SEAL Out of Water (Silver SEALs, #7)

by Abbie Zanders

  He was close, so very close, but he would draw it out, make it last. As he stared into her eyes, he knew she understood.

  They made love slowly, languorously, savoring every touch, every stroke, every kiss. When her body began to tense, he quickened his pace. She came a few heartbeats before he did, the tightening of her muscles around him as he spilled into her providing the perfect ending to an unexpected afternoon of bliss.

  He looked down into her face. Her eyes were closed, a smile of contentment curling her lips. Unwilling to move just yet, he remained where he was, supporting some of his upper body weight on his arms while pressing gentle kisses to her cheeks and lips.

  “That was amazing,” she said without opening her eyes. “You are amazing.”

  A wave of smug, male satisfaction washed over him. “You’re pretty amazing yourself.”

  He rolled them in a swift, smooth move, keeping them joined. Her soft, sated weight felt good on him. He took the opportunity to stroke her back from neck to hips, feeling the ridges of raised scar tissue beneath his fingers, presumably remnants from the accident that nearly killed her. He’d already committed them to memory.

  “Do they bother you?” she asked lazily, tucked in against his collarbone.

  “No,” he answered honestly. “Do my scars bother you?”

  He felt her grin against his skin. “No. I think they’re hot.” Virginia picked her head up, then folded her arms over his chest and rested her chin on them. “There something incredibly sexy about a man who’s not afraid to fight for what he believes is right and has the scars to prove it.”

  Her words were nice to hear, but he knew better than to trust them. He’d heard similar things before. It was no secret that a lot of women liked Navy SEALs, and some went to great lengths to bag one. Some guys capitalized on that, but not him. He’d had a few meaningless hook-ups when he’d been young and stupid, enough to know they didn’t do anything more than highlight the emptiness of it.

  Virginia was no frog hog, and he was no twenty-something in his prime, though he was still in pretty good shape. Dare he think her attraction went beyond the hard body and aura of strength and danger, and into the soul of the man at the heart of it all?

  “What do you do,” she asked softly, “when you’re not working?”

  “I’ve got a little place in the mountains,” he confided before he could think better of it. “There’s a lake there. Great fishing. Plenty of game in the woods, too. It’s remote. Quiet.”

  “Sounds like paradise,” she hummed. “Why would you ever want to leave that?”

  Vengeance, he thought, but didn’t say so. He didn’t have to.

  “This is more than just a job to you, isn’t it?” she asked, looking deep into his eyes. “This mission, it’s personal.”

  “Yes,” he agreed. This was about taking advantage of a rare opportunity to bring Darius Kristikos down. To finally mete out some long-overdue justice on the man responsible for the deaths of so many good men and women.

  “Hey. Where did you just go?” she asked softly. Her thumb came up and trailed over his brow in gentle, smooth strokes. It felt good. “Regrets already?”

  “None,” he answered, which wasn’t exactly true, but he’d analyze those later.

  “Good.” She rose up and planted a quick kiss on his lips. “I guess you’re just not much for pillow talk, huh.”

  She was wrong about that. He wanted to tell her everything while she lay warm and naked on top of him. Wanted her to understand why it was so important he find Christos.

  He wouldn’t do that, though. She would probably hate him for it, and he wasn’t ready to let her go just yet. He loved the feel of her body against his. Wanted to keep her right where she was until he recovered enough to start all over again.

  But those were dangerous thoughts. Sex was one thing. He could rationalize that, chalk it up to physical attraction between two mature, consenting adults and a mutual desire for temporary, shared intimacy. This ever-growing sense of rightness was something else entirely.

  She pulled away, letting him slip from her body. He had to fight the urge to pull her right back.

  “For the record, I don’t have any regrets either,” she said over her shoulder as she walked into her bathroom and closed the door. He heard the shower come on and thought briefly of joining her, then decided against it.

  Their moment, as glorious as it had been, was over.

  ~ * ~

  Virginia

  Virginia let the hot water sluice over her skin, half-hoping Gabe would join her, half-hoping he wouldn’t. As much as she had enjoyed the last few hours, she needed some time to recover, both mentally and physically. There were parts of her that still tingled, others that were deliciously tender. And one part that was in danger of losing itself to him, which she absolutely could not allow.

  It wasn’t anything he would want, anyway. Especially if he knew the truth.

  She’d have to be content with the great sex. Gabriel Michaels was a superb lover. Tender, but intense. Extremely focused. Very generous and meticulously attentive, noting every moan, every quiver, and using it to give her exactly what she needed.

  And she had needed it. For more than ten years she’d gone without the touch of a man. Thankfully, she couldn’t have asked for a better way to break the dry spell.

  She completed her shower alone, which was probably for the best. Things were already complicated enough; there was nothing to be gained by trying to turn it into something more than it was. In another time, another place, they might have had a chance at something, but not here, and not now. A sequence of events had been put in motion, things she couldn’t stop, not even for him.

  When she emerged from the bathroom, Gabe was gone. So was Fred.

  Fred had been in her room for only twelve hours. Gabe, far less than that. Yet the room felt empty without them.

  Her stomach rumbled, a purely physical reminder that she hadn’t eaten much. The waffles were now cold and soggy. It didn’t matter; they’d soaked up the flavors of the fresh fruit, whipped cream, and maple syrup they’d been topped with, a taste she would now associate with Gabe’s skillful lips and tongue as he’d given her what she’d needed. She had a few more bites, then packed up the remains and tossed them into the trash, along with any of the ridiculous, romantic notions that tried to take hold.

  One way or another, this would all be over soon.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Gabriel

  After leaving Virginia, Gabe took Fred out for another walk, then loaded him up into the SUV and took him back to the base. As much as it pained him to leave Fred with Pixie in her apartment, he knew it was for the best. He couldn’t give Fred the complete supervision and attention he required, and it wasn’t fair to ask Virginia to watch him, not when he needed to keep her safe, too.

  “Don’t look at me like that,” Gabe told him. “It’s only for a few days. Pixie will take good care of you.”

  Fred gave him a look that told him he wasn’t buying it, but the pain meds Gabe had given him were taking effect. Once Fred was settled and snoring softly, Gabe moved back into the living area to find Pixie on her laptop, Mancini standing closely at her back, bending down to look over his shoulder. Gauging by the looks on their faces, they’d found something.

  Mancini looked up at Gabe, confirming that theory. “Levine was able to trace Daskalakis’s mystery donor back to one of Darius Kristikos’s offshore accounts.”

  “So Daskalakis is on Darius’s private payroll?”

  “Looks like it.”

  “And, according to this, Daskalakis transferred everything to a Swiss bank account a few hours ago.”

  Pixie’s laptop dinged with another incoming message. Mancini glanced down. “Looks like we’ve got a hit on the partial image you captured of your intruder.”

  “Let me guess. One of Darius’s goons?”

  “Yes. Dominguez just confirmed it.”

  “We’re running out of time.”<
br />
  Mancini nodded. “They’re closing up shop. We need to get into those tunnels.”

  “Go,” Pixie said, her fingers flying across the keyboard. “And be safe.”

  “We will,” Mancini answered. She turned to him, the look in her eyes concerned and determined. Mancini smiled and brushed a thumb over her cheek. Gabe suddenly felt like a third wheel and turned away from what was clearly a brief, intimate moment between them. It reminded him too much of the way Virginia had looked at him.

  He’d fucked up, no doubt about it. Not only had he thrown objectivity right out the door, but by sleeping with Virginia, he’d opened a few hairline cracks in the walls he’d so carefully built around himself. Being with her made him think crazy things, like the possibility of a future once this was all over.

  It was a nice thought, but pure fantasy. He couldn’t think of any woman who’d be content to live up in the mountains, without neighbors, without modern conveniences, with only him and a lovesick coonhound for company. Besides, once she learned his true purpose here, she would think differently of him. She’d spent ten years in a non-fulfilling job, living among people who openly looked down upon her and resented her presence, all because of the sense of loyalty she felt to a man who’d been kind to her. Even if Gabe could make her understand the reasoning behind his actions, she wouldn’t condone them.

  Speaking of, it was time to put those thoughts away and get back to business. He and Mancini drove back to the estate together. By the time they arrived, darkness had fallen. Gabe had a very bad feeling as they entered through the gates.

  “Did you find the outside entrance to the tunnel?”

  Mancini nodded. “Found the keypad to unlock it, too, but without the code, I can’t get in without setting off alarms.”

  “All right. No sense giving them advanced warning if we can avoid it. We’ll use the access from Virginia’s office. Come on. There’s a set of doors on this side. Less eyes if we go in that way.”

  The office was dark as Gabe quickly picked the lock.

  “What about the PA?” Mancini asked.

  Gabe thought of how he’d left Virginia just a few hours ago, naked and sated, if a bit disappointed in their post-sex talk. With any luck, she’d decided to stay in her room and get some rest.

  The lock gave way, and Gabe swung the door open. “I don’t think she’ll be a pro—”

  The attack came suddenly and without warning. A blow to the head took him down to his knees. His training immediately kicked in. He swept his leg out to the side, bringing his attacker down to his level, then followed up with an elbow to the face, hearing the satisfying howl that came after the crack of bone.

  “Enough, Commander Michaels.”

  A light came on. Mancini’s body lay still beside him. But it was the sight of a gun resting on Virginia’s temple that turned his blood to ice.

  “Hurt her and I’ll—”

  Gabe didn’t get a chance to finish his threat, because another blow connected with the back of his skull, and that one turned out his lights.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Gabriel

  Gabe rose slowly back to consciousness without giving any indication he was doing so. His head pounded. The coppery scent of blood filled his nostrils. He took a few moments to assess the situation.

  He was sitting in a hard-backed chair. Duct tape wrapped around his chest and upper arms kept him upright. His wrists were secured to the back of the chair with zip ties. More duct tape wrapped around his thighs, effectively binding him to the seat. Additional zip ties fastened his ankles to the front legs. He kept his head down, using his peripheral vision. It looked like he was in Christos’s private study. As far as he could tell, he was alone, but voices spoke from nearby with urgency.

  “What the hell were you thinking, Chris?” Gabe identified the voice as Virginia’s. “Just leaving like that, without telling anyone, without telling me. I had no idea if you were alive or dead.”

  “That was the general idea. Were you really concerned for my safety, Virginia?”

  “Yes, of course, I was,” she snapped.

  “How touching.” The man sounded amused. “But unnecessary. I’m a careful man. I leave nothing to chance. You, of all people, should know that.”

  “I do know that,” she agreed, “but this was different. Not even Gregory knew where you were.”

  “No one did. I knew there was a traitor in our midst. I could trust no one.”

  “A traitor?”

  “Yes, a traitor. Don’t sound so shocked. Treachery and duplicity are as much a part of the Kristikos legacy as money and power.”

  “Don’t say that. Your father is a terrible man, Chris. He does terrible things. You are nothing like him.”

  “At one time, I might have agreed with you, but, as it turns out, I’m every bit as ruthless as he is. And you know what? It’s not so bad.” He laughed, the sound cultured and smooth but cruel.

  “No, I won’t believe that,” Virginia said stubbornly.

  “There’s something to be said for embracing what you are. It is liberating, and it has opened my eyes.”

  “So, what you’re saying is, this vanishing act was a ploy to identify the so-called traitor among us?”

  “Yes and no. Ferreting out the Judas was imperative, but even more important was finding a way out of this ridiculous deal my father made with the American government. He’s losing money hand over fist.”

  “What deal?”

  “VIP customer status in exchange for preferential treatment and protection while on US soil. It served its purpose, but now that I have decided to return to my native homeland, it is no longer necessary. However, reneging on such a deal isn’t good for business. It fosters mistrust.” He chuckled. “My father knows this. That’s why I must be the one to sever the agreement and make it look as if the US didn’t hold up their end of the bargain. With the amount of corruption at the high levels of your government, no one will think twice about who’s at fault.”

  “That is so wrong, Chris, on so many levels.”

  “It is what it is, my sweet, and time is of the essence. We need to tie off a few loose ends. Come.”

  They walked into the room where Gabe was. Gabe heard Virginia’s gasp. It was her companion who spoke.

  “Ah, good. You’re awake.”

  Gabe raised his head and glared into the cold, dark eyes of Christos Kristikos. Beside him, Virginia looked shocked and pale, but unharmed. Her eyes grew huge when she saw Christos draw the weapon and point it in Gabe’s direction.

  “Chris, no! This isn’t you! You don’t have to do this.”

  “But I do. You know, I used to think my father was overly paranoid, his methods extreme. Now, however, I see the beauty in swift, decisive action.”

  “Have you gone mad? He’s a SEAL, for God’s sake, and the other one? The one bleeding out in my office? He’s CIA. Do you want to cause an international incident and bring the entire US government down on you?”

  Christos smiled coldly. “Why bring them to the doorstep when they’ve been living inside all along?”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “I know who the traitor is, Virginia. It’s you.”

  “What?” Virginia took a step back. “Have you gone mad?”

  “You can drop the act. I know everything.”

  Virginia continued to shake her head. “What do you think you know?”

  “I didn’t want to believe it when Argyros told me. Not Virginia, I said. She’s incapable of such betrayal. She would never do this to me. Even when he showed me proof, I still resisted. But I know the truth now. Your sentimentality is going to be your downfall.”

  Christos held up a large manila envelope. “Recognize this?”

  She shook her head.

  “You should. You handed it to me yourself.” His lips curled up into an evil grin. “How’s that for irony?”

  He turned it over so the contents spilled onto the desk, some landing at
Gabe’s feet. Glossy photographs. Pictures of a young couple on a tropical beach. The woman, blonde and beautiful. The man, dark-haired and handsome. Two little boys, also with dark hair. Everyone was smiling in the pictures. Happy.

  “I’ll say it once again: you can drop the act now, Virginia—or should I say, Tenebris?”

  Seconds ticked by in silence. Gabe’s heart pounded. Surely, he’d heard wrong. Virginia was Tenebris? No! She couldn’t be! He waited for her to laugh, or to protest, or say something to deny the outlandish claim. She did none of those things.

  “That is you, isn’t it?” Christos pressed. “On the beach in Athens with your husband and sons?”

  She said nothing, just stared at the pictures as if she were seeing a ghost as moments stretched out painfully.

  “Where did you get those?” Virginia finally asked, her voice a hoarse whisper.

  “That dinner meeting I had the night of my ‘disappearance’? He’s a longtime associate who has been helping me relocate some of my assets. Years ago, he worked for my father. Now, he works for me. He’s the one who sent me that package. Apparently, he saw a rare picture of us together at some function and thought you looked familiar. Well, at least I know now why you never wanted to be photographed. And here I thought you were just camera shy.”

  Christos chuckled. “I admit, there’s some resemblance, but I still wasn’t convinced it was you until just now. It’s embarrassing, really. You had me fooled, and that’s not an easy thing to do. Your attention to detail is admirable, as is your dedication. To go through all that, to bide your time for ten years. Then again, my father does tend to inspire strong feelings in those he comes into contact with.”

  “He ruined my life,” Virginia hissed.

  “My father has ruined many lives, Virginia. It’s what he does.”

  “Does he know? About me? Is that why he sent his goons?”