Page 2 of Fallen Hero

“I don’t disagree, but . . .”

I stopped listening. My attention was pulled to the street below and the silver Maybach rolling to a stop at the valet stand. I would’ve preferred a sea-view room at the Park Hyatt, however, the room I was in with the view of the parking area was tactically the better option.

“I have to go. Amir is here.”

“Twenty-four-hour check-ins,” he demanded. “No excuses.”

I swallowed my snarky retort.

I had work to do.

“Bye, Tom.”

I disconnected.

Checked my hair on the way past the mirror and left my hotel room.

I did this wondering what Mason was doing, and if I called him to ask for his help, if I could keep my hands to myself.

Probably not.

I’d be begging him for a quick and dirty romp before the first twenty-four hours was up.

Damn.

Mason Hughes

Downrange Ranch

“I think you’re cheating,” Ryan groused as he handed over three ten-dollar bills to Cat.

“Loser!” Fallon called out from the chair next to me.

I took a swig from my beer and for once kept my mouth shut. I was enjoying the show too much to interject.

The day was warm, the sun was shining, the sound of rapid gunfire not aimed at me was the perfect lullaby to help me relax.

“Rematch?” Cat offered for the fourth time.

Ryan nodded, and the shooters moved away from the match stage to the table with their ammo. Pete ambled out to the targets and placed stickers over the holes in the paper ones while Jack reset the steel.

“What’s up with you?” Fallon asked.

“Nothing, why?”

“You’ve missed numerous golden opportunities to bust Ryan’s balls, and you’re sitting quietly.”

“You’ve got it handled,” I reminded him.

My friend narrowed his eyes.

“Are you sick? You never miss an opportunity to flap your gums.”

“What are you, seventy-two? No one says that anymore.”

“That’s not an answer,” he pointed out.

Maybe not, but I didn’t have an answer for him. At least not one that made sense. Something had felt off since we’d come home from Mexico. Like there was a disturbance in the Force. Like there was unfinished business out there, and it was making me antsy.