Spy Games (Tarnished Heroes #1)(72)

Oh, boy.

Rand stepped around the sofa and sat down, elbows on his knees, staring at the way light reflected off the glass coffee table.

“I thought… When I left, I thought I was doing the right thing. That you’d never want to see me again. That it was all my fault.”

“That’s some bullshit.”

“Yeah. I know, but that’s what I thought. And then…then I couldn’t come back.” Because he’d retired from the SEALs and gone solo for the company. After that, he was protecting people by keeping his distance.

“Because of whatever the fuck it is you’re doing?”

“I can’t answer that.”

“Screw you. You owe me an explanation.”

“Is the explanation worth Emily’s life?” Rand glanced up. “Because any answer I give might put her at risk. Your kids. Our parents. I can’t tell you more.”

“This is bullshit.” Matt continued to pace back and forth in front of the TV. “Why Sarah?”

“I didn’t—”

“No, I mean, you didn’t have to. So why?” Matt stopped, once again staring at Rand.

“It’s complicated.” How did Rand explain to Matt what it was like being alone for so long you thought you were going crazy? And then Sarah was there. She was familiar and precious. He should have been stronger, should have pushed her away, but he wasn’t that good of a man.

“I ought to knock your teeth out,” Matt said.

“You did once.”

“Yeah, I’d like to again. Man, you bawled. And the blood.”

Matt snickered, and Rand chuckled.

It’d been a baby tooth, but shit, it’d hurt. He’d had a gap for close to a year before the tooth grew in to replace the one he’d lost when they were roughhousing.

“You know…” Matt glanced at Rand. “You could’ve come back. You could’ve emailed. Called. Sent a letter. Something.”

“Back then…I didn’t think so.”

“I didn’t die.”

“What can I say? If I could go back, I’d do things differently.”

“I don’t blame you.”

“I still think about, what if I’d been more careful? What if I’d looked right instead of left?”

“You can’t let yourself get stuck in thinking like that.” Matt sat down in the armchair adjacent to the sofa. He put his elbows on his knees and held out his hand next to the prosthetic arm. “It sucks, but…I don’t know that I’d change anything. If the accident hadn’t happened, I’d have re-upped. I wouldn’t have been in Thailand with Emily, I wouldn’t have saved her. She might be dead for all I know. And then what? I can’t imagine my life without her in it.”

“What happened with Emily? Sarah mentioned it, but wouldn’t tell me.”

“Shoot. That’s a story. The highlights? Emily was kidnapped and I got it into my head saving her by myself was a great idea. We got out of there together, but it was a close damn call.” Matt shook his head and stroked his wedding band with his thumb. He glanced at Rand. “I want answers. Later. No more of this I can’t tell you crap. Come on, let’s eat.”

…

Wei strode through the parking garage, scanning between the cars.

Ping hadn’t felt it was necessary to tell Wei who he was meeting, just that their source was ready to meet him. Wei didn’t like being on the outside of the secrets. There was a nagging sensation at the back of his mind that he was being taken for a fool.

He did everything asked of him, without question. Was a little honesty so much? In the grand scheme of things, this was Wei’s place, and he was satisfied with it.

“Hey, looking for me?”

Wei pivoted and grit his teeth. What the hell?

A man ambled from between two SUVs, smoothing the buttons on his jacket. The halogen lights reflected off his shiny shoes.

“Nice to see you, too.” The informant smacked his gum, his grin wide.

Wei hated the sight of this man, but he was honor-bound to not kill him. Yet.

“Oh, come on, Wei.” The informant spread his hands and closed the distance between them. “You didn’t really think you could be rid of me that easily. We’re buddies. We’re on the same side. Well…for now. I can see you have questions. Shall we?”

Rats like this man had no honor, no pride. He was scum. Willing to help whoever had the most money to offer. He was everything Wei hated.

“Come on, Ping tells me you haven’t snagged Sarah yet. He offered me a lot of money to go hands-on with this. I guess you weren’t up to the job.” He clapped his hand on Wei’s shoulder.

The man pivoted and clicked the key fob. The blue SUV’s lights flashed.

Wei’s boss had known. They’d arranged all of this behind Wei’s back and lied to him about it. It was the only explanation. Wei clenched his fists.

He sucked down a deep breath and found his inner calm. This, working with the enemy, he could do.

Wei got in the SUV’s passenger seat, taking in the new car smell, the pristine condition of the vehicle.

Someone had gone shopping.

“Now, Sarah’s not all that bright. Good girl, does what she’s told, but not the real problem. This guy is.” The informant opened a folder and handed over a grainy image of a man Wei had glimpsed on the security footage from the hotel.