20. Gage
20
Gage
We had been in the desert for nine days when the FBI finally called to say they had apprehended all the brothers. Relief washed over me, but it was bittersweet. I didn’t want to leave this peaceful place, but duty called—I had another mission in Iran and needed to meet the team in three days.
“I hate leaving this beautiful place,” Lori said, her voice wistful as she gazed out over the vast, sun-drenched landscape.
“Why don’t you come with me to my place?” I asked, hoping to prolong our time together.
She shook her head gently. “I need to be with my dad and see how he’s doing after his procedure. I’ll see you when you get back from your mission. Besides, I need to finish my story about the former military and their protector businesses. I still have to interview Seal Security.”
“You’re heading to Oregon for that?”
“Yes, but I’m flying this time,” she said with a small laugh. “I gave my van to the garage that towed it. I don’t ever want to see that thing again.”
“I already miss you,” I said, my chest tightening at the thought of being apart. “I’ll take you to your dad’s house. When are you planning to go to Oregon?”
“I’m not sure yet. It depends on how my dad’s recovery goes. And Sammy’s back at my house now, so I’ll stay with Dad until she finds a place for herself and the girls.”
Three days later, I was in Iran, where there was no time to think about Lori. Our mission consumed every waking moment—staying undetected by the Iranians, gathering intel, and planning the rescue. We were searching for Lyon Spencer, trying to figure out who was holding him captive and why.
“What the hell was Lyon doing here in the first place?” I asked as we huddled under the cover of darkness.
River shook his head. “I have no idea. Faron got a call from someone claiming they’re holding Lyon captive and daring us to come and rescue him. It’s insane. But we couldn’t get ahold of Lyon beforehand to confirm, so it seems like they really have him. My guess? Someone’s using him as bait or leverage, and if we don’t act, they’ll injure or kill him.”
“Do you think it’s a setup?” I asked, scanning the horizon for movement.
“We’ll know soon enough,” Faron said, dropping into the sand beside us.
“When’s the last time you saw Lyon?” I asked, trying to piece together the mystery.
“About nine months ago,” Faron replied. “I went to check on him after his wife left. He was furious—ready to tear someone apart—so I didn’t stick around long.”
“Why’d she leave him?” I asked.
Faron sighed, his expression darkening. “Because Lyon didn’t love her.”
I frowned. “He married her. He must’ve loved her at some point.”
“Nope,” Faron said bluntly. “He married her because she claimed she was pregnant. Turned out to be a lie. She thought if they were married, he’d change his mind and fall in love with her. But Lyon told her straight up—he never loved her and didn’t even like her. Said she was a liar, and he couldn’t stand being in the same room with her. He only lasted four months before he hit his breaking point.”
“Then why was he angry when she left if he didn’t care about her?”
“Because she took his dog,” Faron said, his tone flat. “She’s hidden it somewhere, and Lyon can’t find him.”
A mix of disbelief and frustration hit me. “You’re telling me this whole thing is about his dog?”
Faron smirked faintly. “Lyon may not have loved his wife, but that dog? He loves that dog like it’s family.”
“I’m surprised Brutus hasn’t broken free and found Lyon,” I said, shaking my head. “That dog was so attached to him.”
“He came to Iran because of a letter,” Faron replied. “It said, ‘Your dog is here; come and get him.’ ”
“Who sent it?” River asked, his brows furrowed.
“He didn’t know,” Faron admitted.
“You’re telling me he came all the way here to rescue Brutus, not even knowing who sent the letter, where the dog was, or if it was even true?”
“As far as I know, that’s exactly what happened. Maybe he heard something else, but the message he left me didn’t say anything more.”
River let out a low whistle. “I’ve never known Lyon to act on something this reckless. So now we’re stuck finding him and his dog. After this, he’s joining The Golden Team if I have to tie him down myself.”
The weight of being back in Iran settled over us. Memories stirred—some we tried to forget, others we couldn’t. Many of our friends had lost their lives here. This was also the place where I first met Lori.
I could still picture her, crouched in the middle of a chaotic base, rewiring a radio for the General. He hovered over her shoulder, watching her every move. Finally, she stopped and turned to him.
“Why are you watching everything I do?” she asked, arching a brow.
The General grinned. “If you get killed, I’ll know what to do.”
That cracked us all up, a rare moment of laughter in a place where smiles were in short supply. Lori had smirked and pulled the General closer, explaining everything step by step.
That’s when I fell for Lori Daniels. She was smart, bold, and didn’t back down—not even from a General. Of course, I didn’t stand a chance of talking to her then. She was always surrounded by people.
“Are you daydreaming?” River’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“What? No. Okay, maybe a little.” I glanced at him and shrugged. “I was just thinking about the first time I saw Lori—right here in Iran.”
River smirked. “I remember that. She was wiring the field phones for the General. She started laughing so hard she got the hiccups. I thought, Damn, she’s hot. Then I met Kat, and suddenly, every other woman on Earth ceased to exist.”
I chuckled. “Fair enough.”
River glanced at me. “What direction do we head now?”
I turned to Faron, who shrugged. “Let’s go east. If Lyon was here looking for Brutus, that’s where he’d go.”
“Why east?” River asked.
“Because Lyon always says, ‘Go east, young man, go east.’ ”
River snorted. “He does always say that. Why, though?”
“Hell, if I know,” I admitted. “He never explained it. Remember the night his grandfather died? He stayed up all night telling us stories about him.”
River nodded, a flicker of a smile on his face. “Yeah, that was a good night. Lyon loved his grandfather. I hope he’s okay.”
“And I hope he’s found Brutus,” Faron added. “If not, you know he won’t leave until we do.”
“Damn straight,” I said. “Those two are inseparable.”
We blended in with the locals, our clothes and demeanor carefully chosen. I wasn’t too worried about being spotted, but after walking for two days, it was clear we needed a vehicle. Faron approached a man standing next to two jeeps.
“We need to rent your jeep for a few days,” Faron said.
The man studied us for a moment before replying in perfect English. “Three thousand dollars. And I won’t tell anyone you’re here.”
We exchanged glances. “Damn,” I muttered. “Can you at least tell us what gave us away?”
“The boots. I wish they sold boots like that here,” the man said, eyeing mine. “I tried ordering some online, but no one will deliver to this place.”
“Give me your address, and I’ll send you a pair,” I offered. “Don’t forget to include your size.”
His eyes lit up briefly before narrowing. “Why are you really here?”
“We’re looking for our buddy. He’s here hunting for his dog.”
The man frowned, scratching his chin. “I haven’t heard about a man, but I have heard about a dog. Everyone’s terrified of it. They keep it locked up.”
I leaned forward. “Where?”
He grabbed two scraps of paper and began writing. “Here’s my address for the boots, with my size, and here’s the dog’s location. But listen—be careful when you go after him. The men who have him are meaner than the dog.”
“Do you know how Brutus ended up here?” I asked.
“He was shipped here in a crate. Don’t know who sent him, but the men who got hold of him… they’ve been turning him meaner every day.”
I let out a frustrated breath, glancing at the guys. “Damn it. Let’s get Brutus. He might be our best shot at finding Lyon.”
“I can’t believe Brutus is related to Penny and Sissy,” River muttered. “That dog doesn’t like anyone except Lyon.”
Faron snorted. “He was like that when you brought those puppies to the office. Good thing Lyon stopped by, or Brutus might’ve ended up biting everyone. I swear, if that dog bites me, I’m taking it out on Lyon.”
We paid the man and took the keys to the jeep. “If we can’t return it, it’ll be about twenty miles west of here. You’ll see it,” I said.
He waved dismissively. “Don’t worry about the jeep. I’ll find it. Good luck with your search. But again—be careful when you go for that dog. Head three streets down, then turn right. Maybe call his name. If he’s still got a bond with your buddy, he might come to you.”
I nodded, unsure but willing to try. “It’s worth a shot. Let’s go.”