Hot SEALs: A Daye with A SEAL (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Dangerous Curves Series Book 3)

by Donna Michaels

  His chance to reply disappeared at the sound of car doors slamming. Shit. He should’ve been watching. He kissed her quick on the lips, then pushed her toward the bathroom. “Get inside. No matter what you hear out here, stick with the plan.”

  Chapter Ten

  Gina’s chest was tight with fear, more for Hawk than herself. She was fairly certain the goons wouldn’t kill her, but there was no reason for them to keep the former SEAL alive. She hoped he knew what he was doing…and that the vest covering his glorious muscles—and heart—wasn’t faulty.

  She shut the door and locked herself inside the small bathroom, grimacing at the brown stain in the tub, when she heard a loud crash followed by groans. That was her cue, but she stood paralyzed, her heart pounding so hard in her chest she could barely breathe. The need to know if Hawk was the culprit or cause of the groans rooted her to the spot.

  “No matter what you hear out here, stick with the plan.”

  His words echoed in her head as more crashing and yelling took place. She snapped out of it, and with a prayer on her lips that he’d be okay, she opened the window and climbed out.

  Landing less than perfect on the pavement, she shoved to her feet and glanced around. It was eerily quiet compared to the racket she could hear coming from inside. With a new thought forming in her head, she withdrew her phone to make a quick call before she tossed it, then ran south as planned. Just as the team had predicted, Gina ran smack into one of Corcoran’s men who’d been guarding the perimeter.

  “We meet again, pretty lady.” Fergus grasped her arm and dragged her toward another Suburban. She fought back, trying to yank free, but he dug in his coat pocket with his other hand and pulled out a rag. “I think you know how this is going to play out.”

  She opened her mouth to scream, but he clamped the chloroform soaked rag over her mouth and nose.

  Right before the darkness took her, she heard the unmistakable sound of gunfire.

  ***

  When Gina’s eyes drifted open, she found herself in a small, dimly lit room, fully clothed, lying on a small bed. Unlike the last time she’d been abducted, she knew Hawk wasn’t downstairs cooking bacon.

  Hawk.

  Remembering the shots, she sat up and gasped as a sharp pain stung her wrist. Bastards restrained her to the metal headboard. Her head throbbed from the sudden movement, too. She groaned and lay back down.

  “Easy there, sweetheart.” A familiar voice sounded from the corner.

  Corcoran.

  She cracked on eye open and watched the smarmy creep approach, while she noted Fergus standing guard inside her door.

  “Sorry we had to resort to such measures again, but you weren’t supposed to leave our hospitality the first time.” He set a chair near her bed and sat down.

  “Where am I? What do you want?”

  He reached out to pat her arm. “My place. Don’t worry. You’re under my protection. My men have orders not to harm you. We have a special guest arriving within the hour.”

  Satisfaction raced through her veins, quieting some of the fear. This had to be the right place. She’d done it. She’d gotten a tracking device inside Corcoran’s base. And the special guest he spoke of had to be Marhub.

  “He’s going to be very interested in you.”

  “Me?” Her heart rocked, causing her voice to waver. “Why?”

  “You’re going to help us get your brother to kill his visiting friend,” he replied, voice as smug as the smile on his face.

  Her pulse ricocheted. She hoped when he’d referred to her brother’s friend he’d meant the prince and not Hawk, then felt guilty for having the thought.

  “And to celebrate, my guest will take you back to his country where he’ll add you to his collection of wives. So smile, sweetheart.” He winked. “It’s your wedding day.”

  Despite knowing GAPS had a plan to rescue her, she suffered through a bout of stark fear. What if something went wrong and she was smuggled out of the country? White slavery was real. She’d seen it on the news. Read the horror stories.

  Jesus, she didn’t want to end up a statistic on the news. Or worse. The terrorist’s wife.

  Hawk wouldn’t let that happen. Neither would her brother. They’d do whatever it took to save her. It was certain. Real. Concrete.

  That thought calmed her down.

  Her whole life she was adamant about not wanting anyone to risk their life for her, and here she was, silently willing…praying for that very thing. She was a hypocrite and didn’t care. She wanted to leave. Wanted out of there. Now.

  “In the meantime, I thought perhaps you’d like to see what we do to betrayers.”

  The blood rushing through her veins suddenly turned cold. She didn’t like his tone, or the superior smile on the bastard’s smug face as he nodded to Fergus.

  The big guy opened the door and two men dragged a restrained, battered, and barely conscious man into the room and shoved him on a chair in the corner. Despite his swollen eye and bloodied jaw, he was still recognizable to her. She’d know the man she loved anywhere.

  Gabriel.

  God, what had they done to him? Her stomach hollowed and she could barely draw breath into her tight chest. Was he shot? Blood oozed from what appeared to be a bullet hole in his left arm.

  She had to get him out of there. He needed medical attention. Gina willed him to be okay as she tried to think of a way to help.

  Corcoran sighed as he glanced at the phone in his hand and stood. “I wish I could stay and watch, too, but I was just informed my company has arrived. So, I will leave you all to it, and I’ll be back for you in a little while, my dear. Try not to struggle against those restraints too much. Our guest likes his women unmarked. He prefers to do that himself.”

  She swallowed down a hysterical snicker at the thought of her scarred back and pushed those thoughts aside as Corcoran walked toward Gabriel.

  “Heard you killed three of my men. Shame your loyalties lie elsewhere. I could’ve used a guy like you.”

  Her gaze fell to the silent prisoner, waiting for him to say something, but he remained quiet and still, even when Corcoran left the room.

  “Gabriel?” She sat up and searched his face, but it his head was bent, as if too heavy to hold upright. Fear sliced through her. Was Turbo still coming? God, she hoped so. They needed to get Gabriel to a hospital.

  “Sorry, pretty lady. He can’t talk on account of I think I broke his jaw.” Fergus laughed as he drew out a knife and stepped toward his prisoner. “One more blow oughta do it, then I’m gonna cut out your tongue.”

  Gina cried out as the bastard drew back his big fist, but when he swung, Gabriel dove for the man’s legs and they both crashed to the floor. The knife flew through the air and landed near the foot of the bed. She tried to stretch, to reach it with her boot, but it was too far away.

  Fergus called out for help, regaining her attention. Her heart was in her throat as she watched the big man struggle to draw his weapon, but even with his hands zip-tied, Gabriel managed to grab the gun and shoot the brute in the chest.

  Then the door burst open and two more guards rushed in. Gabriel rolled onto his back and shot them both where they stood. Before they even fell to the floor, he was on his feet, fetching the knife and rushing to her.

  “You okay?”

  God, he was the one bruised and bleeding and he was asking her if she was okay. And instead of using the knife to free his hands, he went straight to her and cut her restraint, freeing her from the bed.

  “Better now.” She snatched the knife and sliced through his ties, then dropped the blade on the bed and hugged him, careful of his wounds. “You came for me.”

  He cupped her face and wiped away tears she hadn’t even realized were falling. “I’ll always come for you, Gina.”

  She nodded, completely okay with that. Then glanced at his bleeding arm. “Let’s get you to a doctor.”

  “No. I’ll be fine.” He released her to grab the knife and cut pi
ece of sheet to wrap around his wound, then fished in his pocket and pulled out another zip-tie.

  She took it from him and secured it around his makeshift tourniquet.

  “Tighter,” he urged through clenched teeth.

  Her stomach rippled as he sucked in a breath when she tugged with all her might.

  “Thanks.” His voice was low and hoarse with pain. “We need to find Marhub and, once we have eyes on him, alert the team.” He grabbed her hand and brought them both to their feet.

  She nodded, trying to keep in the rest of the tears burning behind her eyes. He was a mess, but didn’t act like it bothered him.

  “Stay low,” he advised, and she mimicked his actions as they made their way through what appeared to be an old factory.

  The hall was clear. They crept down the stairs to the first floor and, at the bottom, they overheard two men talking about a meeting taking place in the main house.

  “Stay here.”

  Before she could reply, he advanced, taking out one of the men and disarming the other with moves her eyes could barely follow.

  He aimed the gun at the bleeding man. “Who is at that meeting?”

  The guard dropped to his knees and begged for his life.

  “Who is at the meeting?” Gabriel repeated.

  “Corcoran.”

  “Who else?”

  “M-Marhub.”

  In the space of two seconds, Gabriel slammed the man’s head with the butt of the gun and knocked him out cold, then zip-tied his hands.

  “Let’s go,” he said, rising to his feet.

  She followed him outside, surprised to find large fields of farmland in front of them.

  “I saw the house when they brought me here.” He pointed to a building in the distance. “It’s over that way. I’m heading there, but I want you to head south. There’s a restaurant about two miles down the road that runs the perimeter of this field. Call Jon from the pay phone.”

  “No. I’m not leaving you.”

  He blew out a breath. “Gina. I’ll be fine. Just go. I have to get to Marhub.”

  Two large helicopters flew overhead. She smiled as she recognized her friend Brooke at one of the controls of the lower one. “No, you don’t. They’ll take care of him.”

  Gabriel blinked, his jaw gaping as lines fell from Brooke’s chopper and several people in black tactical gear dropped to the ground. He turned to her. “How?”

  She tapped the hem of her shirt. “I called in the Knights.”

  “Jameson Knight?”

  “Yes.”

  He blinked. “When? How do you know him?”

  “He likes my coffee.” She smiled. “His agency was below my shop for years. I called him after I climbed out the bathroom window at the motel. Mentioned Marhub’s name and told him to call Jon.”

  “Thanks for that.” Jon approached with a grin. “The commander has connections we could always use.” He turned to the man leading Turbo and another guy she didn’t recognize toward them. “Thanks for the ride and the help, sir.”

  “Anytime.” Jameson nodded.

  It took her a second to recognize Mr. Knight in head-to-toe black tactical gear. She’d always only ever seen him in well-tailored suits. Holy cow. Even dressed exactly like the other men, he stood out. Oozed leader.

  Paige was going to be jealous she didn’t get to see this, Gina absently thought.

  “Thanks for the invite to the party.” Jameson drew up next to Gabriel to stare at her, concern darkening his blue eyes. “You okay?”

  “Yes.” She lifted her chin. “Gabriel got me out. I’m good. But he needs medical attention.”

  Gabriel muttered a curse. “I’m fine. You need to head to that restaurant I mentioned.”

  Like hell. “No. I’m not leaving you.”

  She would to do whatever it took to make sure he was safe. She got it now. She understood him and her brother, and even her father.

  You didn’t leave those you cared about. You couldn’t. Something inside dug deep, made you face and do things you normally wouldn’t. Even at your own peril. You didn’t hesitate to put yourself in danger, just to keep that person safe.

  “I agree.” Jameson set a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder while he continued to hold her gaze. “She’s smart, quick thinking, and more than capable of holding her own. My girls have been training her for nearly two years now.”

  “What?” Gabriel frowned at her as she reeled back.

  “They have?”

  Jameson grinned. “Yes. The self-defense. Fencing. Shooting range. Knife throwing.”

  “You’ve been throwing knives?” Turbo asked with a grin.

  She blinked. “Yes, but…just at a dartboard.”

  It was fun. They played for chocolate. Motivation was key.

  “Eight out of ten bullseyes is damn impressive, Gina. I’d love to have you on my team. I hope you’ll consider it.” Jameson grinned while Gabriel continued to stare slack-jawed at her. “But, for now, we need to move. Those choppers aren’t exactly quiet. Marhub and his men will know they’ve got company.” He turned to study Gabriel. “You look like hell, son. You sure you’re good to go?”

  He straightened. “Yes, sir.”

  To her disappointment, Jameson nodded.

  “All right. Then let’s do this.” He faced Jon. “It’s your show. I’m here to assist. How do you want this to go?”

  “Zane and I will take point,” Jon replied, motioning to the man she hadn’t recognized. “You and Gina enter from the east, and Hawk and Turbo will cover the back.”

  As much as she didn’t want to leave Gabriel’s side, she understood exactly why Jon paired her with Jameson. To keep Gabriel’s head in the game. Worrying about protecting her would distract him and slow him down, and that would place not only him, but the others in danger.

  Jameson stepped forward and handed her a gun from one of his holsters. “You’ll need this.”

  She reached for the SIG Sauer pistol she’d learned to shoot with his daughter Lisa at a local shooting range. Never in a million years did Gina think she’d consider actually firing at something other than a paper target.

  Her gaze bounced around the men, settling on a pale Gabriel. A certainty settled over her, calming her misgivings. Yes, if any of these men—especially Gabriel—were in peril, she would pull the trigger.

  Her fingers curved around the gun. “Thanks.”

  The handsome man named Zane handed her a vest he pulled out of the pack he carried. “Here. You’ll need this, too. I always carry a spare.”

  “Thanks.” Her lips twitched into an answering smile as she automatically slipped the vest on.

  Gabriel stepped close to help her secure it, his one-eyed gaze boring deep. Her chest caught. How was he going to carry out this mission with one eye swollen shut? Then it dawned on her that he’d already taken out several men despite the handicap. She’d witnessed his capabilities first hand.

  “Don’t be a hero. Listen to the commander and do what he says.” His concern for her drew his lips into a tight line.

  She reached out to touch a spot on his face that wasn’t bruised. “I will. You do your job and don’t worry about me, Gabriel.”

  His chin lifted and nostrils flared when she directly addressed him by his given his name.

  “All right.” Jon nodded. “Let’s move.”

  The interruption broke the moment and brought reality back into the picture. She would have to wait until later to profess her love to him. As she fell into step next to him and Jameson, Gina prayed there would be a later.

  Chapter Eleven

  Gabriel lost what was left of his mind the second he lost sight of Gina—gun in hand— rounding the old farm house with the commander.

  Why the fuck was she doing this?

  His chest was squeezed so tight with concern he could barely breathe. The ache overrode his throbbing face and the burning sting in his arm.

  Why didn’t she go down the road to that restaurant and wait? Thi
s was nuts.

  “Relax, man,” Turbo uttered as they cleared the perimeter of guards. “You’ve always trusted the commander. Don’t stop now. If he says she can handle it, she can handle it. He’d never put her in danger, or us if he thought otherwise. So snap out of it.”

  Turbo was right. No way would the commander invite Gina along unless she was one hundred percent golden. He needed to start thinking like a SEAL instead of a man in love. If Jameson Knight called you up for an assignment, then you were one of the chosen few. It boggled his mind that the sweet, soft, giving woman who’d quivered around him while she cried out his name in bed qualified as one of the chosen.

  Hell, he’d known SEALs the commander had passed over because they hadn’t measured up to his high standards.

  A sense of pride and a measure of lust washed through Gabriel in a heated wave. He’d always known she was amazing. Now, if he was honest, he had to admit, seeing her holding a gun had been hot as fuck.

  Using a hot tub for cover, he raised his gun and took out two men on the rooftop.

  The woman really did mess with his mind.

  When this was over, the two of them were going to have a long talk. Set some boundaries. Have hot sex, preferably up against a wall, to relieve the adrenaline pumping through him right now.

  And to reassure himself she was safe.

  Christ, when he’d entered that room and saw Corcoran hovering over her while she’d been restrained to that damn bed, it made him nuts. Crazy. Insane. He wanted to rip the fucking man apart and feed him his limbs.

  “You hear me, Hawk?” Turbo nudged his shoulder. “We good to go?”

  He blinked the man back into focus with his good eye and nodded. The sooner this mission ended, the sooner Gina was out of harm’s way. “Yeah. We’re good. Let’s do this.”

  At the sound of Jon and Zane bursting through the front door, he and Turbo entered through the back, picking off more guards as they entered. Ducking behind furniture and walls, they methodically swept their way toward the center where they met up with Gina and the commander.