“What is it?” He was leaving something out.
“If there was a third guy with us…where is he now? Was he given to someone else? Was he killed? Should his family know?” He shook his head. “Would they want to know?”
“That’s a tough call,” she said. “It would give them hope, but it might be false hope. Tell the debriefers and let them decide. At the very least, they can change his status to missing in action instead of killed in action.”
Braedon bumped her with his shoulder. “How’d you get so smart?”
She smirked. “I got all the good genes.”
“That’s because I got all the good looks—I had to leave you with something.”
Addison stuck out her tongue and crossed her eyes. He retaliated by poking her in the ribs.
A knock on the door interrupted their burgeoning wrestling match. “Am I interrupting?” A woman in uniform stood in the doorway, a stethoscope hanging around her neck. One of the nurses stood behind her, trying not to laugh.
“Hey, Doc,” Braedon said. “She’s picking on me. Beating up on me when I’m weak and defenseless.”
The woman came into the room. “I’m sure that’s exactly what happened. Up on the bed so we can get your vitals and go over some things for your transfer.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He stood and hopped up on the bed.
She held out her hand to Addison. “Lieutenant Colonel Justice. I was on leave through yesterday so I wasn’t here when you arrived.”
Addison grinned, thinking about when the doctor would have been Major Justice and how kick-ass that would have been. “Addison Foster. That one’s sister.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Colonel Justice said. “I heard about what you did. It’s truly inspiring.”
“I—” Addison blushed, at a loss for words. What was she supposed to say to that?
Colonel Justice smiled. “Better get used to it. People are going to want to talk to you as much as they’re going to want to talk to your brother.”
“I didn’t really do anything.”
“Bullshit!” Braedon said.
She shot him a dirty look.
“He’s right,” Colonel Justice said. “You didn’t give up. You didn’t take no for an answer. And then you traveled halfway around the world and rescued your brother from a human trafficking ring. I’d say that’s more than not doing anything.”
“Uh…well…thank you. I had a lot of help.”
She smiled. “You’re welcome.”
“I’m…gonna go…do something else while you poke him.” Addison pointed toward the door. “Feel free to poke him hard.”
“I heard that,” Braedon said.
The doctor laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
* * *
Addison yawned and rubbed her palms over her eyes. The worst part of military flights were the ridiculous show times. Why did they need to be at the terminal two hours before the flight? At least they were in the VIP lounge instead of the regular waiting area.
She looked up when the door opened. Paige entered the lounge, followed by Graham. The door closed behind them. It was just them.
Her heart plunged, and that uncomfortable sense of disappointment roiled her stomach. She plastered on a big smile.
“Hey. What are you guys doing here?”
