She lied. And he loved her for her bravery.
He didn’t love the fact the Suburban was back in his rearview mirror and accelerating.
Damn.
“Hold on,” he told her again, making a sharp right through an intersection, tires screeching as he floored it.
After taking several unconventional turns, he made a sharp left and checked his mirrors again.
Nothing.
He continued at a fast pace, this time not letting his guard down. “How you holding up?”
A smile actually tugged her lips. “I’m afraid to say. They might show up again.”
An actual chuckle rumbled up his throat, but he choked on it as the damn tail returned. “Shit. It’s as if they’re tracking us. But that makes no sense.”
Her brows creased as she nodded. “Yeah. If they knew where we were, they would’ve attacked us at the house, right?”
“Exactly…unless…”
She turned to peer out the back window. “Why aren’t they doing anything? I mean, we’re close enough for them to shoot.”
His heart stopped at the thought of her near flying bullets. But she was right. It made no sense.
“What did you mean by unless?”
“Unless they were waiting for your brother.”
“But…Cam wasn’t there.”
“No, I mean waiting for him to make contact so they knew how to get a hold of him once they grabbed you again.”
“Oh.” Now she looked a little green.
Without thinking, he reached out to cup the hands she clasped together in her lap. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Gina.”
She nodded. “I trust you.”
Those words, spoken with a sincerity that kick-started his heart. Then she drew her hands out from under his and his pulse returned to normal.
“So, do you think that’s why they aren’t shooting as us? Because they want to abduct me again?”
“Yes. And we’re never going to shake them if we don’t get rid of that tracker. Open up the front zipper on the large duffle. We need to sweep everything we brought. Can you do that?”
“Yes.”
Keeping the Suburban in his line of sight in the mirrors, he verbally instructed her and she swept the device over their bags. No beeps. Nothing. But when she twisted around to the front, it started to beep.
“The floor?” She frowned. “Does that mean it’s underneath?”
Damn. “Yes. I’ll get it after we lose our shadow.”
“Okay.”
“Sit back, and hold on again,” he warned. “I’m going to turn us northbound.”
Her gaze rounded. “But aren’t we southbound?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that northbound over there?” She pointed to the interstate across from them with grass and intermittent trees between the two.
He pressed the button to lower his window. “Yes,” he repeated, slipping his Glock from the ankle holster he’d donned before leaving the house. As soon as the passing lane cleared, he made his move. “Hold on.”
Chapter Nine
Gabriel accelerated until there was sufficient space between him and their tail before swerving into the open passing lane, bringing them around one-hundred-eighty degrees. Without missing a beat, he aimed at the Suburban’s engine, emptied his gun, then drove across the grassy median and eased into northbound traffic.
“Holy shit. That was nuts.” Gina’s voice was breathless. “Their vehicle is broken down and smoking.”
He nodded, rolling his window up before slipping his gun back into his holster. “We need to take care of that tracker.”
Satisfied no other tails were in his mirrors, Gabriel pulled off at the first rest stop, swept the outside of the SUV, and removed the tracker. After crushing it with the heel of his boot, he got back in the vehicle and stored the sweeper.
“Now we can make contact.”
“Okay. How?” She glanced at the brick building. “Do they have pay phones?”
“I don’t know.” He reached across her to open the glove compartment and pulled out a phone.
Her mouth dropped open and she blinked at him. “Son-of-a…” Her voice trailed off as she watched him screw off the cover and insert the battery.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had these? I could’ve called Paige from one of these and not given away my brother’s location.”
“Why didn’t you ask me if you could call her?” he countered quietly, securing the screw. “I would’ve let you use one.”
“I’m sorry.” She blew out a shaky breath and stared straight ahead. “I thought I was helping by stopping Paige from calling the police. If I would’ve known Corcoran was monitoring us, I—”
“Look. It’ll be all right.” For an attempt at appeasement, that one sucked. He glanced at her dejected form, and his heart lurched. She sat there, hugging herself, shaking her head.
God, he wanted to drag her close and hold her. But they needed to keep moving, and, hell, she didn’t seem too receptive to his touch.
“So, what exactly do you think Corcoran’s plan is? To ransom me to Cam?”
Throat suddenly too dry to talk, he nodded. And there was a damn lump lodged smack in the middle.
“For what?” she asked. “Money?”
He cleared his throat and swallowed. Twice. “No. For the prince Cam is guarding.”
Her head snapped toward him, wide-eyed. “My brother is guarding a prince?”
“Yes. From Iraq. Prince Ahmad. He’s here for a secret meeting with a prince from Iran.”
“Wow.” She whistled. “Royal enemies. They are usually fighting one another.”
“Exactly. The two princes are willing to talk to form some sort of peace between their people.”
“How does Corcoran fit in?”
“He was hired by Marhub, the prince’s cousin, to kill the prince and stop the meeting. So we figure he either wants to crash the meeting, or force Cam into killing the prince.”
“But…that won’t happen, right?” She turned to him and reached out to grasp his forearm. “We stopped that, didn’t we?”
His gut twisted at the sound of hope mixed with despair in her tone. He wished he could reassure her they had, but that wasn’t true. “No. There’s a possibility they traced Cam’s call.”
“And it’s all my fault.” She released him and grumbled a curse.
“It’s also possible Cam got the prince out safe and sound before Corcoran’s men arrived,” he pointed out.
She nodded, but didn’t look convinced.
“How about we call Jon and check in? Maybe he’s heard from Cam.”
***
Three hours later, Gina sat on a couch in a hotel room, listening to Hawk and Turbo discuss their next move while waiting for Jon to arrive. Her gaze traveled over Hawk with a new appreciation, having watched him in action. He’d been smart and capable, and his quick thinking in the vehicle had prevented her from a second abduction.
Hottest thing ever. Dammit.
She was still angry and disappointed in him. But, she had an urge to send Turbo to fetch donuts to go with the coffees he brought so she could throw Hawk on the bed and ride him until the damn ache and adrenaline no longer coursed through her veins.
A knock sounded at the door. Both men automatically reached for their guns, and her heart pounded as she watched Turbo cautiously peek through the peep hole, then relax and tuck the gun behind his back.
“It’s Jon,” he said, opening the door. A second later, another hard-bodied SEAL joined the party.
The men shook hands, and Hawk turned to introduce her. But, if he’d bothered to show up at her brother’s barbeques, he would’ve known she’d already met the handsome former SEAL and his pretty fiancée several times.
“Nice to see you again, Gina.” Jon pulled her in for a quick hug.
“You, too. How’s Ali?” she asked, drawing back.
“Good. She’s been bugging me to ta
ke her to your shop for that special latte you made her.”
She smiled for the first time in hours. “It’s all about the proportion of cinnamon and spice.”
He nodded, helping himself to a cup Turbo had supplied for them. He took a long drink. “Not as good as yours, but definitely needed.”
Hawk and Turbo murmured in agreement, fidgeting, obviously eager to get started. She grabbed her coffee and returned back to the couch to get out of their way.
“Cam, Rick, and Chris are at the summit,” Jon stated. “We need to figure out how to get Marhub while he’s in the States.”
“If he’s in the States,” Turbo corrected.
Hawk nodded. “True. He hasn’t flagged at any borders.”
“It’s a shame Corcoran didn’t hire you two like we’d hoped. Then you would’ve had access to their base of operations.” Jon lifted a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. “I wish we knew the location.”
Turbo nodded. “Yeah, I don’t like letting Marhub get away.”
“Or Corcoran.” Hawk growled. “And Fergus.” His gaze found hers. “I’d like to personally take him down.”
Her insides quaked at the dark look crossing his face. She knew he targeted the man for chloroforming her.
“Well, if you can figure out how to find them, I’d bet Cam could get it sanctioned by Prince Ahmad. He’d already expressed an interest in stopping his cousin,” Jon said, pulling out his phone.
Crazy, foolish ideas skittered through Gina’s head, and she sat there for a good ten minutes, fighting the stupid thoughts. Besides, it wasn’t like the guys would ever approve. But, as Jon listed Marhub’s atrocities, one after another, she knew she had to speak up.
“We need to find him.”
She set down her cup and cleared her throat. “Maybe I can help.”
The three men turned to face her.
“How?” Jon frowned while Hawk shook his head.
“No. You’re out of this now. No more.”
Turbo set a hand on Hawk’s shoulder. “Hang on, I want to hear what she has to say.”
“Yeah, me too.” Jon leaned his large frame against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. “What’s your idea, Gina?”
With her heart pounding a you’re-crazy-as-shit tune in her chest, she shared her idea. “Use me as bait again.”
Hawk cursed as he continued to shake his head back and forth. “No way.”
“Look.” She rose to her feet. “I want to help. I screwed up. I need to fix it.”
He crossed the room in three strides and set his hands on her shoulders. “We’ll figure out another way.”
“Why?” She frowned up at him. “This makes sense. Put a tracker on me, or whatever it is you use, and when Corcoran grabs me, I can lead you to their base.”
His grip tightened on her shoulders. “He didn’t take you there last time.”
“That doesn’t mean he won’t now. Especially since the stakes have risen. The princes are already in negotiations. Marhub has to be desperate.” She glanced around him at Jon. “Right?”
“Right.” He nodded.
“That’s what worries me,” Hawk muttered. “I don’t like it.”
“Neither do I,” Turbo said. “But, it does make sense.”
Jon scratched his temple and blew out a breath. “I’m inclined to agree.”
Hawk released her and twisted to face his friends. “Ah, hell, Jon, not you too. Cam will kill us if we put Gina in jeopardy again.”
“This isn’t his call,” she stated. “I know you’ll have my back. Let’s stop wasting time and get this done.”
“But—”
“But nothing,” she cut Hawk off, then softened her tone. “This isn’t your call, either.”
She didn’t mean to be cruel. He was worried about her. She knew that. Got that loud and clear. It had also been the reason for his underhandedness with her brother. That didn’t excuse his action, or take away the sting of betrayal, but she understood his motivation.
His feelings for her.
But, right now, that wasn’t the focus.
“If I can help you take down this cousin and keep the prince safe, then that’s what I intend to do.”
“Cam won’t like this,” he pointed out again.
“Tough. This isn’t about him, or even me for that matter. It’s about the prince and his cousin.” God, she was tired of the upheaval. She just wanted her life back.
“Gina’s right. Marhub needs to be stopped.” Jon spoke up. “Interpol wants his ass. He’s on the international terrorist list for a bombing outside of Liverpool last year.”
She sucked in a breath. “That was him?”
She remembered the sad footage on TV. The death and destruction, loss of innocent lives at a soccer game. Her chest tightened. It was all so senseless.
“Yes. And Cam just texted.” Jon held up his phone. “We’re greenlit. Prince Ahmed will foot the bill.”
Relief and anxiety mixed to quiver through her belly. Now she just needed to keep her courage and try not to screw up again.
***
It wasn’t lost on Gabriel how he was, once again, driving with Gina toward a motel on the other side of Norfolk. Only this time, instead of avoiding Corcoran’s men, they were counting on them to abduct her again.
His gut twisted, and damn, he didn’t think the knot could get any tighter. The thought of those bastards touching her made his trigger finger itch. But he, apparently, was the only one against this foolish mission.
There had to be another way.
“There’s no other option,” she spoke up as if reading his mind. “I’ll be okay. We already determined they want me alive to blackmail Cam.”
He pulled up outside their destination, a three-star motel on the outskirts of town near a farmer’s field. Swallowing a curse, he jammed the car in park and turned to face her. “You think that makes this any easier on me, Gina? The thought of putting the woman I love in harm’s way is killing me.”
Her gaze widened at his admission, and thank Christ, warm emotions skittered through her eyes. He thought he’d lost her yesterday. By listening to her brother instead of his heart, or gut, he’d put their tenuous relationship in jeopardy.
Last night, she’d fallen asleep before he and the guys had finalized today’s plans. He hadn’t had the chance to talk with her, or make things right. He knew the longer they waited, the harder it would be for her to forgive him.
She swallowed and pulled out the burn phone he’d given her that morning. “Guess I’d better text Paige and get this ball rolling.”
With his jaw clenched too tight to reply, he nodded, got out, and headed for the door marked office to register them in a room.
He fuckin’ hated this.
Corcoran was no doubt still monitoring Paige’s cell phone. The team determined if she texted Paige like before, then the bastard would make another move for her, and Gabriel was to let it happen. Okay, he had to make it look good, so he was at least allowed to resist a little and try to get her to safety.
It sucked.
Worst assignment of his life. And he’d had many. This one even trumped Ramadi.
Two minutes later, he climbed back into the car and drove them around the side to their room.
“Okay. Done.” She powered off like they’d discussed, and shoved the phone back in her pocket.
He handed her the room key and got out.
Yeah, he was done, too. Done giving her space. It was time to discuss yesterday. He grabbed his bag out of the car and followed her into their room.
“Well, this is…um…nice.” Her face wrinkled in distaste at the stains on the orange floral bedspread.
Definitely not the Ritz.
He set his duffle bag down, locked the door, then glanced through the window one last time before closing the frayed curtains.
“So…what do we do now? Sit and wait?”
“Yes.” He checked the bathroom, noting the small window they were going to
use later. He unlocked the sash and tested to make sure it wasn’t painted shut. It opened with ease.
At least one thing was going right.
He walked back into the room to find Gina peeking out the side of the window, arms wrapped around her middle.
“Hey, come here.” He gathered her in his arms without giving her a chance to protest.
To his immense relief, she only stiffened a moment before slipping her arms around his back and melting into him.
“You won’t be with them long. I promise. Turbo and I will get you out.”
She nodded against his shoulder. “What if Marhub isn’t there? Or they take me back to the same place as before?”
“They won’t. It’s been compromised. We forced them to find somewhere new when we rescued you the first time. If Marhub is in the States, then he’ll be with Corcoran. The opportunity to bomb this secret summit is too great an opportunity for a bastard like him to pass up.”
She nodded again. “What do you want me to do when I’m with them?”
Stay alive, he thought to himself. “Nothing. We sewed the tracking device inside the hem of your shirt. We’ll find you.” He drew back to cup her face. “It’s not too late to back out. Just say the word, Gina, and I’ll get you out of here now.”
He held his breath as he watched indecision cross her face before she lifted her chin and shook her head.
“No. We’ll stick with the plan.”
God, he loved her bravery, yet hated it at the same time.
“All right. Just don’t try to be a hero. Do everything they say. I’ll get you as soon as I can.”
“Okay.” She set her palms on his chest and made to push away, but he held tight.
“We need to talk.”
Her eyes drifted closed and she sighed. “Please, Hawk, not now.”
“I want you to know how sorry I am I didn’t tell you about Cam.”
She nodded, opening her eyes. “I know. I do. It just hurts being put second. It seems men have treated me that way all my life. Including Cam. I understand it was part of being a SEAL. It still sucks when you’re on the other end. Outside looking in. And the one time in my life a man put me first, it cost him his life.”
“Your father.”
She nodded again. “It’s just…look, I can’t do this now. I need to keep my head straight. Okay?”
Hot SEALs: A Daye with A SEAL (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Dangerous Curves Series Book 3) Page 8