The Protective SEAL

by Knight, Katie

  “A tracking device?” Jack scowled. “Where’d they hide it? Couldn’t have been on the vehicle, since that’s still sitting in the impound lot in Rally, far as I know.”

  “Nope. He put it in the diaper bag.”

  “Oh shit.” Jack swiped the back of his hand across his damp lips. Wily bastard. That diaper bag was the one constant with them throughout all this—Jack’s farm, the cabin, even the motel. Even when they had to go on the run, it was the first thing Sam grabbed. Then his heart lurched. “Does she still have it?”

  “The diaper bag? Yeah, she did,” Zeke said. “I took it away from her as soon as I found out. We’ve moved her and the baby again, but on such short notice our choice of safe houses that had been cleared and vetted was short. This one’s a bit small for our needs.”

  “Who cares about your needs.” Jack squeezed his cell phone so hard the plastic protective case cracked. “Are they safe? That’s all that matters to me.”

  “Nice. Thanks for your concern, buddy.” Zeke snorted. “And yes, they’re safe. For now.” His friend gave an aggrieved sigh. “Honestly, man, the whole thing pisses me off. That Meade is such a smug bastard. It was like he was taunting us or something, telling us that Stefan Engel and his thugs knew where Sam and the baby were and made contingencies to get to her regardless of whether we found the tracker or not. That Engel asshole has got eyes and ears everywhere. Evading him is damned near impossible,” Zeke said. “I’ve got my best team on her, man. I swear, but even though I trust them all completely, we don’t have the firepower to hold out against a large gang of attackers. Engel knows this and I’m pretty sure he’ll use it to his advantage. It’s only a matter of time now, since Sam’s scheduled to testify soon. Just two days from now if everything runs on schedule.”

  “Two days?” He knew her part was coming up, but things kept getting postponed or moved or changed all in the hopes of avoiding any violence. Blood pounded in Jack’s head as he struggled to process everything he’d just learned. Hopefully, Stefan Engel hadn’t discovered Sam’s new location. And if he had, then so did his cohorts. More men would come to attack her before her testimony, that much was certain. He might not be as familiar with mafia politics, but they’d put down enough hostile coups during his time in the SEALs for him to know that when there was a vacuum of power, people always stepped up to try and fill the void. Engel’s trial wasn’t going well for the old mobster. Young, vicious rivals were jockeying to take his place at the top of the crime pyramid in Chicago—and they were eager for a chance to prove themselves. If one of those guys thought they could score a hit on Sam and take her out before she could testify against her father, that would be a sign to everyone of their strength and capabilities.

  Perspiration trickled down his neck, and salt stung his eyes. He shouldn’t leave his farm. He should leave Sam and Glory’s protection in the hands of the professionals. He should mind his own business. Except Sam and Glory were his business. Now and hopefully forevermore. He might not be the man he once was, but damn if he didn’t feel like a better one now. Because of Sam. Because of his daughter. “Where are they now?”

  “Little town outside of Chicago. It’s a fairly straightforward drive down the expressway to the federal courthouse in the city. Why?”

  “Because I’m coming there, that’s why.”

  “No, Jack. You’re not.” Zeke cursed under his breath. “I didn’t call you to tell you this so you’d race over here to the rescue. We’ve got this. I’ve got this.”

  “Yeah? Not without me you don’t. My specialty in the SEALs was strategy. This is what I’m trained for. Please let me help.” Jack leaned back against the tractor and dug the toe of his work boot into the dirt. “I may not be the SEAL I once was, but I damn well guarantee I know tactics better than anyone on your team. Not to mention, I can still fire a gun with the best of them and I can still run a retrieve-and-rescue mission with the best of them. If anyone’s going to have Sam’s back right now, it should be me.”

  “And why is that?” Zeke asked.

  “Because I love her, that’s why. Because Glory’s my daughter and mine to protect.” Jack hadn’t expected the rush of joy inside him to say those words out loud, but damn if he didn’t feel them just the same. “They’re everything to me. If they’re in danger, I want to be there for them.”

  The line stayed silent so long that Jack checked to make sure the call was still connected.

  Finally, Zeke said, “Well, damn. I don’t have an argument for that, buddy.”

  Jack chuckled. “Never thought I’d hear those words come out of your mouth, dude.”

  “I know, right? I’m the guy with an answer for everything. And congrats on the kid, man. Glory’s a real sweetheart.”

  “Thanks.” Jack straightened and glanced over to where his cows were watching him through the fence. “Let’s make sure her and her mom stay safe, yeah? We need to make sure Sam testifies and puts that asshole father of hers behind bars for eternity. And before that can happen, I think we both know there’s going to be another attempt to take her out. You need to be on guard for rival gang activity. Remember those power struggles in the Middle East after Hussain’s regime fell? I don’t know the mafia, but I can imagine someone else trying to take Sam out to make a point to her father.”

  “Agreed. I’ll get my team on it. How long of a drive is it for you to get here?” He rattled off the name of the town to Jack.

  “Let’s see.” After a quick search of the maps on his phone, Jack started making a list of things he needed to do in his head. Call his neighbor to watch his cattle and farm again. Let his mom know he’d be out of town a few days. Gas up his new truck. He’d just gotten it the day before and prayed this one would fare better than his last one. Telling his insurance company that he’d lost two vehicles in less than a month to gunfire probably wouldn’t go over well. “The drive looks to be about seven hours, give or take a few minutes for traffic and construction. If I pack up now and leave, I should be there tomorrow morning. That should give us time to plan our strategy for the courthouse the next day. Sound good?”

  “Dude, you know I can’t legally invite you to join my team. You’re a civilian now.”

  “I know, but in title only. In my heart, I’ll always be a SEAL.” A few weeks ago—hell, even a few hours ago—Jack doubted he’d ever feel that way again, but now he realized the words were true. He might not be the man he’d been when he left the SEALs, but in many ways he was better. In all the ways that mattered. He was smarter, fiercer, and a hell of a lot more determined. All thanks to the woman he loved and the daughter he adored. And with saving Sam and Glory as his goal, there was no way he could fail. “How about on the down low then?”

  Zeke laughed. “On the down low? I say get your butt here as fast as you can, man.”

  Twenty-Six

  Sam stared into the predawn gloom the next morning after a long night of tossing and turning. One more day until she testified against her father. One more day until hopefully this would all be over and she could get on with her life. A life she’d need to rebuild post-Jack for her and Glory.

  After a yawn and a stretch, she got up and got ready, then did the same for the baby, then carried her out to the kitchen, careful to be quiet to avoid waking Deputy Marshal Taylor. She needn’t have bothered, it turned out. He was already up and making breakfast. She’d forgotten about his SEAL background.

  Jack had been the same way—early to rise, busy from the get-go.

  Her battered heart flinched with sadness.

  “Good morning, Miss Engel,” Zeke said as she stumbled into the kitchen and focused on getting Glory secured in her highchair. “How’d you sleep?”

  “Like crap,” she grumbled, knowing she was acting like a total grump, but unable to stop herself either. “Thanks for asking.”

  “Sounds like someone needs a cup of liquid energy.” Zeke snorted and hiked his chin toward the freshly brewed pot of coffee on the counter. “Help yourself. M
ilk’s in the fridge, if you take it.”

  Sam kissed her daughter’s forehead, then fixed herself a mug. Normally, mornings were her favorite time of day. Watching the sunrise, the promise of possibilities to come. Unfortunately, the only thing looming on her horizon at present was the impending confrontation with her father in the courtroom tomorrow. Not exactly something she looked forward too. At least her two brothers wouldn’t be there, since they’d sold the old man out and taken a plea deal. Not that Stefan Engel needed any support. The man was ruthless. If any human could take care of themselves, it was her father.

  With Jack gone, the only person Sam would have on her side would be Zeke. And yes, he seemed quite capable and good at his job, but it wasn’t the same. He wasn’t Jack. A pang of unwanted yearning shot through her. She missed him terribly, but he wasn’t coming back. The sooner she remembered that, the better.

  She was on her own now and she had Glory’s welfare to consider. Time to make decisions with her head and not her heart. Her plans were to testify, then get the heck out of Dodge. Get settled in her new town, her new life, and make the best of things. Soon, Glory would be old enough to remember what was happening around her and Sam wanted to ensure those memories were good, instead of the horrors she’d witnessed after her beloved mother had died. Being around Stefan, without the shield of her mother, meant Sam had seen and heard the worst of her father’s world.

  Thus, the reason she was testifying.

  Also, the reason he needed to eliminate her before she could talk.

  She compartmentalized those brutal images, as she always did to survive. No sense dredging them up until she had to tomorrow. Talking to the DA to prep for her testimony had been bad enough. Sam took another swig of coffee to ease the tension inside her, coiling tighter and tighter, like a cobra ready to strike.

  As dangerous as all the days had been since she’d gone into witness protection, today would be the most dangerous. Perhaps that’s why Deputy Marshal Taylor was trying to make it all seem so normal. Reverse psychology or some such crap. Sam wasn’t buying. She had too much at stake and had inherited far too many of her father’s instincts to buy into all that fairy tale crap for long.

  “How do you want your eggs?” Zeke asked from where he stood at the stove. “Scrambled? Fried? Poached?”

  “No eggs for me, thanks,” she said, taking another sip of coffee while Glory chewed on the ear of a stuffed piglet they’d purchased when they’d stopped for supplies the day before. “I will take some of that bacon though.”

  “A woman after my own heart.” Zeke grinned as he set a plate in front of her. “Go right for the good stuff.”

  She took a bite of the delicious salty meat and sighed. “Have to. Never know when it could all be gone.”

  “Spoken like a woman with a broken heart.” Zeke took a seat across from her, his plate piled high with food. He was still wearing what she assumed he’d slept in the night before. The white of his T-shirt contrasted sharply with the darkness of his skin beneath the overhead lights. She gave him a flat stare before looking away. “C’mon, Miss Engel. Anybody with eyes can see there was more between you and Jack than just a man doing a good deed for a stranger. Besides, the kid’s got his eyes. And his nose, poor thing.”

  “Hey!” Sam scowled over at him, only to find him smiling at her again. Her irritation dissolved under his friendliness. He really was a good man. No wonder him and Jack were such good friends. “We met each other once before all of this. I was working on completing my PhD dissertation in Costa Rica and Jack was still with his SEAL team. By the end of my trip, I’d already decided to testify against my father, and I’d made arrangements to enter witness protection once I got back stateside. Word leaked to my father, who sent men after me. Their mission was to extract me from the location and get me safely into US marshal custody. Jack was the man who came to my rescue.” She stared down into her cup. “Afterward, he took me to a safe house for the night and…” Heat prickled her cheeks. Those memories she didn’t mind reliving, but now was not the time, and this was certainly not the place. “Anyway, one thing led to another. You know how it goes. Nine months later, I had Glory. I was already in protective custody, so there was no way to reach out to let Jack know. Didn’t really see the point either, since it seemed unlikely we’d ever see each other again. Now, here we are.”

  “Yep. Here we are,” Zeke said around a bit of food, his dark eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement. “You miss him now, huh?”

  She sighed and sat back, reaching over to toy with one of Glory’s feet. They were just so cute. “I’d be lying if I said no.”

  “Jack’s a good man. We were on the same SEAL team for a while—long enough that I got to know him and see how he worked.” Zeke bit off half a triangle of toast in one bite. “He loves you. Any fool could see that. I’m not saying things between you would be easy but seeing how you’ve been moping around since we left his place yesterday, I don’t think they could be any worse either.”

  “We can’t be together, Deputy Marshal Taylor. You of all people should know that.”

  “Call me Zeke. I think we’ve gotten to that point, yeah?”

  “Yeah.” Sam took a deep breath, forcing her tense shoulders to relax. “And please, call me Sam.”

  “Fine. Sam it is.” He raised his glass of orange juice to toast her. “You and Jack could be together, after you’re out of witness protection.”

  “Out?” She frowned.

  “If your father is convicted of murder, we’re expecting him to turn over the names of key players in his organization in order to lessen his own sentence. If that happens, the threat against you should be low enough that there shouldn’t be a need to keep you hidden anymore. With your father behind bars for a good long time and his organization defanged, you’ll be free to live your life however you want.”

  It was a nice dream—really nice. Without the secrecy of witness protection looming over her, she could return to Rally, return to Jack—if he still wanted her. She shoved another piece of bacon in her mouth.

  But it was just a dream. Her father wouldn’t name names—he’d consider it a sign of weakness. And as long as his organization stayed intact, she’d remain a target and a trophy: a way for the successor to prove himself. She wouldn’t be safe. Zeke didn’t seem to understand that—but he’d see the truth soon enough.

  She shrugged and straightened Glory’s sock. “Maybe.”

  Zeke snorted. “Yeah. Well, you best make up your mind soon whether you want Jack back or not.”

  “Why’s that?” Sam glanced over at him, her pulse quickening. She didn’t think she could take much more bad news right now. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing wrong.” Zeke stood to clear away their empty plates. “Just that I talked to Jack last night after I got some new intel from my team. Turns out that rogue agent the first night, at the rest stop, planted a tracker in that diaper bag of yours. That’s how your father’s men have been able to track your whereabouts this whole time.”

  Eyes wide, Sam stood and grabbed the handle of Glory’s carrier. “Oh my God! I’ve still got that bag. It’s in my room right now. You knew about this last night? Is that why we had to move to a different house? But why did you bring the tracker with us? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of moving?”

  “It would—if the tracker was still in the bag.” Zeke finished rinsing the dishes and shoving them in the dishwasher, then turned to face her. “We removed it and disposed of it yesterday, before coming here.”

  Sam opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again, stunned. “You went through my things.”

  “Only the diaper bag, I swear.” Zeke held up his hand, palm out. “But I needed to make sure I was in control of this thing from now on. And I am. But I still called Jack to let him know since his property had been involved in the attacks. He was pissed, to say the least. That’s why he’s driving up here now to help ambush these guys.”

  “Uh, what?” Sam blinke
d, still trying to take everything in. Her father had gotten a man to plant a tracker in Glory’s diaper bag. His own granddaughter. Sam had known her father didn’t give a crap about her, but she’d still held out hope he might love Glory. Guess that was one more wish gone up in smoke. Then there was the fact that Jack was coming here, to her new safe house. Fresh adrenaline swamped her already overtaxed system. She knew he cared for Glory. That didn’t mean he felt the same about Sam. They’d had sex, shared their bodies. Didn’t mean his heart was involved in the equation. Jack had never once mentioned wanting more with her after all this was over. But maybe he’d not been thinking that far ahead either…

  The first rays of sunshine were streaming in through the window over the sink in the kitchen and Glory was starting to fuss, wanting her breakfast. On autopilot, Sam got out the can of formula and a bottle and started to mix, her mind still whirling at a million miles an hour with all this new information.

  “So, like I said, you need to be thinking about how you’re going to handle things with Jack. Because by my estimation—” Zeke glanced at the clock over the stove then over to the front door of the tiny ranch-style house. A knock sounded, as if on cue. “That should be him now.”

  Sam froze midstir of the bottle, eyes locked on the entrance as Zeke strolled across the living room, his grin wide, and opened the door to reveal Jack on the stoop. He looked rumpled and weary and more beautiful than anything Sam had ever seen in her life. Well, besides her daughter.

  The guys exchanged a quick bro-hug and Jack dropped his black duffel by the door, then straightened, meeting her gaze across the room. Time slowed as Sam set the bottle aside with shaky hands.

  “Uh, hi,” she managed to squeak out, more nervous now than she’d ever been. “You’re here.”

  “I am.” Jack stepped closer, close enough for her to see the dark circles under his eyes, the slight lines of tension on either side of his mouth. “After all this is over, Sam. I think we should talk.”