SEAL Warriors

by Katie Knight

  “Objection!” Her father’s attorney looked ready to throttle her.

  “Overruled!” The judge narrowed his gaze on the man, then turned to Sam with a kindly smile. “Please continue, Miss Engel.”

  “Thank you.” Renewed purpose and strength filled her. Congressman Nash and his family deserved justice. She didn’t know them personally, but her father needed to pay for his sins. “I’m here today, at great risk to myself and my infant daughter, to make sure that a dangerous man like my father can’t hurt anyone else.” She glanced over at Stefan Engel again. Her father gave her a flat stare to confirm his disinterest in both Sam and her baby. Good. That meant she didn’t have to feel any guilt about this. Good riddance to bad trash, as her mother used to say. “My father, Stefan Engel, deserves the maximum sentence for his crimes. Life without parole.”

  The rest of her testimony passed by in a blur of questions from Mr. Dumas and objections from her father’s attorney. On cross-examination, the defense tried to knock holes in her story, say she didn’t hear what she thought she heard that night, or that she was making things up for reasons of her own, but Sam’s statement never wavered.

  Finally, it was over and she was allowed to step down off the witness stand. On shaky legs, she walked over to where Jack was waiting to escort her from the room. Zeke and his team followed. Hopefully, she’d said enough, done enough, to get her father convicted and get him off the streets and out of her life forever.

  Jack took her hand as they walked down the marbled hall of the courthouse, heading toward the lounge where they’d wait and watch the rest of the proceedings on closed-circuit TV. Zeke got her settled in and Jack brought her water while she called the hotel to check on Glory. The agent watching her said she was fine, which put Sam’s mind to rest. This was the first time she’d left her daughter with a sitter since her birth. It was a big day all around. She hoped her sacrifice now would be worth it.

  Minutes turned into hours and they ordered lunch to be delivered to the lounge. Jack had long since removed his suit jacket and tie, as had the other male agents in the room. He sat sprawled in the chair at the conference table, his long legs stretched out and his foot resting against hers in a show of support and solidarity. Every so often, he’d find an excuse to brush up against her or whisper in her ear or otherwise provide her a hint of comfort during the stress of all this.

  The trial was actually pretty engrossing too. Once she’d given her testimony, several police officers, including the secret service who’d been assigned to Congressman Nash at the time of his death, testified. Then, finally, the rogue agent Zeke and his team had captured the night before took the stand.

  Mr. Dumas questioned him as well, and what he told the court was a revelation. At least it was to Sam. She’d assumed her father had paid those agents to take her out before her testimony, but according to this guy, it was another member of her father’s association who had arranged the whole thing. He’d tried to rally a huge group for the attack, assuming that everyone would want to “prove” themselves by knocking out the boss’s daughter, the traitor, and taking over the business. But the plan had backfired and most of the guys had defected before the actual attack, leaving only the four who were in custody now.

  After that bombshell, the court recessed for a lunch break, and Sam sat back, pushing aside her half-eaten sandwich, trying to wrap her head around everything they’d just seen and heard.

  “Everything okay, darling?” Jack asked, taking her hand.

  She nodded. “Yeah. It’s just a lot, you know?”

  Zeke, who was sitting across the table from them, grinned. “Well, I’d say this is probably the best outcome you could’ve wished for.”

  “How so?” Sam asked.

  “Between your killer testimony and the fact the major players in your dad’s syndicate are now in custody, that means you won’t need me or my department’s protection anymore.” Zeke took a sip of his soda. “Unless you want it.”

  Sam blinked at him several times, then glanced at Jack. “You really think things will break our way?”

  “I do.” Zeke crumped up his empty sandwich wrapper then tossed it into the trash bin near the wall. “I’ve seen a lot of these trials in my day and this one seems pretty cut and dried to me. They’ve got overwhelming evidence against your father already. He’s been on the Justice Department’s radar for years and they’ve been biding their time, waiting for a smoking gun to really nail him to the wall. Your agreement to testify gave them the ammunition they needed to put him away for eternity. He’s lucky Illinois abolished the death sentence.”

  Jack snorted. “Too bad. I’m usually anti-death, but in this case...”

  “He’ll get what’s coming to him,” Zeke said, chuckling. “Prison has a way of handling these situations. Stefan Engel has made enough enemies in his life that it won’t be a pleasant experience for him. Trust me.”

  Sam would’ve felt sorry for her father, if he hadn’t been such a heinous human being.

  “Even if the impossible happens and your father is released someday,” Zeke concluded, “his power structure has toppled. His best men are facing charges of their own. There’s no one left to target you—at least, not anyone with the power to be a serious threat. You know how I told you that we’d try to get your father to make a deal? This is much better than that—now he has nothing to bargain with.”

  She took a deep breath, then exhaled slow, the burden of all those months of running, of hiding, of fearing for her life each day, lifting from her shoulders at last. She felt freer, lighter, nearly buoyant as she smiled at Jack. “Guess we’ve got some planning to do then, huh?”

  “Guess so.” He kissed her hand and grinned. “Your place or mine?”

  Sam made a show of thinking it over. “Considering I don’t really have a place anymore, I’d say yours. Your little farm was lovely, and Glory would enjoy growing up with all that space and those cows. That is, if you’ll have us.”

  “Oh, I’ll have you all right,” he whispered in her ear, and she couldn’t suppress her shiver as erotic images of them together the previous night filled her mind. “Maybe we can make a brother or sister for Glory too. After I make you an honest woman.”

  She giggled and pulled away slightly to cup his cheek. “I think with my background, an honest woman might be a stretch. But I’d love to have another baby with you, Jack. Maybe let’s give a few months though, eh? Give us time to get settled in, make sure we’re compatible.”

  “I guess I can wait.” He kissed her quick, then sat back, keeping her hand in his. “I love you, Sam.”

  “I love you too, Jack.”

  All the marshals in the room, including Zeke, stood and applauded.

  Despite their rocky beginnings, they’d found their happily ever after, and Sam couldn’t ask for any more than that.

  30

  Six months later…

  After a blustery autumn rainstorm, the sun finally came out. It was Glory’s birthday, and they had a party planned.

  Sam had insisted on inviting half the town of Rally, Nebraska, to the September event, which was taking place on their farm. Zeke and some of Jack’s old SEAL team who lived nearby were coming, too.

  Glory had taken immediately to her new life and her new grandmother. Sam was watching them through the window now as Jack’s mom played with Glory on the patio out back, trying to catch the earthworms that had crawled out during the rain. After all the pain and fear of the past, her heart now felt near bursting with happiness.

  Jack had never acted like the farm was that important to him, but Sam could see now that it was. She’d watched as he’d thrown himself into working his land and caring for his animals the minute they’d returned from Chicago months ago. When they’d first come here, she’d been too stressed to really appreciate the beauty of the area and the warm hospitality of the people here, but now she did and was so grateful. The town of Rally and Jack’s mom had all accepted her and Glory as one of them from
the start, no questions asked. For a girl who’d grown up isolated and alone, it was a wonderous and delightful change.

  She turned to fuss with the homemade birthday cake on the island, decorating it with more candy balloons and sprinkles. Glory was thriving these days, taking her first steps and talking up a storm, even if most of it was just gibberish. She knew a few words. Mama. Dada.

  He just beamed each time she said it. He was head over heels in love with his daughter and it only made Sam even more head over heels in love with him.

  Jack and Sam were getting along great too. Learning all the little things about each other that made for true intimacy and lasting bonds—favorite colors, favorite foods, favorite songs. Goals, dreams, disappointments. Each day, she got to wake up in Jack’s arms, and that was the real blessing.

  Not that she sat around while Jack did all the work. She was doing things too. She’d enrolled at the University of Nebraska in Omaha and had been accepted into their PhD program to continue her studies in marine biology. Life was good.

  Jack came downstairs from his shower, his hair still damp and his feet bare beneath the hem of his jeans. He’d been working out in the barn all morning. He walked over to grab a glass of water at the sink, then leaned his hips back against the edge of the counter, all lithe muscle and masculine grace. Even after all these months and all this time together, he was still the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. “How’s the cake coming?” he asked after downing half his glass of water. “Everything ready for the party?”

  “Good. And yep.” She turned to run her hands up his chest, the cotton of his blue T-shirt soft and warm against her palms. His heart beat steady and strong beneath her touch. She raised on tiptoe to give him a quick kiss before reaching around him to grab the candy Number One on the counter behind him. Sam swiveled to stick it into the center of the cake. “Have you heard from Zeke yet?”

  Last she’d heard, his flight from Chicago had been delayed due to the storm. Zeke had flown back a few days prior to receive a commendation from the US Marshals office for his outstanding service during the attack on Sam’s safe house the night before her testimony.

  All of that seemed so far away now. Her father had been put away for life, and her brothers were facing stiff sentences as well—along with the other lieutenants from her father’s organization. Those who hadn’t been part of the raid on the safe house had been revealed as part of plea deals. As far as she knew, her father’s business was over, done. With so many of his cohorts in prison, his network had collapsed. More than likely, someone else would step in and take over the area he’d vacated, but that person would have no reason to target her, so for now, Sam and Glory were safe and well-protected. Well-loved too, and that’s all she could ever ask for.

  “Ah, there you are, son,” his mom said, coming inside with Glory. “Your daughter’s been asking for you.”

  “Ack! Ack! Ack!” Glory weaved on unsteady legs toward them as Jillian put her down. “Dada!”

  Jack crouched and held his hands out to his daughter, his grin wide. “C’mon, baby. You can do it! Come to Daddy! Yes! Yes! That’s it, baby. That’s Daddy’s special girl!”

  Glory wobbled over to him, smiling broadly, and snuggled her little face into his chest. Sam couldn’t blame her daughter. She’d have done the same. The little girl giggled and gnawed on her hand as she tipped her face up toward Jack. “Dada.”

  “You betcha!” He swung his daughter up into his arms and twirled her around, eliciting another round of giggles and cries of glee. Jack kissed the top of her head and held her close. “Daddy’s so proud of you. So, so proud of his big girl.”

  “Can I help you with anything?” Jillian asked, moving in beside Sam at the island. “What time are people getting here?”

  “Soon.” Sam licked frosting off her finger and glanced at the clock. The party had been postponed a bit because of the weather. “I told everyone to be here around two, so another half an hour.”

  “Great. I’ll run out to my car and get the rest of the decorations then,” Jillian said, giving Sam a quick hug. “I’m so glad to have you and Glory here.”

  “We’re so glad to be here,” Sam said, hugging her back.

  Jillian pulled away, her eyes sparkling. “Now if my son would just go ahead and marry you already.”

  “I know, right?” Sam joked, giving Jack a pointed stare. Honestly, they weren’t married yet by her choice, not his. He’d offered, numerous times, but she’d put him off because of one thing or another. In truth, she’d been scared that all this would disappear. After six months though, she was finally ready to accept. If he asked again. She hoped he would.

  Jillian left to go outside and Jack put Glory down in the corner where her toys were scattered. Sam went to put the utensils she’d been using to decorate the cake in the sink, but was stopped by Jack’s arms around her waist. He pulled her back against him and held her close, her back to his front, his breath tickling the hair near her temple. “Did you mean what you just said?”

  Playing coy, she swallowed hard, her pulse racing loud in her ears. “About what?”

  “About marrying me.” Jack turned her to face him. “Will you, Sam? Will you marry me?”

  Before she could respond, he let her go and went down on one knee, reaching into his back pocket to pull out a little blue velvet box. Tears filled Sam’s eyes as Glory clapped from the corner of the room. She was too young to know what was going on, but she had to sense the excitement in the room. Sam could hardly breathe from it.

  “Jack, I—” Her voice cracked from emotion. “Yes! Oh my God. Yes!”

  He slid a lovely solitaire diamond engagement ring on her finger then straightened, whooping for joy as he hoisted Sam high in his arms. “I love you, Samantha Engel.”

  “And I love you, Jack Williams!”

  They were just getting started on a long, sweet kiss when the sound of a clearing throat broke them apart. Cheeks prickling with heat, Sam glanced over to see Jillian and Zeke standing in the doorway.

  “Look who I found outside,” Jack’s mom said, hiking her thumb at Zeke. She cocked her head, her eyes narrowing on the ring on Sam’s finger. “Does this mean what I think it means?”

  Jack grinned at his mom. “It does. She said yes!”

  “About damned time!” Jillian rushed over to wish them well, then took the bags of supplies she was carrying out back to set up for the party.

  Zeke set his duffel bag on the floor by the door and walked over to the island, carrying what looked like a gray cloth-covered crate in the other. He set it on the floor, then hugged both Sam and Jack in turn. “Congrats, you guys. I knew you were perfect for each other.”

  A whimper came from the crate and Sam gave him a curious look. “What’s in there?”

  “Well,” Zeke said. “Jack’s been talking about starting that therapy dog business for years and I figured maybe now was a good time to start. Or at least see if him and dogs get along. Plus, what one-year-old girl doesn’t need a puppy of her own?”

  With that, he took off the gray cloth cover to reveal an adorable tan Labrador puppy.

  “Oh my gosh.” Sam knelt down and opened the door to the carrier and was immediately inundated with puppy kisses and nuzzles. “So cute! Yes, you are. Thanks, Zeke!”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Wow, thanks buddy.” Jack gave his friend another bro-hug, then knelt beside Sam to play with the new addition to their family. “What a great gift. Is it a girl or a boy?”

  “Girl.” Zeke chuckled. “Figured you didn’t have enough estrogen in your life already, so…”

  “Funny.” Jack gave his friend a look.

  “Plus, if you’re serious about breeding and raising therapy dogs of your own, she’ll be a good start for you.” Zeke walked over to pick up Glory. “I talked with the breeder about it all.”

  “Cool.” Jack picked up the puppy and held her up to look into her face. “And what should we call you, huh?”


  “I’d say we should name her after Zeke,” Sam said, watching as Zeke crouched beside Jack and the puppy. The little girl was enraptured, reaching out a tiny hand to stroke the dog’s head. The puppy licked her fingers and Glory giggled. Sam’s heart ached with the sweetness of it all. “But seeing as how the puppy’s female…”

  “What’s your middle name?” Jack asked his friend.

  “Henry, after my dad.”

  “Welp, that’s it then.” Jack put the puppy down at the same time Zeke sat Glory on the floor. The two little ones started playing together immediately.

  “You’re going to call the puppy Henry?” Sam asked, nose scrunched.

  “Nah. Henrietta.” Jack put his arm around her and pulled her into his side, kissing the top of her head. “As long as that’s okay with the future Mrs. Williams.”

  Sam couldn’t resist snuggling into his warmth, then wrapping her arms around his waist. She was exactly where she wanted to be with the people she loved most in the world. “It’s perfect.”

  End of The Protective SEAL

  Blurb

  When Maria Blanchard asked Navy Seal Trevor Daniels to father a child with her, no strings attached, Trevor had no idea just how explosive his chemistry would be with the fiery woman who had been a wallflower during their high school years. He vowed never to contact her again after the positive pregnancy test. A year later, when one of Trevor’s dark ops missions ends with the death of his captain and suspicions aimed at him, Maria’s the only investigator he knows who can help him crack the case.

  Maria Blanchard had been raised to be a proper Southern Belle, an archetype so wrong for her she’d retreated into books during her high school years. When the police academy finally gave her the guts to be the strong woman she’d always desired, she realized she didn’t need anyone to achieve her dreams. Not to get her dream job, and certainly not to get her dream baby. Still, when her childhood crush agreed to father her baby, she hadn’t expected her heart to open along with her legs.