Intensity (12 page)

“Major?” Grey looked at both men.

The two men of the Megalodon Team shared glances.
“You don’t know your wife’s rank?” Harrier posed the question.

“She was a captain, last I knew,” he replied
defensively. “How do you know her?”

They grinned. “I make it my business to know someone
who has accomplished all she has,” Harrier said.

He hated the jealousy hitting him. Drawing out his
phone, he sent a text to Sarah.

“I thought they’d said she’d healed enough to be
released from the hospital, but just now, I saw blood.” Cade’s
observation made Grey’s gut curdle.

He’d seen the blood, as well. Hospital? What the
hell has been going on here? He’d just left her after the vacation.
Both men stared at him. “What?” he bit off.

“I get you’re distracted by this—whatever it is—but
right now, I need you here.” Harrier passed over a file. “Here’s
the mission info.”

With a final peek at his phone—still showing no
response from Sarah—Grey opened the folder.

αβ

Sarah accepted the cup of tea placed before her and
curved her hand around the porcelain, welcoming the heat. The chill
hadn’t faded; if anything, it had blossomed. The bitter taste in
her mouth increased with each heartbeat. Chase had rechecked her
injury and put some gauze on it to stop the bleeding.

Currently, Shea was out, her mom sat across from
her, and Chase occupied the seat to her right—as always, part of
the family.

Her mother fussed with the tray holding the platter
of brownies. Her heavy sighs doing more damage than any amount of
berating could. She peered up, eyes spilling over with betrayal
before she rose and walked away.

“I feel lower than a maggot,” Sarah admitted.

“You should.” Chase’s statement wasn’t
unexpected.

“Don’t you have a wife to go home to?”

“I have to make sure my sister is okay, first. I can
kill him if you’d like.” He shrugged. “I may just do it, anyway. I
know you, Sarah. You have a reason for this—whatever it is—and not
telling us about it. Just tell me how long you’ve been married to
him.”

She worried her lip. “Ten and a half years or
so.”

There was a tic in his jaw. “What’s he doing with
the Megalodon Team?”

Shit! That’s who that had been. They’d tinged her
recognition when she’d approached Grey, but her
husband
had
been her focus.

“Not sure, it’s not his Team.” She shook her head.
“Maybe he’s been TAD to them.”

She drank her tea and rubbed her temples. “I have to
go talk to Ma.” Leaving her mug there, she kissed Chase on the
cheek and walked out of the familiar kitchen. She knocked on the
door of her mother’s room.

“Come in.”

Sarah listened and pushed in to see her mom seating
in her rocker, knitting.

“I’m sorry, Mama. I know I should have told you.”
She shook her head. “There is so much I should have told you.”

αβ

Grey blinked away the snow that fell around him in a
thick sheet of white. He scratched the brim of his knit cap. The
thin air sucked, and he gazed about the view offered him as he
stood on part of Nanga Parbat. No way they would make it to the
top, not in winter, but thankfully, they didn’t have to go any
farther.

“How’s the view?”

Turning to face the speaker, he nodded at the black
man who neared. Hondo.

“Like I’m in a permanent snow globe.” He cracked a
smile. “Can’t beat the view, however.”

They had come here for a two-part mission.
Elimination and retrieval. He currently sat overlooking a small
gathering of terrorists. They were anticipating one more to join
the gathered Taliban. Many climbers feared these men storming into
their base camp and killing them.

He and Hondo had the north side. Harrier and Cade
had the south. Merlin and Ghost were on the east while Baby Boy and
Jeb took the west.

“I hear you’re married to Bug.”

Christ, does everyone know her?
“Do all y’all
know her?”

Six confirmations filled his ear bud as Hondo
nodded. Grey realized, right then, he truly didn’t—even now—know
all facets of Sarah Mallery.

“We’ve all worked with her in some aspect or
another.” Hondo lay out on his stomach beside him. “She’s one hell
of an operative.”

Operative. Not a word he wanted linked to her.

“Looks like the last to the party is finally
arriving.” Merlin’s calm voice halted the conversation.

He shared a look with Hondo, and they both spread
out, slinking nearer. They were to take them all out. The men got
closer. Three of them, the one in the middle had a hood over his
head and hands tied behind his back. With a kick in the kidneys,
the hooded man sank to the ground where they yanked off his
covering. Black hair obscured the face, but Grey knew it was the
one they’d also come to rescue. James “Maverick” Lonetree.

“The fuckers die, and we get him home to his wife
and kids.” Hondo’s voice was monotone.

Grey knew every man down there would die. Maverick
had been their prisoner for three months, and the Megalodon Team
wanted their man back. So, did he. He may not be a member of SEAL
Team Seventeen, but it didn’t matter. They were brothers. And Hondo
had said it perfectly—it was time to get the man home.

Chapter
Eight

Sarah stared at her newest scar. It had healed, yet
she scowled before buttoning up her blouse as she went back to the
bedroom. Her uniform hung on her mirror, and she paused before
it.

A major.

She touched the gold oak leaf on the shoulder. Who
knew her joy about a promotion would be overshadowed by the
lingering sting of Grey’s betrayal.

Get over it. Move on.

Once she finished dressing, she grabbed her coat and
walked out into the early spring snow, making her way through DC to
the office of Admiral Davies. Her boots made very little sound as
she crossed the highly polished floor. Steadily, she made her way
up the stairs to the fourth floor.

“He’s waiting for you, Major. Go on in.” The woman
at the desk gestured at her.

With a nod, she pushed through the tall oak door.
Admiral Davies sat behind his large desk. He rose when he saw her,
worry all over his expression.

“I’m so—”

She waved it off. “Not your fault.”

“Bullshit. I’m supposed to protect my own.”

“It’s done,” she said. “The others are okay. I’m
fine.”

He lowered himself back to his chair, arms resting
on the desk. “I never thought Fith would be so brash and
stupid.”

“He didn’t expect me to get away.” She perched on
the edge of a chair. “Like most, he underestimated me.”

“He did get a hold of your redacted file.”

She cracked a smile. “Is there one out there that
isn’t redacted?”

Admiral Davies tapped his temple. “Only up
here.”

Sarah laced her fingers and dropped her gaze to the
tips of her shiny black boots.

“Something on your mind, Major?”

“Do you think he’s pissed about our group and the
fact we have no use for him as SecNav or is this because he wasn’t
allowed in SOG and still holds a grudge all these years later?” His
eyes widened a bit, and she arched a brow at him. “I do know how to
research.”

“Whatever his reasons, he will be made to pay.”

“He’s played his hand. We now know. Don’t focus on
him. We still have missions to accomplish.”

“And, here, I thought I would have to be the calm,
rational one.” Davies shook his head and leaned back. “Cooler was
right; he said that would be your take.” He stood and put on his
wool coat. “Come on.”

Instantly, she rose and strode to the door. To her
mind, she was his bodyguard. And that was a job she took very
seriously. She fell into step beside him as they moved to the
elevator.

Silence lingered during their ride, yet she didn’t
press for any conversation. He would have told her had he wanted
her to know. On the ground floor, he led her to his waiting car.
She slid in first, and he followed.

“To JAG.”

“Yes, sir,” his driver said.

What reason could we have for heading to JAG?
She maintained an impassive expression, all too aware of his
scrutiny.

“Not even curious?”

“No, sir.”
Hell, yes.

He gave a small smile as if he’d read her thoughts.
“I’m having a meeting with the Judge Advocate General.”

The car stopped, and she climbed out after him.
“And, I’m supposed to do what during your meeting?” She ducked her
head against the blowing snow. They hurried in the building.

“Wait,” he said, opening a door and waving her
inside the small room. “You’re good at that.”

“Yes, sir.” She unbuttoned her coat and shrugged
free as he walked out, leaving her alone.

She cracked her fingers and made her way to the
window, staring out over the snowy landscape. She itched to be back
at training, away from DC and the politics. Back with the men she
trusted.
Maybe I should have asked him if he knew what was going
on with the Megalodon Team and Grey.

The door opened behind her then clicked closed.
“That was a short meeting, sir.” She pivoted and froze.
That
was not the admiral.

“Hello, Sarah.”

She narrowed her gaze even as her body reacted on a
purely visceral level. “Grey.” Damn him for looking so handsome.
The cut of his black uniform made her weak in the knees. Her eyes
darted to the trident pinned to his chest.

“You and I need to talk.”

Imposing. Stalwart. Panty-soaking.

“I don’t think so,” she uttered. “Leave before
things get ugly.”

“Hell, no.” He stalked across the room, sending his
cover to skitter to a stop on the tabletop. “First off, what the
fuck happened that you were bleeding when I last saw you? I heard
you were in the hospital.”

She crossed her arms, for protection or to keep from
touching him, she wasn’t sure. “Can the give-a-damn act. You know
damn well your mentor and friend sent a goon after me. I attacked
him, and we got into an accident somewhere out in Rock Creek Park.
I ended up with some broken ribs and lacerations.”

The green in his eyes, even more prevalent, nearly
had her stepping back from him. “He did what?” A slight headshake.
“You honestly believe that’s what I was after and that’s something
I would do?”

“Your man wanted control. Sent you in, wanting
information on our team. He wants to shut us down.” She clenched
her fists. “Is that why you married me to begin with? Because Fith
knew Admiral Davies was interested in me?”

“No way.” He gripped her arms. “Don’t you fucking go
there.”

“Why not? How should I take it? Where do you want me
to go with it?”

“I married you for one reason.”

“I don’t give a damn. Another excuse? Save it for
someone who gives a crap. Let me go!” She smacked him in the
chest.

“Not happening.”

He kissed her. She froze, so shocked by his
behavior. They were in JAG. Even so, the exquisite pleasure of his
lips had her sinking into him. Two seconds—if it took even that
long—and she was mush in his arms.

“I would
never
risk you like that, Sarah. I
don’t know why he did what he did.” He held her gaze, and his
large, square, and strong hands cupped her face. “Believe me, I
will
find out.”

Interesting. “You’re still angry.”

He clenched his jaw. “Of course I’m angry. I’m
fucking pissed,” he bit off, his drawl thick and syrupy. “He went
after
you
, my wife. What would he have done if it had been a
successful kidnapping?”

“Used me as bait to lure in the rest of my team,”
she imparted what she’d learned.

“I’m going to rip his fucking head off.”

She covered his hands with hers. “I can’t do this,
anymore.” His anger seemed real, but she was suspicious and
couldn’t continue messing with her heart as she’d been doing.

The look in his eyes was one she couldn’t decipher.
Let it go. Let
him
go.

“I’m going to find what the fuck this is all about.
Then”—he gripped the back of her head—“I’m coming for
you.
”
He tightened his hold when she began to shake her head. “Don’t tell
me no. I’m not asking for your permission; I’m telling you what’s
going to happen. Do you know why I married you?”

She was barely aware of him moving them back until
the wall stopped her, trapping her between it and him. Him. Every
inch the capable SEAL and husband she knew him to be.

Sarah shook her head.

“Because I saw you, getting off your bike, on base.
Stood there, mesmerized by the woman I knew would be my wife and
the mother of my children.” He lowered his head until their lips
brushed lightly. “That’s you, Sarah. I wanted you, then, and I want
you even more, now, if that’s at all possible.”

His kiss was so unlike anything else she’d
experienced. It branded her and, yet, was so tender and light she
nearly missed it. Her eyes closed, and when she opened them, she
was alone. Grey was gone, and she’d never heard him leave. Touching
her mouth, she slid down the wall to the floor and sat there.

αβ

“I don’t give a damn if it’s the tenth time he
called. I’m not available.” Fith slammed the receiver down and
picked up the glass of scotch by his elbow. He leaned back in his
chair and sipped. The flames from the fireplace flickered around
the otherwise darkened room.

“Guess I’m not the only one you’ve been avoiding,”
Grey said, sliding from the shadows and stepping up to the right of
the chair.

Fith jumped, nearly spilling his drink. “Christ,
Grey, you scared the shit out of me. What are you doing in here?
How the hell did you get in here past my security?”

He arched an eyebrow and stared at the man he used
to respect. “Really? You want to know how I got past your
security?”