Page 46 of Near Miss

“Hold on.” Chris came back on the line a few moments later. “It’s in transit, in the hands of your shipper. Looks like it’ll be in Kabul within the week.”

Lachlan thanked him and hung up. Satisfaction and a grim determination surged through him. This might be the break he needed. He’d go to Kabul, be there personally to see who showed up to receive the shipment, then shut this operation down before those weapons ended up in Khan’s hands.

He grabbed his suit coat from the hook on his office door and headed out. Most everyone had already left for the day, and a glance at Sophia’s office confirmed she’d gone as well.

Once he’d reached his Mercedes, he drew out his mobile.

It took Ryder a few rings to pick up. “What’s wrong?” Ryder’s voice was husky with sleep.

Lachlan grimaced. A quick look at his watch confirmed it was the middle of the night for his team leader. “Sorry, pal. I didn’t pay attention to the time. I’m coming to Kabul. Keep it to yourself.” He gave Ryder the sitrep.

“Bloody hell,” Ryder swore. “Sayed didn’t find any information on LAI shipments coming through customs that I didn’t already know about. Either someone’s paid him to keep quiet, or the cargo is leaving customs under another name.”

“Pull together everything you can on Josh’s activity over the last six months.” Lachlan trusted Ryder. Burkette, on the other hand, was a loose cannon. Someone in Kabul was receiving those shipments for Khan. Jared wouldn’t appreciate Lachlan accusing his former Army Ranger teammate of weapons trafficking. If Burkette was involved, he needed proof.

He would go to Kabul and get answers. He refused to take the blame—again—for someone else’s betrayal.

Chapter Nineteen

Thenextmorning,Lachlanstrolled into work and leveled his most charming smile at LAI’s office manager. “Good morning, Penny. You’re looking rather lovely today.”

The older woman gave him an indulgent smile. “Pouring it on thick, aren’t you?”

He grinned. “Jared in?”

Penny buzzed Jared’s extension. “Lachlan is here to see you.” She nodded at Lachlan to go in.

Sophia stood in her office doorway, wearing a dress that matched the green in his tie. She stared at him with wide, anxious eyes. He shot her a look meant to be reassuring before he stepped into his boss’s office.

He wasn’t planning to stay long, so he didn’t bother to sit down. “I’m heading to Kabul on Monday to take care of some business with the teams.”

Jared’s fingers stilled on the computer keyboard. He’d continued doing whatever he’d been doing when Lachlan entered. Now, his narrow-eyed gaze connected with Lachlan’s. “Is there a problem?”

Lachlan took note of his boss’s rigid posture. “Some issues require a personal touch.”

“You’re not pursuing this weapons auction rumor, are you? I told you to leave it to the authorities—if it’s even true.”

Lachlan chose his next words carefully. “I can assure you my trip is strictly LAI business.”

“Do you think you should go before we know whether any more people from your past plan to come out of the woodwork to threaten Sophia?” Jared picked up the silver pen on his desk blotter and spun it deftly around the fingers of one hand as he observed Lachlan.

The contempt in his voice had Lachlan’s hands fisting. The bastard was baiting him, and he couldn’t afford to bite, not now. “Haider is in the UK. Sophia is safe.”

“We can only hope so.” Jared’s smile carried a trace of smugness. “She’ll be spending the evening with me at Congressman Kellerman’s reception. I’ll take good care of her.”

Lachlan responded with a brisk nod. He needed to leave before he said or did something that would get him fired. Landry had dropped the pretense and was openly declaring his intentions toward Sophia.

The bastard was going to have to stand in line.

Sophia wanted him. And he didn’t share.

By this time next week, he should have his hands on the shipment destined for Khan and begin unraveling this entire fucking mess. He had a feeling Josh Burkette would be waiting to receive the weapons, and when he did, Lachlan would be ready.

“Have a safe trip.”

Lachlan didn’t bother to look back as he saw himself out.

Leave it to Landry to make a polite send-off sound like a threat.

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