Page 44 of The Soldier

“I’m fine. I just want to know if he’s okay.” I try to act like it’s no big deal by letting out a small laugh. “It was one kiss Ry; I’m not having his baby. Just go find out if he is alive.”

He watches me and I hate that he’s trying to see inside my mind. To psychoanalyze me and make out that this is something more than it is.

Marshall is a friend. We’re all friends. If there’s one thing you can say about me, it’s that I am fiercely loyal to the people in my life.

If I love you, even the Taliban won’t get near you. At least while in Los Angeles.

“Marshall doesn’t kiss girls. He fucks them. So, either you kicked his ass and scared him away, or he likes you. So, because he’s my buddy, I’m going to share a couple of things I probably shouldn’t.”

Yes!

Tell me, tell me.

I try to ignore the way my heart skipped a little beat at what he said though.

Either you scared him away, or he likes you.

I feel the need to clarify that this isn’t a blooming romance though. In case the stupidly handsome giraffe is alive and returns home.

“I was drunk, he was drunk. Just a kiss. Nothing more.”

Ryder snorts.

“As you said Trina, I’m former Delta Force. If you want to lie and have me believe you, you’re going to have to try harder than that. You and Marshall have been flirting for weeks.”

“Wish people would stop calling it that.” I mutter.

Also...I knew (!) Delta Force was real.

“Okay, here's what I know.” Ryder stands. “I’m confident Marshall is alive. The only way he got that message through to Josh is if he has all his fingers and is breathing.”

My brows lift.

“Wow. Visual.”

He shrugs. “It’s all I can ascertain at this point. That, and something in the mission has deviated and Josh needs to intervene.”

“But you think he’s safe?” My heart is pounding.

“I think he’s alive.”

Oh.Chewing the side of my mouth, I nod and glance around his office.

“Will you go? If he needs your help?” I hear the emotion in my voice.

He doesn’t immediately reply. The way Ryder’s serious gaze holds mine has my chest tightening and dread sinking inside my tummy. The longer he takes to reply, the more I imagine Marshall on his own somewhere in the world needing help.

Or, god, slowly dying right at this very moment.

Fear floods my body, and I force back the tears. I don't want that stupid smirk of his wiped from existence.

What if he's in enemy hands being tortured? Or fighting for his life?

What if he can’t get home?

“That’s up to Josh and Aidan to decide,” Ryder says.

God bloody damn.

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