Page 107 of SEAL's Promise

Bait? Her heart skipped a beat. Oh, no. Bile rose into her throat. Cal and Wolf Pack. The trackers would lead Cal’s team into a trap.

“Your friends have cost me a lot of money and favors to cover my tracks.”

“You sent men to attack the ranch.”

He inclined his head. “I also sent a second group to the safe house where the ambassador’s daughter is hiding with her injured lover. If you’d had the decency to die in the hotel attack, I wouldn’t be in this mess.” Despite his silky tone, Hale’s hands fisted. “Too many people are questioning the incident in Antigua. You and Fortress are to blame.”

“You know about Fortress.”

“I know everything about my enemies.”

“No matter what happens to me and my friends, Fortress will continue to ask questions until your role in the deaths of so many people is exposed.”

“If you’re dead along with the team who rescued you, who will testify against me?”

Don Hale was an arrogant jerk who believed himself invincible. If he truly believed that Fortress would drop this investigation, he was fooling himself. Brent Maddox and Micah Winter wouldn’t stop until they brought down Under Secretary Hale and ousted him from power.

“How five men rescued you, Morales, and Hoss despite the number of men hunting you is a mystery. Care to enlighten me?”

She breathed easier with the knowledge that Texas unit’s work in Antigua had been attributed to Cal and Wolf Pack. Cal’s team would have to be superheroes to pull off being in two places at once. Then again, the men sent to kill her and Amy were dead against all odds. Fortress didn’t miss their targets. “You plan to kill Amy.”

A snort. “The Morales girl saw me with my companion. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” He frowned. “Her security detail should have driven you to your destination. Walking in Antigua isn’t safe.”

“So I’ve been told. Walking was Amy’s idea.”

“A poor one. As I said, I’ll regret causing her parents pain. I like Mr. And Mrs. Morales. However, I have a future to protect, and no one will stand in my way.”

“Turn yourself in, and leave us alone.”

“My destiny awaits. You’re an obstacle I’ll deal with permanently.”

Stall. She needed to stall. “How did you know where to find Amy?”

“Through her parents. She called her mother and mentioned Maple Valley. My men located the safe house in less than thirty minutes.”

As long as Don Hale remained free, Amy and Eric were in danger. She had to warn them and Texas of the threat. “Did Amy tell her mother about the Rocking M, too?”

Hale chuckled. “My men followed you there.”

She stared. Cal and the others would’ve noticed a tail. “How?”

“Russ Stokes slid a tracker under your watch. Any deaths on the ranch are on your head.”

“Why do people call you Falcon?” Rachelle removed her watch. When she escaped, she’d leave her watch behind.

“Ah.” He smiled. “You heard that, did you? Very good, Ms. Carter. I raise falcons and have since I was a boy. That’s why I commissioned a falcon tattoo designed only for me. The artist tattooed the design on my back. Would you like to see?” Hale raised his hand to his tie.

“No, thanks.” Nausea bubbled in her stomach. “I saw a picture of it.”

“How?”

“I saw a picture of you in bed with a girl in Antigua. Your tattoo was visible and recognizable. The tattoo artist community is a small, close knit one and his style is unique.”

A scowl. “Clint Nichols is a liability. The man is a blackmailer who has outlived his usefulness. I should have realized Nichols might try to drain money from me.”

“If you knew about his blackmail schemes, why go to him?”

“He provides quality merchandise.” A shrug. “He’s easily replaced. I’ll find another supplier to run the organization.”

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