Protector: A Navy SEAL Romantic Suspense (A Man Who Knows What He Wants Book 15)

by Flora Ferrari

  The nurse turned to the door and left. Taking a long nap was the last thing on my mind. I counted to three hundred. Five minutes should be enough. The hospital seemed busy when I arrived. I’m sure she had a number of other things to attend to. Luckily they hadn’t strapped me down to the bed thinking it was the best precaution after what they probably classified as a suicide attempt. They took my clothes, but I managed to keep ahold of my wallet. Fortunately, or unfortunately…I wasn’t sure yet, my SIG was lost on impact. My knife also. Thankfully I hadn’t cut my leg off or impaled myself. The rescuers really were right. It was a miracle…in every sense of the word. I calmly opened the door to my room and walked down the hall. I smiled politely at a couple nurses and made my way towards the elevator. The thought kept going through my head. Hide in plain site. The best place to hide is in plain side. I walked right to the elevator. Just one nurse inside. The elevator began its descent. She looked at me strangely, but didn’t say anything. She got off on the third floor. Only three more floors to go.

  The elevator stopped in the lobby. I walked out. A security guard approached.

  “Sir, everything okay?”

  “Yes, thank you officer.”

  “Can I see some ID and your discharge papers please?”

  “It’s okay, officer. I’m just stepping outside into the courtyard.”

  He looked at me curiously.

  “Aren’t you the guy from the bridge?”

  “I’m the guy who needs some fresh air. It’s a bit stuffy in here for me. May I?”

  It really is amazing what you can get if you just ask nicely.

  “Okay, but don’t be long.”

  I smiled, walked right out the front door, and into a cab.

  “You breakin' out of that place?” The cabbie looked at my sideways, but also with a smile.

  “Maybe.”

  He laughed. “You’re my kinda brotha. Where we going?”

  “Know any good hotels around here where I can get some sleep?”

  “I’m a New York City cabbie, boss. I know where everything is.”

  “Then you’ll also know where I can pick up a mobile phone.”

  “Right across from the hotel.”

  “It sounds like we’re all settled then.”

  “Off we go.”

  The cabbie turned on the radio and laughed.

  “Sir, it’s none of my business and I ain’t gonna say nuthin'…but you got some guts.”

  “Where are you from, sir?”

  “Who me? I’m from Haiti.”

  “When did you arrive?”

  “Just after the earthquake.”

  “You’re the one with the guts my friend.”

  He looked at me in the rear view mirror and smiled. “My man.” He reached his right fist to the back of the cab. I gave him a fist pound and he smiled.

  He dropped me off at the hotel. It looked like they were renting by the hour. Probably just where he thought I wanted to be…somewhere out of sight. He wasn’t too far off, but I could have done okay with a slightly higher level of establishment. Regardless I didn’t have time to waste. I paid the fare, thanked the man, and walked across the street to pick up a prepaid mobile. I headed back across the street to check in to an adjacent hotel to make some calls. I didn’t need anyone to know exactly where I was, even just a cabbie. But I did want someone to think they knew where I was just in case the paparazzi were handing out cash for info about the bridge jumper.

  With my old phone now somewhere at the bottom of the Hudson I had to be even more aggressive, even with the cracked ribs and fractured ulna. Fortunately one number I always knew by memory was Laura’s.

  “Jax. Where are you? I saw your face on TV.”

  “Exactly what I didn’t want.”

  “Man survives jump from George Washington Bridge? What’s going on?”

  “Remember Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff?”

  “Korea? What’s that got to do with anything?”

  “Let’s play a quick round of word association. Ready? Kong.”

  “Um…dead?”

  “That’s what I thought. He’s back.”

  “Impossible. We took him out that night.”

  “I was sure of it as well, until now. I saw him today. He was the one that sent me into the Hudson.”

  “You’re joking…or mistaken.”

  “I wish I was. I looked him right in the eye.”

  “Wow, he’s a survivor.”

  “No doubt. And he’s got Kate and Jerry.”

  “What can I do to help?”

  “I don’t have much now. I do know they were in a Hyundai Tuscon that looked really new and there was a hypermotard street bike with them as well. A kind I’d never seen before. Back windows were tinted on the Hyundai which leads me to think both were registered in Jersey. ”

  “Is this the number you’re at?”

  “Yeah. Prepaid.”

  “I’ll call you right back.”

  Laura hung up. I went in the bathroom to take a look in the mirror. I was cut pretty bad, but it was passable for a bar fight. I’d get looks on the street, but I wouldn’t get calls to law enforcement. I was still in my hospital gown. Forgot to get new clothes. I stepped outside to strange looks from the bellhop. Asked him where I could get some cheap threads. He pointed left and said, ‘two streets over. Can’t miss it.’

  Luckily they had one safari shirt that fit me. It’s hard to find clothes for men that are my size and made of muscle. They usually fit like tents when you get to XXL. As I was walking back to the hotel the phone rang.

  “Jax, they’re interviewing bystanders on TV. Other channels are starting to report the gunfire and helicopter. Law enforcement probably already knows you didn’t jump. They’re going to be looking for you.”

  “And when they find me, they’re going to find Kong so I’ll cut their work in half.”

  “Always the optimist. I ran the info you gave me. There’s a registration of four motards and a Hyundai Tucson to a Seven Seas Import / Export.”

  “Nice and bland.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Can you text me the address?”

  “Already did. Text incoming.”

  “You’re the best, Laura.”

  “Jax.” She paused.

  “Yes.”

  “I can call in some backup.”

  “This is personal.”

  “I know, but you’re walking in with no intel. You have no idea what you’re facing.”

  “I know exactly what I’m facing.”

  “Please be careful.”

  “When aren’t I?”

  “I don’t know…maybe when you’re jumping from bridges.”

  “Didn’t jump. Forcibly lost my grip.”

  I knew Laura was smiling on the other end.

  “Talk to you.”

  “You better, buster.”

  I hung up and checked the map. It would be getting dark soon. The location was just next to the Port of New Jersey. I had to get there fast. No telling what Kong might have in store, and with at least four motorcycles, vehicles, a helicopter, and access to a global port he could move fast.

  CHAPTER 17

  I exited the bus two stops before Seven Seas Import / Export. I expected tight security, but didn’t know how far out it started. I had changed clothes again. All black was the only way to go for this nighttime op. I found a hunting and fishing shop and was able to get a couple knives and the gear for some makeshift weapons. The binoculars they offered weren’t perfect, but they did have some cheap night options that would work in a pinch.

  I was surprised how close I got before I saw Kong’s security. A big Korean guy who surely knew his way around the weight room and most likely had his local steroid dealer on speed dial patrolled the area. I never understood the appeal in that steroid look. Big, but bloated.

  I continued to circle the perimeter and spotted two more guys. So Kong had at least three guys, pretty much in the same thug uniform, on the corners of
his perimeter. The fourth side being protected by water. At least that’s what he thought.

  Surely by now he’d seen that I’d survived the fall. He knew the hospital wouldn’t be able to hold me so I was expecting that he was expecting me. I found a nearby building with a good vantage point and made my way up the fire escape. The rooftop was perfect. I focused the binos on the windows of Seven Seas…nothing. The blinds were thin, but they were closed. I could see movement, but couldn’t make out much. I needed a closer look…and preferred to acquire some weapons. Time to make that happen.

  I descended the fire escape and positioned myself on the other side of the corner where I had found the first thug. During some of my missions in Islamic countries we passed the time by practicing making noises of stray cats partaking in romantic endeavors. It was a strange game, but had practical application. A few guys got really good and we found it an excellent way to pull suspected terrorists out of bed in the middle of the night. Imagine a guy who was surrounded by heavily armed guards in bulletproof vehicles during the day, stepping outside his compound at night in nothing more than his pajamas in order to throw a shoe at what he thought was a cat. Easy picking.

  I hadn’t practiced in months, but decided to give it a go. The first one was a little gravelly, but not too bad. I kept my eyes on the shadows…nothing. I let out a more shrill sound and then I saw the shadow nearing. As it approached the corner I kept my eye pealed for the shoe. I knew he’d be looking at ground level expecting to see a small animal. The minute I saw his arm clear the corner I delivered a short chop to the jugular. The bigger they are the harder they fall. One down. I drug him aside and into a dark spot along the perimeter and stripped him of his pistols, knife, and wallet. No ID of course.

  “Over here.”

  I crouched down and prepared to do battle.

  “Jax, it’s me. Over here.”

  I looked into some bushes off in the distance. There was too much light between us. I put up my right index finger signaling to wait for one second. I made my way around some containers and to the bushes. The minute I arrived I was greeted with a hug tighter than I though a kid was capable of.

  “I knew you’d come!”

  “Not too loud, buddy. What are you doing here?”

  “They got my mom. She’s inside. They had a guy on us this afternoon, but I was able to slide out the window. I told my mom I’d go for help, but I couldn’t get far. There were too many guys here all day. I’ve been waiting for darkness to move.”

  “Wise decision.”

  “Thanks. Should we go? Call someone?”

  “We don’t have time, and I’m not sure who we can trust right now.”

  “What are we going to do?”

  “We’re going to get your mom and get out of here. How does that sound?”

  “Great. Can we do that now?”

  I had been looking off into the distance. Keeping an eye out for the thugs. I broke my line of sight and looked down at Jerry. He didn’t look scared at all. His eyes were matter of fact. I liked what I saw. This kid had intestinal fortitude.

  “Yes. Yes, we can. You’ve been learning a lot from Cole at the gym, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Ready to put it into action.”

  “Yes.”

  I obviously couldn’t endanger Jerry, but he could prove to be very helpful. Instrumental actually. He could make this process a lot quicker and efficient.

  “Jerry, listen very carefully, buddy.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “There are two guys over there. Two bad guys. They’re dressed the same.”

  “Yes, sir. I saw them earlier.”

  “Okay. Here’s what we’re going to do. You know how to make any bird noises?”

  “I can do a pigeon and an owl.”

  “Okay. The owl is good. I’m going go down to the building. I’ll be on the corner just behind those guys. They won’t be able to see me. Hold on one second.” I scanned the area looking for a rock. Nothing. “Keep your eyes on that corner and back about ten feet. See this wallet?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m going to throw it in the air. It will go about five feet above the top of the building. When you see it in the air. Count to thirty and then make the owl sound. If no one looks in your direction wait thirty seconds and do it again, just a bit louder. Just keep doing it every thirty seconds until someone looks in your direction. It’s important they’re exactly thirty seconds apart. When someone looks you do it twice quickly. Got it?”

  “Got it.”

  “Any questions?”

  “No. Okay. If anything happens you take this cell phone and you dial the last number and tell the lady on the other end what’s happening, okay?”

  “Is everything going to be okay?”

  “Yes, but I want you to have this phone anyways.”

  “Okay.”

  I made my way around the side of the building. I pulled out the dead man’s gun in my left hand and placed the wallet in my right. I used an underhand motion and lofted the wallet into the air. The strange shape of the wallet took a weird trajectory and the wind caught it just a bit. It went to the desired height, but hit the side of the building on the way back down. Not good. I stood tall and readied for shadows.

  The shadows approached slowly. I could see they had their weapons drawn. Then I heard the owl sound. The shadows stopped. I could see their military hand and arm signals. They were going to divide and conquer. I knew I had about five seconds until the man changing direction looked towards Jerry and the two quick owl sound would delivered. This would only alert the first man coming in my direction more. It would also put Jerry in an unintended, and possibly inescapable, predicament. Time to act.

  I dropped to the prone position and counted, two…one…the second owl sound was right on time. I slid my head and arms out around the side of the building. Barely eleven inches off the ground. I delivered a headshot to the first thug. The second thug spun around. A square chest shot that knocked him down and back. He was stunned but started to roll for cover. Kevlar. I got up and ran in a zigzag pattern towards him. I saw his pistol hand rise and I delivered a second shot. High risk, high reward. Miss and he’s got me dead in his sights. Not going to happen. Square between the eyes. Two more down. Three total. I ran forward into the darkness and lied down waiting for their backup to arrive. Nothing. I didn’t move for over ten minutes. No shadows, no noises. The initial surveillance had proven right. Only three guys. Somehow Jerry was the only one I missed. Go figure.

  I retraced my steps back to Jerry’s position.

  “Great job, buddy.”

  “Thanks. I thought you were going to be in trouble.”

  “You did the right thing. You stuck to the plan. I knew you would and I used that to my advantage. You saved us.” I reached around with my right arm and wrapped him in a hug. He smiled. For a kid interested in the SEAL lifestyle he was getting one heck of an introduction. Not even fair to call it an introduction. He was a functioning member of this op. Not what I had planned or wanted, but I had to improvise and overcome.

  “Where’s your mom?”

  “She’s inside. Right in the front. They have her in a chair. She’s tied up.”

  “Did you see anything else when they took you in?”

  “No. They had us blindfolded. I figured out where she was when I went out through the bathroom. They took off the blindfolds when we got inside and they got us tied up. The bathroom’s on the left side. Where you first were, opposite side the guys were on.”

  “Okay. Great job on gathering intel. Now it’s time to use that information to rescue your mom. Ready?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Okay, here’s the plan.” I told Jerry exactly how it was going to work out. My speech was slow, clear, and very matter of fact. I wanted him to be able to visualize it as I said it. It would be easier to execute that way. Now, time to see if reality lined up to the vision.

  CHAPTER 18

 
I raised my right hand high and then thrust it quickly downward, just like the starter at the Indy 500. I saw Jerry put his weight behind the branch and the 84 Chevette began rolling down the hill. He was fascinated how easy it was to break into the car. He was even more excited to know he would get to push the branch that would put the car from second into neutral. I remembered how one of the guys had that car at my first duty station. He was always complaining how loose the gearbox was. I couldn’t believe my luck when I saw one that looked nearly abandoned sitting up at the top of a small incline.