Page 38 of SEAL's Spitfire

“Not at first. She was in shock, sure. But she held it together. Trying to figure out how to get him back.”

“I’m impressed.”

“Yeah, so was I. That’s why I had to bring Tex into it.”

“Makes sense to me. Besides, it wasn’t our mission yet.”

“Exactly. And since it wasn’t, I couldn’t ask Jake to get me intel either. That only left Tex and his amazing computer super powers.”

“I’m sure she appreciated your help.”

“Yes, until she found out I hadn’t told her everything. Once Tex found out he was definitely one of the hostages, I kept it from her at first. She got so pissed off she lost it, and that’s when the tears came. Then she chewed my ass a new one, but she was so quiet Jake would have been proud. But I deserved it.”

“You were only trying to protect her…”

“That’s what I thought, but she didn’t see it that way. To her, I was hiding information from her about her family, information I’d promised to get for her.”

“Did Tex find out anything else?”

“Yeah, that the senator’s daughter was part of the missionary group. Hell, I think he knew it before the state department.”

Ryan chuckled. “Probably did. The man knows everything.”

“That’s what I told Meghan. When we got called in, I gave her his information in case she needed anything.”

“Good plan. He’ll be able to keep her updated since you can’t.”

“Yeah. But when Jake found out he told me no more contact with Tex.”

“What did you expect him to say?”

“I know, but I can’t shake this feeling that Meghan is in trouble.”

“Where did you leave her?”

“In Atlanta at her sister’s house.”

“I’m sure she’s fine there.”

“Hope so. I’d call but it’s too damn late.”

“And that’s why we’re running, huh?”

“Yup. You got it.”

“Guess we better get on with it. I’ll race you back.”

Running full out was just what Rafe needed to burn off the rest of his pent-up tension. By the time they got back to the tent sleep sounded good, but first he needed to wash off the grit from the blowing sand.

Bill Lynch and Jake were in the middle of a heated discussion as he approached their tent. The fury on Jake’s face didn’t bode well for Bill, and his gut clenched with worry for the hostages. He’d hoped to hear something, but their conversation stopped as soon as he approached.

“Any news?”

“Not what we wanted,” Jake answered.

“They’re in the mountains about twenty klicks from the village where they were grabbed,” Bill added.

“What’s the problem. We go in and get them, no?”