Page 2 of Tempting Alec

The captain swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to the floor. “Three…three more in the engine room.”

Alec nodded, satisfied. He keyed his mic. “Bravo team, we’ve got three more in the engine room. I’ll take two men with me to get them. Secure the weapons.”

“Roger that,” was the reply.

“Okay team; let’s wrap this up.” Alec pushed the captain into a chair, securing his hands with zip ties before turning to his team. “Let’s clear the engine room and get the hell out of here.”

The team moved quickly, their movements swift and precise as they descended into the bowels of the ship. The engine room was hot and noisy, the thrum of the machinery filling the space with a constant vibration. Alec’s team spread out, weapons ready as they approached the room’s entrance.

Inside, three men were hunched over the controls, their backs to the door. They didn’t hear the SEALs approach until it was too late. Alec and his men burst in, weapons trained on the crew members. The men froze, their hands going up in surrender as they turned to face the intruders.

“Down on the ground, now!” Alec ordered.

The men complied, dropping to their knees with their hands on their heads. Alec’s team quickly secured them, and Alec keyed his mic again.

“Engine room secure. We’ve got the ship.”

“Commander, we’ve got a drone feed showing a small boat approaching from the east. Might be a patrol. We need to move.”

Alec felt a spike of urgency. The last thing they needed was a firefight with a patrol boat, especially while they were still aboard the rebel ship. He looked at his team, each man ready and waiting for the next command.

“Let’s get the crew topside and secure the cargo,” Alec ordered. “We need to be off this ship before that boat gets here.”

The SEALs moved with practiced efficiency, herding the captured crew members to the deck and securing them in a corner. Alec oversaw the operation, his eyes constantly scanning the horizon for any sign of the approaching boat. The night was still dark, the sea still choppy, but Alec knew they were running out of time.

As the SEALs began to transfer the missile components and other weapons to their inflatable craft, Alec kept one eye on the drone feed. The small patrol boat was getting closer, its outline becoming visible against the dark water. It wasn’t large, but it was heavily armed, and Alec knew they couldn’t risk an engagement.

“Move faster,” Alec urged his team, his voice tense.

The SEALs worked quickly, loading the last of the cargo into their craft. Alec could hear the hum of the patrol boat’s engines now, a low growl that seemed to vibrate through the deck of the rebel ship. They were cutting it close, too close for comfort.

Finally, the last of the weapons were secured, and Alec signaled for the team to board the inflatable. As they pushed off from the rebel ship, Alec could see the patrol boat closing in, its spotlight cutting through the darkness, sweeping over the water.

“Go, go, go!” Alec shouted to the boat’s driver.

The inflatable’s engine roared to life, and they sped away from the rebel ship, the small craft skimming over the waves. Alec kept his eyes on the patrol boat, watching as it approached the rebel vessel, its spotlight now fixed on the ship. The SEALs had timed their escape perfectly; the patrol boat was too focused on the rebel ship to notice the small inflatable disappearing into the night.

As they raced back toward the mobile sea base, Alec finally allowed himself to breathe. The mission had been a success—they had secured the weapons and neutralized the threat without losing a single man. But Alec knew this was just one battle in a much larger war. The rebels would continue to receive support from Iran, and the US Navy would continue to intercept shipments, trying to stem the tide of weapons flowing into Yemen.

Alec focused on the here and now. The inflatable craft sped across the dark waters, the men around him silent and alert, their mission complete but their guard still up. Alec scanned the horizon, his mind already shifting to the debrief, to the next mission, to the constant, unending fight to keep the world just a little bit safer.

The mobile sea base loomed ahead, its lights a beacon in the darkness. Alec’s heart rate began to slow as they neared the ship, the adrenaline of the mission fading into a deep-seated weariness. As they pulled alongside the massive vessel, Alec knew that tonight, at least, they had made a difference. But he also knew that tomorrow would bring another mission, another challenge, and the fight would continue.

Naval Base Coronado

San Diego, California

Two Months Later

“Commander, are you sure I can’t change your mind?” The admiral had flown in after being informed that Alec had chosen not to re-enlist and had tendered his resignation.

“Yes, sir, I am.”

“But why, Alec? You’re up for another promotion, which you’re a shoe-in for…”

“I appreciate that, sir, but it doesn’t change anything. I’ve put in my twenty years and it’s time for me to hang up my flippers. My body has taken more abuse than it was ever designed to do. Frankly, sir, I’m tired of fighting for people who won’t fight for themselves. I’m tired of risking my life for people who would spit in my face after we’ve saved them.” Alec shook his head. “No, I’ve been offered a job by Robert Fitzwallace.”

“Damn that man. He scoops up the best of the best and then hires out as a private mercenary…”

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