Page 51 of Summer with a SEAL

“I think the bank tellers in here with me have the key. And there’s some sort of code.”

“The bank manager is here,” he assured her. “She told us how to access the vault. We’re more concerned about the robber than not being able to get you out. The building is surrounded. But if he’s got explosives, that takes this entire scenario to a whole other playing field.”

“Did Ryker make it to the beach house?” she asked.

“He did. Everyone’s fine there. Michelle and Amy wanted to rush to the bank to be here for you, but Ryker convinced them to stay put.”

“God—Jacob—what if I don’t get out?”

“You’ll get out, sweetheart. I won’t let him hurt a single hair on your head even if I have to tear down every damn wall myself. Listen, we’re going to move in soon, so I’ve got to go. Stay away from the door in the vault just in case he tries anything crazy.”

“He locked us in here,” she protested. “Why would he try to get back inside?”

A beat passed.

“He might decide to try harming hostages. The police arrived before he could escape. He could just say ‘to hell with it’ and try blowing the whole place up. We don’t know what kind of explosives he has. Don’t get near the door. The vault is thick metal. It’d be hard as hell to destroy it. As crazy as it sounds, you’re safer in there right now than out in the bank.”

“Okay,” she said, taking a shaky breath. “I’ll make sure to stand back. I’ll see you soon.”

“You sure the hell will, angel. I’m not leaving this bank without you in my arms.”

The call ended, and Jessica stared at her phone. Would Jacob be okay? She looked around the vault at the others. Despite the best efforts of the police and SWAT and SEAL teams, it was possible none of them would be getting out of this alive.

Chapter 21

Jacob scanned the perimeter of the bank, scowling. The teams were getting into position, tactical gear on and weapons drawn. He wished like hell he’d grabbed some of his gear from base. Showing up in a tee shirt and combat boots didn’t offer him much protection. Not that he’d let that stop him from getting his girl.

“What are you thinking?” Hunter asked as he came to a stop beside him, narrowing his gaze.

“I just spoke with the police chief. SWAT is planning to breach the building from the back entrance. They’re disabling the alarms now, although I’m sure everyone inside will know they’re coming. We can move in from the west windows.”

Noah raised his eyebrows. “Without all our weapons and gear? What’s your plan?”

Jacob muttered a curse. “I don’t have a goddamn plan, but Jessica is in there and frightened. We’ve got guns. Each of us is more highly trained than that asshole holding up the place. Hell, we could take him down without weapons.”

Hunter spat on the ground, then eyed the other men. “It doesn’t exactly go along with protocol to breach a building along with the SWAT team. You know that as well as I do. But if Emma was stuck in there, I’d be doing the same damn thing.”

“I’m going in,” Jacob said harshly.

“I’m in,” Noah said, looking at the others.

“Me too,” Mason confirmed.

Hunter nodded. “Colton’s with the explosives guys out front, assessing the situation, so it’s just us four. You clear this with the police chief?”

Jacob nodded. “He didn’t like it but wasn’t about to stop me. I guess he knows some of the other guys from base. We wait for SWAT to enter first, and then we can move in. We’ll have to smash through the windows, but hell. We’ve done a lot worse.”

He pulled out schematics of the bank and showed it to the other men. “This is where the vault is located,” he said in a low voice, pointing to it on the diagram. “We’ll be going in from this set of windows. SWAT will come from the back and disarm or take out the suspect, but we’re going straight for Jessica and the other hostages. Don’t go near the front of the building.”

A police officer brought over four bulletproof vests for the SEALs. “Chief said you guys needed these?”

“I appreciate it,” Jacob said with a nod, taking them from him. “My girlfriend is in there. There’s no way in hell I’m waiting out here.”

“Understood,” the officer said, grabbing his walkie-talkie as someone asked for an update.

Jacob put his bulletproof vest on, double-checking the KA-BAR strapped to his leg. It felt weird as hell to be moving in without all his SEAL gear. The minimal preparations would have to do though. Nothing was stopping him from getting to his girl.

Hunter cocked his head the other way after the rest of the team put on their gear. “Then let’s roll. We won’t be able to communicate with SWAT or each other. Let’s hope this ends quickly.”

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