Page 59

“Yes. One day, Tabish didn’t show up at training. I was told he’d left the base. It wasn’t like him. I found out that he’d gotten word that there was going to be an attack on his village. I went after him.”
Hollis pressed a hand to his stomach. “Take a breath.”
He realized his chest was heaving quickly. He obeyed, and took a deep breath. “When I got there, his village was on fire. The Taliban were punishing Tabish…and me. I’d had a skirmish with a local warlord a few weeks prior. I’d cost him a lot of money when he didn’t get his poppy harvests.”
“What happened?”
“Tabish had been beaten and tied up. They had him on his knees in front of his burning house. The warlord’s men had locked people in their homes. Including Tabish’s family.”
“Oh, God,” she breathed.
Pain seared through Sawyer.
“When I arrived, I took out as many of the fighters as I could.” He’d taken a bullet. “The rest of them left. They’d achieved what they’d come for.”
Screams and smoke.
“I’m sorry, Sawyer. Sorry that the world has such horrible people in it. It wasn’t your fault.”
“I know that, but I feel like it was anyway.”
She held him tighter. “What happened to Tabish?”
“When I untied him, he walked into the flames of his house.”
“Sawyer…”
He held her and pulled her close, a hand tangling in her hair. “I like to think they’re all in a better place. That they’re together.” His hand tightened. “You can’t get hurt, Hollis. You can’t die.”
“I’m right here. It’s okay. Just hold me.”
He did, but it was a long time before they both fell asleep again.
“My world-famous breakfast wrap.”Hollis carried the plates out onto the deck.
It was a bright, sunny day. Maui was doing its best to chase off the last of any nightmares and assassination attempts.
Sawyer sat in a wooden chair, cradling his coffee mug.
“Another world-famous Hollis Stanton breakfast.” He shot her a small smile. “Thanks.”
She could tell the night was still weighing on him, hence her efforts to cheer him up with food. And to take her mind off her own troubles.
“You sure it’s okay to sit out here.” She glanced around nervously, half expecting a shooter to pop up.
He reached out and touched her arm. “Jesse and another deputy are patrolling around here until we leave. I’ve already checked in with them.”
She nodded
She set her feet on the railing. Beyond, the ocean glinted in the distance. “Hey, is that the roof of my place? Archer’s place?”
“Yes.”
She bit into her egg wrap.Yum. The taste of eggs and melted cheese hit her tastebuds.
“I thought actresses only ate salad,” Sawyer said, with a wry smile.
She took another generous bite. “And we have three assistants, and an entourage, and we carry tiny, fluffy dogs in our purses.”