He dropped his hands to his sides and took a step closer to the monitor. “Fighting for our Tridents would have been enough. Getting justice forHunterwould have been enough.” His throat worked a hard swallow. “But it’s been three fucking years since we lost both, and…from what I can tell, it doesn’t look like you’ve done jack shit about either one.”
“You have no idea what I’ve done behind the scenes.”
“I knowwe’rethe ones out here risking our lives to uncover the truth.”
He’d give up his life it meant getting their fallen brother the justice he deserves and his teammates—and Hunter’s widow, who was now Logan’s wife—some damn peace.
“I’d hoped to be on the tarmac when you and your team lands.” Webb abruptly changed the topic of conversation as he slid his unwavering gaze Logan’s way. “Unfortunately, there’s an urgent matter here that requires my attention.”
“Regarding us?” Logan asked point-blank.
SECNAV shook his head. “This is a different fire that needs to be extinguished, altogether. And, though I wish it weren’t, it’s one I need to personally oversee. I’ll get to Seattle when I’m able, but in the meantime, find out what you can from Miss Dawari,” Webb reiterated. “I’ll reach back out as soon as I can.”
Logan nodded with an immediate, “Copy that.”
“Watch your backs, gentlemen.” Webb’s dark eyes slid to Van’s. “That goes forallof you. From what my contacts have shared, the woman is a damn good liar and about as deadly as they come.”
“We can handle her.” Van’s unmoving stare never wavered.
“For your sake, I hope that’s true.” To Logan, Webb added, “Let me know when you land. Keep her someplace secure and out of sight until my men and I can get there.”
“Any idea when that will be?” the former SEAL asked.
“A day. Possibly two. Depends on how things go with the other fire I mentioned. With any luck, that will be handled sooner rather than later. In the meantime, keep me abreast of the situation with Miss Dawari.”
“What happens once you get to Seattle?” Chase asked next.
“My men and I will take her into custody.”
“Hang on…” Lucky inched closer to the screen. “If this is all supposed to be off-book, won’t any intelligence we gather from our interrogation of her be inadmissible in a court of law?”
Secretary Webb’s intelligent stare slid to the Hollywood handsome operative and asked, “Who said anything about taking her to court?”
The screen went black as the Naval Secretary ended the call before Lucky or anyone else could respond. Silence ensued as they all processed what the Secretary of the Navy had just said.
Remaining seated, Chase’s blue gaze scanned the group as a whole before the talented sniper asked, “Does that mean what I think it does?”
Archer sent his brown eyes the other man’s way. With a hushed voice, he said, “If you think Webb meant he’s going to make sure Kaamisha Dawari disappears once we’re finished getting whatever intel we can from her, then…yeah.” He nodded, not looking the least bit pleased. “I’d say you’re on the right track.”
Lucky glanced toward the back of the plane, lowering his voice as well. “I mean, I’m all for getting justice for Hunterand Nat.” He mentioned Logan’s wife, who was married to Hunter at the time of the man’s death. “But if Webb’s talking about committing cold-blooded murder?—”
“What the hell do you think those bastards did when they put a bullet into Hunt’s neck?” Van shot his teammate a glare.
Blue eyes that saw too much didn’t so much as flinch at Van’s counter. “You can’t seriously be okay with this. Trust me, I’m just as pissed off about what happened to Hunter as you are, but…” The computer genius gave a hard shake of his head. “This isn’t the way we do things, and you damn well know it.”
Maybe that’s the whole problem.
But even as the coldhearted thought entered Van’s mind, he knew his teammate was right. They may have taken their fair share of lives, but it was always a known and proven enemy. Their deaths were more than justified and always resulted in innocent lives being saved.
Whether it be back in their SEAL days or more recently, as operatives working for Eagle’s Nest, it didn’t matter. If anyone on their team took a life, it was because they’d been left with no other choice.
So, yeah. Killing in self-defense or in the process of saving an innocent life was one thing. Playing judge, jury, and executioners to a woman theysuspectedwas involved in the ambush that killed their friend…
Van blew out a breath and ran a hand over his well-trimmed beard. Though he’d never admit it out loud, Lucky was right.
But if it turned out the intel they’d been given was right, and they proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Kaamisha Dawari was the puppet master behind their team’s final mission as Navy SEALs…
I’ll hand her over to the authorities without a spec of guilt in my veins and a smile on my fucking face.
