The Heart of Cars

Chapter 29

I stand there looking around my dad's office not really answering his question for a minute. "I...I want back in." They both look at me shocked and my dad opens his mouth and closes it a few times. "I can't sit around like this day after day. I'm going crazy already and I've only been back not even two days." Colton looks at me like he doesn't understand what I'm asking. "You just got out J."

"I know dad, but I can't stay at home...not with him and act like we don't hate each other."

"Did something happen?"

"Not exactly. Maybe I'm going crazy but he is hiding something."

"Hiding something like what?" I glance at Colton who looks uncomfortable and look back at my dad who is looking angry. "I'm not sure, something big. He is wearing too much body spray and acting funny."

"You think he is cheating?"

"Yes, I just don't know with who." I sit in a chair opposite to my dad's chair. "Do you really want back in or just away from Sam?"

"I'm not sure if I can differentiate the two right now." He nods slowly and sits down. He looks at Colton and I see him nod. "Jolene, I have a new assignment for Colton. That's why he is here today and if he would like you to, I think you could help him out a lot." I look over at Colton and see he looks like the room is closing in on him. "I think I should start with a different mission." I say watching Colton's body relax after I say that and I look back at my dad. "I think that you need to start with this one. Welcome back, Kid." I nod and look at Colton who is already heading out the door. "I'll be right back." I go out of the room and almost run into Colton. "You really should stop running after people."

"I'm sorry my dad stuck you with me again."

"It's not your fault. I just hoped I would get a reprieve of the rumors that we are sleeping together." I sigh and run my hand through my hair. I look at some soldiers that I don't know. "Can I help you?" I snap as the watch us like they know something that we don't. They say their apologizes and hurry off. I huff in annoyance and Colton chuckles. "What? Why are you laughing at me?"

"You just snapped at a couple of guys that weren't doing anything."

"They were looking at us funny." I say in defense of myself. "They were not."

"Yes they were!" I laugh at our argument and look at my dad's door. "I'll talk to him and get him to put me on something else so I'm someone else's problem." I turn and put my hand on the door when Colton tells me to not bother with it. "What do you mean?"

"I would like your help on this one. Your dad can fill you in. I'll meet you at your house tonight at 5:30, okay?"

"Yeah, if you don't mind running into Sam. He said he will be home around 5."

"Well, once we are working on this together he will have to get used to it." I nod and go into my dad's office. He looks up at me and smiles. "So, what's the mission?"

"There is a girl and she escaped maximum security prison about eight months ago. The king asked for Colton and his best soldiers specifically. We were going to ask you but you wanted out, or so we thought. I can't give out her name but I can tell you she is a red-head, she is a few inches taller than you, and she has a very bad temper. We can't figure out what her next move is or what she wants now that she is out. There have been countless other groups that have tried and failed. We can't afford to let anyone know what you are doing. You can't even tell Brittany or Sam." I nod and take a deep breath. "Got it. I'm meeting with Colton later tonight but who else is on the team?"

"You have only two others. One is the best at air support and the other is the best at bomb diffusion."

"Bomb diffusion? Is that what she is into?"

"Sadly, yes. You will meet them tomorrow at 0600 hours. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir." I nod my head and stand following my dad's example. He salutes me and, with pride, I salute him back before I turn around and leave his room. "Now I only have ten hours until my meeting with Colton." I walk down the hall and into the lobby to see the guys I snapped at talking to a group of soldiers and they were watching me intently. I roll my eyes and go out to my beautiful car.

*edited*