Hot SEALs: SEAL's Ultimate Challenge (9 page)

After he’d made love to her, he’d come to the conclusion he had to break off the engagement with O’Connell. Yes, he loved her. But he loved her like he loved Tuck. Their last kiss should have been a clue. There’d been no spark on his part. Nothing like when he kissed Leigha and his world lit up like the Fourth of July.

He feared he was falling for the feisty ex-cop, and now O’Connell was in serious condition. God, he couldn’t break her heart, but he couldn’t marry her knowing he didn’t love her like she deserved to be loved. Fully, whole-heartedly, and definitely not like a buddy.

“Hey.” O’Connell’s eyes blinked open and she stared up at him. “What are you doing in Afghanistan? They letting one-armed SEALs back in?”

The sound of her voice loosened his worry a bit. He chuckled at her sass and leaned over to press a kiss to her forehead. “Welcome back to the States, sweetheart.”

“Would rather have come on my own two feet.” She closed her eyes again, her breathing steady but shallow.

“It’s a helluva way to get your pizza fix.”

“Never go half-assed, I always say,” she whispered. “I feel like I was hit by a truck.”

“From what I heard, more like an RPG round.”

“Think my insurance will cover the damage to my ride?”

“Yeah.”

Her gaze traveled over his face. “How are
you
? You look better.”

Just like O’Connell to ask how someone else was when she was laid up. “I’ve never been better.”

She sighed. “I’m glad.” Her eyes drifted closed again. “Cory?”

“Yeah, O’Connell?”

“When I’m able to stay awake…” her words faded.

Reaper thought she’d fallen asleep.

“…we need to talk,” she finished on a sigh.

“We will. I promise.” He touched her hand then waited until he was certain she was asleep before he left the room. Though they’d ridden to the center together in a rental car that morning, Reaper hadn’t liked leaving Leigha even for the day. She’d be surrounded by people, but the explosion the night before meant her attacker knew where she worked and probably also knew where she lived.

Torn between being with O’Connell when she was so banged up and being with Leigha who was being terrorized, he headed for the rehab facility. Until he was certain Leigha was okay, he couldn’t relax his guard.

When he entered the huge room of exercise equipment, therapists and veterans, he scanned the area, taking a minute to find her. She was smiling and laughing with the soldier she was helping work the range of motion of his right arm. She had him pretending to wash the windows of a tall building.

“Your wife will love you when she learns you can clean windows.”

“Shh. Don’t tell her. Let that be our little secret.” He winked and went back to work pretend-cleaning the wall of imaginary windows.

Leigha turned, her eyes widening when she spotted him. Just as quickly, they narrowed. “It’s not time for your session. What are you doing here?”

“I want you to reschedule my session for the end of day.”

She shook her head. “Can’t. We’re shorthanded, and the schedule is packed.”

“Then don’t go home without me.”

Leigha glanced around and then back at him. “We can’t do this. I can manage on my own. You have to stay with your fiancée. I have my gun—”

“Where?’

“In my purse in the trunk of the rental car.” Her mouth tightened into a grim line. “You know I can’t bring it in here.”

“It won’t do you any good if whoever is attacking you gets to you before you get the gun out of the trunk.”

“I’ll have a security guard walk me to my vehicle.”

“Just wait for me.”

“No.” She turned back to the man washing windows on the wall. “James, I’ll be right back.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he responded.

Leigha led Reaper out of the big room and into a long sterile hallway. She didn’t stop until they came to a door marked Cleaning Supplies. With a quick glance down the hallway, she pulled open the door, stepped inside, grabbed his hand, and yanked him in behind her. Once the door closed, she turned to face him. “What happened last night was incredible, amazing, and the best sex I’ve ever had.”

Glad to hear that
. He started to agree, but she held up her hand.

“But, it doesn’t excuse the fact that I’m your therapist, you’re my patient, and you’re engaged to another woman. There can be no repeat performances.”

“You can’t stay alone.”

“I’ve got that covered. My brother is coming in from D.C. to stay the weekend. I had a conversation with the police.” Her fists bunched. “They’re aware that last night was the second attempt on my life. They promised to have a unit cruise through my complex every hour each night until they catch the man responsible.”

“What about here?”

“Like I said, I’ll have security walk me out. I’ll hit the unlock button far enough away, if a bomb is wired to the vehicle, I won’t take the hit.”

Reaper knew she was right and her precautions were spot on. “Have you heard anything from your contact about parolees?”

“Not yet, but I’ll make that call again on my lunch hour.” She sighed. “It has to be this way. We both have too much to lose.”

He stared into her eyes, an ache building in his chest that threatened to steal his breath away. Even in her scrubs with her pale blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, no makeup on her face, she was beautiful. Reaper could still see her naked body beneath him, rising to take him deeper. He raised his hand to her cheek and brushed his thumb across the lips he’d kissed so thoroughly the night before. “If only things were different,” he said.

Blinking fast, she cupped the back of his hand and leaned her cheek into his palm. “But they’re not.”

Reaper hated the way things were turning out. Just when he was getting his life back on track and daring to dream of a future. He bent to brush his lips across hers. “I’ll miss this.”

A moan slipped from her mouth, and she lifted her hand to cup the back of his neck. “I’ll miss this.” She rose onto her tiptoes and kissed him hard, her mouth slanting over his, her tongue darting out, pushing past his teeth to caress him in a long, sensuous glide.

When she broke away, she ducked past him, opened the door, and dashed from the cleaning supply closet.

Reaper waited a minute to give her time to get back to the rehab room, and then he left the closet. His cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He didn’t want to answer it. Once again, his world seemed determine to crumble around him and he felt helpless to stop it. The phone vibrated again. What if the doctors were trying to get in touch to tell him O’Connell was in trouble?”

He jerked his phone from his pocket and noted the name on the screen. Jon Rudnick. Reaper hit the Talk button, praying the man had news that could help him discover the source of Leigha’s attacks.

“Reaper,” Jon started without preamble. “Got some information for you on Fields’s prior convictions.”

“Shoot.”

“Three have been paroled. One over six months ago by the name of Kimathi Jones. He’s moved home to live with his family in North Carolina. Checks in regularly with his parole officer.”

Check him off the list
. “Who else?”

“Tyrone Bryant. Released last month. He lives with his mother in D.C. He’s hit and miss reporting into his parole officer, but he did check in yesterday in person. In D.C.”

Two down
. “And the last guy?”

“He’s the one I’m worried about. Jamal Clayton. Delivered to the halfway house in D.C. three days ago. They haven’t seen him since.”

His body stilled. “Did you obtain photos of him?”

“Sending now.”

Reaper’s phone buzzed, indicating an incoming text message. “Thanks. I’ll pass this on to the local police.”

“I heard about an explosion at the hospital in Bethesda,” Jon said. “I hope your ex-cop friend wasn’t involved.”

“A near miss. She’s okay, but he’s getting way too close for comfort.”

“Stay with her.”

“You bet.” Reaper leaned sideways, hoping to catch a glimpse of Leigha in the rehab room.

“Have you thought about my offer?”

“I have.”

“And?”

“I’m working on it.” He had to fight back a smile. “I’ll let you know soon.”

“We can use more men like you, Reaper.”

He rang off and called the Bethesda Police Department. When he got the detective in charge of Leigha’s case, he passed on the information he’d received from Jon.

“Thanks,” the detective said. “You just saved us some time. We’ll put out a BOLO on Clayton as a person of interest.”

Reaper ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket, feeling a little better, knowing the police force would be watching for Jamal. But, until he was captured and nailed for the attempts, Leigha wasn’t safe.

No matter what her protestations were, Leigha couldn’t go anywhere without some form of protection. Having her brother stay the night didn’t get her from her work to her car, or from her car into her home. She was a tough little ex-cop, but someone had to have her six.

“Reaper!” A booming voice called out, jerking Reaper’s attention from the tiles on the hospital floor to a group of men headed his way. “We didn’t have to go far to locate you. The pretty blond in rehab said we might find you around here.”

“Big Bird?’ He squinted at the men headed his way. “Gator, guys…” Hell, the whole gang filled the corridor. Irish, Fish, Dustman, Nacho…It was like going through roll call. “What the hell are you doing here? I thought you guys were still in the sandbox.”

Gator reached him first and hugged him, pounding him on the back. “Shipped back yesterday. We came to bring you your ride and check on Razor.” He dropped car keys into Reaper’s hand and stepped away to let the others in for a hug.

Big Bird nodded toward what was left of Reaper’s right arm. “Hey, man. We’re sorry about that.”

Reaper shrugged. “I’m getting used to it. Besides, what have
you
got to be sorry about? You got me out alive. I couldn’t ask for more.”

Dustman snorted. “Tuck got you out. He refused to let any of us help.”

With a frown, Reaper looked past his friends. “Speak of the devil, where is Tuck?” He missed his running buddy and roommate.

Big Bird shook his head. “He didn’t come back with us.”

“Didn’t come to visit?” Reaper frowned. “What the fuck? Is he pissed about something?”

“You could say that,” Nacho said.

Irish’s usually cheerful face was grim. “We got bad intel again. Our informant set us up—the same source as what got you where you are.”

“This time, they scored big,” Big Bird added. “They shot down O’Connell’s helicopter.”

Dustman nodded. “I’ve never seen Tuck like he was.”

“Yeah.” Nacho got in his hug. “He stayed with O’Connell from the moment he found her until they loaded her into the C-130 for Landstuhl.”

“Then he met with the Skipper and disappeared. I think he’s on some super-secret mission,” Big Bird said. “We think he’s going after the dude who set us up.”

Nacho shook his head. “He was
muy caliente
with the fire in his eyes.”

Blood pounded in his ears, and Reaper’s fist clenched. “Did he take any backup?”

Big Bird shook his head. “No.”

“He’s going after them alone?” Reaper closed his eyes and tilted back his head. “That dumbass. He needs someone to cover his six. No one should go it alone.”

“You know we’d have gone with him, had we known what he was up to.” Big Bird’s jaw was tight, his muscles bunched. “But we got orders to head home. And here we are.”

Reaper should have been there. He and Tuck were tight. Surely, if he’d been by Tuck’s side, he could have talked him out of going, or gone with him.

What could he tell O’Connell? She loved him as much as Reaper.

“So, where is O’Connell?” Nacho asked, looking around the hallway. “We want to make sure she pulled through.”

“She’s doing okay. I’ll take you there. She might be happy to see your ugly mugs.” He led the motley crew to the ward where O’Connell was just waking up.

She smiled and greeted them, one by one, until they all had a chance to touch her hand and wish her well. Then she glanced past them, her brow wrinkling, her gaze lingering on the doorway. When no one appeared, she turned to Reaper, her widened eyes filling with tears.

He shook his head. “Tuck’s not coming.”

A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye, down her cheek, and dropped to the pillowcase. “He made it out?”

Big Bird nodded. “He stayed at your side until you were shipped out of theater.”

“Why didn’t he come with you?” she asked.

“He stayed behind,” Nacho said. “In Afghanistan.”

Another tear followed the first, and she nodded.

“We need to let her rest.” Reaper herded the men to the door and out into the hallway. “I’ll be back,” he promised her from the doorway, appalled to see the two tears were multiplying at an alarming rate.

“She didn’t look so good,” Big Bird said. “You sure she’s going to be all right?”

Reaper nodded. “The doc says she’ll be flying again soon.”

Big Bird sighed. “Good to know. What about you?”

“I’m no good at flying helicopters,” Reaper said with a smile, purposely answering the wrong question.

“You know what I mean. What’s next for you?”

Reaper drew in a breath and forced a smile. “I’m embracing the civilian in me.”

Dustman snorted “What the fuck does that mean?”

He grinned. “I’m looking at an opportunity. I hope to start a new job in the next month or so. I just have to get through some more therapy and learn to live one-armed.”

“Is it hard?” Nacho asked then glanced away.

“We had tougher training in BUD/s.” Reaper clapped Nacho on the back. “I can do anything I set my mind to.” One strong-willed therapist had taught him that. He glanced at his watch. She wouldn’t be off for another couple of hours. “How long are you guys staying?”

“We have to leave soon.” Big Bird glanced at his watch and his lips tightened. “We’re still on call, despite just getting back, and the skipper expects us in Little Creek by nightfall.”

“Thanks for bringing my truck. I’m glad you came to see us. It means a lot to me, and I know O’Connell was glad, too.”