Only Her (A K2 Team Novel)(25)

At the back corner of the cabin, Ryan eased his way down the side of the building. He was almost to the front when the girl stood, wiped her nose on the sleeve of her jacket, and then went inside.

Damn. “Target went inside the cabin.”

Ryan halted at the front corner. “Roger.” He backed up, stopping next to a window. After a minute, he returned to the front. “They’re yelling at each other. The curtains are closed, so come to the front door.”

“Roger.” Cody met Ryan at the steps leading to the porch. They both removed their earbuds. Obviously, all was not well in paradise. Although he could hear the couple arguing, he couldn’t make out their words.

“Let’s try the door first. Maybe she didn’t lock it when she went in, and we can take them by surprise.”

Cody nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

The door was unlocked, and Cody followed Ryan in, both coming to a stop just inside. Justin Tramore had his back to them, and appeared to be chopping something, while Megan beat on his back.

“I want to go home!” The boy kept chopping. “Are you even listening to me, Justin? I’m cold, hungry, and bored.” She pounded on his back again.

“We can’t go home, dammit. You forget I’m wanted for robbery?”

“Well, I’m not going to jail. I told you not to do it.” She let out a sob. “I thought running away with you would be fun, but it’s not. I’m going home. You can stay here and hide for the rest of your life for all I care.”

Cody glanced at Ryan and rolled his eyes. Stupid kids.

“You said you loved me.” Justin turned, and his eyes widened. “Who the hell are you?”

Megan glanced over her shoulder, and at seeing them, she screamed. Justin pulled her against him.

“Easy.” Cody held up his hand. “I’m Cody Roberts and this is Ryan O’Connor. Megan, your parents sent us to bring you home.”

“We’re not going.” Justin brought the knife up to Megan’s neck. “If you don’t leave now, I’ll do it. I swear I will. Then I’ll slit my own throat.”

Megan whimpered.

A buzzing sounded in Cody’s ears, increasing in volume until it seemed as if a million bees had made a home in his head. His vision blurred, and he cursed the dusty room for making his eyes water. He wouldn’t let them kill her, not this time. Asra snared his gaze, fear and pleading in her eyes. The insurgent holding her sliced a thin line across her throat, and her small, trembling hands rose to her neck. Tears streaked down her cheeks, leaving clear lines through the dirt on her face. Dark red blood oozed between her fingers.

Distant rifle fire broke the silence. “It’s a trap,” he heard someone yell, and he thought it might have been him.

“Roberts!”

Didn’t his teammate get it? “It’s a trap, Doc,” he said, trying to make him understand. “I have to save her.”

“Jesus,” Doc said. “Stand down, Dog! That’s an order. Wait for me outside.”

Cody was forcibly pushed out the door. He stumbled across the floor of a porch—where the hell had a porch come from?—and down the steps. Cold hit his face, and he sucked in the frigid air. Why was it cold? The temperature had been over a hundred that day. He clearly remembered sweat dripping down his spine and into his eyes. Everything was fucked up.

He sank to his knees, drawing the biting air into his lungs. Where the hell was he? He blinked his eyes in an attempt to see past the haze. When his vision cleared, he scanned the area around him and saw a forest instead of the desolation of Afghanistan. He covered his face with his hands.

Christ, what have I done?



Riley took Cody’s dogs to the park on her lunch break, bringing Brooke with her. The first thing she saw was that all her warning signs had been taken down. Had the person trying to kill people’s pets done it or the city? She kept Pretty Girl and Sally on their leashes until she’d checked under the three bushes and around the four trees. Not finding anything suspicious, she unclipped them. Both sat at her feet as if awaiting her command.

“Go play.” She took out the two balls she’d put in her purse and threw them. Expecting them to chase the balls and return them to her to throw again, she instead watched in amazement as they tossed them up in the air, catching each other’s.

“Wow,” Brooke said. “I’ve never seen dogs entertain themselves like that. You sure I can’t have Hot Guy? I like him and his dogs.”

So did Riley. “He’d eat you alive.”

Brooke collected her long, blonde hair and pulled it so it fell over one shoulder. “And I would have a problem with that because?”