Page 56 of Chasing the Past

“The two men are dead. Can you tell me what happened?”

Sashi did her best to explain the horrific details Carter had divulged before she was forced to shoot him. She couldn’t take her eyes off Eli. Couldn’t let him go again.

Will blew out a long whistle. “So, Gavin and Carter were in on what’s happening. I don’t suppose Carter gave anything away about what they had planned?”

The paramedic prepared Eli for transport to the hospital.

“I’m going with him.” She rose along with Will. “Carter mentioned a CIA officer by the name of Luke Mattis. Carter claimed Luke was the one who was working with Rafiq and McDowell.”

Will nodded. “Go, we’ll check on Mattis.”

Still holding Eli’s hand, Sashi stayed at his side throughout the ride to the hospital. When Eli was rushed into surgery, she found a chair.

“Please, don’t let him die. Please . . .”

The love she had shared with Eli came pouring back. That night in Kunduz, she’d left her suitcase with Fatima to retrieve some photos and Tahir’s watch. There was something about it . . .Tahir’s father had given it to him upon his graduation from college. Tahir wore it everywhere he went until a few days before his death. When she’d asked why he’d taken it off, he’d told her the clasp was broken. A few hours before he died, Tahir left a message on her phone telling her to keep the watch protected and not let anyone have it.

She searched the house for the watch but hadn’t been able to find it until later when she’d found it jammed behind his nightstand drawer. The clasp had been working then.

She’d packed it along with photos of Kahli’s deceased father and mother and moved. When she’d prepared to be evacuated with Eli and his team, she’d forgotten the watch and went back for it.

The doctor who had operated on Eli approached, bringing Sashi from her thoughts. He was smiling and some of her fears lessened.

“Is he going to be okay?”

“Yes, he’s a very fortunate man. He’s still unconscious but he should be waking up soon. I’ll show you to his room.”

Sashi followed him to the end of the hallway.

“Right in here.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

The doctor smiled and left her.

Sashi stepped inside and covered her mouth with her hand. Eli looked so pale. She stopped beside the bed and sat down in a chair. “I love you, Eli. You have to get better . . . for me.”

She picked up his hand, held it between hers, and raised it to press a kiss against his skin. “Please come back to me.”

She stayed in that position, holding his hand and watching him for hours, all while praying for him to awaken.

Footsteps coming down the hall had her standing and turning toward the door. The entire Hope Island Securities team filed into the room, including Will.

“We got here as soon as we could. How is he?” JT asked Sashi as everyone gathered around their partner’s bedside.

“He’s going to be okay. He should be waking up soon.”

Relief rippled through the group.

“I still can’t believe you’re Sashi.” Janine shook her head. “This has been one of the strangest cases we’ve ever worked on.”

“And we still don’t know fully what it’s about or if there’s an impending attack on the horizon,” Declan said, his tone grave.

“We’ve reached out to Gavin and Carter’s superiors. Turns out, both men have been MIA for several days.” Will looked around the room. “They’re still trying to locate Mattis.”

“He’s not involved.”

Sashi turned toward the sound of Eli’s weak voice. The second she saw his eyes open and watching her she smiled through the tears that fell freely. “You’re awake.”

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