by Mary Alford
“Unbelievable.” Jase gave them both the once-over. Alex couldn’t imagine how horrible they must look. “Ryan’s on his way back here to take these injured men to the hospital. I want him to take a look at the both of you. You look as if you could use a little medical attention.”
Once air emergency services arrived, they prepared Temple and the other injured man for the trip. Ryan and Aaron were with them.
Exhausted to his core, Alex asked Ryan to take a look at Rachel first. She’d been through so much and she wasn’t used to being in the field anymore.
Alex wasn’t about to stay behind until he’d found out the ending of the story. Why Liam and Deacon had risked their lives.
He waited until Ryan had finished his exam of Rachel and had treated her cuts and scrapes. “I’m going with them,” he told her gently. “I want to know that the sarin is safe. Liam and Deacon deserve as much.”
“I’m coming with you, Alex.” But he shook his head. “No, you’ve been through enough. Go be with Liam. I’ll find you again.”
He could see all the doubts in her eyes and he understood each of them. He’d let her go once. She believed he would choose the job again.
Before he could reassure her, Ryan came over. “It’s time to go. We need to get these guys to the hospital as soon as possible.”
Alex nodded. “Give us a second.” Ryan faded away and when it was just the two of them again, he didn’t know what to say.
She leaned over and kissed him gently. “Go. I’ll see you soon.”
He hated leaving her, knowing that she had doubts about his love, but he’d see the mission through to the end, because in his mind it was his last.
Once Rachel had left with Ryan, Alex found Jase.
“So where’s this cave?” Jase asked.
“I can take you there. It’s some distance away. We can reach it by chopper faster.”
“Good. Let’s get back to the chopper where Liz and her two prisoners are waiting.”
Liz was standing outside waiting for them when they arrived.
“Has he given you any problems?” Jase asked.
She shook her head. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
Before long the state troopers arrived and took Michelle and the other man to a location where Jase and his men could interrogate them.
Aaron piloted the chopper to the cave where Liam had indicated. Alex led the way inside. At first glance, the cave appeared empty. Alex’s spirits sank. Had he been wrong? Was Liam simply reminiscing?
“I don’t get it. I was positive Liam was trying to tell me something. Let’s keep looking. Chances are, he wouldn’t have hidden it too close to the entrance in case one of Temple’s men stumbled across it.”
As they went deeper into the cave, it opened up into a room that was filled almost to capacity with the sarin gas.
“What were Temple and his men planning to do with all this sarin?” Jase asked in amazement.
“I don’t know, but whatever it was, it could have had deadly consequences. Thankfully, we found it before it fell into the wrong hands.”
“Yes. It’ll take a while to safely get this stuff out of here and stored. Do you want to be part of that? You’re the one who brought it to our attention. This is big for you,” Jase told him.
Alex shook his head. He had found the sarin for his friend’s sake. He’d finished the mission. Now all he could think about was Rachel and the future. She needed to know what he’d decided.
“No, if it’s all the same to you, I’ll let someone else take the glory.” He faced Jase. This man was his friend. Jase had been there for Alex when he’d needed to change jobs within the Agency. But it was time. Still, saying the words to his friend was hard.
“Actually, I think this is my last mission with the Scorpions.”
Jase clearly hadn’t expected this. It took a good minute for him to answer. “Oh, man, are you leaving us or the Agency?”
Alex believed Jase knew the answer already. “Both, actually.”
“I’m going to miss you, buddy. Is this because of Rachel?”
Alex had never told anyone about his history with her. Now he wanted to. “Yes. I love her and I blew it with her once. I don’t want to do the same thing again.”
Jase slowly smiled. “You’re going to be missed tremendously. And if you ever change your mind, you have a place with the Scorpions always, but I get it. Finding someone to love you, well, that’s a gift from God. You need to hold on to that with all your heart.” He turned to Aaron. “Can you take Alex to the hospital?”
Aaron had overheard their conversation. He nodded quietly, regret showing in his eyes. “Sure thing, buddy. But what Jase said about missing you, well, I second that. I’m going to miss your friendship like crazy.”
As they made the trip down to the town of Midnight Mountain, Alex felt the weight of the life he’d been living slowly lift away. His heart soared with the decision he’d made. There would be no regrets for him. No going back. This was the change he’d always wanted, even when he didn’t think he needed one. He just prayed that she still wanted the same thing. That she wanted him for the rest of her life.
NINETEEN
She’d been sitting next to her brother’s bed for a long time. Liam had wakened long enough to know that she was there and so Rachel was at peace. She’d told him they had Temple’s men in custody. He’d mumbled something about Deacon and Rachel had done her best to reassure him. In spite of his injuries, he was holding his own. She’d promised to check on Deacon and had. So far, Deacon’s condition hadn’t changed much. Still, his doctors were optimistic. The next twenty-four hours would tell the tale.
Now, as she watched her brother resting, Rachel couldn’t get the sadness to leave her heart. Alex had wanted to finish the mission, just as he had in the past. He’d been driven back then. It appeared as if nothing had changed in spite of the love he said he still had for her. So where did that leave them?
She was still sitting next to her brother when the man in her troubled thoughts came into the room.
She glanced up at him. She’d never seen him look so serious before. Had something happened?
“Did you find the sarin?” she asked when the silence between them stretched out, filled with unanswered questions.
He came over to where she sat. “We did. Thanks to Liam, the gas is going to a secure location away from danger.”
“Are Temple’s men talking yet?” She held his gaze.
He shook his head. “I don’t know. I left as soon as we found the sarin.” She tried to understand the meaning behind those words.
“How’s he doing?” Alex asked and looked at Liam.
She leaned forward and touched her brother’s hand. “He’s going to be fine. He was awake earlier. He was asking about Deacon. It’s touch and go.” She answered Alex’s unasked question.
Alex nodded, his gaze still on Liam. “I can’t believe this is finally over.” He stopped for a second and then looked down at her. “Rachel, I’m done.”
She didn’t understand what he meant. Done with her? The Agency? “I don’t understand...”
He knelt next to her. “I’m done with the CIA. I told Jase before I came here. I want out. I want...you.”
She got to her feet and moved away, unsure of what she was doing. Rachel had to be certain she’d heard him correctly. Losing him again would destroy her.
“Please don’t say that unless you mean it.” Her voice came out as little more than a whisper.
He came to her, taking hold of her arms. “I mean it, Rachel. I’ve never been more serious in my life. I want out. I’ve seen enough death and terror to last me a lifetime. I’m done. I want to move back home to Midnight Mountain...and I want a second chance with you. I want to love you for the rest of my life.”
She’d waited years to hear him say
those words. He finally wanted the same thing as she did. She went into his arms and held him close for a moment and then she kissed him and was so grateful that what happened between them in the past hadn’t defined their future. They had a second chance.
“It’s about time you two got it together.” They turned at the sound of Liam’s voice. He was awake and grinning at them. “I was afraid you’d blow it again.”
Rachel laughed at her brother’s typical Liam saying and smiled up at Alex. “We did get it together, thanks to you. You gave us a second chance, Liam.” She kissed Alex again. She would be forever grateful that even though they’d gone through one of the darkest moments of their lives up on the mountain, they’d found each other again.
EPILOGUE
“Babe, I’m home.” Alex closed the front door against the chilly Wyoming morning and called out to his wife. It was still dark out, yet he knew she was awake.
Almost a year had now passed since he and Rachel had married. They’d settled back into her place and Alex had found his calling as a cattle rancher. This was a childhood dream both he and Liam shared.
“In here.” She peeked her head out of the kitchen. Dressed in a robe, her hair tousled from sleep and seven months pregnant, she still took his breath away.
He was so excited about becoming a father. He went to the kitchen and drew her back against him, his hands splaying across her midsection. Their child. He was so happy. There was a time when he couldn’t imagine ever being this happy.
“How’s the little one today?” he asked and kissed her neck.
She covered his hands with hers. “Active. I think she’s ready to come out.” He and Rachel teased each other about whether they were having a girl or a boy. She insisted a girl, while he felt obligated to say a boy. Truthfully, he didn’t care. He was just so happy to be having a child with her.
That time over a year ago had faded into a memory now. The pain and fear they’d both experienced were all but gone. Liam was safe. Deacon had recovered from his injuries, and thanks to Michelle, they had the buyer for the sarin gas in custody and Temple and his men had gone away for a very long time.
Thanks to God, he and Rachel had made good on the second chance God gave them.
“How’s the ranch coming along?” she asked as she put the eggs on to cook.
He loved watching her. She was so beautiful. At times, he still couldn’t believe she was his bride.
Since Liam’s last mission, he, too, had left the CIA. He and Alex had decided to use the property Brian left Rachel to buy some cattle to run there, as well as keep up the horse ranch.
So far, it had been a learning experience for both him and Liam, but Alex loved it and he found himself looking forward to each new day...with her.
Rachel caught him watching her and immediately ran a hand through her hair. “I must look like a mess.”
He shook his head and planted a kiss on her lips. She had no idea how lovely she was to him. “You’ve never looked prettier.” He gathered her close. “I love you, Rachel. I love you so much. I still can’t believe I’m blessed enough to have this life with you.”
Tears filled her eyes. She cried a lot lately. Hormones. “I’m the blessed one. I thought I’d lost you for good. I’m so glad God brought us together again.”
“Me, too,” he whispered, and then kissed her gently and held her close. He’d forever be grateful to God for bringing them back into each other’s lives. He thought he’d lost this part of his life for good. But God with His infinite perfect timing had chosen the right moment for them, and he’d spend the rest of his life trying to be worthy of this wonderful life he had.
* * * * *
If you enjoyed this book, don’t miss these other exciting stories from Mary Alford:
Forgotten Past
Rocky Mountain Pursuit
Deadly Memories
Framed for Murder
Available now from Love Inspired Suspense!
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Keep reading for an excerpt from Alaskan Hideout by Sarah Varland.
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Dear Reader,
There’s just something about first love stories that warm the heart, especially when a love that was believed lost forever is rekindled once again.
For Alex Booth and Rachel Simmons, their high school romance ended bitterly when their jobs with the CIA got in the way. Rachel wanted to have a normal life and family, but Alex couldn’t imagine living without the adrenaline rush of the job, and so they parted. Rachel left the CIA for good, and Alex always regretted letting her go.
When Rachel’s brother and fellow CIA agent Liam Carlson goes missing in the mountains near Rachel’s Wyoming home of Midnight Mountain, there’s only one person she trusts enough to ask for help. And that’s Alex.
With the two reunited once more, their desperate search to bring Liam home is clouded by old resentments and misunderstanding from the past. Together, Alex and Rachel must find a way to put the past behind them in order to find Liam before the men chasing him finish the job they started and end Liam’s life.
Standoff at Midnight Mountain is a story about forgiveness and second chances. I hope Alex and Rachel’s story will touch your heart and bring a smile to your face. And maybe help you remember your own first love.
I so love hearing from readers. Email me at: [email protected] or write me c/o Love Inspired, 195 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007. Visit me at www.maryalford.net and at: https://www.Facebook.com/maryalfordauthor.
Warmest blessings,
Mary Alford
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Alaskan Hideout
by Sarah Varland
ONE
Five miles to go. Only five miles.
Emma Bass gripped the steering wheel tighter and checked the rearview mirror one more time, panic rising in her that she might see the car following her—again—even though it had been four thousand miles and over a week since she’d last seen it.
Fifteen days since she’d witnessed the murder of her company’s CEO. Fourteen days since she’d started to feel like she was being observed. All the time. Twelve days since her son, Luke, mentioned offhandedly that sometimes he felt like someone was watching him.
Twelve days since she’d realized there was nothing the police there could do to protect her since no one could prove they were in danger. Eleven days since she’d left Dallas. Nobody messed with her kid. She’d done plenty of looking back, but only for her and Luke’s safety. Emma knew by now that it was
better to let the past be the past and to keep moving forward. At whatever cost. Always. Moving. Forward.
Except now, when she voluntarily blasted herself back eight years to college graduation and her ultimatum to her then boyfriend that she never should have given. Her or his family’s lodge.
Emma didn’t know why she’d done it. Maybe it had been because the thought of Alaska scared her. She wasn’t inept in the country, but there was a difference between the Georgia countryside—lazy, muddy rivers and gently rolling hills—and the rugged Alaskan wilderness Tyler had showed her pictures of. He’d done so eagerly, like he’d thought the picturesque scenery of his beloved Alaska would be enough to convince her to move there with him, get engaged, take some time to get to know the area and his family and then eventually get married.
Instead, every picture of the mountains towering over his ocean-side town had made her shiver a little. There was something so wild about Alaska still. Untamed. Unpredictable.
Emma was a fan of predictable.
Then again, maybe it hadn’t been any of that. Emma might like routine, but she was an adventurer, too, in some ways.
Sighing, she glanced in the rearview mirror and smiled at her seven-year-old’s face. Maybe the truth was that she’d taken a pregnancy test the morning of their graduation—and it was positive. And somehow, maybe in a swirl of stress and emotions and being overwhelmed by how her life was changing so quickly, she’d said stupid things to Tyler, things she hadn’t been able to take back.
He’d simply walked away. No, that wasn’t true. She’d panicked, realized she didn’t deserve him and practically chased him away. But he hadn’t come back. And Emma hadn’t been able to handle the idea that he’d marry her only because he felt obligated, didn’t want his future decided for him just because someone had decided hers.
So years had passed. She’d said nothing to Tyler. Every single night as she’d lain in bed, trying to fall asleep, desperately trying to convince her mind to stop, she regretted her silence. But every day it became a little harder to break.