Page 24 of Under Fire

“I’m sure they’re around here somewhere, Karl. I suggest you look harder for them,” Striker said with a straight face, knowing that he wouldn’t find them. He had hidden them too well.

“I have looked, and now you’re acting strange. Why?”

Striker frowned. “I’m not acting strange.”

“Yes, you are. But no problem,” Karl said, dropping his arms from his chest. “I know how to operate a television without a remote.” He turned to leave the room.

Shit! Striker hadn’t thought of that possibility. “Wait!” he called out.

His sharp command made Karl turn back. He frowned and asked. “Wait for what?”

At that moment, Striker heard a car pull up and let out a deep breath. Then his phone beeped. Perfect timing.

“You expecting someone?” Karl asked, eyeing Striker, evidently having heard the car as well.

“That’s Danger. He has something to tell you.”

“Something like what?”

By the downcast look that suddenly appeared in Karl’s eyes, Striker knew he was thinking the worst. Obviously, Striker hadn’t answered Karl quickly enough, and he slowly strolled toward him with a mixture of anger and fear in his features. “Something like what, Striker?” he asked again.

When Striker still didn’t say anything, Karl paused and asked in a trembling voice. “It’s about Nyla, isn’t it? Those bastards found out where she was, didn’t they?”

When Striker refused to respond, Karl roared at the top of his lungs. “Dammit, Striker! Answer me! Did they find out where she was?”

The door suddenly opened, and Locke stood there. Karl slowly backed up, as if Locke coming here could mean only one thing. Pain and anguish were etched in Karl’s features when he said, “Please tell me nothing has happened to Nyla.”

Instead of answering, Locke moved aside, and a woman stood there.

Striker watched Karl go completely still. Then he whispered hoarsely as he stretched out his arms. “Nyla.”

The woman raced across the room to Karl. He held her as though he was convincing himself she was really there and not a figment of his imagination.

Then he kissed her, and to Striker’s way of thinking, it was going on for too long and was way too passionate for an audience. However, a part of him understood. He recalled a time when he’d thought he had lost his woman, too. So, he knew every emotion Karl was feeling and felt he had every right to experience them. But still, enough was enough.

He was about to speak up and say so, but Locke beat him to the punch when he loudly spoke up. “Excuse us.”

When the couple reluctantly parted, Locke then said, “We understand that the two of you are glad to see each other and all, but I need to tell you what went down, Karl. So, please kindly spare us a few minutes of your attention. You’ll have plenty of time to continue that later.”

Karl held Nyla close to his side. “How much time will I have?” Karl asked, breaking eye contact with Locke to stare down at Nyla, as if he couldn’t believe she was really there. By his question, it was obvious that being with Nyla meant more to him than listening to anything Locke had to say.

“All the time you want. While you’re here, she will be here, too.”

Karl whipped his head up to stare at Locke. “She’s staying here with me?”

“Yes.”

Karl closed his eyes for a moment as if what he’d been told was the best news he had heard in a long time. Then he did something that both Striker and Locke had never seen him do before. He smiled.

Then he said, “Thanks, Locke.”

Locke chuckled. “Hey, don’t thank me. It was Striker, Quasar, and Stonewall’s idea. They convinced me that it made sense to protect you both here together.”

Karl looked at Striker. “Thanks, man.”

“No thanks needed. Me, Quasar, and Stonewall have wives, so we understand you wanting your woman here with you. Since Danger doesn’t have a woman, he was kind of slow to catch on.”

Locke rolled his eyes and then said, “Let’s all have a seat at that table. My private investigator is making sure we weren’t followed and will join us in a minute.”