Protecting His Kidnapped Family - Leslie North Page 0,40

Mom. I’ll call you later and maybe we can make some plans for a visit, okay? I need to go now.”

Noah ended the call before his mother could start arguing again, then sighed. Considering the nightmare that could have been, the call had gone mostly well. He stuffed his phone back in his pocket and checked his emails again. It was weird, being back here at the office. Funny, but he missed having Serena around. He’d gotten so used to her being by his side, with Gracie, that not having them there left a hole he hadn’t expected.

Except now wasn’t the time to get all up in his feelings, conflicted or not. He shoved them aside as best he could and opened the files the guys had collected for the mission again. His stubborn brain kept circling back to Serena and the baby, though. Was she doing okay today? How was Gracie faring? Was she feeling better? Maybe they should make her an appointment with a pediatrician just to be sure.

Ugh.

Frustrated, he ran his hands through his hair and scowled at his computer screen. He needed to find some way to separate his duties as soldier and father and keep them separate when he was working, because otherwise he’d be a useless mess.

“How’s it going, dude?” Levon said, coming up to his desk. “You look a little stressed.”

“It’s fine, I’m fine,” he grumbled, scrolling through documents without seeing them. “Why?”

“Just wondered, that’s all.” Levon shrugged and picked up a pen to toy with it. “You know, Olive’s always getting on me about being in the moment. Like when I’m at home, she says I shut her out when I get distracted by work—that I miss out on the love and comfort that gives me the strength to be good at my job.”

“Yeah? So?” Noah sat back and crossed his arms, more annoyed at himself than anything.

“So, just be careful you don’t do that too, dude,” Levon said, giving him a look. “That’s all I’m saying.”

“I’m not,” he snapped, then shook his head. “Sorry. I’m not trying to be an ass. It’s just hard, you know? I never thought I’d be in a relationship ever, let alone have a kid. Maybe I’m not cut out for it.”

“Dude, don’t be stupid. Of course you’re cut out for it.”

“No, I’m not so sure.” Noah took a deep breath. “I mean, this job is dangerous enough as it is without worrying about a wife and kid at home. I don’t want to make Serena and Gracie’s lives any harder than they already are.”

“Hey, man. Seriously, you—”

Whatever Levon had been about to say to him was cut off by Clint’s shout. “Guys, we got a lead!”

Both guys exchanged a look and rushed over to Clint’s desk.

“What is it?” Noah asked.

“We used surveillance footage from the casino to track your attacker and spotted him getting off a plane earlier this morning at Hartfield International. He’s on his way to a hotel near the airport now.”

“Shit.” Levon started back to his desk to grab his gun out of the drawer. “What are we waiting for?”

“Tomorrow morning,” Clint said. “I just got off the phone with the local cops and if we want this done right, we need to wait until the ambush is ready and everything’s lined up with Interpol. They want to go in early in the morning.”

“Right.” Noah released his pent-up breath. “Tomorrow. Okay. What’s the plan?”

18

By the time Noah walked in the door that night, Serena was beat. Gracie had been fussy all day and it just seemed to be one thing after another. Serena had hoped to have a nice relaxing night with him, maybe veg out on the sofa, play with the baby a bit, then go to bed early and cuddle. Unfortunately, based on the scowl darkening Noah’s face, that wasn’t going to happen.

“How was your day?” she asked, following him into the guest bedroom, just down from the nursery where Gracie was napping. “Anything I can help with?”

“No,” he said, stripping off his shirt and tossing it in the hamper against the wall. “Just a lot on my mind.”

“Is it to do with my case?”

“Some of it.” He walked into the attached bathroom, splashed water on his face and did a quick scrub down before grabbing a towel to dry off. “They tracked the guy who tried to attack you in the casino. He’s here—in Atlanta, in a hotel near the airport. Luckily, the authorities in South America are pretty