Sitting up a little straighter, Matt told the group about the man on the screen.
“Adrian Walker was a member of a FAST platoon I tagged along with on an op a few years back. I served as their medic for the duration of the mission.”
Nate leaned over closer to Gracie and quietly explained, “FAST stands for Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team. It’s part of the Marine Corps Security Forces Regiment.”
Confused, she addressed Matt. “So, this guy was on an anti-terrorism team and then, what? He left the Marines to become a terrorist, himself?”
“Yep.”
It was obvious Matt was still very much affected by what happened.
“Why would he do that?”
Matt shrugged. “Same reason people do all sorts of crazy, stupid things, Gracie. Money.”
Jake clicked another button, and the picture on the screen switched again. Looking back at them now was a group of soldiers.
Gracie immediately recognized Matt, appearing almost invincible in his camo combat gear. Standing to his right, looking every bit as patriotic as the others, was Adrian Walker.
“Six years ago—” Matt began. “Their team and I were stationed near a small village a few miles south of Kuwait. We were guarding a high profile naval installation. One involving nukes. Everything was going as planned. Then, one day, Walker just up and vanished.”
“He went AWOL.” Zade surmised.
Matt nodded. “At first, we thought he’d been captured by the enemy. Spent weeks busting our asses looking for him. Every day we’d wake up, thinking that was going to be the day we either got a ransom demand or worse, a video of Walker’s execution. But, nothing ever came. A few months after the op ended, I learned he’d switched sides.”
“Walker began selling US military intel,” Jake jumped in. “Names of men and women currently serving. Locations where they’d been stationed and what their objectives were. If he knew it, he found someone willing to buy it.”
“So, he fucked us.” Gabe sounded almost as pissed off as Matt.
Matt pointed at the picture. “Thanks to that bastard, the entire military intelligence community was chasing its own ass for months. They had to re-route and re-plan all kinds of shit just to keep our people safe. More recently, he’s turned gun for hire. The problem is he’s always a step ahead and stays just outside our reach.”
“Until today. Our girl, here, nearly took him down.” Zade looked at Gracie and winked.
Gracie felt herself blushing but did her best not to react. She never did like being the center of attention.
“That’s right,” Jake agreed. “Walker’s back, and apparently, whoever he’s working for now has hired him and Akmar to take Gracie.”
“And possibly Sarah, too, from the sounds of it.” Kole looked to his fiancée, his loving eyes filled with worry.
“But, why?”
Gracie knew she sounded desperate, but she didn’t care. Someone had just tried to freaking kidnap her, for crying out loud. She should at least know the reason why.
Gabe addressed her directly. “Are you sure you can’t think of any reason these guys would be after you?”
“No!” She sighed. “Don’t you think, especially after what just happened, I would tell you if I knew something?”
Gabe put his hands up defensively. “Had to ask. I’m sorry.”
Nate gently rubbed his hand up and down her back. When she turned to him, Gracie saw something different in his eyes. It was the exact same look each of the other men had.
“Youknow something, though. Don’t you?” She glanced around the room, her gaze landing on Jake’s. “If you know what’s going on, then tell me.” When the room remained silent, she raised her voice. “This is mylifewe’re talking about. My family’s life! If you know—”
“We don’t know anything for certain,” Jake cut her off. “But we do have reason to believe that what’s been happening to you is somehow related to Craig Wyatt’s death.”
Gracie felt her eyes grow big as saucers. “Craig? I-I didn’t even know he’d been killed until the day I came in here and saw that horrible picture.”
“Gracie, did Wyatt ever give you anything?” Gabe continued his questioning. “Any sort of gift or maybe something he asked you to hold onto for safekeeping while he was in the hospital?”
