I go back to my room, but I can’t sleep at all, thinking about what Petrovic said. “You know he looked for you for months. We all did.” What does that mean? Who looked for me? Who does he think I am?
It’s around eleven. I decide to take another shot at Petrovic and see if I can catch him off guard. Interviewees are usually a lot more pliable when they’re tired.
The guard isn’t at all happy to see me at this late hour. “Ma’am, the prisoner is sleeping. Everyone is sleeping.”
“First, he’s not a prisoner,” I say. “And, second, it’s not your call. Wake him up.”
He begrudgingly walks away to get him, and returns with a very groggy-looking Petrovic. I follow them into the interrogation room and tell the guard to leave the room. The guard looks at me warily. “You can cuff him to the table if it will make you feel better,” I say.
He seems to be fine with that compromise. “I’ll be right outside the door,” he says, shutting the door.
“So you did hear what I said before that man attacked me,” Petrovic says. “I think we should speak in Bosnian in case the guard is listening.”
“I’m sure there’s nothing you’re going to say that he can’t hear. Yes, I heard you, and I want to know what you meant.”
“You look just like her,” Petrovic says, letting out a long sigh like he’s reminiscing on days gone by.
“Just like who?”
“Your mother.”
“My mother? So, you’ve spent some time in New York? You knew my mom,” I say flippantly.
“I know you at least suspect who she really is, who she was,” he says. “It’s why you’re here.”
Chapter Seventeen
Mason
Sarajevo, Bosnia
2019
I’m having a beer with the team on the roof of the embassy when I see that guard from the Petrovic interrogation come through the door, looking around for someone. He sees me and walks over.
“Master Chief Davis,” he says.
“Yeah, what are you doing up here?” This is an operator-only area. No other personnel allowed.
“I just thought you would want to know that the agent from earlier tonight, the blonde woman, is with the suspect again.”
“Wait, what? Agent Marsh?”
The guard nods affirmatively. “She’s with him right now.”
“What do you mean she’s with him?”
“She came down about eleven, and told me to wake the prisoner up. She wanted to talk to him again.”
I glance at my phone. It’s almost midnight. Why the hell did he wait so long to tell me?
“Is she alone with him?” I already know the answer, but I’m hoping someone had the sense not to let her do that again.
“Yeah. She wouldn’t let us come in with her,” the guard says.
I jump up. “Holy crap, I’m going to kill her.”
Butch stands up with me. He’s seen this look in my eyes before, and it never leads to anything good. “Everything okay, Mase? You need me to come with you?”
“The only thing I’m going to need is an alibi after I kill Agent Marsh.”
Butch grabs at my arm, but I am already through the door and down a flight of stairs. I break into a run toward the interview room. Just as I round the corner, she comes out of the room.
“What in the actual fuck,” I say as I’m closing in on her.
“What in the actual fuck am I doing?” She cuts me off. She’s pissed again. “My job, Mason. I’m doing my job.”
“I told you not to be alone in the room with him. I asked you to get me before you talked to him again.”
“I don’t work for you.” She tries to walk past me, but I block her with my arm.
“While you’re here, attached to my team, I’m responsible for your safety.” I’m pissed, too. I don’t like when people defy my orders. Usually, no one ever does.
“I relieve you of that responsibility.” She tries to go under my arm. I wrap my arm around her, and hold her still. She attempts to break my grip with an quick and hard jab to my ribs. It doesn’t budge me, but I’m impressed.
“You can’t relieve me of the responsibility. That’s not how it works, Millie. Going into that room alone with him was dangerous.”
“It wasn’t, and it was the only way he was going to talk to me after you attacked him,” she says. “Look, I know this is the first time we’ve worked together, but I’ve interviewed hundreds of these guys without a problem. This is my job. I know what I’m doing.”
“There’s always a first time. He tried to attack you this afternoon.”
“He tried to touch me, Mason. He tried to touch my hand, and you fucking tried to kill him.” She tries to shrug off my arm, and I let her this time. Her eyes are telling me I’ve gone too far.
“Did he tell you anything else?” I try to calm my voice down to a normal level.
“Yes, he told me that Yusef Hadzic is alive. He knows where his father lives. He knows Yusef visits his father. Fucking Yusef Hadzic. We can watch the father’s place, and potentially locate Yusef. No one has gotten this close in years.”
“Is that who he was talking to on the burner phones? How do we know he’s telling the truth?” I ask.
“We don’t, but it gives us something else to go on. If I can locate the father, we can at least watch his place and hope that Yusef visits.”
“Okay, well, where is he, the father?
“Petrovic said he’s in Afghanistan, in the mountains near where the network operates. He gave me a general area. I just need to try to find his house on the satellite.”
“Millie, look, I’m sorry I doubted you. I just feel responsible for you while we’re working together,” I say, trying to bring the charged mood back down a little bit.
“You’re not responsible for me, but I appreciate you having my back.” Her body language and tone have softened a little bit.
“Hey. The guys are having a beer up on the roof. Do you want to join us?”
“I should really start working on this,” she says starting to walk away.
I grab her shoulder. “Millie, it’s past midnight. We’re going to be on a ten-hour flight later today. You’ll have all that time to work. Just come up and join us for one drink. I feel like I owe you a peace offering.”
“Actually, I could use a drink right now.”
I stand back and motion her to go before me up the stairs to the roof. I try not to focus on her ass, but not very successfully.
We reach the roof. The guys see her walking over, and Butch looks relieved that she’s still breathing.
“Miss Millie, I’m glad you could join us tonight,” he drawls. “Can I serve you a beer?”
She takes one from him, and sits between him and Hawk.
“So, Millie, tell us a little about yourself,” Butch says. “Are you married? Dating anyone?”
“Why? Are you asking me out?”
“Hell no,” Butch says. “You’re young enough to be my daughter or maybe a little sister.”
“Yeah, she’s being an annoying-ass little sister right now,” I say, laughing.
She gives me a fake glare, smiling a bit. “God, if I would have had y’all as my brothers, I never would have had one date.”
“Oh yeah, you would have,” Hawk says. “You just would have had one or two of us on the date with you. In fact, I think that might be a good idea right now. When’s your next date? Butch here has some free time. He could be your escort. Ain’t that right, Butch?”
“Well, I would just be delighted to escort you on your next date, Miss Millie,” Butch says. “And, as a gesture of goodwill towards the young gentleman, I’ll leave my rifle at home, and only carry my sidearm.”
“Let us know where you take them for their date, Butch. We’re happy to do overwatch,” Bryce
adds. “And, I’m definitely bringing a rifle. Maybe two or three, depending on my mood.”
“You know, y’all, I think I’m going to pass. And, I might just stop dating all-together,” she says, smiling again.
“See what can be accomplished with teamwork? She’s going to stop dating, Butch,” Hawk says.
“Man, Hawk, it is my pleasure to be of service,” Butch says.
She rolls her eyes at both of them while she accepts another beer from Butch. I watch her laugh at Hawk as he tells her a story about how he has his gun room right off the entrance to his house, so all his daughter’s dates can get a good look at it before they leave with her. Like looking at Hawk isn’t intimidating enough. I see her eyes change quickly as he talks about his daughter. I know she’s thinking about her dad again, but she’s still smiling and laughing. Maybe, it’s finally getting a little bit easier for her.
Chapter Eighteen
Outer Banks, North Carolina
2007
“Dad, c’mon, I don’t want to practice anymore,” Millie said as she collapsed down on the cool grass in Camille’s backyard.
Mack was becoming increasingly frustrated with Millie’s lack of discipline. She had been such a willing student when she was younger. She was already a better shot than most guys he knew, and she was decent at self-defense for her size. He just wanted her to be great at it.
“Millie, you have to keep up with these skills. You never know when you’re going to need them,” Mack said reaching under her arms to pull her up.
“Dad, I live in the Outer Banks. No one is going to attack me here. You act like I’m going on a mission with you,” she said with her hands on her hips, rolling her eyes.
Mack absolutely hated this new pre-teen, sassy side of Millie. Chase, who had two daughters of his own, told him to expect it, and it had arrived like a freight train barreling down the tracks.
“Millie, I’ve told you there is danger everywhere. You have to be prepared,” Mack said with frustration in his voice.
Mack saw the way guys had started looking at her. She was only twelve, and high school-aged boys turned their heads when she walked by. When he was around, they stopped looking real fast, but he worried about when he wasn’t there with her.
“Let’s try the attack from behind again. You’re too slow,” Mack said.
“Fine. Can we go surfing after this? Maybe do something I would actually enjoy,” she said, flipping her ponytail dramatically.
“Just start walking,” Mack said as he disappeared behind the hedgerow.
Millie started walking, knowing he would jump out from behind at some point and try to pull her in. They had already done this drill five times, and she thought she nailed it every time. She walked the full length of the bushes, and he still hadn’t attacked her. She sighed and turned around to find him inches from her face. Before she could react with an uppercut to his nose, he had her arms pinned to her side and his hand over her mouth. She tried to pound her foot into his instep, but he had lifted her off the ground, so her body was dangling helplessly in the air. She flailed wildly, trying to break his hold without any success. Mack flipped her body up in the air, and then pinned her to the ground. When he saw her wide eyes starting to fill with tears, he let go of her quickly, and sat down next to her.
“Millie, I didn’t mean to scare you, but that’s why you can’t get arrogant about this training,” he said. “You’re really strong for your size, but most guys are always going to be a little stronger. You have to be ready for them.”
Despite trying desperately to stop the tears, Millie started sobbing. Mack sat her up and hugged her to his chest tightly.
“It’s okay, Millie. We can stop for today,” he said quietly. “Don’t worry about it, sweetie. I’m always going to be here to protect you. Okay?
She tried to take a deep breath between her sobs. “I know you’re just doing this to help me. I’ll try harder next time. I promise.”
“What’s the most important thing to remember if someone attacks you, Mills?”
“Strike hard once, put them down, and then run to get help,” she said, repeating the mantra she had heard from him so many times.
“That’s perfect, Millie.” Mack hugged her and rubbed her back for a few minutes until her breathing returned to normal. She laid back down in the grass.
“Will you tell me something about Mom? The only thing I know is that her name was Marie,” Millie said.
Mack tensed up as he always did when she brought her mom up. “C’mon, Mills. You know it makes me sad to talk about her.”
Mack felt badly for lying to Millie. It didn’t exactly make him sad. He just felt the less Millie knew about her mom, the safer she was going to be. She’d surprised him by asking what her mom’s name was when she was only two. He’d said the first name that he thought of, Marie, which had been the name of the bank teller he had just talked to a few hours earlier.
“Just tell me one thing. Like what did she look like?” Millie pleaded.
Mack sighed as he laid down by Millie in the grass. He closed his eyes to try to remember Nejra’s face, but he didn’t really need to think that hard. Millie was looking more like her every day.
“Her eyes were green, like yours, but a little darker. And her hair was long, like to her shoulders, and brown. She was about the height you are now. Not much taller. She was little,” Mack said, hoping that would be enough.
“Do I look like her?” Millie asked.
“You do look like her, and you definitely act like her. She was sweet, smart, funny, and she spoke a bunch of languages. That’s probably why you’re so good at Spanish.”
“Did she speak Spanish?” Millie asked.
“No. Some other languages,” Mack said, wishing he hadn’t brought that up.
“What languages?” Millie asked.
Mack knew he couldn’t answer that. It would get her too close to the truth. He wished Millie was still three, so he could distract her with strawberry ice cream.
“Mills, I don’t want to talk about her anymore, okay?” Mack said. “Why don’t we go surfing now? I just waxed your board. It should be faster than last time.”
Millie grabbed Mack’s hand, and squeezed it tight. “Okay, Daddy. I’m sorry if I made you sad.”
“Millie, sweetie,” Mack said, squeezing her hand back. “You make me nothing, but happy, every minute of every day. I love you so much.”
Chapter Nineteen
Millie
Virginia Beach, Virginia
2019
Since we got back to Virginia Beach, I’ve done nothing but stare at my computer, trying to find Haroun Hadzic’s house in the area Petrovic had described to me. It’s the only place where I can find my next clue to Yusef Hadzic and Sayid Custovic. Today, like the last three days, I’m not having any luck. I’m frustrated, tired, and crabby. I slam my laptop shut. What I really need is a good workout to adjust my mood. Yeah, I definitely need to sweat. Culver said I could use the base gym, so I’ve been bringing my workout bag every day, but I’ve yet to use it. It’s time.
There aren’t a lot of people in the gym, which is great. I like to workout alone. There are a few guys over by the weights, so I head over to the bags instead. I’m maybe two minutes into my workout when a guy starts circling me like a shark looking for his next snack.
“Want me to hold the bag for you?” he asks, not even bothering to try to hide the very slow once-over he’s giving me.
“I’m good, thanks.” I punch the bag extra hard for emphasis.
“Naw, you’re moving the bag pretty good. You’ll get a better workout if I stabilize it for you.”
Not waiting for my permission, he grabs the bag, snaking his head around it to make sure his eyes are free to continue ogling. I roll my eyes at him but keep working the bag. Honestly, it is a better workout when t
he bag isn’t swaying. I adjust my earbuds and turn the music up to drown out the little coaching tips he’s offering. Buddy, if I were even close to your size, I could kick your ass up and down this gym. I’m in my zone on the bag, completely ignoring the guy, when I feel someone grab my shoulder and pull me backward. I look up to see Culver.
“Oh, hey,” I say, taking out my earbud. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the guy who was holding my bag is running away.
“What are you doing?” Culver looks at me like I’ve broken about twelve rules of some kind.
“What? You said I could work out in here, right?”
“Not dressed like that.”
I look down to make sure I hadn’t mistakenly forgotten to wear something. Nope. Yoga pants, tank top. Check. Check.
“Dressed like what?”
“Millie, this is a military base. Women are outnumbered twenty to one here. You have to watch your back. You can’t encourage them.”
“Oh, that’s bullshit. I can’t show a little bit of boob because men can’t control their fucking hormones? I should be able to walk into this gym naked and not get touched.”
“I swear to God, Millie. If you show up naked on this base, I will kill you myself—and I know I would have your dad’s full permission to do so,” he says as he motions me to walk ahead of him. “C’mon, we’re going to go work out in the operators’ gym.”
“I thought I couldn’t use the operators’ gym.”
“Yeah, well, we’re going to make an exception. You’ll be safer there.”
“What? The operators aren’t men?”
“The operators are men who have seen your teammates kill other men,” he says. “One look from Mason or JJ, and they aren’t ever going to look at you again.”
As we walk into the operators’ gym, Mason sees us and the look on Culver’s face. “What’s wrong? What’s happening?”
“She was getting too much attention in the base gym. Let her work out here, and kill anyone who looks at her. That includes you.”
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