Shadow in the Desert (Shadow SEALs)

by Becca Jameson

  “Rest of your squad alive too?” Dad asked to start the conversation.

  Ryker dropped into a chair next to Ajax. “Maybe.”

  “They here in the States?”

  “No. We’re pretty sure they are stuck overseas.”

  Dad nodded, understanding. The man was perceptive. Always had been. Ajax suspected he would have climbed the ranks in the military if he hadn’t gotten injured. He was sharp.

  “We’re going to find them,” Ajax stated, glancing from Dad to Mom. He hesitated to say that in front of her, but there was no helping it. Eventually, she would have to know.

  She kept her lips pursed as she set the steaming bowl of pasta on the table and then added a giant salad with all the fixings and a loaf of homemade bread.

  Ajax had eaten mostly shit for the last few months, and his stomach growled as he reached for Mom’s plate and served her a helping of pasta. One thing he and his foster brothers had been taught from the day they arrived was that it was polite to serve the ladies first. He and his brothers had always waited for Mom and their sisters to serve themselves family style before they dared touch so much as a roll.

  Mom didn’t comment on Ajax’s inference as she handed the salad bowl to Ryker. “Dig in. You boys are going to need sustenance.”

  “We’re going to need some long runs, protein shakes, and a lot of weight lifting. That’s what we’re going to need,” Ryker pointed out.

  Ajax smirked. “Truth.”

  “Still got all the weights set up in the barn, boys. We’ll get you back in shape in no time.” Dad nodded and took his first bite, moaning around the flavor. “You’ve outdone yourself, Nancy.”

  Ajax smiled. He was pretty sure the man said that nearly every day at least once. He was also pretty sure his mother flushed each time he complimented her too.

  “What you both need,” his mother pointed out, “is a haircut. If you want to lose some weight, you might want to start with that crazy-long hair. I’ll get the electric razor out this afternoon.”

  Ajax chuckled. “Sounds like a plan.”

  She rolled her eyes. “And those beards… You sure nothing’s growing in them?” she teased.

  Ajax stroked his, a habit he’d picked up recently. He’d never had facial hair in his life until three months ago. He was pretty sure Ryker hadn’t either. Was it ironic that they’d both let themselves go for the last three months? Grief could do that to a man.

  It wasn’t until later that evening, after Ajax had eaten two home-cooked meals, let his mother give him a perfect military haircut, shaved his beard, and helped Ryker move some hay bales around in the barn that the three men finally sat down on the porch to talk.

  Mom was watching her game shows on TV, her evening indulgence. She usually knitted while she watched, and she laughed often enough to make everyone smile.

  Ryker filled Dad in on the details as they knew them and they all leaned back in their chairs. If Frank were any other man, they probably wouldn’t have told him quite so much about the upcoming mission, but he wasn’t—he was Frank Holt. Military himself. He understood how things worked, and he’d never breathe a word to another living soul.

  He sighed. “You trust this Charley woman?”

  “Got no choice,” Ajax pointed out.

  “Guess that’s true.” Frank leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees and rubbing his palms together. “And the woman you met yesterday? What was her name?”

  “Serena,” Ajax said. He could picture her clearly, and he had, several times since meeting her. He was beginning to wonder if the woman in his head was even her now. It wasn’t that she’d been tall. Five-six he’d guess, but the heels had made her taller. Those eyes… Damn, he couldn’t get them out of his mind. A rare pale green. Her lips. Plump and pink, especially after she licked them. Her sleek black hair had been pulled back in a tight bun, making him wonder how long it was.

  Serena was the kind of woman who would definitely make him glance twice in a bar, someone he would ask to dance or buy her a drink. Except he didn’t get the feeling she was the sort of woman who went to bars. And more importantly, she wasn’t the type to travel to dangerous African countries to play tour guide to two former SEALs. What the hell did they need her for?

  Ajax couldn’t fully decide if he was pissed at Charley for insisting Serena join them or pleased that he’d get to see her again.

  They would be flying commercial, of course, meeting up with Serena at Dulles for a nonstop flight to Addis Ababa. Thirteen-hour flight. Could have been worse. There could have been a layover somewhere. Ajax preferred not changing planes, which frequently happened in Frankfurt or someplace in the Middle East, like Qatar.

  “Is she military?” Dad asked.

  Ryker snorted. “Not even close.”

  Dad flinched. “Then what is she? CIA?”

  Ajax shook his head. “Doubtful. Neither Charley nor Serena were forthcoming.”

  Dad’s brow was furrowed. “Gotta tell you, I don’t like this. Not a bit.”

  “We don’t either,” Ryker pointed out. “But you’d do it too if it were you, and you know it.”

  “Damn right I would. Doesn’t mean I’d like it any better. You boys need to be sharp and careful. The entire thing is fishy.”

  Ajax nodded. “If there’s even the slightest chance our squad is alive, we have to get them the fuck out of there.”

  “You don’t even have a clue who might have them,” Dad pointed out.

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  “And neither of you has any recollection about what you were doing the day of the explosion?” Dad looked back and forth between the two of them.

  “Not a clue,” Ajax confirmed. “What I remember is that for the previous week, we had been trailing a militant group we were confident was preparing another attack on Tigray. I believe we were trying to intercept the details of that plan. That’s not a stretch. Our entire mission had involved intercepting information related to planned attacks on the citizens.”

  Ryker nodded. “The question is why were we moving in on that particular location on that particular day? We may never have the answers, but I’m more interested in who in the US is behind this and why they would destroy eight SEALs.”

  Frank nodded. “At this point, all that matters is saving lives. This is the most hushed mission I’ve ever heard of. A total coverup of the loss of eight SEALs? Just swept under the carpet? It’s been three months. The other six families would have inquired repeatedly about their missing brother, father, or son.”

  Ajax ran a hand over his recently-cropped hair. “Unless, like you, they were told their SEAL was dead and they buried an empty box because there wasn’t anything left after the explosion.”

  “I agree.” Ryker nodded.

  Frank tipped his head toward the barn. “You two better spend most of the next two weeks getting yourselves back into shape. I don’t want you going into Ethiopia half-cocked with beer guts.”

  Ajax smirked. “Yes, sir.”

  Chapter 4

  “There she is,” Ajax stated. His gaze homed in on Serena as she made her way down the terminal toward them. They’d beaten her to Dulles and were waiting near the gate.

  She looked the same as he remembered. Her skirt was black today, and longer, past her knees. Black pumps. Deep maroon blouse. Black jacket. She moved on those heels like they were a part of her body. Impressive. Sexy. Professional. Totally inappropriate for a thirteen-hour flight to Ethiopia.

  “What the fuck is she wearing?” Ryker murmured, obviously thinking the same thing as Ajax.

  Ajax shook his head slowly. “This is going to be a disaster. No way am I going into a hot zone to find six of my brothers while babysitting a princess. I do not understand why Charley is sending this woman with us.”

  She walked toward them, confident, tall, in complete control. And then she walked right by them. Didn’t even glance their direction. Not once.

  Ryker chuckled low under his breath. “Sh
e didn’t recognize us. This is going to be so much fun.”

  Ajax stroked his chin as he watched Serena continue toward the gate where she finally paused and glanced around casually. Her brow furrowed a moment later, and she tipped her head back to look at the gate number and departure time.

  “Should we tell her?” Ryker asked.

  “No. Let’s let her stew for a few minutes. I’m enjoying myself way too much.”

  The man working at the desk made an announcement and the first tier of people began to board the plane.

  Serena rubbed her temple, checked her watch, and stared down the hallway in the direction she’d come. Her gaze went right past Ajax and Ryker, but nothing registered.

  “Damn, this is fun,” Ryker murmured. “I haven’t had this much fun in weeks. Years maybe.”

  Ajax had to agree. Part of him felt bad for making her sweat. After all, it was slightly cruel. But on the other hand, he really truly hated this plan to the depths of his soul. Babysitting a civilian on enemy territory was not his idea of a good time.

  The fact that the civilian was damn fine to look at only made things worse. She would be a distraction, and Ajax hated being distracted during a mission. Hell, he hadn’t ever permitted himself to get involved with a woman back home on the other side of the globe the entire time he’d served in the Navy.

  Nope. Ajax had been married to the SEALs. He hadn’t had the time or the energy to devote to a woman. Plus, he never ever wanted to get into a situation where he made poor decisions because he had pussy on his mind.

  After the second tier of passengers was announced, Serena began to fidget. The funny thing was there weren’t that many people left near the gate and yet she still didn’t recognize the men.

  Ajax sighed. “Guess we better put her out of her misery and board the plane.” He shoved away from the wall and hoisted his backpack onto his shoulder.

  Ryker walked alongside him.

  When there were only a few feet left between Ajax and Serena, she scooted to one side so she could see around him better. He stopped, stared at her, and waited.

  She glanced at him, looking slightly annoyed, and then looked past him again.

  He chuckled. “I do own a razor and some scissors.”

  She narrowed her gaze and met his once more. Her lips parted and then her eyes went wide. “Oh.” She glanced at Ryker next, and then repeated herself. “Oh.” She shrugged her bag higher on her shoulder. “We should board,” she murmured, flustered.

  A flustered Serena was cute. And cute was not how Ajax wanted to think of her. He waved his hand, indicating she should go first, and he followed behind her, Ryker chuckling at his back just loud enough for Ajax to hear.

  The three of them were seated together in a row of three seats, which made Ajax inhale deeply, wondering how the next thirteen hours were going to go. “Which seat would you like?” he asked her, ever the gentleman. After all, his mother wouldn’t have it any other way.

  “Oh. The window, I guess. Unless one of you would like that seat.”

  “It’s all yours.” Ryker stepped past the seats and then took her bag out of her hand and stuffed it in the overhead as she slid into the spot. He glanced at Ajax next, a brow rising.

  Ajax felt like they needed to draw straws or at least rock, paper, scissors, but that’s not what happened because the look Ryker gave Ajax spoke volumes. Ajax had known him for over half his life. The clear words coming from his expression were: you better fucking sit in the middle seat because I can’t be held accountable for clobbering the woman halfway through the flight.

  Ajax shook his head, stuffed his pack in the overhead bin, and then slid into the center seat. The last thing he wanted to do was sit in the center or the window seat for thirteen hours, but someone had to, and the truth was Ajax was less likely to strangle Serena during the flight.

  Normally he would say he and Ryker had a similar temperament and agreement when it came to women, but Ajax felt confident that of the two of them, he was at least attracted to Serena. Ryker barely spared the woman a glance. Ajax found himself staring at her damn legs.

  As soon as they were seated, he looked her up and down. “This is what you’re going to wear for an overseas flight?”

  She shot him a look, one brow lifted. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

  “It doesn’t look comfortable.”

  “I’ll have you know I’m perfectly comfortable.” She tugged the front of her jacket straighter and smoothed her skirt.

  “You look like you’re about to step into a boardroom. You do know Ethiopia is a third-world country, right?” He couldn’t keep from needling her. It was too easy.

  She glared at him. “I’m quite knowledgeable. I assure you.”

  “Did you read a few news articles this past week to prepare?” he joked.

  “Something like that.” She reached for her purse at her feet and pulled out a book. In the few seconds he was able to see the front before she opened it to her page, Ajax noted the lengthy title had something to do with humanitarian efforts in war-torn countries.

  “A little light reading?” he quipped.

  She glanced at him. “You do read, right?”

  He chuckled. “Mostly just tweets and whatever fits on a meme,” he lied.

  She rolled her eyes and focused on her book.

  He wasn’t willing to let her ignore him just yet. This was too much fun. “So, you didn’t recognize us. Did you think we would show up for combat with beards?”

  She shrugged. “I didn’t think about it at all, to be honest. You do you.”

  He feigned hurt, flattening his palm over his chest. “You didn’t think about me at all? I’m hurt.”

  “I have way more important things to do than to spend my time concerning myself with two misogynistic, chest-thumping Neanderthals who think only the boys should head toward the action.”

  He laughed. “Is that what you think?”

  She lifted both brows. “You deny it?”

  He leveled his stare at her, sobering up a bit at her jab. “I’ve served fine alongside women, Serena. However, I’m usually given a few sentences of details about them. Far more than a first name. They usually have on camo when they head into war with me. Not four-inch heels and skirts.”

  She swallowed. Good. He needed to get a few things straight between them.

  “You know more about the two of us than we know about ourselves. And we don’t know a damn thing about you. Not even your full name. Considering we both served seventeen years in the Navy, the last seven with the SEALs, you surely don’t believe that Neanderthal statement.

  “Being a SEAL is not a slug assignment, in case you’re not aware. So, forgive me if I’m skeptical about a woman in a skirt being assigned to trail along with me into a war-torn country where I’ve been told six men I love more than blood relatives are being held hostage.”

  Trying to keep his voice low enough that no other passengers could hear him, he leaned in closer to her. Their faces were inches apart. “Let’s not forget that I was set up by some mysterious government entity who brainwashed me into believing that somehow I took leave of my basic common sense, went on a rogue mission, and got my entire team killed.

  “My life was essentially ruined. So, yes, I’ve been sitting on my stepsister’s fucking couch for three months, wondering how the fuck to go on with my life. Ryker’s been licking his wounds at our foster parents’ home, wondering the same thing.

  “Now, I don’t have a fancy college degree, but I’ve read just about every history book written because that’s my passion. I know the ins and outs of every modern government on earth, including and especially Ethiopia’s.

  “As for being a misogynist, I moved in with my foster family when I was twelve. Any ounce of disrespect I might have felt toward my birth mother for those dozen years was quickly squelched by my foster father. If we so much as thought about disrespecting our foster mother, he would slap us across the back of the head and dra
g us to face her and apologize. That woman is a goddess, and I owe her and my foster father my life.”

  He slowly inched out of her face before adding. “You’re probably right about the chest-thumping though. Ryker and I can get cocky at times, especially at the end of a day when we know we’ve saved several hundred innocent civilians from genocide.”

  Ajax could feel Ryker staring at him, and he might have glimpsed a shocked smirk on his brother’s face, but he closed his eyes and cocked his neck back and forth to force himself to relax.

  After a few moments, Serena spoke. “You’re right. I shouldn’t judge either of you. Forgive me. I have less interest in trailing along with you on this mission than you have. I’m testy and unnerved.”

  He glanced at her, only turning his head this time. “Forgive me if that does nothing to alleviate my mistrust. Ryker and I are flying blind here. As far as we’re concerned, you may just as well be hired to lead us into a trap. I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I do know that we were lied to, and I suspect there’s a pile of people who would just as soon eliminate us. Tidier. What better way to do it than to send us into the thick of the fight? Maybe we’ll just disappear in the wilds of Ethiopia, never to be heard from again.”

  She cleared her throat. “I can’t tell you everything, mostly because I don’t even know myself, but I can assure you Charley’s goals are to ensure your men are rescued and whoever covered up their capture is caught and brought to justice.”

  “And why would she do that?” he asked, narrowing his gaze at Serena again. “What’s in it for her?”

  “The satisfaction of knowing she helped your brothers.”

  “So she’s some kind of independently wealthy do-gooder?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Where is she?”

  “No idea.”

  He flinched. “What does she look like?”