Page 18 of Asher

Harley paused at the end of the second aisle, where a pure white boxer pup stood nervously peering out of the crate in the far corner of its kennel. Harley crouched and wiggled his fingers through the wire. “This is Walter. He’s the only boxer left fromhis litter, and he’s deaf. Most white boxers are. Breeders usually euthanize them to protect breed standards, but I don’t have the heart for that, so he’s available. He’s a little older than most other pups, but he’s smart, Asher. He’s loving and he’s trainable. It’ll take time and effort, but he’ll be a good companion for the right person.”

Asher took a knee beside Harley and put his fingers through the wires, too. There was no sense whistling or calling to the pup. Walter didn’t venture one step from his crate, just trembled at its opening, his blue eyes wide and fearful. The little guy didn’t have the curiosity or boundless energy Darling had. He looked terrified and that resonated with Asher. Walter was alone in a world without sound. How well Asher understood.

Harley continued. “If you ask me, you’ll have your hands full with the lab pup. You might want a more mature—”

Asher opened his mouth to tell Harley he wanted Walter just as, “We’ll take him,” burst out of Marlowe. That wheelchair of hers was beginning to resemble a throne the way she tossed out edicts and commands.

Asher turned to play devil’s advocate. “Don’t forget you’re still in the clinic, and you’ve already got Darling. How are you going to take care of her and help me train Walter? Yes, he’s adorable but—”

“I’ll room with you. You’ll let me, won’t you?”

Another edict, but this one didn’t sound too bad. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

Her head was nodding before he finished asking.

“Well, okay, then. Harley, looks like Darling and Walter are coming with us. Tell me what else I’m going to need.”And God bless me because I have definitely lost my freaking mind.

Over the course of the next hour, Harley supplied Asher with two portable dog crates and everything he needed to feed, water, and care for his ‘kids’, as Marlowe kept calling Darling and Walter. For the moment, Harley had put both pups in Darling’s kennel, and Walter wasn’t the frightened little guy he’d been before. He knew how to play and that was good. But even if he didn’t, Asher was taking that little man home. Dogs deserved second chances, too.

“How about I keep these two and all the supplies until you leave today?” Harley asked.

“I don’t know how long I’ll have to stay,” Marlowe replied, always one step ahead of Asher.

He set his hand on her shoulder while answering Harley “That might be best. My place is a disaster andwe”—he made direct eye-contact with Marlowe at that telling word—“still need to puppy-proof my place. Also, need to make sure you move in first, so they know who’s in charge.” Asher had a feeling he wasn’t.

“Sure,” Harley said. “They’re fine here. Take as long as you two need—”

“Where is she?” Alex barked from the barn doorway, where he stood like the Devil incarnate. The sun was behind him, making him darker and larger than life. Didn’t help that he was smoking mad. He paused for less than a minute, then headed straight to Marlowe.

“Are you he who will not leave?” he asked, his tone razor-sharp and his eyes crystal-ice.

She stared up at him from her wheelchair, gulped, and answered, “Actually…” Her voice trailed away before she finished with, “I amshewho will not leave.”

Asher looked from Marlowe to Alex and back to Marlowe. They were talking code? They knew each other?

“Son of a bitch!” Alex hissed before he crouched to her level. “What happened?”

“You’re Alex Stewart?”

“Of course, I’m Alex Stewart. Why are you here instead of where you’re supposed to be? You haven’t answered my latest texts.”

“I lost my phone. They… they took it and I—”

“Boss, what’s going on?” Asher interrupted.

Marlowe gasped. “He’s your boss? Why didn’t you tell me you worked for Alex Stewart?”

“I thought you knew. He owns The TEAM. Would someone please tell me what’s going on?”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were a woman?” Alex snapped.

“Why didn’t you ask?” Marlowe yelled. “What are you? As big a pig as those Taliban guys?”

“Enough,” Alex growled, lifting to his feet. “My office. All of you. Now.”

The next minutes wheeling Marlowe back inside TEAM HQ were a blur. How the hell did she know Alex and what was that secret code about? CIA operators talked in riddles and codes. That was how they identified each other in the field. Who the hell was Alex? Another spy?

At the door to his office, Alex snapped, “No phones.”

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