Navy SEAL Security

by Carol Ericson

  With Amy crushed beneath his weight, the man brought the knife to her throat. Riley cursed and froze. He wouldn’t make a move if he feared the man would cut her.

  Amy took a deep breath and twisted her head away from the knife, ducking beneath the steering column. He yanked her hair and nicked her shoulder with the knife as he tried to pull her head back onto the seat.

  Blood dripped onto the console. Amy gasped, but she worked an arm free and cinched the man’s wrist, digging her nails into his flesh until he hissed in pain.

  Riley threw open the passenger door and hooked one arm around her, dragging her from the car as he elbowed her attacker in the temple. With his knife still clutched in his hand, the man lunged toward them.

  Amy jerked her head up at the sound of boots on the pavement. Two guards from the prison shouted as they jogged toward them.

  Their assailant shoved them the rest of the way out of the car and gunned the engine. The car lurched forward, the passenger door slamming shut from the force of the forward motion. Exhaust filled Amy’s nostrils as Riley yanked her out of the way of the tires grappling for purchase on the asphalt. He covered her body and rolled to the side.

  The car squealed out of the parking lot and flew over the speed bumps, and Amy looked up to see it careen onto the road leading off the prison grounds.

  With hands hovering over their weapons, the guards approached Amy and Riley. Amy slumped against Riley, panting against his chest. Riley hugged her close, murmuring in her ear. Her blood soaked through his shirt, and he must’ve felt the moisture because he glanced down and sucked in a breath. “You’re hurt.”

  “I’m all right. It’s not deep.”

  He was already ripping off his shirt when the guards arrived, looming above them. “What the hell happened here?”

  Riley staunched the bleeding of her arm with his shirt, and then squinted up at the prison guards. “It’s a long story.”

  “DO YOU THINK ANYONE believed that terrorists infiltrated the press corps at the prison and tried to kid nap me?”

  Riley lifted a shoulder. “It doesn’t matter one way or the other. It’s not as if a bunch of Federal prison guards are going to track down terrorist operatives.”

  “At least they didn’t arrest us for fighting in the parking lot.”

  She carried a glass of water to the couch and sank against the cushions. Riley had explained to her about the suspicious reporter and his badge, and how he had rushed to the ladies’ room to find her. That woman in the hallway had saved Amy and didn’t even know it. When Riley had stopped her coming out of the bathroom, she’d pointed down the corridor and told him about the chatty woman and the surly man.

  Smacking his fist into his palm, Riley said, “I should’ve stopped at my car first and retrieved my weapon.”

  “If you had done that, it might’ve been too late.”

  “Maybe. I just didn’t want the guy to see me in the parking lot. I crouched down between the cars the whole time I was tracking you. I didn’t want to take my eyes off of you for a second.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t.” Riley was turning into her guardian angel, and did she ever need one.

  “How’s your shoulder?” He swept his beer from the counter and twisted off the cap.

  “It’s fine.” Amy picked at the snowy-white bandage peeping from the collar of her shirt. “They’ve moved onto the next step, haven’t they? That man tried to kidnap me today. They’re going to find out what I know, whether I know it or not.”

  Riley sauntered into the living room and slumped on the couch next to her, holding up his bottle. “Sure you don’t want one? If ever someone needed a drink, it’s you.”

  “I need my wits about me.” Her knee bounced, and she hunched forward on her elbows to stop it.

  “Those aren’t wits. Those are nerves.” He ran his hand between her shoulder blades. “Besides, you don’t need wits anymore. You’re getting out of town, remember?”

  “You don’t have to persuade me.” She shivered, and Riley massaged her neck.

  The attempted kidnapping today had convinced her to leave. Maybe fate dictated that she pull up her roots every ten years or so and move on. Her future didn’t include hearth and home or stable and serene. She shot Riley a sideways glance.

  And it didn’t look like her future would include him either.

  “Good because I’m just about done persuading you.” He sipped his beer. “My next plan included throwing you over my shoulder.”

  Closing her eyes, Amy leaned against him, soaking up his strength. She wouldn’t mind that at all. If she could trust this man with her life, she could trust him with her heart.

  He slipped an arm around her. “Does Colorado sound good? There’s no snow there—yet.”

  She dropped her head on his shoulder, allowing her hair to fan across her face. “Cabo sounds better, and there’s no snow there—ever.”

  His body stiffened, and she held her breath. Had she gone too far? After today’s rescue, she’d decided to tell him exactly how she felt. She’d weathered many calamities in her life. She could handle a broken heart.

  “Cabo?”

  “That’s where you live, isn’t it?” She flattened her hand against his belly. “Unless you’ve been lying to me all this time. Do you really own a dive boat in Mexico?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “But what?” Her confidence and resolve evaporated. She pushed away from him and jumped up from the couch. “This is just a job? It’s in your nature to protect a damsel in distress? You only slept with me to make me feel better?”

  She clenched her teeth, curling her hands into fists, bracing for the rejection, feeling foolish that she’d set herself up.

  “But I’m not done with this job yet.”

  Amy blinked. “What does that mean?”

  “I was called out of retirement to find my friend, Jack Coburn. The trail started with the Velasquez Drug Cartel and its deal with a terrorist cell from Afghanistan. I have to find out how they plan to use that money. It might lead to Jack and it might not, but right now it’s all we have. When the job is done, when Jack is safe, then I can think about the future.”

  Looking down, her hair creating a veil around her face, Amy asked, “What’s in your future, Riley?”

  The couch squeaked as he rose. His body heat warmed her skin as he stood inches away from her. His scent, fresh soap and a hint of the sea—always a hint of the sea—flooded her senses.

  He cupped his hand at the ends of her hair, her dark strands pooling in his palm. Then he scooped her hair away from her face into a ponytail behind her, tugging on it so her head tilted back, her face exposed to his scrutiny.

  “Don’t you know what’s in my future, Amy?”

  A gleam of blue shone from under his half-lidded eyes and his lips quirked at one side. She trailed her fingers along the reddish-gold stubble of his chin and whispered, “Me?”

  He kissed her fingertips. He kissed the bandage on her shoulder. He kissed her mouth.

  “It took you only one guess. I thought I’d have a tougher time convincing you of my intentions than getting you to leave San Diego.”

  “What exactly are your intentions?” She tugged on his earlobe and tucked his long hair behind his ear.

  He rolled his eyes. “You still have doubts?”

  “I’ll always have doubts, Riley. Is that going to drive you crazy?”

  He nuzzled her neck. “You already drive me crazy.”

  “I’m serious.” She cradled his head with her arms. “Will my insecurities wear you down?”

  “You’re not going to have any insecurities with me. I’m not going anywhere, Amy. I won’t abandon you.”

  She murmured against his hair, soft and damp from his shower. “What if I abandon you?”

  “I’ll come after you. It’ll give me a good excuse to throw you over my shoulder.” He kissed her hands and pulled her back toward the couch. “You do have to abandon me for a while though. Let’s g
et Ian’s ex-wife, Meg, on the phone and see if she can take you in.”

  After two unsuccessful calls to Meg’s house and her work, Riley tapped his phone against his palm. “Rocky Mountain Adventures, the place where Meg works, told me Meg’s on vacation.”

  Amy’s pulse ticked faster. Once she’d decided to leave town, she couldn’t wait to get out even if that meant leaving Riley behind. He’d come for her when this ended, when he found his friend.

  “That’s okay. I can find someplace to stay. I still have a lot of money at my disposal.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t want you staying alone. I can send you to my sister and her husband in Hawaii. You’d get along great with them. They own a surf shop and spend most of the day surfing and hanging out at the beach.”

  “Do you come from a laid-back family? Surf shops in Hawaii. Dive boats in Cabo. What prompted you to enlist in the navy?”

  “My dad was not laid-back—anything but. He was an admiral in the navy and ran our household like a tight ship. My sister, Leah, rebelled against all of that. I followed in Dad’s footsteps, and then decided my sister had the right idea.”

  “Except when it comes to rescuing friends.”

  “Except that.”

  “Where are your parents now?”

  “My mother remarried after my father died. She lives in Florida. My dad died of a heart attack at sixty-two. That’s what being a type A personality gets you.”

  She folded her legs beneath her. Riley had two sides pulling at him. Maybe that’s why they’d hit it off so quickly. They’d each recognized a kindred spirit. “A type A personality also allows you to control your destiny. I don’t think you would’ve been satisfied kicking back in Cabo all your life. Your father wouldn’t have been either.”

  “You’re right.” He tugged her hair. “When the call came from Colonel Scripps about Jack, I jumped at the chance. I told myself I was responding to a friend in need, but I was also responding to my own need—my need for excitement, thrills and chills.”

  “I think it’s also your need to feel useful, Riley, to have a hand in carving fate. Even your marriage to April was a challenge.”

  His nostrils flared briefly. Have I gone too far? She treaded on hallowed ground whenever she mentioned his marriage.

  He blew out a breath and slid open his cell phone. “Sister in Hawaii? Does that work for you?”

  “Will it work for her?”

  “I told you she takes things in stride. She won’t even raise an eyebrow.”

  After a conversation during which Riley seemed to do all the talking with very little explaining, he tossed his phone onto the coffee table. “Done. We’ll put you on a flight tomorrow, and you can give Leah a call when you get there.”

  “You didn’t tell her much.”

  “She knows not to ask too many questions.” He clicked his beer on the table. “Are you ready to turn in?”

  She set her water glass on the table next to his half-empty bottle. “It’s our last night together. How…? When…?”

  “We’ll be together again when my job is done.” He pinched her chin, and she closed her eyes.

  She’d be safe in Hawaii, and he’d still be chasing terrorists and drug dealers, facing danger every day. But he wouldn’t have it any other way, and she’d have to stand by that. She’d have to respect his commitment to finding his friend.

  After all, that’s what she loved about him. Why she loved him.

  She covered his hand with hers. She’d never been in love before—never had the courage—and now, she didn’t have the courage to tell him. Not even knowing she had to leave him.

  His warm breath caressed her cheek and he kissed her eyelids. “I’m not going to waste this night worrying. I can finally relax knowing you’re with my sister and her husband and away from this threat.”

  She opened one eye. “My involvement has complicated everything, hasn’t it?”

  “Only in a good way.” Standing up, he extended his hand toward her. “Let’s turn in, together. One last night with you, and I’ll be highly motivated to wrap up this job.”

  Giggling, she placed her hand in his. She could forget her troubles for a while—as long as they made love. As long as he held her in his arms.

  Her phone played its ringtone from her purse, and she squeezed Riley’s hand. “Hold that thought. I hope this isn’t Sarah. I’ll have to tell her I abandoned her house.”

  She groped for the cell phone inside her purse and studied the unfamiliar number on the display. Her heart skipped a beat, and she caught her breath.

  “Who is it?”

  “Don’t know. Could be the EMT school, but probably not at this time of night.”

  She punched the button to answer. “Hello?”

  “Mi amor. I’ve missed you.”

  The blood rushed to Amy’s head, and she flung out a hand to grab the arm of the chair. “Who is this?”

  “It’s Carlos. I’m coming for you.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Her face drained of its usual bronze glow, Amy dropped the phone and collapsed onto the chair. A man’s voice squawked from the phone and Riley pinched it between his fingers and mouthed to Amy. “Who is it?”

  She opened her mouth and emitted a croak. Then she cleared her throat and tried again. “Carlos.”

  Riley nearly dropped the phone a second time. Her dead ex-boyfriend? His mind raced. Who said he was dead? The so-called body vanished, and Amy had never given him a chance to check the man’s pulse. They hadn’t seen any blood, and Riley had seen no visible wounds.

  He put his finger to his lips and pressed the speaker button on Amy’s phone. Cradling the phone in his palm, he held out his hand to her.

  A golden opportunity just dropped into their laps. Could she do this? Did he have a right to ask her?

  Slowly she nodded and took the phone from him. She scooped in a shaky breath. “C-Carlos?”

  He laughed. “That’s right, mi amor. Did you think I was dead?”

  “I saw you on my kitchen floor, Carlos. What happened?”

  “I took a pill, a drug. Something that slowed my heart rate, paralyzed me. Unless a doctor examined me, I appeared as good as dead.”

  Covert ops guys carried those kinds of drugs in their arsenal. Carlos had been prepared for anything. The shock of discovering her ex-boyfriend alive and well and on the telephone hadn’t worn off for Amy yet.

  Riley tapped her shoulder and mouthed, Why?

  She blinked her eyes. “Why, Carlos? Why would you take something like that?”

  “It has its dangers, Amy, but nothing compared to the threats of terrorist scum. When I knew they had followed me to your house, I swallowed a little yellow pill and faked my death. I didn’t know if they’d figure it out and kill me anyway, but I had to take the chance.”

  Riley twirled his finger in the air. She had to get as much out of Carlos as possible while he was still alive.

  “I thought they’d come to my house and removed your body.”

  “No. I came to and walked out of your house. I knew you’d been there because I saw a wet suit on the floor, unless that belonged to the clients or Velazquez’s men. I’m pretty sure both were after me when I didn’t deliver the money.”

  Amy closed her eyes, the color gradually returning to her cheeks. “Why’d you do it, Carlos? Why did you double-cross them all?”

  “Surely you know, mi amor.”

  “I don’t know, and please don’t…”

  She trailed off as Riley drew his finger across his throat. No sense in angering Carlos at this point. They needed him.

  “Please don’t tell me I know. I haven’t seen you in a few months. Do you even have a wife?”

  Carlos chuckled. “Of course not. How could there be anyone for me but you? When you accused me of being married, I figured it was a good way to draw back until I pulled off this deal.”

  “Why, Carlos?”

  “I wanted the money for us, Amy. We can go away now,
be together.”

  Amy’s eyes widened and she swallowed. “B-be together?”

  Riley bunched his fists, but he nodded. Carlos had the money, and Riley needed to get his hands on it.

  “You and me, mi amor. You need someone to take care of you.”

  Her gaze slid to Riley, and he rubbed her thigh. She has someone to take care of her.

  She blew out a long, silent breath. “Why did you come back to my place after the deal went bad?”

  “To get the money and to get you.”

  “Where’s the money, Carlos?”

  Riley held his breath.

  “The money is in a self-storage facility. I got the idea from that storage shed on the beach.”

  “So why come to my place to get the money?”

  “I left the key with you.” He coughed. “I didn’t think it would put you in danger. I couldn’t keep it myself in case I was captured.”

  “You didn’t think it would put me in danger?” Amy ran her hands through her hair, clutching it at her scalp. “They figured you were at my house for a reason. They’re after me now.”

  “I know that, mi amor. Lo siento. I had no idea they’d put things together so quickly.”

  Amy massaged her left temple with her fingertips. “Where did you leave the key?”

  Carlos drew in a sharp breath, and Riley held Amy’s dark gaze, still glassy with shock.

  “Come to me. Come to me and we’ll get the money together and then sail away.”

  Riley rolled his eyes. Was this guy for real? Carlos didn’t know Amy if he thought that kind of amour talk would work with her.

  From his crouching position, Riley pushed up and paced toward the window. It had just ended. Carlos wouldn’t tell Amy where he’d hidden the key to the storage container unless he got Amy in the bargain. Of course, Carlos wouldn’t get the money either.

  “Where do you want me to meet you?”

  Riley spun around and stalked to Amy’s side. He held up his hands and shook his head.

  She ignored him. “I’ll come to you anywhere, Carlos.”

  Carlos sighed a noisy, wet sigh, and Riley grunted. Was he crying now?

  “I knew it wasn’t the end. I knew you wouldn’t give up on us. Meet me at the marina tomorrow at seven in the evening, slip eight-fifteen.”