The Lone Warriors: Intro to Navy SEALS Romances 2.0
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Jace shrugged it off, but Logan, who had been worried that they wouldn’t trust him to fly, had appreciated Jace’s enthusiasm. Logan wondered how Sutton had known that detail. It hadn’t come out in the group debriefing, so one of them must have mentioned it individually. It still didn’t explain how Sutton knew everything.
“I wouldn’t have climbed in that thing, it’s just barmy,” said Sutton. “But you didn’t hesitate.” To the group he said, “That’s two heroes.”
Blaine was next, and he looked up at Sutton from his seat on the couch. “Look at you, Blaine. Eye swollen so much you can barely see me. Bruises all over your face like a toddler did your makeup today. How’d you get all that color?”
“You already know,” said Blaine, revealing no emotion.
“I’d say a man with enough control over himself and enough toughness to take a beating like that and keep on whistling to give his comrades a chance to pull off the escape is a hero. That’s three.”
Maddox was next in line. “Who planned the escape?” asked Sutton.
“We all did,” said Maddox.
“Do please be honest. You’re among friends. We know everyone contributed, but who took the assets, the intel, and the madness of your mole-man and formed a workable plan.”
It had definitely been Maddox, they all knew it, yet still he didn’t admit it. Logan was starting to wonder if they were all feeling insecure under the hero title after the failed mission.
Sutton went on. “Without your eye for detail you could all very well be rotting in yet another ISIS dungeon.” He held up four fingers for the SEALs to see.
“Mighty Hawk brother,” said Sutton. “Oh, excuse me, I mean Creed.”
“I said a prayer,” Creed volunteered. “Does that make me a hero?”
Logan knew Creed was being humble just like the other guys, because there was so much more Creed had done for the team.
Sutton had a quick answer. “When you’re being beaten for praying, yes. It makes you a hero. But if that’s not enough for you, what about your optimism? And your sacrifice? You knew when they led you out of that cell blindfolded, that once the party started, if things went bad, you’d be the first one shot. And you wouldn’t even see it coming. Now that’s five.”
Logan was next. Sutton stood eye to eye with him, looking all smug. “Have you ever flown a helicopter?”
“Yep,” said Logan.
“Before yesterday?” asked Sutton.
“In video games.” The guys laughed. “I’ve read plenty of training books, and I’ve seen it done a hundred times. It’s not that hard.”
“How many men on the street would fly with that little training—no, how many soldiers would dare attempt it? Yet there you found yourself, the only American within hundreds of miles with the knowledge and guts to give it a try. Of all of these brave heroes here, I can say that your role was the indispensable one.”
Dang it if this smarmy British guy didn’t make Logan feel like the hero of the day. Still he couldn’t help himself from objecting. “Every mission it’s someone different. In Kandahar it was—”
“And that’s why I need you lot,” interrupted Sutton with authority. “It’s why I need this entire group.”
“For what?” asked Blaine.
Logan was on the edge of his chair. Was Sutton really going to offer them jobs?
“May I?” asked Sutton, pulling up a folding chair.
No one gave him permission to sit. Baron grunted and slid the chair six inches away from the newcomer.
Sutton remained standing, respecting the sanctity of the SEALs’ circle. “My son was a SEAL. Doug Smith.”
“Good man,” said Logan. “He was in Zane Kent’s platoon. His and Blayze’s.”
Sutton nodded.
Maddox said, “Corbin Spencer introduced me to him once as well.”
Creed stepped forward and placed the chair in the circle. “River Duncan knew Doug. Said his death allowed the rest of the platoon to escape.”
“It did,” said Sutton, taking the seat. Doug Smith’s memory carried a lot of weight with the group. “And it saved more lives than just those men. I myself found meaning in my own life when I lost Doug.”
Logan could tell there was a story behind that, a very personal story.
Sutton cleared his throat. “My son changed the lives of each of those men, a difference that is far-reaching now that they are starting their own families. And I determined that I would use my considerable wealth and influence to do the same. To make a difference in the world. I’m not afraid to call in favors or to go to the limits of the law and sometime beyond to protect the weak and to dispossess evil men of their power and influence. We’ve protected women from abusive partners, protected prominent children from kidnapping attempts, and made inroads to stop human traffickers, just for starters.”
The guys were listening now, including Logan. His ethical hacking skills were made for an operation like this. And it would get him back to the States and out of the war zone. Logan wasn’t a mama’s boy or anything, but he never wanted her to go through losing another loved one to war again.
“I pay well, but I need the right guys,” continued Sutton. “I made the mistake of trying to cherry pick individuals and overextended my trust. It almost cost me the woman I love, as well as many other lives. That’s why with you lot, it’s all or nothing. I need a team. A team who has been through hell together and will always have each other’s backs, and a team with the talents you all display.
“It’s why I bugged your flat, and it’s why I called in some favors to get the transcripts of your interviews. Zane, Blayze, and Corbin all recommended this group, and as soon as I heard you were still alive and you’d escaped, I learned all I could.” Sutton made eye contact with each of the men. “I learned all I needed to know.”
“Not interested,” said Baron. “The family business needs me.” He did not look happy about it.
“Don’t listen to him,” said Jace. “He doesn’t talk much and when he does, it doesn’t always make sense. Give him a little time and he’ll come around.”
“What about the rest of you lot?” Sutton’s gaze rested on each of them momentarily. “You ready to have meaning in your life again, or you want to just mope around for the next few years?”
Logan could feel Blaine bristling. The goodwill that Sutton had earned through his son only went so far. Logan wanted to jump up and cheerlead for Sutton, but you had to be careful trying to push this group.
Maddox stood. All eyes went to him. “Corbin’s been working with Sutton’s group since he got out. I’ve heard nothing but good things. Corbin’s making a difference and Sutton’s making it worth his while. I’m in.”
“Brilliant, Mr. Easton,” said Sutton. “Now can you convince the rest of them that this deal is too good to be true?”
Blaine wasn’t impressed. “Now you sound like an infomercial. Go ahead, say, ‘But wait, there’s more!’”
Logan, however, thought Maddox was up to the task. He could be dang persuasive when he tried.
Maddox said, “It’s hard to get anything out of Corbin, but I’ve pieced a lot together from what I’ve heard, and Sutton Smith doesn’t mess around. Corbin’s never been happier.” His attention lasered onto Baron. “You’re in, Luzader. Don’t start playing Your Highness games now. We’re a team here.”
“It’s all or nothing,” said Baron. “So far you’re the only one in.”
“Count me in,” said Logan, trying to hide his enthusiasm. Sutton’s philosophy and his vast wealth would help Logan accomplish exactly what he was after. “Zane’s super happy also. This never went public, but I did some … research of my own, and through Mr. Smith’s Warrior Project, they rescued 45 kids from a trafficking ring last year.”
Logan was watching Smith, and picked up on a tightening of his face when Logan named the Warrior Project. “You’re not the only one who knows how to find secrets,” he told Sutton.
Jace fist-bumped Logan
for scoring one point back for the SEALs. Then Jace said, “I’m in. As long as there’s some danger involved.”
“That’s three!” said Maddox. He turned to Blaine and all eyes followed. “You’re in, Hammerton. This is exactly what you need right now. And even though you don’t want to admit it, you need to keep us close until you recover from what E—from what she did to you.”
“I admit nothing,” said Blaine, standing. “But, yeah, if it gets me off the East Coast, I’m game.” He joined Maddox and Jace. Maddox chest-bumped Blaine, even though it wasn’t reciprocated.
Logan laughed and joined them in the center of the room, staring down the two holdouts and making obnoxious train whistle sounds and motions.
“Get up here, Hawk,” said Maddox to Creed. “Smith will turn you into an international super spy and your world-famous dancer won’t be able to resist you.”
A smile touched Creed’s face, but he tried to hide it.
“That’s not it,” said Logan, picking up something from Creed he couldn’t explain. “He’s thinking about it, but there’s something else pushing him.”
“Get out of my head, hacker,” said Creed.
Logan knew it. “Not until you admit I’m right.”
“What’s with all the admissions?” asked Creed. “This isn’t a confession booth.”
Maddox started a chant, “Chug-a-chugga, chug-a-chugga…” and the other SEALs on the train joined in, everyone but Blaine, who was still stinging over finding out about Elena. The chants came to a crescendo just as Creed came up off the couch.
“I’ve looked up to River for a long time,” said Creed. “I’ll talk to him and if he gives the thumbs up, I’m in.”
“He will,” said Sutton with certainty.
“Then make room, sons.” Four of the five made a short train lap around the imaginary tracks in the room.
They came to stop in front of Baron, who sat with his arms folded, smiling up at their ridiculousness.
Grinning, Logan looked up and down the train, then at Baron. “And then there was one.”
Logan didn’t need Jace’s probability method to know how this would end.
The End
Pick up the other books in the Navy SEAL Romances 2.0!
The Lone Warriors: Intro to Navy SEALS Romances 2.0 by Daniel Banner
The Found Warrior by Taylor Hart
The Honest Warrior by Daniel Banner
The Stealth Warrior by Cami Checketts
The Rogue Warrior by Cindy Roland Anderson
The Diehard Warrior by Jennifer Youngblood
The Fearless Warrior by Kimberly Krey
The Navy SEAL Romances 2.0 are loosely connected and do not follow a chronological timeline. They can be read in any order.
Navy SEAL Romance Series
Read the other Navy SEAL Romance books today and pick up the Navy SEAL Romances 2.0!
The Resolved Warrior by Jennifer Youngblood
The Protective Warrior by Cami Checketts
The Peaceful Warrior by Daniel Banner
The Honorable Warrior by Kimberly Krey
The Broken Warrior by Taylor Hart
The Reckless Warrior by Jennifer Youngblood
The Captivating Warrior by Cami Checketts & Daniel Banner
Pick up the other books in the Navy SEAL Romances 2.0!
The Lone Warriors: Intro to Navy SEALS Romances 2.0 by Daniel Banner
The Found Warrior by Taylor Hart
The Honest Warrior by Daniel Banner
The Stealth Warrior by Cami Checketts
The Rogue Warrior by Cindy Roland Anderson
The Diehard Warrior by Jennifer Youngblood
The Fearless Warrior by Kimberly Krey
The Navy SEAL Romances 2.0 are loosely connected and do not follow a chronological timeline. They can be read in any order.
Acknowledgments
I couldn't have gotten so deeply into the heads of these characters without a ton of support, correspondence, and editing from my fellow authors in this series. Taylor, Cindy, Jennifer, Cami, and Kimberly--thank you for allowing me to spend so much time with these guys. I appreciate each of you, and look up to you all in so many ways!
Also by Daniel Banner
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Navy SEAL Romance Series
The Peaceful Warrior
The Captivating Warrior
Navy SEAL Romance Series 2.0
The Lone Warriors
The Honest Warrior
Park City Firefighter Romance Series
Two Hearts Rescue
A Perfect Rescue
Rescue and Redemption
Park City Firefighter Romance Series: Station Two
Sparks Will Fly
Kisses and Commitment Series
How to Find a Keeper
My Heart Channel Romance Series
9 Reasons to Fall in Love
Daniel Banner writes Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy under the name Daniel Coleman.
Knights of Wonderland Series
Jabberwocky
Hatter
Red Knight
Gifts and Consequences — A Contemporary Fiction novel
The Falyn Sweeney Saga — An Irish Historical Fantasy short story series
About the Author
Daniel Banner, an 18-year fireman and paramedic, collects experiences by day and makes up stories by nights, and sometimes vice versa. For Daniel, writing is an escape from the traumatic days, and a celebration of the triumphant days.
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