“Oh, I see.” She frowned. “When do you have to leave?”
She seemed to deflate, hearing the news. “Probably in a week. But I have an idea, Ali.”
“What?”
“Your sister needs to feel safe here in the house, which is why I’m here. But if I leave, I’m afraid it might create a setback, since she considers me her big, bad security guard dog. I told Wyatt that Cara needed a PSD, a private security detail, who could come and take my place, He could be here for her so she’ll continue to feel safe.”
“That’s a great idea, Ram,” Ali said slowly, mulling over the idea.
“Do you agree with me that Cara needs a PSD?”
“Absolutely. Even though I’m a PSD to her, she sees me as her sister, not as a guard. There’s a difference in Cara’s mind, and it isn’t logical, but she’s still caught up in the emotions of her capture. I definitely think Delos Charities should pay for a contractor to be here for Cara.”
“I’m sure they will. She is getting better, and I’d hate to see her have a setback.”
“Yes, she’s slowly improving. And Mama and Papa are adjusting to it, too. Everyone is more relaxed and that’s a good thing.”
“I told Wyatt the same thing. I have a guy in mind, an old friend of mine, a combat medic who’s got a gentle touch. He was on our rescue team—Tyler Hutton? He was with SEAL Team One at J-bad, too.”
Instantly, Ali brightened. “Tyler? Sure I remember him! He wasn’t on our team, but in J-bad with another team, then he worked on missions with us. He used to help me out in the villages giving medical aid. And he was so wonderful to the women after we got them out of Azarola’s villa.” She had formed a special relationship with the combat medic, more like a brother to her. Sometimes, both teams went out on an op together and he was someone who could be trusted and counted upon.
“Yes,” Ram said, pleased that Ali was positive about the ex-combat medic. “What do you think? Could it be a good match between Cara and him, personality-wise?”
“Oh, yes,” she gushed, suddenly excited. “He’s such a gentle soul, Ram. He’s a great listener. He’s so easy going. Unlike us.” She managed a twisted grin of amusement. “I mean, I know he was an operator, like us, in the field, but his personality is way different because he’s a medic at heart. He loves helping people.”
“Good, I’m glad my suggestion is right on for Cara.”
“He’s got PTSD just like the rest of us, though. And with his medical powers of observation, he’d be perfect to fill your boots. He’d be able to know exactly how to deal with Cara on any given day. I think it’s a great fit. What did Wyatt say about your suggestion?”
“He’s gonna ask Tyler, who just got off an op in Peru, if he wants this assignment.”
“What about his wife? How would she feel about that?”
“Ex-wife.” Shrugging, Ram said, “You know how PTSD screws up a family—well, his wife couldn’t handle it, and they divorced a couple of years ago.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I know how much Tyler loved Lisa. That’s a shame.”
“All part of our business, I guess,” he muttered.
“I’ll be really bummed to see you go, Ram. We’re getting along so well, and you’ve helped me so much. I’m going to miss you terribly. You’ve been my sounding board, my safe place to go to blow off my worries and steam.”
“I had another thought about that, Ali.”
“You’re just full of ideas today, aren’t you?” she laughed.
“Wyatt said he’d asked you to join Artemis. He’s wanted you to come in for an official interview. He can use someone like you in Mission Planning.”
“I told him if things changed with Cara, I’d see him officially about a possible job with Artemis. He said I was already hired and that I would be welcomed any time I wanted to go back to work.”
“Good, I’m glad to know that you’re an employee,” he grinned, looking around the garage. “We get along here. I don’t see how we can’t get along there. Do you?” Now, her eyes lit up.
“Yes, we’re getting along really well,” she admitted.
“Yes. He made no bones about getting you to work with us. And why would he? You’re one of the top female operators in the world. You bring a lot to their table, Ali, and Wyatt knows that. You were in his team before. He has a long memory and wants only the best of the best for Artemis.”
“I told him I wanted that job,” she admitted hesitantly. “I know I can’t stay here forever. I’ve got a lot of debt piling up and I need to start working again.”
“Well, why not call Wyatt and tell him that? Find out where he sees you in their organization and give him a time frame of when you might start to work.”
Looking toward the house, she said, “I worry about Cara, though. If both of us left, it might destabilize her.”
“That’s why I thought of Tyler. If he agrees to come out here, he’d take both our places. You know how good he is with people. I also think that Mary and Diego would love him like a son, too.”
She rubbed her brow. “It’s a lot to think about, Ram.”
“I’ve got one more week here, Ali. I’m already tasked with working up missions with Wyatt on Mexico-related ops while I’m still here in Tucson.”
“But you went out in the field to help rescue Cara.”
He gave her an intense look. “I volunteered for it because she’s your sister, Ali. I remember how you used to talk about your family, show pictures to everyone, and tell them stories of your childhood. When Wyatt offered me the lead on that mission, I wanted to take it.”
“But you didn’t have to,” she said slowly, frowning. “You could have had someone else do it. And given our past history, why did you take it, Ram?”
“There’s a lot I’d like to share with you, Ali. Cara has been our focus, which is where it should remain for now.”
“And when I come back to work for Artemis?” she demanded.
“Then, we’d have the time to continue getting to know one another under less stressful circumstances.”
Ali digested his words, feeling as if there was so much more he wanted to say, but Ram was right: this wasn’t the time or place. “Well,” she said, thinking out loud, “if Tyler agrees to replace you, maybe I could stay on here for another two or three weeks, making sure that Cara’s stable and that she transfers her trust from me to him.”
“I think Wyatt will do whatever you need under the circumstances, and if you feel better about waiting to see how Tyler works out, tell Wyatt that. I’m sure he’d be okay with it.”
Rubbing her chin, Ali said, “Okay . . . that sounds good, Ram. Thanks for having my back on this.”
“I’ll always have your back, Ali.”
She gave him a tender look as she slid off the stool. “You’ve been more than good on your word. Listen, I’m going to call Wyatt, see what his plan is for me, and decide a time to start to work.”
“Let me know how it goes?”
“I promise.”
There was a gleam in Ram’s eyes she couldn’t interpret, although she wished she could. As she padded through the quiet house, picking up on the familiar scents and surroundings that had always made her happy, she felt her heart being tugged in a new direction.
Worry gnawed at her because of her concern about Cara’s unpredictable state. She was much better than before—at least now she was sleeping somewhat at night, and her nightmares were slowly receding. The stress and strain on her parents, however, was constant. She’d tried hard to dispel some of their worry by explaining PTSD, but they still looked confused when they’d discuss it. They weren’t the first parents to wrestle with a child who was now an adult, coming home with PTSD.
As she went to her bedroom, she checked first to see that Cara’s door was shut, and then closed her own bedroom door quietly behind her. Maybe Tyler was exactly what Cara needed at this point in her recovery. He wasn’t a Latino, but he had the heart of one. He was family oriented, loved children, and was ge
ntle with his patients. He emanated kindness, and Ali hoped that Cara would respond to it, trusting him as she trusted her own sister and Ram.
Her bills were mounting up and the pressure to get a job had been hitting her the last two weeks. When she’d finally coughed up the problems and stresses to Ram, she’d seen him become concerned. But he was an operator and as such, they fixed things. Maybe telling Wyatt that she might be available soon was his way of helping her fix her mounting bills issue.
Or was it something more? Ali wouldn’t call Ram sneaky, but all operators worked well on that slippery chessboard called the shadows. They were operators because they had a fix-it mentality, and were creative in covert ops precisely because of that skill.
With Ram lending his highly regarded opinion toward a potential hire, Ali knew Wyatt wanted her, no questions asked. She had an impeccable reputation in the world of operators. And Ram, she would bet money, had lobbied enthusiastically on her behalf, too, when she’d went back the last time, although he’d probably never admit it.
Sitting down at her small desk, she picked up her cell phone. Ram had her back, and she was deeply grateful for that. Still, Ali worried about her little sister. There was so much at stake. If Tyler couldn’t or wouldn’t take this assignment to replace Ram, it could hurt Cara’s slow-but-sure progress.
And even if Tyler did take the mission, Cara might not take to him. And that would leave Ali holding the bag in the family—again. Sometimes, she grew weary of it, but she wasn’t a quitter. She’d do something to make money, and remain at the house to give Cara the stability she needed and the support her parents silently asked of her. Family was family.
As she dialed Wyatt’s number, she closed her eyes, feeling her heart trying to adjust to the idea that Ram was leaving soon. He had become so important to her, like a safe harbor when she needed one. He was there. He was always there, someone she could rely upon.
How had he become so indispensable to her life?
The realization hit her fully, and she forced herself to put it aside—for now.
“Wyatt here.”
Ali stuffed down her rising emotions and focused on talking with her old chief. “Wyatt? Ali here. I’m calling to talk to you about that job you offered me at Artemis. I have some details to hammer out with you, but I’m ready to be on the payroll.”
CHAPTER 6
November 10
Tucson, AZ
Ram was in the kitchen installing the new lights beneath Mary’s kitchen cabinets when Ali came wandering in. It was nearly three o’clock, and the house was quiet. Diego and Mary wouldn’t be home until six. Cara had her door closed, so it meant she didn’t want to be disturbed, or she was sleeping.
Glancing up, he saw that Ali’s face was wreathed in thought. “Caught in the act,” he teased. Straightening, he said, “Want to do the honors? Flip it on and see if they work?” He gestured to the nearby switch.
He saw Ali instantly respond to his light-hearted tone, her gaze softening on him. The sense of their growing intimacy was always just below the surface—a feeling that never left him.
“Sure,” she said, coming over. “Ready?”
“Yep,” he said, stepping away from the counter, hands on his hips.
Ali flipped on the switch and instantly the entire counter beneath the cabinets was aglow. “Wow, this is great, Ram!”
He peered beneath the L-shaped circuit hidden beneath the pecan-wood cabinets, making sure everything was in order. “The light is evenly distributed. That’s good.” He halted at the other end of the counter after checking every light. Straightening, he looked over at Ali. “Well, do you think Mary will like them when she comes home tonight?”
“Oh,” Ali intoned, grinning happily, “she’ll be like a duck being put back into the water. Thank you for doing this, Ram. It’s something my father hasn’t gotten around to because he’s not an electrician and they can’t really afford one.”
He smiled and went over to the small toolbox sitting on the counter near Ali. “I like doing things like this,” he admitted. “It’s one way I can help Mary. She works so hard and the kitchen is pretty dark. This should brighten things up.”
“She’ll love them,” Ali assured him. “Hey, do you have a minute?” Looking toward the entrance, she wanted to make sure Cara couldn’t hear them.
“Sure. Shall we go out into the garage?”
Nodding, she said, “Yes, let’s go.”
Once out there, Ram brought her stool over to his workbench area and sat down a few feet away from her. She seemed to be bursting to tell him something. “Did you call Wyatt?” he wondered, folding his hands between his legs, facing her.
“Yes, and it was a very fruitful conversation, Ram. First of all, thanks for putting a bug in Wyatt’s ear about hiring me. He admitted you came to him sometime back, asking if you could find me and offer me a job.”
“It was my pleasure, Ali. You’d be a real asset there.”
“Everything we talked about earlier, I covered with him. I also discussed Tyler Hutton with him.”
“Oh, good. Has he been able to connect with Tyler more personally yet?”
“Yes.” She shot him a look of pure relief. “He’s interested in taking Cara’s personal security detail position, Ram.” She clasped her hands to her breast. “I was so hoping he would say yes. And he did.”
“That’s great! It’ll be a big load off your shoulders, Ali.”
“Believe me, I know that better than most,” she said passionately. “I’m just so relieved, Ram. You can’t know how much.”
“She’s your baby sister,” he teased, “And we both know your folks and Cara will like Tyler a lot. The man doesn’t make enemies, only friends.”
“I agree with you. I’m feeling so much more hopeful about this situation, now.”
“I like making you happy, Ali. It’s nice to do something that makes you smile like that.” He saw her face melt with a look that spiked his body’s interest. Ram usually knew when a woman looked at him with sexual interest, but he told himself he was wrong this time. After all, Ali never flirted with him, never signaled in any way that she was interested in him that way. It had to be his imagination, which was pretty active lately.
Every day spent around Ali for the past three weeks was increasing his need for her in every way, not just sexually. This was a first for him. In many ways, Ali was bringing him new experiences, and new ways of looking at his responses to women. Well, at least this woman!
She sighed and gave him a wistful look. “Some days, I feel like the universe is laughing at us. On one hand,” she gestured toward the closed garage door that led into the kitchen, “Cara is going through this nightmarish experience, trying to find herself again, fighting every day to get better. And here we are: happy with one another, rediscovering one another on a completely new playing field, not knowing how much goodness was stored beneath our collective surface. Every day has been a pleasant surprise for me, Ram.”
“Darkness and light often live together, Ali. You can’t have one without the other. You can’t separate them, either. You learn to live with what’s good and bad within each of us. It’s a personal choice and every person has to make it.”
“Oh, now you’re being a philosopher again, Torres. That’s a side to you I didn’t even know existed until recently,” she teased.
He chuckled. “Sometimes I get into that space. Yeah, but not often.” Her sweet smile melted him. “Don’t forget, we went through a darker time together before we discovered the light in each other. We’ve paid a lot of dues to reach this point, don’t you think?”
He saw her become thoughtful, studying him in the lulling silence that often occurred between them. Part of it, Ram knew, was the black-ops mentality. One did not just speak on the fly or react quickly. Everything said or seen was carefully assessed through that operator’s mind, thoroughly looked at with logic, not emotion, before a decision or a word was uttered.
Ram appreciated that
about both of them. Ali took what he said seriously and ran it through her mental software, just as he did with anything she shared with him.
“What other sides are there to you?” she demanded, partly smiling, digging intently into his gaze. “What else aren’t you sharing with me, Ram?”
“I dunno,” he said, shaking his head, mystified. “For whatever reason, Ali, you bring out sides to me I didn’t even know existed until you prodded me with your stick.” He grinned at her, and was rewarded by her widening smile.
“You’re a warrior, a peacemaker, and a philosopher.”
“Only with you,” he demurred. “I’ve never shown those sides to anyone else.”
Tilting her chin, she asked, “Why not?”
“Because I trust you, Ali. We’ve gotten to know each other more and more. You’ve saved my life a number of times. For sure, you’ve always had my back. Maybe I’m old enough now to start learning to trust and open up to you because I know you’re not going to kill me.”
She laughed out loud. “You’re certifiable, Torres! I swear.”
“Thank you. Coming from you, that’s music to my ears. I like our times together like this. I know we haven’t had many, but I value them so much. I always feel good afterward because I can toss anything at you, and you deal with it perfectly. You don’t get defensive or angry at me.”
“No, that part of me is gone forever when it comes to you,” she said seriously. “Nothing good came from it. Maybe we had to go through it in order to find the honey of our real selves with one another. I don’t know.”
“You’re honey all right,” he said. “You have a sweet smile when you’re not in combat, you know that?”
Her gaze lifted shyly. “Yeah, well I can say the same for you. I’m sure you wouldn’t like being called ‘sweet,’ but I’m seeing your softer side now. It means so much to me, Ram. Since coming home to Tucson, we’ve not had one spat, nor have we become defensive with one another.”
“I think its age and maturity finally showing up. I hope at this point you consider me a friend. Have I passed that test with you, Ali?”
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