Shadow in the Desert (Shadow SEALs #3) - Becca Jameson Page 0,1
to have believed it was legit. Hell, he’d been hungover when he answered the phone. The only reason why he doubted it was a trap was that it was the middle of D.C. This was a busy office building. What could possibly go wrong?
He chuckled as he thought of the possibilities. Considering how fucked-up his life currently was, anything could go wrong.
You’re here, dumb as the decision might have been. Just open the damn door.
He patted his right hip where he’d worn a weapon nearly every second of every day for many years until recently. It wasn’t there now. He didn’t have a weapon on him this morning at all.
With a deep breath, he pulled the door open, holding on to it as he stepped halfway into the room. In his mind, he figured if he didn’t like what he saw on the other side, he could step back out, let the door close, and walk away.
If whatever was behind the door was nefarious, on the other hand, he would probably be dead before he had a chance to retreat.
The room was small. Nothing more than a conference table with six chairs and a phone in the middle, but that’s not what mattered. That wasn’t what stopped Ajax in his tracks and took his breath away. “Holy mother of God,” he stated as he released the door, no longer caring if it shut at his back.
The man standing on the other side of the room lifted his gaze and gasped.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other. Not a single sound could be heard except the beating of Ajax’s heart in his ears. “Fuck me. Ryker?” He would know his foster brother anywhere. He didn’t need verification. Except since he knew Ryker was dead, it was a bit difficult to believe his eyes.
“Ajax?” Ryker took a hesitant step forward. “Is that really you?” It occurred to Ajax that Ryker thought he was dead also.
Ajax took two huge steps forward at the same time as Ryker, and they collided in what could be described as a manly hug, if it weren’t for the fact that Ajax’s throat was clogged with emotion.
“I thought…” Ryker’s voice was tight, and Ajax understood.
“They said you were dead,” the men choked out in unison.
When they leaned back, they held each other by the shoulders and stared into each other’s eyes. “What the fuck?” Ryker said.
“I was going to say the same thing.”
“Where the fuck have you been?” Ryker asked.
“My sister’s. In Tennessee. You?”
“Mom and Dad’s place in Indiana.” Ryker released Ajax to rub his forehead. “What the fuck is going on?”
“Not a damn clue. Do you suppose the entire team is coming here?”
The door opened behind Ajax and he spun around, half expecting to see Keebler or Pitbull or any of the other members of their SEAL squad.
That is most definitely not what happened. The newest addition was a woman. Prim. Perfectly put together. Ajax scanned her from the feet up. Four-inch heels. Gray pencil skirt that reached her knees. White blouse. Flawless pale skin. Sleek black hair in a tidy bun. Green eyes. She had two manila folders tucked under one elbow.
She wasted no time, immediately holding a hand out to Ajax. “Mr. Cassman.” He shook her hand, uncertain what to say. Her voice didn’t match the sultry voice he’d heard on the phone. When he released her grip, she reached for Ryker. “Mr. Tufano.”
“How do you know who we are? And who the fuck are you?” Ryker asked.
“My name is Serena.”
“I was told to meet with a man named Charlie,” Ajax stated, glancing at Ryker who nodded agreement. He’d been told the same thing.
Serena smiled politely. “She couldn’t make it.” She reached toward the center of the table and dragged the phone toward the edge. “She’ll be joining us by speakerphone.”
“Charley is a woman?” Ajax asked for clarification. He wasn’t usually such a sexist ass, but he’d wrongly assumed… Charley, not Charlie.
Serena lifted a brow. “Yes. You have a problem with women?”
Ajax lifted both brows and then stroked his beard. He felt defensive. “Not at all.” Especially not you. This entire situation was ten ways of fucked-up, but Serena wasn’t one of them. She was cool, confident, and feisty. It was absurd that his cock took notice because he had about a thousand questions to ask her. Now was not the time to flirt.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Ryker stated, his voice firm, no-nonsense. That hadn’t changed. “Who are you?”