The Hero

by Donna Grant

  He would do what had to be done as he always did.

  His thoughts then turned to Orrin. What had caused his father to seek out Natalie? Something raised a red flag, and Owen wished he knew what it was.

  There was no doubt his father was good at what he did. Several of Orrin’s missions were used as examples in the SEALs training of how to complete an operation successfully.

  If there was one thing Owen knew above all else, it was to listen to his instincts. They didn’t lie. For whatever reason, Orrin hadn’t listened to his and had taken the mission anyway. It had cost Orrin his team’s lives, as well as Virgil’s and Charlotte’s.

  Would it end up costing Orrin his own?

  Inevitably, Owen’s thoughts returned to Natalie. In the years since walking away from her, he’d convinced himself that what he felt had been in his mind.

  Then he’d come face to face with her again, and he realized how deeply he’d lied to himself. His love had only been dormant, waiting to see her again before it flared, consuming him.

  That love teased him with glimpses of how his life could be with Natalie beside him. The more he saw, the more he wanted. And the longer Natalie was with him, the more it became clear that he was half a man without her.

  It was a hell of a thing to realize fourteen years after leaving someone. The one good thing was that she wasn’t married. That didn’t mean she wasn’t taken, though.

  Jealousy roared within Owen. Natalie was meant to be his. And he was prepared to fight for her.

  Then he recalled why he’d left her the night of graduation. It all came back to his mother’s murder and Orrin’s part in it.

  Natalie had always been full of life and laughter. She deserved a future with a man who was with her, not home occasionally in between assignments.

  A whistle sounded, breaking into Owen’s thoughts. He turned, thankful to see Cullen walking toward him with a black duffle bag over his shoulder.

  Owen took one more look around for intruders and climbed from the tree. He landed beside his brother and nodded to the bag. “What’s that?”

  “Something to help out after we’re gone. This is just the start of Callie’s bag of tricks,” Cullen said as he set the bag down and unzipped in.

  Owen was impressed when he looked inside and saw multiple wireless cameras. “Wish we’d known about this yesterday.”

  “This will keep you alerted if visitors do drop by.”

  “Good.”

  “Let’s get these set up,” Cullen said.

  Owen took a handful. “Has Wyatt told Callie?”

  “Not yet.” There was a smile on Cullen’s face. “I think he’s putting it off.”

  “He’s probably waiting for me so we can tell both the girls at the same time.”

  Cullen nodded. “Probably. Natalie is at the base waiting for me to radio when the cameras are up so we can test them.”

  He paused at the mention of Natalie’s name. He slung the strap of his rifle over his shoulder as they walked to the left. “All right.”

  “I got a look at the logbook Dad kept of the missions. Shit, Owen. They did everything. Some I’d have liked to have participated in.”

  Owen smiled. If there was one thing Cullen enjoyed, it was danger. The more of it there was, the more he wanted to be involved. Some things never changed.

  “Where’s Callie?” he asked.

  “Seeing to the livestock with Wyatt covertly watching her.”

  Owen chuckled at the image. “That’s not going to go over well.”

  “It will as long as Callie doesn’t see him. And she won’t.”

  No, Callie would never see Wyatt watching her, just as Natalie had never seen the Russians. Natalie. It always came back to her.

  For the next forty minutes, he and Cullen set the cameras in hidden places in the area surrounding the house, barns, and several paddocks. Though they would take turns on patrol for a larger perimeter. The cameras were set to send an alert to their phones as well as the computers at the base if anyone walked near.

  There was the potential of receiving a ton of alerts with all the wildlife and the animals on the property, but it was worth it to know if the Russian group got close again.

  “They’re all up and working,” Natalie’s voice came over the walkie-talkie. “That last one needs to be turned to the left and up just a hair.”

  Owen did as requested. A moment later, Natalie gave them the okay.

  He and Cullen then headed back to the barn. He found himself wondering what Natalie thought about what he’d done the night before. She hadn’t seemed outraged in seeing him kill the Russian.

  Once they reached the barn, they made their way below to the base. Owen pretended to listen as Cullen spoke of his excitement at some of the weapons available to them.

  He nodded, murmuring, “Yeah,” when Cullen stopped talking.

  “So you want to use it to shoot Wyatt in the ass?”

  Owen jerked his head up from wiping down his gun. “What?”

  “I knew you weren’t listening. Your response just proved it.”

  “Sorry. My thoughts are somewhere else.”

  “You mean on someone else,” Cullen said with a smile. “You were so intent on getting in the barn you didn’t see her with Callie. They’re on their way here now, food in hand.”

  No sooner had Cullen said it than Owen smelled bacon. He turned as the girls walked down the steps to the base. His gaze ran over Natalie’s long hair against the black tee, and he smiled. The black fatigues were molded to her hips and beautiful ass to perfection. And he could honestly say in all his years in the military, no one—man or woman—had ever filled out a pair of fatigues like Natalie.

  She placed a plate of biscuits next to the plate of bacon, smiling at Callie. He’d forgotten how it felt to have Natalie around all the time.

  He fought back a moan when her gaze clashed with his. This was what he’d be seeing every day until Orrin was found.

  God help him, because nothing had felt so right in a very long time.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “Good morning.”

  Natalie never thought she’d hear Owen’s sexy voice say those words again. How many times had he woken her at dawn after a night beneath the stars with that same seductive voice? Too many to count.

  “Good morning,” she said and fidgeted for something to do. “It’s not a lot, but it’s food.”

  There was a beat of silence. “Thank you.”

  She looked at Owen. He’d been up all night, but he didn’t look nearly as tired as she felt. She was on her fourth cup of coffee and was seriously considering switching to decaf. Then she smiled, because if there was one thing Virgil Loughman couldn’t tolerate, it was decaf coffee.

  How she missed him and Charlotte. Owen’s aunt and uncle had been salt of the earth people. They were the kind of folks who would give you the shirt off their backs. And Charlotte always had food for anyone in need.

  She moved out of the way for Cullen to get to the food, and when Natalie looked up, Owen was gone. While nibbling on a biscuit, she heard his voice. A moment later, he stepped out of the back room with Wyatt.

  Owen had changed into a pair of jeans and a white shirt. The urge to run her fingers through his long, dark waves was almost too much to resist. She hurriedly stuffed a bite of biscuit into her mouth.

  “This is really good,” Cullen said around a mouthful of food. “Thank you.”

  Owen lifted his mug of coffee to her while he chewed and swallowed. Then his gaze shifted to Callie. “The cameras are a much-needed addition.”

  Callie halved a biscuit and slathered it with butter that she’d pulled from a small fridge beneath her desk. “No one will be approaching without an alert.”

  Owen nodded and swallowed. “With the cameras as small as they are, we were able to hide them in places no one will ever know to look.”

  “That means all three of you won’t have to stay out all night again, right?” Natalie asked.
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  Cullen glanced up at Owen before looking to Wyatt. “Uh, huh.”

  “What’s going on?” Callie demanded.

  Natalie had seen the looks passed between the brothers. And the way Wyatt tapped his watch as he and Owen stared at each other was a silent message.

  “There’s a chance the group might attack during the day, but most likely, it’ll be at night,” Owen said.

  Cullen wiped his hand on his pants as he swallowed the last bite of his bacon and biscuit. “The Russians won’t give up on finding Natalie.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Natalie said. “There are five of us now. And I’m still a good shot.” When Owen simply sat there, she replied, “You taught me to shoot, remember?”

  “I remember,” he said softly.

  “You need me. I’m here and willing to help.”

  The one thing she did well was being a strong, independent woman. It infuriated her mother, who constantly told her she needed to play the weak, helpless female to get a man. Her mom played the part to perfection, and it made Natalie gag.

  It was one of the many arguments that made having any kind of relationship with her mother impossible. Before their brief talk last month, a year and a half had passed since she and her mother had last spoken. With the Russians and Orrin missing, she was happy her mom was on a trip with her latest victim/boyfriend.

  “I’m still better with a rifle,” she told Owen. “But I’ve gotten a lot better with handguns.”

  “I’m happy to hear it.” Owen’s chest expanded as he inhaled. “But…”

  Callie slammed down her coffee mug so that the remaining bit sloshed over the rim and onto the table. “Spit it out. We’re not children.”

  “Those men after Natalie last night are just the beginning,” Owen said. “There will be more.”

  Wyatt crossed his arms over his chest. “They won’t stop until she’s dead.”

  Natalie felt dizzy. She’d heard rumors about how vicious the Russians could be, but she had never seen or experienced anything like that in the decade she’d worked for them in St. Petersburg or the embassy.

  But there was no denying the truth now.

  “That group last night wasn’t simple thugs. They were trained assassins,” Cullen added.

  None of this was making her feel any better. She sank into the nearest chair and gripped the sides to keep upright.

  “We need to split them up,” Owen said. “Make them wonder who Natalie is with.”

  Callie sighed. “Which means we’re splitting up.”

  “It’s the only way.” Wyatt nodded after, to emphasize his words.

  Natalie’s stomach churned. “I thought I was helping. I’ve only made things worse.”

  Owen’s chocolate gaze held hers. “You helped tremendously. You did it knowing your life could be in danger. That took a lot of guts.”

  And where did that leave her now? Scared and cornered. Fat lot of luck her “guts” had given her.

  “So what have you three planned?” Callie asked, a brow raised.

  “Natalie and I will remain here where I know the terrain and can keep her safe,” Owen said.

  Natalie looked at the others around the room. Cullen and Owen were both staring at Wyatt, who was apparently supposed to talk next.

  “And me?” Callie asked. “What am I doing?”

  The sound of beeping filled the room as three of the cameras alerted them to a presence.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Orrin came awake in an instant as cold water was poured over his head. He sucked in a breath as pain radiated from several injuries over his body. With gritted teeth, he opened his eyes.

  From his position on the floor on his side, he could see the room was still dark and dank. Blood crusted one of his eyes shut from the previous beatings. His hands were tied behind his back, making sitting up difficult. But Orrin managed it.

  He glared at the man standing before him. Major General Yuri Markovic. The bastard. Orrin couldn’t remember feeling such hatred before. It was a good thing his hands were bound because he would’ve attacked otherwise.

  In his camouflage uniform, Yuri stared balefully at Orrin. The fact Yuri felt safe enough to wear it meant that they might not be in America any longer. Which would be a very bad thing for Orrin.

  Behind Yuri were two men, and two more waiting on the other side of the door—all wearing the same camo uniform and heavily armed.

  There were few times in Orrin’s life when someone had gotten the better of him, and Yuri had done just that. It stung Orrin’s pride more than he wanted to admit. Mostly because Yuri was a friend—or rather, used to be a friend.

  “You look like hell,” Yuri said snidely, his Russian accent thick.

  It was Orrin who’d helped Yuri learn English over seventeen years ago. Yuri was a quick study, but there were occasions when he still mixed up words.

  Orrin shrugged. “It’s the shitty accommodations and food.”

  “I can make it better. A steak, perhaps? A soft bed with a blanket.”

  Orrin smiled, cracking open his split lip. “I’m old, Yuri, but not so old that a soft bed will make me crack.”

  “You will crack. I have made sure of it.”

  For the first time since Orrin watched every man on his team executed, his gut tightened. The only thing that kept him sane was knowing that no matter what, Yuri would never be able to get to his sons.

  They were all Orrin had left.

  Yuri turned and pulled a laptop out of a bag Orrin saw sitting behind Yuri. He opened and turned the computer so Orrin could see it.

  Silently, he watched the video from feeds attached to the helmets of Yuri’s men as they arrived at the ranch and barged into the house. He didn’t allow any emotion to show on his face as the men summarily killed Virgil and Charlotte. He pushed down the grief for his brother and sister-in-law as he realized his sons had just gotten pulled into this mess.

  “Oh, you will break, stariy droog, old friend,” Yuri said as he squatted beside him, careful not to get anything on his pants. “You will tell me where Ragnarok is, or I start killing your sons. Which goes first?”

  Old friend. That’s how Orrin had thought of Yuri once. Not anymore.

  He watched picture after picture of his boys arriving at the ranch fill the screen. But if he’d done one thing for his sons, he’d taught them to survive.

  He lifted his gaze to his captor. “Fuck you, Yuri.”

  The punch came from the side, slamming his head into the wall.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Owen stood in the doorway of the barn and watched Natalie on the porch as an old mail Jeep pulled up. A moment later, Callie joined Natalie.

  The two stood side by side, while Gertrude, the mail lady who had delivered mail to their ranch for as long as he could remember, climbed out of the vehicle with a friendly smile.

  Even from the distance, he heard Gertrude’s “hello.” He smiled because the woman had a whisper that could be heard for miles. And she could happily talk your ear off if you let her.

  Gert was showing her age. Her hair was all white now and styled in a perpetual perm—flattened in the back from where she’d slept the night before. Her width had spread, and she wasn’t as spry. But the smile never wavered.

  Owen wondered how people lived like that. Did they never experience pain or heartache? They could get past things easier than him, that was for sure. Or perhaps they buried it with their smiles.

  He observed Gert holding out the mail. Natalie walked down the steps and accepted the bundle—a grin tilting her lips.

  God, she was gorgeous.

  “Did I ever tell you that you were an idiot?” Cullen asked as he came to stand beside Owen. “At least you’ll get some time alone with her.”

  “Shut up.”

  “Everyone wanted Natalie. I’m still not sure how your ugly ass caught her.”

  Owen wasn’t either. He’d been so happy she accepted when he asked her out. That had turned into a second date, and b
efore either of them knew it, they were only seeing each other.

  Those had been the happiest months Owen had ever known. When he’d first left for the University of Texas, he often thought about what life would be like had he remained and married Natalie.

  Would they have ended up like most high school sweethearts and gotten divorced? No. Not him and Nat. Even at that age, he’d known she was the other piece of him, his soul mate.

  His mother had told him there was one person for everyone. She’d cautioned him to be patient and keep his heart open, because when it happened, he’d know it. And he had.

  “If there’s nothing more between you and Nat, I’d like a shot at her,” Cullen said.

  Owen sipped his coffee, never taking his gaze from Natalie. “Stop thinking about her. Right now, or I’ll cut your balls off.”

  Cullen laughed and crossed his arms over his chest. “You had your chance. I’m going to take mine. She’s only three years older than me.”

  He was getting ready to punch Cullen when Gertrude drove away. There was something about the way Natalie held the small box that alerted Owen.

  Tossing down his mug, he started toward the house. He was halfway there when Natalie looked up at him. Her face was pale. Callie was talking to her, but Natalie didn’t look away from him. Finally, Callie took the package from her hands.

  “Oh, shit,” Callie said.

  Owen lengthened his strides and hurriedly reached the porch. He searched Natalie’s face before he turned to Callie. She held out the box for him.

  He took it and looked at the label. Even without a return address, he knew that handwriting. Perfect lettering, precise spacing.

  “It’s from Orrin,” Callie said.

  Owen returned his gaze to Natalie. “How did you know it was from my dad?”

  “I didn’t,” she said. “I noticed the postmark. It’s from Delaware.”

  “You two better come with me.”

  He returned to the barn with the girls trailing behind him. Cullen’s cocky smile was gone. His face was impassive as he looked at the box. There was no need for words. Cullen saw the handwriting and knew just as Owen had.