by Stewart, Anna J. ; Sasson, Sophia; Carpenter, Beth; Jensen, Muriel
Alessa and Rodgers sat in uncomfortable silence. They usually had an easy rapport, especially after he had helped her with Julia, but things seemed different now. He cleared his throat. “Parrino, I’ve been meaning to say something.”
Alessa stiffened. His tone and the fact that he wouldn’t meet her eyes told her she wasn’t going to like what he had to say.
“I’m not judging, and I don’t mean to get in your business, but I think you should stay away from Luke.”
Her face reddened. “You’re right. It is none of your business.”
He held up his hands. “I’m not going to say anything to anyone about it. I’m only thinking of your career. I thought we had an understanding stateside.”
“Rodgers, you know my career is the only thing I have. I’m not going to jeopardize it. For anything.” She meant it and he must have heard the sincerity in her voice because he nodded.
“That’s all I needed to hear. Luke is not totally himself around you, and we need him focused on this mission. Especially now.”
“What’re you trying to say?”
“I’m saying it’s obvious he has feelings for you and I worry that his judgment is off when he’s around you.”
Alessa crossed her arms. “I think he’s done a good job as commander, given the circumstances.”
“Yeah, but…look, Parrino, it’s not just me that sees it. The guys were saying he’s different around you.”
“So the whole team is talking about me now?” Her mouth soured.
“We’re looking out for you. This is going to stay within the unit. I just… Well, the guys wanted me to say something before things got out of hand. At the end of the day, he’s the unit commander, we do what he says and there’s no scenario where this is a good thing. We’re just looking out for you. You know how it is in the army, it’s never the commanders who get reprimanded.”
Alessa knew discussing this further would just make her madder. The guys were talking about her and Luke and making it seem like she was responsible for anything between them. This was how it had started with Aidan, too. A few people saw them together and that was how the rumors had started. And she’d been the one to suffer the consequences. The guys were right about that: if her relationship with Luke became public, despite his reputation, she’d bear the brunt of the reprisals.
Rodgers began checking the balcony so he could make his exit. Alessa didn’t blame him. This was the most awkward conversation they’d ever had. How was she supposed to look any of them in the eyes now?
She stayed up for a little while longer reviewing reports, then gave up waiting for Luke and went to bed in the early morning hours.
She woke to Luke stroking her cheek.
“What are you looking at?” she asked, smiling. It was nice waking up to him.
“I want to see you every morning” he said.
She didn’t hesitate. “Me, too. But Luke…” Sitting up, she bit her lip. “Rodgers warned me against getting too close to you.”
Luke took a sharp breath. “When?”
“Yesterday.”
“We’ll be careful. In a few weeks, all this won’t matter. I think we’re getting close with the target. We have a new location from that guard you took out.”
“But what happens when we get back home?” she asked.
“Then we think about how we want to live our lives,” he said easily. “For example, we can decide if we want children.”
She froze. “Children? Do you want kids?”
“I’m not sure.”
She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. “Oh, thank God! Neither am I. I was afraid you were going to say you want a dozen.”
“I’ve never really thought about it seriously, but you know what? I might not mind a brat or two. Maybe a little brown-eyed girl like you?” he said.
She smiled, “Hmm, brown is boring. Maybe a little blue-eyed boy.” The thought of having a son who looked like Luke warmed her heart and once again she considered what it might be like to have a family with Luke. To have a home to call her own, a family to love, a safe place to live.
“I guess we’ll just have to experiment to find out,” he murmured, nuzzling her neck. She savored the feel of his warm breath across her skin.
“Well, don’t start making too many plans. If I stay with the unit, I can’t exactly take a lot of time off for maternity leave. I may be gone a lot. You sure you want to stay at home changing diapers?”
He stilled, then lifted his head. She turned so she was looking right into his eyes. “It’s a hard life for a kid, having a parent away all the time.” He swallowed and dropped his eyes. “Would you ever consider leaving the army?” he asked.
Would I? She’d never thought about the prospect of Luke at home with children while she was out in combat. What was the point of having a family if she didn’t get to spend time with them? She’d seen other men and women in combat who had young children. Their hearts were always at home. Do I really want a family enough to give up everything I’ve worked for?
“No. The army is the only thing I’ve ever known that makes sense. Right now, this seems like such a beautiful dream, but it’s not real. I can’t picture the day-to-day.”
Luke took her hand and kissed her palm. Every nerve in her body sent delicious flutters up and down her spine. This had never happened with Aidan. While Aidan had made her feel warm and fuzzy, Luke made her feel… loved. He made her feel safe and secure. Like she could drop her guard and just be free to enjoy the moment.
“How about we take it one day at a time. The only decision we need to make right now is whether we make tea or try the instant coffee.”
She smiled at him. “Definitely tea.”
“I’ll make it. You stay here.”
She threw the covers off. “Actually, I think I’m going to get dressed. I feel really good today—I’ll come with you.”
She swung her legs over the bed and stood.
“Parrino.”
His tone made her stop. She turned.
“Oh, come on. You’re going to bench me again today?”
“You hit your head on top of a shoulder fracture. Take a day off.”
“I would if I were in an office job sitting and typing away at a computer. But we’re in theatre. I can’t afford to sit on my thumbs.” Before he could say anything, she went on. “Besides, I’m not seriously injured—no worse than coming back from a rough patrol. Dimples got hit by a cyclist the other day. Soldiers get roughed up. It’s part of the job.”
Luke seemed like he was about to protest, then thought better of it. “Fine, but you stick close to me.” He stood and pulled her into his arms. Her face flamed at the intense look he gave her.
“I won’t have anything happen to you. Just promise me you won’t take any unnecessary risks. I’ve already lost the two women I’ve ever loved in my life. I can’t afford to lose you, too.”
Tears stung her eyes at the pain and raw love in his voice.
He bent his head and kissed her. A slow kiss that filled her so completely that it made her want to believe in happily ever after.
He groaned as his phone vibrated in his pocket, startling both of them. It was his burner phone, which he used when he needed to give his number to a local. Frowning, he clicked the answer button and listened for a few minutes.
“Okay, where are you?”
Alessa strained her ears but couldn’t hear who was on the other end.
“Stay there. I’m on my way.”
He stabbed the end button, then looked at Alessa. “That was Reza.”
Luke could have bowled her over with a feather, but once she processed his words, it all made sense. “You gave him your number in case he needed help.” It had bothered her that he’d been so quick to abandon Reza and Amine.
“I left it on a slip of paper in his hand.”
“Where are they?”
“Not far. Amine’s family has found them and he’s freaking out. I think it’s best I go alone.”
Alessa shook her head. She was already moving toward the bathroom. Her clothes were rumpled but clean; all she needed to do was wash her face and pin a scarf over her hair. “I’m coming with you,” she yelled over her shoulder.
She came out less than two minutes later, but Luke was already gone.
Standing in the middle of the room, she spun on her heels, as if expecting him to pop out of a corner. She was stunned. How could he just leave her like that without any discussion? Then it hit her. He could do what he wanted; he was the commanding officer, a man who gave orders. And she was the subordinate who was supposed to follow them. How could she expect to have any kind of partnership with him when he was used to bossing her around, ignoring what she had to say?
The answer was she couldn’t.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
LUKE FELT TERRIBLE leaving Alessa behind like that, but he had no idea what he might find with Reza and Amine and he didn’t want Alessa to take any more risks than necessary. He knew she had a connection to Amine, so he didn’t want to bring her in until he had a better sense of what was going on. He knew he should have talked to her rather than just leaving, but he suspected she would have talked him into bringing her along.
The place was close enough that he walked rather than take the motorcycles the team had purchased to get around town. It was an apartment complex with the same design as the one the team was staying at. He found the number Reza had given him and knocked. A small boy wearing a salwar kameez and vest opened the door. Luke blinked, trying to formulate the words to ask for Reza, when the man appeared. Reza shooed the boy away, then extended his hand. Luke went to shake Reza’s hand but he pulled Luke into a half hug. Luke smiled.
“I am so glad you came, my friend—I did not know who else to call.” Reza’s face was etched with worry lines.
“Tell me what’s going on. Is Amine okay?”
Reza nodded. “This apartment belongs to a childhood friend. He was here years ago, before the Taliban took over in Afghanistan.” He looked around, and noticing the little boy standing in the corner, told him to go make tea. “That’s their son. They’re not home right now—Amine went with them to buy necessities.” Reza lowered his voice. “My friends are good people but they do not want trouble.”
“What happened?”
“Some men showed up at the door yesterday. By God’s grace Amine and I were in the market helping my friend’s wife with the shopping. These men came barging in and searched his house looking for me and Amine, then told my friend to call them if we showed up. I think they threatened him.”
“Who were they?”
“The best I can tell from asking around is that they are hired goons. They work for whoever pays them money. It is probably the uncle of Amine’s husband. He lives in the area.” Reza’s expression was pleading. “We need a safe place to stay.”
It wasn’t that Luke couldn’t find a safe house for them. It didn’t have to meet operational standards, just needed to be something Amine’s family wouldn’t connect them to. But he didn’t need yet another complication on this mission. He had to focus on finding Ethan and keeping the team safe.
“I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, stay here. They’re probably going to every single relative’s house. Since they’ve already been here, it’ll be a day or two before they come around to check again.”
“I will try to convince my friend of this. He is too gracious to ask us to leave, but I do not wish to impose on his friendship.”
“You have no choice,” Luke said dryly. He’d do his best to help Reza but he needed a day to find him a safe house.
The little boy came into the room carrying two steaming glasses of tea. Luke was about to take the cups when the sound of screams broke through the usual city noises. Luke was at the door a second before Reza. The apartment complex was in a familiar U shape with a balcony on each floor facing into a courtyard. A crowd had gathered around a car in the courtyard below, and Luke watched two men stuff a burka-clad woman into the back seat. From her size and shape, Luke was sure it was Amine. He raced down the stairs with Reza close on his heels.
The car screeched out of the courtyard. Luke had walked over and regretted not bringing his motorcycle. He ran behind the car, which had tinted windows and no license plate, looking for something he could use for transportation. Despite nearly running people over, the car wasn’t able to go more than a few miles per hour through the traffic-logged streets, and Luke was able to keep it in sight as he ran. But once they hit the main road, the car picked up speed. The gap between them increased.
“I’ve got them!” came a shout and Luke turned to see Alessa on a motorcycle whizzing past him in a blur of pink.
A fresh shot of adrenaline propelled him to run faster, but it was no use. Once the car got up to speed, he quickly lost them. Heart racing, he turned to see Reza had kept up. Huffing, the young man leaned over, putting his hands on his hips.
“Did you recognize any of those men?”
Reza shook his head. He coughed out each word. “Never…seen…them.”
Think, Luke. Think. He should’ve known Alessa wouldn’t just sit back at the apartment and do nothing, but this was too much. Regardless of their personal relationship, he was still her commanding officer. It wasn’t safe for her to be out in the open chasing criminals; she was on a covert mission. He loved Alessa’s courage and strength, but he was once again left wondering what life would be like for them. Could he deal with her constantly putting her life in danger? He sighed. That was exactly how things would work if she stayed in the army. He’d be at home each night worrying about whether she was safe, and if, not when, she’d make it back to him. It was the life his mother had led. Was he prepared to do the same?
How did she even know how to find us? Then it hit him.
He brought out his phone and looked at the GPS tracker on hers. He hailed a three-wheeled, motorized rickshaw and got into the open back seat. Reza jumped in after him and Luke didn’t bother to kick him out. The determination was clear in the man’s eyes and depending on the situation, it might be useful to have another set of hands. He directed the driver, following Alessa’s GPS. She was a good distance ahead of them and still moving.
He called the team but it would take them at least twenty minutes to mobilize. Way too late to help.
The driver slammed on the brake and Luke sucked in a breath. The street ahead was jammed. A cart had overturned, spilling bricks across the road. It had happened seconds ahead of them. Bricks were still tumbing from the wagon. He checked the screen. Alessa had stopped moving and was two clicks ahead of him.
He threw money at the driver and hopped out. He broke into a run. On a good day, he could do a five-minute mile but he knew he would be slower dodging cars and people. Still, he ran as fast as he could, legs burning as he tore through the city toward Alessa. If the kidnappers had reached their destination, Alessa wouldn’t just sit still, even knowing that Luke was right on her tail.
The best chance at rescuing Amine was when they brought her out of the car, while she was still mobile with no physical barriers aside from the guards between them. Alessa would try to rescue Amine immediately, he knew without a doubt she wouldn’t think twice about taking on a bunch of thugs by herself.
He turned down a side street, consulting the map on his phone. The path was clearer and he increased his pace. He didn’t bother to check on Reza; he could hear the man’s footsteps and labored breathing behind him. When he got within a few hundred feet of Alessa, he slowed, needing to assess the area. Reza had fallen a little behind but caught up to him, his panting loud enough to be heard over the
relative quiet of the street they were on. It looked like an industrial section of the city with warehouse-like structures. The usual sounds of the city—horns, birds, people—were muted. Luke turned and put a finger to his lips. Reza understood and put a hand to his mouth, trying to calm his rapid breathing.
Then he saw it. A bike. He couldn’t be sure it was the one Alessa had been riding—he’d only seen it in a flash and it was a generic gray and black that were a dime a dozen in the city—but he bet it was hers. It lay in the middle of the street, as if the rider had carelessly thrown it or had been plucked off. Luke’s chest tightened but he forced himself to stay focused. He couldn’t rescue Alessa or Amine if he let his emotions get the better of him.
He didn’t see any security but he moved slowly. It wouldn’t do any of them any good for him to walk into an ambush. His heart leaped into his throat as he heard a series of thumps and groans and the soft sound of someone crying. He couldn’t take it anymore.
He whipped around the corner, a knife in one hand and the pistol he kept hidden in his pant leg in the other.
“About time you showed up. I had to do all the hard work myself.”
He shouldn’t have been surprised. Alessa stood with Amine, an arm around the sobbing woman. Three men lay on the ground, moaning in pain. The car that had taken Amine was parked, its passenger door open. Alessa’s clothes were dirty and her hijab was askew, but other than that she looked fine. Amine was distraught, but she seemed to be physically okay.
Reza whistled. “I know my sister didn’t do this.” Luke tried not to bristle at the admiring look Reza gave Alessa.
That’s my woman.
Reza went to his sister’s side to check on her. Luke wanted to glare at Alessa, silently tell her just how mad he was at her for putting her life in danger like that, but all he managed to do was mouth I love you. She was safe, and she’d done quite a job of neutralizing the threat. Wasn’t that all that mattered? He thought about when his mother’s sister had died and she couldn’t go to the funeral. She’d been so upset, ready to leave his father and the army life. But then there had been casualties on an operation her father was leading and when he returned, his mother greeted the general with relief and love, forgetting all about anger. Now he understood why. And the thought made his chest burn. Life was always tentative in the army, and he’d never stop worrying about Alessa.
