Page 86 of Duty Bound

He couldn’t right now if he wanted to.

If only he knew Lily was alright. If she got away safely.

Patience was not his strongest point, but like with his broken body, answers would have to wait.

CHAPTER 31

Lily was going slowly insane.

She’d been back a week, and they’d heard nothing.

Pat had pulled all the strings he could. He’d spoken to his contacts in Kabul—those in the new government and those still in hiding—but no one knew anything about the former Special Forces squad leader.

“It’s like he’s disappeared off the face of the earth.”

“That’s how they’re trained,” Pat told her. “If he’s on the run, he’s keeping a low profile. Staying under the radar.”

“But for so long?”

“It’s complicated out there, you know that.”

She sure did. Escaping wouldn’t be easy, even with Stitch’s help.

The Department of Defense man had reappeared. They’d sat at Pat’s dining table while she told him everything about what had happened, starting with Blade rescuing her from the cave network in the mountains.

“We didn’t sanction any military evacuation,” the man had barked.

Pat cleared his throat. “No, but your boss did. Off the record.”

The DoD man didn’t mention it again. “How’d you get through the checkpoint?”

Lily told him about the guard recognizing her, and Blade shooting him. Then he’d surrendered, allowing her to escape.

“Brave fella.”

Pat gave a knowing grunt.

“And who drove you?”

“Someone he bribed into service.” No way would she give up Stitch.

“So, a local couple gave you a lift to Kabul?”

“That’s right, and when I got there I called Pat.”

Pat took over then, keeping it brief and not giving away any of his contacts. Most of the people he’d dealt with were in hiding and would be executed if discovered by the Taliban.

The meeting ended, and Pat saw the DoD guy out. Lily was glad that was over, although part of her was still in Afghanistan with Blade.

Another week passed. Lily had gnawed off all her fingernails. Even Pat walked around with a long, hang-dog face.

“There must be something we can do.”

Pat worked his jaw. “The boys know what to do. They’ll get themselves out of this.”

But she could tell by his tone he was beginning to fear the worst.

Staying at Pat’s house reminded her of when her mother had passed away and Joe’s parents had taken her into their home.

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