by Lea Hart
“Are you going to marry him?” Asli asked.
Flabbergasted by the question, Audrey turned and studied the beautiful young woman and let out a small laugh. “No, that’s not possible.”
Smoothing down her braid, Asli gave a small shrug. “There’s an intense energy running between the two of you and I assumed it was because you’d fallen in love with each other.” She put her hand on her heart and then looked down. “Forgive me if it’s too personal a statement.”
“Truthfully, we’ve only just met and, though we seem to like one other, anything long-term isn’t possible. We live on opposite coasts and have very different lives.”
“I’m only twenty-five and don’t know that much about love, but if someone ever looked at me the way Carrick looks at you, I wouldn’t let those small details get in the way. The thing between you two pulses with an intensity that I imagine doesn’t come along very often.”
“Well, you’re right about that, men like Carrick don’t come along probably more than once.”
Andrew opened the car door and threw them both a smile. “Do you want anything before we hit the road again?”
“I’m fine,” Asli responded with a shy smile.
Audrey raised an eyebrow and watched Andrew smooth down his T-shirt. “Me too,” she called out.
“All right, our next stop is going to be Adana on the beautiful Seyhan River in about four hours.”
Carrick opened Audrey’s door and grinned. “Need anything, babe?”
“No, we’re good to go.” Watching his eyes crinkle up at the corners as he leaned forward made her stomach do a little flip. “Maybe we shouldn’t…” and before she could voice her protest, he kissed her soundly. “Kiss,” she finished after he lifted his mouth.
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen.” He kissed her again quickly and then closed her car door and climbed into the driver’s seat. “Let’s hit it.”
Andrew climbed in and gave everyone a smile. “Whatever you’ve done to my friend, Audrey…I approve. He’s happy and relaxed and I think it’s the first time in ten years that I’ve seen him like this. So, keep it up.”
Looking up, she saw Carrick slug his friend in the shoulder and covered her mouth as she and Asli laughed quietly. “Boys,” she mumbled. As they drove toward the highway, she noticed a row of nondescript buildings and several small businesses. “Anything we should know about Askaray?”
“Not that I know of,” Asli responded. “I read a new amusement park was built, and other than being close to Capaddocia, it doesn’t have much to attract tourists.”
“I’d love to see the fairy chimneys someday.”
“What’s that?” Carrick asked.
“From what I understand, the Monks’ Valley has tall, cone-shaped rock formations that look like fairies made them.”
“There are also Bronze Age homes that were carved into the valley wall by cave dwellers. They were later used as refuges by early Christians, and the Ihlara Canyon houses numerous rock-face churches,” Asli added.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing that,” Andrew said as he passed out waters. “Too often in our line of work, we miss seeing the beauty.”
Looking out the window, Audrey knew she didn’t want to miss a thing. No matter if it was beauty or heartache, because living safely and following a well-defined path wasn’t for her.
That she knew for sure.
***
Everyone got out of the car and stretched the moment Carrick parked the car. They had arrived in Adana and Asli said they needed to eat at Oz Asmaalti. The kebap was apparently a cut above the rest and the mezes were delicious. “Do they have kadayif?” Audrey asked.
“Yes, and it’s perfect,” Asli replied.
“The way you asked that makes me think it’s a dessert,” Carrick commented as he took Audrey’s hand.
“It’s dough soaked in syrup and topped with clotted cream and it reminds me of a thin donut on steroids.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” Andrew commented as he walked toward the entrance.
“It will when you eat it,” Asli replied as she walked past him and entered the restaurant to secure a table for them.
Audrey followed Asli and looked around the restaurant and smiled. It wasn’t anything spectacular to look at, but the tables were filled with locals that looked happy to be eating there. And, as far as she was concerned, that was the best recommendation of all.
Soon they were seated at a long table with a red tablecloth and Asli took care of the ordering. Once they had sodas in front of them and the meze had been delivered, everyone dove into the delicious food.
“Do you want me to tell you what you’re eating?” Asli asked.
“As long as it’s not an MRE, I don’t much care what I eat, but sure, go ahead and give us the rundown,” Andrew said.
“I’ll give you the short version,” she replied. The white cheese is called beyaz peynir, the melon is kavun, and the hot pepper paste with walnuts is called acili ezme.”
“I like the eggplant salad,” Carrick commented as he scooped some up.
“That’s called patlican slastasi and the fried calamari is kalamar tava,” Asli added.
“Tell us how you came to be an interpreter,” Andrew asked before eating some of the cheese.
Audrey noticed Asli’s face flush a little and wondered if she was flustered by the blond rogue sitting next to her. Andrew had a bit of the devil in him and his smile and easy demeanor had to be attractive to the young woman. Wondering if he was a heartbreaker, she thought about warning Asli, and then remembered she was twenty-five years old and didn’t need her advice.
“My mother is a Kurd and my father is a Turk and I grew up speaking both languages. We were raised with traditions from both sides of the family and when I went to University, I discovered that my ability to speak both languages was in demand. My mother isn’t thrilled with the risks that I’ve taken, but she can’t do much about it because our family is based on the risk she took by marrying my father.”
“A brave woman of the twenty-first century,” Audrey commented.
“Not like the women of the YPJ,” Asli replied. “I have to admit that a major reason I agreed to come along on the venture was because I’m as interested in meeting my ‘sisters’ as you are. The fight they’ve taken on and the way they’re changing the future is something that I’d like to hear about firsthand.”
“Why?” Andrew asked. Holding up his hands, he sat back and shook his head. “I know about the obvious reasons, but I’d like to hear it from Asli, who has somewhat grown up in the culture. We’re Americans and we love stories of triumph over evil just as much as anyone, but we don’t understand it from your point of view.”
“Women who live in a traditional Kurdish society have few options outside of marriage. They don’t often have the option of education to change their destiny; they only have a hope of making a decent marriage. Their value is determined by the honor of their husband’s family and how many children they can produce. So, for these young women to choose a life so outside of what is accepted in their society and take up a fight against some of the most evil humans on the planet, it’s worth taking note.”
“I completely agree,” Andrew responded. “There are millions of people who would never consider going against ISIS and for a light infantry to take the group on is nothing less than heroic. Win or lose, they’re in the fight and doing it not for glory but for their communities.”
“It’s the purity of their motivation that made me want to write the book,” Audrey said as she lined up her cutlery. “There are few people in the world who are doing something just because it’s the right thing to do. Not for money, or accolades, or fame. But simply because they want a safe place to live.” Lining up the salt and pepper shakers, she cleared her throat. “Present company excepted.”
“Knowing why you get up and take the risks you do is no small thing,” Carrick said. He put his arm around Audrey’s shoulder and nodded. “Being o
n the Teams gave me that for more than ten years and working with my former commander has allowed me to continue. I know what a luxury it is to have a clarity of purpose and it’s not anything to take for granted.”
“Same,” Andrew replied as their lunch was delivered.
The table was soon filled with kepabs, rice, and salad and Audrey knew that’s what she had been trying to achieve ever since she graduated law school. At first, she thought joining a prestigious law firm would make it possible and then when she discovered that wasn’t the case, she turned to helping refugees in Greece. And now, here she was on a crazy trip to a country in the middle of a civil war, trying again to find a way to make a difference.
There wasn’t an ounce of confidence in her that she was headed in the right direction, but she prayed that at the end of it, she’d have some clarity or at least a clue as to what her next move should be.
***
Audrey sat on the bench and waited for Asli and Andrew while they grabbed some drinks for the last part of their journey. Carrick had his arm around her shoulder and was quiet as they watched the pigeons move around their feet. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“In seven days, you made a dream I’ve been chasing for a close to a year possible.” Feeling his attention shift, she sensed he was no longer studying the area, and feeling the force of his focus, she looked up and saw him smiling. “What?”
“You’re not fighting me as hard as you usually do.”
“Is that what’s making you push?”
“Maybe.” He ran his hand over his leg and shrugged. “I don’t like it when you dismiss what’s going on. I have no fucking idea what’s going on, but I sure as shit know it’s something.”
“Maybe.” Feeling him tense and then hold her tighter told her he didn’t care for her response. As though he needed her to agree so that he could relax.
Maybe it was a chase thing.
After all, they didn’t know one another very well. For all she knew, he had a host of unsavory habits that would make him the last person in the world that she wanted to spend time with.
Except, he hadn’t shown her any and, as far as she could tell, he was pretty damn terrific. What with the whole, “I’ll give the world” mentality. That the sort of thing got a girl’s attention and she was certainly not the exception. Taking his hand, she squeezed it. “I’m so excited to finally be this close and I really appreciate you taking the risk to bring me here.”
“I like making your dreams possible; all I ask is that the next one not involve a country that’s in the middle of a civil war.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Scooting closer, she leaned her head against his very large, capable shoulder. “What’s your guess on how long and complicated it’s going to be to cross the border?”
“It could take one hour or six, it depends on how the Turks are feeling today.” Lacing their fingers together, he stretched out his legs. “I want to remind you of the rules and regulations.”
“You’ve given me the speech several times, Carrick, and I know that I’m to stick by your side, follow your directions, no questions asked, and…”
“Trust me, Audrey. Have faith and follow my lead. One of the reasons that SEALs are so successful is because we trust one another implicitly.”
“I trust you and what you’re asking me to do with my clothes on is not that much different than what happens when they’re off. I understand the theme and can follow directions.”
“Are you talking about sex in the middle of my rules and regs speech?”
Looking up, she saw his eyes darken and knew it wasn’t because he was angry. “I simply pointed out that you like to be in charge in many areas and sex isn’t the exception.”
“You liked it!” he said loudly.
“I did and me pointing out your alpha-ways is not a complaint.”
“Sounded like it,” he replied with frustration. “If you wanted to try something else, you should’ve told me. I’m very opened-minded and if you ask, then I’ll give it to you.”
“What if I wanted to tie you up?” A flicker of distaste ran over his features and disappeared almost instantly. Keeping her expression blank, she decided to have some fun. “I know a lot about knots and having you trussed and available for my pleasure is something I might enjoy.”
He swallowed several times as he squinted his eyes and looked off into the distance. “I guess…if that’s what you want.”
“Thank you.” Standing, she sat on his lap and then watched his hard features soften when she stroked his cheek. “I don’t really want to tie you up; I was just messing with you. But if we have another chance to sleep together before we part ways, then I’d definitely like to be on top.”
“Fuck, Audrey. You can be on top as much as you want, whatever…I’m good with it.”
“Are we done with the rules and regulations speech?”
“Hell, that wasn’t any kind of speech, but I’m not willing to try it again because I have no idea what’s going to come out of your mouth.”
Running her finger over his lush lips, she shrugged. “Or in my mouth.” When his eyes narrowed and he pulled her firmly against his chest, she kissed him roughly. It was so much easier to joke around about sex than think about what they were in for. As excited as she was, she was still apprehensive because she didn’t want anyone in their group put in harm’s way.
Which was pretty damn impossible.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Saturday, October 21st
Syria
Carrick walked next to the concrete buildings in the Tell-Abyad American Military outpost and filled his lungs with the cold morning air. Seeing the men move about the compound shot a sense of longing into his gut that surprised him with its intensity.
He’d been retired from the Teams for close to two years and he thought all the desire to still be on the front lines was finished a long time ago. But the fire in his belly was telling him a different tale.
Though he was doing a lot of the same work, it wasn’t quite the same as being in the heart of the fight. And, Lord knows, he loved nothing more than being smack dab in the center of a conflict. To put his skills against someone else was one of the things he loved most in the world and, though he still had the chance every now and again, it wasn’t the same, and most days he was okay with it.
He’d had his chance and made the most of it. Seeing Audrey walk in his direction made him realize that the second part of his journey could allow him adventures he never dreamed of. “Morning.”
Waving, she gave him a smile. “How did you sleep?”
Looking from side to side, he made sure there wasn’t anyone around and then pulled her into his chest. “Not as good as I do when we’re together. Seems I need you curled against my side, snoring, for me to get any rest.”
She swatted his chest and then snorted. “I don’t snore.”
“Okay, but you breathe really loudly when you’re sleeping.”
“I’ll take the fifth.”
“You can take whatever you want, but it doesn’t change the facts.”
“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter what I do because we’re not going to be sharing a bed again.”
Another sharp pain in his gut and this one was a lot more severe. “You don’t know what the future holds, so maybe you should quit talking about what is or isn’t.” The baffled look she gave suggested he might’ve overreached. “Where is Asli?”
“She’s talking to one of the commanders and translating something for him. Apparently, the man they were working with moved to the base near Qamishli.”
“Tom is a good man, even though he’s DELTA. We worked together a few times in the Stans and I’ve got a ton of respect for him.”
“I’m surprised they let us stay overnight. I expected to be staying at the YPJ training bases for the duration.”
“Between Titan’s contacts in the area and Andrew’s we’re probably going to manage to stay here for the length of
the trip.”
“That’s great news, but I was hoping to spend one night at one of the YPJ training centers. Maybe you can leave Asli and me and you and Andrew can stay at the base.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen; no way am I leaving you and Asli alone at some abandoned chicken factory on the outskirts of town.”
“We’d be with warriors who are completely capable of protecting their base.”
“I’m sure that’s what you believe, but I’m not leaving your side.”
“As much as I’d like to argue with you, I won’t because I promised that I would heed your advice during the trip. But know that I strongly disagree with your position on the matter.”
