The Hero

by Donna Grant

  The four then descended into the base where Wyatt waited. Callie took the box and went to her work area where she examined it for any type of explosives.

  They all seemed eager to open it up, but Owen wasn’t. As he looked for Natalie, he noticed her standing by the stairs. Her arms were wrapped around herself, as if she couldn’t get warm. Then her green eyes met his. He wanted to go to her, pull her against him, and simply hold her.

  Alone. With Natalie. For days, possibly weeks. The ideas that sprang to mind about what he’d like to do to her were many—and various. Then he remembered why she was there, and how close she’d come to death.

  “Hmm,” Callie said, breaking into his thoughts.

  He turned his attention to Callie. She held a small, wand-like tool and slowly ran it over the package while she looked at the computer screen and the image that popped up.

  “That’s a vial,” Wyatt said as he peered close to the monitor.

  Callie set the instrument down and grabbed a box cutter.

  Wyatt’s hand on her arm stilled her. “What are you doing?”

  Without looking at him, she shook off his hold. “This is from Orrin. There’s nothing inside that could harm us.”

  “Except that vial,” Cullen pointed out.

  Owen agreed with Callie. It was time to open the package. “Dad is many things, but he wouldn’t send a package to kill us.”

  “No, he endangers us just by remaining alive,” Wyatt muttered.

  Cullen immediately took offense. “That’s enough.”

  “What are you going to do, kid?” Wyatt demanded as he spun around.

  “Enough!” Owen bellowed as he got between the two of them, a hand on each of their chests. He looked at Cullen then at Wyatt. “Whatever Dad is, he isn’t the kind of man who would kill us.”

  Wyatt raised a brow. “Really? He killed Mom.”

  The next second, Cullen shoved Owen to get to Wyatt. Owen did his best to keep his brothers apart, but punches were landed. When he was hit the second time, Owen had had enough. He rammed his shoulder into Cullen and slammed him to the floor.

  Owen turned, ready to do the same to Wyatt, only Callie beat him to it. She stood and swiped her leg, knocking Wyatt flat on his back.

  “Damn, that felt good,” Callie said as she looked down at Wyatt with her boot on his throat.

  Owen wished he could smile, but he was too pissed. “You two want to fight, then take it upstairs and out into the yard. Not here.”

  Callie removed her foot. “We’re here to work. If you aren’t going to help, then get your ass out.”

  Owen was surprised to see that during the commotion, Natalie had walked around them and opened the box. She had a letter in her hand that she held out to Owen.

  He took it and opened it. There were just five words.

  “What does it say?” Wyatt asked as he got to his feet.

  Cullen straightened his shirt and walked over to him. “Read it, Owen.”

  He crumbled the paper. “You know what to do.”

  “Excuse me?” Cullen asked with a chuckle. “What’s that mean?”

  Wyatt shook his head and looked away. “That vial is Ragnarok. Orrin sent the biochemical to us. He wants us to fix his mess.”

  “No.” Every head turned to Callie. Her face was set in determined lines. “When was the last time any of you spoke to Orrin?”

  There was a long stretch of silence. Then Cullen said, “It’s been two years since my last phone call with him.”

  Callie turned to him, but Owen couldn’t meet her gaze. “It’s been around five for me.”

  “I won’t even bother to ask Wyatt because I know,” Callie stated in a harsh voice. “It’s been ten years since he last bothered to even acknowledge he had a father.”

  Wyatt crossed his arms over his chest. “So we don’t get along with our dad. What’s your point?”

  “My point,” Callie said, looking straight at Wyatt, “is that none of you know him. You don’t know how he thinks or how he operates. You certainly don’t know what kind of operative he is. None of you have the right to think you know what his motives are.”

  “Um … just to point out something,” Natalie said as she held the box.

  Owen saw Nat with the box in one hand and the vial in the other. “What is it?”

  Natalie handed the small bottle to Callie before she held up the box for them to see. “I noticed the postmark when I first saw the box. All any of you noticed was the writing. I think there’s only one person who actually saw who it was addressed to.”

  Owen read the name. Then his gaze slid to Callie. “Why didn’t you just tell us this was sent to you?”

  “I may think of him as my father, but he’s not. He’s yours.” Callie gently set the vial down. “The government obviously wanted you three here, so it was only right the contents belong to y’all.”

  “But it doesn’t.” Wyatt took a long measuring look at the vial. “It belongs to you.”

  It was the first time since Callie had arrived at the ranch that Wyatt spoke in what some might describe as a tender voice. There wasn’t a gentle bone in Wyatt’s body, so the fact that he took care with Callie said a lot.

  Callie swallowed and looked away.

  He ran a hand down his face. “Dad knew you’d be here, Callie. He recognized that you’d understand what to do.”

  “Owen’s right,” Natalie said.

  “What we need to identify is if Dad knew something was going wrong before he sent the vial,” Cullen said.

  Natalie set the box down on the table. “That note could go either way. It could mean for Callie to hold it just in case, or it could mean that something did go wrong and she needs to take the next step.”

  “Either way, Dad wanted her to hide it,” Owen said.

  Wyatt’s lip lifted in a sneer. “Just like him putting others in danger.”

  Owen shot him a warning look, as did Callie, but Wyatt saw none of it. He had the vial in his hand and was looking at it. The liquid was clear and innocent looking.

  But something that two countries were willing to kill for meant something. They would only be able to hide Ragnarok for so long before time ran out for them, as well.

  “Take us through the assignment,” Cullen told Callie.

  She nodded and wrinkled her forehead as she thought back. “The job came across our coded messages, as they always do. I decoded it and gave it to Orrin.”

  “When?” Owen asked.

  Callie looked at the calendar on the wall behind her. “It was Sunday afternoon. I did some digging into this biochemical to see if it was real, but found nothing substantial. Meanwhile, Orrin assembled the team and did his own research.”

  “Where was the team?” Wyatt asked.

  “They live around the area,” Callie responded. “It was part of agreeing to work with Orrin. They had to remain close for just such time-sensitive missions.”

  Cullen nodded. “Go on.”

  “It was three days later when I brought what I learned to Orrin. That’s when I noticed something was wrong. He wouldn’t tell me what. The next day, he went to Dallas to have lunch with Natalie.”

  “Was it normal for Dad to keep things from you?” Owen asked.

  Callie shook her head, her eyes going to the closed door that was Orrin’s office for a heartbeat. “He usually told me what was on his mind. When he returned from Dallas, he agreed to take the job. Two days later at dawn, a chopper arrived to take them to Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita where a plane waited to fly them to Dover AFB in Delaware.”

  Owen listened with interest. “And from Dover?”

  “A private flight from an ex-Air Force pilot who took them to Moscow via a brief landing in Dublin for fuel,” Callie explained.

  “Who’s the pilot?” Wyatt asked.

  Callie gave him a hard look. “Someone Orrin considers family and trusts implicitly. I was in contact with Orrin when they left Moscow with the vial. He sent me a quick message to
let me know they were back in Delaware. The return flight to Texas was going to be tight, so I waited until I knew they should’ve landed in Wichita before I called.”

  Callie cleared her throat and turned her head away. “When I couldn’t get Orrin or any of the team, I contacted Carter, the pilot, but my call went unanswered. I was about to call our contact in DC when my phone rang.”

  “And?” Natalie asked when Callie paused.

  Callie tucked her hair behind her ears. “Carter found the team executed in the hangar.”

  “Where was Carter during all of this?” Cullen demanded, his arms crossed over his chest.

  “There was a problem with the engine. Carter took the plane to the mechanics’ hangar to have them look at it. Carter notified Dover’s military police when the bodies were found. Everyone was accounted for on the team but Orrin. Based on the type of ammunition used, it was the Russians.”

  “That, along with Orrin’s kidnapping, had the government sending for us,” Wyatt stated with a grimace.

  Natalie then asked, “So, where does that leave us?”

  “It means someone needs to talk to this Carter,” Owen said.

  Cullen glanced at the vial. “I’ll go.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Natalie did her best to keep her eyes open, but the lack of sleep was making it difficult. While the boys and Callie discussed the pilot, Natalie found a chair and sat.

  “I’ve already spoken to Carter,” Callie said.

  Wyatt raised a dark brow. “Now we want to talk to him.”

  “Carter saw Orrin and the men walk from the plane to the hangar after they returned to Delaware. That’s it,” Callie argued.

  Cullen’s gaze narrowed slightly. “Why don’t you want us talking to him?”

  “There isn’t a need. I’ve already done it,” she insisted.

  Owen shifted his feet as he widened his stance. “That’s true, but we might hear something different. Or ask another question you haven’t.”

  “Are you saying I can’t do my job?” Callie demanded as she got to her feet. “Orrin had no problem taking me at my word.”

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Wyatt said as he turned around.

  Even to Natalie it seemed as if Callie was going to great lengths so the brothers wouldn’t talk to the pilot. Why?

  Orrin was like a father to her. No way was Callie involved in the deaths of the team or Orrin’s kidnapping. Though when it came to any of the Loughman boys questioning her judgment or her abilities, Callie tended to get defensive.

  Not that Natalie blamed her.

  These were Texas boys who were raised to treat women with the utmost respect, to honor and cherish them always. Overprotectiveness most times went hand-in-hand with such an upbringing.

  It wasn’t that the Loughmans didn’t think Callie or Natalie were capable. They just felt it was their job to do, well … everything.

  The Loughmans were the type of men who would stand by their women, supporting them in everything. They weren’t the type who felt their manhood was threatened if their women made more money or had a better job, because the marriage was a partnership in all things.

  Natalie blinked her scratchy eyes as she stared at Owen. He would never have held her back in anything she wanted. He would’ve encouraged her to take the job in St. Petersburg, and then he’d have found a way to be with her.

  Just as she would’ve supported him in his need to serve his country. No matter the hardship, no matter the struggle, she knew to the depths of her soul that he would’ve urged her to go after whatever she wanted.

  And he would’ve been there to root her on.

  “Easy, Callie,” Owen hastily said. “No one is saying we don’t believe you. It’s called double-checking. That’s all we’re doing.”

  There was a long silence where she saw that even Wyatt was watching Callie. Wyatt’s gaze was intense, as if he were holding his breath to see if Callie would cave.

  “Sorry,” Callie said and plopped back on the stool.

  Natalie rubbed the back of her neck and stretched it. Then she quickly hid her yawn in her arm as she brought her legs up to her chest.

  With every blink of her eyes, it became more and more difficult to lift her lids. She allowed her eyes to remain closed, and within seconds, she was asleep. Then she jerked as her head fell back.

  She glanced at the group to see if anyone noticed. Fortunately, they were too intent on watching Callie dial the phone.

  “Speaker,” Wyatt ordered.

  Callie sighed dramatically and hit the button to put the call on speaker. In two rings, the call was answered. Callie asked to speak to Carter. After she had been put on hold, Wyatt took the cell phone from her hand.

  “What the hell?” Callie muttered in disbelief.

  Cullen moved in front of her. “We want to talk to Carter. Fact checking, remember?”

  Callie rolled her eyes. Natalie felt for her. A girl had no chance with three men like the Loughmans. They communicated without speaking aloud, so a girl had to stay on her toes to remain ahead of them.

  Though that wasn’t really possible.

  The Loughman men were a brand all their own. They were as rugged as the Texas countryside, as fierce as the Texas weather, and as constant as the sun rising in the east. They were also as stubborn as mules.

  “Carter,” came a very feminine voice over the phone.

  Natalie covered her mouth as she chuckled at the looks of shock on all three men’s faces. Callie turned to Natalie, a wide smile on her face.

  Owen was the first to speak, “My name is Owen Loughman,” he began.

  But Carter quickly talked over him. “Orrin’s son. Have you found out anything more?”

  “Not really,” Cullen said.

  There was a slight pause. “I’m guessing you’re another of the sons?”

  “Cullen.”

  “Right,” Carter said. “Let me make this easy. As I’m sure Callie has already told you, I saw nothing. The trip to and from Moscow went off without a hitch. Almost too easily, actually.”

  “Did Orrin comment on that?” Wyatt asked.

  Carter said, “You must be Wyatt. In fact, Orrin did. He mentioned it after we left Dublin on our way back to the States. I asked what he meant, but he only shook his head. There was something troubling him, though.”

  Natalie saw all three of the boys exchange a silent look at Carter’s statement.

  There was a loud sigh over the phone from Carter. “I owe Orrin a debt that can never be repaid. He is one of the best men I know, and I want to help.”

  “You could’ve been in on it,” Owen said.

  Natalie could almost hear Carter roll her eyes with the snort that followed.

  “If I wanted to kill the team, I could’ve done it in Russia or even Dublin. Why would I wait to return to Dover?”

  “She’s got a point,” Cullen admitted.

  “Damn straight. I normally get off with the team, but there was an issue with one of the engines getting enough fuel. I had another flight in a few hours, so I took the plane to the mechanics’ hangar to have another pair of hands help me get it ready in time. It was the only reason I wasn’t with Orrin.”

  Callie’s gaze was on the floor as she fiddled with a pen. “It’s the reason she’s alive.”

  “Most likely,” Wyatt admitted.

  Carter went on, “This wasn’t my first time working with Orrin, and we looked at every possible scenario where things could go wrong to prepare.”

  “Sounds like Dad,” Cullen whispered to his brothers.

  “We kept away from military zones and made sure to have all the documentation needed. The Russian government thought we were a news crew coming to do a story on the Kremlin. I never left the plane. It took six hours for the team to return from their mission. We took off thirty minutes later, and returned to Dover AFB.”

  “Walk us through what happened next,” Owen urged.

  “Orrin was in a hurry to get back to Texa
s. I let them off and took the plane to the hangar as I mentioned before. I spotted the readied plane that was supposed to take them back to Texas, so I assumed they were on it. That’s the last I saw or heard from Orrin.”

  “And the rest of the team?” Cullen asked.

  There was a long stretch of silence before Carter continued. “It was close to an hour later when I returned to my hangar and discovered the bodies. There was no doubt they’d been executed.”

  “On a military base.” Wyatt shook his head, a small frown in place.

  “The base went on lockdown as soon as I notified them, but the culprits were already gone,” Carter said.

  Owen ran a hand over his jaw as he rocked back on his heels. “Has the base found anything?”

  “Not a damn thing,” Carter stated angrily. “They’re keeping me out of it since I’m no longer military.”

  Callie jerked her phone from Wyatt’s grip. “Thanks, Mia.”

  “Are you coming?” she asked.

  Callie blew out a breath as all three Loughmans nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Let me know when. I want to be there when the assholes who did this are taken down.”

  Wyatt then spoke up and said, “The Russians might very well find you. Stay alert.”

  “Always,” Mia replied. Her voice got soft as she said, “I owe him, Callie.”

  “We both do,” Callie said in the same muted tone.

  Mia cleared her throat. “Keep me posted.”

  Then the line went dead.

  Natalie couldn’t imagine being a pilot. She didn’t especially like to fly, but Mia sounded like she fit right in with Callie and the men.

  “If we believe Mia, she escaped certain death,” Cullen said.

  Callie gawked at him. “If? If? Of course, I believe her. You have no idea how close she and Orrin are.”

  Wyatt’s gold eyes narrowed slightly. “Tell us.”

  “Not my story to tell,” Callie replied with a dark look directed at Wyatt. “Suffice it to say that Mia would take a bullet for Orrin. She’s an asset we’re going to need.”

  Owen nodded slowly, his face lined with thought. “I agree with Callie about Mia Carter being an asset. I’ve a feeling we’re going to need her. She was the last one who saw Dad.”