Page 53 of Married to the SEAL
“Back up! Give him some space,” said Matteo. “Get a medic in here, now.” Matteo searched Vasile’s pockets frantically, desperate to find the vile that could save his father-in-law’s life.
“What’s happening?” asked Grace. “What are you looking for?”
“Nitroglycerin.”
She didn’t speak again. He found the pills, quickly opening them and placing one beneath the president’s tongue. He looked different this time than he had during the other attack Matteo had witnessed, his color paler, his features still.
Matteo feared he was dead. “Is there an AED in the building?”
“What?” asked Grace.
“A defibrillator to shock his heart.”
One of the reporters called out, “In the cafeteria.”
“Quick, run and grab it,” said Matteo.
“Mr. Cruz, were you aware your father-in-law had a heart condition?”
Matteo’s head snapped up. “You should go. Get out of here. We need to make room for the medics.”
The reporters didn’t budge.
Matteo stood and pushed at cameras and microphones. “Get out of here, now. His life depends on it, you fools. Back up, dammit.” He was pushing at the reporters now, aware of the lights in his face and the footage that was recording.
None of that mattered now. All that mattered was that Vasile survived. Grace had already lost her child. He couldn’t stand for her to lose anyone else.
He had to get out there himself, had to try to find Nico.
He pushed the last reporter out the door and closed it tightly behind him. His eyes found General Talia’s. “I need access to weapons. Lots of them. And transportation. HERO Force is landing in fifteen minutes and I’m going to find my son.”
34
Matteo stood backas the chopper landed on the helipad. Hawk was only off by a few feet. Not bad for somebody with as few flight hours as he had.
Bending at the waist, he jogged to the door, opening it for his teammates. It felt like more time had passed than a few weeks, like these men were from a different lifetime, and it struck him that he felt torn between his life here at the mansion and his former identity as a member of this elite team.
He was the husband of President Vasile’s daughter, father of Nico, lover of Grace. But this was who he was, too.
Cowboy hopped down to the ground, nodding in acknowledgment over the roar of the slowing rotors. Next came Logan and a lanky man Matteo didn’t recognize, followed by Hawk.
When the noise died down, Cowboy said, “Red, this is Austin. The latest addition to the team.”
Matteo eyed the other man and shook his hand. “When did you start?”
“Twenty minutes before we took off.”
“Welcome aboard,” said Matteo. “We’re going to need all the help we can get.”
The men made their way across the roof to the entrance of the mansion stairwell. Matteo briefed them as he walked, his voice echoing off the cinderblock. “The baby was taken from his room this morning. We’re operating under the assumption that it’s the same people who left a threatening note in his crib and the president’s study before I arrived, a group called Ten Komanda.”
“Have they made any demands?” asked Hawk.
“They asked Vasile to resign, which he has done. There’s been no further contact. We have search dogs on the way. Do you have anything for me?”
Logan piped up. “I did have some luck with the household employee list you gave me. Trudy Winslow, a maid, has been living with Vladimir Petrov, one of the Ten Komanda members, for about six months now.
Matteo stopped short. “That’s the father of Grace’s baby and her personal maid, who has access to Nico on a daily basis. She didn’t come in today. Do you have an address?”
