by Geri Foster
They drove away and while several shots were fired in the air, none came close to their vehicles. “I guess they figured we’d just hand over everything and they could go on their merry way,” Roper observed, his rifle covering the rear.
“This is pretty wild territory,” Rye informed them. “One wrong move by either party and there’ll be a flare up. The big wigs on both sides don’t want that.”
They rolled into the base and he went inside to find Harper at the console. “I see you had a couple of visitors. Good thing no serious fire was exchanged.”
“We’re smarter than that. Besides, they were just a bunch of hyped up teenagers.”
“They can be just as deadly,” Harper warned. “Don’t blow them off so quickly.”
“We’re back, safe and sound.”
Since they’d been up most of the night, Rye grabbed a bite to eat and headed for his bunk. He wanted to be ready for the next night when he planned to leave camp and do a little recon alone. He had to find out when the village expected Qamar.
He was asleep the minute his head hit the pillow as usual when on a mission. His body was trained to rest when necessary and be ready to go instantly upon waking.
He managed to wake up toward the following evening and found Harper eating in their version of a mess hall. She had a folder in front of her she gave more attention to than what she ate. He grabbed a cup of coffee, wiped the sleep from his eyes and sat across from her.
“Interesting read?” he asked as a way to let her know he was there. “Security shit, or juicy gossip?” He made those remarks because there was no Top Secret stamped in red on the outside of the manila folder. Had there been, he’d have kept his mouth shut.
She closed the document and glanced up at him. They’d brought back eggs and she had two getting cold on her plate. He reached over, took her fork and stabbed one. Smiling at her, he stuffed the whole thing in his mouth and chewed slowly.
“That was my egg.” She scowled, glancing from her plate to him. “I was about ready to eat it.”
“Too late,” he teased. “You wait for something to get cold, it’s not yours anymore.”
She tilted her head, her blue eyes staring a hole through him. “And whose rule is that?”
“Mine,” he replied picking up his cup of coffee and taking a sip.
She quickly ate her other egg before he had a chance to take it away as well. He inwardly grinned. Things like eggs, milk and bread were hard to come by in Afghanistan. If the locals didn’t eat it, you didn’t see much of it.
He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “I’m going out scouting tonight. I need to hear what the locals have to say.”
“They’ll spot you as an American right away. The villagers are suspicious, and it won’t take long for them to draw the conclusion you’re looking for Qamar.”
“Maybe, maybe not. You don’t know where I’m going or who I’ll be mingling with and it’s best if it remains that way. I can’t stay here and wait if Qamar isn’t coming for months.”
“You know that’s not the case. The poppies are out of the fields and processing is taking place. Qamar will come collecting soon enough.”
“We can go on that assumption, or I can check it out.”
She put her hand on his and his first instinct was to pull away. He forgot how much he enjoyed her touch.
“Listen, please don’t do anything crazy. There are men out there who’d love to take you to Qamar so he can finish what he started. To them, you’re unfinished business.”
He looked down at her hand and smiled. He’d always loved the smoothness of her palms. Before his team had been taken out they were heading down a pretty obvious path leading straight to them meeting up at the altar.
He’d had a pretty hard time thinking he’d slept with a woman who may have betrayed him and his men, but he regretted the idea of never knowing where their relationship would’ve gone. And he still couldn’t be a hundred percent sure she didn’t. Although he had a tough time coming up with the motive. After all, the money was still here and so was she.
But, someone gave up their position. Even Special Warfare Command established only he, his men, Sully and Harper knew their location. His men hadn’t had time to notify anyone. Besides, they’d never turn on each other. Sully being a Navy SEAL and highly decorated, made him highly unlikely. He also wanted to go with them that night. Would a snitch do that?
Logic left Harper.
But, Crash certainly didn’t believe she had a thing to do with it. He claimed when he came back in the country she worked every connection and every lead they had. She searched tirelessly to prove his innocence and Hussein carried the blame of setting them up.
When he came back for Hussein she’d advised him against seeking revenge and threatened to call in the Marines, but she didn’t.
Afterwards she’d led Crash exactly where he needed to go to learn the truth. Would she do that if she wanted his men killed and him imprisoned?
Rye looked around to make sure they were alone. “Harper, do you still care about me?” He asked the question so quickly she didn’t have time to come up with a false expression.
She replied immediately. “I do. It’s hard sometimes when I consider how much you don’t trust me, but yes. Nothing has changed for me.”
He stood, leaned across the table and captured her mouth in a kiss that under different circumstances might validate their love for each other, but they weren’t there yet. He couldn’t surrender completely until he knew the truth.
It took all his willpower to end the kiss, and more to tamper down the feelings it stirred in his burdened soul. In so many ways he wanted to wrap his arms around her and pretend nothing had happened. His men were still alive, his reputation stellar, and they were on their way home. But he learned a long time ago, dreams didn’t come true.
Not for him, anyway.
Her long thick lashes lay on her cheeks a moment longer, then fluttered open. Her beautiful mouth, open and swollen from his kiss. Her eyes sleepy with desire.
Rye pushed away and straightened to his full six feet two inches. He wanted her more than anything he’d ever dreamed of in his life. He wanted her with him into retirement, and long after. But, this mess with Qamar had to be settled before he could do anything. He felt his life was on hold as he waited for nightfall.
He’d asked the men to follow along with him but to stay at a distance. Four American men walking round town would attract a lot of unwanted attention. Harper had furnished them with the local garb so they wouldn’t stand out too much, but they had to be careful or they’d be captured, hand-wrapped and given to Qamar.
They studied the map of the city then left on foot heading in different directions. Rebel gave them an intense three-hour class on speaking Dani and they stayed with it until time to leave. Then they slipped unnoticed out of the compound using the rear exit.
Rye entered a crowded gathering area and stayed on the sideline with a cup of hot tea. He didn’t dare touch alcohol because he had to keep his wits about him. It wasn’t unusual for Americans to come into town, but it didn’t happen every day either.
The locals left them alone and they met up in the town square to compare notes. “I didn’t hear a damn thing,” Roper said, disheartened. “Except something about a wedding to take place soon.”
“I heard about the wedding and several everyday conversations, but Qamar’s name or his men weren’t mentioned.” Comrade said, his eyes searching their perimeter for anything unusual.
“The wedding is the big news in town because it’s Qamar marrying his second cousin.”
“Really?” Rye asked, studying the ground as he allowed the information to cumulate in his mind. “When does it take place?”
Roper shook his head. “Someone said there was so much to be done before next Saturday.”
“But is that the Saturday in two days, or next week Saturday?”
“Where is the wedding taking place?” Rye asked, carefully se
arching for anyone close who may be listening to their conversation.
“At a villa on the edge of town,” Comrade reported. “I heard that clearly.”
“So, our next recon is to that villa, tomorrow. If it’s happening soon we’ll be able to tell by the activity going on,” Rye said, his hopes building. “If Qamar is getting married, he’s not going to be concentrating on what’s happening at the compound.”
“You think the wedding is a twofer?” Roper asked with his usual grin.
“Maybe. Get married, collect millions of dollars and live happily ever after.”
“What about the money at the compound? Won’t they make a run at that?” Rebel asked, his back to Rye. “No one is going to just give up on millions of dollars.”
“You’re right. Nothing like a wedding to cover a plan to attack the compound and take the money. It’ll make a nice wedding present for Qamar.” Rye’s brain worked overtime.
“We need to find out when this is happening and figure out how to protect the money and the people inside,” Roper said.
Rebel held up his arms and leaned closer. “Let’s be smart. Those people know we’re Americans and yet they haven’t actually been hesitant to talk, knowing there’s a possibility we’re here after Qamar. I think it’s a trap to throw us off.”
“I agree,” Rye said, keeping his voice low, his eyes searching the area. “However, we know Qamar is coming and we know eventually the Taliban is going to try to get their money back.”
“Okay, tomorrow night we hit the villa. If it’s a set-up, the activity going on there should easily tell us what we want to know.” Rebel remarked. “I think only one of us needs to go. This way they won’t see all four of us wondering around.”
“I agree,” said Comrade. “The rest of us should be in the middle of town. Visible and casual while someone checks out the villa.”
“I’ll go,” Rye volunteered. “I’ll check it out then return back to the compound.”
“That’s a go. Let’s report in with Harper and see if she can find us cover, get local eyes on the villa and monitor the natives,” Roper said. “Or we can go in blind.”
Chapter Seven
Harper didn’t like Rye and his men out scouting the village. It only took one wrong move and they could change everything for the base. If the locals felt threatened, they might call off the money drop. Then she would’ve wasted three years setting this up.
She watched when the men entered the secure area and her chest deflated. Thank God they’d made it back. Sully didn’t have the manpower for a full-fledged rescue and she didn’t want Rye to ever be in that position again.
Rye placed his weapon on a nearby table then motioned they needed to talk in her office. She complied not wanting to make a scene in front of the entire crew.
She went to her office, allowed him to enter, then shut the door. “It was very foolish and dangerous for you to do recon on the village, Rye. You could get us all killed! You should’ve waited a few days before going into town. If there had been a misstep, it could’ve jeopardized our entire operation. We’re not just here to get Qamar, we want a whole lot of them. Our goal is to shut down this section of the Taliban.”
He sat on the edge of her desk, one foot on the floor, the other swinging loose. He had his hands folded in front of him and he had a solemn expression on his face. She wondered if he heard a word she said.
“We didn’t go to town to stir up trouble. We just want to know the mood, test the temperature of the place and see what they’re planning.” He turned to her. “You can’t blame us for that. It’s part of our job. We have to know the environment in order to finish our mission.”
“You only need to know when Qamar is coming. That’s all. And I can tell you that.”
“Nothing like getting down in the mud with the locals. Besides, we learned a lot.”
She folded her arms, unhappy his intel might be better than hers. Then she took in a breath, let it out slowly and tried to think more rationally. With a hottie like Rye inches away, it proved impossible to keep her mind where it belonged. “Like what?”
“There’s a wedding either this week or next.”
Her brows wrinkled. Her informer hadn’t breathed a word about a wedding and in a village as small as theirs, the news had to have all the locals chattering. Could it be true? “Who’s getting married? Around here a marriage is a very big deal. Lots of celebrating.”
“Qamar.”
That stole her breath away. “You’re kidding.” She couldn’t believe it as her eyes widened. “He’s already married and resides with his wife and two children in Kabul. He keeps his family as far away from the drugs as possible.”
“Can’t these guys marry more than one wife?”
Harper knew they could and often did, but not Qamar. He had always been too much of a loner. Most of the time, according to her intel, he didn’t even stay with his family. He had a smaller place eighteen klicks away where he and several of his guards stayed. “It wouldn’t be unheard of, but I doubt it’s reliable. Qamar isn’t a man who needs or seeks out a woman’s attention.”
“Maybe he can’t get it up anymore?” Rye asked, with a crooked grin.
She gave him a scathing look. “Now how would I know that?”
“Hell, you know everything else.”
“I just know Qamar isn’t the type to go looking for another wife. He barely spends time with the one he has. And she’s pretty and comes from a good family.”
“Any lovers on the side?”
“No, none that I’m aware of.” She pointed at him. “And I’ve had people on him for years. I can tell you what he had for breakfast this morning.”
“Really?” Rye asked, with a snarl. “Then why haven’t you heard about the wedding?”
“My guess is because it isn’t going to happen. There’s not even been a whisper about anyone in our local area getting married.” She stood and paced the floor. “Isn’t it strange you go out one night and learn all this vital intel? That a wedding is taking place and it just so happens to be the man you’re looking for?”
“You’re implying we were fed what they wanted us to hear?”
“It’s very likely, but I’ll check my sources. They might’ve missed something. I doubt it since a wedding involves the whole community, but we’ll make sure.”
“They said a villa outside of town.”
“That would be Aziz Mohammad. He’s a very wealthy olive grower and helps the poor. He’s old and his sons do much of the work. His wife died some years ago and he’s never remarried. I don’t think it’s him.”
“Why not? He’s rich and powerful if he has money.”
“Him and the religious leader, the Iman, Taj Yusufi, don’t get along and he’s constantly trying to get him removed from the Mosque.”
“Why?” Rye asked, his eyes curious and wide. He truly wanted to know the history of this village, these people and the mood of the area. But, only to seek revenge from those who killed his men.
“I only know it’s a personal matter and no one in the village speaks of it. It’s been hinted at that the Iman is very much involved with Qamar and spies for him.”
“We didn’t see him,” Rye offered. “But, Rebel swore there was musing about the money being held here. People in the town want it. They think it belongs to them.”
She didn’t care what they might think. No one would gain access to that money unless it’s to be transferred to the States. That cost the deaths of seven men. “They’ve tried to get to it before. Once I even let it be known it wasn’t here any longer, but that was so they’d check and know I was lying.”
“You want them to know the money is here? So they’ll come and get it?”
“So they’ll make an attempt.” She leaned closer to him. “Remember, they will not move on that money without Qamar’s okay. If he gives his permission, he will be nearby to claim it. He comes close enough, we grab him right off the streets.”
“Why haven
’t you done that already?”
“We didn’t have four Navy SEALs with the ability to snatch up a terrorist in the blink of an eye.”
She smiled. He shook his head and gave her a crooked little grin that sent her hormones into overdrive. How many nights had she laid alone thinking about him? Wanting to know his condition, his location and how to get him back to her.
It had been futile. He spent months recuperating, then under suspicion in the men’s murder, then he picked himself up and became the Team Commander of another SEAL team she couldn’t find out anything about. She only felt relief to learn he’d retired. Even held out hope he might contact her.
It never happened.
He went silent and she stayed in the dark, until she received a coded message from Silas Branson. Never in a million lifetimes did she consider Rye would come back here again. She thought he was content that Hussein was dead. No playbook for something this dangerous. But, here he stood, and she feared losing him again, perhaps this time for good.
“So, you don’t think the money is in danger of being taken?” he said, coming to his feet and facing her. “It’s perfectly safe?”
“Well, it’s been here years and it’s never been a point of discussion. Qamar hasn’t even asked us to return it.”
“He knows if he did, he’d have to take responsibility for killing my men.”
She gave him that silent understanding look. “True, but there’s no doubt he has ways to justify the money being his. It came from the poppies grown in the nearby fields.”
“There’s also the United States government. They wouldn’t take too kindly of a bunch of militants breaking into a sanctioned facility and taking a bunch of money.”
She glanced away. “There is that. Lots of firepower would be called in to end the scrimmage. People would die and perhaps a village destroyed.”
“So, they don’t dare make a foolish move.” Rye moved closer and Harper struggled to swallow.
He stood inches away, bringing her eyes level with his chest. She refused to back down. She didn’t want to. Not this time. Her gaze rose and met his. “Not if they know what’s good for them.”