Ella cut off the water, dried, and wrapped herself in one of the hotel robes. She crept across the room and reached for the door. The handle squeaked, and she froze. Silva stirred but quickly fell back into rhythmic snoring.
The flight attendant cracked the door just wide enough to slip through, and as she closed it and turned, she nearly screamed as the large, shirtless man surprised her in the darkness.
“Hey, it’s okay,” he said. She looked up at Rian Mather-Pike, and tears rimmed her blue eyes. “I retrieved some clothes for you and put them in my room. You’re welcome to stay there for the night.”
“But where will you … ” He cut her off.
“I’ll sleep out here on the couch. There’s a rugby game on anyway.” He smiled warmly and raised a hand to her cheek. She nestled into it, and he wiped away the tear that trickled down. “Go on,” he said tenderly. She touched his hand with hers.
“Thank you, Rian,” she said. He offered her an affectionate nod, and she moved past him but stopped halfway across the room. The tugging in her heart was too great to ignore.
“Rian?” she called softly. The large man turned to face her. Their eyes met, and a lump formed in the South African’s throat. His heart stirred and longed for her more than ever before. He watched her hands undo the robe. She opened it, revealing herself to him. Rian inhaled to gain confidence and returned his eyes to hers.
“Are you sure?” he asked. She nodded and broke into a smile accompanied by a tear. “Ella,” Rian started. He would not take advantage of her emotional state. He wanted to be with her, to connect with her on the most intimate level, but not unless she was fully invested in the same endeavor.
The robe dropped to the floor, and Ella moved toward him. His head swirled as her beauty intoxicated him. Her wet, blonde hair clung to her body, and her skin gleamed in the pale light. The sight stole Rian’s breath. She placed her hands around his neck and, lifting onto her toes, kissed him. Rian inhaled deeply as their lips parted. She smiled sweetly, grabbed his hand, and led him into his bedroom.
• • •
Happier than she had been in a long time, Ella looked up at Rian. He snored loudly, but she found it cute. It was almost sunrise, and Silva wouldn’t mind that she had left during the night, but he would mind if he found her in Rian’s room. Despite the rational thinking, she wanted to give into the desire to stay at Rian’s side. Still, she made herself get up.
She sat up and kissed Rian on the forehead before she got out of the bed. She dressed in the clothes Rian had provided and slowly and quietly closed the door as she exited. She reentered Silva’s room. As quietly as possible, she retrieved her phone, dress, and shoes and made her way out of the suite to her own room. Once inside, she powered up her phone, and feeling fresh wind in her sails, sent Miranda a text. She smiled, thought again of her night with Rian, and hoped for many, many more.
• • •
That morning, Natalie emerged from her room and walked across the suite to the array of food arranged on the coffee table.
“Hungover?” Hannah asked.
“A little,” she lied. The sunlight nearly blinded her and irritated her already throbbing head. She filled a plate with cheese, pastries, and fruit before moving to Hannah’s side. She looked at the laptop but made little sense of the Hebrew displayed across the screen.
“Your new friend texted you early this morning. I don’t blame her really. I would have.”
“You did,” Natalie countered. Hannah shrugged, and a smile spread across her face. “Anyway, you in?”
“Of course I’m in,” Hannah replied. “We’ll be able to track her phone anywhere in the world.”
“Good,” Natalie said. “I am thankful for all your help.”
“No problem, Babe,” Hannah replied. Natalie kissed her on the cheek, and Hannah reached up to touch the side of Natalie’s face.
“I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“I know,” Hannah replied warmly. The bond they forged in Tehran could never be broken, and Hannah knew she could never repay Natalie for saving her life.
Despite the difficulty and the considerable restraint required, Natalie now possessed a way to Silva. If she could, she would save Ella, but Silva was the prize. She couldn’t sacrifice that for an individual. Ari entered the suite and smiled at Natalie.
“Your mission was successful,” he said. His tone served as a reminder as to how close they had come to failure. It wasn’t condescending but rather concerned.
“It appears so,” Natalie replied.
“Don’t tell your people, but Mossad has the best tracking software in the world. They will never know that we are watching them.”
“Thank you again, Ari. I suppose we’re even.”
“No,” he said, “we can never repay what you did for us in Tehran.” Natalie smiled. She doubted that but wouldn’t argue the point.
28
Reston, Virginia
Present Day
“The last two months have been quite eventful,” Natalie continued, “While in Yemen, we learned that Silva was on site at the time of the attack against the USMC helicopters. I learned later that on the same day a private jet left Aden International with a flight plan logged for Cairo. It never arrived.” Shaw followed her train of thought through the provided documents. “Instead, it landed in Dubai at eighteen thirty-two hours. The plane has jumped around since then. Spain, the UK, the Bahamas, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and now, back in Dubai.” She provided the photographs, audio recording, and all additional surveillance taken in Dubai.
“What has he been doing?” Shaw asked. Natalie shrugged.
“I don’t know. I’m sure he’s seeing to his business, but I’ve been following a shipping vessel named Vittoria Fortuna. I believe Silva is using that ship to transport his merchandise.”
“Where is that ship headed?”
“Port Tawfiq, Egypt,” she replied. Shaw nodded. He fully understood the gravity of conducting an operation in that nation.
“The weapons used in Yemen were of American design,” Shaw said, shifting the conversation and glancing from Silva’s photograph to Natalie. He already viewed Natalie with great respect and admiration, but after hearing of her exploits in Dubai, he couldn’t revere her more. “He also knew ahead of time when our helicopters would arrive in Aden,” Shaw added. “That alone, suggests leaked information from a military source. The NGO reps and journalists wouldn’t have known the details of the operation, especially not in advance. Do we have any updated information on that?”
“Not yet,” Natalie replied. “I believe the only way to glean that information is to bring Silva in.” Shaw nodded his agreement.
“When do we leave?”
“Well, I’ve got all the intel, a plane and flight crew, travel and insertion authorizations, weapons and gear, and all I need is a direct-action and recce element,” she replied.
“I suppose that’s where I come in.” She nodded.
“Do you think you can pull some strings with your command?” she asked. Shaw rubbed his bearded chin as he contemplated.
“Not likely,” he replied. “SOCOM isn’t thrilled with what happened, nor should they be, and I’m on track for a bogus medical retirement at the beginning of the year.” Natalie leaned against the table, her disappointment evident. It was in that moment, Shaw realized that she was alone. Something had happened at the agency that had driven her to do all this in secret. “You’re not alone, Natalie. Silva won’t get away with this and neither will the one who leaked him military intelligence. I’m with you through this thing, and I’ll see what I can scrounge up. What’s our window?”
“We have three days,” she replied gravely.
“I need to book a flight.”
• • •
Tampa, Florida
Shaw slowed the rental as he neared the elaborate gate blocking the winding driveway. The vehicle stopped next to the white gatehouse adorned with red Spanish tile, and Shaw greeted the s
miling security guard.
“Well, I’ll be. Look who it is! Semper Fi, Marine!” the burly guard exclaimed. He shook his head in disbelief and rested his hands on his hips. “It’s good to see you, Davy.”
“You too, Lester,” Shaw responded. Lester Dean was the only person in the world save for Shaw’s mother that called him Davy. He had served under General Weber during the Gulf War when Weber was a young lieutenant fresh out of OCS. Lester went bankrupt in 2008 during the Great Recession, and Weber was quick to offer him a job as his gate security guard upon purchasing the Floridian estate. Lester had accepted immediately.
The two men shook hands through the open window, and Lester clasped his other hand over Shaw’s. His wide grin showed his genuine care.
“Man, it’s been years. Does the general know you’re swinging by?” Lester asked. Shaw nodded. “And he didn’t tell me? I’m going to have some words with him.”
“I have no doubt you will,” Shaw replied with a grin.
“Come on through then,” Lester instructed as he stepped inside the gatehouse and initiated the gate’s controls.
“Good to see you, Lester,” Shaw stated in farewell.
“Rah, Captain.” Shaw lifted a hand in response to Lester’s wave and pulled forward.
Palm trees lined the white driveway that cut through the impeccably kept green grass of the sprawling fifty-acre estate. The white stucco house, topped with the same red, Spanish roof tiles, loomed ahead, set against the azure Floridian sky. The palm branches danced in the light breeze coming off the ocean, and gulls squawked overhead. It had been too long since Shaw’s last visit.
Shaw parked the car in the circular drive in front of the house. It had six bedrooms if Shaw remembered correctly, and it was far from being considered a mansion. However, Weber and his wife had spared no expense in building their dream home. Shaw killed the engine, stepped out of the Ford Explorer, and trotted up the few steps leading toward the front door. He rang the doorbell and waited patiently for an answer.
The door swung open almost immediately, and a short woman in her sixties answered. She wore a simple dress that Shaw knew cost much more than it appeared and was probably direct from a designer in Paris or Milan. Her makeup made her look ten years younger, and her hair was meticulously styled. Regardless, Shaw’s heart warmed at the sight of her.
“Oh, David,” Denise Weber greeted. She quickly stepped over the threshold and hugged him gently. “I am so thrilled to hear of your recovery. You gave us all quite the fright.”
“Thank you, Denise. It has been too long,” Shaw replied.
“Indeed it has. Well, come inside. We are all out back, and Linus has the skeet shooting all set up.”
“We?” Shaw probed.
“Oh yes, Caroline is here. I thought you knew?” Denise answered, wearing a sly smile as she wove her hand through Shaw’s arm. Shaw chuckled uncomfortably as Denise patted his forearm with her hand. He led her through the foyer and kitchen before exiting the house through the open French doors, and Shaw had forgotten how fond of Weber’s home he had been.
At the edge of the expansive deck, the lawn sloped gently downward toward the calm, private bay. The grass gave way to powdery, white sand in a way that reminded Shaw of a high-end golf course. Out in the crystal water bobbed a Beneteau Oceanis 55.1 yacht sporting a charcoal hull.
“Wow, is that new?” Shaw asked. The sight of the yacht stirred deep wonder within the man.
“Oh that? Yes, Linus purchased it last year. You really should join us for a sail sometime,” Denise answered with an air of pride.
“That would be wonderful,” Shaw replied.
“Ah, here is Linus now.” Shaw watched as his mentor approached with a Browning Citori shotgun draped over his forearm.
“David, I’m glad you decided to come for a visit,” Weber greeted happily. The two men embraced.
“Thanks for having me,” Shaw replied. Weber smiled and issued him a short, confirming nod.
“Caroline!” Denise called. “There’s someone here to see you!”
“I’m not … ” Shaw started, but Denise patted his arm to silence him.
“Come now, David, humor an old woman who desires grandchildren,” Denise stated without looking up at him. “It’s a shame you didn’t get her pregnant when you two were sleeping together all those years.” Shaw flushed bright red in embarrassment.
“Denise!” Weber scolded.
“Oh stop it, Linus. You’ve said the same thing yourself,” Denise replied wearing a satisfied expression that dared him to protest again. Weber glanced at Shaw, who scratched the back of his neck and smiled sheepishly.
“Who is it?” Caroline called, refusing to look up from her book. She sat among the patio furniture with her blonde hair tied up by a multi-colored scarf. She propped her bare feet up on the adjacent chair and curled a loose strand of hair with her fingers as she read. She wore a pair of high-waisted denim cut-offs that exposed the full length of her bronzed legs, and her white bikini top peeped through her white, sheer tunic.
“Why don’t you come see for yourself,” Denise countered. Caroline exhaled and shot her gaze toward her mother, and her eyes immediately widened.
“David!” she exclaimed. Her tone exploded with surprise, uncertainty, and confusion. “What … what are you doing here?” she asked as she tried to control her whirling emotions. She closed her book and attempted to better cover herself as the three approached. Caroline recognized immediately that Shaw was just as surprised to see her as she was to see him, and she quickly shot her mother a disapproving look. However, Denise simply smiled and transitioned her gaze from her daughter to the man she desperately prayed would be her son-in-law.
“Hey, Caroline,” Shaw greeted. He would be lying to himself if he said he didn’t feel anything as he looked upon her, but he also couldn’t deny the way he felt for Natalie. It didn’t make sense. He and Caroline possessed years of connection while his relationship with Natalie extended back only two months, and, during that time, he had hardly spent a full twenty-four hours with her. How did he know if there was even anything reciprocated? Their relationship had been entirely professional thus far, but he couldn’t ignore the pain he felt from looking at Caroline.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Weber asked.
“I made lemonade,” Denise chimed.
“That would be great,” Shaw replied. Denise smiled warmly.
“Why don’t you sit down? Come, Linus, please help me in the kitchen,” Denise said. Weber rolled his eyes before they settled on Shaw’s, and Shaw witnessed the apology behind the light irises.
As the couple disappeared into the house, Shaw turned to regard Caroline who was now standing before him.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey?” she echoed critically. Shaw chuckled and rubbed his face before casting his gaze out to sea.
“Listen, I didn’t know you were going to be here,” he said, shifting his sight back toward her. Caroline scoffed and tilted her head.
“After all this time, this is how you start things?” Shaw sighed.
“You look great,” he said. Her expression immediately softened.
“I’m really glad to see you,” she said. “I would have visited you in the hospital, but I didn’t think you wanted to see me.”
“It’s alright,” he replied.
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Yeah, me too,” Shaw said. They stood in silence for a time, and the awkwardness was too great for each individual to bear. “They sure are taking their time with that lemonade,” Shaw remarked. Caroline laughed and nodded her head.
“That’s Mom for you,” she replied. Shaw grinned at her.
“So, what are you reading?”
“Seven Pillars of Wisdom,” she answered.
“One of my favorites,” Shaw replied. Caroline glanced down at the hardback resting on the table.
“I know,” she said. “Do you want to sit down?” Shaw took the
seat to which she directed. “Your hair has gotten long, and your beard too.” The Marine captain grinned again and stroked his beard.
“Yeah, I could probably use a trim.”
“No, I like it,” she replied, drawing a wider smile from Shaw’s lips. She grinned back, propped her feet back up on the chair, and kept her eyes fixed on him. Her emotions began to settle, and she remembered fondly their relationship. They were together from 2011 to just last year and had talked many times of marriage and children. She wanted two, but Shaw had wanted four. In the end, Caroline had ended things claiming she was second to the Corps. Shaw couldn’t blame her as his deployment schedule only increased as the years went by. He didn’t know it, but she had come to regret that decision.
“Are you seeing anyone?” she asked. Shaw chuckled again and rubbed his forehead before looking again toward Weber’s yacht.
“No,” he replied. “You?” Caroline shook her head.
“I heard you are getting out. Is that true?” she asked. Shaw exhaled noticeably, the question stirring up painful emotions.
“Um, yeah. It is.”
“I heard Daddy did all he could for you. I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. Got to happen eventually; might as well be now,” he replied. Caroline contemplated his words. She was thirty-two, and he was thirty-seven. It wasn’t too late. Perhaps, just maybe, they could pick things up where they left off. Before she could ask, Denise and Weber returned from the kitchen.
“Hello, you two,” Denise greeted warmly. She presented Shaw a glass of lemonade first before serving her daughter.
“Thank you,” Shaw said.
“I got the clays all set up,” Weber stated. “You up for a round?”
“Linus, let the two be,” Denise interjected. Shaw took a sip of the lemonade as he rose from his chair.
“That would be great, sir,” Shaw replied. He set his glass on the table, and Weber clapped him on the shoulder. He bore a wide grin.
“I’ll see you soon,” Shaw said to Caroline.
Saber Down Page 19
