The Stealth Warrior: Navy SEAL Romance 2.0

by Checketts, Cami

  Chapter Two

  Kiera could not do this tonight. She stormed out of the fancy dressing room in the Bellagio and into the wide hall with the obnoxious carpet and walls that were papered with fake gold accents. Other performers milled around or rushed by to get ready for the performance. She should be focused mentally on her upcoming performance, but she had to get away from Milo and his constant attention. Milo had been respectful and stayed by her side since Creed died three months ago, playing the part of loyal friend. Unfortunately, the façade hadn’t lasted near long enough for her. A few weeks ago, he’d started putting on the moves again, sometimes showing up at her condo door early in the morning or ridiculously late at night. She had to constantly tell him sorry but no. She appreciated and liked the guy, and they were perfect as dance partners. She clung to the words in Creed’s letter about finding happiness and being successful, but she couldn’t imagine ever moving on to another man. No matter how sneakily Milo tried to pretend that they had a relationship deeper than dancing partners, she didn’t know if she would ever be ready for that.

  There was a loud disturbance and sounds of fighting down the hall. She turned to look, but Milo was suddenly there. He grabbed her and pulled her in, smothering her with his hot lips. Kiera stood absolutely still. She felt angry. Well, at least it was some emotion. Since Creed had died she’d felt absolutely nothing, except for the desire to succeed for him. The hard work and long hours had been exactly what she needed to keep getting out of bed each morning. She was glad she had a purpose. If only she could keep Milo at a distance. She’d heard he and his agent were pushing for him and Kiera to have a romantic relationship. She knew the media was having a heyday speculating about their status and what a great couple they would make.

  Milo finally stopped pushing a kiss that she wasn’t returning and simply held her close.

  She heard her name being screamed, and the voice almost sounded like … Creed. Now, she was definitely going crazy. She thought she’d retained her sanity these past months as she worked nonstop and only sobbed for Creed late at night. Clearly, she was wearing down. Even succeeding for the love of her life had lost its appeal. She didn’t know how much longer she could keep up the celebrity lifestyle. She’d recently talked to her agent about doing an international tour or going back to Broadway. The work would be demanding but not as high profile as television and stage shows featuring her and Milo. The other benefit was she could get away from Milo. Being on her own sounded very appealing right now.

  She turned to look at the man who had yelled for her, but all she could see was two security guards with some guy pinned down.

  Milo hurried her back into her dressing room, shut the door, and locked it. He smiled possessively at her. “There are too many crazies who want you.” He took a step closer, and she backed up. “Lucky for me, I’m the one who’s got you.”

  She put a hand on his chest. “We need to talk.” She was fired up about all the rumors of her and Milo. The latest was that he’d moved in with her and the pictures of him leaving her condo at all hours were exactly what the media needed to feed those rumors. Though Milo didn’t seem to be getting the message, she had explained very carefully that she would never sleep with him before marriage, and she’d also explained that her heart had been gouged out when Creed, the only man she’d ever truly loved, had been killed three months ago.

  She had no heart left to give, and though she didn’t mind being around Milo, sans rumors of living with him and having to repeatedly turn him down, she felt nothing but friendship for him. Him trying to kiss her had been pathetic and empty.

  Her phone rang, and she ignored it.

  Milo walked past her and picked it up, extending it to her. “It’s your mother, sweetheart.”

  She could see it in his eyes. He knew she was done with their shallow relationship, and he wanted to put off “the talk” as long as possible. She was pretty sure he or his agent were the ones instigating the rumors. The media twisted a lot of things, but why would they make up her and Milo living together and a story about him buying a huge engagement ring. The thought of either made her stomach squeamish.

  She took the phone from his outstretched palm. “Hola, Mama.” Her mama was from Spain and her papa from Nigeria. They’d met at NYU and settled in America after they fell in love.

  “Mi amor. Have you heard? Have you heard?”

  “Heard what Mama?”

  Milo was studying her, and she gave him a fake smile and turned away.

  “Creed is alive! Oh mija, mi querida. Creed’s alive!”

  Kiera’s entire body seemed to freeze. The room started spinning and then everything went black.

  * * *

  Creed Hawk couldn’t run fast enough along the busy sidewalk and up the ramp toward the massive Bellagio resort, dodging tourists and high-dollar escorts. He ignored the crowds, the water shows, the dry heat, and the filth that was Vegas. Four months without Kiera. Three months of everyone he loved believing he was dead. He’d spent the last two days being debriefed, interrogated, de-bugged, de-wormed, fed, and showered. Then he was finally allowed to travel home to see his family. Some English chap had gotten into their barracks before they’d disbanded and asked SEAL Team 2 to work for him. Creed thought it sounded great and had said he was in, but he needed a few days to see his family and Kiera and figure out what he wanted in his future. He didn’t need money, but working undercover with the other former SEALs, righting wrongs and protecting the innocent, definitely held an appeal. He’d be like Batman, only better-looking and buffer. As long as it didn’t interfere with time with Kiera. She was his future now.

  Last night, he had finally made it home to Long Island and got to simply sit and hold his mom close. When her sobs slowed to sniffles and he was able to disengage without too much guilt from her desperate clasp, he shared manly hugs with Callum, Bridger, Emmett, and his dad and was introduced to Emmett’s new fiancée, Cambree. He got a kick out of Cambree, she had no filter and was funny and obviously in love with his brother.

  After they talked into the early morning, his mom never leaving his side, he explained to his family he needed to fly to Vegas the next day and find Kiera. He’d written her a Dear Jane letter that was only supposed to be delivered if he died. He’d died, but he’d come back, and now, he was finally free to find Kiera. To marry her and be with her like they’d always dreamed. Maybe he should’ve called her as soon as he’d been allowed to, but he needed to see her in person, explain that the Dear Jane letter encouraging her to find happiness and move on with her life was only written because of how much he loved her. All he needed now was to hold her close.

  He grinned as he saw a huge banner of his beautiful girlfriend splayed across a walkway, ignoring the blond man also in the picture. Milo was only her dance partner. Creed didn’t like any man putting their clammy hands on his girl, but he could respect that was part of her career and knew Kiera was a complete professional.

  He focused on her gorgeous face. She was the most perfect mix of her tall Nigerian papa and her petite Spaniard mama. He’d never seen a more exquisite woman than Kiera. She had won America’s Got Talent: Just Dance the week before he’d gone on the mission that had ended in three months of misery and torture. She was amazing. From what he understood, she was in high demand performing across the world. He was proud of her and couldn’t wait to watch her perform and cheer obnoxiously. But right now, he simply needed to hold her. Nothing would be right until she was in his arms.

  He followed the signs to the O Theater where she would be performing tonight. He had half an hour until the show. Just enough time to hold her and kiss her and let her see he’d survived for her, just like he told her he would.

  He skirted the theater and found the backstage entrance that Blaine had helped him scope out. Creed had studied the blueprints on his taxi ride from the airport. Blaine was big on never taking Uber or Lyft because then someone could track your information. Creed teased him about it, but he also
followed the advice.

  Two well-built security guards in suits with obvious earpieces stood in front of him, blocking his access to the performers. There was a long hallway behind them with lots of doors and people in sparkly costumes rushing in and out.

  “Hey, how are ya?” He tried for laidback Western appeal when what he wanted was to take them both out and sprint for Kiera. “I’m meeting up with Kiera Richins before the show.”

  The taller guy grunted. “Yeah, right. Don’t we all wish we could ‘meet up with Kiera Richins.’”

  His bald partner nodded. “Get lost, dude.”

  Creed’s gut tightened. Okay, so he’d have to take them both out. Not that he minded a good fist fight, but he didn’t want to get in the middle of a security issue while he could be holding Kiera. He should’ve taken that Sutton guy up on his offer to get him into Kiera’s dressing room, but he’d wanted to do this on his own. Sutton had acted a little awkward about him needing to see Kiera in person to tell her he was alive when Creed had explained the situation in Syria. Creed brushed it off. Not many people could understand the depth of his and Kiera’s relationship.

  “Yeah, here’s the thing.” Creed dodged at the taller one first, getting in a quick uppercut to the abdomen and a jab to the ribs before he felt the big baldy coming. He popped his elbow back and connected with the guy’s jaw. Creed put the first guy in a headlock and turned and jammed tall guy’s head into baldy’s abdomen.

  People down the hall were crying out in dismay. Creed glanced up, and suddenly, there she was. Kiera stormed out of an open doorway, not even glancing his way. The graceful beauty of her movements, her perfectly-proportioned face, and the long, dark hair trailing down her back knocked Creed’s breath from his body. His memories of her didn’t do her justice.

  A tall blond guy followed her out of the door, grabbed her, whirled her around and pulled her in tight. He kissed her like he owned the right to her lips. Creed cried out and his arms went slack. The guy he was holding slipped out of his grasp and the baldy tackled Creed to the ground. The tall guy added his weight, and they both pinned him down.

  Creed looked up, and Kiera was still in the blond idiot’s arms. They weren’t kissing, but he was clinging to her, and she hadn’t even glanced in Creed’s direction.

  “Kiera,” Creed hollered. She pulled back and turned his way, but the two guys dog-piled him. One of them repeatedly smacked him in the back of the head, and he couldn’t see her. With a roar, he threw them off, but Kiera and the blond man were gone. Kiera. And that loser Milo. She hadn’t resisted the guy. She hadn’t slapped him. All the fight went out of Creed.

  The guys wrestled him back to the ground, and he didn’t even resist. He laid on the industrial carpet. The weight of the two men on top of him didn’t hurt nearly as much as his dreams going up in smoke. Kiera was with someone else? His brain couldn’t process it, but his heart was aching enough for his entire body.

  Four more security guards appeared, and they all worked together, ripping him to his feet and hauling him off. Creed just stared down the hallway where he’d seen his dream woman being kissed and hugged by another man, not even responding to his call for her. He’d survived months of torture for this?

  * * *

  Kiera opened her eyes to Milo standing over her, grasping his cell phone. “She’s coming around now,” he said then dropped to his knees. “Are you okay? Kiera? The paramedics will be here any second.”

  Kiera pushed past him and stood. “Paramedics? I don’t need paramedics. Creed’s alive!”

  “Creed Hawk?” Milo’s brow furrowed, and his blue eyes darkened. “That’s not possible.” He shook his head at her, all sad and understanding. “I’m sorry, precious. I know it’s been hard, but you have to accept the truth. Creed’s gone, but I’m here for you.”

  “Argh!” She half-grunted, half-yelled at him. “My mama wouldn’t lie to me.” She searched the floor and found her phone, pressing it to her ear and ignoring Milo. “Mama, are you there?”

  “Are you all right?”

  “I passed out I think. Oh, mama, he’s really alive?”

  “Si, mi amor. Are you coming home?”

  “Yes! I’ll call you as soon as I know the details.”

  “I’ll pick you up at the airport and drive you straight to Creed. Oh, I’m so happy!”

  “Me too!” Kiera ran past Milo and grabbed her purse, ending the call and stuffing her phone in it. She wished she had time to change out of her white sequined stage costume, but nothing could keep her from Creed.

  She hurried to the door, but Milo grasped her arm. “What are you doing? Where are you going?”

  “I’m going to New York. Creed’s alive!” Her heart threatened to burst. The Dear Jane letter Creed had sent telling her to move on meant nothing now. She and Creed were meant to be together, and he was alive. She didn’t know such happiness could exist after the past three months of misery. She couldn’t stop grinning.

  “We’ve got a show in twenty minutes, and what about us?”

  “They’ll have to cancel the show, and I’m sorry, but there is no us.” Kiera ripped her arm free and ran for the door. By tomorrow morning, she’d be in Creed’s arms.

  * * *

  Two hours after Creed’s dreams had been smashed and tattered, Sutton Smith, the British guy who looked like James Bond, walked into the security office. Creed was properly cuffed and not even fighting. He always fought. It was who he was. A hot head and a smart aleck and the man who loved Kiera. But did she love somebody else? Had his alleged death driven her into another man’s arms and driven Creed out of her heart?

  Sutton smirked at Creed and sat across from him. “Are you ready to stop wallowing and get to work?”

  Stop wallowing? It had been two lousy hours since his world had fallen apart. He was entitled to a little indulgent misery. “Is she dating that guy?” Creed demanded. Somehow he knew Sutton had all the answers, and suddenly, he also knew why Sutton had acted so off in Syria about him finding Kiera.

  “Milo Lopez—a B-list actor, acclaimed Broadway star, and Kiera’s dance partner.”

  Creed glared. He didn’t need the guy’s credentials. He needed to know what he was doing with Creed’s girl and how Creed could rip them apart.

  “For the past few months, they’ve been inseparable.” Sutton paused and eyed him, as if concerned how he would take his next words. “Even before your mission.”

  “She’s his dance partner.” Creed exploded. Surely a man as accomplished as Sutton Smith understood the difference between performing and real relationships. Yes, Milo and Kiera worked closely together, but Kiera would never cross those emotional and physical lines.

  Even if you were dead and told her to go be happy, to live her life? A snide voice whispered in his head.

  Creed’s jaw tightened. No. Not Kiera. Not in three stinking months.

  Sutton gave him an understanding look. “I’m afraid it’s more than that. Of course the press have been claiming Milo and Kiera are together but I took the liberty of asking Logan to dig.”

  If Logan found the information, Creed could trust it. But what if that information confirmed the unwanted compassion in Sutton’s eyes?

  Sutton threw some pictures on the table. Creed forced himself to glance over them. He could hardly stomach the ones of Kiera in Milo’s arms. None of them were of them kissing but he’d seen that with his own eyes. With his hands cuffed he couldn’t rip the evidence of Kiera and Milo being together outside of dancing to shreds.

  Sutton pointed to several shots of Milo walking out of a ritzy-looking high-rise. “Kiera’s condo. Some of these are early in the morning, some extremely late at night.”

  Creed’s chest tightened.

  “His agent confirmed to Logan that Milo Lopez moved in with her three weeks ago, and he recently purchased a five-karat diamond ring.”

  Creed dropped his chin to his chest. He felt like his insides were being ripped apart, but he’d been trained to proj
ect no emotion. Three lousy months he’d been dead, and Kiera had moved on that easily? Found somebody else. Living with him? The Kiera he’d known and loved would never live with someone. She was a strong Christian, and they’d both committed to saving themselves for marriage … to each other. Their last night together, she’d offered herself to him, but that was because she loved him so much. She wouldn’t do that with another man, would she?

  His heart felt like it had splintered inside of him. Had celebrity status changed Kiera? Was she no longer the woman he craved and could never be without? He loved her more than anything in the world. And right now, he hated this Milo joker and the images of the guy holding her more than anything in the world.

  All those years, all those promises. They’d stayed pure for each other. Even when it was tougher than sitting in a sweltering cave in Afghanistan and not moving for hours. Staying strong while kissing Kiera had been much harder than that. And she threw all their love and discipline away on some B-list actor. Rage filled his chest, and he felt like he was under water. Like during BUDs training when they would have to lay in the sand and do scissor kicks on their backs as the waves rolled over them. He would hold his breath until the wave receded, but sometimes he was completely out of oxygen and his abs were screaming for relief. He would pull in air too soon, and then he would be suffocating, certain he was going to die. That’s what this felt like.

  He finally raised his eyes. Sutton’s blue eyes were serious, understanding, like someone who’d been there. Creed didn’t need his sympathy. He needed to escape from the reality of a world where Kiera didn’t love him enough to wait. A world where his girl gave her purity and love to someone else, without even waiting to marry the loser. Would Kiera really do that? He’d told her in his letter to be happy, to move on, but not like this. Their love felt cheapened and disgusting now. She’d thrown away their love like an already-used gun casing, not even worth finding a trash can for. His stomach churned, and his mouth filled with bile.