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“Tanner was in the hospital?”

“Yeah. He was in bad shape for a while. Kind of touch and go. His leg… Christ. You don’t know any of this?”

Alessandra shook her head. She didn’t trust herself to speak.

“He was desperate to talk to you. Chay got him your phone numbers. Your cell was kaput, but he left a message on your voice mail in New York. Chay didn’t know much about the call, except Akecheta told Chay he ended up just begging you to contact him.”

Alessandra buried her face in her hands. “Oh God, “she whispered, “oh God…”

“Then he got that letter from you and the general.” Travis’s voice went low and icy. “I’m gonna bet anything in the world you didn’t know about that letter.”

She looked up at him through tear-blurred eyes.

“What did it say?”

“”Basically? Goodbye and good luck, and don’t let the door hit you in the tail on your way out.”

“You’re right. I never—I never—”

Travis took her in his arms and held her. She cried silently. Then he felt a shudder go through her. She drew back. Her eyes were wet, her makeup was streaked, but there was a look to her that told him she was Wilde to the bone.

“He didn’t ship out.”

“No.” Travis hesitated. “He’s not even in the service anymore. His leg…”

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know, but I can sure as hell find out.”

Alessandra nodded. She rose to her feet. Travis rose, too.

“Find out, please.” Her eyes met her brother’s. “Because I have to go to him.”

Travis smiled. “Yes,” he said gently, “of course you do.”

“Right away. Tonight.”

“I understand.”

“I’ll need a taxi to take me to the airport.”

“You won’t need a taxi. I’ll take you.”

“Thank you. Once I know where Tanner is, I’ll check the airline schedules.”

“You won’t need the airline schedules either. Between the Texas Wildes and the Sicily Wildes, we can get a private plane on the tarmac ASAP.”

Alessandra nodded again. “Then, there’s just one last thing.”

Travis’s smile faded. “Confronting our four-star rat of a father.”

“Yes. Except, on second thought, I don’t think I ever want to see him again.” Her hands fisted. “He played God. He always did. He treated us all as if—as if we were pieces on a chessboard.”

Travis looped his arm around Alessandra’s shoulders and began walking her along the patio, towards the rear door of the mansion.

“Let me make a couple of calls. I bet I can locate your lieutenant in just a couple of hours.”

Her lieutenant. Alessandra felt her heart swell.