You couldn’t just move on from something like that. Any more than you could just move on and forget losing a parent to cancer.
Those feelings were still there. Buried but ready to surface at any time. Like the overwhelming punch of emotion that had hit him on seeing the LC.
But if Taylor had been surprised by the exuberance of the bro-hug John had subjected him to, he didn’t show it. Actually, John suspected the always-serious, do-it-by-the-book officer was just as happy to see him. SEALs were pack animals—the lone-survivor stuff sucked.
John wasn’t sure why the LC had decided to risk meeting in person, but he wasn’t going to question it.
“Sorry,” John said. “I didn’t sleep much last night.” As in at all.
“Is this about Blake’s sister? I thought you said she’d agreed to keep quiet.”
John nodded. “She said she would bury the article.”
He’d won. He’d gotten what he wanted. But he didn’t feel as if he’d won at all. He felt as if he’d used the love of the only woman he’d ever cared about against her.
“If you loved me as I love you...”
He could still see her face when she’d told him that she loved him—and the hurt and disappointment when he hadn’t replied. He felt that gnawing in his gut again. That swell of unease that he just couldn’t shake.
Coward.
“I can keep a few guys on her if you are still worried about her being a target.”
He was still worried, but he didn’t have any reason to be. Of course, when it came to Brittany, he and reason seemed to part ways more often than not.
“Yeah, I’d appreciate it.” The break-in and attack in Norway might not be related, but he still couldn’t forget that guy. He’d been a professional—of that he was certain. But it seemed as if it was a coincidence.
Or maybe he was just inventing more excuses to go back to her.
“So, what’s this about, LC? Does Kate have something for us? Are we any closer to finding out what the hell happened out there?”
Taylor shook his head and filled John in on everything that had happened the past few days with the rear admiral and discovering that General Murray, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was Brittany’s source.
“You’re fucking kidding me.”
The LC shook his head. “Nope. He wants the Russians to pay for what happened to us and for his son’s death.”
“Even if it means war?”
The LC nodded.
“So, Kate and Colt are working together?” John asked, watching the LC’s expression.
He didn’t give away anything. “She’s keeping him from getting on a plane to Russia.”
“And you’re sure that’s a bad idea? Maybe he can find something.”
“That’s what I’m worried about. He could blow this thing wide open.”
John hesitated. “Maybe shaking it up to see whether something comes loose is what we need.”
John was aware that he was repeating Brittany’s argument, but he didn’t care. She hadn’t been all wrong.
The LC shook his head. “Forget it. I’m not risking any of your lives. We just need to be a little more patient. Kate will find something.” As if on cue, his phone buzzed. “That’s her now.”
John could only hear half the conversation, but from the “no” and occasional curse, he knew it wasn’t good.
As soon as the LC disconnected, John asked, “What happened?”
