Soldier's Christmas Secrets

by Laura Scott

  He moved toward the opening in the woods exactly where Barton had come out just, what, twenty minutes ago? He could see by the broken branches that the senator had lost his warrior edge.

  Which was good. Because Hawk needed to be able to escape from him before they reached the chopper.

  “Wait,” Barton called before they entered the woods. “Nate and Jackson, you stay in the rear. Wes and Tom, you’re behind me. Keep Hawk in the middle just in case he decides to get cute.”

  Hawk was fairly certain that whatever moves he made to escape weren’t going to be considered cute. But he didn’t respond as Barton went first, followed closely by Wes and Tom.

  They only took about ten steps when Ryker made his move. Hawk was ready. The moment he heard the scuffle behind him, he lashed out at the guy in front of him, hitting him hard on the back of his head while grabbing his weapon.

  The man—Wes?—let out a cry before crumpling to the ground. Tom quickly turned to shoot, but Hawk fired first. Tom went down, dropping his weapon. He wasn’t dead but curled in a ball, holding a hand to his injured thigh. After double-checking to make sure Wes was still unconscious, Hawk grabbed Tom’s weapon and rushed after Barton.

  “Stop or I’ll shoot,” Hawk demanded. He didn’t have to look behind him. He was certain Ryker had done his job with the last two men.

  Barton went pale as he lifted his hands in the air. “James, listen to me. You’re making a big mistake. I’m trying to help you! There was no reason for you to kill anyone!”

  “If you wanted to help me, you shouldn’t have come in with a chopper and armed guards,” Hawk countered. “So don’t bother feeding me that line. I don’t believe you. Now we’re going to head back to the clearing, nice and slow.”

  Barton didn’t move, and Hawk could tell the senator was weighing his options.

  “Now!” Hawk let his impatience show. Maybe because all this fighting had reopened his shoulder wound for what felt like the tenth time. At this rate it would never heal. “Move it.”

  “Have it your way.” Senator Barton took a few steps toward Hawk, clearly not willing to get too close.

  Hawk moved to the side and gestured with the weapon for Barton to walk past him. After a few steps, Hawk saw that Ryker had tied Wes, who was groaning as he regained consciousness, and Nate to different trees. Ryker had also tied the two injured men together, as well. He’d taken possession of the weapons, holding one ready, two others looped over each shoulder.

  “I have your Glock,” Ryker told him.

  Hawk gave him a nod. “Thanks.” His gratitude was more for coming to the rescue so than for reclaiming his weapon, and Ryker knew it.

  Words weren’t necessary.

  “You’re making a big mistake,” Barton said again. “You can’t seriously think you’re going to get away with killing a senator.”

  “I’m not going to kill you,” Hawk replied in an even tone. “I’m going to make you talk.”

  “I have been talking! I’ve told you I’m not the one who is out to hurt you! I want to help! You won’t believe me!”

  “Keep walking.” Hawk stumbled a bit and caught the look of concern Ryker shot in his direction. He wasn’t done yet.

  They needed information from Barton.

  The wail of sirens cutting through the silence made Hawk frown. He hadn’t expected such a quick response to the gunfire, considering how far out in the country they were.

  “Change of plan,” Hawk told Ryker. “Let’s get the senator and his men back to his chopper.”

  “Roger that,” Ryker agreed.

  “Police sirens,” Barton said in what seemed to be relieved surprise. “Good. That’s a relief. It means help is on the way.”

  Good? Relief? Help is on the way? Hawk exchanged a glance with Ryker. Why was the senator glad to hear the police were on their way?

  Was it possible that Hawk had it wrong? That the senator really wasn’t out to hurt him?

  Or was he planning to turn this entire incident back onto Hawk and Ryker?

  As the sirens grew louder, Hawk grimly realized they’d soon find out.

  FIFTEEN

  From her position at the gas station, Jillian could hear the police sirens. Her 911 call had worked! She clenched the steering wheel tightly, hoping and praying Hawk and Ryker were all right.

  Moments later, two sheriff’s department vehicles drove past. On the heels of that, Mike and Matt Callahan arrived to park beside her. Mike lowered his driver’s-side window, and she did the same with the passenger side.

  “We’re going back to the cabin motel,” she announced, leaning over so he could hear her. “The police are headed there, too.”

  Mike and Matt exchanged a long look that she easily interpreted as not being in favor of her plan.

  Too bad. She wasn’t taking no for an answer.

  “I’m going.” She abruptly threw the SUV into Reverse and began backing up away from the parking space.

  Mike quickly backed up, too, cutting her off. “Hold on,” he shouted. His voice came loudly through their respective open windows. “Let’s just wait for a minute, okay? I can’t take you anywhere near the line of fire. We need to wait until the sheriff’s deputies have the scene under control.”

  “I don’t want to wait.” Her voice sounded petulant even to her own ears, so she tried to search for a reasonable alternative. “I promise we’ll stay out of danger, but I need to make sure Hawk is okay. Ryker, too. I can’t just sit here without knowing.”

  “Jillian, you’re going to get me in trouble with Hawk,” Mike said with a heavy sigh.

  “I don’t care.” She wasn’t budging on this.

  “Okay, you can follow us,” Mike said. “We’ll go in first. But I’m warning you, I’m going to stop far away from any hint of danger.”

  “I understand.” She couldn’t argue, especially since she had Lizzy in the back seat. Even being a little closer would be better than sitting way back here. “Thanks, Mike.”

  “Yeah.” He didn’t look happy but continued backing up and then heading out of the gas station first, leaving her to follow.

  Jillian raised the window. As she drove, she stayed close to Mike’s rear bumper. Seeing Duchess in the K-9 crate area of the SUV was oddly reassuring. It made her realize that they basically were adding three more cops to the attempt to rescue Hawk.

  If they weren’t too late.

  As she followed Mike back up the long, winding road leading to the cabin motel, she watched the sky, hoping, praying she hadn’t somehow missed the helicopter taking off. She imagined that if that happened, Hawk would be in the back like some sort of prisoner.

  The brake lights flashed on Mike’s SUV, causing her to slow to a stop. He slid out from behind the wheel, as did Matt. Matt walked around to let Duchess out. Mike stepped toward her vehicle, holding his hands up as an indication she needed to wait.

  She nodded, knowing he and Matt were right to be the ones to go in to find out what was happening. Three cops, she reminded herself. If there was a way to rescue Hawk, she believed the Callahans could do it.

  “Mommy? Where are we?”

  She twisted in her seat to look back at her daughter. “We’re back at the cabin motel. Mr. Mike and Mr. Matt are going to find Daddy.”

  The word slipped out before she realized what she’d said. Lizzy scrunched up her forehead as if confused. “Daddy?” she echoed.

  Jillian regretted she hadn’t had this discussion with her daughter sooner. Especially considering the very real possibility that Hawk may not survive whatever was going on in the clearing.

  “Yes, Lizzy. Mr. Hawk is your daddy. He was gone for a long time, but now he’s back. And he loves you very much.”

  “Is going to live with us like a family?” Lizzy asked.

  That gave her pause. She cleared her throat. “I don’t
know, we’ll have to wait and see.”

  Lizzy frowned, not liking that answer, but Jillian wouldn’t lie to her.

  As much as she’d come to care for Hawk, depending on him to keep them safe from harm, she hadn’t dwelled too much on their future.

  The idea of living with Hawk as husband and wife, as a family, made her aware of the way she’d responded to his kiss. The attraction was still there, at least on her part.

  But things were so different now. It simply wasn’t realistic to believe they could just pick up where they’d left off five years ago.

  And what did Hawk want to do once the danger was over? She had no idea.

  She stared at the diamond engagement ring. Had she put it on prematurely? They needed time to talk. To get to know each other. To find out all the ways they’d both changed.

  Before they could even consider what their future might hold.

  * * *

  Hawk gestured to Ryker that Wes and Nate should be placed into the helicopter. “Tie them inside, then get the two injured men, as well. I want them all out of here before the cops arrive.”

  Ryker nodded and quickly went to work. Hawk wasn’t sure what his buddy thought about Senator Barton’s response to having heard the police sirens. The senator’s reaction continued to nag at him.

  “Tell me about Yonkers.” Hawk drilled Barton with a steely glare, the tip of his weapon never wavering from the man’s chest.

  Barton nodded. “I asked you to keep an eye on Yonkers for me. I’d heard some chatter about the guy leaving camp alone and didn’t like it. Rumor had it he was up to no good. So I ordered you to keep an eye on him.”

  Hawk mulled over the senator’s claim. “Where were we when we had this conversation?”

  “In the mountains.” Barton frowned at him. “It’s not as if I could have that conversation with you in camp.”

  Was that the memory that had haunted Hawk all these years? Was that the reason he’d suspected Barton was involved in something illegal? Because they’d had a secret meeting where he’d been ordered to spy on one of his fellow soldiers?

  On his friend?

  Ryker hauled the first injured soldier into the chopper and went back for the second as if oblivious to the conversation.

  But Hawk suspected the former special ops soldier was listening to every word.

  “So how is it that you know that the Bravo team’s plane was sabotaged?” The sirens were louder now, and Hawk knew they were running out of time. “If you knew we were in danger, why didn’t you stop it?”

  “I didn’t think you were in danger once we had your team stateside,” Barton explained. “Yonkers was still in Afghanistan, so I figured it was safe. It wasn’t until I heard about the plane going down over the Appalachian Mountains that I realized how badly I’d misjudged the level of corruption. I’m sorry about that.”

  Sorry? He was sorry that Hawk had lost his entire team? That he’d barely escaped with his own life? That he’d lost four years of being with his wife and daughter?

  Sorry didn’t begin to cover it.

  Ryker tossed the second soldier into the chopper. “The police are getting close,” he warned.

  “So why not simply arrest Yonkers and be done with it?” Hawk asked. He was torn by indecision. He knew his memory wasn’t exactly reliable, but it was difficult for him to buy into the senator’s story. Barton wasn’t telling the entire truth, although there could be bits and pieces of his story that were correct. But why would Barton have come here with the intent of dragging him back to DC with the help of four armed guards? Who did crazy stuff like that?

  “Because Yonkers didn’t have the power to bring down your team’s plane.” Barton finally responded to Hawk’s question. “A stunt like that took someone higher up on the command chain than Yonkers. And frankly, I don’t know who I can trust.” Barton spread his hands wide. “For a while, I suspected you were involved, James. That you had decided to join forces with Yonkers.”

  “That’s ridiculous.” Hawk didn’t hesitate to protest. “I would never sell out my country for money.”

  Barton nodded slowly. “I believe you.”

  “Did you hire the Blake-Moore group?” Hawk asked.

  Barton frowned. “No. Who are they?”

  “A mercenary group formed by two ex-soldiers. Yonkers works for them.” Hawk watched Barton’s face carefully for a reaction.

  “I don’t know anything about them.” Barton’s expression turned grim. “But maybe I should.”

  Barton was either an award-winning actor or telling the truth. Hawk couldn’t decide which. He glanced at Ryker as if seeking advice. Ryker tipped his head toward the chopper and he understood the soldier’s unspoken directive.

  “Get out of here,” Hawk told the senator.

  Before Barton could make a move to get into the helicopter, two deputies burst through the path from the woods. “Police! Drop your weapon!”

  Suddenly weary, his shoulder hurting to the point his vision was getting blurry, Hawk slowly did as he was told. He tossed the gun in his hand along with the two AK-47s on the ground and then held his hands out from his sides, palms up. His injury hurt too much to lift them up over his head.

  “It’s okay, Officers,” Barton called out. “I’m Senator Rick Barton. Everything is fine here.”

  Huh? Hawk wondered if he was becoming delusional from the infection brewing in his shoulder.

  The deputies glanced at each other but didn’t lower their weapons. “Who called 911?”

  Hawk realized it must have been Jillian. Either during their standoff or right after she’d left with Lizzy.

  “Not me,” he managed to say. “The senator took us by surprise, arriving in a helicopter.” He decided to stick to the truth.

  “Well, someone did.” The deputy wasn’t inclined to believe his meager attempt to explain what was happening here. Hawk wasn’t entirely sure what was going on, himself. Why was Barton sticking up for them? “And here you are, pointing a weapon at a senator,” the deputy said.

  “He wasn’t pointing a weapon at me. I told you, this is nothing more than a misunderstanding.” Barton’s voice had taken an authoritative tone.

  “That’s for someone else to determine,” the deputy responded. “For now, we’ll take both of these guys into custody.”

  Ryker hadn’t moved from his stance in front of the open chopper door. Hawk wondered if he thought that being there would help hide the fact that there were two bound and two wounded soldiers inside.

  “Deputies, if you’ll allow me to call Special Agent in Charge Dennis Ludwig at the FBI, I’m sure we can get this cleared up without an issue.” Barton reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone.

  The deputies looked stunned as they listened to the senator request to speak directly with SAC Ludwig. After a brief interaction, Barton held the cell phone out toward the deputies. “For you.”

  The deputy closest to Hawk stepped forward and gingerly took the senator’s cell phone. The one-sided conversation was brief. “Yes, sir. I understand, sir. Thank you, sir.” The deputy handed the phone back to the senator. “We’ll be on our way, now.”

  “Thank you for your dedicated service to our community.” Barton slipped the phone back into his pocket.

  The two deputies turned and retraced their steps through the woods, leaving Hawk speechless.

  “Why?” Hawk forced the question past his tight throat.

  “I tried to tell you. I’m on your side.” Barton glanced back at the helicopter. “Obviously, I handled this wrong, and two good men were injured because of it.” He swung back to face Hawk. “I’ll take responsibility for this mess, but not for sabotaging your plane.”

  Hawk wasn’t sure how to respond.

  “Call me on my personal cell when you feel safe.” Barton rattled off his number, then abruptly turned an
d jumped into the back of the chopper.

  Taken by surprise, Ryker quickly stepped out of the way.

  “Hope to hear from you soon,” Barton shouted before giving the pilot the signal. The rotor blades on the top of the chopper began to spin.

  Ryker instinctively lowered his head, the same way Hawk did. They retreated to the back of the clearing, watching in stunned surprise as the helicopter rose off the ground.

  The whirling blades made too much noise for them to talk, so they simply waited until the pilot banked the chopper and flew out of sight.

  “What just happened?” Hawk finally asked, breaking the silence.

  “No clue.” Ryker hesitated, then turned back toward the now clearly visible path through the woods. “If Barton’s not the one who hired Blake-Moore, then who is? It has to be someone who knew about the gun deal in Afghanistan.”

  “I have no idea.” Hawk didn’t like this recent turn of events. It was difficult to wrap his mind around what Barton had said. That the senator had actually prevented him and Ryker from being arrested.

  Still, something wasn’t right. Even if Barton was one of the good guys, he had a funny way of showing it. He remembered how both Todd Hayes, the current secretary of defense, and Colonel McCann—now known as General McCann—whom Barton and Hayes had reported to, had also served overseas. It could be one of them, or someone else.

  Hawk still had no idea whom he could trust.

  * * *

  Jillian waited in the SUV with Lizzy for what seemed like an eternity. What was taking them so long? Finally, Mike came back to talk to her.

  “The police are securing the scene. Follow me, I’m going to drive up closer so we’re not blocking the driveway.”

  “Okay.” Anxious to do something, anything, she gladly followed Mike to the area in front of the cabin motel. There were two sheriff’s vehicles, but even as she arrived, two of the deputies were returning from a path in the woods.

  Jillian frowned, wondering why they didn’t have Barton in custody. And where were Hawk and Ryker?

  “What’s going on?” A deputy standing near his vehicle asked.