Page 23 of SEAL'S Secret Vows

I grit my teeth, my heart pounding in my chest as I return fire, desperately trying to buy my team time to regroup. Joseph rolls to the opposite side taking cover in a corner and Lena races trying to find higher ground to shoot. Bullets whiz past us, and I fire back with some of my own before hunkering down, grappling to find my radio. It's glitching and crackling with voices, but Lena’s voice finally comes through.

“Chase, we've got you covered!” Lena's voice crackles over the radio, her M24 Sniper Rifle in hand as she shoots with precision, and her calm demeanor under pressure is evident as always. Everywhere goes silent for some seconds and I take a quick sweep of the area, stopping when my eyes land on a door.

“Hey, I see the door we’re looking for. I’m going in.” More gun shots are barreled towards me as I move closer to the door.

“Miller, I need cover fire!” I shout, my voice strained with urgency as I duck and weave to avoid incoming fire. Joseph springs into action, his training kicking in as he moves swiftly to my side, braving the hail of bullets to shield me.

I kick the door. Wooden splinters fire through the air, but I'm not moved. As the dust settles, I look around the room and my eyes rest on the chair in the center. Empty. No ropes, no gag, nothing to trace. Nothing to check for DNA. I clench my teeth in anger at the sight. Unless she wasn't tied at all.

“What? There’s no one here.” I yell, tucking my gun into its holster. The sound of gun shots finally stops, and Joseph steps in beside me.

“They took the hostage.” He spits in frustration.

“Again.” I despair, my agitation mirroring his own.

The bathroom door swings open, catching me off guard. I drop the washcloth, adrenaline kicking in.Did they come for me here?

Footsteps approach, and I see Nora reaching for her toothbrush. She opens her mouth and closes it multiple times before quickly turning around.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d be in here. It didn’t occur to me.” She facepalms, her face turning beet red.

“It’s fine.”

“What? I’m leaving.” She squeezes the toothbrush in her hand and looks as though she’s contemplating dropping it or running out with it.

I watch the scene unfold with intrigue, a smirk playing at my lips. “Or you could join me.”

“What? No!” She yells before hurriedly leaving the bathroom. I laugh, shaking my head.

I scrub the rest of my body and rinse up. I grab my towel to soak up the excess water from my hair and glance at the door, wondering if I should lock it.What if she comes in again?I chuckle at that thought and tie the towel around my waist. I doubt she will. She’s most likely waiting for me to come out. I grab my lotion and open the door quietly to see her sitting on the bed.

“Chase,” she starts talking immediately when she sees me. “Usually you’re up earlier than this, so I thought you were in your gym working out or something. I’m so sorry. I should have knocked.”

“No problem, it’s fine. It’s no big deal.” I say before entering the closet. Though I doubt I would have heard her knocking.

Today is the meeting concerning my future, where I’m supposed to present a plan to get the hostage and save my reputation. I wear my tactical gear, hoping the verdict will at least favor me and give me a chance to redeem myself. I finish getting ready with slow precision, trying to keep my head clear. Javier should be done with breakfast. I step out of the closet to see that the room is empty. Where did Nora go?

Approaching the bathroom, the sound of running water reaches my ears. I go down without her. She'll join me downstairs when she's finished.

“Here's your breakfast as you like it. Avocado toast with poached eggs and freshly brewed espresso.” Javier doesn’t look away from the pan he’s scrubbing, so I sit at the counter where he’s laid out my food.

“Thanks, Javier.” I take a bite of the toast, savoring the taste. Best to enjoy it now, I don't know when I’ll next get a proper breakfast once I step into that building. “When we're deployed to a different location, I will miss your food, but at least if I get a chance to be home at night, I'll get to eat dinner.”

“Thanks, sir. I'm glad you like it.” Javier replies, shooting me a wide smile “How long will you be gone this time?”

“I'll know after today's meeting.” I shrug.

“Very well, do let me know. I do not know how Miss Nora would like her breakfast but I made some grilled sausages. I can also make her some tea or coffee. What does she prefer?”

“She likes toast, scrambled eggs.” I say confidently. She’s eaten that almost every morning since she moved in.

“For any meal? Scrambled eggs, grilled chicken, pizza, coffee, too, just like Chase,” Nora chimes in from behind Javier, offering more ideas. She's dressed in a crisp blue suit, with subtle red lipstick and her auburn hair is swept to the side in soft, effortless waves. Her pumps echo softly on the tiled floor as she strides towards the dining area, a faint scowl crossing her features at my silence.

“My favorite, though, is of course, paella.”

Javier’s face lights up at the mention of the last dish. Nora’s perfume fills my nostrils as she sits and cuts through the smell of food. It’s almost intoxicating.

“Oh... paella. Now that’s a challenge. Your husband here never lets me stretch my skills. I’ll make that for lunch. I hope you’ll like that?”

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