High-Stakes Holiday Reunion

by Christy Barritt

  What he still couldn’t figure out was why she’d come to him. Of all the people in the world she could have looked to for help, he had no idea why she’d chosen him.

  Not that he was complaining. He saw this as a second chance to make things right and not in a “get back together” kind of way. No, he knew there was no chance of that. Even if Ashley could forgive him, the war had left him too broken. But maybe he could make it so she didn’t hate him anymore.

  He’d given up trying to explain himself and his decisions. He’d given up thinking that she might understand. They’d been young and in love. They’d never had any disagreements or arguments. They were perfect together. So he could understand that she was hurt over his decision, even if he was trying to do what was best for his country.

  “Interesting...” She leaned toward the computer, a wrinkle forming on the skin between her eyes.

  He scooted his seat around beside her. “What is it?”

  She pointed to an email on the screen. “I don’t recognize this email address. The subject line says, ‘Urgent.’ Normally I’d delete something like that, but with everything that’s happened...”

  He reached over and clicked on the email for her. A video message popped onto the screen. A boy with light brown hair, freckles and a defined jawline stared at the camera for a moment. Something about the boy seemed familiar...but what?

  Ashley gasped beside him. “It’s David. That’s David.”

  “Hi, Ashley,” his voice rang out. He smiled and did a quick little wave at the camera. A white wall made up the background and nothing else was visible. “My dad’s friends told me to make this video for you. They said I should tell you to be quiet. I told them that didn’t sound very nice, but they told me to say it, anyway. I miss you. I wish you could come visit—”

  Someone cut him off and his image froze on the screen.

  Ashley let out a small cry. Christopher squeezed her shoulder, knowing he could never fully comprehend all of the emotions she must be feeling. That boy was like a son to her.

  “The good news is that he’s okay,” he murmured. “He doesn’t even look scared.”

  She nodded, rubbing her lips with her fingers and staring at David’s frozen picture on the screen. “That is good news. Why did he say my dad’s friends, though?”

  “That’s probably what they told him to say.” He leaned closer, squinting at the image on the screen. It looked pretty clean; it was unlikely they’d find clues there. “We need to have this video analyzed, see if technicians can pick up anything.”

  She nodded, her hand now in a fist over her mouth. She tore her eyes away from the screen long enough to glance at him. “He’s so precious, Christopher.”

  “He looks like one tough, smart kid. Polite, too.”

  Unreadable emotion flooded her gaze. “You would love him, Christopher. He’s great. Adventurous. He’s got a bit of a daredevil in him.”

  He smiled. “It sounds like I would like him. I can’t wait to meet him one day.”

  Tears glimmered in her eyes as she looked away. “I hope you can.”

  He squeezed her shoulder again. “I will. We’re going to get David and your brother back.”

  She closed her eyes as if trying to conceal her pain. “Thanks.”

  “I’m going to go get one of our technicians. You stay put here for a moment. Okay?”

  “Got it.”

  Christopher jogged down the hall and grabbed two of the guys who worked IT for them. Adrenaline pumped through his blood as he hurried back toward Ashley. He stepped inside his office in time to see her running her finger down the computer screen. The image made his heart lurch.

  She dropped her hand and scooted out of the way as the IT guys surrounded the computer.

  “I feel like if I look away then I’m abandoning him,” she whispered. “That video’s all I have to hold on to right now.”

  “At least you know he’s okay. That’s important.”

  She nodded.

  “Let’s see what we can find out,” one of the technicians started. He pulled his seat closer to the table. “Maybe we can isolate some background noises that will give us some kind of indication as to where they are.”

  He began typing furiously on the computer’s mainframe. He hit a few more keys and scrunched his eyebrows together before sitting back and letting out a grunt.

  “What’s going on?” Christopher stepped closer and saw that the computer screen had become pixelated.

  “Unplug it!” Ashley yelled.

  The technician’s hands scrambled around the computer until he reached the back and jerked out a wire. He muttered under his breath as the screen finally went black.

  Christopher didn’t have to ask. He knew what had just happened. A virus. There had been a virus in that email.

  These men were trying to get at them at whatever angle they could. He had a feeling Ashley’s heart had just been ripped out from her, similar to that computer cable. He had to get to the bottom of this before these people became like a virus to Ashley’s soul.

  TEN

  Ashley should have known. So much for getting clues there.

  But where did that leave them?

  She sat on the floor, leaning against the wall of Christopher’s office. Her head felt like it weighed a hundred pounds—a hundred throbbing pounds.

  When would they ever catch a break? What was she missing?

  A hand clamped down on her shoulder. “There will be more clues. Just wait.” She looked up and saw Christopher looking down on her.

  “That just seemed to be our best one.”

  With his fingers gently pressing on her arm, he pulled her up. “Come on. Let’s let these guys work. There’s something I want to do with you.”

  They started walking toward the other end of the building. “Where are we going?”

  He smiled. “You’ll see. Grab your coat and gun.”

  She stopped by her room and did just that before meeting Christopher in the hallway. They walked outside, across the lawn and to another building.

  Once she stepped inside, the smell of smoke hit her—only it wasn’t the smell of burning wood or metal. This was different, unique in and of itself.

  It smelled like the inside of Christopher’s house after those men had destroyed it.

  It smelled like gunpowder.

  She glanced up at Christopher. He grinned, all lopsided and boylike, an image that sent her back in time. “A shooting range,” he explained. “It’s time to teach you how to handle a gun.”

  “Is this really necessary?” Certainly, she wouldn’t need to use a gun. Except that she knew she might, whether she wanted to or not.

  “It could mean the difference of getting your nephew back or not.”

  She nodded, the decision firmly made up in her mind. “Let’s do it then.”

  The range was empty of anyone but them. He led her to a lane and handed her some earplugs and protective glasses. Then he put the gun she’d retrieved from her room in her hands. The metal felt cold and foreign. But she was willing to take on something new. She didn’t have much of a choice.

  “Hold you arms out like this,” he said, adjusting her reach. “Don’t lock your elbows in place.”

  She loosened her arms, which was the opposite of what she wanted to do. “Got it.”

  He patted her hip. “Keep your legs shoulder-width apart. There’s a bit of a kickback after you fire. Having a steady stance will give you more stability. Just be aware that it’s going to happen, though, okay?”

  She nodded, wishing he wasn’t so close. But he stood right beside her, his arms easily wrapping around her. Not in a romantic way, simply as an instructor and student. That didn’t stop every inch of her skin from becoming alive, however.

&nbs
p; “Now, just take your time and aim at the target. Use your dominant eye.”

  The gun shook in her hands as she held it and pointed toward the target at the end of the berm.

  “When you’ve got your target in sight, press the trigger, don’t pull it. That motion keeps you in control.”

  She could hardly do anything with Christopher standing this close. Nonetheless, she tried to concentrate on what he was saying. Even after all of these years, he still had that effect on her. It was a good thing she’d realized that warm, happy feelings didn’t equate into lasting love—even temporary infatuation, for that matter. They usually translated into heartbreak.

  Her heart leaped into her throat as she stared down the barrel of the gun. Finally, she pressed the trigger. The kickback took her breath away for a moment, causing a surge of adrenaline. She pulled up her protective eyewear and looked at the target at the end.

  Christopher pushed a button and the punctured paper traveled down the ceiling toward them. He studied it a moment before nodding beside her. “Not bad.”

  She hit a couple of inches north of the center. “What do you know? Maybe I should consider a career change.”

  He offered a wry grin. “I don’t know about that. We need people in the world who have big hearts, and we need people in the world who are ready to jump into battle.”

  “Didn’t you always say that a good SEAL had both of those things?”

  He glanced down for a moment. “I might have said that. It takes all kinds of people to make the world go round, right?”

  “Sure enough.”

  His face lost the moment of vulnerability it had presented briefly. He motioned toward the target and his lips pulled tight. “Let’s keep working.”

  What was that about? If Ashley asked, she had a feeling he wouldn’t tell her.

  They continued to shoot, each round getting better and better. The gun was beginning to feel less foreign and more familiar. Still, she prayed she never had to use it.

  Finally, she handed the weapon to him. “Let’s see what you can do.”

  He took the gun from her and began firing. Every shot hit the target dead-on. She was stunned by his accuracy. “I’m impressed.”

  “You should be. He was the best shooter the military had,” someone said behind them.

  Ashley looked up as Denton walked into the range. It seemed like every time she saw the man, he brought bad news. Still, she nodded hello.

  He stopped in front of her. “Could I chat with you a moment, Ashley?”

  Dread filled her. “Of course.”

  He dipped his head toward the front door. “How about we take a walk? The sidewalks have been cleared enough that they shouldn’t be slick.”

  “Sure thing.” She grabbed her coat and pulled it on as she walked toward the exit. As they stepped outside, lemonade-colored sunshine hit them—it felt more like frozen lemonade with the brisk chill in the air, though. Thankfully, the day was warmer than yesterday, even though snow still lingered on the ground.

  They began walking silently down the sidewalk. Anticipation built in her as she waited for what Denton had to say. His hands were shoved down into the pockets of his black leather coat, and he walked with slow, purposeful steps.

  Finally, he broke the silence. “So I did some research on the boy your brother adopted.”

  Her cheeks heated, even though she willed them to stop. “Did you?”

  “I saw your name listed as the boy’s mother.”

  She dragged her steps for a moment. Did she deny it? Own up to it? More of her carefully controlled life began to crumble. Finally, she nodded. “It’s true. I was young and in college—I couldn’t support a child. My brother wanted a baby, so he adopted mine. It just all made sense.”

  Denton glanced over at her. “And the boy’s father? Is he in the picture?”

  Her throat burned. “I didn’t tell him so, no, he’s not involved.”

  His eyebrows shot up. “You didn’t tell him?”

  Did Denton know? Ashley couldn’t be sure. She only knew her heart squeezed with anxiety. “It’s a long story. But let’s just say when the boy’s father left, he made it clear that he wasn’t a family man. This was the best choice for all of us.”

  He nodded. “I see. That’s pretty harsh.” They took a few more ambling steps. “I guess this is all a secret?”

  “You could say that.”

  “Is there anybody in your past who could want to hurt the boy?”

  She pointed her finger at herself. “In my past? No, I have nothing to do with this.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m positive. No one knows...”

  “You’re sure the dad’s not a part of this?”

  She stopped. “Of course he’s not. His name isn’t even on the birth certificate.”

  “I’m asking because if his dad just happened to be on some specially trained team that, let’s say, took down terrorists, then that might be another possibility as to why Josh and David were abducted. It could help us to track down the men behind this.”

  Her cheeks burned as dreadful possibilities filled her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But her mind raced...could that be the connection they were missing?

  “Really? Because that boy had the greenest eyes. They almost looked like...” He stopped and shook his head purposefully. “No, I don’t know what I’m thinking.”

  She said nothing. She couldn’t say it, couldn’t admit it. Or could she? No, this had nothing to do with Christopher. The idea was crazy.

  They started walking silently together again. Finally, Denton spoke. “Did Christopher ever tell you what his nickname was as a SEAL?”

  She shook her head. She had no idea, and, at the moment, she couldn’t even say she really cared.

  “They called him Captain America.”

  Her gaze flicked up toward Denton. “Like the superhero?”

  Denton nodded. “Yeah, like the superhero. He was selfless, always trying to look out for everyone else, always talking about how our country was worth fighting for. He was a real inspiration.”

  “Selfless?” she practically stuttered. A selfless person didn’t leave his fiancée six months before the wedding so he could be a better soldier. She bit down and said nothing else.

  Denton stared at her a moment before nodding toward the inside. “I guess it’s time to get out of the cold.”

  He started walking away when Ashley grabbed his arm. “You can’t tell anyone about what you found out, Denton. Please. It’s...important to me.”

  Perceptive, compassionate eyes met hers. “It’s yours to tell, Ashley. Not mine. But if there’s anything else you can tell me that might shine some more light on your brother and nephew’s disappearance, please let me know. Nothing is insignificant.”

  Anxiety and dread pooled in her stomach as she nodded. “Got it.”

  She stood outside and raised her head toward the wind, letting it hit her skin until she couldn’t feel her face anymore. This discomfort beat that of breaking the news to Christopher.

  She had to tell him, didn’t she? She couldn’t put it off any longer.

  * * *

  Christopher shot a few more rounds after Ashley and Denton left the range. Each pull of the trigger seemed to be a release of emotion as doubt and suspicion rose in him.

  He lowered his gun and shook his head. What had that been about? What could Denton have wanted to talk privately with Ashley about? He’d put his life on hold to help her, and now she was keeping secrets?

  He pulled off his protective eyewear and his earplugs, his thoughts still churning. If he was supposed to know about their conversation, Denton or Ashley would tell him. They wouldn’t keep something from him that could be pivotal to their search.


  Why didn’t that realization make him feel better, though? What was so secretive that he couldn’t know, especially when considering everything they’d already been through together? That was the reason he was so up in arms, wasn’t it? It had nothing to do with the sparks of electricity he’d felt when he’d taught Ashley to shoot. It had nothing to do with the way her smile was beginning to occupy his thoughts. Because those things, while enjoyable, were off-limits on so many levels.

  He tried to brush off those thoughts as he began cleaning his gun. His work here was done. He’d go check on the IT guys and see if they’d found out anything else. At least that quest for information would keep his mind occupied.

  As he stepped outside to go back to the main building, he made a mental list of what they needed to do. They needed to visit TechShare again. And then what? Did they have any other leads?

  Here in the States, working as a civilian, they didn’t have satellite surveillance or intelligence like he’d had when he was a SEAL. Here, he had to rely on good old-fashioned investigating if he wanted to find any answers.

  He paused when he saw Ashley standing on the sidewalk, her face raised to the wind and eyes squeezed shut as if in agony. What was going on?

  And why did she have to look so beautiful, even in her distressed state? She still had the ability to take his breath away. There wasn’t a single thing about her that wasn’t lovely and loveable, all the way from her pert nose and glossy hair to her fiercely loyal spirit and warm gaze.

  She opened her eyes and caught him staring at her. She quickly straightened but didn’t even attempt a smile. “Christopher.”

  “I didn’t mean to intrude.” And he had intruded. He wasn’t sure on what, but Ashley’s thoughts looked heavy enough to crush her.

  “No, you’re just the person I was hoping to talk to.” She sucked in a deep, long breath. The agonized look remained in her eyes. “You want to take a walk? The fresh air is nice.”

  “Absolutely.”

  They fell in step beside each other. He gave her the space and time she needed to pull together her thoughts. Whatever she had to say, it seemed to be a burden. He braced himself for her words. Had she secretly befriended a terrorist? He just couldn’t even begin to fathom what had her so tense.