Page 60 of Fighting for Family

“It’s not you, sir,” she cried. “I’m terrified of snakes. I didn’t know if I killed it or not. I only wanted it away from Apollo. Hollywood entrusted him to me. I never want to become an imposition on this team. Don’t tell the guys. I want them to think I’m a bad ass.”

Saint chuckled and pulled Sparky in for a hug. “Your secret’s safe with me. Don’t tell them I’m scared of messing up, and we’re good.”

“What happens here stays here,” she reassured him.

“I have visual,” Cole said excitedly. “I think I recognize her. I’ll need to check the pictures for confirmation.”

“Shadow, do you have eyes on her?” Saint asked over the comms.

“Trailing them now,” Shadow reported.

“Taco, sitrep?” Saint asked.

“They disappeared. I’m still on the outskirts of the village. They got out of their vehicle and vanished,” he informed the group.

“Can you make it to checkpoint three?” Saint said.

“Leaving now,” Taco said as they heard his door slam shut and the engine start. “I’m on my way.”

Half an hour later, Taco pulled up and put Apollo and Sparky in the truck as Saint loaded the guns. They drove a short way down and made a right behind a rocky mountain.

“We’ll camp here tonight. Hopefully Bear will make some headway, and we’ll get these bastards.”

“I have your pack, Sparky, the snake killer. Take off those boots, and I’ll clean them,” Taco offered.

“Get the first aid kit and double-glove. Cole mentioned it might be a viper,” she advised as she grabbed another pair of socks from her bag.

“Will do,” he said as he held them carefully, moving away from the camp.

A few minutes later, Cole and Shadow joined them.

“Where did she go?” Saint asked upon seeing him.

“She’s at the Air Force base. I don’t like this,” Shadow said. “I wish we had some eyes and ears still in there.”

Saint’s phone buzzed, and he said, “Saint.”

“Tex and I tracked the woman down from Cole’s unit, Cora Banks. She left after filing a report of Ford sexually harassing her. She reported inconsistencies and saw an officer showing up at odd hours. Colonel Rutherford moved her to keep her safe. I’ve sent the photos Cole needed blown up. Does he recognize her?”

Saint tapped the image and passed the phone to Cole, who examined it.

He stared at it for a long time before speaking. “She’s the woman Ford slept with. She’s visited the base on several occasions under the name of Mary Anderson.”

“Tex identified her as Maryam Alizai. She’s the daughter of Omar Alizai, head of the clan. He’s attempting to take over the smaller villages and rule over all of them,” Bear informed them. “The military has stopped many attempts, worried they may try to make a run for the base if they gather enough followers. Of course, they’re made up of farmers and young boys.”

“I guess it’s time we make her acquaintance,” Saint said. “We’ll stay here until 0300 and make our way back to base. How did she get into our military? Why the ruse?”

“She’ll return in two days. By this weekend, they’ll attack again,” Cole said solemnly.

“No. They may try, but this time, we’ll be ready. Starting with procuring her,” Saint vowed.

“Let’s do it,” Shadow said, his hand grasping Saint’s shoulder. Cole took Sparky’s hand and led her over to them, and he set her hand on Shadow’s shoulder.

“We got this,” she encouraged.

Ragu entered their spot and approached them.

Cole put his hand on Sparky’s. “We do it in honor.”