straightened—saluting him as he passed. He returned the gesture and eyed the butts on the ground. One sergeant shifted and put his boot over them and nodded. They’d police the area before they left it. Noting their names, Brody kept walking.
In the building housing coms, he was directed to a black phone with a light flickering indicating a call on hold. The private moved away, tacitly offering him privacy.
Retrieving the handset, Brody hit the button. “Essex.”
“Brody, Luke Dexter.” The former Marine had been Brody’s commanding officer for his first three tours and his friend for longer. Also the absolute last voice Brody expected to hear.
Spine stiffening and his blood going cold, he frowned, but kept his voice low and controlled. “Sir? What’s wrong?”
Because Luke had no reason in the world to pull strings and get a call put through to Afghanistan. None except….
“It’s Shannon. She was attacked….”
Chapter One
Boston, Massachusetts
Three weeks earlier….
“I told you that you were going to be a hit,” Liam Gardiner put a hand to the open elevator doors, holding them and allowing Shannon Fabray to precede him.
She glanced at her host and laughed. “Yes, you did and thank you for saying I told you so.”
After sliding his hands into the pockets of his slacks, he walked with her toward her room. Though he’d initially invited her to stay at his townhouse, she’d declined. Most men made her uncomfortable, and though she’d gotten to know Liam better over the last several months and knew without a shred of doubt that he was no threat to her physically or romantically, she’d preferred the privacy of the hotel. It made her more comfortable.
Like her, Liam waited for his Marine to come home. “How is Brenden?” she asked.
“He’s good. Always has a new story when he calls. I didn’t realize how interesting Embassy duty could be.” A hint of a smile softened Liam’s mouth. Vice-president of a local bank, Liam possessed a quiet, determined charm and impeccable taste. He’d been passionate about advocating her show, helping her with the venue negotiations, facilitating arrangements from the backers to the show itself and finally escorting her tonight.
“And how long ’til Brody is home?” They had a pact, the two of them, for mutual support and general bitching as needed—Liam’s words, not hers.
“Soon, I think.” Excitement bubbled in her stomach. “He’s due to be back in North Carolina anytime now, I just don’t know exactly when. Apparently, dates are flexible when it comes to PCSing from combat to relief—or however that goes.” She still didn’t get all of the military terminology, though she’d had plenty of lessons over the last two years.
Two years. It made her head spin. Two years since she’d met Brody and more than a year since she’d gone to Italy and met him for a long, fabulous week. Both seemed like a lifetime before.
At her room, Liam gave her a quizzical look. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she covered and dug her room key out of her purse. “Tired.” Worried. “Thank you for tonight, really—it meant the world to me.”
“You’re very welcome, just wait and see, you’re going to be a huge hit. I bet you’ll be swimming in orders by tomorrow.”
Laughing at his optimism, she slotted the room key and waited for the lock to flash from red to green before she pushed the door open. One moment she leaned her weight on the door, half-turned to bid Liam a good night and the next she fell as the door yanked wide open. Stars burst when her head collided with the wall. A foot caught her in the shoulder and she bit off a scream at the fresh bruise of pain.
Liam shouted and she struggled to sit up, and winced as the door slammed into her shoulder. Across the hall, Liam grappled with a man and then crashed into the wall. Glass shattered. Masculine grunts filled the air, along with the sound of fists striking a body.
In the building housing coms, he was directed to a black phone with a light flickering indicating a call on hold. The private moved away, tacitly offering him privacy.
Retrieving the handset, Brody hit the button. “Essex.”
“Brody, Luke Dexter.” The former Marine had been Brody’s commanding officer for his first three tours and his friend for longer. Also the absolute last voice Brody expected to hear.
Spine stiffening and his blood going cold, he frowned, but kept his voice low and controlled. “Sir? What’s wrong?”
Because Luke had no reason in the world to pull strings and get a call put through to Afghanistan. None except….
“It’s Shannon. She was attacked….”
Chapter One
Boston, Massachusetts
Three weeks earlier….
“I told you that you were going to be a hit,” Liam Gardiner put a hand to the open elevator doors, holding them and allowing Shannon Fabray to precede him.
She glanced at her host and laughed. “Yes, you did and thank you for saying I told you so.”
After sliding his hands into the pockets of his slacks, he walked with her toward her room. Though he’d initially invited her to stay at his townhouse, she’d declined. Most men made her uncomfortable, and though she’d gotten to know Liam better over the last several months and knew without a shred of doubt that he was no threat to her physically or romantically, she’d preferred the privacy of the hotel. It made her more comfortable.
Like her, Liam waited for his Marine to come home. “How is Brenden?” she asked.
“He’s good. Always has a new story when he calls. I didn’t realize how interesting Embassy duty could be.” A hint of a smile softened Liam’s mouth. Vice-president of a local bank, Liam possessed a quiet, determined charm and impeccable taste. He’d been passionate about advocating her show, helping her with the venue negotiations, facilitating arrangements from the backers to the show itself and finally escorting her tonight.
“And how long ’til Brody is home?” They had a pact, the two of them, for mutual support and general bitching as needed—Liam’s words, not hers.
“Soon, I think.” Excitement bubbled in her stomach. “He’s due to be back in North Carolina anytime now, I just don’t know exactly when. Apparently, dates are flexible when it comes to PCSing from combat to relief—or however that goes.” She still didn’t get all of the military terminology, though she’d had plenty of lessons over the last two years.
Two years. It made her head spin. Two years since she’d met Brody and more than a year since she’d gone to Italy and met him for a long, fabulous week. Both seemed like a lifetime before.
At her room, Liam gave her a quizzical look. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she covered and dug her room key out of her purse. “Tired.” Worried. “Thank you for tonight, really—it meant the world to me.”
“You’re very welcome, just wait and see, you’re going to be a huge hit. I bet you’ll be swimming in orders by tomorrow.”
Laughing at his optimism, she slotted the room key and waited for the lock to flash from red to green before she pushed the door open. One moment she leaned her weight on the door, half-turned to bid Liam a good night and the next she fell as the door yanked wide open. Stars burst when her head collided with the wall. A foot caught her in the shoulder and she bit off a scream at the fresh bruise of pain.
Liam shouted and she struggled to sit up, and winced as the door slammed into her shoulder. Across the hall, Liam grappled with a man and then crashed into the wall. Glass shattered. Masculine grunts filled the air, along with the sound of fists striking a body.
Similar Books
