“Her company does charity work.”
“It’s more than that. Like I told you, she showed up in Nigeria for no reason.”
“Willow is there.”
“You really aren’t this dense, Midas.”
“It’s not about being dense,” Stone said. “This is normal for Brooke. She vanishes for weeks, months at a time. Nobody hears from her. Then she’s back. All sweet and honey. That’s her M.O. Wasn’t good for her marriage or her girls.”
Canyon felt bad for the guy. “Look, we don’t want you to get burned, and we’re not blowing you off, but this is Classic Brooke.” He shifted and edged nearer. “And hey, we know this probably dredges up a lot of memories about your sister—”
“Don’tgo there. This is totally different from Fallon …” Considering them, lips pursed, he finally nodded. “As for Brooke, I think you’re wrong. Have a bad feeling she’s in trouble. She asked about MiLE’s work in Thailand. That’s specific. Too specific,” Cord said evenly, then grunted. Shook his head in annoyance. “I need to go. But get that team spun up. Plan to head east and I’ll see what I can coordinate on this side.”
“I’ll reach out to Leif. He’s might be over there now.”
Cord nodded and disconnected.
Chewing all that intel, Canyon lowered himself to the leather sofa in the living room. “Range called Dani.”
Pivoting, Stone scowled. “What?”
He sniffed. “Yeah, surprised me, too. She found a voicemail on her phone and wasn’t sure if she should return the call. Encouraged her to do it, but Range just cut her off. Said to never mind, so I called him.”
“I think I might need to sit down.”
Canyon smirked. “Couldn’t believe he answered. Asked him about the Nigerian girls who vanished when he and Omen interdicted in the Canary Islands.” He remembered that call, Range’s voice. “He bit my head off, but … something was eating at him.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Stone asked, lowering himself to the recliner and smoothing a hand over his big Malinois, Grief.
“The old Range, the one who hugged grudges tighter than his M4? He wouldn’t have answered my call. Hadn’t in the last ten years. Not since Dani and I returned from the Philippines.” He had to own a lot of the strife between himself and Range. “Anyway, I think he somehow knew on that call that he was in over his head.” He cracked his knuckles. “He’s changed … Never could’ve imagined seeing him in a situation like that, taking on a half-dozen men. Being willing to risk humiliation and marriage to keep his package alive.”
“And I never imagined Brooke calling someone like Taggart.”
Canyon sniffed. “Copy that.”
“Think we should be concerned about her?”
Although he wanted to shrug it off—Brooke had always given them the snotty end of her nose—she was a Metcalfe. “We do all seem to be attracting trouble lately.” He shrugged. “A call wouldn’t hurt … much.”
“Agreed. I think we both should put in a call.” Stone pursed his lips, blue eyes weighted with concern. “A lot sure has changed in our family in the last year,” he said. “And it seems we have a new sister-in-law.”
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Kandahar Province, Afghanistan
They couldn’t riskthe border into Pakistan. Not after the mosque. So Range had headed east as the imam and his men expected, but banked sharply south a half-klick out. Took a road that was more hole than pot, which wreaked havoc on his wound. Miserable ride, especially since he wasn’t taking it slow. Couldn’t afford to. But at least it muffled her crying. A sound that somehow carved a hard line through in his chest as he aimed them into Pakistan.
He finally found a partially paved road and nailed the gas. It had a ton of road noise which made chitchat impossible. Suited him fine. No idea what to say. There was obviously the whole “married” thing hanging between them like some concrete barrier. Was the marriage real? As inlegit-real. Recognizable by authorities? Clearly Kasra thought it was, or she wouldn’t have gone silent.
Could be that her best friend just sacrificed himself for her, idiot.
He had to work up the courage to speak. “Sorry about Zaki.”
Kasra shifted, her gaze bouncing in his direction but not quite finding him.
A little disappointed that she didn’t say anything, he decided to keep his trap shut. Had no idea what she thought of him. Of their … situation.
They hadn’t signed any documents, so the marriage wasn’t real. Right?
