Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Suspension until further notice.” Luke braced his palms against the table in the conference room.
“Even Owen and Echo Team? They weren’t even there.” Asher gripped the back of the rolling chair in front of him and surveyed the guys from Echo and Bravo who were gathered around the table in their New York office.
“One takes a hit. We all fall,” Luke said.
“And Jessica?” Asher’s knuckles whitened with his firm hold of the chair, and he glanced out the wall of windows, observing the sun disappearing behind the buildings off in the distance.
“She’s suspended, too.” Luke shook his head. “Not that she should be working anytime soon, anyway.”
Wyatt’s head jerked back in surprise. “Why her?” His palms slapped the table in front of him.
“Because of Ara?” Asher asked. “Punishment for ever helping her in the first place.” He looked back to Luke at the head of the table.
He simply nodded. “We can handle ops for the company until we’re cleared to operate for POTUS again.”
“If we’re ever cleared,” Owen noted.
“Don’t worry,” Luke said. “We’ll work this out.”
Liam rose from the table, his shoulders sagging ever so slightly. “Does this mean we’re not allowed to look for Samir?”
“Or Egon since he slipped the Germans?” Asher released the chair and crossed his arms, trying to fight the angry bite of tension roping up and into his biceps. The need to hit something surged fiercer than ever. A soft hiss left his lips.
“We’re under strict orders not to further pursue anyone connected to Berlin.
” Luke hung his head. “Since we stopped the second attack, POTUS managed to cover for our presence in Germany with the police, but we need to lie low for a bit. The security footage was scrubbed, so IDs won’t be made on us, thanks to the CIA, but Jessica . . .”
“The media,” Asher grumbled under his breath.
Luke straightened and looked at him. “Her alias is sticking with the media so far. The interviews she gave over the phone with them should get everyone off her back.”
“I don’t think Samir will come looking for her with heat on him. Not now, at least.” Owen’s hazel eyes met Asher’s. “But we’re not going to let this go, are we?” He directed his question back to Luke.
Luke’s mouth tightened, and he shook his head. “Just stay under the radar, okay? I have a feeling there’s more going on that we’re not being told.”
“Because Rutherford took an interest in the girls?” Wyatt sat taller, and Asher’s gaze journeyed from him to Luke.
“Maybe. I don’t know, but I’ve got a gut feeling we’re being kept in the dark, and I don’t like it.” Luke rubbed his jaw. “Thanks for all of your help in getting Jessica home,” he added after a moment of silence seized the room.
“She’s one of us,” Knox said. “No other outcome would’ve been acceptable.” He stood, and the rest of the guys followed suit.
“One other thing.” Luke’s hands rested on his hips. “Jessica’s asked not to have any visitors right now. She’s, uh”—he looked at the ceiling and took a breath—“going through a lot, and she’s just not up for it.”
The guys nodded in understanding, even if they didn’t like it. Since they’d gotten back yesterday, they’d pretty much emptied the shops in the area and flooded her home with every type of flower imaginable.
Asher waited for the room to clear before heading over to Luke. “What else did POTUS say?”
“It’s more what he didn’t say, to be honest.” Luke leaned forward, resting his forearms on the back of the rolling chair in front of him.
“That’s why you think there’s more to this?” Asher squared his stance, and Luke nodded. “You know Jessica won’t be able to let go. She’s like us.”
Luke touched his mouth, his brows pulling together. He stood up straight and lightly shook his head. “She needs to recover is what she needs to do.”
“This is Jessica we’re talking about.” Asher arched a brow.
“Well, my parents just flew in, so hopefully they can keep her in bed while they’re here.”
He’d planned on going to her place to check on her regardless of her no-visitors-allowed rule, but at that news . . . “I’m glad they’re here.”
“I’ll have Eva stop by with Lara, too.”
Their baby was only ten weeks old, and some days he still couldn’t believe Luke was a father. But the reminder had been slammed into him hard on Luke’s first mission back from paternity—a mission to rescue his sister.
“You sticking around the city?” Luke asked as they moved into the hall and headed toward the lobby.
“Yeah, of course.” He glanced at him when Luke stopped walking.
“Can I ask you something?” He smoothed a hand over his jaw.
“Sure.”
“Is there something going on with you and my sister?”
Asher cleared his throat, his eyes widening a fraction. “We’re friends, and she was just put through the wringer.”
“That’s all it is?” Luke raised a brow. “You guys worked together on an op I didn’t know about, and you kept her secret about Ara from me. And—”
“I’d stop there.” He released a slow breath, trying to steady his pulse. “This probably isn’t the best time to get into this conversation. We just got her back.”
“There will never be a good time to talk about you and my sister.” He angled his head. Eyes thinning. “Are we clear?”
For the first time in his life, he wanted to deck Luke. Hell, he wanted to do more than just hit him.
“Fuck.” Luke placed a hand on Asher’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I, uh, think I’m projecting my anger toward Samir onto you.”
“It’s fine.” He was itching to unleash on someone, too, since he hadn’t had a chance to physically hurt the bastards who’d taken Jessica.
“No.” Luke shook his head. “I was out of line. To accuse you of going behind my back with my sister . . .” His hand dropped to his side. “I know you’d never do that. I’m sorry.”
Asher’s stomach muscles tightened at Luke’s words. Knives of guilt plunged into his chest.
He’d had his tongue shoved down Jessica’s throat after their first op together. He’d had his cock buried so deep inside of her, he hadn’t been sure if he’d ever break free, or ever want to.
Sex with Luke’s sister. A secret he’d carried for six-plus years.
“I should probably go hit something. Maybe the bag at the gym downstairs before I head home. You want to join me?”
“Aren’t your parents flying in soon?”
“Shit. You’re right.” He glanced at his watch. “I gotta pick them up at the airport in an hour. Rain check?”
“Sure. Tell your folks hi. Let me know when Jessica is up for visitors.” He rolled his eyes skyward, trying to fight the awkwardness that spanned between them again. “The guys and I will want to stop by.”
“Of course.”
Asher waited for Luke to leave before he blew out a heavy breath.
“Asher. Hold up, man.”
He glanced back to find Owen heading his way from the other side of the hall. “What’s up?”
“I wanted to check on you. See if you’re okay.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Jessica is back, and we were just given a vacation from POTUS.”
Owen smirked. “You’re such a bad liar.”
Asher sighed and propped a hand on the hall wall at his side. “What are you really trying to ask me?”
Owen’s smile faded. “We all love Jessica.” He was quiet for a moment. “Like a sister.”
“And?” Irritation crawled up his spine.
“Except you.” His arms crossed his chest.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“She’s not like a sister to you. And everyone, except maybe Luke, knows how you really feel about—”
“Stop.” Asher shoved off the wall. “I don’t know what you’re planning to say, but I don’t need this from you.
” His boots inched a hair closer to Owen, and he angled his head.
A tightness stretched through his chest, making it harder to breathe.
“She’s alive. And we’ll bring down the sons of bitches who did this to her whether Command wants us to or not. ”
Owen surrendered his palms. “Fine, but when you get your head out of your ass, I’m here if you want to talk.” He headed back to his office.
Maybe Luke had the right idea, he realized.
Maybe hitting something, or someone, was exactly what he needed right now.
And damn, he knew where he shouldn’t go but sure as hell wanted to.