Page 158 of Protecting You

“Ghazi and his men must’ve gone through the backyard, like you and Alyssa did.”

“That didn’t cross your mind?”

“Of course it did.” Malcolm seemed to be working for a civil tone. “I don’t know what happened, but I’ll find out.”

“That’s going to do me a lot of good. I thought you said they heard people inside.”

“They must’ve recorded days of sounds. It was playing. They fooled us.”

Ghazi was ten moves ahead, and Callan was still studying the stupid game board.

“What have you learned?” Malcolm asked.

He filled his boss in, then ended the call and conferred with Grant. They’d gotten all the information they were going to get from Robert.

As much as Callan would like to take out his frustration on the old man’s face, nothing mattered except getting Peri back. Not vengeance. Not answers, not unless they led somewhere. And what Robert had to say didn’t help. At all.

He summoned two police officers who were waiting just outside the door. Somehow, Gavin had kept them at bay.

The man had some serious pull.

The cops took the club manager, and then Gavin stepped into the smaller room. “Tell me what?—”

“You told me you were going to keep her safe,” Callan said, “and then you sent her off with?—”

“My wife and daughter, and my most trusted guard. Do you think I’d have put any of them in danger?”

“Youdidput them in danger.”

“I didn’t know, Templeton. I trusted the wrong man. My contact called me as we were leaving. I thought it would be better to get the information right away.” His gaze flicked to Grant, as if not wanting to say more in front of his own nephew.

At this point, Callan trusted Grant, whom he’d never heard of before that day, far more than he trusted Alyssa’s father. He’d learned Grant had been a Green Beret and then a bodyguard before becoming a detective.

Callan didn’t know Grant’s story, but he seemed like a soldier who understood. A man who’d fight to save the innocent.

To save Peri.

Callan wasn’t so sure about Gavin Wright, but he trusted Grant.

Grant’s gaze flicked from one to another, but he said nothing.

“He’s fine.” Callan sat again, giving Grant a quick update on what they knew about Ghazi, the zero-day exploit, and the spy they assumed was the terrorist’s target. He focused on Gavin, asking, “What did you learn?”

Before he could answer, a soft knock sounded on the door, and then Alyssa stepped inside. She’d changed her clothes and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. “Hey.” She scanned the room and then approached Callan and lowered to her knees at his feet. “How are you?”

Stupid emotion clogged his throat. He didn’t answer.

Gavin and Grant both stepped away, giving them privacy. Which Callan appreciated because, suddenly, he felt overwhelmed. Overwrought.

“Any news?”

He shook his head. “Nothing important. I think your dad learned something, but I don’t know what yet.” He expected Alyssa to grab a chair and listen in.

But she didn’t move. “I am so sorry this is happening.”

“It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have left her. I shouldn’t have brought her here.”

“Don’t do that.” She settled her cool palms on his face. “You are a good father. And we’re going to get your daughter back. I promise.”

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