Forged in Steele (KGI #7)(44)

Sam and Garrett exchanged glances.

“She must have gone missing right after you left,” Garrett said. “Her brother called us. He and their parents are frantic. She typically emails them several times a week. Calls them at least once. They’re in constant contact. Her brother got worried because they hadn’t heard anything from her. Nothing since nine days ago, which was before you left her.”

“She didn’t talk to them on the phone while I was there,” Steele said. “No idea if she was emailing them or not. I was only there two days when I got called up. Has anyone visually confirmed she’s missing, or is this just them being worried?”

Sam dragged a hand through his hair, his expression growing more grim.

“I’ve had someone keep an eye on her ever since we pulled her out of Africa. Nothing major. She wouldn’t have liked it knowing I was using resources to keep tabs on her. I just wanted to make sure she was safe and if anything went down, I wanted to know about it. My guy there says her clinic hasn’t been opened in a week. Looks like she disappeared not long after you left, Steele.”

“What’s being done?” Steele cut in. “Who do we have there? What can they tell us?”

“He’s questioning the locals, but I’m concerned enough that I want to send in a team. Rio makes the most sense because he’s closer.”

“Fuck that,” Steele growled. “Me and my team are taking this.”

Sam’s brow furrowed. Donovan looked equally surprised and Garrett frowned.

Steele’s team stirred beside him. They were on edge, just like he was.

“I agree,” Cole said shortly. “By the time Rio pulls his team in from God knows where, we could already be on the ground. We’re all here and accounted for. We can load and go within an hour.”

Steele nodded, as did all his other team members.

“We could go as well,” Joe spoke up. “We’re ready. Our team is here.”

“No,” Steele bit out again. “This is our mission. With or without your blessing.”

Donovan blew out his breath. “I’m inclined to agree with Steele.” He cast an apologetic look in his brother’s direction. “Sorry, Joe. It’s not that we don’t have confidence in you, but we don’t want your first mission to be something like this where we don’t know shit and are basically flying blind into God only knows what. This is personal. Maren is important to all of us. And we need to move fast.”

Again, Steele nodded. “We can move out now.”

“I’ll go with them,” Donovan said.

Sam glanced at Garrett. “I thought we gave the orders around here?”

Garrett shrugged. “The job’s gotta get done. Seems to me we need to go the most expedient route. Steele and his team have the experience. They’re here. Why wait?”

“I’m going with you,” Sam said tersely. “You’ll go, Steele, but I’m going with you. No way in hell I’m going to hang Maren out to dry. She’s done too much for this family, this organization.”

“Well, f**k, someone has to stay here and sit on things, and it’s sure as hell not going to be me,” Garrett said. “Maren’s one of us. No way in hell I’m going to sit it out.”

Steele held his hands up. “Look, I get it. Maren is one of us. But this would go a lot smoother if you’d just let my team handle it. We’ll keep in constant contact with you, and if we need backup you can have the new team at the ready.”

Donovan looked like he was digging his heels in. Steele knew that look. While Donovan might be a more affable, easygoing member of the Kelly clan, when he set his mind on something, he was like a pit bull latched onto a prime piece of beef. It didn’t help that he had a huge weakness for women and children. The fact that Maren was a woman and was someone extremely important to the Kellys just sealed it.

“Sam and Garrett can stay here. I’m going with you,” Donovan said.

Garrett raised one eyebrow. “I’d love to know who died and left you in charge, little brother.”

Donovan held up his middle finger. “While we’re standing here arguing like a bunch of f**king two-year-olds, we could be moving out and finding out what the hell happened to Maren.”

“Hooyah,” Cole muttered.

“Hell yeah, hooyah,” Dolphin echoed.

“I’m with Van on this one,” P.J. said resolutely. “We’re wasting time that we could be using to find Maren and kick the motherf*cker’s ass who messed with her.”

Sam held up his hands again. “We don’t know if anyone has messed with her. No sense going off half-cocked until we know for sure what’s going on.”

But his expression remained doubtful. Donovan spoke up, saying what was in the backs of all their minds.

“If Maren went off the grid without telling anyone, she’s in trouble.”

Baker and Renshaw stepped forward, their expressions determined. But it was Skylar who interjected next.

“So when are we going to be turned loose?”

Everyone turned toward Skylar when her softly spoken question filled the short silence.

Her lips were drawn into a tight line. Edge stood beside her; the only hint of his thoughts was the slight narrowing of his eyes. Swanny stood behind Skylar, quiet, away from the others. That was just Swanny’s nature. He was self-conscious about the jagged scar that covered one side of his face. He’d been captured with Nathan when both were still in the army, and they’d both been imprisoned and endured months of unspeakable torture.