quickly he’d forgotten. Put out of his thoughts to avoid the hurt as soon as she’d been gone.
Was that what Alicia wanted to do? No. She cared too much. But why was she facing this on her own? Where were her brother and dad? What had happened to their property?
More questions that somehow he knew would cause her pain if asked. He couldn’t do that yet.
Alicia was family, according to his mom. She had been since the first time she’d come over for cookies. He hooked her long waves around her ear and stared at her nose, at the freckles that had been there as long as he’d known her. Is she worth losing your career?
“Absolutely.”
His whisper caused Alicia to stir again. He gently placed her head on the sleeping bag and eased away. If he was going to be awake, he might as well make good use of the time. Pulling his phone from his pack, he walked into the field.
He’d debated since leaving the ranch whether to call for assistance. He knew his limitations. There was no doubt he could protect Alicia. And he would find her daughter. But finding the proof to clear his brother of the accusations meant finding the proof that would convict the actual kidnappers.
He owed Brian after everything he’d sacrificed. He’d been mad all this time, and for what? He dialed a number on his way from the barn, walking toward a familiar tree where he, his brother and Dwayne had attempted to build a tree house.
Devlin McClain picked up on the fourth ring. “This had better be good, Sloane. Do you know what time it is?”
“I’ve got a problem, Dev.”
“What’s her name?” His bunkmate laughed.
“Cut the crap. Do you know any former SEALs or specialists in Texas?”
“Texas?” His response sounded much more alert. “Just what kind of trouble are you in?”
“Maybe somebody gone private security? I need some quiet research and fieldwork.”
“I think I can find someone. Seriously, you going to tell me what’s up? Don’t pull that ‘it’s better if you don’t know’ stuff.”
“A friend’s little girl has been kidnapped.”
“Runaway dad? You want me to do a search—”
“No. It’s about the money. I think the kid’s close by. Alicia’s being set up to take the fall.”
John heard a string of words on the other end and couldn’t agree more. “I hate it when they use kids.”
“I can’t take any risks with this one, Dev. Nothing with the team, but I need someone to check out the possible suspects. Someone willing to bend the law a bit.”
“And if you don’t get anywhere? You know who to call?” Dev declared, he didn’t ask or suggest. “With you gone, the team’s been given leave.”
“I can’t ask that, man.”
“How many times you save my hide, John? Anything you need, you’ve got it.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll have someone contact you ASAP. This number secure?”
“Should be. I’ll call if I switch.”
“You should hear from me in a couple of hours. You got someone watching your back?”
“This can go south all sorts of ways. Stay clear. You hearing me?” He hoped his friend took his words seriously. A team of SEALs loose in the area wouldn’t be easy to hide.
“How’s your dad and, um...you see your brother yet?”
Dev was the only person he’d shared a split second of concern with regarding coming home. “Dad’s going to make it. The stroke left him slightly paralyzed and unable to talk.”
“That’s tough, man.”
“Yeah. It’s also something I can’t talk about. I need my battery.”
“Right. Two hours and you’ll hear from me with a time and place to meet locally.”
“There’s a lake nearby. Just tell me when. And thanks, Dev.”
He powered down the cell and stuck it in his back pocket. There was no way he’d be attempting to sleep now. He looked up in the tree, saw an old board still secure at one end and rusty nails on the other. He pulled himself up and yanked, jerking it free.
He could see the entire field from the lower branches. It
Was that what Alicia wanted to do? No. She cared too much. But why was she facing this on her own? Where were her brother and dad? What had happened to their property?
More questions that somehow he knew would cause her pain if asked. He couldn’t do that yet.
Alicia was family, according to his mom. She had been since the first time she’d come over for cookies. He hooked her long waves around her ear and stared at her nose, at the freckles that had been there as long as he’d known her. Is she worth losing your career?
“Absolutely.”
His whisper caused Alicia to stir again. He gently placed her head on the sleeping bag and eased away. If he was going to be awake, he might as well make good use of the time. Pulling his phone from his pack, he walked into the field.
He’d debated since leaving the ranch whether to call for assistance. He knew his limitations. There was no doubt he could protect Alicia. And he would find her daughter. But finding the proof to clear his brother of the accusations meant finding the proof that would convict the actual kidnappers.
He owed Brian after everything he’d sacrificed. He’d been mad all this time, and for what? He dialed a number on his way from the barn, walking toward a familiar tree where he, his brother and Dwayne had attempted to build a tree house.
Devlin McClain picked up on the fourth ring. “This had better be good, Sloane. Do you know what time it is?”
“I’ve got a problem, Dev.”
“What’s her name?” His bunkmate laughed.
“Cut the crap. Do you know any former SEALs or specialists in Texas?”
“Texas?” His response sounded much more alert. “Just what kind of trouble are you in?”
“Maybe somebody gone private security? I need some quiet research and fieldwork.”
“I think I can find someone. Seriously, you going to tell me what’s up? Don’t pull that ‘it’s better if you don’t know’ stuff.”
“A friend’s little girl has been kidnapped.”
“Runaway dad? You want me to do a search—”
“No. It’s about the money. I think the kid’s close by. Alicia’s being set up to take the fall.”
John heard a string of words on the other end and couldn’t agree more. “I hate it when they use kids.”
“I can’t take any risks with this one, Dev. Nothing with the team, but I need someone to check out the possible suspects. Someone willing to bend the law a bit.”
“And if you don’t get anywhere? You know who to call?” Dev declared, he didn’t ask or suggest. “With you gone, the team’s been given leave.”
“I can’t ask that, man.”
“How many times you save my hide, John? Anything you need, you’ve got it.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll have someone contact you ASAP. This number secure?”
“Should be. I’ll call if I switch.”
“You should hear from me in a couple of hours. You got someone watching your back?”
“This can go south all sorts of ways. Stay clear. You hearing me?” He hoped his friend took his words seriously. A team of SEALs loose in the area wouldn’t be easy to hide.
“How’s your dad and, um...you see your brother yet?”
Dev was the only person he’d shared a split second of concern with regarding coming home. “Dad’s going to make it. The stroke left him slightly paralyzed and unable to talk.”
“That’s tough, man.”
“Yeah. It’s also something I can’t talk about. I need my battery.”
“Right. Two hours and you’ll hear from me with a time and place to meet locally.”
“There’s a lake nearby. Just tell me when. And thanks, Dev.”
He powered down the cell and stuck it in his back pocket. There was no way he’d be attempting to sleep now. He looked up in the tree, saw an old board still secure at one end and rusty nails on the other. He pulled himself up and yanked, jerking it free.
He could see the entire field from the lower branches. It
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