Forged in Steele

CHAPTER 16

STEELE dropped his bag inside the KGI war room and impatiently scanned the room for Sam and Garrett. Their mission had been extended by a few days because of unforeseen complications and he was more than ready to report in and get the hell out. Maren likely thought he’d bailed on her entirely, and he was eager to prove her wrong by returning as he’d promised.

Donovan “Van” Kelly dropped his bag next to Steele’s and rubbed a hand through his hair. Van had gone with them, not surprisingly. The mission had involved recovering two abducted children who had been held for ransom. Van had a soft spot a mile long and a mile wide for women and children, and he participated in every mission having to do with either, but especially kids.

Steele had thought many times that he was surprised Van hadn’t already settled down and had a brood of children. Instead, he was one of only two Kelly brothers who hadn’t married or started having families.

The rest of Steele’s team straggled in behind him and Van. They all looked tired and in need of some downtime. Though Van was notorious for his soft spot for children, the fact was that whenever children were at stake, his team’s emotions became more involved. It was never easy to know they might find the worst when going after a kidnapped child.

Fortunately for them, this time the children had been safely recovered. Their father, a wealthy businessman in New York City, had been targeted, despite his high security measures, and his two children had been kidnapped from school when their nanny had gone with the security detail assigned to the children to pick them up.

The nanny had been shot and was even now in critical condition. One of the guards had taken a bullet to his vest and one of the other men had been killed when he’d attempted to fire on the kidnappers.

It was a clusterfuck from the word go, and the kidnappers had made it clear they’d kill the children in a very bloody fashion if the money wasn’t handed over.

Once Steele, along with Van and his team had retrieved the children, they’d been tied up for days with red tape and the FBI. It chapped Steele’s ass, but only when Adam Resnick, their shadowy CIA contact, had pulled some strings, had the dust settled and Steele’s team been released to go on their way.

The media had a field day, saying a top secret “government” agency specializing in the retrieval of abducted children had been commissioned to go in and take the kidnappers out. Thankfully, the FBI was more than willing to take the credit for the mission. Had it gone wrong, Steele wasn’t under any misconception that they wouldn’t have been quick to point the finger.

But the kids’ father had called in KGI. He knew who had gotten his kids out and he’d paid the hefty fee along with expressing his heartfelt thanks to Steele and his team. Steele shoved off and had let Sam take the gratitude. That wasn’t his thing. He liked it better when he worked in anonymity.

And now, he just wanted to be done with the whole thing so he could take the R and R he’d tried to take before. Only this time, he was going to make it clear that unless the world was going to end, he wasn’t taking a mission for at least a month. An entire month with Maren in Costa Rica? Now that the idea had taken root, he was obsessed with seeing it to the end. He was already imagining their evenings together in her garden. And the nights in her bed.

For the first time ever, he had a place to go after a mission. He had other interests other than retreating to his farmhouse and spending his time in solitude. And he liked it. He was eager to spend time with Maren. If he could only hurry the process along with Sam and Garrett. Maybe he could dump the mission report on Van. He’d been there and had taken just as active a role as Steele or any of his team.

He turned to Van as they waited for Sam to get off the phone. Whatever it was Sam was discussing, it wasn’t good and he wanted no part of it. Garrett stood right next to Sam so he could hear what was going on and his expression didn’t look any better than Sam’s.

“Can you tag this one?” he asked Van. “I’ve got places to be.”

Van wasn’t the only one who gave Steele a surprised look. Dolphin, who was right behind Steele and Donovan, arched both eyebrows but remained silent.

“Yeah I’ve got it. You and your team can head out.”

“I’m off the books for the next month,” Steele said shortly. “My team needs the downtime. I need the downtime. Rio can draw the next mission and if he can’t, Nathan and Joe can take it. They’re ready.”

“Steele, I need you to hang out a minute,” Sam called from several feet away.

Steele glanced up to see Sam holding the phone down from his mouth while he stared intently in Steele’s direction. His expression was grim and his entire body was tense. Shit.

“I’m late for some overdue downtime,” Steele said.

Sam held up his hand. “I know,” he said quietly. “But this is important. I wouldn’t hold you up if it weren’t.”

Steele’s team shifted behind him, already in warrior mode. They all tensed, ready to hear what was going down. And he liked that about them. Always ready for action. Alert and attentive. But not now, goddamn it. Sam’s timing sucked ass.

Steele sighed in resignation and then turned to Van. “Guess I’ll give him the report if I have to stick around.”

Van shot him a curious look. “Everything okay with you, man? Not used to seeing you . . . agitated.”

Steele ignored the question, not that it would come as any surprise. He was more glad than ever that he’d never been open with anyone at KGI. He had no desire to get into what was eating at him. Instead he focused on the rest of the occupants of the room.

Nathan and Joe were still training with their team, so all members of it were present and accounted for. Over the last several months, they’d spent most of their time on the training facilities onsite and had bunked in the building built for team housing. Steele had overheard Skylar and Edge talking about their plans to move their permanent residences closer so they’d never be very far from the compound.

So far things were looking very good with the new team. Steele had to give them credit. They were sharp and eager to learn and they didn’t have huge egos, which was a big positive when it came to training. There was nothing more annoying than having some know-it-all rookie convinced he already knew everything there was to know. Those were the kind you couldn’t teach shit to because they were already convinced they had it all down.

Steele liked the newest recruits, which was saying a lot since he didn’t tend to like anyone. Except his own team and the Kellys. They had his loyalty and his regard. That was in stone. But Skylar and Edge were fast earning his hard-won respect. Skylar was a crack shot. P.J. had even taken the time to work with her and P.J. had been impressed, which again was saying a lot since P.J. wasn’t easily impressed by anyone. But Skylar wasn’t a one-trick pony. In addition to her sharpshooting skills, she was lethal in hand-to-hand combat and with a knife. She’d surprised the hell out of all of them when she’d gotten the upper hand in training exercises with Garrett. The much larger man had landed on his back more than once. Felled by a woman half his size. Everyone was still giving him shit over that.

Edge was quiet and reserved and had a sharp eye for detail. Steele appreciated those qualities in anyone. He wasn’t loud, didn’t need to be heard on every matter and he paid attention. He was a mountain of a guy, easily the biggest guy in KGI. Garrett had always been the biggest guy, but Edge made him look small.

Dolphin moved up next to Steele. “What’s going on?” he asked in a low voice.

Steele broke his study of the other team and turned to Dolphin, noticing that P.J., Cole, Baker and Renshaw had all moved closer to hear.

“Hell if I know,” Steele returned. “It must not be good, with the way Sam and Garrett are looking.”

P.J. frowned but didn’t offer comment. Steele’s entire team was studying the room as if searching for some clue.

Most everyone was present and accounted for. Except Rio’s team, and he didn’t think it had anything to do with Rio or his team. They weren’t currently involved in a mission, having drawn one right before Steele and his team had been called up to take the kidnapping case.

Ethan wasn’t here, but that was to be expected. He’d taken leave since the twins were born and was spending his time at home with Rachel and their sons. Which was exactly where he needed to be. Ethan might have made mistakes earlier in his marriage to Rachel, but he was more than making up for those now. It didn’t escape Steele how happy the couple was now, and with the birth of the newest Kelly family members it was generally a festive time in the family and within the organization that extended beyond just the Kelly family.

It might be a little mushy, but Steele did consider himself a part of the family that was KGI. There was nothing sappy about it. They were loyal and they had each other’s backs. Always. Loyalty was everything to Steele. It was an essential part of his makeup. It was instilled in every team member’s training. And P.J. had experienced firsthand just how deep that loyalty ran when she’d tried to go off on her own. He didn’t think she’d ever pull a stunt like that again. And that suited him fine. He might have been a loner in all other aspects of his life, but when it came to his team, they were a solid, unbreakable unit.

So other than Rio and his team, everyone else was accounted for, which meant whatever was going down likely meant another mission he couldn’t say no to. Damn it. The one time he actually wanted the time off to spend on personal interests and he couldn’t catch a break.

Sam got off the phone and murmured quietly to Garrett, whose scowl only got bigger. Then Garrett swore forcefully, something that would get him into trouble with his wife, Sarah, if she was within hearing distance. The big man had tried his best to curb his tongue and the swearing he was infamous for. But when he was away from Sarah, the expletives still flew.

Sam walked over to where the others stood with Steele, his tone grave. “Okay, listen up. Maren is missing.”

The words were like a fist to Steele’s gut. He never imagined that whatever had Sam on edge involved Maren. His blood ran cold and fear, an unfamiliar emotion, gripped him by the balls.

“What the fuck?” Steele demanded.

Nathan and Joe and their team reacted with surprise at Steele’s explosive reaction. They closed in, falling in on Sam’s right side and across from Steele and his team.

“I was just there,” Steele continued before Sam could respond. “That’s where I was when you called me up on this mission. Everything was fine. You’re telling me she’s gone missing since then?”

Sam’s brow furrowed. “You saw her when?”

Ignoring the inquisitive looks from everyone in the room, Steele focused on Sam. “I was there when you called me up. It’s why it took me twelve hours to get here. That was, what, a week ago?”

Sam and Garrett exchanged glances.

“She must have gone missing right after you left,” Garrett said. “Her brother called us. He and their parents are frantic. She typically emails them several times a week. Calls them at least once. They’re in constant contact. Her brother got worried because they hadn’t heard anything from her. Nothing since nine days ago, which was before you left her.”

“She didn’t talk to them on the phone while I was there,” Steele said. “No idea if she was emailing them or not. I was only there two days when I got called up. Has anyone visually confirmed she’s missing, or is this just them being worried?”

Sam dragged a hand through his hair, his expression growing more grim.

“I’ve had someone keep an eye on her ever since we pulled her out of Africa. Nothing major. She wouldn’t have liked it knowing I was using resources to keep tabs on her. I just wanted to make sure she was safe and if anything went down, I wanted to know about it. My guy there says her clinic hasn’t been opened in a week. Looks like she disappeared not long after you left, Steele.”

“What’s being done?” Steele cut in. “Who do we have there? What can they tell us?”

“He’s questioning the locals, but I’m concerned enough that I want to send in a team. Rio makes the most sense because he’s closer.”

“Fuck that,” Steele growled. “Me and my team are taking this.”

Sam’s brow furrowed. Donovan looked equally surprised and Garrett frowned.

Steele’s team stirred beside him. They were on edge, just like he was.

“I agree,” Cole said shortly. “By the time Rio pulls his team in from God knows where, we could already be on the ground. We’re all here and accounted for. We can load and go within an hour.”

Steele nodded, as did all his other team members.

“We could go as well,” Joe spoke up. “We’re ready. Our team is here.”

“No,” Steele bit out again. “This is our mission. With or without your blessing.”

Donovan blew out his breath. “I’m inclined to agree with Steele.” He cast an apologetic look in his brother’s direction. “Sorry, Joe. It’s not that we don’t have confidence in you, but we don’t want your first mission to be something like this where we don’t know shit and are basically flying blind into God only knows what. This is personal. Maren is important to all of us. And we need to move fast.”

Again, Steele nodded. “We can move out now.”

“I’ll go with them,” Donovan said.

Sam glanced at Garrett. “I thought we gave the orders around here?”

Garrett shrugged. “The job’s gotta get done. Seems to me we need to go the most expedient route. Steele and his team have the experience. They’re here. Why wait?”

“I’m going with you,” Sam said tersely. “You’ll go, Steele, but I’m going with you. No way in hell I’m going to hang Maren out to dry. She’s done too much for this family, this organization.”

“Well, fuck, someone has to stay here and sit on things, and it’s sure as hell not going to be me,” Garrett said. “Maren’s one of us. No way in hell I’m going to sit it out.”

Steele held his hands up. “Look, I get it. Maren is one of us. But this would go a lot smoother if you’d just let my team handle it. We’ll keep in constant contact with you, and if we need backup you can have the new team at the ready.”

Donovan looked like he was digging his heels in. Steele knew that look. While Donovan might be a more affable, easygoing member of the Kelly clan, when he set his mind on something, he was like a pit bull latched onto a prime piece of beef. It didn’t help that he had a huge weakness for women and children. The fact that Maren was a woman and was someone extremely important to the Kellys just sealed it.

“Sam and Garrett can stay here. I’m going with you,” Donovan said.

Garrett raised one eyebrow. “I’d love to know who died and left you in charge, little brother.”

Donovan held up his middle finger. “While we’re standing here arguing like a bunch of fucking two-year-olds, we could be moving out and finding out what the hell happened to Maren.”

“Hooyah,” Cole muttered.

“Hell yeah, hooyah,” Dolphin echoed.

“I’m with Van on this one,” P.J. said resolutely. “We’re wasting time that we could be using to find Maren and kick the motherfucker’s ass who messed with her.”

Sam held up his hands again. “We don’t know if anyone has messed with her. No sense going off half-cocked until we know for sure what’s going on.”

But his expression remained doubtful. Donovan spoke up, saying what was in the backs of all their minds.

“If Maren went off the grid without telling anyone, she’s in trouble.”

Baker and Renshaw stepped forward, their expressions determined. But it was Skylar who interjected next.

“So when are we going to be turned loose?”

Everyone turned toward Skylar when her softly spoken question filled the short silence.

Her lips were drawn into a tight line. Edge stood beside her; the only hint of his thoughts was the slight narrowing of his eyes. Swanny stood behind Skylar, quiet, away from the others. That was just Swanny’s nature. He was self-conscious about the jagged scar that covered one side of his face. He’d been captured with Nathan when both were still in the army, and they’d both been imprisoned and endured months of unspeakable torture.

It was easy to forget Swanny’s presence because the man rarely spoke. He was a lot like Edge in that regard, but no one could ever overlook Edge. The man was too huge. Swanny blended. A perfect chameleon. You could be in the same room with him and forget he was even there. He was a master at never drawing attention to himself.

Nathan looked calm, but his twin, Joe, simmered with impatience and frustration. But then of the two, Nathan was the more laid-back. Joe was more hot tempered and quick to want to act. Steele could understand that. But no way in hell was he standing down from this mission. He and only he would go after Maren and make damn sure she got back home safely. And while he was at it, he was going to convince her that practicing medicine in the middle of fucking nowhere in Costa Rica was a bullshit idea. She needed to be back stateside where it was safe. Where he and KGI could keep a better eye on her.

“You’ll get a mission when we say you do,” Garrett directed at Skylar. “And not one minute before. Maren is very important to us and not just because of the medical services she provides our teams. She’s family. We send the best, and right now the best is not you.”

The blunt assessment was enough to make a lesser person cringe. But Skylar and the rest of her team stared back at Garrett, and Skylar nodded.

“Fair enough,” she said.

“Now if we’re done?” Steele interjected. “We’re wasting time.”

“Let’s roll,” Donovan said.

As Donovan started by Steele, Steele stuck out his hand to catch Donovan’s arm.

“We do this my way,” Steele said in a low voice. “My team. My mission. My way.”

The corner of Donovan’s mouth turned up. “Is it ever any way else?”

Dolphin snickered, having overheard the exchange. “He’s got you there, boss man.”

“I want to know what the hell is going on as soon as you hit the ground there,” Sam said. “And I want to know the minute you find out what the fuck happened to her.”

Steele nodded. “My first priority is her safety and whatever I have to do to secure it. My second priority will be keeping you in the loop.”

Garrett chuckled. “Ouch. I’d say he just schooled you on the way things are in Steele’s world.”

Sam’s lip curled and his eyes narrowed. “As long as I sign your fucking paychecks I expect you to follow my goddamn orders.”

“You can shove that paycheck up your ass,” Steele snapped. “Now if we’re done here, I have more important things to do than to stand here with this petty bullshit bickering.”

He turned and strode out of the war room, his mind filled with images of Maren. Maren smiling. Maren underneath him. How she smelled. How she tasted. And now she was fucking missing. No one knew where the hell she was. Her family, whoever the hell Sam had watching out for her. They’d done a piss-poor job and that enraged him. If they’d been doing their fucking job, he wouldn’t be about to get on a fucking plane to go hunt down the son of a bitch who’d put his hands on her.

He knew he was jumping to hasty conclusions. Maren could simply have gone away. She could be on vacation. She might have had an emergency. But no matter how many possibilities he came up with, he knew that it was none of those things. Maren was uberresponsible. She wasn’t flighty. She was as steady and as stable as they came. Always had a welcoming smile, a warm shoulder. Always offered comfort and reassurance. She was good to her toes. Sunshine and sugar all in one package.

There was no way she would take off without telling her family. Which meant that whatever had happened to her wasn’t by her choice. If some asshole hurt her, so help him, he was going to take the son of a bitch apart with his hands.