SEALs of Honor: Evan Read online

  “So good that he’s healing just fine in a private hospital, and you’ve got nothing but life in prison ahead of you.” She snorted. “What did you do, buy that helicopter on the private market? Did all the big guys have one so you had one too? But you don’t know how to fly it, do you? So you had to hire a pilot to do your shit. Only he’s dead now,” she said mockingly. “So you fucked that up too.”

  He grinned but it wasn’t a nice grin. “Actually, it was a helicopter from our Mexican supplier and his cousin he wanted to get rid of. You did both of us a favor. And now we know where Levi is.” He gave a harsh laugh. “And you…well you think you’ve got me but it’s a lie. You got nothing, my cousin is right outside and he’s going to take you out.”

  A scrape behind her had her twisting around to see, but she was slammed in the back by Evan as he threw her to the ground. A shot fired. She couldn’t see who or what was hit. The door slammed open then shut as Shadow disappeared into the night.

  Evan slowly slid off of her, allowing her to see the man in the chair – and the bullet hole in the dead center of his forehead.

  “So they weren’t gunning for me after all?” she asked in a low voice.

  “Initially, yes. But right now? They were taking out yet another liability.” He shook his head. “Sometimes family is the death of us.”

  *

  Evan helped her to her feet. She hopped up carefully, her hand going to her side. She kept getting knocked back and forth through this business. He was sorry for his part in that. In a low voice, he asked, “Are you hurt?”

  She shook her head and took a deep breath. “No, I’m fine.”

  “You’re holding your side,” he motioned to her hand.

  “Instinctive reaction.” She smiled at him. “Not to worry, it’s no worse.”

  “Good. It seems like all I do is knock you down.”

  “And save my life time and time again.” She reached up and kissed his cheek. “What about Shadow?”

  “He’s gone after the cousin.”

  “And Hawk?”

  Evan’s face thinned into grim lines. “Hopefully he’s fine.”

  He helped her to a chair around the corner where she wasn’t forced to stare at the dead man. “I have to take care of this,” he said. “Stay here where you’re safe and out of the way.”

  “And out of sight, just in case.” She nodded. “Got it.”

  “Good.”

  He walked into the kitchen and to the open door and peered out into the night. There was no sign of anyone.

  He called Mason who brought him up to date. “Right. Stay there. Swede and Dane should be there in seconds. Hawk called them in about ten minutes ago.”

  “I’ve got a dead man to deal with.”

  “We will be there in five.” He hung up.

  Evan tossed a hard look at the dead man then made his way back to Megan.

  “Is a rescue coming? And someone to collect the body?”

  He grinned. “We don’t need a rescue this time.”

  She laughed. “As long as everyone realizes that the safe house has been compromised, then it’s all good.”

  Chapter 24

  Megan couldn’t help but wonder if she should have stayed back East. She knew she could be in the military for another ten years and not see the action she’d seen in the last few days.

  She studied the dead man and saw a shadow under the edge of his sleeve. She bent down and tugged the material back. She didn’t recognize the tattoo.

  Evan said from behind her. “It’s a gang symbol. They run a lot of drugs.”

  “And guns apparently.” She straightened. “I wonder where the hell they are getting them from?”

  “Who knows? Guns are big business. There are many dealers out there.”

  “So guns down and drugs up.” She nodded her head. “Hopefully Levi put one shipment into the shitter.”

  “He did, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t another dozen or so taking its place. Levi is going to want to get the men that did this to him in Mexico.”

  “Of course. If I lost someone I loved then I’d be tempted to commit murder too.”

  “Isn’t that the truth?” He studied her. “But that’s not today’s problem. We need to put a stop to this.”

  “At least this man won’t be climbing through my bedroom window any time soon.”

  He pulled her close and gave her a warm hug. “Never again.”

  She straightened. “I wonder if there is anything to eat here. My stomach doesn’t remember dinner.”

  “I’d order something in but it’s going to get a little busy here soon.”

  She winced and glanced at the dead man, her appetite fleeing. “Or maybe not. I’m suddenly not hungry anymore.” With a wan look, she retook her seat, slumped against the wall and closed her eyes. Death filled her world right now.

  A gentle hand stroked her head in the growing silence. “This will be over soon.”

  She gave a slight nod. “I know. I guess I’m just rethinking my career choices.”

  “Don’t let this nightmare be the reason for it. It could have happened – or something similar, for any number of reasons, anywhere, at any time.”

  “Yet, my world hasn’t been the same since coming back West.”

  “I’m delighted to have you home again,” Evan said with a gentle tone. He tilted her chin and gave her a hard kiss. “So you’re staying as I hate the weather back East.”

  She snorted. “I have to stay because you won’t move?” She shook her head. “How fair is that?”

  “Okay, so I might be persuaded to move into all that winter, but then I want a snowmobile to enjoy the weather.”

  With a startled look she studied his face. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

  “About being with you.” He raised an eyebrow. “Did you think I was joking?”

  “I thought you were just saying it but hadn’t really thought it through.”

  “I’ve thought it through, and if you want to go back East then I’ll apply for a transfer. I don’t want to as my life is here, but you are also a major part of my life and if you’re going to be unhappy here, we can try it.” His grin flashed. “But full warning, I’ll be doing my best to get you to return here and as you know I can be very persuasive.”

  *

  A warm pink washed over her cheeks. He smiled. “But I’d never try to make you stay if you don’t want to. My friends are here and I’d miss it all but I’d make new ones. Your family is back East and that’s more important.”

  She laughed. “Except as soon as I’d move back they’d move again too. Better I stay out here as they are planning to retire in California.”

  “Perfect.”

  At the sound of a car door closing he straightened and slipped to the front door. He peered behind the curtain. “It’s Dane and Swede.”

  Evan watched as a second vehicle pulled up and Mason and Markus hopped out. Chase and Brett followed. Only Cooper was missing. Then he was likely hugging the shadows outside, keeping an eye on the place.

  “Okay, the guys are here.”

  “Good, does that mean we can leave now?”

  “Soon. But we need to know where we’re going.”

  The men walked inside, a hard silence in their gazes as they searched the house. When they arrived at the kitchen the dead man became the center of attention.

  “Did you send a picture to Levi?” Mason asked, pulling his phone out.

  “I sent one to Ice but haven’t heard back.”

  Mason’s face thinned. He dialed and took a few steps off to the side. Swede and Markus left through the glass doors.

  “Anyone heard from Hawk?” Evan asked in a low voice, hoping Megan wasn’t close enough to hear.

  Dane shook his head. “No.”

  “Damn it.”

  Dane nodded. “Or Shadow at this point.”

  Evan moved to the door. Dane grabbed his arm and nodded to Megan.

  He turned to look. And fou
nd her staring at him, stricken.

  “Hey.” He walked over and crouched in front of her. “The guys will be fine.”

  “Will they?” she asked. “They came to help me, us. If they get hurt that would be so horrible,” she cried. “I can’t have that on my conscience.”

  “And it isn’t. They are here to help. This is what we do.”

  “No, you do official missions. Not shit like this.”

  “Until we’re looking at shit gone wrong in our own camp. Then it’s a whole different story and becomes official very quickly.”

  She shook her head. “If he hadn’t seen me at the hangar…”

  “At least it’s the same guy and we’re not talking someone else.”

  She nodded. She glanced over at Dane. “Have you heard from anyone in Levi’s group?”

  Dane nodded. “Yes. We heard from Benji. All is well.”

  “Thank God.” She studied the kitchen doorway as if she could see into the room where the body lay. “I should sleep better now. All that’s left is to find his cousin and hope he’s the informant that betrayed Levi.”

  “Levi deserves that much,” Evan said. “Besides, this asshole is still trying to pick us off one by one.”

  “How though?”

  “Connections. Another cousin,” Dane looked up from his laptop, “has a government contract for cleaning.”

  “But everyone is vetted in these contracts,” Megan protested.

  “Sure, but that doesn’t mean someone can’t knock off an employee and steal their ID. All employees have ID tags. But sometimes the security doesn’t look that close and the pictures are horrible anyway, so it’s not that far out of the realm of possibility. Especially if we’re talking family.”

  Chapter 25

  Just because something was possible didn’t make it probable. Like all societies, living on any military base had its fair share of issues. There were men transitioning from heading off to war and those coming home to those that never saw live action and were needed on base full-time to keep the wheels of justice moving. There were thousands and thousands of men and women here. And families who waited for their men to come home. It wasn’t an easy life and bred problems like rabbits.

  She hated to think of anyone targeting Levi or Evan. Somehow it was less concerning to think of them targeting her. Just the thought of losing Evan made her choke up. Dear God, she couldn’t even begin to explain how she felt about him. That she cared and deeply was a given, but that fear inside screamed saying she couldn’t give him what he needed.

  She hated that. It terrified her. She wanted to be loved but she also wanted to love completely. And be loved completely. He was a good man and she thought he loved her, at least he cared for her. But what about herself?

  “Megan?”

  She shook herself clear of the worries and stared at Evan. “What?”

  “We’re leaving.”

  She blinked at him. “Okay. For where?”

  “Hawk has checked in. Says the other guy circled around back. He only caught up in time to see him shoot his cousin here and then race off. Hawk gave chase but lost him.”

  “So where are we going?”

  “To Levi. No one has checked in. We need to make sure they are safe.”

  “They haven’t checked in?” she asked in alarm. “Someone said Benji had.”

  “That was a while ago. No one is answering now.”

  She nodded, dazed. “Surely the gunman couldn’t have gone there this fast.”

  “We also can’t be sure he was operating alone. There could be lots of men.”

  She stood up, gasping slightly. “Let’s go.”

  “Better if we leave you here under heavy guard. I doubt the gunman would return at this point.” Dane studied her face. “Or better yet, leave you at the military hospital. The security has been doubled and you can have that side of yours checked over.”

  “Been there done that and there’s nothing else that can be done for it but time to rest. The hospital would be my last choice of places to stay,” she said, really hoping that wasn’t going to be necessary. “I’ll stay here.”

  “Maybe that would work, but with the extra security the hospital is the safest place.” Evan appeared torn.

  “She’ll slow us down,” Dane said bluntly. “I’m not doing this to be mean, but you are injured and a liability.”

  “No, you’re right.” She looked around. “It’s better I stay. I’m also one of the gunman’s targets,” she added. “I wouldn’t bring that to the hospital. It’s not fair to those people. If I’m a target, better I’m alone where no one else can get hurt.”

  “I don’t want to leave you.” Evan glared at her, more angry at the circumstances than her.

  “Why not? With all the security, I’ll be fine. He’s not likely to return.” She smiled brightly. “And Dane is right. I’ll just slow you down.”

  She stood up and walked over to him. “Now stop being a mother hen and go,” she said. “The house is already surrounded by gawkers so it’s not as if anyone can get me out of the crowd.”

  “It’s actually out of a crowd that many people are snatched from.”

  She threw up her hands, walked over to the kitchen and took a drink of water. She was always thirsty these days. And there was no convincing Evan she was going to be fine here.

  She could hear the men discussing the issue behind her. She spun around. “Look, the ambulance just arrived and another vehicle full of military police. So I’m fine.”

  The men turned to leave. Only Evan stopped, turned and walked back to her. He tilted up her chin and said in a low tone, “Be here when I get back.” And he kissed her.

  “And if I’m not?” she challenged him, her eyes deep and dark. “Then what?”

  “You’d better have a damn good reason.” He turned and walked away. “And yes I love you. Even if you are prickly and stubborn.”

  She flushed as men standing in the doorway heard. “I don’t love you back,” she snapped.

  “Yes, you do.”

  “No, I don’t.” She glared at him.

  He laughed. “You’re protesting too much.”

  Damn it. She was too. “You’re making me crazy,” she muttered.

  “That’s okay. I love you anyways.”

  She spun around and stared out the window, her cheeks burning. What was wrong with her? She’d basically had a shouting match like a two-year-old.

  *

  “She doesn’t seem too willing,” Dane commented as they got into his truck. “You sure you’re on the right track?”

  Just the thought of going down this pathway to find out she didn’t care was going to kill him. “I sure hope so,” he said. “We have a history and it was fun, but when it was over I thought I could just move on,” he admitted. “Boy was I wrong.”

  “But you can’t go back. Life moves in one direction only.”

  Evan nodded. “It does but that direction needs to move forward with her. She’s insecure. Her last relationship broke up because of her not wanting to set a wedding date.”

  Dane’s face lit up with understanding. “And you’re hoping that she hasn’t been able to forget you and that’s why she couldn’t go ahead with marrying someone else.”

  There was an odd silence.

  “Is that so hard to believe?”

  “No it’s not, but there’s definitely a level of fantasy to this.” Dane shifted gears and took the truck around a corner. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “Neither do I,” Evan admitted. “But something Markus said recently applies to me.” His voice deepened. “It’s already too late.”

  “Sorry man, that’s tough.”

  “I don’t want what we just had. I want more. I want what you have. What Markus found.”

  “Understandable. She’s different. She’s capable. Fearless even. She’s a great match but you can’t force what’s not there.” He pulled into the private hospital and parked.

  They walked
to the front door. And all the lights went out inside.

  Chapter 26

  Megan wasn’t the type of person to stand around and do nothing. But in this instance there wasn’t anything she could do. Except watch as the safe house was processed and the body checked over and removed. She knew Evan had spoken with two of his teammates before he’d left.

  “Anyone could stand guard,” she said, walking up to them. In a teasing voice she asked, “What did you do wrong to be put on babysitting duty?”

  Both men straightened when she spoke to them.

  “Nothing,” the tall blond said with a smile. “It’s an honor to be here.”

  She scrunched up her face. “A special request from Evan I suppose?”

  “He’s a friend and you’re in trouble,” the second man said quietly. “No special request required.”

  “And who am I speaking with?” she asked, studying the two men’s faces. As opposite as could be. The blond had a hefty scar on his cheek and bulging biceps but he was rocking the tough badass look.

  Except she couldn’t seem to see anyone but Evan in her world. Stupid to fight it really. She was hooked. Had always been hooked. She just wasn’t necessarily ready to be caught hook, line and sinker.

  And why that was she didn’t know.

  “Chase and Brett,” the second man said, pointing first at the badass and then at himself. He was as much a baby face as she’d ever seen. Except he had that tall elegance of a man who rocked a GQ suit. So damn different.

  “Then thank you, Chase and Brett. I appreciate the help.” She frowned. “Has there been an update on Levi?”

  They shook their heads. “Not yet.”

  “Right. Well I’ll go back up to the bedroom with my laptop and see if I can come up with anything helpful.” She gave them a clipped nod, grabbed her backpack, and walked upstairs. Her ankle was starting to throb again. She’d been on it too long. Time for more pills. She thought one of the men followed, but surely it was safe to be alone in her room. A nap would be good. Except with all the shit happening in her life she wasn’t sure she’d be able to. The painkillers might knock her out though.