Page 6 of Honoring Lena

Four

Lena staredout the wall-to-ceiling windows at Lake Coeur d’Alene in northern Idaho as she stalked to Mr. Rand’s office. She had to admit the scenery took her breath away. Though, as beautiful as it was, it couldn’t compare to her Alaskan mountains.

They’d arrived late the night before after racing to the airport and hopscotching across the nation. Ed had been waiting on the small airport’s tarmac, and he and Mr. Rand had whispered low before Mr. Rand had clapped Ed on the shoulder. Ed had lingered in the hug he’d given Carter, the corner of his eyes crinkled in concern. Something big had happened, and even though Mr. Rand had many opportunities to explain, she still had limited intel, which caused her muscles to twitch in anticipation of the unknown.

That would change in about two-point-three seconds, whether or not Mr. Rand was ready to spew. Lena flexed her fingers, the snapping sound reminding her to relax. Her ma had always said Lena was too quick to push her objectives, insisting she’d get people to see her way if she used a chisel instead of a wrecking ball. Lena had chiseled away the day before and all morning with questioning looks and pointed statements. With Carter taking a nap, it was past time to call in the heavy equipment.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, startling her to a stop. She hadn’t left it in the plane like Mr. Rand had insisted all the security detail, even himself, do. Rafe had put so much protection on her phone, there would be no way for anyone to track it, and she needed a secure way to contact the team. Since taking this assignment, she hadn’t talked with anyone but her weekly check-in with Zeke and the monthly calls to her ma. Everyone knew she hated being bothered while working.

She pulled out the phone and rolled her eyes when her brother’s picture smiled up at her. Bjørn always was the first to push her buttons. He was also her closest sibling. Surviving war together would do that.

“What?” Lena huffed into the phone as she scanned the lake’s shore.

“Wow, Lena, it’s so nice to talk to you too.” Bjørn’s exaggerated cheerfulness had her eyes heading toward the back of her lids again.

She shook her head to stop the childish motion. Her nerves made her snarky—well, snarkier than normal. Her brother didn’t deserve her ire.

“Sorry. It’s been a trying day.” She took a calming breath while she watched a pair of ducks glide across the lake’s surface.

“What? A toddler’s too much for you to handle? Do you need reinforcements?” Bjørn snickered, and her eyes narrowed.

What was she thinking when she told him the basics of this job? Note to self: cut Bjørn off of inside information and beat him to a pulp at the next possible opportunity. She smiled at the thought of their next sparring round. She’d make sure he paid.

“All right. Unless you have a reason for calling, I’m hanging up.” Lena glanced down the hall, then checked the video feed of Carter that streamed to her watch.

Having a rich boss had its advantages. Her watch would beep and vibrate on her wrist when it detected movement in the room. Perfect for watching out for intruders and keeping tabs on a little boy who liked to sneak out of his room and find himself a snack.

“I wanted you to know that I finally found her.” Bjørn’s excitement pulled at her through the phone, and she was suddenly glad for the chance to talk to him.

“You mean you finally got someone to date you?” Lena smirked at her own joke, then went in for the kill. “Did Ma have to set you up again?”

“No, Lena, my bird. I finally found the perfect helicopter.” He made a noise that bordered on a snort. “And, I’ll have you know, I have no problem finding dates on my own.”

With his handsome looks and daring personality, she doubted he had any trouble at all. Which made her wonder why he hadn’t found someone in the last year since he’d been out of the military? For that matter, why hadn’t he dated much while in the military?

“Is she everything you ever wanted?” Lena teased.

“And more. This beaut has all the whistles. I’ll be able to use it guiding, search and rescue, air tours, you name it.”

She could picture him flying over the Alaskan Range, the midnight sun shining brightly through the windshield. The longing for home hit her hard and fast, like a perfectly aimed right hook to the solar plexus. She closed her eyes, willing the emotion to leave.

She cleared her throat and forced her words out. “That sounds amazing.”

Bjørn continued like he didn’t notice the thickness in her voice. Which didn’t surprise her. She knew how he could get tunnel vision. It seemed to be a family trait, whether good or bad.

“I’m in Spokane picking her up right now.” The distinct ch-ch of a helicopter sounded in the background.

“Spokane? When do you leave?”

He was only about thirty minutes away. The need to see family burned so hot she almost told him where she was. Could she get a few hours off to run and see him? She shook her head.

Don’t be a ninny.

She didn’t know why Mr. Rand had raced them across the country. If it was half as bad as he made it out to be, then she wouldn’t be seeing her family or anyone else for a while. She really needed to go talk to him and figure out what was going on.

“I’m flying out tomorrow, probably early afternoon. I need to do a few things before I leave, make sure she’s ready for the long trip. Plan on hopping her home to the parents’ in time for the anniversary party.” His words sank heavy to the bottom of her stomach.

She’d forgotten all about her parents’ thirty-fifth anniversary. They’d be having a big shindig at the ranch with all the siblings, aunts and uncles, and cousins. She hadn’t been to a gathering in so long, she wondered if she’d even recognize anyone.

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