Page 23 of Kidnapped By a SEAL

“Understood,” Ryker said in a gruff voice.

The other men were all listening in to whatever conversation he was part of, and she realized she already was starting to feel alone. They’d been almost like a team, flying back. Sure, they were in fact a team, but she’d felt like part of the group. One of the guys.

And now?

They’d head onward without her. She’d get checked out and go back to her life. Pretend the last month had never happened. She had work, her friends. It was weird to just pretend everything was the same though.

Ryker was frowning as he pulled off his headset, and some of the other SEALs were talking in low voices.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, catching Ryker’s eye.

“I’ll tell you when we land.”

She nodded, swallowing the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. Had he been right all along and she was somehow in danger?

The runway suddenly came into view, and a minute later, they were touching down and racing along it. The landing felt bumpier than she was used to, maybe because they were in a military cargo plane.

“You okay?” Hunter asked. “You look white as a ghost.”

“I’m fine,” she murmured. “It just feels surreal to be home.”

They unbuckled their seatbelts after the plane stopped, and of course there were no flight attendants telling them to disembark. The guys just got up and did their thing. Shoot, they were used to traveling like this. She was the one feeling off-kilter.

Ryker grabbed his rucksack and then reached for her suitcase, gesturing for her to walk ahead of him. A ramp was opening at the back of the plane for them to head down, and bright sunlight greeted them.

“I can get it,” she protested.

“No way,” he said. “Besides, then I’ll look like the jackass who made you carry your own stuff off a military plane. You haven’t even healed from your injuries yet.”

“Bossy,” she muttered, and Mason and Hunter both chuckled.

Walking off the plane was an experience she’d never forget—there were military men and women in uniform standing around, other government personnel in suits, and of course the EMTs with a waiting ambulance.

She was used to traveling to military bases and American embassies, but she usually faded into the background. She was security for the dignitaries and officials. Today, all eyes were on her.

Her friend and coworker Caroline hurried forward to meet her, and Emily felt tears smarting her eyes. The other woman gasped but gave her a hug, no doubt shocked at the large bruise on Emily’s forehead.

Emily winced slightly as Caroline hugged her because her ribs weren’t fully healed either.

“Easy,” Ryker interjected, still beside her with her suitcase. “She’s got bruising all over her ribs.”

“Oh, hell, sorry,” Caroline said, pulling back. “I’m just so happy to see you.”

“It’s great to be back.”

The guys piled some of their bags off to the side, apparently waiting to hop another flight. Emily’s gaze slid back to her friend, who was looking at her with wide eyes. The other men on the SEAL team were standing around their gear and bags, making phone calls to their girlfriends.

Blonde and busty, Caroline usually got plenty of attention. Although the other military men were certainly eyeing her, her figure shown to its advantage even in the suit that she wore, the guys Emily had been with barely even noticed her.

Hunter walked back over to where she and Ryker were standing, tucking his phone into his pocket. “I just spoke with our CO. There’s a possibility that you’re still in danger,” he said in a low voice.

“What? That’s crazy,” Emily protested. “I mean, we escaped. You guys rescued me. Why would I be in danger now, thousands of miles away?”

“Like I said, it’s a possibility. We’ll go through the proper channels to fully look into it. We’re out in the open and can’t exactly share the intelligence we have with you right now. There was only so much he could tell me over an open line.”

“I’ll stay with you,” Caroline said. “Until you’re feeling better. I can wait at the hospital if needed. We can work with the DC police and make sure there’s security on your room.”

“That’s a start,” Hunter said, his gaze finally flicking over her. “You’re an agent, too?”

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