Chapter 16

Hunter fell asleep that night with a smile on his face. It quickly vanished in the morning when Kane called him.

"I'm going deep and still coming up with only whispers with no substance. I finally got a name. Had to pay a million for it and you're not going to like it," Kane told him.

"Who?"

"Hamid Saeed," Kane said, dropping a bomb. Literally.

"The Yemen bomber? I thought he was in jail."

"He was," Kane told him. "In Iran. But with the military taking control of the country, Saeed appeared to have paid his way out of jail four years ago."

"Where is he now?" Hunter asked.

"Don't know. I got some leads on the names you gave me. Both Soliz and Kotov have been in Millevia within the past six months. David, Tristan's friend, has helped me. Alexey Kotov left for the U.S. about five hours after you did. I'm assuming when he didn't check in, it triggered something and that's when Pablo Soliz left Millevia. The question is: what are three soldiers from three different countries, which have no agreements in place, doing in Millevia in the first place?"

"I wish I knew. Any word on what's missing? Whatever they think Landry has?"

"Not a peep. I'll keep digging."

"Thanks, Kane. Let me know if you need backup."

"I have people I can call if I do. You need to stay in Shadows Landing with Landry. See if you can find out what's going on. That will help the most. I'll call again soon. Oh, and I heard you got cockblocked last night. Ouch, bro."

"Screw you."

Kane laughed. "We both know you weren't the one doing any screwing."

"Laugh all you want. Olivia will come after you when you find someone."

"Not going to happen. My life doesn't allow for personal relationships. For the record though, we all love Maggie. I'm glad you got your head out of your ass."

"Thanks," Hunter said dryly. "Be safe, Kane. I have contacts too. Let me know if I need to use them."

"I will."

Hunter hung up the phone. It was time to check in on Landry.

Hunter was met with a gun to the head. "It's me, Blythe."

"I know. I'm waiting to hear how the date went before I decide if I should shoot you or not."

"You too?"

"Girls gotta stick together," Blythe replied, keeping the gun aimed at him. Hunter smiled a little as he thought about the date and Blythe lowered the gun. "That tells me all I need to know. Glad you got that stick out of your ass."

"What is it about my ass today?" Hunter grumbled as he walked inside.

"You have a good ass. Even if you're not my type, I can respect a nice ass."

"Watch out, Veronica," Hunter teased about Blythe's long-term girlfriend who was frighteningly efficient.

"It's not that nice an ass. Landry is in here. There have been no attempts. The family is bonding nicely and Landry's been working with Stone's wife, Natalie, to get some strength back. He's even been upgraded to a wheelchair this morning," Blythe told him as they walked into Landry's room where Natalie, an expert in sports rehabilitation, was working with him.

"Hey, Hunter. Congrats on pulling your head out of your ass and taking Maggie on a date. How did it go?"

Landry smiled, the traitor. Lydia at least turned away to smirk.

"It went well. I'm so glad so many people are so concerned with my ass. I've been told it's a very nice one."

"Doesn't matter how nice of an ass it is, it's still an ass," Natalie pointed out.

"Hey, I thought you were supposed to be my favorite sister-in-law."

"I'm your only sister-in-law," Natalie said with a twinkle in her eye. "Therefore, I'm your favorite and least favorite all rolled into one."

Hunter made a face at her, but then winked. He loved how Natalie fit seamlessly into his crazy family. It was just how Maggie did. Yeah, he really had had his head up his ass not to see that. "How's our patient?"

"It feels so good to be out of bed," Landry said as he used a band to work his arms.

"I talked to Kane," Hunter started before filling Landry in. "Has any more of your memory come back?"

The obvious look of frustration on Landry's face answered that question for Hunter. "I'm trying. Natalie has Lydia doing these memory games with me to see if waking up my brain will help. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I'm just glad you're here with us. We'll figure it out. Besides, I'm going to meet my team and my commander at the end of the week. We'll see if any progress has been made. You just focus on your recovery."

Hunter was walking to his car when Lydia quietly slipped from the house and caught up with him. "Hunter," she whispered, glancing back to the house. "Gavin said not to push Landry's memory. It'll come back as he heals. But, at night, when he's asleep, he has nightmares. He talks in his sleep. He keeps saying, ‘all this death for control.'"

"Control?" Hunter repeated, making sure he heard her right. Lydia nodded. Hunter's mind raced over all the facts he knew. "I wonder if Landry took something that will gain someone control over something?" It still didn't make sense. How could he do that?

"I don't know, but that's all he yells at night. It's about control."

"One of the men is a bomber. They could be building bombs to try to hijack something. I'll text Kane and see if that helps him. Thanks, Lydia. Let me know if he says anything else in his sleep."

"I will. Thanks, Hunter."

Hunter glanced at his watch. Was it too soon to call Maggie? He knew she was putting on a corporate event today and decided against it. He would work out and then shoot her a text to see if she had time to have dinner tonight. He was determined to prove to Maggie that he was worth the second chance she'd given him.

* * *

Hunter's lips pulled back from hers. His hand slid free from where it cupped her cheek as he smiled down at her. "Thank you for another excellent dinner date. Goodnight, Magnum."

Maggie plastered on a smile. It had been a wonderful date until the kiss ended. Just like every date over the past week had been. "Goodnight, Hunter."

She watched as he walked down the steps, the same as she had done the past seven nights, and got into his truck. He waved and drove down the drive leaving Maggie feeling, well, confused.

"What the hell?" Maggie muttered, pulling out her phone and sending a quick text to Georgie. One week of dates. One week of great conversations. One week of sharing their hopes and dreams. One week of practicing shooting together. One week of knee buckling kisses goodnight. And one week of being left standing alone on her porch.

She was still standing there when the old truck sped down the drive. It parked, the door flew open, and Georgie jumped out, holding a bottle of wine. "What happened? Tell me everything."

"Nothing happened."

"Again?" Georgie's mouth dropped open. "I thought for sure after the third date you two would be having wild sex every chance you got."

"Me too," Maggie said, grabbing the bottle and stomping inside. She snagged a bottle opener and two glasses from the public living room before heading to the private side of the bed and breakfast and up to her room.

"Give me a rundown on tonight's date," Georgie said as Maggie opened the bottle of wine and poured two glasses.

"We talked about me leaving for the Olympics next week. He told me how proud he was of me and how I was going to win gold for sure. He's been working with me every day. Sometimes just shooting with me. Other times, he's actually being very helpful with some coaching. My coach taught Hunter in the Army and said he's one of the best. Hunter even called him and asked permission to help me before doing so. We talked about growing up, about our friends and family—all good things, I promise," Maggie said, smiling at her bestie. "Then we walked home in the moonlight. He kissed me and it was so hot I was clinging to him. I mean, my knees just melted! And then he said goodnight and left. Again."

The door opened and Gage walked in without knocking. "Hey, Mags. Do you . . . oh, sorry. Didn't know you had company. Hi Georgie."

"Gage. Did you seriously walk into your sister's room without knocking after she had a date? You do know she could have Hunter in here, right?"

Gage fake gagged. "Gross. Do you know where my Olympic bag is?"

"It's in the attic with mine. Can you grab mine too when you go up there?"

"Sure. Night, you two."

Georgie frowned. "So, one. That's a problem," Georgie said, pointing to the now closed door. "And two, it sounds as if Hunter's being a respectful gentleman."

"I know and it sucks," Maggie groaned.

"Then maybe you should get out of your house filled with people and stop being the perfect Southern lady."

Maggie paused in sipping her wine. "I couldn't—"

"Think of Hunter naked and how long you've been waiting."

That was the best thing about best friends. They know you better than you know yourself.