Page 23 of Renegade
She hits end, sets down her phone, and says triumphantly, “And that’s how it’s done. Aren’t you glad you let me come?”
“Yes,” I answer honestly. Everything is more fun with Gemma. And more interesting. “But I’m starting to think you’re a pathological liar.”
She laughs. “I only use my power for good. The only problem is, she can’t talk to us until Thursday.”
“That’s fine,” I say. “That’ll give us a chance to hit a couple of things on Liam’s list while we’re here. Want to ride the Pacific Coast Highway tomorrow?”
“Sure. Too bad you didn’t rent a convertible.”
I give her a reproachful look. “You knew Liam. Do you think he’d drive a car down the Pacific Coast Highway, even if it’s a convertible? We’re renting a motorcycle, sweetheart.”
Her eyes shine with excitement. “Really? That’s even better! Is there anything on the bucket list for tonight?”
“Actually, yeah. There’s a concentration of things here in San Francisco. It’s interesting, since this is also where Dr. Morris lived. You up for a tiki bar tonight?”
“I’m always up for anything.”
I grin. “That’s true. It’s one of the many reasons we get along so well.”
“But what’s a tiki bar? And why is that on Liam’s list?”
I shrug. “It’s hard to know what on this fucking list is a clue and what just struck Liam’s fancy as something he wanted to do. Smuggler’s Cove is world-renowned and is consistently named one of the world’s top bars. It has over five hundred different kinds of rum—which is one of the biggest collections on the planet.”
“I thought Liam was more of a whiskey kind of guy, like you.”
“He was. But he was a connoisseur of any kind of food and drink, and he loved to explore places that were the best at what they did, even if it was just the best bread shop in Kabul.” I rub my hand over my head. “Either way, let’s check it out. It could be fun. It’s a kind ofPirates of the Caribbean–themed place. Cool, over-the-top decor. Potent drinks.”
“It sounds like the perfect place to celebrate Liam.”
The minute she says it, I realize how much I need to do just that—celebrate Liam with someone who knew him like I did. And in the process, maybe somehow come to terms with the loss of my best friend. I need closure in a way that only Gemma can provide. She knew and loved him, but her grief isn’t as personal and raw as McKenzie’s or as professional and staunch as the rest of the guys on SEAL Team Nine. It’s not that we don’t mourn the loss of a fellow SEAL deeply. We just deal with it stoically, because it’s a part of life for us. I’ve been on missions where we’ve had to put a brother, a friend, in a body bag and carry him for miles. We do it without emotion and with the utmost honor for our comrade who gave the ultimate sacrifice. In a way, I wish I’d had the opportunity to do that for Liam. It would have been something concrete I could do for him. But everything—including his body—was burned beyond recognition in the blast that leveled the house in Pakistan. Now, all I can do is make sure his sister stays safe and clear his name.
I look at Gemma. “Let’s get drunk.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll go get ready.”
