Rebecca Zanetti - Blind Faith

“What’s your plan now?” Matt asked quietly.

Nate shrugged. “The commander has a base outside of DC in Virginia, and that’s where we’ll find the codes and computer system to defuse our chips. And I think that’s where we’ll find Jory.”

Hope leaped across Shane’s face while regret twisted Matt’s lips. “You mean we’ll find out about his death,” Matt said.

Nat shook his head. His youngest brother had been missing for two years, and Nate had to find Jory. The chances were good that Jory was dead, but a small marble of hope lived in him that somehow, even after two years of no contact, Jory somehow still lived. Even after seeing a video showing Jory being shot and falling to the floor, Nate hoped. Hell, he even prayed in case a God existed who gave a shit. “I’ll find out what happened to him.”

The hope fled Shane’s expression. “I can’t be sure I saw him move in the other video.”

Nate nodded. Shane had seen a video where he thought Jory had moved after being shot, but Shane had been suffering from a head injury resulting in amnesia, and the video had never been seen again. “I know,” Nate said.

Matt cut his eyes at Shane and back at Nate. “I can take over this assignment, Nate.”

“No.” Nate’s jaw hardened until it ached. He understood his brothers were worried about him, but he couldn’t change that. Both Matt and Shane had somehow found love and the courage to stay with their women for the small amount of time they had left, and Nate would die trying to save them. They deserved happiness, if it were possible. Growing up, he’d been the bridge between Matt, who had to train them mercilessly, and the two younger brothers, Jory and Shane, who still needed hope and fun. Now that Jory was probably dead, and the other two had found love, Nate had nothing left—except to make sure his brothers survived.

He could live with that—what else possibly mattered?

Now that two of his brothers were happy, he could finally relax. His job was nearly done. Not once since Audrey had dumped him had he considered he’d find happiness—he’d known from early on that he’d end bloody and most likely alone.

While the thought brought some sadness, he’d become accustomed to it. Everyone had a destiny, and with his skills, the second he’d left the military, he’d become unnecessary after the last mission of deactivating the chips.

He should probably want the joy his brothers had found, and maybe deep down he did. But the reality was the reality, so why wish? If he managed to get into the right facility and send out the codes, there was little chance he’d make it out. Which was all right.

Matt shook his head. “Earth to Nate.”

Nate blinked, his mind zeroing back on the conflict at hand. “I can get what we need from Audrey—you can’t.” He glanced at his watch, ignoring the innuendo in his words. “Though it’s going to be more difficult than I’d hoped—she didn’t know about the chips near our spines.”

Matt’s eyebrows rose. “You believe that?”

“Yes. The truth shocked her.”

“So she’ll help us?” Doubt clouded Shane’s face. “Are you sure?”

“She’ll help us.” Nate nodded. The woman would help them whether she liked it or not.

Shane’s jaw hardened. “Did you ask her about Jory?

Nate breathed out. “Not yet. I want to catch her by surprise.”

“Okay,” Shane said. “Get the intel and get out, Nate.”

Nate nodded. “We know the info isn’t at the Colorado base after our last raid, and we blew Tennessee up. That leaves the new headquarters outside of DC, and Audrey is our way in to get info on the chips as well as Jory. I’ll check in after phase two tomorrow.” He shut the laptop before his brothers argued any more.

With a quick glance around the cabin, he fetched his jacket and headed back into the rain. He needed to see what Audrey did with the opening he’d given her. How loyal was she to the commander and her mother?

Time to find out. He’d watch her apartment through the night and make sure she went to work in the morning.

Every instinct he owned clamored that the woman was hiding something.

After a sleepless night, Audrey wore fashionable yet flat boots with her dress to work, just in case. She couldn’t afford to be in heels if she needed to make a quick escape, and she knew without a doubt that day was coming.

A kill chip waited next to Nathan’s spine. How was it possible Audrey’s mother had never even hinted at the deadly device? For five years, Audrey had hoped and prayed Nate had found some sort of happiness. Freedom.

But no, his very survival had been threatened by Audrey’s mother.

Why in the world did that make her feel guilty?

She reached the grand doorway of her office building and held the door open for a woman pushing a baby stroller. The baby, a little girl, gurgled up at Audrey with innocent and devastating sweetness.

Audrey bit back an instant slice of pain and tried to smile. Every baby she saw reminded her of the one she’d lost—even five years after the fact.

Drawing a deep breath, she paused to glance at the reflective windows. The hair on the back of her neck prickled, proving she was being followed.

But she couldn’t find the soldiers this time. They blended into the crowd.

If they made a move, she wouldn’t know until it happened.

Her breath hitched. Panic rippled through her, and she shoved inside the building, ducking through the metal detector and hurrying toward the elevator. She made it inside as the doors were closing.

Taking several more deep breaths, she calmed herself. Had she pissed off the commander by ditching his bulldogs the previous night? What if they made a move on her? Could she fight them off?

As the elevator doors opened to the plush office, she forced a smile and nodded to the receptionist before maneuvering down a hallway to her office. Setting her briefcase on one of the two leather guest chairs, she tried not to limp as she crossed around her desk to sit.

Life was spinning out of control. She could no longer identify the people following her, and now, Nate was going to die in three weeks.

Nausea filled her stomach. She was in the best position to find the codes, but that was by her own design. She’d schemed to put herself in a position of trust with the commander. For weeks, she’d felt the presence of the guards the commander had assigned to watch her. For days she’d feared he’d discovered the truth—that she was working against him. Wholeheartedly.

But no.

The commander had been waiting for Nate to make contact because of the kill chips.

Nate and his brothers were the best at tactical maneuvers, but even they weren’t invincible. While Nate had avoided the guards the previous night, he couldn’t take on the commander alone.

A rustle sounded by Audrey’s doorway, and Senator Nash loped inside followed by Ernie Rastus, his chief of staff. “You disappeared quickly last night. Everything okay?” The senator dropped into the vacant chair and tugged at the red-striped tie fastened around his white dress shirt.

“I’m afraid I ate a bad shrimp,” Audrey said, one eyebrow lifting.

Ernie grimaced. Small and lean, the brilliant man shoved wire-rimmed glasses up his nose. “That’s why I never eat seafood.”

“Good point.” Audrey smiled and glanced at the senator. “That’s a nice tie.”

“I hate ties.” He gave up the fight and smoothed long-boned hands down the faded dress pants that led to his customary black cowboy boots. “But we’re meeting with those tech-genius folks today, and I figured I should dress up a little.”

“Did you bring a suit jacket?” Audrey asked.