Chapter 12

Ryan glanced over at Aaron, shooting him a sympathetic look. "Hell of a long briefing," he said as they wrapped up the meeting two hours later. The CO was speaking with Wyatt at the front of the room, the rest of the men still gathered around the long conference table before they were dismissed.

"Yep. Seems the powers-that-be aren't too happy that Wilder's missing."

"What's to be happy about?" Sawyer asked. "The dude's a traitor. He's suspected of selling secrets to the cartel, keeping them one step ahead of U.S. and Mexican counternarcotics officials. He got himself and his girl kidnapped. And now the cartel is possibly using him to move drugs."

"Not sure how that would work," Ryan said. "As soon as he enters the States again, he'll be arrested."

"Unless he does so illegally," Sawyer pointed out.

Aaron frowned, crossing his arms. "What the hell kind of life would that be? He'd make money smuggling drugs into the country but not be able to spend it?"

Sawyer shrugged. "He can retire to sunny Mexico—without his girl."

The CO glanced over at them as he and Wyatt paused their conversation, his gaze narrowing. "I'll touch base with DEA. They should have a complete background on the girlfriend—fiancée," he corrected himself.

Austin shook his head. "Wouldn't that be something if she'd been playing us, too?"

"Nothing surprises me anymore," Ryan said. "But we don't have proof of anything. She looked terrified when we burst into that penthouse bedroom to rescue her. I don't think she's in on it."

"Me either," Aaron agreed. "She was in fear of her life. In addition, nothing in the intelligence we've received so far indicates she knew anything about Wilder's connections with the cartel. She was there for a vacation and a modeling job."

Their CO glanced at the clock and then back at the team. "I'll follow up with DEA at any rate. We don't want any loose ends in this case. Thank you for your time, gentlemen. I know you're eager to get home. We're training out on the water tomorrow evening as scheduled, starting at eighteen-hundred. Dismissed."

Aaron rose from his seat, eager anticipation coursing through him as his friends began talking. Wyatt was still with their commander, but Aaron hustled out of the room, eager to call Emersyn. He quickly thumbed her a message, anxious to get home, eat, and speak with her after a week away.

Aaron: Just got out of a lengthy briefing with our CO. I'll call you tonight.

Emersyn: Okay. Hopefully I'll be home by then. Car trouble. :(

Aaron frowned, not liking the sound of that. She'd even added a little sad face, which almost felt like a sucker punch to the gut. He barely knew this woman and found he wanted to do whatever he could to help and make her happy. Aaron was calling her before he thought twice about it, moving out into the balmy Hawaiian evening. He could smell the salt from the ocean, feel the sun's rays on his face, and even hear the damn birds chirping, but all of that was easily pushed aside due to his concern. Was Emersyn still at work? Stuck somewhere? There was plenty of daylight out now, but it would be dark soon. He didn't want her stranded and alone somewhere at night.

The phone rang several times, and then her voice was on the line, sending relief coursing through him. "Hi," she said, sounding flustered. A car horn beeped in the background, and Emersyn muttered something he didn't catch.

"Hey. Where are you? I just got off work."

"I'm in the middle of an intersection," she said, her voice slightly wavering. "I'm literally stranded here and—" she let out a tiny yelp as another horn sounded, and Aaron cursed.

"What intersection? I'll come meet you there."

"Um—hang on." There was a pause, and he tensed. She wasn't even familiar with Oahu yet. Aaron was thankful that he and his teammates flew back today. Of course, she was perfectly capable of figuring things out on her own, calling a tow truck or whatnot. That didn't stop his need to go to her.

Emersyn let out a small sigh of relief, and then she gave him the names of the cross streets.

"That's not too far from me," he said. "I'm on my way."

"Okay. Thanks. I'm kind of stressed out at the moment," she said, sounding relieved to know he was on his way to get her.

"I know. I'll be there in a few. Turn on your hazards and wait in your car," he advised.

"Hazards. Right. Let me try to find them on the rental." A car door slammed, and then she told him she'd turned them on.

"I'll be there soon," he said again. "Sit tight."

Aaron ended the call, and then he was jogging toward the parking lot. It might not be an emergency, but Emersyn sounded upset, and he felt a primal need deep inside to take care of her.