Chapter Eighteen
“B etween the team’s reports of the mission and Wyatt’s behavior, we’ve got this covered. Don’t lose sleep over it.” He’d only ever seen his superior project two emotions. One was confident, the other was pissed off. Today, he sat chest out and chin high, hands steepled on the edge of his desk. The man’s assurance put Archer at ease. The stiff-backed chair was familiar as were the sparse, efficient surroundings. He’d spent many hours in this office over the years. They’d just finished his one-on-one debrief, and Silver had answered some questions and laid out his perspective of the mission. Christ, he couldn’t wait to get back to Addy. It was so natural having her in his home—their home as soon as he could convince her to move in with him. Later they were going to visit Joker and Sam’s baby, Adaline Silver. The name his friends had chosen still made his throat constrict. Maybe he could convince the new parents to take advantage of them being there and take a nap. Rumor had it that Adaline was a night owl.
There was a brisk knock on the office door.
“Come in,” the lieutenant commander barked, leaning back in his chair.
“Sir, there’s a man at the gate insisting he speak with you. He says it’s a life-or-death situation for an Addison Desmond.”
Archer jumped to his feet and dug into his pocket for his cell phone. He’d silenced the device for his meeting. The display on the screen made his stomach bottom out, only to fill with dread. “I have two missed calls from Addison.” He dialed her back and lifted the phone to his ear while the lieutenant commander continued the exchange with the messenger.
“Name?” His superior’s brows drew together.
“Wyatt Longfellow,” the seaman apprentice answered.
“Send him in.”
“Aye, sir.” The man disappeared into the hallway to carry out the lieutenant commander’s order.
Silver clutched the phone to his ear. With each unanswered ring the anxiety in his chest deepened until he couldn’t draw in a full breath. “She’s not picking up.” He played back the messages and cold dread hit him square in the gut when her pretty voice spilled over the line to tell him that Wyatt was pounding on the door of the house. His heart was drumming far too fast, anger swelling in his chest.
Another knock sounded, and the door to the office opened once again. Wyatt had barely been escorted into the office before Silver rounded on him. “Why were you at my house?”
“I was trying to warn you. Warn Addison.” The air of arrogance the man seemed to carry with him like a badge of honor was now stripped, and in its place was something far worse. Fear.
“Warn her of what?” The lieutenant commander stood. He’d known Silver long enough to anticipate when a situation was about to escalate.
“Talk!” Silver shouted.
“I made a promise that I shouldn’t have. A week before our mission to the Amazon Dr. Marks, the president of our research organization, asked me in for a private meeting. I’d previously failed him on an exploration within a similar vicinity as the mission. I was supposed to return with an interview and photo documentation of a very private community of indigenous people. My source backed out, and when I came back empty-handed, I was put on probation. My research and credibility were in jeopardy. Dr. Marks shared that tensions were continuing to rise on the Amazon River, and he was working with a Navy insider to get us placed as the civilian contractor to help navigate the river.”
“I need a name.” The lieutenant commander rounded his desk, hand hovering over the phone receiver.
“I don’t have one.” Wyatt flinched under the commander’s hard gaze. “I don’t. I wouldn’t lie when Addison’s safety is in jeopardy.”
“Why?” Silver bit out.
“I have feelings for her.” The way Wyatt’s voice broke gave Silver a bit of reassurance. It was clear to everyone who’d been on the mission that Wyatt was jealous of him and the way his eyes always tracked Addy’s every move spoke of a man who was in love but knew his chances were slim.
Lines formed around the lieutenant commander’s mouth. Still staring at Wyatt, he picked up his office phone. “I need a list of anyone who encountered Dr. Paul Marks. If he has any friends or relatives within the organization, I need to know about it immediately.”
He slammed the phone back down on the receiver. “You said Addison Desmond could be in danger. Explain.”
Wyatt’s thin lips pressed together. “No one was supposed to know about the second tributary off the main river. Dr. Marks hadn’t realized the extensive mapping Addison had done during previous research trips. I didn’t anticipate it either. When I suggested it, she knew it was a poor choice and she also knew about another outlet. We wouldn’t have used either of them if the main waterway wasn’t blocked by two cargo ships.”
Silver’s control was about to snap. He turned toward the wall and sucked down a few breaths. He wouldn’t be content until Addy was in his arms. His hands shook as he pulled up the team’s group chat.
At the barracks. Addy’s in trouble.
“Those cargo ships were contrived, weren’t they?” His superior’s face had morphed into a deep shade of red.
“Yes. Dr. Marks paid off two locals to ensure we’d have to take that specific route.”
The lieutenant commander raised his brows. “You’re talking about some very serious implications.”
“I’m willing to deal with the consequences of my actions.” Wyatt hung his head before looking back up.
Archer couldn’t hold back any longer—fear and fury we’re a living beast inside his chest.
“Why were you at my house an hour ago? What were you trying to talk to Addison about?”
Before the man looked away, Archer saw the regret on his face. “Like I said, I was trying to warn her. Dr. Marks was furious when he learned Addison had pushed for an alternate route to the extraction point. He scheduled a meeting with her for this afternoon. He’s going to try to convince her to go back. I wanted to try to stop her.”
“Addy would never be influenced to do something so grossly unethical.”
“That’s exactly my concern. Once Dr. Marks fills her in on what happened, she’ll never agree to convince you to go back with her. She’ll know too much and be useless to him.”
Bile burned up Silver’s throat. He lifted his phone to his ear again and punched Addy’s contact information. He was desperate to get a hold of her and make sure she was safe at home, but there was nothing but the ringing of the other line. “What’s the address?”
Wyatt rattled off the street name.
“Go. I’ll inform the team.” The lieutenant commander was already punching in numbers on his desk phone.
Silver took off down the hall, trying to block out all the horrific things that could be happening to Addy. Things that threatened to bring him to his knees. He wouldn’t lose Addy. Couldn’t lose her. He tore open the door of his SUV, started the engine, and peeled out of the parking space. There was no way he should be driving. He was out of his mind with panic, but there was no other option. Still, if he crashed, he’d be no use to her. He fought for calm and took a right onto the highway. The research facility was twenty-five minutes away. Far too much could happen during that timeframe. Something had happened. There was no other explanation for Addy to ignore his calls. His knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel as he barreled toward his destination.
An incoming call flashed across the dashboard screen. He didn’t dare hope it was Addy, and it wasn’t. Ransom’s contact information appeared, and he accepted the call.
“We’re on our way.” Ransom’s voice boomed through the interior of his vehicle. The sound of keys jangling together and boots stomping over pavement didn’t ease his anxiety, but it did fortify his resolve.
“GPS says I’m twenty minutes out,” Silver said.
“You’ll beat us there, but we’re one step behind you.” There was a slam of a door. An engine humming to life.
“I’m going in.” He glanced in the rearview mirror and switched lanes.
“Wouldn’t suggest otherwise.”
He pressed the button on the steering wheel to hang up and ground his teeth together. “We’re coming, sweetheart,” he growled, exiting the highway. Addy was strong. A survivor. “I won’t let you down.” He hadn’t been able to save Quinn from the disease that overtook her body, but he would not fail Addison.