Page 23 of Summer with a SEAL

And he and his teammates were ready to carry out their mission.

“Everyone in position?” Hunter asked in a low voice over the headsets.

“Roger that,” Jacob said.

“Affirmative,” came the other mix of replies.

“Mason and I will go in through the opposite end where we believe the Brit is being held. Colton and Jacob will enter from the front. Noah and Ryker, you two will be bringing up the rear and sweep the perimeter once we breach the compound. Grab anyone leaving so we can bring them in for questioning.”

“Estimated number of men?” Mason asked.

“Infrared sensors show only four. Whether that’s two terrorists and two hostages or something else waits to be seen.”

“That’s a hell of a small group,” Jacob said, frowning. “Where’s everyone else?”

“It was never meant to be a permanent holding spot. They grabbed a hostage and hunkered down here. We don’t know what caused their change in plans.”

“Let’s do this,” Ryker said.

“No one leaves camp until we search every tent for the State department official. I don’t think she’s here, but we’re not taking any chances. All right men, move in!”

Jacob ran forward, sweeping the area with the scope of his weapon. He could see the grainy image of several tents through his night-vision goggles, but there was no movement in the camp. A shot fired in the distance, and Noah’s voice came over the headset. “One man down. He charged at us.”

“We want them brought in for questioning,” Hunter said in irritation. “Take him alive. We need details on the missing woman.”

“He’s been disarmed,” Noah said. “Bleeding but still breathing.”

“Take him back to the Humvees,” Hunter commanded. “He’s coming with us.”

Jacob moved through the group of tents, on edge. It was strange to have so few men guarding a hostage—almost like the place had been abandoned. It seemed unlikely there’d be anyone here. Colton gestured to him, and they stood outside one of the tents. Weapons aimed at the front, they breached the entrance.

Jacob stopped in his tracks as he saw a body lying there in a pool of blood. Kneeling down, he felt for a pulse in the neck. There was nothing. “The hostage has been killed,” he said in a low voice over the headset. “Probably right before we arrived.”

“The Brit?” Hunter asked.

“Affirmative. Single gunshot wound.”

“Damn it,” Mason muttered. “The tents here are empty.”

“So where did the other two go?” Jacob said, emerging from the tent with Colton. He looked around as his teammates reconvened.

“The other tents are all empty,” Hunter said. “We’re taking the British soldier with us back to Kabul. Let’s retrieve the body.”

“Shit,” Ryker said, looking at the ground. “I found something.”

The rest of the group looked over as Ryker bent down to pick up a woman’s gold necklace. “She was here,” Ryker said, holding the delicate necklace in his hand. He clutched it, the fragile chain dangling from his large glove, and Jacob’s blood boiled. She’d been here—the hostage they’d been sent here for.

Now the British soldier had been killed. The American woman was missing. And they didn’t have the first clue where the hell she’d been taken.

Chapter 10

Jessica relaxed in the hammock hanging beneath the deck of their beach house, book in hand, listening to the sound of the ocean waves crashing on the beach.

It was hotter than heck sitting out on the sand midday, and she preferred this shady area to read.

She let one foot dangle over the side of the hammock as she rocked back and forth, the hot pink polish on her toes gleaming brightly. The mani/pedis she and the girls had gotten a few days ago had been amazing. She’d have to make a point of going every few weeks while they were here—nothing like a little pampering to make a girl feel amazing.

Yawning, she rested her book on her chest, closing her eyes for a minute.

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