Page 50 of Wired Courage

Sophie refused to cry any more over the breakup. He had made his choice, and it was to walk away from her. She stood by her decision not to tell him Connor’s identity—it hadn’t been her secret to tell. She’d never been unfaithful to Jake, and if he couldn’t believe that, it was his problem.

Some part of her wasn’t even surprised—she had always been braced for the moment when Jake reached his limit with the secrets that surrounded her.But it didn’t make it hurt less.

Refreshing her tea, Sophie sat down and called Alika on the secure satellite phone. He was shocked to hear that she and Jake had broken up. “What? No way.”

“It was Jake’s choice. There were secrets I kept from him for reasons that he doesn’t understand. But I don’t want you to blame him,” Sophie said. “I don’t blame him.” As she spoke the words, she knew they were true. “We all have deal breakers, as Marcella calls them. Jake discovered one, with me.”

“Your relationship is none of my business,” Alika said, with deliberate calm. “But my daughterismy business. And I want Momi safe, and back in the United States as soon as possible.”

Sophie wasn’t ready to return—there was too much to do here. “I understand why you feel that way. It’s just that things are so unsettled right now. We will have to cross that bridge when we come to it, Alika, and figure out an arrangement that works for both of us. But for the short term, can you plan to come visit us here in Thailand, as soon as I know where we’ll be?”

Alika breathed audibly. He must be frantic to see his daughter again, and Sophie appreciated that he was trying not to be controlling or possessive. “I’ll be on the next plane out the minute you give me the word. Please keep me posted. I’m sure my mom and Tutu will want to come as well.”

“They’d be welcome. I’m planning to go back to . . . the place where I was before.” She didn’t want to name Phi Ni aloud; and she still had concerns that the Yam Khûmk?n might have pried its location out of Connor. Sophie sighed, staring out her aunt’s window to where a brightly colored bird drank from the garden fountain. “Thank you for being so steady for me through all of this. Have you had any more troubles from the police?”

“No. Detective Jenkins will be glad to hear you and our girl are reunited, I’m sure.” Alika sighed too. “I can’t wait to see our baby. Thank you for being the incredible warrior that you are, getting our daughter back.”

“A warrior. Yes, I like that. Momi has the best of both of us.” She’d always loved that Alika believed in her, reveled in her competence, and never doubted her. Nothing Sophie did threatened his masculinity. Even when she had beaten him in the MMA ring, he’d found her sexy and attractive.

Such different dynamics with each of the men she’d loved—Connor had enjoyed her online skills and competing with her in cat and mouse games; Jake had needed to beat her in the ring at first, but had come to be a true partner with time. Alika had been a mentor, a teacher, and a true friend.Now she had none of them.

As if reading her mind, Alika cleared his throat. “Since you told me about Jake . . . I think I should let you know that Sandy and I are dating.”

“Sandy? Your physical therapist?” Sophie had been impressed with the attractive blonde double amputee when she met her.

“Yep.” His voice was upbeat; he sounded happy. “Obviously, I’m not her client any more. But we found we have a lot in common, and we’re enjoying spending time together.”

Sandy, a former medic and Afghanistan IED explosion survivor, was a perfect match for Alika with her athleticism and helping profession. She wouldn’t endanger him as Sophie had. Sophie squelched a twinge of possessive jealousy as she thought of the woman becoming a family with Alika and her child.Time enough to adjust to that as it unfolded.“Don’t put the cart before the horse,” Marcella would say.

“I’m so glad for you, Alika. You deserve every happiness.” She meant it sincerely.

“You, too, Soph. Don’t give up. Things have a way of resolving in unexpected and perfect ways.”

“You’re always so positive. I struggle more with the dark side of things. But I’m finding our daughter to be a great antidote for that. It even looks like I might be able to breastfeed her after all.” Sophie wrapped up the conversation after sending him a phone photo of their sleeping baby.

The next call Sophie made was to McDonald at the CIA. As she had been concerned he would, he told her that the agency could not get involved with her negotiations for Connor. “But we want Pim Wat.”

“What can the CIA do to help me get Connor back?” Sophie asked harshly. “I’m not giving you something for nothing.”

“We will be there as backup in the Yam Khûmk?n’s territory. The minute Connor is released, we will fetch him. We’ll keep both of you safe, in any attempts at an exchange. We just can’t go on the offensive on behalf of a single citizen.”

“Not just a single citizen. Seven of our men and their guide were cut down in cold blood, unless you have forgotten them already,” Sophie said angrily. “I want you to locate their bodies in that mass grave in the jungle. Get the bodies back to their families.”

McDonald seemed to be thinking that over. “We can do that,” he said at last. “I can also stand by while you call the Master to negotiate for Connor. I can lend the backup weight of the U.S. Government to your negotiations.”

“An empty offer and an excuse to listen in on me. No, thank you. I’ve seen how long it takes for you to make any decisions or take any action.”

“I’m sorry if it seems that way. We have protocols, because quick action often has unintended consequences. That said—let us take Pim Wat off your hands. She’s a dangerous security risk and could impede your negotiations with the Master if he finds out you have her. What is your location?”

The responsibility of keeping her mother prisoner when the Master might come looking for her with his ninja armies was a little bit terrifying.

Sophie gave the address of her aunt’s house. “I prefer to reach out to the Master after you pick up my mother. I don’t want to take the chance that he can trace my contact, and come after my location.”

“I’ll be there within the hour,” McDonald said, and ended the call.

Sophie got up and went into the living room, where Malee and Armita were playing with Momi. Both women looked up. “She had a good nap,” Armita said. “I weighed her, and she’s gaining, which is good. She’s up two hundred grams.”

“Good. I guess the combo of breast milk and formula agrees with her.” Sophie put her hands on her hips. “You two need to figure out a way to get to Hamilton’s island, Phi Ni, without being detected. Work on that, while I go talk to Mother.”

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