“The number-two man, Crafty Lamar—the one who killed Naomi—also got arrested, but everyone was too terrified to testify against him, so they let him go too.”
“What a cluster,” Greystone said.
“It gets worse,” she added. “All twelve women have gone missing.”
“And you think top brass at The Sovereign Method had something to do with that?” Teddy asked.
“One hundred percent,” Sydney replied.
It was decided that BLACK OPS would breach the cabin Sunday at three in the morning.
“If we’re lucky, we find all five terrorists at the cabin,” Greystone said, “and we destroy them.”
“Nothing in life is ever that easy,” Teddy said.
“We’ll find something,” Sydney said. “I just know it.”
THANKSGIVING WASONE of two days where Teddy did his best to tune out work and focus on family. Dinner with Sydney, her parents, and Caroline and Greystone, was filled with stories from holidays past. He loved hearing about the woman he was going to spend his life with. Loved watching her interact with her mom and her dad. While she and her mom were close, she was definitely daddy’s girl.
As he was smashing potatoes in a pot, Sydney’s dad sidled over. “How’s Sydney doing?”
Teddy didn’t know him well enough to know how to answer that, so in true Teddy form, he asked, “Do you want the good news or the bad news?”
Mark Austin’s eyebrows shot into his forehead. “Bad?”
“She’s exceptionally dedicated to her career and she gives one hundred percent, one hundred percent of the time,” he said. “It’s a ton of pressure for her to shoulder.”
“I know.” Mark nodded. “She’s been like that since she was a child.”
“She’s a hella markswoman. Very impressive.” Teddy finished the potatoes. “Mrs. Austin, where’s the bowl?”
Kathrine moved near, peered inside. “Whipped to perfection.” She added a few heaping tablespoons of butter. “I’ll heat these.”
“What else can I do?”
“Call me Kathrine,” she said with a smile before she scooted off with the pot.
Teddy eyed Sydney and Caroline huddled close on the sofa talking while Greystone watched the football game.
“Those two are close,” Mark said. “Kathrine and I are fortunate for that. Sydney was the sweetest big sister, alwayslooking out for Car, even when she was going through her own stuff.”
“Sydney’s an amazing woman.”
“She is,” Mark replied. “So… I could use some good news.”
“She’s got me, if she wants me. I want to be the person she can count on, for whatever, whenever.”
Mark slapped him on the back, then extended his hand. “I appreciate that. She said you’re a good man—the best—which makes me happy… and a little sad. No dad wants to be replaced.”
“You’re not,” Teddy said. “I’m just getting looped into the mayhem.”
Mark threw his head back and laughed. “Are you talking about the conversation you overheard the other night when Z and Gabriel were here?”
“That was nothing,” Teddy said. “Did you hear what happened when the mission went down?”
“Gabriel is a loose cannon,” Mark said. “He had to drop off the grid.”
“He’s always been dangerous and reckless,” Teddy said. “If he’s not careful, he’ll get himself killed.”
