by Susan Stoker
She wasn’t going to leave without them. She had no idea how in the world she’d make it work, but she would.
Ace said, “Things’ll look better in the morning. Me and the guys’ll do whatever we can to make this easier for you. Get some sleep.”
She wished he was referring to getting the girls out of Timor-Leste, but she knew he meant getting the girls settled into an orphanage in the city. For now, she had to keep her plans to herself…at least until she had more information.
From what Rocco had said earlier, they were planning on going to the United States Embassy in Dili as soon as they got there. Their commander was working with the authorities to replace her passport so she could leave the country. While she was there, she’d find a way to talk to someone about how to adopt Rani, Sinta, and Kemala.
Feeling better about her decision, even if it scared the hell out of her, Piper simply nodded and relaxed against Ace. Even with everything going through her mind, she was asleep within moments.
Commander Storm North pressed his lips together in sympathy and stared at Paul Solberg. He was not a happy man. He’d just been informed that his daughter had been killed in Timor-Leste, and the SEALs who’d been sent to retrieve her had to leave her body behind to escort Piper and three orphans out of the mountains.
“This isn’t happening,” Solberg said in an anguished tone. “Your men were sent over there to get Kalee out! What happened?”
“We don’t have all the details yet,” Storm told the distraught man.
“Can you tell me anything?” Solberg asked. “You said that Piper was rescued…were they together? How did Piper survive and not Kalee? Was there a shootout? Did my daughter put herself in the line of fire to help the others? I wouldn’t put that past her.”
“I honestly don’t know,” the commander said quietly. “As soon as I’m able to connect with my men, after they get to the capital city, I’ll know more.”
Storm watched the older man attempt to get control of his emotions. It was obvious Paul loved his daughter and was devastated. Making death notifications was one of the hardest jobs the commander had, and this one was no exception.
Solberg cleared his throat and said distantly, “When Kalee decided to join the Peace Corps, I wasn’t thrilled, but I thought I’d lucked out and gotten her a position in a safe country. I should’ve put my foot down and refused to let her go. Kalee has too big of a heart. She cares about everyone… After the SEALs get Piper to the capital, are they going to go back and get my Kalee? They can’t just leave her there.”
“Again, sir, I’ll have to talk to my men before I can answer anything definitively. The area is obviously unstable, and with the rebels taking control of the mountainous region around Dili, it will most likely be several weeks, or even months before things are safe enough to attempt any kind of rescue mission.” Storm hated being the barer of such bad news, but he didn’t want to lead the poor man on about their chances.
Solberg didn’t say anything for a long, tense moment. Then he straightened his shoulders and simply said, “I see. You’ll call when you have more information for me?”
“Yes, of course,” Storm promised.
Then Mr. Solberg nodded and said, “I appreciate you coming to my house to tell me the news personally.”
Recognizing a dismissal when he heard one, Commander North nodded. “I’ll be in touch as soon as I can. I’m sorry for your loss.”
Paul nodded and walked him to the front door. Not another word was spoken, and after Mr. Solberg had shut the door behind him, Storm couldn’t decide if the notification had gone well or not.
Of course the man was upset about his daughter…but there was something else going on behind his eyes that Storm couldn’t put his finger on. He’d been in the navy a long time, and he’d given more death notifications than he could count. Every person reacted a little bit differently to hearing the news that a loved one had passed away. But there was something about Paul Solberg’s reaction that seemed…off.
Shaking his head, the commander headed for his car. He didn’t have time to think about it. He needed to look at the maps of the area around Dili and try to come up with a plan to assist his SEALs, and Piper Johnson, in getting out of Timor-Leste in one piece. Intel had indicated that the rebels were quickly moving out of the mountains toward the capital city. And if he didn’t get his team out before that happened, it would make extracting them a hell of a lot more difficult.
The second the door closed behind Storm North, Paul Solberg turned and walked back into his living room. He stood stock still until he heard the vehicle outside start up and drive away.
Then he yelled, “FUCK!” at the top of his lungs.
The pain and anger inside was excruciating—and it made him want to wring Piper Johnson’s neck.
She was the one who’d always encouraged his good little girl to get into trouble. Had even encouraged Kalee’s decision to join the Peace Corps! He had no idea why Kalee had ever befriended her all those years ago. He’d never liked her. She was a little hanger-on. His daughter was beautiful and vivacious; Piper was plain and mousy. His daughter was rich; she was going to do great things with her life. Piper rarely left her apartment.
She was beneath Kalee. In every way that mattered.
He knew she had something to do with Kalee getting killed. But the navy would probably never tell him if she did.
His mind spun with the possibilities of what could have happened. Piper had probably freaked out and started screaming, drawing attention and getting Kalee killed in the chaos. Or maybe Piper had run in terror, and Kalee had gotten shot trying to go after her.
Or his loyal, generous Kalee had sacrificed herself for Piper…
Paul paced furiously as his mind whirled. He’d slept minutes at a time for days, waiting for any news. Too distracted to work, to eat… He had a splitting headache—not the first in recent days—and he couldn’t stop thinking about his little baby girl, in pain and dying alone, helpless, scared to death. The images were burned into his brain, one after the other, and they wouldn’t go away.
Someone was going to pay for Kalee’s death. And that someone was Piper Johnson. She was the reason his daughter was dead. She had to be.
And she’d regret the day she’d decided to go to Timor-Leste. He’d do everything in his power to make sure of it.
Chapter Six
Ace breathed a sigh of relief when the city of Dili came into view. The morning had been a little tense after Phantom and Kemala’s confessions the night before. But they’d set out as the sun was rising and had made it to a fairly large town that seemed not to have been infiltrated by the rebels yet. There were a couple anxious hours as they attempted to find someone who was willing to give them a ride, but eventually they struck a deal with two men who agreed to drive them into the city, for a fee. They’d all quickly piled into the two pickup trucks and started for the capital.
In the back of the truck with him was Rani, Sinta, Piper, Rocco, and Bubba. Phantom, Rex, Gumby, and Kemala were in the back of the other truck. The warm wind felt amazingly good against his face, and Ace closed his eyes for a second as he reveled in the fact they’d finally made it off the mountain.
Ace didn’t know if the men driving were aware of the rebellion going on in the remote areas of their country, but it didn’t matter. He was simply glad they’d found a ride and been able to get Piper and the girls out.
She’d come to the country to visit her friend and for a short vacation, and had almost lost her life. She’d also fallen in love with three orphans—as had Ace.
And he couldn’t deny the spark that seemed to ignite every time Piper looked at him.
Ace had certainly seen his share of coincidences, but he couldn’t help thinking his and Piper’s lives were bound together by the fickle hands of fate.
Rani giggled, and Ace turned to stare at the little girl. She was leaning over the edge of the truck bed, and Piper had a death grip on her T-shirt. It was obvious t
he four-year-old thought this was the most exciting experience of her life…and it probably was. Her hair was blowing all over the place, and he had a feeling it would be almost impossible to get a brush through it, but he didn’t have the heart to make her stop, to pull her back, because of the tiny joy the wind in her face and hair was giving her.
Sinta was right there with her, although she wasn’t leaning quite as far over the side of the truck bed. But she was smiling just as big as Rani.
Watching the two girls enjoy such a simple pleasure made him smile. It was different seeing the world from their perspective. Innocent and joyful.
Piper saw him looking at her and the girls and gifted him with a small grin. She’d been through hell. Her hair was disheveled and dirty, her clothes were covered in mud, she’d lost her best friend…and yet, here she was, smiling.
Ace needed someone like her in his life. Someone who could see the good even when surrounded by the bad. He needed that optimism. That goodness.
Even as he smiled back, Ace knew he didn’t need someone like Piper. He needed her.
As the thought raced through his mind, Piper turned her attention back to Rani and Sinta.
He had plenty of time to convince her to get to know him better when they got back to the States, though. He needed to play things smart, not rush Piper into anything right now. She’d have a lot to deal with when she got home. Losing Kalee, talking to her friend’s father, dealing with the loss of the girls she’d obviously bonded with. Hopefully he could help her with all of that.
The pickup trucks slowed as they neared the city and traffic built up. It took another hour to reach the coast once they got to the outskirts of the city. The plan was to check into a hostel their commander had reserved for them before heading to the US Embassy to check on Piper’s paperwork. Rocco had gotten ahold of him again while they’d been on their way to the city. Ace also knew checking out the nearest orphanage was on the agenda too.
The thought was depressing. And if it was depressing for him, he knew it would be devastating for Piper and the girls.
The trucks stopped in front of a bright turquoise fence surrounding a somewhat rundown-looking building. The sign in front proclaimed it Casa Hinha.
“What’s this?” Piper asked. She was sitting on the bottom of the truck bed, with Rani and Sinta on either side of her.
“It’s a backpacker’s hostel,” Rocco told her. “I know it’s not a fancy hotel, but I’ve been reassured that they have hot water in the showers. We thought it better to blend in and lay low than to check into one of the fancier hotels.”
Piper’s eyes lit up. “Hot water? Those are the magic words. I don’t care what it’s called or what it looks like, as long as I can get clean.”
Ace hopped out of the back of the truck. “Come on. I don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready to be out of the wind.”
Piper nodded eagerly and steadied the girls as they stood and headed for Ace.
Rani held out her arms and Ace smiled down at her. He’d never get tired of their trust and innocence. He lifted the little girl from the truck and when her feet were on the ground, he said softly, “Stay right by my side, Rani. It’s dangerous in the city, don’t run off.”
He waited until she nodded before turning to reach for Sinta. She didn’t hesitate to put her arms around his shoulders as he lifted her from the back of the truck. He noted she took hold of Rani’s hand as soon as she was on the ground, and they both looked for Kemala, who was climbing out of the other truck.
By the time Ace turned back to help Piper, she’d already scooted all the way to the edge of the truck bed. “How’re your feet doing?” he asked, holding out a hand and steadying her as she hopped out.
“They’re good. Airing them out last night did the trick. That, and your last clean pair of socks you gave me this morning.”
“Good. If they start hurting again, let me know and we’ll find a doctor before we head home.”
She frowned at that, and Ace could’ve kicked himself for reminding her they’d soon be leaving. Piper bravely gave him a small smile and nodded before stepping up behind Rani and Sinta and putting her hands on their shoulders.
They all waited outside the gate as Rocco rang the small bell located to the side of the gate. It took some time, but eventually an older woman shuffled out the door and to the gate and said something in Tetum.
Rocco opened his mouth to tell her who they were, and to explain that they didn’t speak the local dialect, but Kemala beat him to it. She began talking to the woman in their native language—and Ace felt ashamed at the unease that coursed through him. None of them knew what Kemala was saying, and the fact that the woman appeared unhappy was a bit worrisome.
But within a minute, the old woman unlocked the gate and swung it open.
“Welcome,” she said in heavily accented English. That seemed to be the extent of her knowledge of the language, because she immediately began speaking in Tetum once more.
The group followed her into the small, dark space. They were about three blocks from the ocean, but the coastal breeze didn’t extend into the hostel at all. The air was stifling and stale, but after what Piper and the girls had been through, he didn’t think they even noticed or cared.
The woman led them to one room with four bunk beds and gestured to the men.
“Boys sleep here,” Kemala translated.
Ace immediately shook his head. “No. Tell her we aren’t sleeping apart from you and the other girls.”
Kemala stared at him for a heartbeat, as if she wanted to say something, but eventually she turned back to the woman and they had a long, drawn-out conversation. The older woman obviously wasn’t happy, but eventually she grunted, nodded, then turned and left the room.
“What’d she say?” Gumby asked.
Kemala shrugged. “She no like. Boys and girls should no sleep in same room. She said yes, but we have to sleep in here on floor.”
Ace clenched his teeth. “Like hell,” he murmured.
“Easy, man,” Rocco said, grabbing his arm and pulling Ace away from the others.
Ace scowled, pitching his voice low. “Fuck that. I know we need to lie low, but this is bullshit. Let’s just go to the Farol Hotel. It’s a block away and we can all have real beds.”
“We’re a group of seven Americans,” Rocco retorted. “We’d stick out like a sore thumb there. Not to mention, we have no luggage and are looking a little rough. They might not even let us in. We aren’t going to be here that long; this is fine.”
“It’s not fine,” Ace protested. “I promised Piper a soft bed and a feather pillow and look what she’s getting.” He threw his arm out toward where Piper, Rani, and Sinta had been standing just outside the room.
But they weren’t there anymore.
Crossing to the doorway, Ace saw that Piper had led the two little girls over to the bunk beds and they’d already taken two of the mattresses off the bed frames, organizing them in the middle of the room. “See? We can all fit just fine here. Just like we did in the jungle,” she told Sinta as she sat in the middle of a mattress.
Rani and Sinta giggled and joined her, bouncing on the old, flat cotton as if it was a king-size bed in the Ritz Carlton.
“That’ll work,” Rex murmured. “We can add one or two more mattresses and rotate watch, and we can still all get some sleep.”
Ace shouldn’t have been surprised that Piper had made a bad situation fun for the girls. She’d been surprising him ever since the first moment he’d met her. He knew she’d probably kill for a bed of her own after spending the last week either smooshed up against the girls or using his body as a mattress, but she’d found a way to make the best out of their current situation instead of pitching a fit—like he was.
Rocco put his hand on Ace’s shoulder. His voice lowered, so Kemala couldn’t overhear him. “We need to shower and get those girls something else to wear. Piper too. Also…Commander North called the one state-run orphanage in the
capital after talking to me earlier, and they said they were completely full and couldn’t take any more kids. He even offered—according to him—a good chunk of money, and was still turned down.”
“Fuck. So what now?” Ace asked.
“He did manage to find another private-run home for orphaned children. It’s run by a woman named Amisha, but there were few other details.”
Ace wanted to protest. Wanted to ask what was in it for the woman, but he kept his mouth shut. They literally didn’t have any other choice at the moment.
“Fine, but I want to take Piper to check it out before we agree to anything.”
Rocco nodded. “I figured that. We have an appointment in about two hours with Amisha to tour her home. Two of us can go with Piper to the private orphanage and two can stay here with the girls.”
“And the other two?” Ace asked.
“They’ll head out to the American Embassy and start proceedings for us getting the hell out of here. The commander’s been in touch with them, and they’re expecting to see some of us today. They’re aware why we’re here. We’ll be catching an Australian military bird out of here, and after Piper sees a medical doctor in Sydney, we’ll catch another military bird back to California.”
Ace nodded. He hadn’t been privy to the conversations between Rocco and their commander, in part because he’d been spending so much time with Piper and the girls, but the extraction plan sounded about right.
Gumby had been close enough to overhear their conversation, and said, “Phantom and I can head out and find some clothes for Piper and the girls…at least to tide them over.”
Ace nodded. “And some snacks. They’re probably hungry and have to be sick of MREs by now. Oh, and see if you can find Rani and Sinta a stuffed animal or toy or something? It might help them acclimate. And I don’t know what Kemala would like, but maybe something special for her too.”
