Page 40 of Secrets Along the Shore (Beach Read Thrillers #1)

What was wrong with him? Tyler hadn’t lashed out like that in years. Granted, Gage had it coming, and Tyler used to be a lot worse. Being in the military had helped temper the ever-present anger. The fighting helped him take out that anger on someone who deserved it.

He swiped a hand over his face. The military helped him deal with a lot.

He had something to focus on. He got to fight…

and for a while, he won. Now that he was out, he couldn’t go back to who he’d been before.

He refused to do that. If he just had something to fight for.

And at the moment, he did, Koen’s family. But after, who knew?

“I’ll worry about that later,” he muttered.

Beside him on the bed, his phone rang. Koen’s name showed on the screen. Great. Great timing. He’d rather have quiet, but he couldn’t keep ignoring his mate. With a sigh, he answered the call. “Hey, mate.”

“Tyler, how are things there?”

Tyler rubbed his bottom lip and winced at the pain. A line of blood appeared on his finger. Right. He’d forgotten he’d actually gotten hit. He shifted on the bed. “It’s fine.”

“Just fine?”

“We haven’t found your daughter yet.”

Koen sighed. “I heard.”

“I’m sorry.” He’d promised that he’d bring Elara back home, and yet he’d failed to get close to her. He ran a hand over his short hair. Someone else should have done this. Maybe Gage should have led everything.

“It’s a setback. You’ve dealt with those before. You’ll beat this one.”

Yeah. He had. But he always had people he trusted to back him up.

Tyler leaned forward. “I don’t think I can do this, Koen.

” He hated to admit defeat, but how was he supposed to win this?

He wasn’t the same person he had been in the SAS.

The mission from last night showed that he still dealt with the TBI.

Not to mention the fact that he was suffering a headache that had nothing to do with Gage hitting him.

“Can you put Tyler Reid on the phone?”

Tyler frowned. “What?” His mate couldn’t be drunk. Koen never drank that much due to being a Christian.

“Tyler Reid never accepted defeat. He always found a new way to complete things. He never quit. So why are you?”

He stood and paced the room. “Because I can’t trust these people. Your daughter is at risk, and I can’t rely on them.”

“Then don’t. Work with them as much as you can. There’s no rules this time, Tyler. No commanding officer to tell you what you can and can’t do. You once told me that you wanted more freedom. This is the way to get it.”

No rules? There always were. Von wanted him to follow her lead. But he didn’t like to follow. And yet Koen said he could work how he needed to, which meant not following her lead.

“The team is there if you need them, but you’re supposed to be taking point on the rescue. Yvonne gathers and provides the intel. You go in and get my daughter.”

“I don’t even know where she is.”

“But there is a way to find out. You know that a lot of people will reveal information for money.”

Tyler hesitated. People revealed things. He’d seen it happen several times in the military. Some people were insanely loyal, but others could be bribed. He just had to find one. And a certain Army Ranger had contacts. “I’ll find her, Koen.” He hoped sooner rather than later.

“I know you will. Good luck.”

Tyler hung up and exited his room. He strode down the hall. In the living room, Paul sat on the sofa watching the news. Gage had disappeared, so had the happy couple. Von and her brother sat with Patrick at the dining table. Tyler stepped over to Paul.

The Army Ranger glanced up. “Hey. You good? ”

Tyler gave a nod. “Can you find and contact Viktor’s people?”

“Directly? Or…” Paul shifted on the couch.

“I need to find someone who might be persuaded to say where they took Elara.”

Paul smiled and clapped his hands. “I know just where to go. Follow me.”

Twenty minutes later, they sat in Tyler’s rented SUV outside a bar.

It was already open with a few people inside.

Eight was a little early for drinks, but who cared if it helped them catch one of Viktor’s men?

Tyler killed the engine and sat back in his seat, waiting for Paul to confirm that his contact was in the bar.

“It is a little early, but I think I see him.”

Tyler nodded. “Let’s go.” He climbed out of the vehicle and shut the door behind him.

A brief scan of the area told him that no threats were nearby.

Only three men sat in the room. He followed Paul up onto the sidewalk and into the bar.

It reeked of alcohol, and something else.

Probably didn’t want to know what it was.

A few tables lined each wall. The bar counter was in the back left corner and stretched halfway out into the room.

A man stood behind the counter on his phone.

Paul passed him and headed for a man seated in the back corner.

“Hey, man! How’re you doing?”

Tyler stayed a few steps back as Paul took a seat.

“Do I want to know why you’re here?” The stranger had an interesting accent, but it didn’t sound Croatian. Something else. Hungarian, maybe? He wore a dark suit. A tie was draped over his shoulders. His pale face made his dark eyes more noticeable.

The way his eyes shifted said he wasn’t trustworthy. His hands shifted under the table, maybe moving for a weapon.

Tyler stayed where he was. He wouldn’t draw first, but he did have the Glock holstered on his hip hidden under his jacket.

“We’re trying to find one of the Rukas.” Paul’s voice quieted as he leaned forward.

The stranger frowned. His gaze shifted from Paul to Tyler. “Who’s he? ”

Paul glanced over his shoulder, before shifting back. “A friend. Now, where’s the guy?”

The stranger stood up and finished off a glass of whiskey. He set the glass on the counter. His current path led toward the door, but Tyler sidestepped to block him.

The man was a few inches shorter than him, and had to look up to meet his gaze. “You’re a soldier.”

The strong scent of alcohol filled Tyler’s nose. He held his ground. “Where is the Ruka?”

“Things get pretty dark in this life. Good men have been swallowed up by the darkness.”

What was he talking about? The stranger worked as a contact for mercenaries. Maybe he thought that Tyler worked closely with Paul. It didn’t matter. This was a temporary arrangement. Besides, he’d seen enough darkness and refused to drown in it.

“Where is he?” Tyler demanded.

“He’s by the door.” The man smiled, his teeth yellow against his pale skin. “You may just survive this life.” He shifted past Tyler, bumping into a stool in the process, and exited the bar.

Paul scratched his jaw.

Tyler met his gaze. “You have sketchy friends.”

“Nah. He’s not my friend. Contacts can be used by anybody. As long as they get paid, any information is sold to anyone.”

“Which means he could tell someone who we’re after.” That’d complicate things. Viktor could see them coming. Then he’d relocate their target again.

Paul patted Tyler’s shoulder, which made his muscles tense. “Exactly. It’s the risk of this life.” He headed over to the Croatian seated by the door, who looked half-drunk. The chair screeched against the floor as he pulled it out, then creaked as he sank onto it.

With a huff, Tyler followed him. Some life these people lived. They paid for information that might get handed to someone else, and risked their own lives by asking questions. There’d always been risks with his missions in the SAS, but his contacts were vetted. These guys weren’t.

“I need another drink,” the Ruka said .

“I can pay for your next hundred drinks if you give me some info,” Paul whispered.

The Ruka laughed. “Info? Sure, I’ll give you info.” The man was pliable in his drunken state. It might make this easier and faster.

Paul grinned. “Where is Viktor keeping Elara and her son?”

“Elara?” The man chuckled. “She left the city yesterday.”

“Yeah, we know.” Paul leaned closer. “Where is she now?”

“Hmm. Who knows?”

Okay. So maybe this guy was too drunk to answer questions. Tyler unclenched his fists at his sides. The anger was building again. Innocent lives were at risk. He didn’t have time for this. He took a deep breath to help relax his muscles.

“C’mon, man. You work for Viktor. Where’d they go?”

“Viktvar.”

What? Tyler frowned. It sounded like the Croatian mispronounced his boss’s name. He huffed and folded his arms over his chest.

“Viktvar?” Paul asked. He swiped open his phone and went to Google Maps. After a moment, he shook his head. “There’s no place called Viktvar.”

“No. No. No!” The Croatian slapped the table. Some of his drink sloshed over the tabletop. “Vukovar.”

“Okay.” Paul nodded. “That we can work with. Are they in the city or outside?”

“They’re in a fortress.”

Not good news. Infiltrating Viktor’s house had been pretty simple, considering. Breaking into a fortress might be impossible with Von’s team lacking good numbers. There’d be no easy way in. If there was a wall, he might be able to scale it, but getting the targets back over would be impossible.

“Is there a secret way in?”

“Nope. It’s so secure. The only people allowed in are”—the Ruka chuckled—“are his illegal hitman and employees.”

So maybe if Tyler could use someone to get in, things would be easier. “Are you one?”

“Sure am. Heading there this evening.”

“Then you’re sneaking me in there,” Tyler said .

The Croatian’s jaw dropped. “No. I can’t. It’s a secret fortress. Nobody goes in.”

Tyler stepped forward and grabbed the front of the man’s shirt. He dragged him from the chair and slammed him against the wall. “You will take me there and tell no one.” He didn’t have any more time to waste. “You’ll follow my orders. If not, you’re a dead man.”

The Croatian nodded jerkily. “I’ll take you.”