a few sentences of details about them. Far more than a first name. They usually have on camo when they head into war with me. Not four-inch heels and skirts.”
She swallowed. Good. He needed to get a few things straight between them.
“You know more about the two of us than we know about ourselves. And we don’t know a damn thing about you. Not even your full name. Considering we both served seventeen years in the Navy, the last seven with the SEALs, you surely don’t believe that Neanderthal statement.
“Being a SEAL is not a slug assignment, in case you’re not aware. So, forgive me if I’m skeptical about a woman in a skirt being assigned to trail along with me into a war-torn country where I’ve been told six men I love more than blood relatives are being held hostage.”
Trying to keep his voice low enough that no other passengers could hear him, he leaned in closer to her. Their faces were inches apart. “Let’s not forget that I was set up by some mysterious government entity who brainwashed me into believing that somehow I took leave of my basic common sense, went on a rogue mission, and got my entire team killed.
“My life was essentially ruined. So, yes, I’ve been sitting on my stepsister’s fucking couch for three months, wondering how the fuck to go on with my life. Ryker’s been licking his wounds at our foster parents’ home, wondering the same thing.
“Now, I don’t have a fancy college degree, but I’ve read just about every history book written because that’s my passion. I know the ins and outs of every modern government on earth, including and especially Ethiopia’s.
“As for being a misogynist, I moved in with my foster family when I was twelve. Any ounce of disrespect I might have felt toward my birth mother for those dozen years was quickly squelched by my foster father. If we so much as thought about disrespecting our foster mother, he would slap us across the back of the head and drag us to face her and apologize. That woman is a goddess, and I owe her and my foster father my life.”
He slowly inched out of her face before adding. “You’re probably right about the chest-thumping though. Ryker and I can get cocky at times, especially at the end of a day when we know we’ve saved several hundred innocent civilians from genocide.”
Ajax could feel Ryker staring at him, and he might have glimpsed a shocked smirk on his brother’s face, but he closed his eyes and cocked his neck back and forth to force himself to relax.
After a few moments, Serena spoke. “You’re right. I shouldn’t judge either of you. Forgive me. I have less interest in trailing along with you on this mission than you have. I’m testy and unnerved.”
He glanced at her, only turning his head this time. “Forgive me if that does nothing to alleviate my mistrust. Ryker and I are flying blind here. As far as we’re concerned, you may just as well be hired to lead us into a trap. I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I do know that we were lied to, and I suspect there’s a pile of people who would just as soon eliminate us. Tidier. What better way to do it than to send us into the thick of the fight? Maybe we’ll just disappear in the wilds of Ethiopia, never to be heard from again.”
She cleared her throat. “I can’t tell you everything, mostly because I don’t even know myself, but I can assure you Charley’s goals are to ensure your men are rescued and whoever covered up their capture is caught and brought to justice.”
“And why would she do that?” he asked, narrowing his gaze at Serena again. “What’s in it for her?”
“The satisfaction of knowing she helped your brothers.”
“So she’s some kind of independently wealthy do-gooder?”
“Something like that.”
“Where is she?”
“No idea.”
He flinched. “What does she look like?”
“No idea.”
“You work for the woman and you’ve never met her?”
“Yep.”
“What do you do for her?” Ajax’s curiosity was growing.
“Whatever she asks. Usually, I find people, arrange meetings, keep track of her missions.”
Ajax lifted a brow. “She does this often? Rescue lost SEALs.”
“Nope. It’s always different.”
“Do you always travel with whoever she hires to the location?”
“Nope. Never.”
He turned to more fully face her. “Then why now?”
“I have my suspicions, but I’m not entirely certain. What I do know is that I trust her. Whatever she