Page 56 of Rescued by a SEAL

Chapter 15

Mason muttered a curse as he stood in the bullpen on base the next morning. He crossed his arms and gazed at the massive TV screen, dressed in his fatigues and combat boots, as his CO moved through a series of photographs of a terrorist camp they’d be infiltrating in the Middle East.

The rest of his teammates stood around him, eyes on the screen as well, ready to roll out.

“This is a new incident unfolding,” his CO said, his voice grim. “We received this updated intel at oh-six-hundred this morning. We’re going wheels up in one hour. The team will descend on the camp under the cover of nightfall and nab the target, then be back in the air almost immediately. The insurgent’s wife is the American woman that defected to Syria. She was trying to get back into the U.S. last night but was arrested immediately upon arrival by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. She was taken into custody and agreed to cooperate with the authorities.”

“If she defected, what the hell is she doing back here trying to enter the U.S.?” Jacob asked, his eyes narrowing. “Was she involved in some sort of terror plot?”

“Affirmative,” their CO said. He clicked through a new series of images. “She received training on building bombs and using suicide vests at the terrorist camp in Syria. It’s believed that she was intending to detonate her suicide vest in the middle of Times Square.”

“Holy shit,” Hunter muttered.

“She’s been detained and questioned by U.S. authorities. Fortunately, she had a change of heart after being caught. The threat of lifetime in prison can do that to a person. Plus, she was informed that she’s six weeks pregnant. After agreeing to cooperate with U.S. authorities, she provided us with critical information on her husband, his training camp, and the whereabouts of others in the terror cell. The Pentagon wants him brought in immediately. When the terror plot doesn’t go off as planned in two days, he might begin to question her loyalty. We’re going to move in and grab him before the plot was ever supposed to occur.”

Hunter nodded, clapping his hands together as he stood. “Let’s do this. One terrorist mother fucker coming up on a platter. Let’s deliver this bastard straight to Guantanamo.”

Mason eyed him they walked out of the bullpen. “You seem chipper this morning.”

“Hell yeah,” Hunter affirmed. “Let’s get those bastards. That terror cell blew up a section of the market in London last week. Emma was in tears when that was all over the news. Now that we have confirmation of the location of the bastards responsible for it? I’m all in.”

“Time to pay the price,” Jacob agreed, falling in step beside them. “We don’t usually get the location of a terror cell so quickly after an attack. This is fucking gold.”

“Hell,” Mason muttered. “I was supposed to help Taylor go get her car back today. I didn’t even say goodbye to her this morning—just left her sleeping in her bed. I have to admit I didn’t see this op coming.”

“None of us did,” Hunter agreed. “But we move in when needed. It’s hard leaving your woman behind—I’m not going to lie. Our op down in Bogota was the first time I left Emma. Do you think I want her alone while I’m gone? But we do what we have to do.”

“I know,” Mason said, clenching his fists. “I’d just feel better if Taylor’s asshole ex wasn’t showing up all the damn time. I’ll ask the other guys on the Alpha team to watch out for her while I’m gone. She has Ice’s number for emergencies.”

“She’ll be okay,” Hunter said. “We’ll be back in what, thirty-six hours? I mean hell. She dated the guy for years, right? He’s been bothering her for weeks. A day or two won’t make much of a difference.”

“I know,” Mason said, tension coursing through him. “I just have a bad feeling.”

“You’re in love,” Hunter said, ribbing him in the side. “Welcome to the club.”

Jacob chuckled beside them. “That’s one club I never intend to join.”

Colton smirked as he followed them into the locker room to grab their gear. “Famous last words. I sure as shit didn’t intend to fall for Camila. Hell, she was my target down in Florida. I was supposed to bug her luggage, not sleep with her.”

“How’d you manage to get that job anyway?” Hunter asked with a chuckle.

“I was in the right place at the right time. Worked out to my advantage in this case. What if the notorious cartel leader in Bogota had a middle-aged son instead of a gorgeous, single daughter? We would’ve hauled ass down to Bogota with exactly zero intel.”

Mason shook his head as he grabbed his gear. None of it was the same thing. Colton and Hunter weren’t worried about leaving their women behind because they were safe. Rescued from the men after them. They’d left their homes and come to live here with their men.

Taylor might already live here in Virginia Beach, unlike when they’d met their women, but her ex was here, too. The last thing Mason wanted to do was fly across the Atlantic until this thing was solved.

Until he knew she’d be safe.

There wasn’t a hell of a lot of options though, either.

He dialed Taylor’s number, hoping she’d wake up. He’d left her alone in her bed this morning, brushing a chaste kiss across her forehead as she slept. She was used to a completely different schedule than him, working late hours and then sleeping in. Aside from that, it had been a stressful day yesterday. Her ex showing up, the police. As much as Mason would have loved to awaken her with heated kisses all over her body, taking the time to make love to her again, he had to be on base. And she deserved to get some rest.

Quickly typing, he sent her a text message since her phone kept going to voicemail.

We have an unexpected trip. Stay safe while I’m gone. Don’t get your car without me. Xoxo Mason

It wasn’t much, but what was he supposed to say? He couldn’t exactly tell her where he was going. He sure the hell couldn’t text the information. Groaning in frustration, he dropped his gear onto the ground, stuffing his phone into his bag.

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