Rafe couldn’t believe what he was reading. If he’d known who she was yesterday at the airport, there was no way in the world he would’ve left. She was the last person who should be heading back to Moreira.

“Rafe, it makes no sense. Do you want me to reach out to her parents and see if I can get something more to go on?”

Gabe had the facts, but Rafe knew whatever had caused Deanna to pretend to be Alice wasn’t something they were going to learn from her parents or anyone else. She’d gone to extreme lengths to hide it. The answer lay in her alone. There was only one thing he could do.

“Gabe, I’ll take it from here.”

“I’m not sure I like the sound of that, Rafe. What are you planning to do?” Gabe asked.

Rafe had been working so closely with his brothers over the past few years that they were able to read him too well. Normally he’d tell him to mind his freaking business, but in this scenario he was going to need some backup. “I’m going to Moreira.”

“Crap , Rafe. I can’t leave Tabiq. Not right now. Can’t you wait? Give me a week or two, and I’ll go with you.”

He appreciated Gabe’s willingness to cover his six. But he needed more muscle than what Gabe would bring. “I’m not going alone.”

“Which one is going?” Gabe asked.

Each of them brought something different to the team. Renzo had been SWAT on the LA police force, David a sharpshooter for Special Forces, and finally Josh who’d been an MP in the Marine Corps. He couldn’t have handpicked a more solid team himself. The fact that they were bound by blood only intensified it. It also meant he never let them all be in the same place at the same time. I’ve seen entire teams get taken out. That’s not happening with mine. Not my team and sure as heck, not my family.

Rafe knew going into Moreira was risky. He wasn’t worried about drawing attention to himself. But Deanna concerned him. If she was there trying to fix what was broken again, getting her to leave with him wasn’t going to be easy. Forcing her against her will wasn’t beyond him, but that would be his last resort. I’ll do what I have to in order to keep her safe. Not for her, but for Phoebe. “I’ll have Josh with me. The others are all on standby. Hopefully, neither of us will need them.”

“Who’s running surveillance for you?” Gabe inquired.

Ordinarily, that would be Gabe’s role. This time he and Josh were going in blind. “Guess that would be you from there. Track our SAT phones. If something doesn’t seem right, let us know.” It wasn’t the ideal situation, but pulling Gabe for a get-in get-out mission didn’t make sense. However, a country like Moreira was even more unstable than Tabiq. All he had to go on was the intel Gabe had provided. There hadn’t been any US troops there, so information was less than trustworthy. And that’s what got my sister killed.

“Rafe, I honestly think you should wait. This woman obviously knows the risk she’s taking.”

“What are you trying to say, Gabe?”

There was a brief pause, and Rafe knew Gabe was questioning voicing his opinion. Rafe hoped he’d choose not to. But in good ole Gabe fashion, he couldn’t shut his mouth.

“Who are you to prevent her from doing what she wants? This isn’t Phoebe, and we couldn’t stop her. You’re treading on thin ice here, Rafe. If you try to force her to leave—”

“I’ll do what I need to do,” Rafe barked over the phone, not wanting to discuss it any further.

“I don’t doubt that for a minute. My concern is your motivation. We’re not being asked to do this. All you need to do is take this information to her father, Scott Glenn, and he’ll have his own men all over her. There’s no reason for you . . . for us, to be involved.”

Rafe controlled his temper because he knew Gabe was right. Nonetheless, he was going to Moreira to talk some sense into that pretty little head of hers.

“Just do what I asked.”

“You got it. But I really think you should tell Josh what he’s risking his neck for,” Gabe added before ending the call.

Rafe didn’t hesitate to fill Josh in with the facts Gabe had provided. Unlike Gabe, Josh didn’t ask any personal questions. He focused on the mission. Rafe may have failed to tell him a few things, but that information was not essential to what he needed Josh for. Still, Josh had concerns.

“I didn’t think we’d ever step foot there again.”

You and me both. “We go where we are needed.”

“We needed to be there three years ago.” Josh’s voice held the same bitterness that filled Rafe.

They might be trained to focus on the task at hand, but dang, they were human. They’d lost their baby sister. How could they not resent that it’d been a death each of them knew could’ve been avoided? There was no way the government hadn’t been warned of the imminent danger. Yet nothing was done. Not until it was too late and all we had left was . . . sorrow. Enough families had lost someone there already. If he could prevent adding another, he would.

“We both know better than to dwell on things we can’t change. It’ll only mess with the present.” It was easy to say but nearly impossible to do.

“Why us, Rafe? There has to be someone else who can do this.”

He wasn’t sure if he’d made a mistake by asking Josh. Anyone in his family would be facing the same demons. “Do you want out?” He hated asking but knew he needed to make the offer.

“Heck no! If I can put a round or two in some of those scumbags for what they did, count me in.” Josh’s tone oozed resentment.

“We’re not out for revenge.” That didn’t mean the thought hadn’t crossed his mind. It wouldn’t take much to push him. He hated everything those evil jerks stood for. They didn’t fight with honor. They tormented women and children. Their sole purpose was to rule by fear, and they didn’t care who they killed to achieve the power they sought. The one thing we have in common is I’ll blow them away just as quickly.

“Don’t worry, Rafe. I won’t start anything, but I sure as heck will finish it.”

“You’ll need to get in line.” There was a score to be settled, and it might happen sooner than later. “Your gear ready?”

“Always.”

“Good. Have the pilot ready for takeoff tonight.” Rafe ended the call. He hadn’t been home long enough to enjoy his deck or the view of the ocean. He’d thought when he retired from the Air Force he’d have more time to himself. Instead, he found it nearly impossible to sit still. If he wasn’t pulled away because they were hired to do a job, he volunteered for one. Like this one.

Opening the sliding door, he walked out and felt the warm summer breeze envelop him. Phoebe spent her summer breaks from college here with her friend, DeeDee. She’d asked him over and over again to spend his leave there with them. Each time he’d tell her next year. Now it was too late. But he could make it up to Phoebe by making sure Deanna, or DeeDee as Phoebe called her, had a lot more summers ahead of her.

Rafe leaned against the wooden railing looking out over the sea. He’d chosen this spot to build his house years ago because the shoreline reminded him of himself. Calm to look at, but the undertow could be deadly. Phoebe’s death only intensified the storm raging within him. If he could, he’d smash every evil thing. What no one knew was how close he was to letting that evil consume him. It took all his strength to fight it. And as long as he was in this line of work, he was dancing with the devil much too often.

He shouldn’t be worried about Josh; Moreira was going to be the most challenging job yet for Rafe. He needed to remind himself why he was going. If he didn’t stay focused, he might be the reason Deanna would get hurt. I know better. I’m too close to this situation. But it’s too late to pull back. No one knows what’s at stake better than I do.

Pushing away from the railing, he headed back inside. On the inside of the doorway, he took one last look at the carving: Phoebe & DeeDee BFF. Best friends forever. Forever hadn’t been long enough.

He grabbed his gear before heading to the airport where their private jet was waiting. He didn’t need to worry what was missing as he hadn’t unpacked from Tabiq. Same junk, different location. Rafe only hoped the results were positive with no loss of life on their side. Especially not Deanna’s.

---

Deanna was exhausted. Not only had it been a rough flight, but the journey from the airport to the Literacy Corps camp had been bumpy as heck. Two days later she still felt as though every joint in her body had been shaken loose. This trip hadn’t seemed so bad the last time. Could three years have aged her that much?

If someone had told her she’d been in an automobile accident, she would’ve believed them. Could tension be causing such havoc? Deanna knew her nerves were shot. Although the camp wasn’t in the same location, it was close enough. Nothing felt the same, yet everything did. It was crazy, but she seemed to be trapped by the past and unable to function in the present. The entire reason for coming here was so she could move on, have a future, one that included giving to those in need.

She looked around the camp, and everyone was busy doing something. One of the first women she’d met upon her arrival was sitting down with a bunch of children around her, playing her acoustic guitar and singing in the beautiful lilt of the Moresian language. Deanna didn’t remember much of it and the children didn’t speak English, yet they all could enjoy the music, no matter the language. They do say music is the universal language and food for the soul.

Deanna’s soul felt famished, and she realized coming here might not have been to help others as much as it was to help herself. How can I help anyone in the state I’m in?

Before heading back to the solitude of her tent where she’d spent the last two days, she felt a tiny hand slip into hers. Deanna practically leaped from her skin, but the hand didn’t let go. Looking down, she found a child no more than five smiling up at her. The little girl didn’t say anything, only tugged at her to follow.

Deanna couldn’t move. Her body was rigid with fear. The little girl said something, but Deanna couldn’t understand. She was hearing the words but couldn’t process what they meant. She used to know the language and had communicated with the locals before. What changed?

“She wants you to go with her to listen to the music.”

What the heck? That voice wasn’t one she expected to hear. Looking over her shoulder, she saw him looming over her. “What . . . why . . . how?”

“I was in the neighborhood,” Rafe said with a wicked grin.

Oh, yeah. “I didn’t realize you frequented Moreira.” His eyes were piercing, and she needed to turn away.

“I will be here until you’re not.” Her heart skipped a beat. She had no idea what made him say such a thing. She was about to ask when he continued, “Go with her. We can finish this conversation later.”

Deanna looked at the little girl who was still smiling up at her. A persistent thing, aren’t you? As her eyes met Rafe’s, she thought the same thing about him. She finally gave in and let the small child lead the way. She sat on the ground, crossing her legs and leaving plenty of room for the girl to sit beside her. Unexpectedly, she plopped herself on Deanna’s lap and leaned back against her as though she were a comfortable chaise lounge. Normally children kept their distance from strangers. Deanna was pleased the child had taken to her so quickly. Or this might be her way of making sure I stay put. Either way, they spent the next hour in that position.

The music stopped, and the girl bounced off her and scooted away with the other children without even looking back. Deanna finally had relaxed and stopped wondering what Rafe was doing there. Looking around, she found he was nowhere in sight. From everything Phoebe had said about him, there was no way he’d given up. The man was stubborn as the day was long. And a few things she didn’t mention like how dang handsome he is.

She didn’t want to admit, even to herself, that she’d been relieved to know he was there. Deanna had felt so alone until that moment. Although he apparently didn’t linger, just knowing he was in the same country eased her mind.

Coming here was totally her decision. The lengths she’d gone to in order to make it happen were outrageous, to say the least. She, better than anyone, knew what could happen. What did happen. The news never said what really had occurred, and Deanna had no idea why there was a cover-up. Her best guess was they didn’t want to scare off agencies that would then stop volunteering in high-risk areas. But she was under strict orders never to speak about it, and to this day she hadn’t. I guess I have to take it to my grave with everyone else.

Looking around, everyone was going about their business totally ignorant that everything could change in a blink of an eye. Part of her wanted to warn them, but what would that do except throw the entire camp into chaos? They’d also want to know how she knew this when no one else did. Once questioning began, it would be like pulling a string on a sweater. The lies would start to unravel, and there’d be no fixing it.

Knowing this was another reason she’d kept her distance from the others. It was easier to let them believe she was antisocial. Which wasn’t totally untrue. She’d once been outgoing and fun, but she couldn’t remember the last time she’d kicked back and had a good laugh. It probably was with Phoebe. Now there’s nothing I find funny. Nothing to make me smile.

She didn’t need a doctor to tell her she was depressed. Deanna had done several things trying to pull herself out of the dark place she was in. Nothing helped. Her memories of that horrible day were always with her. How did anyone believe she could get past that? Unless they were there, they can’t possibly know what I’ve gone through.

Looking around one last time, she wished she could really be here now—not just physically, but emotionally. There was a part of her that had died that day. Deanna hoped by coming back and finishing what they started she might resurrect it. The will to go on.

She was about to enter her tent when she noticed, far off in the distance, a brief reflection of some sort. It was a shimmer or a flash. She couldn’t really recognize it. Whatever it was, it was shiny, and the sun must’ve reflected off it. There wasn’t anything in that direction for miles.

A chill ran through her. They were being watched. By who? It was a useless effort to strain her eyes in hopes of seeing anything at that distance. Come on. Show yourself. She waited, but nothing moved, and the flicker of light didn’t appear again. Shaking her head, she entered her tent and went to her sleeping bag. She opened an inner lining she had sown in. Sliding her hand in, piece by piece she pulled out a gun. It wasn’t powerful and didn’t hold many rounds but enough that, close range, she might take out one of those scumbags before they got her.

For the next hour, she sat holding a tiny flashlight in her mouth as she carefully assembled the gun like she was shown by the guy who sold it to her. She’d practiced it many times at home, but this was different. Her hands were shaking as though her life might depend on getting it right.

She held it in her hand and realized something. She’d practiced putting it together, but not once had she ever pulled the trigger. It’d taken a tragedy to get her to hold a gun, but shooting it was an entirely different story. I hope I never have to find out if I can.

Deanna turned off the flashlight and climbed inside the sleeping bag. It was still early, but she needed to shut off her mind for a few minutes. Whoever was watching them might decide to make their move in the dark while everyone was asleep. But she’d be up, and even though they didn’t know it, she’d be watching over them. For whatever little good I may be.