“Ten. I’d watched how my Dad treated my mother, my brothers, and me. I knew already I’d do whatever was the opposite of what he had planned for me. My brothers laughed. They were at the age where it was funny to have our father angry at me instead of them. He was a tough taskmaster.”
“But he and your mother are still together.”
“Yes. I’ve never understood it, but Mom appears to love Dad.” She shook her head to clear away the bad memories. “How did we get on this subject? I’m worried about you.”
“My Dad always said I had a hard head. Since I survived, he’ll be fine and laugh when I tell him what happened.”
“You need to rest. I’ll go out and let Kijika come in to see you.”
“When Kijika comes in, I want you to sit on the chair over there.” Ranger nodded to a big, comfortable-looking chair. “I’ll sleep better with you nearby.” Then he grinned, “If I wake up and see you, I’ll know you aren’t up to some other mischief.”
“Once you’re well, I’ll get you back for that remark.” She went down the hall to get his buddy.
Kijika came in and braced his hands on the side rail while Haley moved to the chair to give them some privacy. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I got mad and beat the side of my head against the wall.”
Kijika laughed. “Sounds like something you might do. I’m still astonished she had those rockets in her cabin.”
“Me, too. Ask the captain if we can keep that quiet. I’d prefer she not get into trouble.”
“Will do.” Kijika lowered his voice. “Are you still as fascinated with Haley as before? She’s a good lady, but very determined. If I were the guy she was after, I’d worry.”
“I can’t understand it. Of all the women I’ve met and dated, why I’d want to tangle with a tiger I don’t know.”
“As a SEAL, you might want to forget her. She’s going to be involved in risky missions. You’ll have trouble keeping your mind on your job.”
“That’s good advice. But I have to date Haley, if she’ll let me, and see where it goes.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’ll be staying around to travel back with you. Shall I try to get Haley a ride back home today?”
“Was Naldo’s body sent to San Diego?” Ranger asked.
“You know, with all the excitement, I never heard what happened to him. We were more worried about you.”
“Check on it for me before you send Haley home.”
“I’ll do that right now.”
Naldo held his hand against the side of his face. His skin felt hot and slick with blood. The damn bullet had hit his ear and grazed his cheek. If the SEAL with Haley had a clearer shot, he’d be dead.
He swerved and ran in a different direction than his crew. He always had a backup escape plan. Crews were dispensable. Well, most of them were. But not his second in command. If Naldo managed to dodge the round-up he’d overheard the SEALs talking about, then his man would wait at the prearranged spot they had chosen in case of an emergency. Naldo tore off his shirt and bandaged his head to stop the bleeding. He didn’t want to leave a trail.
Now he had two people to seek revenge on, lovely Miss Quinn, and the SEAL, Ranger. Too bad I didn’t get his full name. But I’ll find them, and they’ll wish they never came after me.
Chapter 7
When his phone rang, Kijika answered briefly and then excused himself and left Ranger’s room with Haley still sitting in the chair. He needed some privacy to talk with the captain.
He moved toward the windows in the waiting room and watched to make sure Haley hadn’t followed him. “Kijika here.”
“Kijika,” Captain Buchanan said. “I’ve had the men search for Naldo’s body. They found a trail of blood and followed it, but at one point, it stopped. Then they followed his footsteps to the side of a road. Best guess is he was picked up. He’s alive and has someone to help him. I’ve asked Tex to use his computers and see if he can locate them. Also, we have Dude on loan from Wolf’s team. He’ll head your way.”
“I know we planned for Haley to leave with Ranger and me tomorrow, but does she need to leave sooner?”
“Yes, it’d be better since Naldo’s still alive. I’ll send a plane for her and keep her here on base for her safety. I’m certain she’ll complain about the restriction, but I’ll get her boss to back me up. Don’t tell her about the base, just that she has to come home.”
“I’ll handle it. I still can’t believe Naldo managed to escape again.”
“Naldo’s like a snake. He managed to slither away, but this time he won’t win.”
“No, sir, he won’t.”
Kijika headed to Ranger’s room. He was sleeping, so he motioned to Haley to join him. They walked into the waiting room.
“Have a seat, Haley.”
“Why?”
“Because I just talked to Captain Buchanan and he wants you to leave right now. He’ll have a plane fly you to San Diego.”
“I’m not going until Ranger does,” Haley said and stomped her foot for emphasis. “You can’t make me.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but I can. I’ll tell the hospital not to allow you to visit Ranger, and you’d have to find your own way home from here.”
“That’s plain mean.” She put her hands on her hips and rose up on her toes to stare into Kijika’s face.
He had a hard time, to not to laugh.
“Do what’s best for him and you. Go home, get some rest, and I’ll contact you as soon as he’s back and at the Balboa Military Hospital.”
“They probably won’t let me visit him.”
“He’ll give them your name, and then you can get in to visit.”
“I bet he doesn’t know you’re planning on sending me off.”
“He’ll accept that it’s for the best right now.”
“I want to see him first.”
Kijika stepped in front of her. “No, he might change his mind.”
“Then I’m right, he doesn’t want me to leave.”
“You have to go.”
“Who says so?” She stood toe to toe with him.
He chuckled. “Ranger doesn’t know what a handful he’s getting with you.” Kijika’s cell rang. He looked at the screen. “Excuse me. I have to take this call.”
He moved toward the windows and watched as she headed to Ranger’s room. He shook his head and answered the phone. “Kijika here.”
“The plane is on its way,” the captain said.
“The sooner the better. She doesn’t want to go.”
Kijika clicked off his cell and headed to Ranger’s room. Ranger was asleep and the room was otherwise empty. “Hell,” he groaned. “She tricked me.”
He dashed down the stairs and checked every exit. “Damn, Haley’s not going to get the best of me. When I find her, I’m paddling her butt like a spoiled child needs.” He contacted Cliff, the helicopter pilot.
“Have you seen or heard from the lady who came with us to the hospital?”
“No. Is something wrong?”
“She’s disappeared. As soon as back-up gets here from the base, I’ll contact you for help. Damn it! She’s still in danger and believes she can handle everything on her own.”
“I’ll be on alert.”
“Meanwhile, you might fly over the area where the attack occurred. I doubt the one that got away would go back there, but you never know, and Haley certainly might.”
“Will do. I’m on my way.”
I wasn’t paying attention, or I might have heard her. Kijika determined to head back to Haley’s cabin when Dude arrived to relieve him. He had a gut feeling Haley and Naldo would both return there for the showdown.
Shadow sat in the chair in Ranger’s room. Ranger slept for hours. The doctor peeked in and motioned Kijika to join him in the hallway.
“He’s been sleeping a lot, Doctor.”
“That’s okay. The nurses have been checking his pupils and getting him to speak to them. He might n
ot remember it, and we have an IV going in case he needs medicine.”
“I think he may need a shot when he hears where his girlfriend went by herself.”
“I’ll leave an order for some medicine in case he gets agitated.”
“I can guarantee he will.”
Haley heard enough of Kijika’s conversation to know her nemesis was still out there. She hadn’t intended to eavesdrop on his phone call, but she was glad she did.
She’d stopped at the side of the hallway when she realized the person he was talking with was the captain. She heard enough to know Ranger’s friend, Shadow, and his captain planned on getting her out of the way. Part of her knew that was the best idea, but they’d never find Naldo unless she led them to him.
He still wants me, and he’ll know I’ll return to the cabin for my things and the guns. I only hope the SEALs hadn’t found the weapons I hid, because if Naldo finds me, I’ll need them.
She got a taxi to a small, local airport and used the money and credit card hidden in her shoe to hire a plane to take her to the cabin.
Haley had the plane land in an open field ten miles from the cabin. She knew how to walk from there. After thanking her pilot, she hiked. Thank goodness, I had my hiking boots on when it all started. I figured I might have to run and hide.
When Dude walked out of the elevator, Shadow was glad to see Wolf and Jackson with him.
“The captain thought you might need more help, and we twisted his arm to send us. Things are quiet on the home front for now.”
“I’m happy to see all three of you. Ranger’s been sleeping, but he’ll go apeshit when he finds out I lost Haley.”
“If she were a man, she’d make a hell of a SEAL,” Jackson said.
“She’s the most irritating woman I’ve met, and she doesn’t seem to worry about her health.”
“Is there a small airport around here that has planes for rent?” Wolf asked.
“There’s a small airport, but you have to drive to one of the bigger cities to go very far.”
“Oh, I don’t think she’d go far from Ranger,” Jackson said. “No, Haley Quinn knows this scoundrel, and she thinks she has figured out a way to deal with him. I’m afraid she wants to take him out herself.”
“Yes,” they all said in unison.
“She most likely left in a small plane, then. I’m going to get the number and call that airport. If she did, we'll know we’re right and where she landed.”
They all heard a loud voice demand, “Get Haley in here now!”
They headed toward his room as a nurse scurried out. Looking harried, she told Kijika, “I’m getting the medicine the doctor ordered if he got upset.”
Jackson and Kijika walked into Ranger’s room, followed by Dude and Wolf.
“I’m right.” He stared at Kijika. “You let her get away.”
“She overheard me talking to the captain about our plans to get her back to San Diego,” Kijika said. “I thought she was in here with you.”
Ranger looked puzzled. “She was willing enough that last time I was awake to go back when I did. What happened?”
Jackson moved closer to his bedside. “She overheard Naldo survived, and that a car picked him up on a nearby road.”
“Ranger frowned. “And she went off alone? Is she crazy?”
“I think something strange has grown between those two,” Dude said thoughtfully. “It’s become a battle between him and her. I’d bet they want to face off one-on-one and the survivor walks away. She’s embarrassed him, and I’m almost certain her determination is heightened to see him die at her hands.”
They all stared at Dude when he stopped talking. Finally, Wolf said, “He’s right. They’re both warriors now, and one must defeat the other.”
The others, including Ranger, nodded their agreement. Ranger looked around. “If we don’t get to her before he does, she’ll get hurt or killed.”
“I’m not certain she won’t win,” Jackson said. “She’s FBI, she’s been undercover, and she’s a good shot, from what I’ve heard. We’ll head to her cabin, but I, for one, won’t interfere unless she needs us to.”
Ranger flopped back on his pillow. “I want to go with you.”
“No,” they all said at once. When the nurse entered, they held him down while she gave him the shot.
“Sorry, old buddy,” Jackson said. “You need to rest so you can get certified and come back to us. We’ll take good care of your lady.
Haley crept to the back of the cabin where the door remained busted open. Silently, she moved around the broken pieces. She cracked the door open further and heard nothing. As she moved from the kitchen to the living room, she watched for any sign of Naldo. Her floor by the fireplace was undisturbed. Before digging out her weapons, she went to the room where she’d shot the rockets off. She peeked around the shredded curtains.
There were no sounds, nothing. Haley hurried back to the fireplace and touched the stone she’d set up to spring out, and then pulled more stones away to expose the end of the hidden box. She pulled it free, then reached in for the smaller box of ammo behind it.
In the box were two powerful rifles, a scope, and bullets, plus three grenades. Haley put them together and went to the bathroom, where she arranged them beside her. The bathroom window fronted the house, and any attacker would think she’d be in the living room or bedroom.
“Come on and get it,” she whispered. Her hands were steady as she stocked the bathroom where she could quickly grab what she needed. She didn’t doubt her adversary had tricks in his bag.
As time went on, the silence began to unnerve her. Maybe Naldo doesn’t plan on coming back to get me.
But she was certain he would. He wants to kill me in this cabin and laugh and talk about his victory. Getting me has become an obsession, more important than losing his men.
Finally, she heard a cracking sound from somewhere outside, at the rear of the cabin. Haley took one of her loaded rifles and crept into the kitchen.
When Jackson came through the broken inside door, she almost shot him.
“Damn, what are you doing here? I almost killed you!”
“My luck you didn’t.” Jackson nodded to the other SEALs as they came into the cabin. “We promised Ranger we’d keep you safe. They had to knock him out with something in his IV to keep him in bed.”
Haley frowned. “I haven’t seen any movement outside or any evidence to indicate Naldo’s around here. Which I’ve been thinking is very strange.” Haley lowered her head for a minute and then jerked it up to stare at them.
“Is anyone with Ranger?”
“No, he’s in the hospital and… damn,” Wolf said. “He’s tricked us and gone to get Ranger first.”
Jackson got on the phone to the County Sheriff. “Yes, sir. If you can beat us there and guard his floor, that would be great. We’re going to call for a helicopter and arrive as soon as possible. You’d better take some help with you.” He hung up and called for transport to pick them up ASAP.
Haley grabbed her two rifles and they were soon on their way back to the hospital.
Ranger chuckled as he woke sooner than they expected. By wrestling around, the nurse must have spilled some medicine out of the syringe or given up trying to give him the full dose.
Quietly, he sat up. His head did feel better. Dad was right. I am hard-headed.
He slid off the side of the bed and held onto it until the dizziness passed. It only took a moment. His cell on the bedside table rang and Jackson’ name flashed in over the screen.
“How do you feel?”
“Much better. Is Haley all right?”
“Yes. He hadn’t gotten to the cabin. We believe he wants to kill you first. Then he’ll brag about it to Haley to torture her. It’d give him a chance to charge her when she’d be unprepared.”
“The man’s diabolical. Did you leave my gun here?”
“It’s locked up at the nurses station as required. Ring the bell and let me talk with th
e nurse.”
Ranger jerked the cord to the nurse’s light. It didn’t take her long to arrive. “My boss wants to talk to you. The situation has changed.”
She accepted Ranger’s phone and spoke into it. “Yes, sir, how can I help you?”
Jackson’s voice was loud enough for Ranger to hear him order, “Get the gun unlocked and in Ranger’s hands. The man we’re after is headed to the hospital. You’ll need to depend on Ranger until we get there. The Sheriff is on his way.”
“Mr. Foster may have a spell and think we’re the bad guys.”
“He’s lucid, and he can handle the situation. Shut down the floor and wait for us.”
“All right.”
The nurse left Ranger’s room at a run. In seconds, he heard a loud alarm sound over the PA system. A voice came over the speaker. “Emergency on Floor Three, Emergency on Floor Three. Proceed with caution and leave the hospital.”
He hoped she came back fast with his gun.
Naldo slipped from the utility closet and quietly followed the nurse with the gun. He stopped in the doorway of a room and watched her give it to Ranger, who wore a hospital gown.
“Drop the gun,” Naldo said as he stepped into the room.
When neither Ranger nor the nurse moved, he squeezed off a shot just above her head. The nurse screamed.
“Shut up, or I’ll kill you, too,” Naldo growled.
Ranger stepped in front of the nurse. “Only cowards shoot an unarmed woman. Why don’t we make this fair and do as the shooters did in the Wild West? We’ll go out into the hall, put our backs to each other, and take ten steps. When my nurse yells, ‘turn,’ we’ll shoot, and the best man lives.”
Naldo grinned. “Why should I risk my life? I have a bigger gun and the ability to end your life now. I never said I’d play fair.”
“True, but you’ve lost almost all your men. When you return home, people will see you as a failure. But if you can tell them how you took a SEAL out, they may change their minds.”
The SEAL’s Surprise Mate - Rachel McNeely Page 9