7
Connor rose early after a restless night, splashed water on his face, and dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. He’d been too horny to sleep and had finally given in and taken the problem in hand, jerking off to a fantasy of Shanti. Peeling off her sari. Exploring every inch of her sweet body. Fucking her on that king-sized bed.
Afterward, when he’d finally fallen asleep, Shanti had followed him. In his dreams, she’d been investigating him, asking him questions he didn’t want to answer. It was a ridiculous dream. He’d already been exonerated, his combat record exemplary. He wasn’t a war criminal.
This is what happens when you get too personal with a client.
That was then.
This was now.
Resolved to keep a professional distance, he left his room and walked to the ops room, where Shields was already at work on Pauline’s list. “Anything?”
“Nada.” She turned from her computer, picked up her coffee, took a sip. “So far, everyone checks out. It’s not a long list.”
“Maybe she overlooked someone.” Connor poured himself a cup of coffee.
“I’ll keep digging.”
“How about the two DBs? Has anyone identified them yet?”
“Nothing on that yet, either, but the Bangladesh Police seem fired up to resolve the case.”
“Well, that’s something.”
Shields turned back to her computer. “What’s this about a box of Hot Wheels? Are you bored?”
Connor didn’t feel like explaining the whole story. “The kids at the camp have nothing. My old Hot Wheels were just sitting at home. I thought I’d give them to the hospital for sick kids to play with. They’d get more use that way.”
“Aw!” Shields looked up at him, a smile on her face. “Under that Kevlar and that don’t-give-a-shit exterior, you’re a softie.”
“Keep that secret, got it?”
“Sure.”
Connor checked his messages and the weather forecast and then ate breakfast with the others. He had just finished his omelet when Shanti buzzed him on his cell phone. He placed her breakfast order with room service and sent Isaksen to take it to her room.
When Isaksen returned, Connor started their morning briefing. “Shields is still working on the list we got from the UN representative. We’re still waiting for the Bangladesh Police to ID the two bodies. In the meantime, we should—”
Shanti flew through the doorway, wearing a fluffy bathrobe, a bright smile on her face, her phone in hand, her feet bare. “You’ve got it. They said ‘yes.’”
“Got what?” Connor wasn’t keeping up here.
“Permission to fly a drone. Doctor Khan just called.”
“That’s great news.” Connor tried to ignore the way his pulse had picked up when she’d run in. “Thanks for letting us know.”
Shields gestured toward a vacant chair. “Would you like to join us for the briefing?”
Shanti shook her head. “Thanks. I need to finish breakfast and get ready to go. I just wanted you to know as soon as possible.”
Connor gave her a professional nod. “We appreciate that.”
He waited until she’d gone. “Shields, get on the phone to Dhaka to confirm. Segal, get that drone ready. The rest of us can go over yesterday’s exfil. Flooding made it difficult and downright dangerous. I had to hold onto the client to keep her from falling, which put my focus on her and not our surroundings. What are our options?”
“You mean besides Noah’s ark?” Cruz asked.
The men laughed.