She took the letter.
“You understand?”
“Yes.” She closed the door and slid the bolt shut. Examining the letter, she walked across to the bench where she had previously spotted a pile of mail. As she added the envelope to the heap she noticed that most of the open documents in the pile were overdue bills. It looked as if Mike was in financial trouble.
She returned to the balcony and was about to sit when there was another knock at the door. “Are you serious?” she murmured.
“Mike, Mike, I know you're in there!” a female’s high-pitched voice yelled.
Ali frowned. Who was this woman and what the hell was she doing at Mike's door at eleven o'clock on a Wednesday morning?
“Mike, you can change your number but I know you haven't moved!” she screamed. “Baby, come on, let me in. I know you’re there. I know we can work this out.”
Ali padded quietly across to the door and looked through the security peephole. The woman outside was pretty, very pretty in fact. Her hair was honey blonde and her lips a slash of bright red lipstick. Vision through the hole was limited, but she could make out a black singlet and what she hoped where fake boobs. Mike wasn’t kidding when he said Ali wasn’t like any of his ex’s.
“I bet you didn't make it up Mount Otay, did you sweetheart?” she whispered.
“Fine, you know what, fuck you, Mike. I was the best thing that ever happened to you and you completely screwed it. You chose that stupid dog over me. Now you can sleep alone at night.”
Ali tried not to laugh as the woman stomped off in her high heels. “So that's the infamous Stacey.” Mike had told her about the ex and what had happened after Axe had been shot. One thing was for sure; Ali would never make him choose between her and the dog. Axe had saved Mike's life. For that reason alone she would never begrudge his feelings for the dog. However, the whole issue with his finances was something that concerned her.
She pondered the issue for half an hour before the sound of a key in the lock signaled his return.
Shirtless and coated with sweat, he bent and kissed her. “Hey, you.”
Ali exhaled as she drank in his lean muscular frame.
“I'm going to grab a shower. You want in?” he asked dropping his shorts and standing naked in the living room.
She rose, letting the bathrobe slide off her body revealing her underwear. Unclipping her bra, she released her breasts and stood with her hands on her hips and watched him grow. Their talk about his finances could wait.
***
An hour later, still damp from the shower, Mike prepared a chicken salad. He served it with a slice of mud cake, drenched in cream.
“So, your ex dropped by while you were out.”
He stopped slicing tomatoes and turned to her, with a scowl. “Stacey? What did she want?”
“I think she was trying to make amends. I didn't let her in. She's got quite the potty mouth.”
“I'm so sorry you had to experience that.”
“Kind of reflects poorly on you, Michael.”
He looked up from tossing the salad. “How do you mean?”
“Well, she definitely wouldn't have made it up the mountain, so clearly you were thinking with your dick not your brain. You’ve got to tighten up your testing process, Mike.”
He swallowed nervously as he placed bowls on the island. “Testing process. I’m not sure I know what you mean?” Head bent, he returned to the salad.
“Babe, are you OK?” she asked.
“Huh, sorry no, I'm just a little preoccupied with something.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No, it's nothing for you to worry about.”
She sighed. “Look, Mike. You had another visitor. A debt collector who told me to give you this.” She reached for the letter from the pile next to her. “He said if you don’t pay they’ll take your truck. If you're having financial problems, Mike, you can talk to me about it.”
His jaw clenched as he read the letter. “It's nothing I can't handle. Got a little behind on a few things because I was away. I'll get them sorted this week.” Scrunching the note into a ball, he tossed it in the sink.
“Alright. But if you need a hand, just let me know. I'd be happy to waive all of Axe's medical costs.”
He turned to face her. “You’d do that for me?”
She nodded. “You’re a good guy Mike and–”
“Go on.”
“And, I more than like you.”
He wiped his hands on a dishcloth. “Why haven’t I ever met a woman like you before?” he asked, rounding the counter.
She arched an eyebrow and shot him a smile. “We covered that.”
Mike wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her gently. Her mouth met his eagerly and the kiss gained intensity as his hands caressed her. “You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met,” he whispered breathlessly.
***
Ali sat on a park bench with her sister watching her nieces playing in a sandbox. The toddlers hadn’t spotted her yet. They were completely enthralled with the plastic spades and buckets that she’d previously bought them.
Stretching her neck, Leonie enjoyed the escape. “So give me the sordid details.”
Ali shook her head. “The sex is great and that's all you're getting.”
Her sister feigned horror. “Oh, come on. You've got to give me more than that. Seriously, do you know the last time Steve and I had sex? I can't remember the last time he got up close and personal with my vagina.”
Ali grimaced. “T.M.I.”
“Come on, don’t be a bitch, Ali.”
She laughed. “Enough. Fine, all I’m going to say is that it’s the best sex I've ever had. His body, god, it's carved from granite. He seriously looks like an artist sculpted him. And yet, he's so gentle, caring and considerate. He literally satisfies my every need.”
“And his…” Leonie wiggled her finger.
She smiled. “More than adequate.”
“God, I knew it. You're such a lucky bitch. Now, whatever you do don't have kids with him. It’ll wreck everything. I’m serious. Before we had the devil spawn, we used to bang every five minutes. Steve was a demon. He took me in the kitchen, the bathroom, the laundry, it didn't matter. He just wanted me twenty-four seven–”
One of the girls screamed, interrupting her tirade. The youngest had grabbed a fist full of her sister’s hair and was yanking it.
Leonie rose from the bench. “And then, these little angels arrived.”
Ali watched as her sister untangled the girls and kissed each on the cheek. She smiled to herself as she reflected on what a great father Mike would make. He was patient, kind and gentle. The way he treated Axe also proved he was compassionate. However, his underlying financial issues were concerning.
“Hey, lover girl. What's on your mind?”
“Huh, nothing.”
“Come on. We don't keep secrets from each other. What's up?”
“It's Mike, he's got himself in some financial trouble. Forget to pay some bills when he was away on a mission.”
“How much trouble?”
“I'm not sure. A debt collector came to his apartment this morning and told me they were going to take his truck.”
“You're kidding me. Ali, that's a bit of a red flag. Surely a Navy SEAL can sort out his finances?”
“I know. The problem is I think I’m falling for him. He’s so gentle and thoughtful, Leonie. He’s a gentleman, an amazing lover and he even cooks. You know he disarmed a mugger the other night?”
“Oh shit, the full package.”
“Yeah. But it isn’t all smooth sailing. Since I started seeing him I feel like I'm constantly being challenged. First there was the mountain climb and the night of sickness and now this. It's as if the universe is conspiring against us.”
“Look, Ali. If there's one piece of advice I can give you it's to follow your heart. There were plenty of things that got in the way of Steve and I. But we still
made it through and now look at us. Two beautiful terrors… and no sex.”
Ali wrapped her arms around her sister. “I know I don’t say this enough, but I love you so much.”
“Me too, bubs. I just want to see you happy. So, SEAL or no SEAL, if this guy breaks your heart I'm going to break his perfectly sculpted legs.”
“Well, if it makes you feel better we're going to one of his team-mates for dinner tomorrow night and they've got two little boys. Mike says they’re horrendous.”
“Oh, joy. What's that? Date number five and the most romantic of all. Dinner with hyperactive midgets.”
“At least, he's introducing me to his friends. That's got to be a good sign, right?”
“Definitely. Military guys take introductions to their buddies very seriously. But, if you have to drop your keys in a bowl on the way in, run like hell. But first, text me the address.”
Ali punched her gently in the shoulder. “You and your one-track mind.”
***
Ramirez was the only spectator at the training session. He watched as his son intercepted the soccer ball and dribbled it toward the goal. “Go Carlos!” he screamed as the boy lined up and kicked. The ball went wide, hitting the side post, and ricocheted off across the boundary.
“Good try, son,” he shouted encouragingly as the boy, shoulders slumped, trotted toward him. “It is better to try and miss, than never try at all.”
The boy shook his head and joined the back of the lineup as another child attempted the drill.
Ramirez’s phone vibrated. He pulled it from his jacket. “Hello.”
“When are you going to kill the fucking SEAL?”
He coolly held the phone away from his ear until the Butcher’s tirade was finished. Then he brought it closer and spoke. “Many of the pieces are already in place. I am waiting on the last of my men to have the necessary documentation and then we will move.”
“I want it done as soon as possible.”
“These things are better not rushed. They require meticulous planning and rehearsals to ensure they are successful.”
“Do you remember what happened to the last man who failed me?”
Ramirez paused. “I’ve never failed you before, why would I now? You forget who I am, Vicente Barbosa. I am the man that people go to when they want the impossible done. I am the man who can kill anyone… for the right price. I’m not a man you want to threaten.”
Barbosa fell silent for a full ten seconds. “I have never given you a task more important than this. My family’s honor is at stake. When you are successful, I will double your fee.”
“Your kindness is appreciated. If things go according to plan, in forty-eight hours you will have your revenge.”
“I want to see the pain on his face as he watches his woman die. Then, bring me his head.”
“It can be arranged so you can watch.”
“The Americans are trying to capture me. I cannot leave Mexico.”
“You will not have to leave the safety of your home. Their deaths will be broadcast over the internet to your computer, for a nominal fee.”
“Excellent, I look forward to the show.”
“I will make the necessary arrangements.” He terminated the call and turned his attention back to his son's soccer training.
His wife approached with a drink in each hand. “Was that work?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
He turned to her, unable to hide his grim expression. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I can’t make the game on Sunday.”
She shook her head and turned away.
Ramirez fought the urge to curse. Instead he focused his attention on his phone. If he was going to be sleeping on the couch, then he may as well spend the night with his mistress.
Chapter Fifteen
Mike stood outside a three-story brick structure stenciled with the letters MOE. The Method of Entry building’s many walls were adorned with every type of window or doorway that the SEALs were likely to encounter. The teams spent hours perfecting the art of bashing, chopping, cutting, and blowing their way into the building. Then, overnight, a team of maintenance staff would return it to its original condition, so they could attack it again.
TJ and the rest of the squad were in one of the explosives preparation bays, hidden behind a bank of dirt. Not wanting to talk to them, Mike had volunteered to set up the house. Seething he lifted a wooden door and made to slot it into its retaining brackets. TJ and the others had made him look like an idiot to Ali. He’d never borrowed a dime in his life, paying cash for his truck and everything in his apartment. Not to mention, Ali didn’t have a gold digging bone in her body. The door failed to slide into the bracket and he gave it a solid kick.
TJ appeared holding a breaching charge attached to an extendable pole. “You all good?”
He managed to shove the door in place. “No, I’m not good.” He spun and spotted Ernie and Rick joining them. “Which one of you assholes dumped the late notices at my place?” The sheepish look on Rick’s face confirmed his suspicions. “I want my spare key back. None of you assholes can be trusted.”
There was an awkward silence, then TJ spoke, “So, how was your day off?”
“Apart from Ali thinking I’m an idiot?” He paused. “Yeah, good I guess. I hope you enjoyed your little repo man cameo.”
“I was pretty convincing, yeah. Although I’m surprised she hasn’t dumped you.”
“Why would she?”
Ernie laughed. “Because you're broke, holmes.”
“Well I ain't saying she's a gold digga, but she ain't messing with a broke nigga,” added Rick.
“Did you seriously just quote Kanye?”
Rick grinned. “You know I did, brother.”
“You're enjoying this, aren't you,” snapped Mike. “You're putting this woman through hell and you're enjoying it. You're all enjoying it.” Their silence confirmed his assessment. “I thought as much.”
All three men broke into righteous laughter.
“Come on, bud. Remember this is for your own good. And I gotta say, so far this girl is kicking selection in the butt,” said Rick.
“We'll see,” grumbled TJ. “Yeah, so far so good, but this next phase is the moneymaker.” He held up his explosive charge. “Let's test this bang.”
“Hang on, what do you mean by another phase?” Mike asked over his shoulder as he grabbed his helmet and eye protection. He joined the Chief at the door he’d installed. “She's been through enough. I think she's proven her mettle.”
TJ pressed himself against the wall with the pole at arm’s length, the charge resting against the door. “Not yet she hasn’t. Eyes and ears, take cover!”
Mike checked his gear and tucked in behind TJ. “Ready.”
Ernie and Rick did the same.
“How many more phases are there?”
TJ held up two fingers. “Fire in the hole.”
A deafening explosion shook the building, covering them in dust and smoke.
“So, what are the final phases?”
“You already know the next one, essé,” said Ernie as they inspected the door.
The charge had split it neatly in two, throwing both halves inside.
“I'd call that a clean breach,” said TJ.
“I don't know what the hell you're talking about, Ernie.”
“Family, bro, it's all about family.”
TJ nodded. “Damn straight it is, Ernie. Behind every SEAL there should be a strong wife, capable of running the household in his absence.”
“Yeah, and you don't get a household crazier than this motherfucker’s.” Rick gestured to his offsider.
Mike shook his head. “Oh shit, you're not going to…”
Ernie slapped him on the shoulder. “Hell yeah we are, frogman. Dinner. My place. Seventeen hundred. Make sure she doesn't wear anything real nice. The boys have taken to throwing poop.”
“You're shitting me?”
“Oh, they'll shi
t you alright.” Rick grinned. “From head to toe.”
***
“So, you work with Ernie, right?” Ali asked, as Mike pulled his truck into the driveway of the Ernesto residence. Located a few miles from the San Diego River, the home was a large single-story, stucco hacienda painted white with a red tiled roof. The front garden was tastefully landscaped as a desert setting, complete with cacti and red boulders.
“Correct, he's in my squad. His wife, Maria, is probably the best Mexican cook in San Diego.”
“And, they’ve got two boys that are out of control?”
“Yeah, but don't mention that to Maria. She thinks they’re total angels.”
“Most mothers do.”
He knocked on the door. A moment later it opened and Ernie greeted them with a broad smile, welcoming them inside. Maria, a pint-sized brunette with a huge bosom, appeared from the kitchen and embraced him in a bear hug. “Mike, how's that beautiful dog of yours doing?”
“Great, thanks to the skills of this amazing woman. Maria, this is Alison.”
“Oh, the new girl. Ernie has told me a lot about you. So you're the one who's finally managed to rope my adopted son?”
Mike shot Ernie a questioning look.
“She doesn't know,” he mouthed back.
“I don't know about roping him.” Ali laughed.
“Well, you're the only one he's ever brought around here, so that makes you pretty special. Now, excuse me, I've got to finish preparing dinner. Ernie, get them a drink and take Ali out back to meet the boys.”
“Yes, Maria.”
A moment later, with ice-cold Pacificos in hand, they walked outside onto a wide deck overlooking a beautiful garden.
“Looking good, brother,” said Mike as he surveyed the lush green lawn.
“Thanks, finally got it finished last week.”
Ali spotted the boys playing in the sandbox under their stilted cubby house. A few feet away, on the grass, a Border Collie watched them intently.
“James, Ryan, come and say hello to our guests,” called Ernie.
The two boys crawled out of the sandbox and trundled across the grass toward them. Dressed in matching sets of coveralls, Ali put their age at around four and five. They were adorable and resembled their parents, with dark hair, brown eyes and olive skin.
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