SEALs of Honor: Brett Read online

  *

  Brett laughed and motioned at her to move ahead of him into the hallway. He could understand her nervousness. Those four and the generation that had gone before them were well-trained guard dogs. But they were also family pets. Bullard wouldn’t allow anything other than that. Brett agreed. Every animal should be allowed to have a good side. Too often guard dogs had their aggressive side groomed to be dominant, and it didn’t allow the animal any chance to be the kindhearted soul he was on the inside.

  Striding to the large marble foyer he kept an eye on Ceci. Bullard was different. With any luck the two of them would get along. Bullard’s man of the house was waiting for him at the edge of the clinic. Only friends were taken this far into the building. He had a different entrance for those he wasn’t so comfortable allowing into his home. Brett had been here before as had most of the SEALs. Thankfully they hadn’t needed to come for his medical services.

  At the door to the clinic he could see the woman from the embassy stretched out on the bed. On the second one a few feet away he laid Jimmy down, tucking him up against the pillow. Motioning at Ceci to lay Jennifer beside him, Brett asked, “How is she?”

  “Unconscious,” came the terse answer.

  That was Bullard.

  Brett looked over at Ceci and smiled. She was studying the massive man in front of her with a frown and not a little bit of trepidation on her face.

  “He’s fine. Bullard has a gruff manner but he’s all heart inside.”

  “Bull,” Bullard said in a laconic voice. “I am what I am.”

  He straightened from examining the woman to study Ceci. As if understanding instinctively the fear that kept her in place, his gaze softened. He reached out a massive hand and said, “Hi, I’m Bullard.”

  Brett watched as Ceci gently grasped his hand in hers before dropping it quickly.

  He walked over and put an arm around her, tucking her up close. “We think both children have been drugged,” Brett said. He motioned at the two sleeping children. “They’ve been asleep too deeply for too long and in the most unnatural way.”

  Bullard picked up the sheet and covered the woman on the bed before taking a look at the two children. He checked their eyes, nose, throat, and pulse.

  He nodded. “We can take blood and run some tests if you’d like but looks like they’ve been given a heavy dose of sleeping medicine.”

  He spun to look at the two of them. “The real question here is why.”

  “No,” Ceci said in a determined voice. “The real question is, are the children going to be okay? What if it’s not a sleeping drug?” As the last words tumbled from her lips her bottom lip trembled. Immediately she bit down hard.

  Bullard nodded. “If I didn’t see signs of them rousing I would immediately be looking at pumping their stomachs out,” he said. “No child should ever be drugged. I don’t care what the reason.”

  He waved his hand around his clinic and said, “Not unless they’re having major surgery or some other dramatic disease.” He turned his gaze back to the sleeping children. “But to knock them out for convenience?” He shook his head. “No.”

  Brett watched as Ceci raised Jimmy’s small hand to her lips and kissed it gently. “They didn’t do anything,” she cried. “We were all just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  Bullard smiled. “I’ve heard that way too many times in the last thirty odd years.” He turned to study Brett. “As has Brett. So many of the world’s problems impact innocents who were there at the wrong time.”

  Just then Jimmy made a cute little snuffling sound, and he brought his hand up to rub his face before rolling over and tucking his knees up to his chest. He settled into a more normal sleep.

  Ceci smiled. “That’s the first natural movement he’s made in the last couple of hours.” She reached over and stroked Jennifer’s cheek. “Now if only she’d wake up from this heavy sleep too.”

  As if on cue Jennifer’s mouth opened and a half snort, half snore whispered out.

  Ceci turned to Brett with a teary smile on her face. “Looks like she’s starting to wake up.”

  He nodded, a smile on his face, too. “They’re beautiful.”

  He really did want a family of his own. He’d never actually seen the joy, the need or even desire for it before though. But now watching Ceci with hers, he realized he’d missed out. There was much more for him to learn about the family unit than what he’d experienced so far.

  As he raised his gaze to Bullard, he caught the knowing look in the older man’s eyes.

  Brett frowned at him, not sure he liked the twinkle in the man’s gaze.

  Bullard returned to the woman. Brett walked to the opposite side of the bed and pulled the sheet back to search for her ID. “She had no purse with her and doesn’t appear to have anything on her now.”

  “We’ll have to find out who she is. We can snag her fingerprints and run them through the database. If she was at the embassy it shouldn’t be too hard.”

  Brett nodded. “Is the kit still in the same place?”

  “Always. When something is in the right place there is no need to change.”

  Brett went to the full floor-to-ceiling metal cabinets. On the left side he pulled out the fingerprint kit. He stopped and stared at it. Then laughed. “It might still be in the same old cabinet, but it’s not the same old kit.”

  “Hell no,” Bullard said agreeably. “If the enemy’s technology is going to advance, then I sure as hell need to keep up with it.”

  Brett ran images of the woman’s fingerprints through the database from the handheld scanner. He loved these things. “Is this one hooked up to your computer?”

  Bullard looked at the scanner in his hand and said, “Yes.” He walked to a large desk with several computers, turned one on then keyed in his password. Walking away, he motioned at the computer and said to Brett, “Use that one.”

  Brett pulled up a chair, plugged in the fingerprint scanner and started the search. All government personnel had their fingerprints kept on file, so he thought this should be a fairly quick search. And it was. Within minutes he had her name.

  “Amanda Goring.” Parts of her file were open and available. “She’s thirty-seven years old, worked at the embassy for the last two years. Fully trained in weapons but works as a translator. She speaks seven languages.”

  “Wow, wonder what that must be like,” Ceci said rather enviously.

  “Confusing as all hell,” Bullard said. “I speak just as many and sometimes they all get messed up in my head.”

  “Lots of things get messed up in your head,” Brett said jokingly. “We’re always trying to do too much at once.”

  “Absolutely.” On the far wall Bullard pulled open a large cabinet and wheeled out a portable X-ray machine. He pushed it toward the woman.

  Brett stood. “Can I help?”

  “Yep.” Following Bullard’s instructions they took several X-rays. When they were done, Bullard returned the machine to the closet and then entered a small room on the other side.

  Ceci said, “He really has all this equipment here? Why?”

  Brett’s hand automatically reached for hers. “Because he needs it. Not every day, not all the time. But when he needs it, it’s available.”

  Chapter 9

  Ceci couldn’t imagine anyone needing this type of equipment in their own home. She understood this was a clinic, but it was also in an isolated area and the place was empty. So it was no ordinary one. Bullard might be a doctor, but he didn’t appear to be a general practitioner as she knew them to be. She also understood there were secrets she was never going to get answers for.

  Brett belonged to a world she didn’t understand. Her husband, Jimmy, had been part of the military but nothing like this. He’d been a records clerk. That’s what he’d liked. When they’d married he’d had no wish to go overseas. That had changed when the babies arrived.

  Brett was sent out on missions that were incredibly dangerous.

&n
bsp; Now that the children were safely recovering, the relief eased back, leaving her worn out.

  “Any update on the embassy?” she asked.

  Brett shook his head. “No. Other than the fact that my team arrived to find the place empty. And of course the military are denying any involvement.”

  “Of course they are.”

  He gave her a bitter smile.

  And she understood he’d seen this before. “I guess there is no chance of getting our passports anytime soon.”

  He nodded. “We should have them in another two days.”

  She let out an exaggerated sigh. “For somebody who said there was no update that’s a lot of one.”

  He laughed. “Maybe, but they aren’t exactly the answers we were looking for.”

  “No, but it’s a start.” She looked around the well-equipped clinic. “This is an amazing room.”

  Behind her, walking so quietly she never heard him, Bullard said, “Thank you.”

  She started. “Good Lord, you walk just like Brett does.”

  He tossed her a smug smile. “It’s our training.”

  She sat down beside the children’s bed. She was tired, but she had no idea where they were supposed to spend the night. She didn’t think this was the final destination, though she felt safe here. If they were allowed to stay here she would.

  They certainly couldn’t leave until the children were awake. She studied the unconscious woman. “How badly hurt is she?”

  “Couple of cracked ribs, looks like a skull fracture. That’s the one that worries me.”

  “Really?” she said. “There’s almost no blood.”

  He nodded. “That happens sometimes.”

  “Doesn’t she need to go to a hospital then?” She stared around the clinic. “Are you set up for surgery?”

  Brett laughed. “There’s not much Bullard can’t handle here.”

  “That might be true, but depending on the issue, a hospital might be a better option.” He studied Amanda’s features. “On the other hand, we don’t want the military to know she is still alive.”

  “In the meantime…”

  Bullard nodded. “In the meantime, I’ll keep a close eye on her. Swelling on the brain is the issue. If that happens we’ll have to do something about it. But hopefully she’ll pull through this just fine.”

  He lifted his gaze to Ceci. “Looks like you need to have a bite to eat, maybe a hot cup of tea then some sleep.”

  She shrugged. “That’s not going to work out so well if the children are just waking up.”

  He gave a great booming laugh. “Isn’t that the truth? How about a cup of coffee instead?”

  She nodded gratefully. “That would be wonderful.”

  Within minutes she was escorted to a lovely little patio on the edge of the inground pool, hot tub, and almost a fantasy backyard. With the darkness settling in, the lights shining, it was stunning. She stood in amazement, not daring to move in case it all disappeared. It was just so much to take in. From behind her Brett said, “Isn’t it beautiful?”

  She turned to look at him. “I’m not even sure I know words to describe this.”

  “Bullard has always loved the outdoors. So this combination of civilization and the natural surroundings is the result.” Brett nodded toward the lighting. “He worked very hard to make it the way he wanted it.”

  “Oh my. I wish I had such a thing for myself and the children.”

  Brett looked at her. “Maybe one day you will. Not everything has to happen today. Some things need time.”

  She understood that. But she liked his view. And she really liked Bullard’s place.

  Behind her she turned to see the man who’d originally shown them into the clinic holding a large tray out for her. She smiled and accepted the cup of coffee.

  “Where would you like to eat?”

  Not seeing a table, she looked around. “What are the options?”

  Brett stepped in. “We’ll sit over on the patio by the pools, Dave.”

  Dave nodded and with a smile said, “Good choice.” And he melted into the background.

  “Patio?” She studied the beautiful scene in front of her but couldn’t see what he was talking about.

  Brett held out his arm, she slipped her hand through and he led her down a few stairs to the left.

  “This is just like old times,” she said with a smile.

  An awkward pause hiccupped their camaraderie, but then they entered a beautiful stamped concrete patio that was completely surrounded by water. In the center was a small ornamental fire in a table surrounded by a couch. She walked down the one step into the well so she could sit on the couch. “Oh my God, this is so beautiful,” she said in a hoarse whisper. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “And you may never again.” Brett sat down beside her. “Bullard designed this and had a hefty hand in the actual creating of it.”

  Caught up in the fantasy of the moment she curled into the couch and sipped her coffee. “The children would just love this.”

  “They would,” he admitted. “But of course it’s not childproofed. With all the pools and fountains they’d need constant watching.”

  She laughed. “They do anyway.”

  “True.” He smiled. “I imagine the two of them are quite a handful.”

  “Oh, they are,” she said warmly, feeling the love of motherhood inside. “But even with everything that’s happened I never regretted having them.”

  “I think that’s one of the best recommendations anybody can give.”

  She felt as his glance landed on her face and then darted off again. She wondered what he was thinking. “You never married?”

  He shifted so he could rest back against the couch, his head tilting up to watch the sky above them. “No, I never found anybody I wanted to.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  He gave a bark of laughter. “Why?” He shrugged. “I’ve been busy. I’m not unhappy.”

  “But that’s not the same as saying you’re feeling fulfilled and had a glorious few years.”

  He rolled his head toward her and pinned her in place. “Can you say that?”

  Instantly she retreated. She didn’t know what to say. Because of course the answer was no, she couldn’t. She took a sip of coffee and appeared to study the rings as they swirled around in her cup. She would do a lot for a change of topic right now.

  Thankfully, Dave arrived just then with a laden down trolley. He quickly transferred the cutlery and plates to the table. With a full dining service being set she marveled at the luxury. She smiled at Dave, murmuring, “Thank you.”

  He nodded once and said softly, “Dinner will be ready soon.” And he quickly wheeled the cart away.

  “Such service.”

  “Dave was a SEAL, too.”

  Startled, she turned to look at Brett. “Really?”

  He nodded. “Got his left leg blown off. Bullard left soon after. Dave’s been with him ever since.”

  She winced. “It’s not obvious.”

  Brett shrugged. “No need for it to be.”

  “Well there you two are. How absolutely romantic.”

  Brett’s face lit up like a firecracker. He hopped to his feet only to be immediately engulfed by men.

  Not just men but huge, muscle-bound, dangerous looking ones.

  She shrunk back into the corner not too sure what she was supposed to be doing. And wishing she could go back to the children. In the mix of that chaos Dave returned with more cutlery.

  Obviously, everybody knew each other as there was much shoulder slapping. When the group realized they’d arrived at dinnertime there were more exclamations of joy. Finally the noise calmed down.

  Brett turned to face Ceci and said, “These are my friends.” And he introduced them one at a time.

  She knew she’d never remember all the names but some were very unforgettable like the monster of a man who looked like he was ready to eat the silverware off the table. His name was Swed
e. And there was the silent shadow behind him who was appropriately named Shadow.

  As she walked through the group she found it relatively easy to memorize certain characteristics to match their names, making it much simpler for her to tell who was who. Realizing they were all active SEALs was not only intimidating and a little overwhelming, but it also made her realize how different a world they lived in.

  She’d been married to Jimmy just under three years, but he hadn’t had the same presence. He’d been very fit, but he didn’t have that dangerous cutting edge. These men were a cut above.

  *

  Brett knew as a group they were overwhelming. Individually they were all larger than life, but when they got together the boisterous energy of the men, although respectful and polite, was still a lot to handle. He’d seen Ceci shrink back into the corner and had maintained his position at her side the whole time. He could see the knowing looks from several of the guys, but it wasn’t until the last man joined him that he realized how it looked. Chase was his best friend and had recently found somebody special. Chase’s gaze immediately landed on Ceci and then back over at Brett, one eyebrow raised. He stepped forward and held out his hand to Ceci and said, “Hi, Ceci, Nice to see you again.”

  Ceci smiled up at him and shook his hand. “Thanks, it’s been a long time.”

  At that time Dave returned with a larger cart and what appeared to be enough food for dozens of people. That shifted the energy as everyone took a seat.

  Dave disappeared and then returned with two high chairs.

  She jumped to her feet. “Are they awake?”

  Dave pointed. She turned to see Bullard with one child in each arm. Around her she could hear the questioning atmosphere as if people were trying to place whose children they were and what her role was in this place.

  The children reached for her, cries of delight in their voices. Unlike her they weren’t intimidated by the sudden number of men. She hugged them close, kissed each of their cheeks, all the while whispering little nothings to each of them, then tucked them into the high chairs. It was dark out but she knew their sleep patterns would be completely off because of the drugs. Bullard managed to squeeze into a place at the far end of the couch and sit down.