by Dale Mayer
Kevin made an odd gurgling sound. She studied his face, fatigue had bleached the color from his skin. Did he need his medicine? The shocks had happened so fast they had to be hard for him to deal with. She wasn’t even sure what all his medications were for as his mother handled all that. But although he was looking tired, what he needed more than anything was to know he was safe and to see his parents again.
She didn’t know about the last one. She hoped they’d survive but was loathe to put Kevin in any danger. They were safe here. They needed to stay.
And that rope in her arms could stay right there too.
*
“How are the kids?”
Shadow stared at Swede. “The boy is a kid but the daughter is twenty–five. Nothing kiddish about her.”
Swede’s huge grin split his face. Typical. Always a smile no matter what. But when you needed him, he was all business. He was a good man to have at your back. They all were. Cooper slid over to join them, Markus and Evan at his side.
“The senator and his wife are in the truck. No guards.”
“Do we know that for sure?” Markus motioned in a low voice. “I can’t see leaving the prisoners without a guard.”
“Unless there are no prisoners,” Evan said in a sarcastic tone. “A sleight of hand maybe?”
Shadow frowned. Why would they do that? The senator needed medical aid and wasn’t likely in any shape to escape so they didn’t need guards, but surely the terrorists had figured out that they were under attack by now. And stealing the truck was also a possibility.
He shifted position to get a better view of the confab raging inside the kitchen. He said, “All the hostages are outside. The terrorists are inside. We need to go in and take them down now.”
Mason’s voice came over the radio, low and clear. They were going in.
Shadow muttered back, “Is someone guarding the senator?” A short time later, Mason came back. “Two guards down. They were assigned to guard the truck.”
Shadow confirmed he’d grab the truck with the senator and slipped between the trees. He was concerned that someone hidden was going to be looking out for the victims. But there were no drivers inside and no passengers. So just the senator and his wife. Unless there was a gunman hidden inside waiting. He took several steps forward until an odd sound registered. He stepped back and was tackled from behind.
He spun and grabbed and twisted his attacker to the ground and realized his hands were grabbing soft flesh, soft material, and there was nothing enemy like about the beautiful worried face beneath him. Arianna.
He reared back in shock, his mind trying to process what she was doing, when she whispered, “You can’t touch the truck. We saw someone plant a device underneath. Looked like dynamite.” Her voice was hoarse but defiant.
He didn’t know what to say. He quickly withdrew and dragged her with him back into hiding. “Tell me again exactly what you saw,” he said. His mind struggled at the idea that she’d left her brother up in the tree to come and save him. He had never expected such a thing and didn’t know what to do with the information now.
She quickly related what she’d seen and her gut decision to drop down and save him. He stared at her again. “And your brother?”
“He’s safe,” she whispered, “He was in agreement.”
He wanted to ask why but knew he couldn’t. She explained anyway. “We couldn’t let you be killed when you’d saved us. Besides we need you to help save our parents.” Her grin flashed.
“It’s my job to save,” he said in low tones, turning his gaze to search their surroundings while he tried to process the information.
“And it’s my job to save you when I could. Anyone would have in the same situation,” she retorted. “You’re welcome by the way.”
And damn if she didn’t reach up and kiss him.
Once again thunderstruck by her actions, his hand instinctively slapped his cheek where she’d kissed him. And he blinked at her in shock.
She grinned and reached up and kissed his other cheek.
He lifted his other hand to slap his other cheek then narrowed his gaze as he realized how silly he looked.
Then she pulled his head down and laid one on him. He couldn’t help but respond. She demanded a response. One he couldn’t hold back.
“Harrumph.”
She broke away and spun to stare up. As in way up. Swede. Her gaze widened and she plastered back against Shadow. Shadow knew there’d be no end to ribbing now. He glared at the huge smirking Swede who was flanked by a wildly grinning Cooper. Behind were Markus and Evan with grins on their faces as well. Everyone at base had heard about their group’s love matches. Hell, they were likely the laughing stock of SEALs everywhere. Unless you were jealous…
Several guys had asked to join their ranks on the next mission. Half joking but some were very serious. The type of work they did, it was tough on relationships and now that so many of his friends had seemed to find a magic formula the other guys wanted in.
“Thank you very much for saving my dear friend, Shadow here,” Swede said in a gentle voice. “Don’t mind him if his manners are a little rusty.” And that smile of his that melted hearts everywhere appeared to melt Arianna’s too. Still lying flat against him, she held out her hand and said, “At least now I know his name.”
She twisted to grin up at Shadow. “And it’s okay if his manners are a little rusty. His skills in other areas obviously…aren’t.”
And damn it, heat rose to this face. He had no idea who this woman was but he was…interested…intrigued. Hell, he was…no, he refused to admit it. Attraction was one thing. But this…whatever this was…had to be something else again.
Cooper stepped behind Shadow and chanted, “Another one bites the dust.”
Chapter 6
Arianna couldn’t stop touching him. She was a toucher by nature, but when she’d seen the man who’d rescued her and her brother head toward the truck and knew he had seconds to live, she’d used the rope like he had and swung out and let go. And had landed on him. It had worked a little too well maybe, but she was down and he was fine.
And damn it, she ran her fingers over his features yet again, he felt so good.
“I’m fine,” Shadow muttered, pulling her hands down.
The other SEALs had huge grins on their faces. She’d heard them called Swede, Cooper, Markus and Evan. What was it about the SEALs that made them all dashing and dangerous looking? She studied them. Swede was a blonde mountain, Cooper was only slightly smaller. Markus was dark, swarthy. Evan was the opposite, so blond his hair appeared almost white. Not to mention sexy. At that she turned to look back at Shadow, her mind immediately adding very sexy…
Shadow, and what kind of name was that, didn’t appear to know what to do with her.
Hell, she didn’t know what to do with her. He set her on her feet and turned to face the truck, his face leaning out as he considered the problem. “Swede, weight sensitive do you think?”
“I’m thinking so. Cooper, Evan, what do you think?”
“It would make sense but that’s going to have been made here. Too touchy for that kind of travel.” Evan said.
Cooper nodded but stayed silent.
“But they’d have been able to travel with the unit mostly built then add the mechanism here if that was the case,” Arianna said absentmindedly. “They brought no equipment that I could see.”
The group stared at her. “What? If I didn’t see any bombs or bomb making equipment, then they likely brought it here with the truck.” She spun back to look at it. “I wonder if the truck is stolen. Destroy it in the Canadian wilderness and leave it behind. A good way to make sure it’s never found.”
With Shadow still studying her, she turned warm under that intense light in his eyes. If he’d been confused before he was even more so now. She smiled up at him. “It’s a hobby.”
“Bomb making,” he asked carefully, his gaze narrow.
She laughed. “No, mysteries.�
�
With a confused look on all their faces, she explained. “I’m a mystery buff. Go to mystery dinners, read the latest and the best, not to mention every other one I can get my hands on.”
“Cool,” Cooper said. “That always appealed.”
She turned to see Shadow’s reaction, noting the dark gaze before it was turned back to face the truck that held her dad and stepmom. She wanted to call out but didn’t dare bring any unwanted attention. She glanced upward to see her brother staring down at her. She waved.
He grinned.
Her hand was lowered and she was jerked back behind Shadow. She frowned at him. He glared at her. And she realized she’d completely forgotten that there were other men out here still and she wasn’t safe.
She was an innocent, but he was keeping her safe.
She beamed at him.
His gaze narrowed on her then shifted to look at his buddies. Arianna caught the other men hastily hiding grins.
“Aren’t you going to diffuse the bomb?” she asked. “Anytime now would be good.”
Shadow’s eyebrows shot up to the hairline. But he stayed quiet – just shook his head.
“I’ll check it out,” Cooper said. Shadow moved the group back, keeping Arianna behind him and Swede. Markus and Evan split away and headed off to sides.
She snuck up closer until she was plastered against the huge tree beside them as the men kept watch for Cooper.
Cooper slid over to the vehicle and lay down. He reached up and she gasped, her hand instinctively grasping Shadow’s hand. Gunfire rained down around them. She cried out and covered her head.
Then suddenly Cooper was out from under the vehicle and racing toward them.
He joined them crouched in the bush. “Simple enough. No timer. No pressure sensitivity. Likely remote detonation just in case we did drive the truck away with the senator.”
She squeezed Shadow’s hand. “He’s good.”
When Shadow didn’t say anything, she gave his hand a shake. “Isn’t he?”
Shadow slanted a look her way. “They are all good.”
She beamed. “See. Shadow thinks you’re good too.”
Cooper, his eyes dancing, said to Shadow, “Thanks, buddy. Your opinion means a lot to me.”
With a snort, Shadow disengaged his hand and disappeared into the woods. Just like that.
“Where did he go?” she asked after several long moments searching the woods around her.
“He did what he does best, walks in the shadows.”
“Hence his name.” She nodded. “Did any of you consider that he does that because he’s always alone? Thinks he’s always going to be alone,” she added in exasperation. “That’s not a good thing you know.”
Swede stared at her, a peculiar look in his eyes and said gently, “He’ll continue to believe that until someone comes along and changes it for him.”
Then he disappeared in the bushes too.
Cooper smiled down at her. “It’s nice to see you already understand Shadow.”
“I don’t know that I understand him,” she cautioned. “He saved my life.”
“And you saved his,” he said cheerfully. “Isn’t there something to that old adage about saving a life and being responsible for that life ever after?”
“Then our scales would just cross each other’s off as we’re even,” she said a little reluctantly, intrigued at the idea of having a man like Shadow feel a little responsible for her. Not totally responsible because that would feel like a ball and chain over time, and she couldn’t handle shackles. Still…he was…all man. Sigh.
“Not at all. It would mean that he is to look after you, but that you are also to look after him.”
“We’re so different, that would hardly work,” she said with a smile, speaking in light tones. Too bad Shadow wasn’t still here.
“Oh, but you’d be caretakers of different parts of each other. Like you could look after the part of him that feels alone. Empty,” Cooper added quietly. “Shadow needs to know that he has someone in his life besides his brothers.” He tapped his chest. “He and the rest of our team.”
“Doesn’t he have any family?” It would be tough to be all alone. She didn’t like her stepmother, had learned to deal with her gruff father, but she’d be lost without Kevin.
Cooper shook his head. “And he’s very private.”
She nodded, staring into the bushes. “Poor man.”
“I don’t think sympathy is on the menu.”
“No, neither is pity. He doesn’t need it either. He’s survived and that’s the best any of us can do sometimes.” She tilted her head back to see the rope too high up for her to reach. “I need to get back up to my brother.” She turned to Cooper. “Can you give me a boost up?”
The words weren’t fully out of her mouth before she was literally tossed up into the air in the direction of the rope. She grabbed on and scurried up to where her brother sat anxiously waiting for her.
Her arms were aching, and her breathing uneven by the time she got to the top. But she made it, and with her brother tucked up close in her arms, the two of them safe against the trunk, and the rope once again looped around the branch, she closed her eyes and rested.
Shadow…an interesting name for an interesting man.
*
Shadow studied the four men in front. They weren’t as well trained as the other soldiers and stood talking as a group. Then he realized that his group hadn’t been much better. And that was disheartening. Trust a woman to create such a situation. Hell, before she’d arrived he’d been doing well. Now he was scattered and confused. He shoved all thoughts of Arianna back inside. She was a job. That was all.
Liar.
But he wouldn’t listen.
Swede joined him. Markus on his heels. Shadow glanced behind.
“She’s with Cooper.”
Shadow nodded but the thought soured his gut. Great. The only other single guy in the unit and one who was friendly and got along wonderfully with everyone. Wait, Markus and Evan were here too. Great. More men for her to choose from. Yet he shouldn’t give a damn. She was nothing to do with him. Good for Cooper if he found someone. He’d had a shitty year. Then Markus deserved a relationship after losing his wife. And what about Evan’s divorce? He could use a sweetheart himself. Someone like Arianna would be perfect.
And that made his stomach want to heave.
Suddenly the enemy in front of him were on the move, two to the left and two to the right. He headed right, Swede beside him. Markus walked the center line.
The two men went down without a fight. Shadow stared at an unconscious man at his feet. He quickly secured him and turned to see Swede already lifting the other over his shoulder.
They were collecting the men and keeping them on the other side of the hill under heavy guard. So far they’d managed to take several out without alerting the enemy.
But then the men had been easy to capture. And he wondered about that. As in they were too easy to capture. Shouldn’t these men be more of a challenge?
Swede leaned closer. “Canadian team is suspicious. Says it’s too easy.”
“I agree.” Shadow studied the collection of soldiers. “They don’t look worried.”
“We’ve disarmed them,” Markus said adding, “at least our weapons stash is growing.”
Then Shadow got it. He spun around behind him, searching for the enemy. “They are a distraction. While we’re here worrying about them, the others are setting plans in motion.”
“Time to get back to the cabin.” Swede pivoted and blended into the woods. Shadow was close enough behind to hear his radio crackle and Mason’s voice but too far behind to hear the words. He suspected they were all considering what was beneath this ploy.
“We need to make sure the senator is okay,” he muttered to Mason.
“He’s still in the truck.”
“I’m not sure he is.” Markus shook his head. “Like I said before, I think that’s a slight of han
d movement and we fell for it.”
There was an awkward silence on the other end. “That would not be good.”
Swede, slightly ahead, turned and nodded in agreement at Shadow. There had to be some reason for the extra men to be scattered and easily caught.
Not to mention they were well trained soldiers. They were trained killers, weapons aside.
The truck came into view.
And lying underneath, trying to do something, was Cooper again. This time he had Evan helping him.
Then where the hell was Arianna? He spun and twisted so he could peer up into the trees above then shifted to look at others around him lest the enemy could see him and understand what he’d been looking for. He’d caught sight of Kevin’s black windbreaker. Enough to know the boy was up there.
Cooper motioned to him with his hand. Shadow crouched down to see what the issue was. And found a second bomb. Jesus. He ran fingers over his face.
Just as he was trying to figure what to do, bullets circled the truck in a hail of gunfire, all coming from high up in the trees.
They were surrounded.
Shadow melted into the background. He hated to leave Cooper under the truck. If anyone chose to shoot the truck then the hostages, if they were still there, Cooper would be killed. That’s why they hadn’t had a guard down below. The guards had been above.
And that meant Kevin and Arianna were in trouble too. He spun in time to see Swede take aim and fire. A man gave a cry and fell to the ground twenty feet away. He landed heavy and didn’t move.
Instantly, the area where they stood came under a barrage of bullets. But they’d moved already. Swede popped off another one as Shadow raced to the base of the tree holding the two family members. Gunfire spat all around him.
Realizing they’d been outplayed, he scrambled up the tree as Swede moved in and out of the bushes below him drawing the fire away.
In the distance he heard more gunshots. Not a good sign. Their captives had probably heard the gunfire and used it as a signal to overpower the men guarding them. The Canadian contingency had been right. This was too easy. Well, not any longer. Shadow climbed rapidly. He landed quietly on the huge branch he’d left Kevin on and found him wrapped around the tree, his eyes closed and trembling.