Chance spotted Hayden and started walking toward her, straight up the middle of the crowd, at least fifty yards away. Hoyt’s blood pounded in his ears. “It’s Chance, he’s the real sleeper cell.”
“Shit.”
“I’ve got him, you two get to Hayden.” Hoyt dropped the phone and took off in a crouched run. He didn’t want to warn Chance of his approach. If the guy had a bomb under that loose t-shirt, he’d hit the kill switch before Hoyt got within ten feet. He circled around, keeping Chance in his periphery and then worked his way up behind him.
Chance never broke course, just kept walking, staring straight ahead. Hunter and Ranger eased to Hayden’s side. Hoyt kept walking, steadily gaining. When he was about ten feet from Hayden, Chance’s right arm raised. The kill switch. Hoyt lunged and brought his arm down with all his strength on the attacker’s wrist. Bone crunched and the switch dropped.
Chance screamed and Hoyt had his knife out and pressed to Chance’s throat in less than a second. “Don’t move or I’ll slice your jugular. All that blood will ruin your pretty boy clothes.”
Hayden stared at them, her blue eyes wide, right before Hunter shoved her behind him and aimed his pistol at Chance’s head. “Freeze.”
Hoyt held the knife tip against Chance’s flesh and lifted his shirt. A massive series of bombs was tied around the guy’s waist, spanning him from hip to chest. “Holy shit.”
“You will pay for killing my father. You westerners who think you’re so superior to the rest of us. You lead the attack in the homeland.” Chance’s voice changed, his accent growing thick and he grabbed Hoyt’s wrist.
Hoyt shoved up to counter the move, keeping the knife nice and tight against his flesh. “Yes, we lead the mission that killed Elberd, your father.”
Chance froze in his arms and Hoyt gave a feral smile. “Your father tried to kill thousands of innocent people. We didn’t let him do it and I’m sure as hell not letting you do it, Chaborz Bekhan.”
“You bastard. I’ll kill you for this. My father was a good man, you are the villains who invaded our land.”
“Chance?” Hayden eased around Hunter.
“Get back, he’s loaded with a bomb big enough to take out the entire town,” Hunter growled and shoved her behind him.
“This isn’t over. Zafar will send more men and you will all die.” Chance let out a laugh tinged with insanity and fanaticism. “And it will be so easy. I could have killed her so many times.”
Hayden gasped behind her brother.
Chance tensed to crouch. A fist flew from the right and landed square on Chance’s temple. Hoyt yanked his blade back and the terrorist fell to the ground, out cold.
Ranger stood to the side, shaking a meaty fist. “I’m sick and tired of these assholes threatening my family.”
Hayden flew into his arms with a cry and Hoyt scooped her up, careful not to injure her shoulder. “It was Chance? This whole time he’s been flirting with me just to get to you.”
She shook hard in his arms and Hoyt grimaced. “It’s okay. I swear it’s okay.”
Hoyt clutched her to him, his own hands trembling. Dammit, he’d come so close to losing her after he’d found her again.
“Take her home. We’ll clean up this mess,” Hunter crouched next to Chance in the now nearly empty stadium.
Hoyt didn’t need to be told twice. He nodded to his teammates and turned to leave. “Hold on to me, baby. We’re going home.”
Chapter 35
“This is nice.” Hoyt pulled Hayden into his arms and dug his toes into the sand. The river rushed by, offering sweet relief from the heat of the hot August sun glaring overhead. “Real nice.”
“It’s perfect.” Hayden rolled over on her beach towel and placed her hand on his chest.
Hoyt locked eyes on the little purple bikini barely covering her body and groaned. “That’s it, let’s go home.”
Hayden purred and bent her knee, rubbing her thigh against his. Hoyt went hard instantly. “But we haven’t even got in the river yet.”
“Woman, if you don’t stop that, we won’t make it to the car.” Hoyt grabbed her and rolled on top of her.
Hayden locked her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her. “You promise?”
“Hey you two get a room.” Ranger ran past them with Amy slung over his shoulder, straight for the river, her long red hair swinging wildly back and forth as Ranger pounded across the sand.
“Put me down you idiot!” Amy’s voice rang with laughter that quickly died into a shriek when Ranger tossed her into the water.
Ranger stood just inside the water’s edge and crossed his arms, a huge grin on his lips. “How’s that?”
Amy came up sputtering.
Hoyt caught a movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to see Hunter come running from behind. “I think Hunter is defending Amy.”
“Oh, this is going to be good. Finally, some payback for all those years he tortured me.” Hayden pushed at Hoyt to roll up enough for her to see the action.
Ranger glanced over his shoulder and tried to dodge and turn at the last minute, but Hunter was too fast. He ducked his shoulder into Ranger’s waist and then ran into the water, taking them both under.
Hoyt rolled to the side and allowed Hayden to jump to her feet. She did a fist pump and shouted, “Go, Hunter!”
Amy returned her cheer from the water as Ranger finally emerged with a roar.
Hoyt watched the scene, resisting the urge to rub his chest and the warm ache there. Hayden did this to him. She made him so happy he didn’t know how his body contained it.
He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her and knew he’d do whatever was in his power to show her how much he loved her.
“Ranger is fixing to get him. Glad I get to see someone take him down. Our team leader could take a lesson in humiliation.” Hoyt craned his head to see Merc emerge from the trail off to his right.
“Why aren’t you in swimming trunks?” Hayden asked.
“Cause I’m leaving in a couple of hours. Got a new assignment.” Merc was headed to Afghanistan at 0500 tomorrow morning. Grey wanted the former black ops operative to insert alone because he could go places the Team couldn’t and possibly dig up new intel on Mr. J.
Grey had declared war on his former friend and liaison, committing the full force of TF-S to search and destroy the man that had betrayed them all. No one messed with the Team and got away unscathed.
“Be careful,” Hoyt said.
“Will do. Tell Hunter and Ranger I said bye. Gotta head out.” Merc turned and walked back through the trees lining the sandbar.
Hayden dropped to her knees beside him, her whole face lit up with a bright smile. “Wanna join in?”
She looked at him like he was her everything. She didn’t see the scars. She just saw him – like she always had. Only now he wasn’t too dumb and self-absorbed to see it.
Hoyt grabbed her hand and yanked her down beneath him, cradling her body so she didn’t hit the ground hard.
“What are you doing?” Hayden put her hands on his shoulders, but her smile remained in place.
“You’re a good woman, you know that right?”
“I’m good with you.”
“I have some news. The bank called today, they want to help fund your new counseling center for veterans.”
“What? When?” Hayden threw her arms around him and yanked him down to her. She’d been stressing and worrying for weeks over this project. After Hoyt told her about his experience with the pill-pushers at rehab, she’d lost it. He’d had to keep her away from her phone for days just to keep her from calling to chew out his counselors.
Freedom Counseling was born out of her frustration.
“When you were outside. I thought I’d save the news until we were here. This is where we were that day last summer, the one you talked about out in your dad’s back field.” Hoyt paused and took a breath, each word building a burning in his throat. “That was the day I though
t about over and over when my captors had me tied up in that shack. When everything was dark, you were my sun.” The tears he’d been trying to hold in filled his eyes. Dammit, why the hell was he crying?
“Oh, Hoyt. I love you so much,” Hayden cupped his cheek and he leaned into her touch.
God, she felt so right. He knew he wasn’t fully back to normal yet, but with Hayden’s help, one day he would be. He wouldn’t allow her to slip away now. “I want to marry you.”
She stopped wiggling. “What?”
Sweat beaded on his neck and his arms trembled. What if it was too soon? What if she didn’t want that kind of relationship? Then I don’t want to live. Hoyt sucked in a breath. “Marry me.”
Hayden palmed his face, tears filling up her eyes and nodded. “Yes, Hoyt, yes.”
“I love you.”
Hayden rose up on her elbows and feathered butterfly kisses across his cheek and lips. “I love you more.”
Hoyt took her lips in a long, lingering kiss, savoring every sweet drop she offered. Unable to deny himself another second, Hoyt broke off the kiss and got to his feet. Then he pulled Hayden up and lifted her in his arms.
She molded to him naturally, her arms going around his neck as she laid her head against his shoulder. Neither of them spoke as he carried her off the beach toward his new Jeep parked on the other side of the grove of trees.
Evie passed them on the wide path to the sandbar, Hank Jr. propped on her hip in a baby blue hat and matching trunks. “Where are you two going?”
Hoyt kept walking.
Hayden lifted her head and looked over his shoulder. “Home.”
THE END
Want to read what happens next with the Men of Mercy? Click here to get Ethan’s story: Rebellious River: Men of Mercy
Rebellious River
Ethan Slade was a loner. No parents. No wife and kids. No liabilities. He had one love in his life - the Special Forces. As a member of the elite Task Force Scorpion, he'd been on more near death missions than most soldiers experienced in a lifetime and he liked it. So when his commander put him on a forced two-week vacation, Ethan did the only thing he could - took Grey Holden and Team Omega up on an offer for another mission: provide protection to a senator's daughter at her wedding.
Kate Richards had a chip on her shoulder. After being fired from her job as a CIA analyst because her boss wanted her in his bed instead of behind a computer, Kate was left without a job or a clue as to what she would do next. Then ran into Athena Madero, who'd had her own problem with asshole bosses and offered Kate a new job - come work for her private security company, Team Omega.
After years of ribbing and sexual harassment, Kate wanted nothing to do with men. Period. Especially tall, dark and handsome alpha male operative Ethan Slade. The last thing Ethan wanted or needed was to give up his life as a roamer, avoiding any attachments or obligations. But neither of them is prepared for the instant eruption of desire at their first meeting.
The two come together in an explosion of passion so potent it will leave them both marked for life. But just as quickly as they've come together, Kate is violently ripped from his fingers, and it's up to Ethan to rescue the woman he's come to love before he ends up alone again.
Click here to get Ethan’s story: Rebellious River: Men of Mercy Book 5
Dossier
Task Force Scorpion (Tf-S)
A branch of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
Ft. Grenada, MS--
MACK GREY: Detachment Commander, Captain
♣ Recruited from the 75th Ranger Regiment, Ft. Benning, GA
♣ Specialized Skills: direct action, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, interrogations specialist, psychological warfare
♣ First in Command. Responsible for ensuring and maintaining operational readiness.
♣ Height: 6’
♣ Weight: 195lbs
♣ Combat Experience: Operation Gothic Serpent, Somalia. Operation Desert Storm, OIF, Operation Crescent Wind, Operation Rhino, Operation Anaconda, Operation Jacana, Operation Mountain Viper, Operation Eagle Fury, Operation Condor, Operation Summit, Operation Volcano, Operation Achilles
HUNTER JAMES: Warrant Officer, Detachment Commander
♣ Recruited from the 75th Ranger Regiment, Ft. Benning, GA
♣ Specialized Skills: direct action, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, psychological warfare
♣ Responsible for overseeing all Team ops. Commands in absence of detachment commander.
♣ Height: 6’3”
♣ Weight: 230lbs
♣ Combat Experience: Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Crescent Wind, Operation Anaconda, Operation Jacana, Operation Mountain Viper
RANGER JAMES: Team Daddy/Team Sergeant, Master Sgt.
♣ Recruited from the 75th Ranger Regiment, Ft. Benning, GA
♣ Specialized Skills: direct action, unconventional warfare, special recon
♣ Plans, coordinates & directs Team intelligence, analysis and dissemination.
♣ Height: 6’4”
♣ Weight: 225lbs
♣ Combat Experience: Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Crescent Wind, Operation Anaconda, Operation Jacana, Operation Mountain Viper, Operation Eagle Fury
JARED CROWE: Weapons Sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class
♣ Recruited from Delta Force, Ft. Bragg, NC
♣ Specialized Skills: direct action, unconventional warfare, special recon, Sniper
♣ Weapons expert. Capable of firing and employing all small arm and crew served weapons
♣ Height: 6’0”
♣ Weight: 220lbs
♣ Combat Experience: Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Crescent Wind, Operation Anaconda, Operation Jacana, Operation Condor, Operation Summit, Operation Volcano, Operation Achilles
HOYT CROWE: Asst. Weapons Sergeant, Staff Sgt.
♣ Recruited from Delta Force, Ft. Bragg, NC
♣ Specialized Skills: direct action, unconventional warfare, special recon, Sniper
♣ Weapons expert. Capable of firing and employing all small arm and crew served weapons
♣ Height: 6’0”
♣ Weight: 210lbs
♣ Combat Experience: Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Crescent Wind, Operation Anaconda, Operation Jacana, Operation Condor, Operation Summit, Operation Volcano, Operation Achilles
AARON SPEIRS: Medical Sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class
♣ Recruited from Delta Force, Ft. Bragg, NC
♣ Specialized Skills: direct action, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, medic
♣ The life-saver. Employs the latest field medical technology and limited surgical procedures
♣ Height: 6’1”
♣ Weight: 195lbs
♣ Combat Experience: Operation Anaconda, Operation Jacana, Operation Condor, Operation Summit, Operation Volcano, Operation Achilles
RISER MALLON: Asst. Medical Sergeant, Staff Sgt.
♣ Recruited from Delta Force, Ft. Bragg, NC
♣ Specialized Skills: direct action, unconventional warfare, special recon, medic
♣ The life-saver. Employs the latest field medical technology and limited surgical procedures
♣ Height: 6’2”
♣ Weight: 215lbs
♣ Combat Experience: Operation Anaconda, Operation Jacana, Operation Condor, Operation Summit, Operation Volcano, Operation Achilles,Operation Mountain Viper, Operation Eagle Fury
MERC: Engineer Sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class
♣ Recruited from Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
♣ Specialized Skills: direct action, unconventional warfare, special recon, Demolitions, psychological operations
♣ Demolition expert. Trained in psychological warfare, conducts field interrogations.
♣ Height: 6’5”
♣ Weight: 250lbs
♣ Combat Experience: Classified
Ethan SLADE: Communications
; Sergeant/Commo Guy, Sgt. 1st Class
♣ Recruited from the 75th Ranger Regiment, Ft. Benning, GA
♣ Specialized Skills: direct action, unconventional warfare, special recon, communications
♣ Communications expert. Employ latest FM, multi-channel, and satellite communication devices.
♣ Height: 6’0”
♣ Weight: 200lbs
♣ Combat Experience: Operation Condor, Operation Summit, Operation Volcano, Operation Achilles
CORD CARTER: Weapons Sergeant, Staff Sgt.
♣ Recruited from the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC), Camp Lejeune, NC
♣ Specialized Skills: direct action, unconventional warfare, special reconnoissance, weapons expert/sniper
♣ Weapons expert. Capable of firing and employing all small arm and crew served weapons
♣ Height: 6’1”
♣ Weight: 210lbs
♣ Combat Experience: Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Condor, Operation Summit, Operation Volcano, Operation Achilles
Chapter 1
Maybe her mother was right. Maybe she shouldn’t have joined the CIA. Maybe she shouldn’t have traded in her cheerleader uniform for a badge.
Kate Richard’s swallowed her groan and pushed the disturbing thoughts out of her mind, spinning the small right-hand silver ring on her finger.
Aside from an imminent terrorist attack or death, those were words that would never pass Kate Richard's lips. Unfortunately, the upcoming meeting with her boss, Agent Lamar Franks, was going to be enough to make her wish she was dead.
But facing her creepy boss wasn't as bad as following her mother's Betty Crocker recipe for life.
Start with a solid wealthy man from her hometown, mix in a wedding and a couple of kids, sprinkle on becoming president of the PTA, then bake in the oven at 300° for a cookie cutout way of life according to Georgia Elise Richards. Unfortunately for her mother, her youngest daughter had been sour milk to begin with, so Kate mixing with the perfect man had been doomed from the start.
Men of Mercy: The Complete Story Page 96