“What? Washington read the transmission wrong? Or…” Too many possibilities came to mind. “Or GSI had no intention of Sugar leaving Afghanistan alive.”

Parker nodded. “They’ve always been sketchy.”

“You’re telling me.” He rubbed his temples, deciphering fact from bullshit. He’d known GSI far too long to trust them. “Let’s assume the red flags were correct. GSI had the contract to train Afghani police, but were also training Taliban. Uncle Sam requested their internal affairs to follow up with an independent observer like Sugar…” Jared cracked his knuckles, thinking of the ways he wanted to take down GSI. “Fuckin’ traitors.”

Parker nodded. “Here’s the kicker. No one’s picked up on it. They had no reason to look for it, but Kip’s transmitted message was on a timed delay. He sent it before Sugar landed in Afghanistan.”

Anger pounded in his chest. Blood thumped in his neck. A roar started deep within in his lungs. “She was set up.”

“Looks like.”

“GSI’s gonna kill her.” He took a deep breath. He excelled in these situations. Shut off emotions. Factor in problems. Execute solutions. Save Sugar, and rain hell along the way. “Time to suit up.” Jared bounced a look to Parker, expecting to hear the hold-up list again.

“Everyone’s on it.” Parker paused as if he had to explain. “You said to suit up twenty minutes ago.”

“Fine. Out.” Well, shit. He’d been so wrapped up in vibing talk and Brock’s crap about a contract that he’d assumed his team wasn’t on board. He shouldn’t have assumed. He was distracted to the point of forgetting how loyal his team was to him. To Sugar. To the detriment of any order or contract.

Parker walked out the door, leaving Jared with the report and his thoughts. His team seemed to know how high the stakes were for him. Hell, they knew even before he did. An ache in his chest punctuated that realization.

Jared skimmed the report Parker had left on his desk—Sugar’s e-mails. She would kill him for reading her private messages. Then again, she would have to be alive to do that. A live Sugar was better for all involved.

He skipped past pages and stopped. His name appeared in an e-mail to someone he didn’t know. By the looks of it, the message was to a girlfriend she worked with.

Thanks for helping with GUNS while I’m gone. I couldn’t do this without you, and right now, I need the distraction. This job couldn’t come at a better time… Damn, I don’t know what it is about him.

The last time he’d seen Sugar, the situation had been tense. But to run across the world? He scowled at the paper and kept reading.

When he’s not being a dick, I want to kick him to get a reaction. When he is… it gets my blood going. Seriously, how grade school is that? So my decision is made. I won’t be tempted. I won’t be interested. It’s my new motto. Hell, my battle cry. Stay away from Jared Westin.