Page 8 of SEAL's Resolve

“You said your boss called because you were the closest person. How did you find me so fast?”

Interesting question. Didn’t she know about the tracker? “You have a tracker.”

“A what?”

“A GPS tracker. Your father had the tracker embedded under the skin near your lower back.”

“I can’t believe he did that. It’s a violation of my privacy.”

“In all fairness, I don’t think your father tracks your movements every day. You’ve already been kidnapped once and because of your father’s wealth, you’re a prime target. He wanted to protect you. You might feel violated, but his actions probably saved your life.” Rafe squeezed her hand gently. “Why don’t you have a bodyguard, Kristi?”

“Been there. Done that. No, thanks. Besides, no one has threatened me since I was a kid. I’m not interesting enough to need a bodyguard.”

“You’re a wealthy woman in your own right.”

She snorted. “My father is wealthy. I’m not.”

He doubted that. From the rumors in her and Callie’s social circle, Kristi was a trust fund baby. “You’re worth at least $5 million to the kidnappers.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Unless you know of another reason someone wants to kidnap you. Would someone target you and opt to score more money from your father as a side benefit?”

“Oh, come on. I’m not a nuclear scientist or a chemist. I design and make wedding dresses. I deal with bridezillas on a daily basis, not home-grown terrorists. Someone wants to make a quick buck off Dad. Maybe a business rival wants to hurt him. You know my father, Rafe. He’s ruthless in the business world and has a string of people who would love to see his business empire topple.”

A kidnap-for-ransom plot wouldn’t stop the empire. Another hand squeeze. “We’ll talk about it more once you’re safe and see a doctor.”

“I won’t be your problem.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your job was to rescue me. Once you deliver me to my father, your job is done.”

“That’s not how this works.”

“I don’t understand.”

“We don’t walk away from an unfinished job.”

“What does that mean?”

The cavern chamber ended with tunnels branching off in different directions. Rafe tugged Kristi toward the right tunnel. “Fortress won’t consider the job finished until we know who’s behind the kidnapping and why. Otherwise, you won’t be safe.”

“You’re scaring me.”

“The world’s not safe. Never forget that.” Rafe led her deeper and deeper through the mountain, taking winding passages with unerring accuracy. Yeah, he’d spent a lot of time in this cave, unsuccessfully running from his colossal failure to protect the one woman who meant everything to him. Instead of being by Callie’s side when she most needed him, he’d been fighting terrorists overseas as a Navy SEAL.

A lot of good that did him. He’d lost the woman he loved, and the terrorists kept coming even as he worked alongside his teammates in Wolf Pack to stop them. But someone had to take out the world’s garbage. Otherwise, more innocents would be victimized.

When they were within a few hundred feet of the exit, Rafe stopped and turned to Kristi. “In another hundred feet, the passage will turn toward the exit. I have to turn off the flashlight.”

She flinched. “How could they know where we are?”

“You saw eight men. There might be more. If they’re as desperate to get their hands on you as I think, they’ll fan out over Hart Mountain to find you.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better.”

His eyebrow rose. “You want me to feed you a pretty lie?”

Kristi shook her head. She motioned toward the flashlight. “Go ahead. I’m ready to breathe fresh air again.”

“Ten minutes, tops,” he promised, and doused the light.

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