But why did she have a feeling they wouldn’t?
SEVENTEEN
Four hours later, they were at another safe house in another location in another town. Christopher was in the shower, and Ashley was curled on the sofa, trying to make sense of her thoughts. Finding any logic in this mess seemed impossible.
She’d already taken a shower and towel-dried her hair before she pulled on some yoga pants and a long-sleeve T-shirt. She’d tried to let the steam evaporate the memories that flashed through her every time she closed her eyes. If only it was that easy.
Where did they even go from here? She wouldn’t give up—she couldn’t. She’d keep fighting until she found David and Josh, even if she had to go at it alone.
She glanced across the room. Christopher’s computer was on the kitchen table. He’d warned her to stay away from it, warned her that her every keystroke could be traceable. Even with the firewalls and precautions Eyes had made, these His People cronies were good enough that nothing was safe. Still, the laptop seemed to call to her, to beckon her to investigate.
The computer, technology, the internet...that’s where the answers were, she realized. And that may be the only place she was going to find any answers about her brother, any of that help that her brother had alluded to when he said she was their only hope.
She could still hear the water pounding in the bathroom. Christopher probably had a good five minutes before coming out. She could do a lot in five minutes, and certainly she couldn’t be traced in such a short amount of time.
Quickly, she scrambled over to the table. She opened the laptop and booted up the system. A moment later, she pulled up her websites. Her brother had helped her develop the security layers for each site. Had he somehow manipulated the security variants on her site? Why would he do that?
She went to the website of her biggest client—Koury Pharmaceuticals—and pulled up the site’s interface. She stared at the administration page. Was there anything different? She searched through the different levels, looking for something—anything—before shaking her head. Everything appeared to be normal.
So what was wrong? Anything? Or was she looking too hard for something that wasn’t there?
Most of the site was static, and the only thing that ever changed was the “comments” section. As a last resort, she clicked on that page to see the new feedback people had left. She scanned through each statement. Nothing.
The only place she had left to look was in the spam folder. She knew there would mostly be advertisements there from other online businesses, but she clicked there, anyway. Just as she thought—it was just junk.
Except one made her freeze.
There was a comment from Charlie Brown. She used to call her brother that when they were young. Her fingers trembled as she clicked the comments. The first line read, “Home for the Holidays.”
Had her brother found a way to email her? Or was this a virus? Or a trick?
She read the rest of the message. “I can’t wait to see you at home for Christmas. I wonder if the old tree house is still standing?”
The old tree house?
Was he talking about the house where they’d grown up? They’d had a tree house outside where she and her brother used to play. One year, they’d even reenacted A Charlie Brown Christmas with their friends.
“What are you doing?” a voice boomed behind her. “Are you trying to lure blood-hungry terrorists right to our doorstep?”
She nearly jumped out of her seat. She twirled around to see Christopher standing there, water still dripping from his hair. Fire flamed in his eyes.
“I’m following a hunch. I think I found a message from my brother.”
His eyes narrowed. “Are you sure?”
“Of course I can’t be sure. But this one spam message mentioned things that only he would know about.”
“But you’re not sure, and that’s the point. I asked you to stay away. Every time we get on the computer, something seems to go wrong. I thought we agreed?”
She stood, not ready to back down. “The computer is the key here! I don’t know why or how or what, but somehow this all ties back into technology. I’m not going to find my brother without a computer. I’m sure of it.”
He stepped closer and glared down at her. “And I’m sure that if you don’t stop using that computer, then you’re going to die.”
“Why do you even care?”
His hands flew in the air. “Of course I care! I’ve always cared.”
“You could have fooled me!” What was he talking about? He’d made it clear that he didn’t care. How could he deny that?
“Ashley—”
“No, don’t Ashley me.” She shook her head and jabbed her finger into her chest. “At least I owned up to my mistake. At least I showed some regret.”
His face softened. “Ashley, there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by that I haven’t regretted breaking up with you.”
His words felt like ice water in her face. She backed up as disbelief filled her. “You don’t mean that.”
“Of course I do. I questioned myself a million times. I missed you. For almost a decade, I’ve missed you.”
Her throat squeezed with emotion. “You never told me any of that.”
“Of course not. I didn’t expect you to wait around. That wouldn’t be fair. You were supposed to meet a great guy and have all the happiness you deserved.”
“You were the only happiness I wanted.”
“I’m ruined, Ashley. War has messed me up. I can’t ever see myself in a healthy relationship again.”
“You can’t see it or you’re afraid to see it?”
They stared at each other a moment, something unspoken between them. Christopher’s hands reached for her arms, and he pulled her closer. Something unseen—and strong—seemed to draw them closer. For a moment, Ashley felt young and infatuated again. Christopher raised his hand and stroked her cheek.
“Ashley—”
A loud knock sounded at the door. They both jumped back from each other. Christopher ran a hand through his wet hair and strode across the room. The guard stood there. “Denton just radioed me. Said you’re not answering your phone.”
Christopher stomped away. “My phone’s in my room. Let me call him.”
She still had to tell him about Charlie Brown.
* * *
Christopher’s head swam in confusion. Could Ashley still have feelings for him? Was that even possible? But for a moment—and just a moment—he thought he saw that old, familiar affection in her gaze.
Then the knock on the door had sounded. It was just as well. All of their emotions were heightened right now. The last thing either of them needed was to do something they regretted.
He escaped to his room and dialed Denton’s number. “What’s going on?”
“The guy the FBI took into custody today gave us an address.”
His hands went to his hips, something sounding way too easy about that discovery. “Why’d he give that up?”
“Plea deal. We’re headed there now.”
He grabbed a piece of scrap paper and a pen from the nightstand. “Where?”
“1020 Lindsey Lane in Chesterfield.”
“Got it.”
He ran a towel through his hair again and then threw his clothes in the bag. He was going to watch the raid. He needed to be there and see this for himself.
He paced back into the hallway to tell Ashley that he had to step away for a while. He wanted to be there if they did find Josh and David. Ashley would want him to be there.
Ashley’s eyes widened when she saw him. “Where are you going?”
“They got a lead. I want to be there and see how it pans out.”
“You’re not leaving me.”
/> He shook his head. “It’s not safe for you to be there.”
“You better believe I’m going to be there.” Her jaw set in that familiar, determined way.
But he shook his head again. “Not a good idea.”
“Where are you going?”
“Chesterfield.”
Her eyes widened. “1020 Lindsey Lane, by chance?”
He paused. “How’d you know?”
“Because that’s the house where Josh and I lived through elementary school before we moved down to Virginia Beach. That’s what I was trying to tell you.”
He let her revelation sink in. Maybe the information was legit. But if it was, then why did his gut still twist like something was wrong? “I don’t like this. It just seems too easy.”
“I’d say the same thing if I hadn’t seen that email.”
“Someone could have faked it, known about the nickname.”
She shook her head. “I was never allowed to call Josh that except around family. No one else knows the nickname. If someone knows it, it’s because Josh told them and he wouldn’t do that.”
He nodded toward the door. “I’ve gotta go.”
“Take me with you. Please.”
“What if it’s a trap?”
“I’ll be careful. I’ll stay in the car if I have to. I just want to be there.”
He paused, feeling his resolve crumbling. Finally, he nodded. “But only if you promise to stay on the perimeter. No sneaking off to check computers or do any investigating on your own. We don’t know if this email is legitimate or not.”
She nodded. “It’s a deal. I promise.”
He waved for her to follow. “Let’s go, then.”
* * *
Ashley stood on the edge of the property, close to a line of police cars and other unmarked sedans. Apparently, the FBI had been called in. She’d also seen Ed Carter. This bust was a big deal.
She prayed her brother and David would be discovered safe and sound.
Denton swaggered over to her, a walkie-talkie of some sort in his hands. She waited for him to give an update, but he shook his head. “Nothing yet. They’re still testing out the place, making sure it’s safe.”
She nodded, her throat dry. That’s where Christopher was. In the line of duty. Ever the soldier.
“Can I tell you something?”
She glanced up at Denton. “Sure.” Tension squeezed her neck muscles as she said the word.
“Christopher wore the reality of his decision to break up with you every day. He did a great job covering it up and putting on his soldier’s face when he was working. But I knew him well enough to see his struggle.”
She shook her head, unable to accept what he said. “I realized it was hard for him. It was hard for me, too. Maybe I should be more compassionate and understanding. But all I feel is hurt. Every woman wants to be the ‘one’ a man would do anything to be with. No woman wants to be second place.”
He shifted his weight. The overhead streetlight cast shadows across his eyes. “Let me explain it to you like this, then. Christopher is practically legendary in the Special Ops community. He’s the one who took the shot and brought down Abar Numair.”
“The leader of the terrorist group? The one who was all over the news?” Her eyes widened. “He was the sniper?”
Denton nodded. “Yeah, it was Christopher. It was a hard shot to make. His life was in danger. If he’d been caught, he would have been tortured long and hard. Death would have been a welcome relief.”
She shivered at the thought.
“Ashley, do you realize what the sacrifice of his personal happiness means? It means that thousands of people aren’t going to die at the hands of Abar Numair. It means Americans are safer, that there’s less threat of a terrorist attack. His decision may have broken your heart, but his decision has saved thousands of lives.”
Reality washed over her. Christopher’s decision to dedicate himself to the military really had been self-sacrificing. Ashley had always known that his service was important—even if he only saved one person. But the entire scope of what he’d done became clear.
She closed her eyes as guilt began pounding at her temples. She really had been selfish, hadn’t she? She hadn’t been able to see any of that before now, though. She’d only been able to see her own pain and feelings of rejection.
Guilt filled her, but was immediately replaced with...love? Could that be what that emotion was? Love and pride and the biggest desire she’d ever had to reconcile with someone?
She had to talk to Christopher. She had to tell him finally that she understood. That she was wrong. She had to ask for a new start. For forgiveness.
Her gaze latched on to the house in the distance. That’s where he was now.
She turned back to Denton. “Thank you, Denton. I needed to hear that. I needed to hear it eight years ago, I suppose.”
“Everything happens in God’s timing. Right now is the time for understanding.”
She nodded and grabbed his arm before he started to walk away. “Thanks again.”
She nibbled on her nail as her thoughts crashed together inside. How could she not have seen this before? How could her focus have been so narrow? How would things have been different if she hadn’t been so stubborn and prideful when Christopher had broken up with her? If she’d actually told him she was pregnant?
But if she’d told him she was pregnant, would he still have made the world a better place?
God’s timing was perfect. Maybe this really would all work together for good.
But the time when she was able to speak to Christopher wouldn’t come soon enough. All of these years...certainly she could wait another hour or two.
Denton wandered back over to the line of law-enforcement personnel who served as the second line of defense. Her heart beat so fast it seemed to stutter a few beats while trying to keep up. The truth had never seemed clearer before.
“Hey, there,” someone said beside her.
She looked up and saw Wally. “I heard about TechShare. They called you in, too, huh? I’m surprised they didn’t call in the army.”
He nodded. “Yeah, they’d called in almost everyone for this one.”
“You think it’s a setup?”
He shrugged. “You never know. You’ve got to be careful, though.”
“I just hope it’s all over soon. I want my old life back.” Her old life back, only with Christopher this time.
“You might have to wait on that for a while.”
“What do you mean—?” She looked down and saw the gun protruding from his jacket. Her second moment of truth for the day hit her.
Wally was the one working for the other side, not her brother.
Wally.
She knew her brother couldn’t work for people who hated this country. She’d known he was better than that. Thank goodness he was better than that.
But right now, a gun was aimed right at her.
EIGHTEEN
Christopher took a step back from the house as the SWAT team entered. A winter wind whipped around, its bitter chill almost feeling like an ominous hint of the future.
His gut churned. Something was wrong. He felt sure of it.
Was this a setup? Exactly what was going on here? What was that nagging feeling that told him he was missing something?
He glanced back, expecting to see Ashley standing there in the distance, leaning against the car and watching them just as she’d been doing since they arrived. Staying back a safe distance. Away from harm. Away from danger.
He blinked.
Ashley was gone.
But where?
All of his senses went on alert. Any doubt that something was off disappeared, replaced with complete clarity.
Ashley was in trouble, and he had to do something about it. Now.
He jogged back toward the line of police officers and found Denton. “Where’s Ashley?”
“She’s right over...” He turned and looked over his shoulder. “She was right there.”
Christopher kept jogging. He reached the road just in time to see a car pulling away, two heads bobbing inside. He instantly recognized the sedan.
Wally. Wally had Ashley. Wally was one of the bad guys.
He burst into a sprint until he reached his SUV. He threw himself inside, shoved the keys in the ignition and jammed the gears into Drive. Then his foot hit the accelerator. No way was he letting that car out of his sight.
No, the woman he loved was inside. Despite all of the ups and downs of their relationship, their love was the real thing. They’d both made mistakes, both had regrets, but the fact that their paths had led back to each other was no coincidence. This was their second chance and he wasn’t going to let it slip away.
Wally’s car remained in the distance. Christopher wanted to stay close, but not enough to alert Wally that he was being followed. He had to make sure his timing was flawless—otherwise he might lose them. Tension stretched across his shoulders at the thought.
His phone rang, and he grabbed it out of his pocket. It was Denton.
“Which way are you headed?”
Christopher told him his approximate coordinates.
“Keep me updated. I’m sending backup.”
“Just make sure they stay a safe distance behind. I don’t want to clue them in that we’re on to them,” Christopher muttered. Wally merged onto the interstate ahead. Good, it would be easier to remain concealed in the flow of traffic there.
“You know it.”
A loud blast filled the phone line. “Denton? What was that? Are you okay?”
Yells and screams sounded in his ear. He could hear Denton shouting orders to people before coming back on the line. “The house just exploded.”
“It exploded?” His muscles stiffened harder.
“Yeah, the whole place was wired. As soon as the door opened, it went up in flames.”
High-Stakes Holiday Reunion Page 17
