Finding the Way Back: A Stealth Ops Novel

by Sahin, Brittney

  She smiled and accepted it, then clutched it between her palms, a look of suspicion on her beautiful face. “Are you deflecting?”

  Absolutely. “Nope.” He tipped his chin and pointed to the remote. “Now sing.”

  He hoped his nerves would calm down the second her lips moved and she began to belt out a song in her so-bad-it-was-actually-good voice.

  He refilled their drinks and handed her the glass. “Cheers to our new jobs.”

  “So, you’re saying yes?”

  I am, right?

  Her green eyes thinned, and he couldn’t tell if she was worried or excited about the prospect he was leaving the Navy.

  He stared into her eyes and surrendered to a deep breath. “Yeah,” he said while clinking his glass to hers. “I’m saying yes.”

  Chapter One

  Washington, D.C. (2020)

  The Situation Room. It was the team’s first time there. And it scared the hell out of Knox it could also be their last.

  Knox sat at the long, oval table and studied the room, which was in the basement of the West Wing. Some of the most important moments in modern history had taken place in that very room, as evidenced by the snapshots occupying prime real estate on Google.

  POTUS had summoned the team to D.C. without telling them why, and since it hadn’t been a Get here now kind of summon, that meant it wasn’t op-related. But hell, no one needed the president to tell them why they were there. They knew.

  The election was in November, and Rydell was finishing his second term. There were two main candidates in the race, and to make things more complicated, one was Knox’s dad. Isaiah Bennett, the man who’d inherited a small fortune after leaving the military and turned his money into the kind of wealth even rich people dream of.

  “Your hand, babe, it’s trembling.” Jessica’s words carried everyone’s attention her way as she clasped Asher’s palm between hers.

  “No, it’s not.” Asher pulled his hand to his lap, and his throat moved with the mother of all swallows.

  “Shit.” Harper let out a breath like a whistle. “You’re worried.” She leaned back in her seat, sitting off to Asher’s left. “If the Big Guy is nervous, we’re screwed.”

  Harper was the newest addition to the team. She’d joined in May of last year, and wow, time had flown by since then. And now Jessica, who co-led the teams with her brother, Luke, was pregnant with Asher’s child.

  “We’ll be fine.” There was an eerie hollowness in Luke’s tone that hit Knox in the chest. “You okay?” He focused his attention on Owen off to this right.

  “Sam’s about to go into labor, so yeah, my plate is a bit maxed out on what I can digest right now,” Owen answered pretty damn honestly. “If her water breaks while we’re in here—”

  “You’ll get a police escort to the hospital,” Liam said to him. “Or fly out of here in POTUS’s chopper.”

  “Funny.” Owen gripped the chair arms.

  The man was about to become a father. First Luke, then Liam. And hell, now Jessica and Asher. Babies were popping up everywhere on Bravo Team.

  “Can we talk about something else?” There was a plea to Owen’s voice. “I need a distraction.”

  “How about Knox’s friend, a friend he’s kept a secret from all of us,” Wyatt spoke up.

  Knox’s heart raced. The about-to-swim-with-sharks kind of beats. A SEAL who hated oceans—there was a word for that, right?

  He had no idea what to say because he honestly had no answer to give them. He’d created a list of reasons in his mind to keep his work-life separate from Adriana, but he was afraid if he actually verbalized the list, he’d sound like a fool.

  “No clue who you’re talking about,” Knox joked to buy himself some time.

  “Yeah, sure. Elaina thinks she looks like Wonder Woman.” Liam’s smile stretched.

  The man beamed whenever he talked about his daughter. He was happy. So damn happy. And part of Knox wished he could have what Liam had, but was that possible?

  “Gotta give me more than that, brother. When Elaina dragged me up to see her poster collection last weekend, I was a bit overwhelmed. I can’t believe you let her plaster her bedroom walls with photos of guys.”

  Was this pathetic? His attempt at deflection? But really, what could he possibly say to a room full of his buddies, guys who’d lay their lives on the line for him, that’d make any sense?

  “Elaina thinks we’re secretly superheroes in real life, right?” A.J. took the bait. “Liam’s Thor. Then Chris over there is—”

  “You’re just jealous she doesn’t think you look like a superhero.” Chris stroked his dirty blond beard, his light green eyes creasing as his lips pulled into a grin.

  “Hell no. A cowboy in tights?” A.J. smoothed a hand over his white dress shirt, the sleeves rolled to the elbows.

  “Boys.” Jessica opened her arms wide, interrupting what could quickly become a laughable pissing match.

  “At least Wonder Woman is on her bedspread,” Liam announced after a beat. “Although she said she’s thinking about swapping Wonder Woman for Captain Marvel soon. She’s been schooling me on all the characters.”

  Knox drew up a picture of Wonder Woman in his head. Yeah, she reminded him of Adriana.

  Slightly wavy dark brown hair. Sculpted dark brows. High cheekbones and a killer smile that traveled to her gorgeous green eyes. There were similarities, but there was only one Adriana.

  Adriana could probably do the actress’s stunts in a movie, though. He’d talked her into learning Krav Maga back during his deployment days, and that training had come in handy when she’d become Secret Service.

  “So, how is that friend of yours?” Wyatt peered at Knox.

  And shit, he’d have to answer now.

  “And does she really have a boyfriend?” A.J. asked.

  Finally, a question he could answer. “She’s married to her job.” So, maybe he’d given Adriana a fake boyfriend when he’d introduced her at the barbecue last weekend. But, on principle, he hated everyone she dated, and he’d prefer not to have to hate his friends. Or kill them.

  “Who are you guys talking about?” Luke asked. “I’m lost.”

  Right. Luke and Eva had been in Hollywood during the barbecue, so he hadn’t met Adriana. His wife was Hollywood royalty. Her background, all the cameras and attention, were a no-no for Special Forces guys, but Luke had fallen in love. Hit the ground face-first.

  “We’re talking about the friend Knox brought to Liam and Emily’s. A friend who was gazing at Knox with stars in her eyes,” Harper said in a singsong voice. “At least, that’s what Elaina told me. But I agree with her, and I do have a knack for reading people.”

  “That’s in our job description.” A.J. angled his head to catch Harper’s eyes. “We can all do that.”

  Harper could joke all she wanted, but if Elaina saw something . . . well, the kid was the closest thing to a psychic in his eyes.

  Goose bumps greeted his skin, and he tugged at his shirt sleeves to hide the evidence. He didn’t need to get ridiculed by his buddies.

  “Guys.” Luke looked toward the now opening door.

  President Rydell entered the room alone, his detail waiting in the hall as instructed.

  Thinking about Adriana getting assigned as the president’s Secret Service detail someday had his stomach protesting the black coffee he’d had earlier.

  As was the customary show of respect, and in their case a requirement, the team rose from their seats to greet POTUS.

  “Sit, please.” Rydell positioned himself at the head of the table and leaned forward, clasping his hands together.

  His silver hair was slicked back and parted to the side, and his tan skin creased even more as he surveyed every team member at the table, a grim look crossing his face.

  “What’s wrong, Mr. President?” Luke spoke up, and thank God because a Colorado-sized boulder had begun to obstruct Knox’s airway.

  “I’m afraid your mission a few week
s ago might be your last,” he said, his tone somber. “I’m coming up on the final months of my presidency, and I’m not sure if the team can continue under another president.”

  The world should’ve stopped at that moment. At his words.

  But it kept rotating right the fuck around.

  Because they’d been anticipating the news.

  Luke rose to his feet. “Can’t we finish out the year?”

  That’d been the part no one had expected. Bravo and Echo to be done now. Like as in to-damn-day.

  Rydell leaned back in the leather chair. “We have a few problems on our hands,” he began. “If Jefferson Lyle wins the White House, not only will he dismantle your team in a heartbeat, he’ll expose everything we’ve ever done.”

  Would they be called murderers for operating without legal authority, even though they’d been protecting their country? End up in prison or on death row?

  They’d be kidding themselves to claim ignorance to how Congress, maybe even the American people, could perceive their work.

  Vigilantes? War criminals?

  The list could go on and on.

  “Aside from the fact Lyle’s calling for a drastic reduction in military spending if elected—why else do you think he’s dangerous to us?” Jessica asked, her voice remaining calm despite the impending storm.

  “Lyle served on the Intelligence Committee with me before I became president. A covert off-the-books group had been proposed, and the conversation had been tabled and fast.”

  “Because of him?” Luke asked.

  “Most of the committee was certain an off-the-books group couldn’t maintain a life in the shadows, that their exposure would be inevitable. They worried about funding, too.” He paused for a moment. “Lyle also mentioned rumors of black ops groups existing under previous administrations during the Cold War days. Groups that’d gone sideways. He believed it imperative that any and all operations go through the proper channels.”

  So, a Lyle win would destroy us no matter what.

  “Lyle’s VP nom, Leslie Renaldo, may not be opposed to the teams,” Rydell said. “However, we’d be shooting ourselves in the foot if we go straight to her and leave Lyle out of the loop, so . . .”

  “Sir, if I may?” Knox stood and bared his knuckles to the table. “Even if my father wins, we’ll most likely face another set of challenges.”

  “You may be right.” Rydell nodded. “Your father is former military. An advocate for a strong and healthy American defense. He already has my endorsement for president.” He let go of a hard breath. “But I have no idea how he’d react if he discovered the existence of Bravo and Echo, especially since his own son is on the team.”

  Knox’s father hadn’t wanted him to join the Navy. He’d changed his mind over the years, but had it changed enough to get him on board with his current line of work? He wasn’t so sure.

  “We’ve done a lot of good work in the last seven and a half years,” Jessica said, her voice cracking as if she were on the verge of tears. Pregnancy hormones, maybe? “But I was hoping to do even more. And then train others to take our places when we’re done.”

  “You have Scott and Scott,” Rydell said as if they’d forgotten. “Your agency has done some admirable work, too. You can still help people.”

  Four weeks ago, Bravo and Echo Teams had fast-roped into an old communist compound in Panama and taken out a man who’d been responsible for wiping out villages of people in his own country. They did make a difference. They wouldn’t conduct ops like that for Scott & Scott.

  “No.” Knox pounded the desk, forgetting the room, the audience. “If my dad wins, and I have to leave so you all can stay together and keep working, I’ll do it.” He wouldn’t hesitate. Whatever was best for the teams, for the nation, he’d do in a heartbeat.

  “There’s no Bravo without you, brother.” Liam’s Aussie accent thickened. “We stay together.”

  “Agreed,” Chris said right after.

  “I’m gone, if you’re gone,” Roman, one of the quietest guys on Echo, spoke up.

  Knox proceeded to move his gaze slowly around the table, falling on Jessica’s face last.

  “I know you and your father reconnected not too long ago . . . what’s your take on how he’d handle the news that you’re part of a not-so-legal covert team of operatives?” Rydell asked.

  He straightened and unclenched his fists, allowing his arms to fall to his sides, allowing gravity to grab hold of all of him like an anchor so he could stand firm.

  He’d only started speaking with his old man again because the team had needed him to for an operation, but things had improved between them since then. He’d even gone to a few family dinners at his mother’s request. Of course, he’d forced Adriana to go with him to make it bearable. But would his father authorize the continuation of Bravo and Echo Teams, especially with Knox on Bravo?

  He let go of a sigh. “I could feel him out. Join the campaign trail, maybe?”

  “I can’t imagine you playing dress-up in a shirt and tie and touring with your old man.” Owen scratched his trimmed beard, studying him. “No way.”

  “It’d be for the good of the team,” Jessica said in her low don’t-cross-me tone. “To keep us together.”

  And that shut up Bravo Two, but was Owen right?

  Could Knox find his way back to that life again? The life of walking on eggshells as the son of a politician, never knowing who was watching or listening?

  He’d been off the grid so long he’d hoped the media had forgotten about him.

  He’d have to put himself in front of the public eye again. Would the teams get dragged into the limelight, too?

  Shit. What choice did he have, though?

  “What do we know about the polls?” Harper’s question carried his focus to her. “It’s almost September. Is Bennett a front-runner?”

  He doubted Harper paid attention to the news, same as Knox and the rest of the guys. They didn’t serve a political party. They didn’t have to play political footsie to get things done. They served the American people, even if the people didn’t know about it.

  “Isaiah Bennett’s got a ten-point lead, but we can’t be certain of anything until November,” the president responded.

  Rydell had been worried enough to assemble them in the Situation Room, so he had to have a pessimistic view of the future for the teams.

  “Maybe head home, spend some time with your families. Stay low-key for now, and we’ll touch base in a few weeks.” Rydell looked at Owen. “You have a baby on the way.” He shifted his focus to Jessica and Asher. “And shouldn’t you two get married already?”

  Asher and Jessica exchanged a quick look. “Maybe we could . . . I mean, we’re going to have a baby, so . . .”

  “You’re pregnant?” Rydell’s eyes widened. “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you, Mr. President.” A soft blush crawled up her cheeks, and her hand slipped to her abdomen, even though she wasn’t showcasing a bump yet at six weeks.

  “We’ll figure this out,” the president said, unable to hide the uncertainty in his tone. “Enjoy your lives for a bit, and we’ll—”

  “This is our life,” Finn interrupted.

  “He’s right.” Chris stood. “This is my life. The teams. The missions.”

  No one on Echo—not Wyatt, A.J., Chris, Roman, or Finn, had girlfriends or wives. They didn’t have daughters or sons to go home to when they walked out of this room.

  Everyone on Bravo could still look at the glass half full if they had to, even Knox because he had Adriana, but Echo . . . it’d kick the wind out of their pipes to go back to civilian life.

  The president opened his mouth to respond, but a series of urgent knocks at the door silenced him. “Come in.”

  Knox pivoted to find White House Chief of Staff Coleman entering the room.

  “Mr. President, we have a situation,” he announced straight away.

  “This is the Situation Room,” Chris said in his lame a
ttempt at a joke.

  “What’s wrong?” Rydell stood and circled the table.

  “There was an assassination attempt on Isaiah Bennett.”

  Knox’s stomach dropped. His skin grew clammy. His entire world shifted. “What?” He’d mouthed the word, his voice refusing to participate.

  “Everyone’s okay,” Coleman rushed out.

  “Maybe you should have led with that,” Rydell grumbled. “What the hell happened?”

  Coleman’s eyes widened when he spotted Knox. “You’re the senator’s son.” His gaze returned to the president. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was in here.”

  The president waved his hand in the air, telling him to calm down. “Tell us what happened. You can speak in front of them.”

  The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. Sweat trickled down the sides of his face as if he’d sprinted from the other side of the building to get there. “Bennett was leaving a campaign rally at an arena in Charlotte. Two shots were fired. The first shot is estimated to have been an inch from hitting”—he focused on Knox again—“your mom. She was right next to your dad.”

  “My mom?” It was one thing for his father to put his life on the line in his efforts to obtain power, but he’d be damned if his mom got hurt because of him. “You said two shots.”

  “One of your father’s bodyguards shielded your parents as the second shot was fired. He was wearing a vest, so the guy’s fine,” Coleman explained. “I’m so sorry.”

  “We didn’t get the shooter?” Rydell asked, a dark grit underlining his tone.

  “Not yet,” he answered. “Agents are swarming the area. The shots were fired from the hotel across the street.”

  “I’m betting the shooter has two first names,” A.J. said casually. “They always do.”

  “Says the guy with two first names,” Asher responded.

  Jessica shot both men her signature look that threw daggers—a silent, Shut up.

  “Aren’t the two-named guys usually framed? A conspiracy?” Harper noted, clearly missing Jessica’s warning shot.

  But hell, their back-and-forth had allowed him a second to control his thoughts. His breathing. “I need to go to Charlotte.”