Page 131 of SEAL's Resolve

Grabbing the bag of cash, Kristi exited the SUV and walked toward the front door. Before she’d gone more than ten feet, a man dressed in black walked from the forest with a scowl.

“Why did you park here?”

Kristi lifted her chin. “I’m in an unknown situation with no idea what’s going to happen. You and your buddies might have placed a bomb in front of the cabin like you did in Dad’s warehouse.”

The man scoffed. “Can’t believe the boss wanted to marry you since you’re as dumb as a rock. Why would we bomb your vehicle when you brought the money?”

Wolf Pack had been right. Hugh Ward orchestrated her kidnapping and her father’s, and stole her mother’s jewelry.

The lookout turned toward Rafe’s SUV, a gun in his hand. “Anyone else in your vehicle?”

She shook her head.

“Don’t move. I’ll make sure you didn’t bring your boyfriend.”

“I was instructed to come alone. Do you think I’d risk my father’s life? I don’t care about the money. I want my father to be safe and free.”

“Then you won’t mind if I check.” With another warning to remain in place, Lookout yanked open the door to the backseat, gun aimed into the interior. He peered inside and checked the cargo area, then closed the door again. “Lucky for you and your old man that you followed orders.”

He returned, eyed the bag, and said, “I’ll take that.”

Conscious of the need to draw things out as much as possible, Kristi stepped back. “My instructions were to bring the money to the cabin. I’m not handing the bag to one of the flunkies hanging out in the dark when my father’s life is at stake.” Her own, too, she imagined.

“Careful, baby,” Rafe murmured through the ear piece.

Lookout growled, grabbed Kristi’s arm, and jerked her toward him. “Shut up and walk.” With a painful grip, the man forced her to resume her journey to the cabin.

She fought his hold. “How much is Hugh paying you to hurt a defenseless woman?”

“Hold position, Rafe,” Eli whispered.

“I bruise easy,” she said to Lookout. “I’ll have your finger marks on my arm in a few hours.” Did Rafe understand what she was telling him?

“I have her in sight,” Jon said. “She’s okay.”

“Kristi, give us intel without compromising your safety,” Eli said.

Lookout’s grip tightened as he forced her to move faster, but he remained silent. He propelled her up the stairs to the wraparound porch, opened the front door, and shoved Kristi inside the cabin.

Hale and Fleming stood with guns in their hands and smirks on their faces.

“Well, look who’s here. Hale and Fleming. Some security team you are. You’re responsible for my kidnapping last weekend, aren’t you?”

Hale motioned with the gun. “Get the money,” he told Fleming. “Ms. Stewart won’t be needing that anymore.”

Goosebumps surged across her skin at the ominous words. When Fleming reached her, Kristi’s stomach lurched at the scent of alcohol on his breath. His eyes were bloodshot, too. The obvious signs of intoxication worried her, especially since he had a gun pointed at her chest. “You smell like a brewery, Fleming.”

“Nice job,” Eli murmured.

Kristi’s former bodyguard scowled. He yanked the bag from her hand and tossed it toward Hale. “Check to be sure her boyfriend didn’t pull a fast one on us.”

A glare from Hale. “You’re not in charge of this operation. Besides, you watched her pull the cash from the safe in her old man’s office on the security camera.”

Kristi shuddered. Thank goodness Rafe had remained in the SUV. “I followed your directions to the letter. Where is my father?”

“Not so fast.” Hale tossed the bag aside and lumbered closer. “There’s the matter of $10 million to deal with before you see your old man.”

“Stall,” Rafe whispered in her ear. “Men in the woods.”

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