Sand and Sin

by Dani Jace

  He dropped his gear bag, made his way to the bow, and threw off the line while the others completed tasks like a well-oiled machine. TJ started the craft, which spewed the smell of oil and fuel. Stepping aside, he nodded to Jax.

  The team leader unhitched the stern rope. “Good to go, GQ.”

  At least piloting the boat would keep his mind on the mission instead of what-ifs. Maybe TJ and the guys thought so too, since usually the first man aboard took the helm. He noted the channel buoys as they departed. It’d been a while since he’d cruised on the Med.

  They closed in on a head type fishing boat that had seen better days. Haley’s phone blinked as a red dot on Cipher’s computer screen. Whoever wanted Commander Sean Halstead either wasn’t well-funded or their hired kidnappers were conserving funds for themselves. Smart on their part, Jax smirked. They’d never make delivery of Halstead or his daughter. A bit of luck along with Haley playing smart gave his team an advantage.

  He checked his pistol and stuffed it into the waistband of his jeans.

  Chatter in his ear set indicated the other boat of SEALs had passed their target and were in the process of swinging around to approach from the opposite side. Caution kept both teams on watch before engaging, as the kidnappers could be terrorist types and might have the hostage boat rigged with explosives.

  At a safe distance, both vessels stopped. TJ grabbed a camera with extended zoom and snapped various shots of the boat. Pictures of the gunmen were detailed enough to upload into Interpol and Mossad’s databases.

  While they bobbed in the rolling swells, a couple team members cast out lines, pretending to fish. Jax, TJ, and Cipher eyed the computer. A few minutes passed and two photos popped up, listing their bad guys.

  “Not the dirtiest of dirty, but bad enough.” Cipher grimaced.

  “Politically oriented or just greedy?” Jax cleaned his sunglasses with the bottom of his T-shirt.

  Cipher clicked some keys. “Some of both. The job probably fell into their lap.”

  “Someone in the embassy has loose lips.” TJ strung some artificial bait on his hook.

  At any rate, Jax hoped the captors worked alone, but they could be waiting for a connection. Either way, they needed to make a move.

  “What do you think, guys?” Their team leader reeled in his empty fishing line and faced the others.

  “Nightfall,” Jax and TJ said in unison.

  * * * *

  Haley signaled one of their guards and pointed to the door where she’d seen the men go relieve themselves. Her phone dug uncomfortably in her crotch. She’d stuffed it down her jeans between her legs as soon as the shadow of a gun filtered through the tinted windows of their limo.

  They’d searched everyone, taking her dad’s phone but missing hers. She’d been scared to text Jax, but when they tossed her into the rear of a van and questioned the adults, she took the chance. She messaged him in the bathroom when she first boarded the boat. By now, the battery had probably died, unless the charging case had any juice left. If she could even get a signal.

  If anyone could rescue her and her dad, it was Jax. A thread of hope kept her from sobbing as she entered the nasty head and closed the door.

  They’d be listening, so she retrieved the phone and hovered over the toilet while relieving her bladder. Barely any power left and only two bars of signal. Finally it connected. A bubble text popped up.

  I C U B RDY

  She wanted to squeal in joy but replied with a simple K. Afterward she quickly tapped out a text to her mom.

  Ok GQ OTW

  The screen went dark before she could tell if it sent. Maybe it was best. She didn't even know if anyone had told her mom they’d been taken.

  She washed her face. With renewed determination, she returned to her seat on the deck of the canopied boat.

  Her father squeezed her shoulder. “I’m sure already someone knows, hon. My friend from the embassy would have reported us missing by now.”

  Haley passed him a timid smile. Maybe she should consider a career in the FBI or CIA. She’d definitely learned to keep her shit together in a crisis.

  * * * *

  Cipher’s computer glowed in the last of the light, the sun having set a while ago. “Her phone signal just died.” He glanced to Jax.

  At the same moment, Jax’s phone vibrated. “She got the message.” Damn, he wanted this mission done.

  “All righty, boys. Let’s run through the plan again.” Merlin cracked his knuckles.

  The head boat languished in the inky swells of the Mediterranean. Only a dim light in the pilot’s cabin lit the vessel. Jax maneuvered their boat as close as he dared, and cut the engine.

  He loved the cover of night. Dark made them more efficient killers, and tonight, he itched for payback. After strapping his pistol to his thigh holster, he attached the knife sheath holding his Ka-Bar. Not the one he received upon graduation—those were specially engraved with the name of a fallen SEAL. Maybe one day he’d have a son to pass on his cherished blade to.

  All but Cipher prepared to enter the water. Jax followed TJ and Merlin, donning snorkels and flippers. Finally, they shouldered their rifles and slipped into the water for the swim to the target.

  Cipher radioed, “Fish are swimming.”

  The voice of the second SEAL boat's pilot responded in kind through Jax’s earpiece. All had practiced synchronization drills countless times for such missions.

  When the roar of a marine engine drew the captor’s attention to the rear of the boat, Jax slipped off his fins and unshouldered his rifle. Using a cleat along the rail, he chinned up for a view.

  He, TJ, and Merlin climbed onto the boat, using the motor noise to their favor.

  “Bogie incoming southwest,” Cipher’s voice whispered through the com.

  “Eyes on,” Merlin confirmed.

  From the starboard side, three other operators boarded silently, whispering their arrival. TJ snuck to the pilot’s room to take care of business while Jax kept his back along the wall of the engine room and crept toward the bow.

  Excited voices welcomed an approaching boat.

  Jax sidled to a corner and spied the hostages huddled at the deck's center. “Packages sighted.”

  A familiar touch settled on his shoulder, bolstering his confidence.

  “Ready to party?” TJ let out a shallow breath.

  He nodded and signaled. Jax charged from his hiding spot. Gunfire lit the deck. Jax dropped his first target, then one of the captives’ guards. Return fire had him taking cover against a metal column. He and TJ dropped two bad guys like bowling pins at the same time. The assailants never got off more than a shot or two.

  The other operators engaged from the opposite side. One took out a guard, and the others aimed their fire toward the approaching boat. In less than thirty seconds, the boat went silent.

  Women crying jarred him from his blood rush. He hustled to the hostages. Shining his flashlight among the huddle, he spied Haley’s wide brown gaze. No tears. “Haley?”

  “Jax!”

  She rushed him like his Labrador used to, nearly knocking him over. Her rib-cracking hug was her only indication of fear.

  He held on. For the first time in over thirty-six hours, he relaxed. “It’s okay now, sweetheart.”

  She trembled and broke down, sobbing into his collar. Sean Halstead stood by, disheveled and weary looking.

  After a few moments, Haley let go.

  Halstead extended his hand. “Thanks, Chief.”

  Jax accepted the offer and nodded, his throat still closed with emotion over Haley’s breakdown. He handed her his phone still in the waterproof case. “Call your mom. I’ve got some cleanup to do.”

  * * * *

  Peri gripped her cup of coffee as she paced the entrance of a terminal gate inside Norfolk International Airport. Waiting made her crazy. A headache threatened as her muscles tightened with anticipation.

  She h
eaded for the shopping area and checked the flight schedule screen. Trying to calm her frazzled nerves, she browsed the kiosks.

  Haley had seemed so calm on Jax’s phone, as if she’d known she’d be saved all along. Peri was definitely going to dig for details. Unless the military had debriefed her like one of their own. The idea didn’t seem unfounded.

  Neither the touristy T-shirts, coffee mugs, nor the costume jewelry were appropriate for what Haley had gone through. Peri replaced the item she’d picked up. The golden glint of her grandmother’s Etruscan-style ring gave her an idea.

  Haley had always loved the ring. Having survived a terrorist kidnapping, her daughter had certainly earned the right of passage for the family heirloom. Satisfied, she returned to the gate.

  People herded past with their rolling carry-ons. She hadn’t talked to Jax after the rescue and didn’t know if he’d fly to Little Creek or straight to California. It didn’t seem right if she couldn't thank the man and team of SEALs who had saved her daughter and ex-husband.

  She almost didn’t recognize the tall brunette with long, flowing dark hair as her own daughter. Haley glowed with confidence, appearing more woman than teen who had just obtained a learner’s permit. Peri swallowed over the lump in her throat, desperate to quell her welling tears.

  “Mom!” Haley ran for her.

  Peri wrapped her tightly.

  “It’s alright, Mom. I’m home.” She hugged her neck.

  “Thank God, baby.” Her blurred vision distorted Haley’s face.

  “Thank Jax and his buddies.”

  Peri’s fragile hold on her emotions had been simmering for weeks, even before Haley’s kidnapping. The pressure cooker of dread and fear boiled over into sobs.

  Haley held her until she regained control. She glanced over to Sean standing in front of her. “Sorry.”

  “I’m the one who's sorry.”

  Not having bothered to shave, he reminded her of a reality show survivor. He’d always been in control. Wasn’t there a saying about how out of every bad situation something good could be found? One just had to look hard enough. It seemed the experience had humbled Commander Halstead.

  “You guys ready to go home?” Peri wiped her eyes.

  “Can I drive?” Haley held out her hand for the keys.

  What was interstate driving compared to being abducted? Peri placed the ring on Haley’s finger and passed her the keys. “You earned them.”

  Chapter 22

  In his hotel room, Jax checked his watch while he finished packing. Haley should arrive in Norfolk soon. He wished he could have personally delivered her to Peri. He and the team remained in Egypt, following leads in hopes of discovering who had actually ordered Halstead’s kidnapping.

  TJ interrupted his thoughts. “You ready to pack it in, bro?”

  “Yeah.” He zipped his bag shut and felt his phone vibrate. Haley’s picture made him sigh in relief. “Is Calypso home?”

  “Safe and sound. Thanks to you.” Peri’s voice sounded frail.

  His heart missed a beat, not expecting to hear her voice. “You can’t know how relieved I am, but it wasn’t just me, Angel.”

  “Please thank the others for me. I plan to give you a special thank you when I see you again.”

  He wished he could tell her he’d see her soon. Instead, he debated if he should try to catch a flight to California as soon as he landed with the team instead of taking a couple of days’ leave. What would be the point of restarting things between them only to leave her again in forty-eight hours?

  Each separation grew harder to bear. He’d never cared about any woman so much. If the sore ache of missing her was any indication, he’d fallen deep. So far he didn’t know how to climb out, or if he wanted to.

  “I’ll pass along your thanks to the guys. And I’d love to take you up on your offer, but I’m not sure where I’m headed.”

  “Guess I’m going to have to learn how to play video games to stay in touch.”

  “She told you?” He sat on the bed.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Ouch. “I wanted to gain her trust. It wouldn’t happen if she knew I was reporting back to you.”

  “She’ll trust you the rest of her life now, and so will I. Anyway, here’s Haley. Stay safe. Love you.”

  “Love you too, Angel. I’ll see you as soon as I can.” He grimaced at his probable lie.

  After Jax’s brief conversation with Haley, he grabbed his gear and headed down to the lobby to meet with the rest of the team. What an asshole he was for not committing to see the woman who stalked his dreams.

  During the long flight in the noisy bay of the plane, he weighed his options while the others slept. His inability to commit had already hurt her. A part of him feared he’d be like his mother if he married. How could he run through death’s door for work but wimp out when it came to love? Yet every time he touched her, everything felt right.

  * * * *

  While Haley hopped in the shower, Peri opened the sliding glass door and stepped out by the pool. The water remained crystal clear as the day Jax left. Clarity was the opposite of her life at the moment. She’d believed she could play the waiting game, but now doubt tugged at her.

  The same reservation had laced his voice. He’d always seemed positive about a time for them. Now, insecurity seemed to have crept in. Had the mission created it? Or maybe he’d grown discouraged because of it.

  Almost losing Haley had nearly ripped her heart out. The toll from waiting for Jax to finish the job. She studied the marble pattern at the bottom of the pool. No. She needed to return to the real world, pre-Jax Taylor. No more fantasy. A lusty sailor had blown her off course, but the time had come to make a correction and sail on.

  She went inside to change for a long run on the beach.

  * * * *

  “Mom, do you have any tampons?” Haley poked her head into the kitchen as Peri made breakfast.

  Peri stared at the eggs frying in the pan and a cold sweat dampened her back. “Look in my bathroom, hon.”

  Fear slithered down her spine as she silently tallied days since she last used a feminine hygiene product. She’d just finished a round of antibiotics for a sinus infection when she flew to San Diego. They were known to lessen the effectiveness of birth control pills. Fuck!

  Her stomach protested the smell of food. She slid both eggs from the pan onto her daughter’s plate.

  She hadn’t had a period since before visiting Jax in California, where she finished the birth control pack. After Haley was taken and she’d forgotten everything. Maybe it was stress and worry over Haley and Jax. She should probably take a pregnancy test first before starting the next pack.

  Haley bounded into the kitchen, sat at the table, and buttered her toast. Peri sipped her coffee, trying to calm her queasy stomach, while her daughter chowed like she hadn’t eaten in forever.

  “Did they feed you?” She hadn’t meant to remind her daughter of the last few days. “I’m sorry, Haley.”

  With barely a glance up from her plate, she replied, “Water and some wafer things. Thank God the water was bottled.”

  “How did you contact Jax without them knowing?" She must have some innate, unique ability to keep a cool head in dire situations.

  “I saw the shadow of a gun while I was inside the limo. They aimed it at the driver. So I hid my cell phone before they grabbed us. They pushed me to the back of the van where no one paid any attention to me. While everyone screamed and yelled, I fired off a quick text. He’d said to call if I needed anything.” She forked down another mouthful.

  Peri leaned over and planted a kiss on her daughter’s head. “You’re so brave. I’m so proud of you, and so is your dad.”

  “Is that why you gave me Grand’s ring?” Her eyes glistened with emotion.

  “You’ve more than proven you’re mature enough to take care of it.” More mature than Peri felt as she sat there planning to purch
ase a pregnancy test. How would she tell the father if the test turned out positive?

  “After all of this, I was thinking I might want to go for FBI or CIA training after college.” She grinned.

  Peri contemplated a prescription for Valium.

  * * * *

  A tap on his shoulder and Jax woke to TJ’s bearded face.

  “We’re getting ready to land.”

  For the first time ever, he wished for a longer flight. His analog watch showed five p.m. and the date. Would Peri be at the Trident? “What day is it?”

  “Happy Friday. Let’s get this party started. Yahoo!” TJ buckled his seat belt as the heavily laden cargo plane began its descent.

  Yeah, he could use a drink. More like ten. He probably couldn't find a flight to California until tomorrow anyway. Common sense urged him to flee while his heart pleaded for him to stay.

  On base, he replaced the weapon he’d borrowed from the armory, then found TJ in his team’s area at the desk, finishing his report on his laptop.

  “We’re going to the Trident after our meeting. You riding with me? Or have you decided?”

  Damn, was he that obvious? “I want to see her, man. But it’ll just make going back to San Diego harder. If I don’t, it looks like I don’t give a shit.”

  TJ’s face turned somber with a downward turn of his mouth. “Love’s a bitch, ain’t it?”

  “I’m going to shower and steam my head.” He made his way to the team’s facilities.

  Under the warm spray, Jax's muscles uncoiled as if he’d been plugged in the whole time. Of course he’d go see her. If his heart wasn’t enough provocation, his bobbing cock sealed the deal. Why couldn’t he shut his emotions off with her like he’d always done with other women? Did she have ambivalent feelings about their relationship as well?

  The slide of his hand along his length while bathing had him rock hard, and his mind filled with visuals of the times they’d made love and fucked. He ached for both right now. He wanted her. Needed her. To feel her soft curves and lose himself inside of her was his heaven.