Page 57 of Forged in Deception

“I did right before I left,” Asher said, “but not since then. Things got busy here. Why, is everything okay?”

“So far. He called Dad to let him know that he finally made it to his dream destination of rural Libya. He might be out of touch for the next while.”

Asher made a face. “Gotta love our little bro. Some dream of a peaceful resort, others dream of a sand-filled tent and no running water.”

“He’s helping so many people,” Ben said solemnly. “I could do more of that.”

Asher sighed. He had a point.

“Yeah, me too,” he agreed.

Silence fell between them for a moment. All of the brothers made fun of one another constantly, including Jacob, but the truth was, he was an easy man to admire.

The rough past he’d lived as a teenager and young adult made even Asher look like an absolute angel. But eventually, Jesus had fully taken hold of Jacob’s heart, and he’d chosen a radical life of protecting their brothers and sisters in Christ in dangerous areas overseas, even though his mission often put his own safety in danger.

He should have made the time to call his brother sooner, he knew, but he had kept putting it off. Jacob had a way of bringing out the deeper things in people, and he knew he wasn’t immune to his probing questions.

If anyone was going to get him to talk about what had really happened in Afghanistan, it was Jacob.

And some part of him wished he had taken the opportunity by now.

“Well, let me know if you learn anything else about Bajwa or Senera,” Asher said at last. “Thanks, Ben.”

“No problem.”

The brothers said their goodbyes, and Asher made his way toward the dining hall, picking up his pace a little when he realized just how high the morning sun was getting. Eggs were basically the only protein to speak of, and if he didn’t hurry, they’d all be eaten.

By the time he grabbed his plate, however, he’d forgotten all about his breakfast preferences and began piling it high with whatever food item happened to be closest. Karlin was standing off near the edge of the buffet table by herself, sipping a mug of tea. Everyone else was sitting at the long table, absorbed in the buzz of breakfast conversation.

Asher’s heart swelled as he strode over to her, trying his best to look totally casual and totally not-suspicious. All he could think about was the morning they’d shared at the canyon, and how much she’d finally been willing to let him in. Even if the morning had been soured somewhat by the news about her brother’s relapse.

Still, he’d only gotten to see her for approximately five seconds yesterday, and the unresolved tension between them was driving him crazy.

“Good morning,” he announced, resting his tray on the edge of the table beside her.

“Shh,” she said in response, narrowing her eyes. “We’ll talk today. I have a plan for our next meeting.”

“You know, I really was just saying good morning,” he said, picking up a strawberry and popping it into his mouth. “I don’t think that’s suspicious.”

“It’s not,” she said under her breath, “but the way you beeline toward me the second you enter the room totally is.”

He considered arguing with her for a moment, but decided that straight-up honesty would be way more fun.

He waited a second for everyone else in the room to be focused on their breakfast before leaning over and whispering in her ear. “In my defense, I’m kind of struggling to keep my distance, now that I know what it’s like to hold you in my arms.”

She pulled away quickly, tea wobbling back and forth in her mug, threatening to spill over the edge. Her cheeks were visibly pink, which only made Asher smile.

“You seriously need to shut up,” she hissed at him.

“You’re pretty. Like, really pretty today, more than usual. Probably that much-deserved beauty sleep.”

“Seriously? Just. Shut. Up!”

“Now who’s being suspicious?” he asked innocently, turning his back on her and picking up his tray.

He headed off toward the others, trying to wipe the goofy grin off of his face. Man, driving her crazy was way too much fun.

“Hey, Axel,” Cora said as he sat down beside Paul. The others greeted him and he tried to make small talk, but he found himself distracted by Bajwa, who was speaking in hushed tones to Karlin and Ned a little further down the table.

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