“Damn. You’re right.” The crinkles on Nate’s worried forehead smoothed instantly. “Sonofabitch. You think Wyatt gave her up?”
“Wait. What are you talking about?” Gracie interrupted. She hated that they were having this discussion about her when she was standing right there.
Nate looked at her with a somber expression. “You saw the picture, Gracie. You know what was done to Craig. There’s only one reason someone does that to a person.”
Yeah. She knew. “To get information.”
“Right.”
Gracie shook her head. “No. Craig wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t knowingly put me in danger like that.” Hating the sympathy flashing in his eyes, she looked to the phone again. “Matt, you said yourself he didn’t put any details in the letter for fear he’d be putting me in danger. Why would he be all covert about whatever it was he had on Yavuz, just to turn around and give me up to him anyway. No, I’m sorry. I don’t believe he would do that. Not for a second.”
The picture of Craig’s mutilated body ran through her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut to make it stop, sending a tear she didn’t even realize had formed down her cheek. Cursing, Nate squeezed her shoulder as he tried to comfort her.
Gracie opened her damp eyes and looked into his again. She pleaded with him to believe what she was saying about her friend.
“Craig was a good, kind man, Nate. He was funny and sweet. Most importantly, he was a Navy SEAL. Now, I may not have been in the military, but I understand what that means. What kind of training he had to go through. And, I know we weren’t friends for all that long, but Craig never would have given my name to Yavuz or anyone else. No matter what. In my heart, I know that.”
“I agree,” Matt said through the phone’s speaker. “I read Wyatt’s record. He was as tough as they come. He would have known they’d kill him after he gave them the one thing they wanted anyway. Don’t see a man like Wyatt giving Yavuz that much satisfaction.”
Nate nodded. “It’s possible Yavuz found out you and Craig spent time together and he assumed Craig gave you whatever evidence he had. A man like Yavuz would’ve grasped at any size straw to find something that important. With his money and resources, it’s not really a stretch to think your name popped up as a possibility.”
Gracie reached up and squeezed the hand still covering her shoulder. “Thank you.” She wasn’t sure why, but Nate’s opinion of Craig mattered to her.
He took a deep breath and went back to Matt. “So, what’s the plan?”
“We keep digging.”
“Why not use Craig’s letter?” Gracie asked both men. “We could take it to the authorities. Somehow get it to President Russell so he’d know not to sign that treaty. If that was Craig’s goal in this whole thing then maybe, if we do that, Yavuz won’t have a reason to come after me.”
“Can’t,” was Matt’s only response.
“Why not?”
Nate answered for him. “There’s no proof. Right now, all we have is Craig’s word that he hadsomethingon Yavuz.”
“Nate’s right, Gracie,” Matt agreed. “We have no evidence of Yavuz doing anything illegal. Without knowing what it was Craig supposedly sent to you, we have to sit on this until we have tangible proof to take to President Russell.”
“So, we’re back to square one.” She didn’t even bother to hide her frustration.
“More like square two,” Matt answered her. “At least we know now, with one hundred percent certainty, that what happened to both you and Wyatt are related. We also know that Edric Yavuz is definitely involved. So, really, we’re at like square three.”
Matt was trying to make her smile again, but it didn’t work. Gracie wiped her eyes dry and asked, “What now? Do we just stay here?”
“That’s what Gabe wants. For now, he’s ordered the two of you to remain there and Sarah and Kole are continuing their pre-wedding whatever it is.”
Resigned, she walked away. Standing by the sliding door, Gracie stared out at the water, wishing like hell she and Nate were out there swimming instead of in here, learning that her friend may very well have gotten her killed.
From behind her, Nate finished up the call with his teammate.
“Thanks, Turner. Appreciate the update. I’ll try to keep looking on my end, though without knowing what it is I’m looking for, it’s going to be the luck of the draw.”
“I hear ya, man. I’ll be in touch if and when we find something. Stay safe.”
“You, too.”
Nate’s soft footsteps travelled closer before a set of strong, caring arms wrapped around her from behind. Pulling her back against his chest, Nate kissed the top of her head.
“It’s going to be okay, Gracie.”
