Page 8 of Radar

“Shit.”

“Completely stuck, there was no way for Scott to save himself. Digger was indefatigable and mission-focused,” Xander shook his head as he spoke. He still couldn’t wrap his head around Scott’s survival. “Day after day, night after night, week after week, that doggo was always doing the right thing until he was successful in saving Scott. If there is such a thing as a miracle of a dog, it’s Digger.”

Anna put her hand on her heart. “Have you heard much from Scott since then?”

“Not really. I don’t think he wants the memories.”

“Or the look of pity in your eyes,” she said. “But he recovered?”

“They have him up on his feet again, but he’ll never walk without a limp. When AWG shut down, they did right by Scott and his mental health by letting him keep Digger. Sort of.”

“Least they could do is what I’m hearing in your voice. What does ‘sort of’ mean in this instance?” Anna asked.

“AWG wasn’t all that benevolent. Digger was Army-owned.”

Anna leaned back, crossing her arms over her chest. “So, what happened?”

“When they handed Digger’s lead over to his new handler—or tried to—Digger refused to work. Wouldn’t follow a single command, wouldn’t even get up. They decided that since Digger seemed to have PTSD, it was time to retire him and—”

Anna nodded. “Per military policy, the last handler gets the first right of refusal.”

“I swear Digger knew that and did what he had to, which would allow him to continue to save and protect Scott. Loyal to a fault. Smart. Yup, a miracle of a dog.” Xander moved a hand to his side to support his ribs as he took in a deeper breath. The ache was growing more intense. “After seeing that, I bought myself a German Shepherd named Radar.”

“Radar! Did you name him that because he was to be tasked with going into the mountains to find 'we don’t know what, but it’s bigger than a breadbox?’”

Xander blew a short, derisive breath through his nostrils and shook his head at the absurdity of it all. “I’d show you a picture of him, but—” He watched as her face hardened the way it did when her brain was churning. Xander waited.

“He’s yours, right?” Anna asked. “You bought him and had him trained on your own dime?”

“Yes, well, Iniquus Security is doing his training, so I wouldn’t say ‘dime’. When I get home, I’m going to pick Radar up for our regular bonding time.”

Anna let out a low whistle. “Did you mortgage your home to get Radar trained by Cerberus?”

“They trained Digger, and Digger saved Scott. I consider it life insurance for when I go into Kyrgyzstan after the snow melts.”

Anna reached for one of the empty shot glasses and twirled it between her fingers, avoiding Xander’s gaze. “What would you do with Radar if you weren’t assigned to the mountain search?”

“I’m not sure.” Xander tightened his stomach muscles as if he were about to take another blow. “Radar’s my brother. But if I’m not crawling all over the Kyrgyzstan mountains looking for something,I don’t know what I’d do. If there was a Mrs. Belov who didn’t travel, then Radar could be home when I’m not using him on field missions.”

“That’s the dream, isn’t it? A home and family, a place to anchor.” She paused with emotions storming in her eyes. “The reality is that it’s hard to find love and solidity in our line of work.”

“You did it.” Xander nodded toward Anna’s hand. “Finley’s a good man.”

“From the intelligence reports you’ve read on him and us?” Anna grasped her engagement ring and turned the diamond around and around her finger. “Heisa good man. But he’s in my life to the extent that The Family will allow him to be.”

“For now, maybe that’s true. But Anna, we’ll figure out a way to take out the core of the Zoric enterprise. The Family will implode. Then you’ll be free. We all will.”

Anna held Xander’s gaze without blinking. “We either succeed at that soon, or they’re going to destroy the world as we know it.”

“Wait.” Xander angled forward. “Thewholeworld? Not just targeted attacks?”

Anna whipped her head around to assure herself that the bartender stood on the other side of the room before turning back to Xander. “Have you rested enough from the fight now? Caught your breath? Because I need to get you up to speed.”

Chapter Three

Xander

Tuesday

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