“Questions?” Sand asked.
“Will we have contact information for the other assets?” Woof asked.
“No, you haven’t been cleared. But your POC in Egypt can contact them.”
“Why do you think Hassan turned?” Merlin asked as he skimmed the new intel. He ignored the fact that the ass thought they weren’t cleared for that information.
“We’re not sure. His handler doesn’t think he has, but my bosses haven’t been able to confirm some of his intel.”
“Wait a minute. He’s been deep cover for at least a year, and because you can’t verify his latest intel, you think he might have turned? What kind of bullshit is that? Seriously?” Zip asked.
“That’s all I’m cleared to say,” Sand replied. “Any more questions?”
“No, sir,” Merlin answered for the team after he looked around the table to double-check.
“Very well, Commander, keep me in the loop,” Sand said, then picked up his file and left the room.
They knew better than to toss a ton of questions at Turano and waited for him to speak.
Turano raised a hand. “I know what you’re thinking. He’s feeding us a load of bullshit, and I have to agree. I will contact command and give them an update. But I feel strongly you’re not going anywhere today. There is not enough actionable intel. I can’t see command sending you in there for some kind of game the CIA is playing.”
“Permission to speak freely, sir?” Merlin asked.
“Go ahead.”
“I’ve been wracking my brain, trying to find the missing piece of this puzzle. None of it makes sense. There is something they’re not telling us, or they’re using us as bait to draw someone out.”
“Agreed. That’s why I’m telling you to stand down. It may change after I brief command, but I wouldn’t count on it. You might still head out later in the week.”
“Copy that, sir,” they replied.
“I’ll update you after I find out more. Dismissed.”
Grabbing their intel packets, they headed back to their office. Though relieved they weren’t jumping into a major clusterfuck, Merlin still felt uneasy. In ten years as a Delta, he’d never seen such a dumpster fire. Then again, with the CIA running the show, he shouldn’t be surprised.
“What a fuckin’ load of shit,” Jangles said as they entered their office.
“Agreed,” Merlin responded. “But Turano has our six and is trying to put it on hold for now.”
“Yeah. Do you think it’s safe to call Des and tell her we’re not going? I’d hate for her to head back to Dallas,” Zip asked.
“Maybe just tell her not to go anywhere until you get back to her. I don’t want to jinx it.”
“Excellent point.”
“Let’s go through this intel while we’re waiting for confirmation on the stand down. Maybe we’ll find something to figure it out.”
Two hours later, they still hadn’t heard from Turano, but they’d finished analyzing the intel. They still weren’t any closer to what was really going on with the Daesh in Egypt. The only new bit of information they’d discovered was that there were two additional operators in play, and they’d also missed their last check-in. No wonder the CIA was having a meltdown. At least three operatives were missing. It could be a coincidence, but that was doubtful and definitely meant trouble.
If Daesh had the agents, it was too late for any of them. At the very least, they’d release torture videos, but it was more likely they’d record videos of their beheadings.
The mission to Egypt would happen, and Merlin would bet it happened soon. He prayed that when the time came, he’d have figured out the missing piece. Because he sure as shit didn’t trust the intel that came from the CIA.
“Anything from Roe yet?” Woof asked as he stood up and stretched.
“No. Maybe we should head over to his office,” Merlin said.
“Yeah, because I’m starving. It’s time for lunch,” Jangles added.
“What? You’re not just popping some vitamins?” Zip asked.
“No, asshole. Already took them.” Jangles grinned.
Merlin’s phone rang as they were packing up. It was Turano, finally.
“Commander?” Merlin answered.
“Mission is on hold—for now. Command wants more verifiable intel before they send you into the shit storm.”
“Yes, sir. Copy that.” Merlin breathed a sigh of relief.
“Well? Are we going or staying?” Duff asked.
“We’re staying for now. Command agreed with the Roe. I’m sure Sand is livid.”
“Looks like Sand gets to pound stone,” Jangles joked.
“That was the funniest thing I’ve heard all day,” Woof said.
Merlin shook his head. “We’re off the hook for now, but I wouldn’t count on it to last too long. I want to brief Roe on the additional operators before I go. Are you guys heading out?”
“Yeah, I’m meeting Des at my parents’ house. But we’ll stay close,” Zip said.
“I’m grabbing some lunch at the Ugly Mug, then maybe target practice at BF’s,” Jangles replied.
“I’ll go with you,” Woof said. “You coming, Duff?”
“Yeah,” Duff said, surprising Merlin.
Duff could be ornery and standoffish. There was a story behind it, but he’d never shared it with them.
Merlin nodded. “Okay, maybe I’ll see you there. It depends on how long it takes with Roe. If not, see you for PT tomorrow.”
While Merlin made a few more notes, the others left him alone. The office was quiet, and he sighed. As much as he loved them, sometimes, he missed the silence. After shoving the intel in his bag, he locked his desk and pulled out his cell phone to text Gwen. Waiting another few minutes to talk to Roe wouldn’t matter. Nothing needed immediate attention.
Merlin: Hi, princess. We canceled our trip. I’m still at work, but I’ll call you later.
He didn’t expect her to answer right away. She was at work, and he didn’t know how busy the bookstore was during the week.
Gwen: That’s great. I’m at work until five.
Merlin: Okay. I’ll call after. I hope you’re having a wonderful day.
Gwen: It just got a lot better. Talk to you later.
He was still smiling when he knocked on Commander Turano’s door.
“Enter. Merlin, what’s up?”
“While we were waiting on mission status, we went through all the intel again. There wasn’t a lot there. But from the reports, we ascertained there are at least two other operatives who’ve also missed their last check-in.”
Turano nodded. “That would explain their rush to get you over there. But it still leaves too many holes. If they’ve lost three operators in the last week, it’s a major clusterfuck over there.”
“Yes, sir. That’s what we think.”
“Thanks for bringing it to my attention. The mission status is only on hold, but there’s no guarantee it won’t change soon. The team needs to stay close to post.”
“Copy that, sir. We’re planning on it.”
“Enjoy your leave.”
“Yes, sir. I’m looking forward to a little R and R.”
“Get to it then. Dismissed,” Turano said.
Merlin saluted and left his office. As he walked through the parking lot, he considered stopping by the Ugly Mug to join the guys. Instead, he stopped for a sandwich and brought it back to his house. A quiet lunch with his book would be perfect.
Then later, he could drive over to Lancelot and surprise Gwen. Invite her to dinner, or at least coffee. It sounded like the perfect way to kick off his R and R.
Chapter 9
From the moment Gwen arrived at the bookstore at ten in the morning, she’d been working nonstop. After pouring a cup of coffee, she’d pulled up the shopping cart software. There were usually a few orders waiting since they closed the bookstore on Sundays, but as she scrolled through the list, she couldn’t believe there were over twenty. If this kept up,
she might have to hire someone to manage online sales while she handled the bookstore.
The bookstore had done well over the years, some years extremely well, and it had made the family a lot of money. But since Gwen had redesigned the website and added the virtual shopping cart, business had quadrupled. At least she was putting her bachelor’s degree to work.
Gwen yawned again and then smiled. She couldn’t blame anyone but herself. But she didn’t regret one minute of her lack of sleep since she’d stayed up and talked with Luke like a giddy teen. With him leaving for an undisclosed amount of time, she hadn’t wanted to give up one extra minute with him.
She was in the kitchen that afternoon, pouring a cup of coffee, when Luke sent a text. He wasn’t leaving. Her heart skipped a beat, and some of her exhaustion eased.
A plate of cookies materialized in front of her, and she smiled up at Grams.
“Thanks. How did you know I needed some sugar?” Gwen grinned.
“You’ve been running around like a chicken without its head. Have you eaten at all today?”
“I had a protein bar before I came in.” Gwen loved her grandmother’s homemade snickerdoodles. They were heaven in a cookie and a perfect accompaniment for her coffee.
“You need to eat better. How about a slice of quiche? It’s just about ready. Gramps can take care of everything out there.”
Before Gwen could say no, Grams pulled it out of the oven. It smelled amazing.
“I’m fine. You don’t have to. The cookies will hold me over until dinner.” But her refusal didn’t sound convincing, even to herself.
“Cookies aren’t food,” Grams said as she sliced up the quiche.
A few moments later, she slid the cookies across the table and set a plate of quiche Lorraine in front of Gwen.
The scent of the cheese, bacon, and herbs made her mouth water. Then her stomach growled loud enough for Grams to hear.
“See, what did I tell you? Now, eat, and you can tell me about your date with the sexy soldier.” Grams pulled out a chair and sat across from Gwen at the old pine table.
“Ahh, this was your plan all along. Ply me with food and pump me for information,” Gwen said before taking her next bite. The woman was downright devious.
“Darn straight. How else can I find out anything? Now spill the tea, Gwenie.”
Gwen choked on the bite of the quiche and had to get a glass of water to help her swallow. “You almost killed me.”
“Nah, you’re made of strong, Dedmond genes.” Grams winked.
“Who are you, and what did you do with my grandmother?” Gwen asked.
“Stop stalling, Gwenie-bee, or I’ll drag Gramps in here, too.”
Gwen took another drink of water and then popped a bite of quiche in her mouth and slowly chewed as she tried to figure out what she wanted to share. She’d been dreaming of her perfect man her entire life, waiting for him to show up and sweep her off to Camelot. So many stories of the years built on the dream and the fantasy. But were her feelings for Luke, or for the man she’d wished for all these years? It scared her a little that he was already so important to her. Could she really believe in love at first sight?
“Gwen, there’s a call on line three asking for your parents. Can you take it?” Gramps yelled from the front of the bookstore.
“Sure, Gramps,” she replied.
Saved by the phone. The expression on Grams’ face was priceless as Gwen got up to answer the call. “I’m sure this won’t take long,” Gwen reassured her.
She grabbed the kitchen extension. “Camelot Rare Books and Antiquities, how may I help you?”
“I’m trying to reach Art or Stacey. Are they available?” the slightly accented male voice asked.
“I’m sorry, they’re out of town right now. Can I help you find something?”
“No. I need to check on something they were picking up for me. Do you know when they will be returning?” His tone grew more impatient with every question.
“I don’t have an exact date, but probably not for a few weeks. If you’re looking for a particular item, I’m sure I can help you.” Gwen couldn’t imagine what her parents were bringing back for this guy. They didn’t take special orders.
“No, I will call back.” The phone went dead.
Weird. What was up with her parents? There had been no answer to her email yet, either. A tinge of unease raised the hairs on the back of her neck. They should be fine. Her parents had been traveling around the Middle East for years. Except this time, it was Egypt, and they were on an unplanned excursion with an unknown destination and no way to contact them.
“Okay, you’re off the phone. Now, sit down and tell me about Luke,” Grams demanded.
“What’s the occasion? We haven’t had quiche in forever.” Gramps joined them and sat down at the worn, wooden table in the farmhouse-style kitchen.
“I don’t know. Just a bee in my bonnet, I guess,” Grams said as she cut a slice and put the plate in front of Gramps.
“I’m thankful for that bee.” Gwen chewed the fluffy deliciousness and smiled.
“Gwen, you’re still stalling. Out with it. I want to hear about the big date,” Grams said as she sat down with a huff.
Gramps winked at Gwen and asked, “What did that gentleman on the phone want?”
“It was weird. He didn’t really say. I told him I could help him. But all he wanted to know is when they’d be back. Said they were getting him something specific.”
“He did?” Grams asked, her eyes wide.
“We don’t do special orders,” Gramps commented, a thoughtful look on his face.
“Exactly. I can’t believe Dad would have agreed to that. When I couldn’t give him any specific answers, he hung up. He didn’t even tell me his name. Maybe Dad will know?”
The more she thought about the call, the odder it seemed.
“When did you last hear from Arthur?” Gramps asked before taking another bite.
“He emailed on Saturday. Wanted to let me know they were going off with a new guide to look for something amazing. Do you think it’s what the man was asking about?”
“They went off their itinerary?” Gramps looked as surprised as Gwen had been.
It wasn’t like them to just disappear. They had changed their schedule on some trips but were usually specific about when and where.
“Yes. I thought it was strange. I wrote back, but I haven’t heard from him. Depending on where they went, Dad might not have a signal.”
Gwen caught the look her grandparents shared, and she didn’t like it. Her unease grew, and the quiche no longer seemed appealing.
“Anything you want to share?” Gwen watched them closely, looking for Grams’ tell.
“What do you mean?” Grams asked.
“I saw your look. What aren’t you telling me?”
“You know what we know. I’ll email him after lunch. Maybe he’ll answer me,” Gramps said.
“Okay. Let me know if you hear anything.”
“Of course, Gwenie-bee.” He patted her hand. “Don’t worry. I’m sure they’re fine. They’ve been doing this for a very long time. They know how to take care of themselves.”
“Almost thirty years, but things aren’t as safe as they used to be.”
“Sweets, things were never safe in the Middle East,” Grams said. “We had issues back when we started the store. It’s just something you have to deal with if you visit.”
“I didn’t realize you were adrenaline junkies like Mom and Dad.” Gwen had never considered her grandparents were just like her parents.
“Grams was hot stuff when we were younger,” Gramps said and waggled his thick, white eyebrows.
“What do you mean when we were younger? I’m still hot stuff.” Grams leaned over and kissed him.
They were still so in love after almost sixty years. Between the fairy tales and growing up with them, it was no wonder she’d had dreams of a knight in shining armor.
Gwen rose from the table.
“Okay, that’s my cue to go back to work. We’re lucky the store stayed quiet.”
“But you didn’t tell me about your date yet.” Grams actually sounded whiny.
“I promise I’ll tell you everything later. Okay?”
After dropping a kiss on each of their heads, Gwen walked through the bookstore to unlock the front door. They were usually closed from twelve to one for lunch, but they’d been so busy, Gramps hadn’t locked the door until almost one. The bookstore didn’t get a ton of foot traffic, so they’d never changed the practice. But as she approached the locked door, it surprised her that someone waited outside. Another first for Camelot Rare Books.
“We’re having a lot of firsts today. Maybe it’s a full moon?” she murmured to herself as she flipped the sign and unlocked the door.
Her breath caught as the man turned around and flashed her an amazing smile. Surprise stopped her in her tracks.
Luke pushed the door open to step inside. “Hi, princess. I couldn’t wait for tonight. I hope it’s okay…”
“Yes. Sure, c’mon in.”
The sexy badass was the last person she’d expected to see. Gwen didn’t know whether to jump up and down or throw herself into his arms for a scorching kiss. The kiss would have won out if she’d been anywhere but the bookstore.
“Are you sure? You don’t look too sure,” Luke said.
“I’m just surprised. It’s been a crazy day, busiest Monday we’ve ever had, and I might be a little tired. But seeing you is the best surprise.” Gwen grinned.
“Busy is great, right? I guess I had a hand in the tired part. I kept you up late on the phone.”
“No, it’s my fault. I’m a grownup, I could have said I needed to go to bed. I didn’t want to hang up. But if it stays busy, I might not have a lot of time to visit.”
“That’s okay. I could spend hours wandering around in here.” His bright smile warmed his amber eyes and desire sizzled along her skin.
Luke followed her to her desk. It doubled as the checkout area. She could feel his gaze on her and wondered if he was checking out her butt and almost tripped over her feet. As Luke grabbed her elbow to keep her from falling, the heat slid up her neck and into her cheeks.
Gwen's Delta (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Delta Team Three Book 3) Page 9