Generations Beyond

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Virginia

Alex’s plane landed at Reagan thirty minutes prior to her making it to the gate. She got to the parking garage, helmet in hand and a canvas bag slung over her shoulder, when her phone rang. She wore a pair of jeans that had seen better days, letting dark skin peek out at her knees and thighs, along with a baby doll tee that hugged her curves. The ringing phone was in her back pocket. She stopped to fish it out before continuing on toward her bike.

“Hey, Z,” she said in a casual tone.

“Alex,” Zak’s voice on the other end of the line said in that rich, deep, tone of his. “Nice to have you back.”

“It’s always good to be home,” she said, smiling. “What’s up?”

“Flight late?” he asked though the background noise of the bar.

“Kinda,” she said, reaching her bike and straddling it, “slow to the gate. We landed fifteen early. Go figure, right? Hold on a sec, Z,” she put the helmet on and turned on a switch, activating the Bluetooth in the helmet. When she heard the chime and the noise from the bar again, she continued, “Getting on the bike now, Hon. Need anything while I’m out?”

“Nah, check-in’. We’ll chat about our friends when you get back. See you in thirty?”

She glanced at the time on the phone before sliding it into its fitted holster. “Yeah, thirty should do ’er. Unless traffic is a bitch. I’ll let you know if I’m gonna be late. Later, Hon.”

“Bye, Lex, drive safe. See you at my place.” The line clicked dead. Alex started the bike, allowed it to warm up, dropped into first gear, and headed toward the bar. She knew the drive down the GW took a half hour in the pre-rush hour traffic, assuming she cut corners between stopped cars. Safe had varying meanings based on the circumstance, of course.

She allowed herself a moment to wonder how Jonathan and Christina were doing as she rolled into the parking lot at the Alexandria House off Madison where she owned a condo. Zak owned one in the same building.

Her condo was sterile. A lot like Christina’s old apartment on base; Alex recognized the parallel. Was that what made her feel so close to Blondie, or something else? Regardless, Alex’s condo held the bare essentials. There was furniture, but nothing ornate; everything was done in the modern style with hard lines and metallic accents. The exception was the bed in her room.

Alex stripped to ebony skin and tossed her clothes onto the pillow top. She felt liberated with the feel of air on her skin and she hesitated enough to get her fill for a moment before grabbing a pair of panties and leggings from her drawers to go with the sports bra.

She had his key, like he had a key to her place, so she used it and walked in as if she owned the place. “Honey,” she called, “I’m home.” She smiled, closed the door and locked it, and kicked off her heels by the door to walk on the tile hallway with bare feet.

“Living room, lass,” Zak’s bass answered her call, guiding her through a condo that was more homey than her’s.. “There she is,” he said with a grin as she came into view.

“In the flesh,” she answered, returning his grin with her own softer version. Zak muted the television and stood when she walked in welcoming her with a big grizzly hug like always. “Miss me, teddy bear?”

He chuckled at the name. “Always do, Lexigirl.” Alex gave him a kiss on the cheek before sitting in her favorite overstuffed chair. Zak sat in his usual spot on the sofa.

“Everything run smooth while I was away?” she asked him, propping her feet on the matching ottoman in front of her and crossing her ankles as she nestled back into the chair’s embrace.

“Yeah. Had one of the vendors try to short me a case of scotch, but I smacked him around a good one,” the big man shrugged. Zak wore an outfit you would expect to see on a mafia don, nice pinstripe slacks and a button-up with a vest, but he didn’t look as imposing; at least to her. “He’s comping the entire shipment and going to bring two cases next time to make up for it.”

The way he talked, he sounded proud of himself. “As long as he’s back in line,” she said. “Need to audit everything he’s done and double check all the future stuff. And I’ll have another chat with him next week.” She closed her eyes and let out a slow breath.

“Bah,” Zak waved her off, “ya won’t listen to me, but leave it.”

“Jonny and Christina are settling in,” she said, switching gears. “I didn’t stay long. Wanted to get back home.” She shrugged. “They’re in good hands. I can get a message to them if you want.” She looked at him.

“Let the kids be,” he said, with a slight shake of his head. “I’m glad they’re safe. How’s Blondie taking the whole brother dying thing?”

“Hard to say,” she said, “she seemed pretty good, but that doesn’t mean she was. That girl bottles up too much shit for too long.” She sighed.

“Jonathan’s up there with her, Alex. I’m sure he can help her through it.”

“Oh, he’ll try. I know that. Those two are so far in love it’s sick.” she laughed at the thought of the pair of them up there in a cabin together. “They don’t even know it, Z.”

Zak chuckled and eyed Alex for a moment. “Jealous, girlie?”

Her eyes snapped to Zak. “Me?” she asked, feigning indifference. “Nah. Jonny had his chance at this.” She gestured toward herself. “He likes the lighter side now.” She smirked and looked out the glass door and beyond Zak’s balcony to the skyline across the river. “He’s too far spec ops now, anyway. You know those grunts and how they get.” She shrugged it off and glanced back to Zak. “I hope they get a chance to settle down after all this. That girl’s still messed up from the bullshit she went thought.”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “They deserve the break. Think they’re gonna take it, or keep pushing?”

“If Jonathan gets to make the call, they’ll lie low for a while.” She frowned and leaned her head back against the soft, high, back of the chair. “But if Christina makes the decision, they’ll be back out inside a week.”

“Don’t think he can rein her in?” Zak frowned, as well. “From what you told me she needs more rest than she’s getting.”

“Yeah, but she’s a stubborn thing.” Alex laughed. “I’m surprised she rested any time at all. It was a chore to get her to eat and take care of herself instead of getting lost in their mission.”

“You’d think that Jonathan would have a better handle on that.” Zak shrugged. “But not. Love does crazy things.”

“True that, Z.” She shook her head. “True that.” Alex stood from her chair and adjusted her top. Zak stood with her.

“You heading home?” he asked with arms open for her to walk into, “Or you going out?”

With a contented smile, Alex folded into his warm hug. “I’m gonna go lounge on my balcony. It ain’t a half bad day, Z, and I wanna be lazy. I might read something.” She shrugged, extracting herself from the hug. “Need anything before I check out for the rest of the day?”

“Nah, doll. I’m good.” He smiled after her as she meandered out of the living room back toward the front door.

“Alright, Hon. Call if you need me.” She smiled and gave him a finger wave before slipping out.