Chapter 13

DAMOCLES SAFE HOUSE, ABU DHABI, UAE

Germaine's head lolled forward, body strained against hands tied around the backside of the chair. He squeezed his eyes closed momentarily. Laughed.

A sound that Davis was growing tired of. He clenched his fist around the lead in his hand while he stood guard with Fury in the corner of the room. The shepherd's loud barks echoed off the hard walls.

They'd paused the music to ask Germaine their list of questions over and over. Still nothing. Add to that, he was still trying to figure out what Fury had hit on earlier with Hollyn.

Figure it out later.

Macklin took a break. Turned away with an almost imperceptible shake of his head to Davis.

"You Americans." The Frenchman hauled in a ragged breath. Spat onto the floor. Their eyes met. Exhaustion was written all over Germaine's face. "Always think you have the upper hand. Think you know everything."

Fury traded off whining and barking.

"Yeah?" Macklin spoke firmly. "What don't we know?"

"For starters," Germaine spat again, "you don't even know who you're looking for. And to think any of this will make me tell you?" He huffed. "You'll have to do better."

Macklin held the guy's gaze evenly. "I'd say we got our man."

Germaine's lip curled. The grin that replaced it was unexpected and began to look half-crazed as the guy sized them up. His breathing was slightly strained. No matter what he said, they were getting to him. "No . . . " The word stretched out. "You're not even close. Did you really think we'd make it that easy on you?"

Davis worked to keep his expression neutral. Wasn't the first time a hostage had tried to lie their way out of things. But the twerp flashed to mind. Davis ran through the series of events back on Zahda Island. Did they have this wrong? The getaway van. Had that been Archie saving himself and Germaine taking the fall? Not a hostage extraction like they'd thought? That kid had never sat right with Davis. Maybe this was the reason why.

In the surveillance monitor attached to the wall behind Germaine, Davis could see Chapel approaching. Turned to Macklin. "Taking five."

Davis stepped into the hall with his partner. Heard the music restart before Macklin stepped into the hallway but gave Davis space. "Got a second?" Davis asked their CO.

Chapel nodded. "Sure."

They turned. Walked back the way he'd come.

"Any luck tracing the IP address?" Davis asked.

"None. It's a dead end."

"Germaine's claiming he isn't the one we're looking for." Davis unclipped Fury's lead.

Chapel grunted. "Not the first time we've heard that."

"I'm aware." Davis took a breath. This was either going to be the right call or the dumbest thing he'd ever suggested to a CO. "Look. We've already been at this three days. Time isn't on our side." Here went nothing. "I think we should let him go."

Chapel drew up short. Pinned him with a hard look. "Not really in the business of releasing known arms dealers, Ledger."

AKA: stand down.

But Davis wasn't one to back down when he had a dog in the fight—literally. "If we let him think he's pulled one over on us by escaping, Fury can track him. Germaine will lead us exactly where we need to be."

At the mention of his name, the RMWD wagged his tail.

"Everything we've got leads to him."

"I'm not questioning he's your man. All I'm suggesting is, if there's a chance someone else is behind this, we find out."

Chapel eyed him. "And if your plan goes south? You gonna tell the families of his victims that we just let him walk?"

Davis believed in this plan. "We'll have eyes on him the whole time. Fury hasn't failed a mission yet." Davis might have, but the lug never had. "What if Germaine is a cover for him? If he's our guy, we can't leave him in the wind. Either way, we need him, and Germaine's the fastest route."

Taking a deep breath, Davis waited for a dressing-down. He wasn't even part of this team, technically. They'd been tracking Germaine far longer than he had. The stakes were high.

"I hear you. And agree." Chapel didn't look happy. Then again, he usually didn't. "But if Germaine gives us the slip, then the blame rests on you."

Davis knew the operator would make good on that. "Understood."

"Get ready to move."

With a nod, Davis strode to the room his things were in.

From the bed, Fury watched him prep their gear.

"You ready to work your tracking magic?" Davis asked the RMWD. "It's all on us."

Fury barked. He was ready for whatever came, no doubt.

Davis ruffed the dog's head. "Sorry. Didn't mean to insult you."

The shepherd slicked his warm tongue over Davis's hand.

Remember, this isn't forever.

The clock was counting down on their time together. Davis cleared his throat. He'd have to keep himself in check. Working with the lug was starting to feel too natural. Too effortless. "Come on." He stood and tapped his leg. They needed to find Hollyn.

When he came upon the kitchen, Glace was there eating an apple.

She scanned the dog and then him. "Some plan you came up with."

"I stand behind it one hundred percent."

Glace nodded. "Chapel said we're rolling out as soon as Germaine pulls off his big escape. Should be sometime tonight. From the looks of it, he's out cold right now." She nodded to a small screen on the counter.

Germaine was slouched forward in the chair, unmoving. Sleep could only be fought so long.

"We're ready." Davis peered into the empty living room. "You seen Hollyn around?"

"Out on the terrace."

Davis nodded. Stalked that way.

Terrace was a generous term for the cracked brick patio at the back of the safe house. But Glace was right—Hollyn had perched on a chair out here. Palm trees dotting the property provided some shade from the bright sunset. The Abu Dhabi sky had some of the most vibrant colors he'd seen.

When he and Fury approached, she quickly wiped at her face. "Hey." She spoke to him but didn't look over. Instead, she kept her gaze trained on the sand dunes beyond the house.

"Hey. Been looking for you." Davis sank onto a chair next to Hollyn. Tugged Fury's KONG from his pocket. The shepherd went crazy with anticipation. Davis chucked the toy into the air, and Fury tore off after it, sand pluming up behind him. "You okay?" he asked Hollyn.

It was a dumb question. He knew that the second it came out of his mouth—because he might not be a rocket scientist, but he could tell she'd been crying.

She sniffed. "No. My parents are dead, Leila's dead"—her voice broke—"Archie's being held who knows where. Maybe he's dead too." Hollyn wiped her face again.

Fury raced back. Dropped the now slobbery toy in Davis's lap. Davis threw it again.

"I just want this to end." Her eyes slid closed. Chin bobbed. "How much longer is this going to go on, Davis?"

Without thinking, he reached over and clasped her hand. There wasn't much that could bring him to the threshold of tears, but seeing her like this pushed him dangerously close to the limit. He hated seeing her this broken. "It's gonna be okay, Hol."

It wasn't a platitude or an empty promise. If it took everything he had to give, he would make things better for her.

The realization made him pause and mull over what that meant—what she meant—to him.

For the first time, she looked to him. His heart sank at the sight of her red eyes and splotchy face. Her fingers tightened around his, but the smile she offered wasn't convincing. "You have no idea how badly I want to believe that."

He forced a grin. "Hey. Have some faith in us, okay?" He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze.

"I do." She ran a finger under her eyes before wiping it along her jeans. "I keep trying to tell myself there's a reason for this. A purpose in the pain." Hollyn blew out a wobbly breath. "God hasn't abandoned me, even if I feel like it sometimes."

That statement hit him square in the chest.

"But now and then, grief just"—her voice hitched—"smacks me upside the head, and it's hard to see what's true. You know?"

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Didn't know what he could say. He did know but still hadn't found the courage to actually open up a dialogue with the Big Man. How would that even go after so many years of silence?

Fury skidded to a stop, hitting Davis's knees hard, and dropped the toy. Nudged it with his nose a couple times, laser-like focus pinned to the KONG. When it came to fetch, manners went out the window. It wasn't lost on him that Fury's behavior toward Hollyn had done a one-eighty since their last interaction. He was acting like she didn't exist. Davis didn't like that he couldn't pinpoint why.

"Have you guys had any luck with finding out who tried to hack the lab files?"

Davis shook his head. "None."

"Thanks for trying. You and your team have been pretty incredible." Hollyn released a weighted sigh. "I definitely couldn't do what you do."

Guilt peppered his gut. Last team he'd been on, he'd failed miserably. Davis tossed the toy, then rapped his knuckles on the arm of the chair. "They aren't my team."

Might as well come clean.

"Oh, sorry." She considered him with concern. "I just assumed . . . Where's your unit?"

Gone. Along with the career he'd tanked.

"I'm not in the Army anymore." Davis bounced his knee. "I was medically retired."

"What happened? I know the military was all you wanted to do."

The innocent statement was salt in a wound that would never close. "A mission went south. I was at fault." So much for instilling confidence in his ability to protect her. "A good buddy of mine . . . died." No reason to get into specifics. Couldn't anyway. "I was injured. My shoulder didn't heal to a level that satisfied the medical board, so they retired me. Sent me packing."

"Davis," Hollyn whispered.

Yep. That right there was the exact reason he'd avoided talking about this in the first place. Pity. Shouldn't have gone back on his decision.

"I got the call about your parents a few hours after I formally separated from the military. Fury and I jumped on the first flight we could."

"I'm so sorry, Davis."

Fury demanded he throw the toy again. He tried to fake the shepherd out, but it didn't work. Only succeeded in nearly getting himself bit. He chucked the KONG.

"But . . . I don't understand," Hollyn went on. "If you're out, how is Fury with you? He was in the military too, right? And he doesn't seem old enough to be retired."

"We both got injured on the op, but when they tried to put Fury back to work, it didn't go over well."

Deep red and orange leached from the sky as darkness began to press in.

Fury panted happily. Tried to get Davis to throw his toy for the seventy-fifth time.

"He was on a one-way train to the Rainbow Bridge when someone suggested I take him. So I made arrangements with a buddy who procures dogs for A Breed Apart in Texas. We're heading that way after things are wrapped up here."

"Oh." The word was small. "So, as soon as this is over, you're leaving?"

Mayday! There was a bite to the words he hadn't seen coming.

"Whoa, that's not what I?—"

"No, I get it." She was on her feet in the next instant. "I mean, why would you stay? There's nothing here for you, right?"

Hold up. When had this turned into an argument and he the bad guy? "Hollyn?—"

"Ledger." Hale stepped outside. Nodded Davis inside. "Germaine's coming to."

"Got it." Davis stood, glanced to Hollyn, not wanting to leave her and this convo in such a bad state.

"What's going on?" Hollyn asked quietly as they all started back into the building.

He looked down at her. The argument had apparently been forgotten already. Worry replaced it. "Germaine's waking up. We're giving him an opportunity to escape and we'll follow him. Should lead us to Archie."

"Should?"

Hale turned back to them as he walked. "I'll hold back here with her. The rest of you are with Chapel."

"Copy." Davis banked left into his room. Slid Fury's vest on, then started gearing up. Hollyn followed.

She slowly sank onto the bed. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"It's the fastest way to find the—your friend." Probably shouldn't call the guy a twerp, considering the situation. Didn't want to start up another beef between them.

She was quiet long enough that he paused. Her bottom lip was tucked into her mouth, and he could see worry darkening her features.

"It's all good, Hol."

Make her believe it.

"This is what we've been trained to do."

She nodded. "Right. You and Fury with a team that's not yours . . . " She shrugged. "It's just—I'm concerned. I can't help it."

Davis shouldered into his ruck and tugged her from the bed. The way she willingly went into his arms pulled at his conscience and words too quickly spoken. She was putting aside whatever that'd been back on the terrace. Choosing instead to part on good terms. Her head on his vested chest and the feel of her arms around his waist was the stuff men around the world would envy him for. She deserved to be valued every day of her life. Arguments or good times, he wanted it all. Wanted her.

Didn't know what the future held, but he did know if he made it out of this, he wasn't leaving her alone another day in her life. If she'd have him.

"Hale will be here if you need anything." He steeled himself against the sudden intense urge to say he loved her. Wasn't putting that on her if the mission went sideways. "Stay inside, okay?"

When she pulled back, he noted her chin quiver. But she met his gaze straight on. Even grinned. "I will. You guys be safe." Her face twisted up. "I don't know, is that an oxymoron?"

Davis chuckled. "I'll take it."

So this was what it felt like to have someone that cared waiting for him when he went on a mission. Pretty sweet gig.

Fury turned in a tight circle at the bedroom door.

Davis took Hollyn's small hand in his and led her to the living room, where the rest of the team was prepping.

"I want everyone ready in five," Chapel ordered. "Get Ledger a gun."

Davis took the M4 Nazari handed him. Checked it while Hollyn stood mutely at his side.

"Aaand he just took the bait." From the command room, Hale swiveled a screen their way. Germaine had found his way out of the zip ties Macklin had loosened and was in front of the only window in the hold, hands probing the edges. He kept glancing over his shoulder.

"Let's go." Chapel circled a finger in the air.

"Stay inside," Davis warned Hollyn again.

"Don't worry." Bennion winked at her while the team filtered out of the room. "We'll keep a close eye on your man."

Davis didn't have time to form a rebuttal. Just gave Hollyn's hand one last squeeze and strode out the front door with Fury.

All right, Germaine. Let's see what ace you have up your sleeve.

* * *

Hollyn quietly walked into a larger area filled with computers and TV screens. She scanned the room. Papers and maps lined the walls, and Hayes—no, wait, Hale—was sitting near the end of a long table, focused on a video feed. It had a green cast to the images moving across it. Night vision? In the large monitor he stared at, Braum had finally pried the window open. He tried to jump through the opening. Legs flailing, he shimmied till he was halfway out, then dropped from view on the other side.

Hale tapped the keyboard, and the screen cycled through several different angles around the house. The front porch. Back patio she'd been on with Davis—wait, had they been watching her and Davis too? She tucked her chin as the rooftop came into view. They really had cameras everywhere.

Note to self: before making out with Davis next time, be sure no eyes were watching.

Hale paused on a live feed that showed Braum stumbling in the sand close to where he'd dropped. Looking around, eyes glowing, seemingly unaware of the camera focused on him, he finally found his footing. Jogged off as Hale brought up another view. This one showed Braum limp-running across the property toward a fence.

"Alpha team, be advised," Hale said, his voice low and stiff.

Hollyn looked over at him. Could see a threaded connector running up his neck to an earpiece. He must also have a mic somewhere.

"Germaine is moving along the north wall. Heading toward the back of the property." He looked like he was listening to someone, then nodded. "Copy." With a heavy sigh, he leaned back and crossed his arms over his thick chest. He was huge. He was—looking at her.

Hollyn caught a gasp in her throat. She ducked, cheeks heating. "Sorry."

Hale—she wished she knew his first name. It was weird calling someone by only their last—shrugged. "No skin off my nose."

She pushed her gaze to the screen. It was just a green-cast view of a chain-link fence, sand, and some desert plants. Nothing in frame moved. "They're going to be okay, right?"

His steady expression didn't waiver. "They know what they're doing."

No false promises. She appreciated that . . . at least, she thought she did. The way her palms were sweating told her maybe she would've liked to hear a white lie just this once. She needed to know Davis was going to be okay. They couldn't have been brought back into each other's lives just for her to have him ripped away again.

Along with everything else, she didn't know if she could handle that.

Hale studied her. "How long have you known Ledger?" His knee bounced just like Davis's did when he was thinking. Must be a guy thing.

"Uh, we met when we were ten." She grabbed one of the pencils on the table. Rolled it back and forth under her hand.

He shot her a look of appreciation. Nodded. "Ten. Long time."

"Sometimes it feels like a lifetime."

"Feels like a lifetime for most of us," he joked. "Nice to meet the famous Hollyn, though."

Wait, what? She fidgeted in her chair. "Famous?"

"Oh yeah. Ledger talked about you all the time when we were deployed."

"He did?" Why was her heart racing all of a sudden?

"For a while there, I thought the two of you were married."

The laugh that shot from her mouth sounded equal parts crazed lunatic and dying cat. Could this get any more embarrassing?

Hollyn turned, shaking her head. "No, no. Definitely not married. No, he . . . we . . . never."

"Yeah." Hale chuckled. "Picked up on that."

So many questions were going through her mind. At the forefront: If he had talked about her to the point his friends had thought there was something between them, why had Davis shut her out of his life so completely the day he left for Basic? And what was going to happen when this mission was over and he left her again?