"Absolutely Not."

Chapter 33: Stars

I was given three hours.

An ample amount of time for the adrenaline to begin pumping through every tiny vein, making my nerves feel as though they'd found themselves in a beehive, buzzing with anticipation.

To waste an hour of the time allotted, I probably had about two hours remaining after getting ready, I parked my ass on the mess hall counter with a cup of hot, lavender tea in between my twitching fingers, the tea bag stolen from Simon's stash. Not like I thought he'd mind me taking some of the flavor he liked the least out of his collection burrowed at the back of a cabinet.

I shifted my shoulders to acclimate a bit better to the bullet proof vest Price had given me weeks ago, unacquainted with the accessory just yet. As I sat sipping my tea, belly full of the brew and a heavy lunch, I relished in the silence with my booted heels bumping into the counter's wall being the only sound pervading the room.

"With medical clearing you as well you passing your exam with me, you'll be leaving in three hours to meet Alejandro at his base," Price had spoken across his desk as we sat in his office.

I gave him a small nod. "And you said earlier you had a lead on Graves? I'm assuming that this is still for that?"

"Mhm. Most of your debriefing will be with Alejandro, but what I can say is that he's been spotted near Las Almas, traveling between there and a new base he's bought."

"New base? In America or elsewhere?"

"Dunno. Maybe has multiple, but that's why we're having you go. We're gonna catch 'im, and we're gonna find out exactly what this git has been up to."

Something about Simon and I not being able to have a proper goodbye didn't settle well with me, but I chalked it up to the anxiety of the last time there was an extended amount of time between seeing one another.

The vapor swirled and disappeared into the air-conditioned room as I attempted to cool it down more than what the milk did.

I felt like I was half my age again, falling deeper in love with a man and wishing we could share a cup of tea together.

Fuck.

I truly was in over my head, huh.

"Who's goin' with me?" I asked, folding my interlaced hands atop my lap.

He answered with a watchful expression that awaited some sort of emotional response from me, "Jus' the pilot. Alejandro will compose a team that you'll join once you get there."

Just the pilot and me, then. I was to be alone with my thoughts, because I had a feeling the pilot wouldn't be much of a talker.

I looked down at my watch. Still an hour and forty-five minutes to go until my feet stepped into whatever aircraft would cause my stomach to sink to my ass.

Sighing, I made a mental note to ensure that I had all of the essentials: rations, knives, vest, helmet, bag, extra clothes, small first-aid kit. There was a very brief second when I contemplated leaving the phone Price had issued me, but I produced more cons than pros to that irrational plan.

Pros: Simon couldn't track me and thus, follow.

Cons: Simon couldn't track me, and I'd have to no way to contact anyone in case Comms went out.

So, in my back pocket it now lived.

Guilt threatened to choke me as I imagined how upset Simon would be once he found out I'd left and where I'd gone, but the overwhelming amount of vengeance pushed the self-reproaching emotion aside.