I bite my lip and am about to tell him about our little creation when I hear him let out a long sigh.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s a first for me to be struggling with being in the field. Normally, I do my job with no distractions, but knowing you’re there without me…it’s hard to concentrate.”
Oh, God. I try to think quickly.
“Cole, listen to me. I am not leaving this house for any reason. I’m not running off, and I check in with Keith as often as possible. Please, please don’t worry about me. I’m fine. I just want you to concentrate on what you’re doing so you can come home to me safe and sound.” I squeeze my eyes shut. The topic of our baby is on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t do it. He’ll stress out that much more. “You made a promise to me, Cole.”
He clears his throat. “I did.” I hear someone talking in the background. “Savi, I have to go.” He pauses. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Cole.” I feel the tears spill over as the line goes dead. “…and I’m pregnant,” I whisper to the dial tone.
“Savi?” Keith sticks his head in the door. I hang up the phone but don’t get up. He moves into the room, watching me carefully.
“I need you to do something for me, Keith.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t tell him about me going to town today.”
“Savannah, he hasn’t asked yet, but if he does, I can’t lie.”
“You can’t tell him, Keith. He told me he can’t concentrate because he’s worried about me. I told him I’m not leaving the house. If you tell him, it will only make things harder for him.”
He shakes his head. “I can’t. You’re my friend, but he’s my boss. I—”
I stand and pull the ultrasound picture from my pocket and hand it to him.
He takes one look then glances at my stomach.
“Five weeks.” I smile, rubbing my belly.
“Oh, my God.”
“Keith, if he finds out I went to town, he’ll want to know why, and I can’t—not while he’s in danger out there.”
“Okay, I agree with you.” He comes around the desk and gives me a huge hug—picking me right off the ground. “I’m really happy for you guys. Wow.”
“Thanks,” I wheeze. “Can you put me back down?”
Cole
Cole folds his arm under his head and stares out the window of the abandoned house outside of town. His team has been holed up here all night since being forced to withdraw from their primary position. They are hunkered down to avoid detection, which leads to gaps in perimeter security. Through one such gap wanders the Cartel scout.
The boy is maybe ten years old and seems as surprised as Cole and his men when he comes upon the camp without warning.
Paul spots him first, but by the time Cole figures it out, the boy has already given the signal.