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  “No more discussion. Let’s go pack.”

  Zared chooses that particular moment to interrupt us. “Sorry, but I have to speak with Asher. It will only take a minute or two.”

  “It is okay,” Rihana says. “I can start without you.”

  A chill snakes down my spine. “Ree, wait until we’re done, and I’ll go with you.”

  “Nonsense. It will only take a moment. If I am not back when you are done, send out the hounds.” She winks and walks through the door.

  “Everything okay?” Zared asks as he leans over the counter.

  “I’m not sure.” My eyes are fixed on the door as I speak. “Let’s make this fast.”

  “Yeah, sure.” He opens the folder he’s carrying and spreads the contents on the counter. “Before you give coordinates to Bashur, you might want to check this out yourself.”

  “What is all that?”

  “The coordinates for an abandoned nuclear bunker in Colorado Territory. The Helix is most likely long gone, but there may be intel left behind.”

  “Doesn’t matter. We’re headed to Michigan.”

  Zared shakes his head furiously. “Ever hear of Lebensborn?”

  “Wasn’t that associated with the Nazis?”

  “Yeah. Apparently the Helix is a similar program. The bunker may provide proof of the experiments. If a team goes in and takes photos, we can get the intel to the U.N. and help them build their case against the New Order.”

  The tribunal against the AR fell apart. Now the legal team wanted to prosecute the leaders of our government for breaking global laws about cloning and genetic experimentation. Exposing the truth this way fulfills part of my obligation to the Alliance.

  “Fine. How long for us to travel there?”

  “By car, it’s five hours. By helicopter, it will take about two and a half hours. You must leave tonight.”

  My fingers drum the granite surface. The feeling of unease hasn’t gone away, and Rihana hasn’t returned. “Tell Steve to set it up. I need to get my wife. Let him know I might need his help.”

  “Got it,” Zared hurries out of the room as I run for the door.

  My heart drops when I step onto the covered walkway. The door to the guesthouse stands wide open, and it’s dark inside.

  Every muscle in my body quakes as I move through the living room.

  “Ree!” I scream into the kitchen. Where the hell is she?

  I open the bedroom door. Look in the bathroom. Rihana isn’t here.

  Reality sets in, and fear grips my chest. Then the scent of musk whips past my nose.

  “Thought you could use a little incentive.” His heavily-accented voice comes up from behind me.

  “Where is she?” I scream and crack my neck side to side. I sure hope he is slow to duck or at least has a glass jaw.

  “My men will not hurt her. You will get her back when your mission is complete,” Bashur informs me.

  Whirling around, my fist connects with the side of his face.

  He staggers backward and rubs his jaw before working it side to side. “Not a smart move, Lieutenant Jones. Your wife is depending on you in order to stay alive. But I am urging you to continue your stupidity. Take another swing at me so that I have reason to defend myself. I can claim self-defense. Once you’re gone, Rihana will be mine.”

  I clench my fists. All I want to do is beat the shit out of him. When he can’t stand, I’ll beat him some more.

  The glint of steel catches my eye, relaxing my fists.

  “What do you want, Bashur?”

  “Stop playing games and finish your damned mission,” he snarls. “It occurred to me that sending me and my men to a separate location was a ruse. I need you to take me seriously.”

  “Why does this assignment mean so fucking much to you?”

  “This country reneged on a promise to me and everyone who ever came here—freedom to live the lives we choose.”

  “And what life is that? What the hell do you want so bad?”

  “It’s time for a new power to reign.” Bashur backpedals toward the door. “You have twenty-four hours to finish your mission.”

  My eyes widen. “Give me two days. A week would be better.”

  “Continue arguing about it, and I’ll shorten the time. I would think a real man, the man who is right for Rihana, would want her back sooner than later.”

  The man slithers out of my house, leaving me blinded with fury.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “Imagine what would happen if we put aside our differences and united. Our oppressors would kneel at our feet. We came to this land and made it home. We must refuse the scraps this government prefers to let us have. We must take back our jobs, our homes, our communities. Together it can be done. This is my message to you. We have worked too hard, suffered too long, to sit back any longer.”

  —from the Honorable M. Raman Bashur,

  Kurdish political & religious thinker

  Steve and Zared run through the open door. Zared glances around the room as if an answer is coming out of the dark while my step-grandfather stops in the middle of the floor.

  “What happened?” Steve asks me, catching his breath.

  “That asshat took her,” I explode. “Bashur has Rihana.”

  “How the hell did he get her? Where’s security?” Steve taps a communication device in his ear. “Jackson, Williams, Gonzalez… Get the hell in here!”

  I’m having a hard time thinking straight. If Bashur does anything to Rihana, it won’t matter what the Alliance wants. I’ll crush the snake.

  Zared turns on the lamp and points out, “There wasn’t a struggle, Asher. He either forced her or she went willingly.”

  “If Rihana went willingly, Bashur threatened her.” My pulse slams in my neck. I’m seeing red, and I can’t breathe.

  I hear the fridge door open and close. Seconds later, Zared is standing next to me. “Drink this.” He shoves a bottle of water in my hand.

  Tossing the container, through gritted teeth, I say, “I don’t want it.”

  Zared disregards me and picks it up. Once again, he gives me the bottle. “Drink it and calm the fuck down for a minute.”

  For a too-short moment, concentrating on swallowing the cold liquid helps. I’m no good to Rihana if I lose it. Somehow I have to stay controlled, although everything in me wants to find Bashur and kill him with my bare hands.

  Red enters the room with a shorter, stocky blond. Both of them carry AK-47 rifles. Steve doesn’t give them a moment to catch their breaths before he pounces. “Where’s Gonzalez? And how the hell did Bashur get past you?”

  The blond speaks up first. “We just had a shift change. Jackson and Williams went to dinner. No word from Gonzalez.”

  “We’ve got someone checking the property,” adds Red.

  Steve gives me a half-apologetic gaze and touches my shoulder. “Asher, we’ll find her. Right now, I’ve got to make sure Viyan is safe.”

  Shit, Viyan!

  If anything happens to my daughter...

  I push past the small crowd gathered in my living room and run for the main house. I take the hall stairs two at a time. The guard outside of Viyan’s room opens the door for me. My daughter is sitting on Mama Sibley’s lap while my grandmother reads to her.

  My grandmother, her gaze clouding over, stands with Viyan in her arms. The book hits the floor. “What’s happened?”

  “Bashur…” I can’t finish my sentence in front of Viyan. She may not speak enough English, but she may understand the words. I ask the man standing guard to come into the room. “Please sit with my daughter for a moment.”

  Once Viyan is situated with the guard, I pull Mama Sibley out to the hall and close the door behind her.

  “What has that man done now?”

  “He took Rihana,” I mutter.

  “How? When?”

  “I was in the kitchen with Zared. Rihana wanted to go back to the guesthouse to pick up some things for overnight. I told her to wait�
��that I’d go with her. She said she’d be fine and left before I could argue,” my voice cracks.

  Mama Sibley wraps her arms around me. “Steve will find her.”

  I return her embrace. “For Bashur’s sake, he better hope Steve finds him first. Because if he doesn’t, I’ll kill that so-called prophet.”

  “Now Asher, that’s not—”

  “Don’t tell me not to think that way,” I snap and pull away from her. “I won’t lose anyone else, not again!”

  I storm down the hall, leaving Mama Sibley dumbfounded, and run into Zared on the stairs.

  “Anything?” I ask.

  “They found Gonzalez on the side of the house. His throat was slit. The other two guards were found near the outbuilding.”

  “Dead?”

  Zared nods. “Your step-grandfather wants you in his study.”

  I tell him, “Stay here with my grandmother. I want as many guards—”

  “I’m on it,” he says and taps the comm in his ear. “I need any available man upstairs. We need round the clock patrols for Sibley and her great-granddaughter.”

  —

  Steve is behind his desk with several of his men standing around the room talking. He waves me in and continues typing. “Did Zared tell you the news?”

  Taking a seat, I say, “He did. I’m sorry about your men.”

  My step-grandfather glances up. “They were good men. I’ll contact their families as soon as this is over. I like to deliver that type of news in person and give the families funds to cover their expenses and funeral costs.”

  “That’s decent of you,” I remark.

  “I’d expect people to do the same thing for me and my family.” He clears his throat, and the men quiet down. “We’ve got a major situation. A member of my family was taken from here. Not acceptable. It means we’re slacking. People lose lives when we don’t do our job.”

  The men grumble. A few nod their heads. Others offer up apologies.

  My step-grandfather continues, “Pictures of Raman Bashur and his men have been delivered to your phones.”

  Zared walks in and closes the door.

  Steve continues, “The young man who just entered is Zared Aoki. He’ll be in charge of handling digital intel and communications for the team. Keep in mind there may be others unknown to us working with Bashur. The man was here. He walked into the guesthouse and spoke with my grandson. Asher, what did the bastard say?”

  “He said he had Rihana.”

  “What does he want in exchange for her?” Steve asks.

  “He claims he only wants me to finish the mission.” I shake my head. “I’m telling you, I don’t trust he’s going to give her back without a fight.”

  Steve stands. “Anderson, make sure the vehicles are gassed up and the gear is ready to go.”

  The stocky blond from earlier steps out of the room.

  “Zared, how many men are staying behind?” Steve inquires.

  My friend accesses something on the tablet he’s been carrying around like a new attachment to his arm. “I’ve got five upstairs. Another ten are on the grounds.”

  Steve opens a drawer and removes a holster. He straps it on, slides a Ruger SR45 into the sleeve, and loads a mag pouch with ammo. “Asher, I’m going with you. Zared will run communications for us from here. Anderson is in charge while I’m gone.”

  “Steve, I appreciate your going with us, but what about Mama Sibley?”

  My step-grandfather smiles. “Your grandmother is well-equipped to take care of herself. Trust me, she has an arsenal upstairs, and she’s an accurate shooter. I’m not worried about her. Give me about ten minutes to talk to her, and I’ll meet you in the courtyard.”

  He leaves the room, and the team files out behind him.

  “Asher,” Zared calls me over to the side of the room. He hands me a new phone. “Use this one for communications while in the field. I’ve replaced everyone’s phone with new encrypted devices in case Bashur has done any hacking.”

  “You don’t mind doing this sort of stuff?” I ask. My friend’s abilities astound me. I never knew he had an interest in technology.

  “Are you kidding me?” he says with a gleam in his eye. “I love this kind of shit. It was an interest I shared with my mother as a kid. She taught me the ins and outs of how computers work. She even taught me languages. Give me a few more days, and I’ll be able to translate a little Kurmanji.”

  “Dude, you’re fast. Took me nearly two years to learn it.”

  “Hey, when you already speak five languages, others come easily.”

  My envy goes without saying. “You said the new phone is encrypted?”

  “Yeah. Password’s Shiloh’s birthday.”

  I cock my head. “How did you find out?”

  “Sibley.”

  I should have known my grandmother would have my back. Too bad I didn’t realize years ago that I had so many people in my corner. I’ve spent a long time fighting my demons alone. Maybe it’s time to let others help me with my battle.

  “Thanks,” I say with sincerity. “About that shit earlier… I’m sorry for keeping you in the dark.”

  He nods. “I appreciate you saying that. My anger’s passed. Just don’t let it happen again.”

  If I’m going to let others into my madness, I should start with this man. “Zared, I know it’s a lot to ask, but will you watch over my daughter for me? If anything goes wrong out there and I don’t make it—”

  “Man, you don’t get to finish that thought. Of course, Tru and I will watch out for her until you come back with your wife. You didn’t even have to ask.”

  I force a smile onto my face, wishing I had his confidence in this final mission. Instead of discussing it, I go up to say goodnight to Viyan.

  —

  When I get to Viyan’s room, the same guard is on the door. He acknowledges me and opens it. There’s a second guard stationed inside. Mama Sibley sits on the bed with Viyan, reading another book.

  My grandmother notices me and taps Viyan’s shoulder. “Baby girl, your daddy’s here.”

  My daughter squeals and jumps off the bed. I catch her in mid-air. The scent of flowers makes my heart pause. Rihana used her shampoo on Viyan’s hair. I hug my child tightly, not wanting to put her down. It’s true that I barely know her, but… Memories of my final conversation with my brother come flooding back.

  We sat in his black Charger. Shiloh had his orders to report for duty.

  “You’re scaring me, dude,” I said.

  My brother’s eyes, filled with a sudden sadness, held mine for a minute. “Join the club.” Shiloh’s voice cracked.

  The worry morphed into fear and hurt my chest. I looked out the window and prayed he’d stop talking.

  “Ash, I want to see my daughter be born.” His voice shook with emotion. “I’d love to see the kids grow up together. You know, when Ruby told me she was pregnant with Junior I was scared. Too young to be a father and all. But I love being a dad, being married. I want to be there for them.”

  I bounced my foot against the floorboard. Shiloh would be fine. He had to come back home to us. “It’s just talk, dude. Put it out of your head.”

  “Yeah, yeah. But… Make sure little Becky and Junior remember me. You got to do that for me.”

  I forced a smile on my face and turned to him. “I got ya six.”

  “Thanks, Squirt.”

  Becky and Junior didn’t live long enough for me to share memories of their dad. I don’t want my daughter to grow up without either parent in her life.

  I start to speak to Viyan in Kurmanji, and then I remember what Rihana said. “Viyan, you listen to Mama Sibley, your aunt Tru, and your uncle Zared. They all love you and won’t let anything happen to you.”

  “You leave?” Viyan’s tearful voice breaks my heart.

  “Only for a little while. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  She stares down at her pudgy hands. “Mommy?”

  “I’m going to get
Mommy. We’ll be home before you know it.” I kiss her forehead. “It’s time for bed. No more stories.”

  The mere mention of bed perks her up, and she smacks her hands together. “Song.”

  “Not tonight, sweetie.” I tuck her into bed. Viyan’s thumb goes between her pouty lips.

  “Asher, I think I can sing her to sleep.” Mama Sibley hugs me and whispers near my ear, “Stay strong, sweetheart. You’ll be back with Rihana very soon. I believe that.”

  “I hope you’re right,” I say to her.

  “I am. You’re long overdue for some happiness. Just don’t give up hope.”

  “Thank you for being here.”

  I give my daughter another kiss on her forehead. My footsteps are heavy and slow leaving the room.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “Sometimes you have to put aside seeking those things you like. Find your bliss in doing what you have to do.”

  —from “Reflections on Riza” by Lt. Asher Nicholas Jones

  The next hour is a blur. After saying goodnight to Viyan, the team—Niang, Fletch, Steve and two of his men, and me—piles into a large dark SUV and head for the airstrip.

  The route takes us further up into the mountains through twisted, narrow roads. When I first arrived in the New Mexican Territory, I didn’t know that the abandoned military base once tested nuclear weapons, atomic bombs, and other explosives. Understandably, the idea of being around such toxic residue makes me a little nervous.

  I sit in the rear of the vehicle beside my step-grandfather, neither of us saying a word.

  A buzzing phone breaches the silence.

  Hideji Cruz, a Hybrid of Japanese and Portuguese descent, calls out from the front seat, “Incoming call from the newbie.”

  “Put it through the speaker,” Steve instructs.

  “Hey guys,” starts Zared. “I’ve a message from Bashur, audio and video.”

  Individual screens flip down from the ceiling, and the displays flicker on. An image of Bashur, standing outside, flashes on the screen.