Escape with a Hot SEAL

by Cat Johnson

  When it didn’t budge, he shook his head. Given the amount of equipment all of them were suited up in—helmet, NVGs, ear cuffs—there wasn’t much of their faces showing, but Thom saw clearly as Brody silently mouthed a curse.

  From what Thom could see, the door was dead bolted from the inside so there wasn’t even a lock to pick.

  Will gave the signal and two men from his team trotted silently around the building to check the other door while the rest of the unit waited in silence in the dark.

  When Tompkins and Fitz returned it was not with good news. With his lips pressed into an unhappy line, Tompkins shook his head.

  A string of curses Thom couldn’t say aloud ran through his head. Likely his thoughts were echoed by every man there.

  Rocky pulled the breaching charges from his kit and moved to press them along the edge of the door.

  They came prepared and could blow this thing right off its hinges but it wasn’t going to be pretty or quiet and it was most definitely going to alert anyone in the house plus the neighbors.

  Instead of sneaking in and out quietly, they were going to have to go in hot and fight their way back out. Things had just gotten a lot more complicated.

  Blowing out a breath, Thom leaned his helmet-clad head back against the wall. For the first time he noticed what was above him. He reached out and grabbed Rocky’s arm to stop him from putting in the fuse, shaking his head and indicating they should all look up before blowing the door.

  There was a piece of textile—a towel or carpet or something—hanging over the sill of an open window not far above them. It was high enough there were no bars on the window but low enough they should be able to reach it without too much effort.

  Grinning, Will gave Thom a thumbs up.

  Dawson had the team’s small, extendable ladder on his back. He set it up and had no problem reaching the edge of the window and pulling himself up and over.

  Thom held his breath, braced for the sound of Dawson in trouble.

  It never came. What they all did hear was the sliding of the bolt before the door opened to reveal Dawson smiling at them from inside.

  They filed in two by two, on alert and prepared for a confrontation with the occupants. Though at this hour, chances were good the entire household was asleep.

  Inside, operators peeled off in two-man teams, clearing room by room. They signaled as each room on the first floor was checked and found empty of occupants.

  Leaving Tompkins and Fitz downstairs to stand watch, the rest filed silently up the stairs. The two-man teams peeled off to check the rooms on the second floor.

  When the Alpha and Bravo team members met back by the stairs, each one signaling they’d found no one, it was obvious they were there alone.

  “First and second floor rooms are all clear,” Brody reported to those still outside.

  “The building’s empty?” Grant’s surprised question came through the comm.

  “Yup,” Brody answered.

  “It explains why the gates were locked up so tight. They secured the house and left. Probably for vacation somewhere,” Rocky suggested.

  Finding the place seemingly deserted made Thom more uncomfortable than finding it guarded by armed men. He shook his head. “I don’t like this.”

  Will huffed out a breath. “Well, I for one am not going to question it. I saw a safe in the office in the north-west corner. Let’s blow it, take whatever’s in there and get the hell out of here.”

  “If there’s anything in there,” Thom said. “Why would they leave anything here when they left?”

  “Why wouldn’t they? They had no idea we were coming or that anybody even knows Hamza was ever here,” Will pointed out.

  “I guess.” Thom figured they’d soon find out either way.

  “Let’s do this. I don’t like this any more than Thom. Fucking hairs are standing up on the back of my neck.” Brody headed toward the office. Thom followed, happy somebody else was as disturbed by the empty house as he was.

  Thom and the others stayed outside the room against the wall as Will went inside to put a charge and wire on the safe door.

  Running to take cover before the ten-second fuse blew, Will ducked through the doorway and pressed against the hallway wall.

  A low rumbling blast, a puff of smoke, and then it was over. Given the thick walls of the home, Thom doubted the neighbors even heard, or could have identified the sound even if they had.

  Will didn’t wait for the dust to clear before he was through the door and headed for the safe. Thom followed Brody inside while Rocky and Dawson remained in the hallway on watch.

  Rubbing his hands together, Will said, “Come on, baby. Daddy needs a hard drive.” He swung the door wider and squatted to peer inside. “Bingo!”

  “Got something?” Thom asked.

  Grinning, Will glanced over his shoulder. “Oh, hell yeah. We got lots of somethings.”

  “Let’s start packing everything up.” Pulling a sack out of a pocket in his vest, Brody moved forward toward the desk.

  “We taking everything?” Dawson asked, coming in to help carry their finds.

  Will nodded. “Everything that looks at all useful. Hell, even if it doesn’t, take it anyway. They’ll decide if it’s important or not later.”

  They pulled open drawers. Took the file folders inside. Even pulled the drawers all the way out and checked beneath them for anything that could be taped to the bottom. Documents. Memory chips. Thumb drives. Even an old floppy disk and an old school camera that used film. It all went into their bags.

  It took them eleven minutes to get in, clear the house, gather intel and be ready to get out. Thom knew because he’d counted.

  “That’s it. We’re heading out.” Looking a lot like Santa Claus loaded down with a full sack, Brody led the way to the staircase. Unlike Santa, they weren’t carrying a bag full of toys, but hopefully what they had acquired would be a worthy gift for the CIA analysts.

  They descended a lot less stealthily than they’d ascended as six pairs of boots pounded on the stairs. They were going home without a shot being fired and with bags full of stuff that should make the CIA very happy.

  Knowing how to handle having luck this good wasn’t in Thom’s wheelhouse. He didn’t know how to deal with it and he sure as hell didn’t trust it.

  “Alpha and Bravo teams exiting building A by the north door.” Through his communicator Brody updated those standing guard outside.

  “We have movement on the north block,” Groenning reported. “Two military age males heading north-west.”

  That stopped them all in their tracks inside the doorway.

  “Alpha. Bravo. Hold.” Grant’s order came through the comm unit in Thom’s ear.

  Shit. He knew it. No way they’d get out of this so easily.

  There was no sound except for the breathing of the men surrounding him, but even that seemed to echo loudly off the walls.

  Seconds ticked by, then minutes.

  Finally, Groenning gave the all clear for the north-east quadrant, echoed by Clyde for the north-west quadrant.

  “South-east quadrant clear,” Mack reported.

  “South-west also clear. Alpha, Bravo, move out,” Grant ordered.

  By the time they reached the street, keeping close to the wall of the property, Groenning and Clyde had joined Grant and Mack.

  Grant led them back the way they’d come.

  They were out of the house but not in the clear yet. They had to get to the landing zone outside of town and meet the Black Hawk for their exfiltration.

  Any number of things could go wrong on their way out of the residential area of the city to the more deserted location they’d chosen for their pick-up.

  Thom forced himself to not review each and every thing that could go wrong and instead focused on his surroundings. Shadows in the street. The sounds of the night. The risk that could be waiting around every corner.

  It wasn’t until they were outside of the city limits th
at he started to believe their luck might actually be as good as it seemed.

  A mile outside of town, they reached the landing zone. Grant painted the area with an IR laser, invisible to the naked eye but clearly marking their location for the Black Hawk crew.

  But even while they stood waiting for the helo on the way to get them out, Thom couldn’t seem to stand still.

  “What’s your problem?” Brody asked. “Your leave’s approved to start for when we get back. You get to go home to your girl and get married.”

  That was exactly the problem. There were no problems. Things were going too smoothly.

  He’d be home in plenty of time for the wedding. With time to spare even. Yet there was a feeling in his gut he couldn’t ignore. An instinct that told him not to let his guard down. Some ancient internal failsafe, warning him of impending danger. It wasn’t logical but he couldn’t ignore it.

  “I know. It’s just nerves, I guess.” Thom dismissed the feeling to Brody, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to shake it easily.

  “Hey, what weekend is this wedding?” Rocky asked.

  “Two weeks, right?” Brody answered for him.

  Thom nodded. “Yeah.”

  “If we can get a couple of weekend liberties approved, you wanna go?” Rocky asked Brody.

  “Sure.” He cut his gaze to Thom. “That a’ight?”

  “Of course. I want you guys there. Ginny sent out the invites. They’ll be waiting for everyone when we get back.”

  “Hey, you know what?” Rocky said. “If we can get a couple of extra days leave approved, we could go to my family’s cabin in Pennsylvania for your bachelor party. It’s nothing fancy. Generator. Outhouse. But it’s beautiful up there. A creek for fishing. Woods for hunting.”

  Thom considered that. “Ginny might actually approve of a bachelor party like that. Yeah. If you guys can swing getting away, that would be cool. Thanks.”

  “No problem.” Rocky grinned.

  “And if we can’t get leave, we’ll just take you to the strip club for a night out before you head up north.” Brody smiled.

  “Yeah, that Ginny would definitely not approve of.” Thom laughed, feeling lighter as the ominous warning bells in his head were drowned out by the sound of the Black Hawk coming to get them the hell out of there.

  Next stop, the support base at Ashgabat in Turkmenistan. From there they’d slowly work their way home. But even with as slow as the military worked at times, it shouldn’t take them two weeks to hit Virginia. No where near it. Not at this time of year.

  He ducked beneath the rotor wash and boarded their ride out of town.

  With any luck he’d be in Connecticut with plenty of time to spare . . . and just thinking that had Thom fearing he’d jinxed him and Ginny both. In fact, he wasn’t going to let himself relax and stop worrying until his feet were in her apartment in Stamford.

  He looked around for some wood to knock to reverse the jinx and, of course, didn’t find any. That didn’t make him feel any more confident.

  Crap.

  CHAPTER 15

  Ginny cradled the cell on one shoulder after she tried and failed at folding laundry one handed. “Mom, this shower you’re planning is getting a little crazy.”

  “Virginia, we’re doing everything you wanted for the wedding, no matter how ridiculous it was. But Molly and I are doing what we want for your shower.”

  “But—”

  “Stop. Thom isn’t involved in the bridal shower. Only you are. And you’re here so we don’t have to worry about cancellation policies, do we?”

  “No.” Ginny couldn’t argue that point.

  “And I’m paying for the shower so you can’t complain about the cost.”

  “But I don’t want you to spend all your money just for a party for me.”

  “I want to spend my money on a party for you. You’re my only daughter and hopefully, unlike Thom, you’ll only be getting married once in your life. Right?”

  Ginny drew in a breath at that loaded question. “Yes.”

  “Then let me do this for you.”

  “Okay. Thank you.” She stifled a sigh and tried to be grateful.

  “So, I met with the manager at The Venetian and we went over the menu for the shower. He can definitely do a chocolate fountain—”

  As her mother rambled on about the menu, Ginny’s mind wandered. Maybe The Venetian Hall wouldn’t be as bad on the inside as it was on the outside. She could only hope, because the outside was pretty gaudy. Gold lions sat high on columns flanking the drive, which was through the tall golden filigree gates.

  Didn’t it figure they had availability last minute for her shower? But her mother was right. She was getting the wedding she wanted. Small. Simple. And at the house so, God forbid, it would be easy to cancel if she needed to.

  The constant worry weighing on her about whether Thom would get home in time had become so much of a part of her life, she had gotten used to it. But he had assured her—as much as he could given nothing was certain—that he’d be back in time. She had to trust him.

  Maybe she shouldn’t have chosen the full moon right after he left. She should have picked one later in the year.

  Second guessing herself didn’t help. It was too late now. The invitations had already gone out. She’d arranged for the tables and chairs. Ordered the flowers for her bouquet from the florist and the food from the gourmet shop.

  Now all she needed was the groom.

  A knock on the door had her abandoning the laundry basket of clean clothes as her mother continued to list menu items. Ginny moved to the door and peered through the peephole . . . and nearly dropped the cell phone at what she saw.

  It took both hands to get the locks undone and the door opened but she managed it, flinging the door wide.

  She jumped him, throwing her arms around Thom’s neck and kissing him as all of the pent up worry flooded out of her.

  When she finally moved back to let him in, he frowned, looking at her hand. “Are you on the phone?”

  Ginny widened her eyes and smothered a curse. Pressing the forgotten cell in her hand to her ear she said, “Mom. Mom.” It took Ginny twice to get her mother to hear her while she continued to talk. “Can I call you back?”

  “Um, okay.”

  “Thom just got here.” Ginny nearly bubbled over with the news.

  “Oh, thank God.”

  For once, Ginny couldn’t agree with her mother more. She blew out a breath as her heart pounded. “I know.”

  “Okay I’ll let you go. And I’ll call Molly and tell her.”

  “Yes, please. Thank you. Call you later.” Ginny disconnected the call and went back to looking at the vision before her. “Oh, my God. I was so worried. Why didn’t you call me or text?”

  “I did. I texted the minute we hit the tarmac that I was home safe.”

  “What time?” she asked.

  “Like about one.”

  “In the morning?”

  “Yes, in the morning. See?” He lifted one brow high. “I know you hate military time but this is why it’s easier. If I’d said zero-one-hundred versus thirteen-hundred you wouldn’t have to ask to know if I meant morning or afternoon.”

  “Easier for you maybe.” She didn’t want to debate the merits of the twenty-four hour clock. They had too much lost time to make up for. “Anyway, I didn’t get the text.”

  “I was wondering why you didn’t reply. Sorry, baby. Sometimes reception is spotty at the airfield. I should have sent another.”

  “It’s okay. I can’t believe you’re really back.”

  “I know. I keep feeling like I need to knock wood so I don’t jinx it. In fact . . . ” Thom reached out and knocked on the wooden table near the door.

  Ginny did the same, suddenly superstitious when she never used to be.

  “So, I’ve got two weeks leave and nothing to do. Got any suggestions?” His voice dropped low and sexy as he edged closer.

  She smiled. “Maybe one.”


  He leaned in and kissed her, his facial hair tickling her lips.

  Pulling back, she ran her hands over his beard, soft beneath her fingers. “I’m not used to so much of this.”

  When Thom wasn’t clean shaven, he usually had a short cropped beard.

  “I know. Sorry. We’ve been deploying so much I’ve let it grow in. It helps us blend with the locals. You should see some of the rest of the guys. Rocky’s beard could probably win a contest at this point.”

  She lifted a brow. “Oh.”

  He laughed at her reaction. “I’ll clean up in time for the wedding. Don’t worry.” Thom moved in for another kiss and then paused. “Unless you want me to shave now?”

  As he held her close, with two large warm hands on her hips, she pressed against the very tantalizing outline of his need for her. That only increased her own ever growing desire to have him. Now. Naked, over her, in her bed.

  “No. Leave it.” She wasn’t going to break this spell by letting him take the time to shave. They had days before the ceremony. He had time.

  His mouth was temptingly close already. She reached up and pulled him closer, until another thought hit her.

  “Oh, my God.” Her eyes widened. “I just thought of something. How are the kids going to get here for the wedding? Are you driving back to Virginia and getting them?”

  That would take him away from her again. She didn’t like that idea.

  Thom pulled back and pressed his lips together. He drew in a breath and finally met her gaze. “No. Debbie isn’t going to let them come.”

  “What? Why not?”

  He shrugged. “Why does she do anything she does? Who knows?”

  Ginny frowned. “Did you ask her?”

  “Of course, I asked her. I got back late last night and stopped over there this morning before I left for here. I saw the kids. I knew she wasn’t going to want them to be away for two weeks, but still, I was hoping she’d—” He shook his head. “Never mind. It just gets me pissed talking about it. Anyway, I was so upset I just got back in the car and drove straight here.”

  Ginny hated seeing him upset.

  What if he’d been so upset he’d forgotten what he’d need for the wedding?