Single Lady Spy 01 - The End of Me

she wants the family evac'd. She wants them out now… tonight. No. She wants them in a safe house… out of country. I’m thinking Canada, or even Alaska. Find a fishing lodge, or something the kids can have fun at, and they can blend. Something where we can post people and make them look like part of the resort. I want this to be handled by Martin's team." He paced, still holding his hand on the top of his head.
    My frantic eyes searched him for signs of body language. In the tiny space between his t-shirt and jeans I could see his stomach. I wasn’t certain if the tattoo on his side, which dipped into his pants, suited him or not. It was sexy and fun looking, whereas he seemed like an asshole most of the time. His face was a storm of repressed fury. He reminded me of my dad a bit.
    He snapped a finger in front of my face when he caught me looking him over, and continued to speak into the phone quietly, "I want the jet ready and directions to be disclosed in the air like with the MacLean case. The pilots will be at the resort with them the entire time. No leaks this time. Make sure it’s some place we own, sheriffs and whatnot as employees. Don’t even mess with me, Mickey. I got your wife on speed dial. Yeah, fuck you too. See ya, man."
    I frowned and mouthed, "This time."
    He shook his head at me and snarled. I glared back.
    "Done." He tapped the off and pointed at me, "Don't fuck with me. I run this show; I tell you how it goes. No more stunts."
    I swallowed and looked away, seeing the anger on his face I decided then that he didn’t suit the tattoo. Cute and flirty Coop was not consistent enough to suit the sexy tat.
    He leaned into my face and shouted, "I mean it, Evie!" His nostrils flared when he was angry.
    I flinched at his rage. He softened when he saw my face, "What time did the card say?"
    I felt a strong desire to kick him in the face. I hadn't been yelled at like that, since I was in basic training. I looked down at the floor and took a breath.
    He dropped to his knees in front of me, "I shouldn’t have yelled," he brushed it off.
    I scowled at him, "You're single aren't you?"
    He chuckled, but it wasn't friendly, it was sort of bitter. "You're not really my type. I get the whole cougar thing is huge, but I'm not into it. I like it when I'm on top and all you forty-types always want to steer."
    My hand flew at him, he caught it and gave me an outraged look, "What was that for?"
    I yanked my hand from him, "I'm not a cougar! I'm not forty! I wasn’t hitting on you, you moron, I was mocking you!" I got off the bed and walked out of the room looking back at him with daggers.
    "Little bastard," I muttered and stomped down the stairs.

Chapter Five - From Ma'am to Madam

    Kissing my kids goodbye wasn't painful, it was too much pain to only measure with human emotions and words.
    A thousand times I wanted to jump into the van in the garage.
    A thousand times I wanted to hold them to me and beg the men getting into the van with them to take me too.
    A thousand times a bad thought filled my mind, and all I saw were horrid images of my vulnerable babies.
    Mom kissed me and shook her head, "Be strong, safe and fast." She kissed the tip of my nose. My eyes watered. It was what she always said to my dad when he left. My mom was a military wife. She knew, at any given time, my dad's work could make her life painful. She knew it, all too well. She loved it when he got too high to go on mission anymore.
    I looked into the van and crossed my arms. Thankfully, my kids were confused enough that they didn’t ask too many questions. I had already explained that it was a military thing for the men to ride with them, as an honor to their fallen father. They did it for every fallen family.
    I took both their hands in mine and spoke softly, “Daddy had it in his will that we were all to take a vacation, if he ever died. He didn’t want us to be sad or heartbroken. He wanted us to be happy and remember him. We are going to take that vacation, like he made in his last dying wish. Grandma is going to go ahead with you and I’m going to stay behind and deal with the rest of his stuff. I love you both.”
    Mitch shook his head, “I don’t want to go.”
    I gave him my look for ‘I don’t give a rat’s ass’. “Mitch, this is your father’s dying wish. We have no choice but to respect it.”
    He cocked an eyebrow at me, making me snap, “Behave for Grandma or I burn the electronics.”
    Mom climbed into the