Read Online ASHFORD (Gray Wolf Security #5) by Glenna Sinclair - Free Book Online
Authors: Glenna Sinclair
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cottage, and they could stay here at the house when they’re in town.”
“I don’t know, Ash.”
“It would be rent-free. And you could keep your house or sell it…whatever works best for you.”
She shook her head. “You’re too generous.”
“You’re important to us here, Rose. We’re family.”
She nodded, a slow smile creasing her face. “I’ll think about it.” She touched my shoulder as she walked away.
I felt eyes on me and looked up to find Mina watching from across the room. She looked away as soon as she realized she was caught, but there was something there for that split second that made me feel…adored.
Stupid thought.
I turned back to the computer, but I couldn’t concentrate. I tugged the file out of its drawer and flipped it open, reading things I’d already read a dozen times before.
Alexandra Hamill, missing in action. Presumed dead.
Those words haunted me. If I closed my eyes, I could see her tugging up the zipper on the back of her designer dress, winking at me as she picked up her pocket book and headed for the door. I could hear her little giggle when I kissed her neck in the middle of a room full of terrorists and whispered for her to be careful.
I could even hear her last words to me over the comms.
Got what we need. See you at the rendezvous point, my love.
But when I got to the rendezvous point, she wasn’t there. I waited longer than I should have, risked detection by the enemy, because I couldn’t leave without her. I couldn’t wrap my mind around the idea that she might be lost. I wanted to go back. I had to find her myself. When they stopped me…I will never let anyone stop me from such a thing again.
There was a new note in the file. A couple of weeks ago, I’d gotten a call from the CIA agent who was Alexi’s handler. He’d told me some things, off the record, that corresponded with David’s file. The thing was, he was basically telling me these things to convince me, once and for all, to stop looking for her. I guess he was taking heat from the higher ups about my continuing investigation.
I didn’t want to believe him, but he was the one person in the position to know the things he’d implied.
“I thought you might need some more.”
I looked up, and Mina was there, the baby wiggling in his little cocoon, a cup of coffee in her hands. She’d caught on to my obsession with strong coffee rather quickly, though the cups she brought me were sometimes a lot better than the ones I made myself.
I slipped the mug out of her hand. “Thanks.”
“I’m gonna take Ford upstairs, if you need me.”
I watched her turn and head toward the stairs. I had this overwhelming urge to ask her to stay, but I didn’t act on it.
Once again, I turned back to my work and tried to concentrate while also listening for Mina and the baby to come back downstairs. I hoped she felt welcome here. I’d noticed her sitting back from everyone else when we gathered for meals. Donovan and Joss often tried to draw her out, and she spoke to them. However, I got the impression that she didn’t feel a part of them, of the friendship that had been three years in the making.
She would. Soon, I hoped.
“Ash,” David said, rushing across the room, his cell phone held out in front of him. “Joss is in labor.”
“Send a team over.”
***
We were all in a rush to get to the hospital—especially Kirkland, who arrived with a police cruiser following him—but Joss was in labor for almost twelve hours. By the time an exhausted Carrington finally came out of the delivery room, we were barely able to keep our eyes open.
“It’s a girl!”
And then the enthusiasm returned in spades, everyone laughing and oohing and awing over the newest member of our family. She had light-colored hair like her mother, and it looked like she’d probably have Carrington’s green eyes. McKelty, Carrington’s eight-year-old daughter—almost nine, she was quick to remind everyone—couldn’t take
“I don’t know, Ash.”
“It would be rent-free. And you could keep your house or sell it…whatever works best for you.”
She shook her head. “You’re too generous.”
“You’re important to us here, Rose. We’re family.”
She nodded, a slow smile creasing her face. “I’ll think about it.” She touched my shoulder as she walked away.
I felt eyes on me and looked up to find Mina watching from across the room. She looked away as soon as she realized she was caught, but there was something there for that split second that made me feel…adored.
Stupid thought.
I turned back to the computer, but I couldn’t concentrate. I tugged the file out of its drawer and flipped it open, reading things I’d already read a dozen times before.
Alexandra Hamill, missing in action. Presumed dead.
Those words haunted me. If I closed my eyes, I could see her tugging up the zipper on the back of her designer dress, winking at me as she picked up her pocket book and headed for the door. I could hear her little giggle when I kissed her neck in the middle of a room full of terrorists and whispered for her to be careful.
I could even hear her last words to me over the comms.
Got what we need. See you at the rendezvous point, my love.
But when I got to the rendezvous point, she wasn’t there. I waited longer than I should have, risked detection by the enemy, because I couldn’t leave without her. I couldn’t wrap my mind around the idea that she might be lost. I wanted to go back. I had to find her myself. When they stopped me…I will never let anyone stop me from such a thing again.
There was a new note in the file. A couple of weeks ago, I’d gotten a call from the CIA agent who was Alexi’s handler. He’d told me some things, off the record, that corresponded with David’s file. The thing was, he was basically telling me these things to convince me, once and for all, to stop looking for her. I guess he was taking heat from the higher ups about my continuing investigation.
I didn’t want to believe him, but he was the one person in the position to know the things he’d implied.
“I thought you might need some more.”
I looked up, and Mina was there, the baby wiggling in his little cocoon, a cup of coffee in her hands. She’d caught on to my obsession with strong coffee rather quickly, though the cups she brought me were sometimes a lot better than the ones I made myself.
I slipped the mug out of her hand. “Thanks.”
“I’m gonna take Ford upstairs, if you need me.”
I watched her turn and head toward the stairs. I had this overwhelming urge to ask her to stay, but I didn’t act on it.
Once again, I turned back to my work and tried to concentrate while also listening for Mina and the baby to come back downstairs. I hoped she felt welcome here. I’d noticed her sitting back from everyone else when we gathered for meals. Donovan and Joss often tried to draw her out, and she spoke to them. However, I got the impression that she didn’t feel a part of them, of the friendship that had been three years in the making.
She would. Soon, I hoped.
“Ash,” David said, rushing across the room, his cell phone held out in front of him. “Joss is in labor.”
“Send a team over.”
***
We were all in a rush to get to the hospital—especially Kirkland, who arrived with a police cruiser following him—but Joss was in labor for almost twelve hours. By the time an exhausted Carrington finally came out of the delivery room, we were barely able to keep our eyes open.
“It’s a girl!”
And then the enthusiasm returned in spades, everyone laughing and oohing and awing over the newest member of our family. She had light-colored hair like her mother, and it looked like she’d probably have Carrington’s green eyes. McKelty, Carrington’s eight-year-old daughter—almost nine, she was quick to remind everyone—couldn’t take
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