Free with You

Chapter 5: Mission De-brief

Max POV

“I hardly think that’s fair,” I try to show Sam my disappointment through the encrypted video call, “—this was supposed to be OUR mission, you…and me.”

“I thought you wanted me to find closure? If so, I gotta do it on my own,” Sam says with her signature smirk.

I feel time slow down as she brushes her long black silky hair over her petite frame. She leans back on the seat of the private jet, turning her head to look out the window as the sun gleams onto her beautiful soft profile. The sun’s bright rays cause her heavy lashes to lower over her adorable brown eyes.

After three years, she’s still got her heart shaped face, a perfectly warm complexion. She’s also got a fade of light freckles on her cheeks, a dainty nose, and thickly defined eyebrows.

Her Japanese genes have been her blessing and my curse. I can never forget those raw pink lips.

Just seeing her for the first time in three years, that day at the dog park, had blood rushing down to my c**k. I tried so hard to hide it, but at the same time, I was kind of hoping she might feel it when I hugged her.

But as always, Sam insists on dressing as a man. She covers herself in a boxy oversized white T-shirt, combat pants, and a tactical watch. She is and has always been ready for attack-mode, but I know under those clothes, she’s probably got a banging body.

Jesus christ…

I need to stop thinking dirty or she’ll notice.

“Fine, but you are to update me at 0100 hrs on the daily. If I don’t hear from you, I’m flying there straight away,” I say with as neutral a tone as possible. I’m even surprised at how professional I can sound despite my thoughts being elsewhere…

“You got it boss, I won’t miss a beat” she says like a soldier following orders.

I instinctively cringe, when I see that our relationship hasn’t surpassed the friendzone level—after all these years too…

What’s with this woman?

She can’t see all the glory, that is me?

I usually have no trouble picking up women based on my looks and status. But the one woman I’ve always wanted is the one I can’t seem to grab.

I tried to give her space, after Colin’s death, you know, to give her time to mourn.

To move on.

THREE f*****g YEARS I’ve waited.

I couldn’t stay in the shadows for much longer. I needed to force memories of Colin out of her, if she wasn’t going to do it on her own.

That guy “was” my best friend, but after his betrayal of blatantly seducing my woman, I knew that I needed to do something to get him out of the picture…

It seems I’ve been in a daze the last few minutes, because she waves her hands through the screen.

“Max, uh didn’t you call to give me a debrief on the mission?” Sam says in a questioning tone.

“Right,” I clear my throat.

“I’m sending you in to gain intel on the main players of a trade deal between Mexico and Japan. We’ve already got a team of intelligence that’s been working with members of the cartel, but they’re posing as Yakuza disguised as normal traders. We’ve sent them the letter of intent and our proof of funds, but the cartel has asked time and time again, to meet in person at the loading dock in Manzanillo—before they sign the full corporate offer. They don’t fully trust that we’re real. We needed someone believable to pose as Yakuza, and well, you fit the description pretty well,” I say with a wide grin.

“So in other words, you want me to babysit cargo, port to port, and report on who the boss is, their main members, and what type of drug they’re smuggling over?” Sam says with a look like she’s thinking it through.

Her soft cheek lands on the back of her small hand, a thin strand of her hair falling on her nose, that she puffs out of the way. I’m about to lose it with how cute she looks.

“Correct, but we’ll make the arrests of those on board, as soon as you’re safely off the vessel. It’ll land at the Port of Tokyo 17 days after departing. I’ll personally come pick you up there,” I can see she’s now shifting in her seat uncomfortably like she’s confused at what I just said. Her eyebrows are knitted together.

“What is it now?” I ask her.

“You want me to just report names but not get in on the action of making arrests? You must be out of your mind,” she says rolling her eyes and sitting up straight with her hands slapping the arm rests.

“I don’t want to argue about this, Sam, I don’t want you caught in the crossfire when the shooting starts. Your mission is to gain intel,” I demand, because I know where this is heading.

Sam is making this a suicide mission, because she can’t take the guilt of losing Colin.

But I’m not about to lose Sam.

“You’re much too valuable to me…” I blurt out softly, but I can tell she’s not having that.

“Look Max, I like to see my missions through. That means I personally get to put away the criminals that I find. No one is going to stop me,” she says with her own stubborn resolution, crossing her arms like a child.

God help me, this woman is going to be the death of me.

I rub my eyes with my index finger and thumb, pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration. I let out a sigh I’ve been holding in.

“We’ll see Sam. Remember to update me.” I finally say, before I press the red button on our call.

She’s probably pissed, but I didn’t want to hear her rebuttal on why I need her safe.

One day she’s going to be my wife and pop out our kids. I need her back alive…just without another man on her mind.

I put my phone down on my desk, glancing out the floor length windows of my NY office that sits on the top floor of a skyscraper overlooking the city.

I shift the top of my pants to control the hardness she’s caused once again. I can’t seem to control her or myself, when she’s in the picture. I sigh internally.

Suddenly my desk phone rings and I press the button to answer.

“Deputy Director Petrov, you’ve got a call on Line 1,” my secretary says professionally.

“Tell them I’ll call them later. Right now, I need to unwind,” I say while loosening my tie. There’s a silence like she’s asking who is on the other line.

“Respectfully Sir, you’ll want to take this—It’s from the warden of El Hongo.”