“You saw it,” he said without preamble.
“Are you sure this is legit?” she asked, stepping back to allow him entrance to her room.
“Unfortunately, yes. That was taken less than a week ago.” Miles sat and wiped his palms off on his thighs. “I know how I’m viewed, Affrica. Hell, you even made a comment on it today. Yes, I love getting the scoop and having my byline on the front page, but this… If what we’re seeing is true and fresh, we’re talking genocide.”
His solemn attitude threw her. This behavior was very atypical Miles Horne. “Are you telling me not to go?” she asked with a frown. “Because you’re the one who invited me along in the first place.”
“I know. This is different. Genocide isn’t pretty.”
She muttered in Gaelige, “No shit.” Calming herself, she sat on the only other seat in the room, her bed. “I’m a damn good photographer, Miles. Do you want another instead?”
He shook his head. “If I had, I never would have given you a mention about this. I just want you to be really sure about this.”
“I am. Where is this? I mean, how come people havena done a feature on it or something to stop this?”
He frowned and gave her a “duh” look. “They’re Aboriginals, still obviously considered expendable by some.” He swallowed. “This is going to be dangerous, Affrica. We leave tomorrow night.” That said, Miles left.
Alone again, she expelled a sharp breath and flopped back on her bed. Her mind streamed along at well over one hundred kilometers per hour. Miles offering up actual concern? That alone made her hesitant. He also hadn’t told her where they were going.
Think about what these people have gone through,
she reprimanded herself.
Now isna the time to wuss out.
She had to go. There wasn’t any way she could walk away from this. Phone in hand, she paused, checking the time, before dialing a number.
“O’Shea residence,” a female answered in Gaelige.
“Hi, Ma,” she replied in the same language.
“Affrica. How are you, sweetheart?”
She smiled at the genuine warmth in her mother’s voice. “I’m fine. I just wanted to call and let you know I’ll be out of touch for a bit.”
“What’s going on? What’s wrong?” Immediate concern.
“Nothing, Ma.” She hoped it wasn’t a lie. “I’m just going to be out of cell range for a bit on this next gig.”
“Is it dangerous?”
She restrained her sigh. Some days, her family seemed steadfast in their decision to view her as a baby. Yes, she was the baby but she knew how to do her job. And she’d accepted there were some risks involved. It didn’t matter her brother was a US Navy SEAL; it always seemed they worried about her.
“I’m in Australia, Ma. We’re going out in the bush. It’s not like I’ll be in a metropolis, but I’ll be as careful as I can.”
That at least wasn’t a lie. She just didn’t want to tell her mother what they were going after out there.
“We. You’re not going alone then?”
“No, ma’am. I’m going with a reporter.”
“Well, I guess that’s better than you out there all alone. When are you coming back?”
She got up and paced her small room. “Kind of playing things by ear, Ma. I’ll call when or if I can out there and will definitely do so when we return.”
“Okay.”
Her sigh of relief was short-lived when her mom spoke again. “You aren’t going with that Miles guy Aidrian said was no good, are you?”
Note to self, punch sole sibling next time we meet.
“Adrian probably wanted to distract you, Ma. I just saw him.”
“You saw Adrian?”
She grinned wickedly at her reflection in the mirror. “I did. He saw me off on my bus in Geelong.”
Her mom digested that for a bit. “What is Adrian doing in Geelong?”
Back on her bed, she stretched out a leg and stared at her boot. “Not sure; he was with a girl, though.”
Her mother’s sharp breath made her smirk. Jackpot! Ma had a new target.
“A girl? Who is she?”
“Not sure, he didn’t want to introduce me. She was pretty, though.
Very
pretty.” She let her ponder for a few seconds. “Ma, I have to go. I love you. Tell Da I love him, too.”
“Of course, honey. Just one more thing.”
Damn it! So close. “What’s that?”
“Don’t you think I’m able to pick up on a diversion tactic? Nice try, Affrica. Now, be safe.”
Her mom disconnected, and Affrica muttered while she shut her own phone. Damn. Damn. Damn. She sighed, hoping they wouldn’t be too worried. Drumming her fingers, she called another.
“Hey,” she said in Gaelige. “Just letting you know I made it fine. Going out into the bush. Don’t worry, I’ll be safe. Hope you’re having fun with your cutie. Love you. Bye, brother.”
Ending the call, she flopped back with a groan. Normally, the idea of heading out filled her with huge anticipation, but honestly, all she felt right now was trepidation.
Mass killings weren’t exactly
common
in this day and age, but neither was she dumb enough to believe they didn’t happen either. Because the ugly truth was that evil not only existed but thrived in the world.
Personally, she’d never been a headline seeker; her thrill came from acquiring that “perfect” shot. She preferred capturing the essence of wild animals but this…wasn’t something she could pass up.
You should tell your brother where you’re going,
her brain advised.
She dismissed it with a shake of her head. There was no way, for that would mean, in a matter of time, she would just look up to discover the eight members of SEAL Team Seventeen, or as they were more aptly and affectionately referred to the Megalodon Team, surrounding her for an immediate evac.
Not that she despised their protectiveness of her but, while one overprotective brother could be annoying, eight likeminded ones would ensure she never left the house.
Chewing on her lower lip, she thought for a bit longer. Eventually, she sat up and reached for her bag. An hour later, she made her way to a local pub for dinner and a drink. She mailed her letter along the way.
The next day, she spent ensuring all gear was ready. Since she would only be taking the minimum, she’d made arrangements for the rest. The hotel would keep her items for her until she returned. Then, she rested, well aware that, once out there, a solid,
safe
night’s rest would be few and far between.
As planned, she met Miles at the front where they climbed into an old Jeep and headed off into the inky blackness. She rested her head back and tried to ignore the hard beating of her heart.
Reeve swirled his vodka around in his glass as he gazed around the table at the five guys with him. They’d all grown up together, from privileged homes. Money, prestige, it didn’t matter, they had it. The nights were filled with the finest things—liquor, women, whatever he wanted. This used to be stuff he enjoyed.
Now, however, everything had changed. The women, while beautiful and flawless, did absolutely nothing for him. Everyone he saw automatically got compared to the woman he’d been unable to get out of his mind.
Sassy. Take-no-prisoner attitude. Creamy skin he craved to touch, to linger over for hours on end. And don’t forget those killer brown and gold eyes framed by thick and curvy black lashes. Lord, he wanted to spend days exploring her body. To top it all off, she had her accent, which made him want to hear crying his name in the throes of pleasure. For starters.
Affrica O’Shea.
It had been two months since he’d seen her. Each night, she visited him in his dreams only to leave him, come morning, hard and ready to explode with the slightest of touches.
“Reeve! What’s up, man? You’ve hardly drunk a thing.”
He stared at the glass in his hand, recognizing his lack of enthusiasm for the night thus far. With a sigh, he glanced from the clear liquid into the green eyes of his friend, Thomas Weldt.
“Fine, man. Just not feeling—”
“You need a woman,” Thomas broke in, waving over a stacked redhead in a tight green sheath dress.
The smile she gave was practiced, and Reeve stifled a sigh of disappointment. Beyond her, he spotted someone he’d not expected to see here.
“Evening, handsome,” the redhead said, trailing a perfectly manicured hand along his arm.
He stood as she sat. “I’ll catch y’all later.”
“Where are you going?” Francis Naplan asked only to be echoed by the woman who’d just joined them.
“I see someone I need to talk to.”
Red put a hand on his arm. “No need to find another woman. I can be all you need.”
Reeve sincerely doubted that. “Not interested.”
Thomas frowned before following Reeve’s line of sight. “Oh, I see now. See you, man.”
“He’s hot; do you know him well?” Red asked, her hand fluttered at the base of her neck.
“Almost as well as his wife does,” Reeve said snarkily, walking off without a look back.
He wove his way through the crowd of men in suits and women in very little to pause before a man in worn medium blue jeans and a Baltimore Ravens t-shirt. He also noticed how many women stared at the man and shook his head slightly, well aware only one woman in this world had a chance. The love of his life. His wife.
“What are you doing here?” Reeve questioned.
Cornflower blue eyes stared at him. “Came to talk to you.”
Without a word, he fell into step, and they headed for the exit. Outside, a trio of women blocked their way.
“Hey, Reeve baby. Where are you going? The night is still young, and we just got here. Why are you leaving?” the middle of the trio said with a practiced pout. Her gaze travelled to the man with him, and she smiled. “Ohh, aren’t you cute. Don’t you handsome boys have time for us?”
“He’s busy.”
The two words were forced, and Reeve chuckled as he followed him past the women.
“Still so talkative, aren’t you, bro?”
Scott, stopped beside a gold Expedition. “Get in.”
He complied and waited for Scott to start the engine. “What’s up?”
Scott stayed silent as he drove, and Reeve just leaned back and waited. He’d learned no one could get his brother to rush if he didn’t want to. Unless it was Lex. He had seen the way Scott looked at her—and she him—and knew each would move mountains for the other.
His brother took them to an all-night diner, and soon, they each had a slice of pie before them. Fork in hand, Reeve stared at his sibling.
“As lovely as this is, us bonding, why don’t you tell me what’s up.”
“We need to talk.”
“I’m listening.” He ate a bit of his warm apple pie.
“I don’t know what’s between you and Affrica O’Shea but I’m here to tell you she’s not a woman you treat like your other typical fare.”
“Affrica?” he asked as innocently as he could. His heart sped up at the mere thought of her. “What brought this up?”
Scott cocked a brow and leveled a stare at him. “We’re trained to observe, Reeve. Not that it matters. We’ve noticed how you perk up when her name is mentioned.” He paused. “
All
of us have.”
Crap.
“So what?” he said with nonchalance and a laconic lift of one shoulder. “I’m not allowed to look at her?” Scott didn’t even crack a smile, and Reeve blinked. “Seriously? Oh, come on, Scott.”
“Your rep precedes you, Reeve. If a man like you was after Corliss, would you feel good about it?”
No. A player with his baby sister? Not happy. “Hell no.” Scott held his gaze until it set in. “Duly noted.”
His eldest brother shook his head. “I don’t think so, Reeve. You need to understand she has not one and not two older brother figures to keep an eye on her. She has eight. Eight highly trained and overprotective ones.”
Seriously? “All of you? You’re my brother; shouldn’t you be on my side?”
“I will be, the second you become the man you can be. But right now, hell no. Hondo’s noticed, and trust me, you don’t want him after you.”
Somehow, Reeve managed to hide his shiver. Hondo scared the crap out of him. The large man rarely cracked a smile. and his best friend, Maverick, made Hondo come across as warm and cuddly.
“Can’t you just order him to leave me alone?”
A snort. “Not anymore than I can force you away from Affrica. Would you listen to anyone who told you not to do your best to keep you sister safe?”
Hell no. “Isn’t that what you’re doing, though? Forcing me away from her?”
“Nope. I’m merely warning you if you treat her like one of your many conquests, be prepared for the hell which will follow. Because, as sure as I’m sitting here with you, they will come for you, and nothing I could—if I wanted to—say would stop them.”
Reeve waited for the punch line. One which never came. His brother was deadly serious.
“Why are you so protective of her?” He had to know.
“Affrica is Hondo’s sister, she’s an amazing woman, and she also helped Dimitri find his way back to us. She has grit to do what she does, go the places she goes. Oh, and she’s just a genuinely nice person.”
Okay, it was obvious his brother was impressed with her.
“I just want her to talk to me,” he admitted.
“I got that. Godric told me his take on the situation. I can tell you this, though. Asking the wives and girlfriends isn’t going to help you.”
Damn! They really did share everything.
“I can’t get her out of my mind.” He finished the last bite of his pie.
“Yeah, we kind of figured that out. Just…don’t be stupid with her, Reeve. Mark my words, Hondo
would
kill you. Hell, as it is now, he wants to.”
Reeve sighed and drank his coffee. After Scott dropped him off at his car, he went home, trying to forget how different his brother’s life had become. Scott drove a vehicle with child seats in it. Yes, he still drove his sports car but it was obvious Scott had settled in to being a husband and father with relish.
Reeve mulled over that while he drove to his apartment. A disappointed groan left him as he closed the door behind him. It bothered him to feel this envy over what his brother had acquired for himself. Not that he begrudged Scott his happiness, but he recognized his own jealousy.