Good thing he was done eating. He couldn’t swallow now.
Striker rubbed the top of his head. “Yep. Me too. Got nothing else to live for so I joined the insurgents. I know it isn’t healthy. Don’t give a fuck. Every day I live to push back against genocide and ethnic cleansing.”
Ajax nodded.
“I’m the one who knows where your men are, and I have a team organized to help you go in and get them.”
Ajax sat taller. He hadn’t known exactly what to expect.
“We would have moved in by now, but I thought it best to wait for you. Your men aren’t going to be inclined to trust us. They won’t know who the hell the enemy is.”
“Thank you.” What else was there to say?
“Don’t thank me yet. We haven’t made the rescue. But we will. I’ve been keeping an eye on the cowards holding your men for months. I know every move they make and what time. We’ll be going in a half hour before the shift change when the guards are tired.”
“How far away is this?”
“About thirty minutes by car. We’ll stop far enough away that they can’t hear us coming though. You, me, and eight other men. It’s going to be an easy raid. We’ll encounter two guards on the outside, take them out silently by sniper, and then two guards on the inside. Slit their throats. Two of your men will be deeper in the cave.”
Ajax nodded. It wasn’t uncommon for hostages to be held in caves. Harder to detect them.
Striker continued. “My men have been in this area moving around for over a year. Nothing gets by us. We heard of two hostages nearby a month before we found them.”
“Don’t suppose you know why my team was ambushed and taken hostage?”
Striker shook his head. “Not a clue. Just know they’re SEALs.”
“No one ever asked for ransom. They’ve been presumed dead.”
Striker shrugged as he leaned back. “At least that’s what you’ve been told.”
Ajax nodded slowly. “Good point. I was told originally I was the only survivor of an attack that I caused.” He swiped a hand down his face.
“My point exactly. Who the fuck knows why they were taken? Some of these assholes just like to toy with people. They might have the intention of holding them for a long time and then using them to extort money from the US government.”
Ajax sighed. “I get the feeling a lot of people have already made money off this situation. Both the US government and Ethiopian.”
“Undoubtedly.” Striker slapped both hands on the table as he stood. “But that buck stops tonight.”
Chapter 20
At precisely oh-four-hundred local time, Ajax jumped down from the back of the truck he’d ridden in with four other men. The other half of their team descended from the second truck.
Ajax had studied the precise plan for several hours. He was ready. He was armed. His adrenaline was pumping hard.
He moved silently in a row with the other men toward the entrance to the cave. If everything went as smoothly as Striker planned, this job shouldn’t be too hard. There were ten on his side and four men to take out.
Please, God. Let this work.
As they closed in, they crouched down lower. Everyone stopped just before they were in danger of being spotted. Two sharp-shooters took out the guards at the exact same moment. As soon as the two men hit the ground, all of Striker’s team, including Ajax, rushed the entrance to the cave.
Ajax and another man were to stand guard outside the cave entrance. It made Ajax uneasy, but this wasn’t his team. He answered to Striker today. The man knew what the fuck he was doing. Questioning him would have been ludicrous.
Eight men entered the cave. It was silent.
Ajax’s heart raced as he waited, gun ready. Seconds ticked by. Suddenly the sound of an approaching vehicle made Ajax spin toward the gravel road. “Fuck.” This was not in the plan.
Two men emerged from the cave, undoubtedly having heard the vehicle.
The man who’d been with Ajax lined up his gun and took a shot at the vehicle.
Taking a cue from him that this was an enemy, Ajax crouched down, lined up his shot, and took out the front right tire.
Several people shouted. Two more men emerged from the cave.
Now there were six of them, but what were they up against?
Four armed men jumped down from the damaged truck, already firing at the cave entrance before their feet hit the ground.
“Get the fuck inside,” Striker yelled from the entrance.
“Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck,” Ajax muttered as they rushed into the cave one after another. The last thing he wanted was to get trapped and become a hostage himself.
Ajax stayed at the entrance. He leaned around the edge and took several shots. A scream in the distance told him he’d hit a man.
“I’m over your head, Birdman. Stay down,” Striker shouted as he set up a machine gun over the top of Ajax. The two of them both started shooting.
“Got one,” Striker yelled. “Two tangos heading toward the left.”
One of Striker’s men stepped outside. He would have no cover out there, but he did it anyway, and seconds later two pops filled the air right before blessed silence. He spoke in rapid Afar as he returned to the cave.
Striker’s shoulders relaxed. “He got them. Let’s hurry. We need to get the hell out of here.”
Ajax jogged behind Striker, moving deeper into the cave. He hated this part. The path was lit by the occasional torch, but traveling deeper into a dead-end made him edgy.
Striker had a flashlight, and he paused every few yards to shine around the area. Finally, he found their target, and Ajax had never been so fucking relieved in his life.
He hadn’t known which of his brothers would be found in this cave, but the moment he stepped around Striker so they could see his face, Tavis Neade, Bones, and Keene Soto, Gramps, jumped up from where they’d been huddled in on the floor against a wall.
They covered their eyes from the bright light.
“Fuck. Sorry.” Striker lowered the light.
“Birdman?” Bones muttered.
“It’s me.” Ajax held up both hands as he approached. “You’re safe. Let’s get you both the fuck out of here.”
Gramps shuffled forward slowly and then hugged Ajax in the tightest embrace of his life. “Lead the way.”
Chapter 21
One month later…
Serena was confused as she stepped into her Aunt Ruth’s kitchen through the screen door. It was Sunday afternoon. She’d been under the impression that several members of her family would be there.
She’d realized as she’d parked her car that she hadn’t actually spoken to anyone about this lunch invitation. She’d been on the refreshment committee at church today and stayed late to serve coffee and muffins, cleaning up afterward. She’d been one of the last people to leave the church.
Now, she thought maybe she’d misunderstood and her aunt had told her to meet somewhere else. But no. Aunt Ruth was in the kitchen. She turned and smiled broadly as Serena entered. She was arranging triangle-cut sandwiches on a platter, and she turned to set them on the table.
“Where’s everyone else?” Serena asked as she kissed her aunt’s cheek. She noticed the platter didn’t have enough sandwiches for more than the two of them.
“It’s just you and me.” Aunt Ruth pointed at a chair.
Serena sat, confused. “Uncle Robert?” She looked around. She would at least expect Aunt Ruth’s husband to be home.
“He had to pick up some things at the hardware store in the next town. He’ll be back later today.”
Serena chuckled.
Aunt Ruth did too. “Yeah, I know. On the sabbath. Don’t tell your mom.”
“Never.” Serena shook her head dramatically. “To what do I owe the honor of lunch alone with my favorite aunt?”
Aunt Ruth poured them both a glass of iced tea. Her expression sobered as she met Serena’s gaze again. “I’m worried about you.”
Serena lifted her brows. “Why?” she whispered. She’d thought she’d done a good job of masking her pain lately.
Aunt Ruth put sandwiches on both their plates. “You haven’t been yourself ever since you returned from your last work trip. Something happened.”
Serena flinched.
“Don’t worry. Your mom hasn’t said a word. I think she’s too busy to notice. But you and I… Well, I think you and I have always had a kindred spirit. I get you. I notice things when no one else does.”
Serena swallowed, trying hard not to get emotional, but her emotions won, and tears welled up in her eyes. Until now, she’d forced herself to cry in her apartment and suffer in silence.
“Sweet girl…” Aunt Ruth pushed her chair back and scooted to Serena’s side to pull her into an embrace. She held her close for a long time, rocking her back and forth.
The dam broke and Serena cried, letting it all out. Ugly sobs that wouldn’t stop. Aunt Ruth reached for a napkin on the table and handed it to Serena so she could wipe her eyes, which she did several times.
Finally, when she thought she could speak without sobbing again, Serena took a deep breath and leaned back. “I’m sorry.”
“No reason to be sorry, Serena. But there’s also no reason to suffer alone. Tell me what happened.”
“I met someone.” She fidgeted with the wadded napkin in her lap, not looking up.
Aunt Ruth rubbed her back. “I kind of figured. He must be special.”
Serena nodded.
“Was this on your last trip?”
She nodded again.
“Have you seen him since?”
Serena shook her head.
“Where is he now?”
Serena took a deep breath and shrugged. “I don’t know. Indiana probably.”
“Where were you when you met him?”
Serena lifted her gaze and met her aunt’s. She licked her lips. “Ethiopia.”
Aunt Ruth’s eyes widened. “Wow. I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Yeah. I never told anyone where I was. That story is long and confidential, and basically irrelevant.”
“Okay.” Aunt Ruth nodded slowly. “Let’s talk about the man instead. What’s his name?”
Another tear fell. Serena swiped it away. “Ajax.” She sighed deeply. It felt good to say his name out loud. She even smiled.
Aunt Ruth smiled too. “This is serious.”
“Maybe.”
“But you haven’t talked to him since then?”
“No,” she murmured.
“Does he not feel the same way you do?”
Serena blinked and stared into space. She thought about the letter Ajax had left for her at Jasmine’s the morning he left. “I think he feels even stronger than me. The ball is in my court.”
“Then why haven’t you gone after him?”
Serena jerked her gaze toward Aunt Ruth again. “I’m scared.”
Aunt Ruth’s smile was so warm and kind. “I can understand that.”
“And my life has been here for so long. He doesn’t belong in this world. It would be absurd to ask him to come here.”
“Do you belong in this world, Serena?”
Aunt Ruth’s words made Serena flinch. “I don’t know.”
“Don’t you though? Sweetheart, you’ve always been bigger than this town. From the time you came here. Your wingspan is much broader. You should spread those wings out and do what makes you happy. You can’t stay here all your life being lonely just because you think it’s expected of you. You have to live for yourself. Find what makes you happy and go for it. If Ajax makes you happy, you shouldn’t spend even one more day here martyring yourself.”
Serena pursed her lips. Was Aunt Ruth right? “Mom…”
“Your mom is not you. And I think you underestimate her. She loves you. Talk to her. Tell her. I don’t think you will get the negative reaction you fear.”
But what if I do? It would kill Serena to hurt her mother. She looked at Aunt Ruth again. “Do you think she loved my father?”
Aunt Ruth frowned. “With all her heart.”
Serena nodded slowly. It was all so confusing.
“I know things are different here. Especially inside the church. And I know you don’t feel connected to people from the congregation. But have you ever considered the fact that it just doesn’t really suit you?”
Serena shrugged.
“Your mother always loved this town and the church. She was one of the lucky ones. She loved your father dearly too. She knew that before they were even adults. I know in my heart they were a love match. But you have a different spark, sweetheart. You aren’t your mom, and she doesn’t expect you to be.”
More tears fell.
Aunt Ruth handed her another napkin.
“He left me a letter,” Serena whispered. She reached into her pocket and pulled it out. She hadn’t gone anywhere without it since she’d last seen him. She hadn’t shown it to anyone either, not even Jasmine.
She opened it now, unfolded it, and flattened it on the table between them.
As Aunt Ruth leaned over to read the words, Serena read it for the millionth time too.
Serena,
There are no words to describe how I feel about you. They would be inadequate anyway. You know. Please understand why I’m leaving you like this. I won’t risk your life another minute. I want you to get on a flight out of this country as soon as possible. I want to know you’re safe.
Do not worry about me. I have nine lives. I’ve only lived two of them so far. I have seven left. I hope you’re smiling. I need to finish this mission, and you need to get to safety. I promise I will be right behind you in a few days.
Serena, baby, I know we come from different worlds. I don’t know if they can mesh together. I can’t make hard decisions for you, so I won’t contact you when I get home.
You will need time to process how you feel. Take all the time you need. I know I’m not the sort of person you ever visualized spending your life with. I also know we’ve only known each other a week.
Maybe the intensity of our relationship stemmed from the circumstances. From both of us so far out of our element. Together twenty-four seven. Stressed. Uncertain about the future. So many possibilities.
You might convince yourself of that, but I don’t believe it. I think we have something special and infinite together. If you agree with me, you know how to find me. If not, I won’t bother you.
It’s okay if you’re scared. And I’ll understand if you never come to me. It’s a huge step. But know that I will never forget you. I’m in love with you. I will never love another the way I love you, Serena.
If you don’t feel the same, please do me a favor. Never settle. Not with a life partner. Find someone you can’t live without. Demand that he give you everything you deserve. If he can’t, find someone else.
Be safe, my love. Hold the memories tight. They are precious. I’ll never regret a thing. I don’t want you to, either.
Love,
Ajax
Serena was crying again, silently this time, as she lifted her gaze. She had this letter memorized, but she’d stared at it anyway.
Aunt Ruth was crying too. She grabbed a napkin for herself and ugly sobbed. It made Serena smile. “Yeah, he’s kind of special.”
“What are you doing moping around in this small town? Go find him.” Aunt Ruth pointed at the door as if Serena should go to him right now.
Serena was smiling now, even though tears still fell. Why was she moping around in this small town? “I guess I’ve been scared. It’s a huge gamble.”
“How is it a gamble? Do you love him?”
She nodded. “Yes. So much.”
“Where’s the gamble, sweetheart? Who cares if he comes from another world? Make it yours. Go. Stop and talk to your mom and then pack your bags and get yourself to Indiana.” Aunt Ruth stood and headed for the door.
Serena giggled. “What? Now?”
“Good grief
, yes. Now. Life is short. You know that. Spend every second with the man you love.”
Serena followed her aunt to the door and hugged her tight. “Thank you. I love you so much.”
“I love you too, sweetheart. Spread your wings and fly.”
Chapter 22
Two days later…
Serena’s heart was racing as she pulled up in front of the farmhouse in rural Indiana. She’d had a thousand second-thoughts about showing up with no notice in the past forty-eight hours. It seemed crazy. She couldn’t know for sure if Ajax would even be here on his parents’ farm.
Maybe he’d gotten a job in another state in the last month. She couldn’t even be sure he was in the country. It was a gamble, but she’d taken it.
As she stepped out of the car, she smoothed her hands down the front of her dress, wondering for the millionth time if she’d made the right clothing choice for today.
She’d driven all day yesterday and spent the night in a hotel last night with only four hours left on her trip. This morning, she’d considered so many options. Pencil skirt like he’d seen her in the first two times they’d met? Longer loose skirt and blouse like she usually wore at home? Jeans like most people probably wore on a farm?
In the end, she’d gone another direction altogether. She’d chosen a light pink sundress. She’d bought it a while ago when it caught her eye, but she’d never worn it. It was above the knee and would have raised eyebrows in her town. It was also sleeveless and flirty with a fitted bodice and full skirt. It was youthful and innocent. She’d ditched the heels for gold sandals. As soon as she’d put it on this morning, she’d known it suited her more than anything else she’d ever worn. It felt right on her.
On top of that, her hair was down. She’d also cut it for the first time in her life. Not short. Just six inches. But it now had a blunt cut that rested just above her waist. It felt lighter and hung in long waves that blew in the wind as soon as she stepped out of the car.
Shadow in the Desert (Shadow SEALs) Page 17