Trinity: Military War Dog (12 page)

“What do you think he is doing?”

There could only be one reason for Jianyu’s disappearance: He wanted to restore his name and honor to his family. To do that, he would of course need some great plan to win his father back. “Whatever he is planning, it is not good.”

“Where should we start?”

A glint in the sky lured his attention back out the window. Two small, dark shapes glided along the horizon. Black Hawks. Americans.

Inspiration floated down from those helicopters. Haur straightened. “There. Stop.” He pointed to a clearing and snatched the GPS from the dash. As the plan congealed in his mind, so did a horrible certainty.

To see it through, he would not live.

Bagram AFB, Afghanistan

Conversation with Heath had been easy and comfortable. More than it had ever been with any other man besides her father. Hands stuffed in the pockets of her North Face jacket, Darci eyed the man. About six-two, well-built, sandy blond hair cropped short. The guy had a subtle charm that drew its strength not from a cocky attitude, as she’d seen in other men like Jianyu, but a quiet presence that ensnared her curiosity worse than heat-seeking missiles to infrared radiation.

Now he jogged the course with Trinity, leading her up, over, and through the various obstacles. The Belgian Malinois moved with grace and speed, at ease as if she did it every day.

It wasn’t Darci’s smartest move, seeking him out. Researching him. The whole thing just made her ache. As an operative, she couldn’t have the kind of life she dreamed about. A husband, two-point-five kids, and a house in a suburban location.

Even if she could, she didn’t deserve it. Not after what she’d done. Not after what her father had done. Darci wrapped her fingers around the cold wire of the chain link, as if holding on to that would somehow enable her to hold on to her dream. Hadn’t she spent the last eight years working to regain some honor for her family, for her father? He couldn’t have stopped her mother’s death. Darci wasn’t angry at him. She just wished things could’ve been … different.

A thunderous clap snapped her attention back to Heath.

He and Trinity trotted back into the triangle of light from the lone field lamp. Heath slowed, his feet dragging on the hard-packed ground as he rubbed his temple. But then, as if he hadn’t just looked like he was in pain, he lifted the ball and in a fluid move spun around and threw it back into the darkness. Arm swinging around, Heath’s gaze locked onto Darci.

Trinity burst after the ball.

As he came toward her, Heath gave a smile that warmed her all the way to her toes. It was more than a friendly hello smile. It was one that showed pleasure in her presence, pleasure that she’d come to him.

“Bored?”

“Tired,” she said as she joined him, leaning against the fence. “It’s been a long day.”

“I’m sure the general’s tirade took its toll.”

Darci preferred to keep that conversation tucked away. “So, you said you head out for another base?”

“Yep. We’ll head out around sixteen hundred tomorrow.” He clapped at Trinity, who trotted back into the light in a lazy run and pranced around them, as if to taunt them with “Ha! I caught the ball.” She dropped it at Darci’s feet.

Wow, wasn’t that like breaking some dog-handler code? Darci checked with Heath. “May I?”

Another approving smile shaded his jaw in the uneven lighting. “Sure, I’ll deal with the traitor later.”

She lifted the slobbery ball from the ground, took a practice step, then sent it sailing through the air.

“Whoa! Nice arm. Where’d you learn that?”

Reveling in his praise, Darci turned as Heath moved away from the fence, stunned. “I played softball in high school and college. Shortstop.”

His gaze skated over her with an appreciative nod. “Remind me to never get in your line of fire.”

Darci laughed. When was the last time someone made her feel this special? Probably too long, but there wasn’t anything to lose here. They would go in opposite directions soon, so no loss, no gain. Well, maybe a small gain. When she was out in the mountains, she could remember Heath’s smile. Or the way the sinews in his arms rippled as he threw the ball for Trinity. Or his approving smile. Fantasize that he was the man filling the role that could never happen—husband.

Okay, way too weird
.

She needed to be careful. There were certain pieces of classified info that would tank any chance at a relationship—not that there was one …

The slower pace of the last twenty-four hours and being with Heath kneaded out some of the kinks in her neck and shoulders. Trinity returned, made her way to the trough, and dropped her ball in the water, then lapped up some refreshment.

“So, you going to tell me?”

They both started toward the gate as if communicating on some hidden signal. The camp had quieted but still bustled with activity as was the MO during wartime operations.

Darci wrinkled her brow as he linked up with Trinity. “Tell you what?”

At five-ten, she appreciated the height on Heath. And his soulful gray eyes. The almost bashful way he behaved.

Hands in his pockets, the lead looped around his wrist, he looked down at her as they walked across the camp. “Whatever it is you’re not telling me.”

Ouch. Never think a Green Beret is bashful
. They were trained to ferret out inconsistencies and get to the heart of the matter. But this was a matter and a heart he couldn’t intrude upon. Not this time. As much as she’d wished otherwise.

As her tent came into view, she slowed, then turned to him. “You were a Green Beret long enough to know if I’m not telling you, then I can’t.” Why did she go and say that?

“Thought so.” His gaze raked the blackened sky, disappointment lurking in his eyes.

Time to cut this rendezvous short before she gave in. “Look, it’s been nice hanging out with you. Talking. But …” She hated this part. But it was necessary. Wasn’t it? “You’re going on tour, and I’m going into the mountains.” She shrugged and shook her head. “Let’s not ruin a great friendship with complications.”

Despite the creaking of axles and rumbling engines and shouts, the only sound she heard around them was the rhythmic panting of his dog. Though she looked up to read his emotions, she stopped at the one that affected her the most: hurt. It was hard to remember that hardened grunts like him could have soft hearts.

“Complications.” He pursed his lips, his chin dimpling. “Right. Yeah.” With a quiet, disgusted snort, Heath caught the lead and drew Trinity up. “Well, good night—and good-bye—Jia.” He did not wear disappointment well. In fact, it weighted his shoulders. “Hope things go well for you.”

She’d taken the abrasive, aggressive road of telling him they’d never see each other again, and he wished her
well
. He the hero, she the villain. As his form hulked through the darkness, Darci told herself to stay put. Or better yet—go into the tent.

Instead, her feet carried her after the war-dog team. It took a stretch, but she caught his arm. “Hey, wait.”

In a lightning fast move, Heath spun around, his eyes bright beneath the floodlight as he flipped their grips so his hand wrapped around her wrist.

Frozen in time and shock, she stared up at him as his fingers slid along her forearm, then back to her wrist until he entwined his fingers with hers. He grinned down at her. “Thought so.”

Stunned, Darci mentally pushed him back … a dozen feet. But she clung to the husky words. Two simple words that outted her. Strangest thing was, she didn’t mind.

Standing toe-to-toe with him did crazy things to her stomach. Though she couldn’t resist, she should stop staring at their intertwined hands. She’d
never
reacted like this with a guy. And in those time-warped seconds with their gazes locked, it dawned on her that he’d known she wasn’t immune to his charm.

“Just give me a chance, Jia.”

Oh, but she didn’t like that name on his lips. Darci. She wanted him to call her Darci. “To what?”

His gaze darted around her face, as if studying a political map. “To prove I’m not like whoever hurt you so bad.”

Beneath the teasing caress of his husky works, her brain caught up with her stupidity. She freed her hand and swallowed—hard. “It won’t work.” She wanted to punch him. How had he gotten through her defensive perimeter?

He smirked. “You haven’t tried yet.”

“Look, it’s not that I don’t want to …”

“Hey. I’m interested. You’re interested, but …” Heath shrugged, his high-powered smile gleaming as he held up his hands as if in surrender. “I won’t beg.”

Darci took a step back, her stomach clenched. “I’ll e-mail you.”

“Cheater.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s your get-out-of-jail-free card. You walk away under that ruse, I’ll never hear from you again.”

It was her turn to smile. A sad, heavy smile. “
[email protected]
.” With that lie, she pivoted and hurried into her tent. At least he knew the truth.

            Eight              

L
ast night had been the best night of his life … but it’d also been the worst.

Had Jia blown him off because of the scar? Or because he just wasn’t good enough? Like everything in his life he didn’t measure up for? “