Web of Shadows

by Susan Sleeman

“What about Nina?”

  “Find a water shutoff. And see if you can get the electricity turned off. Barring that, do nothing. I’m a SEAL, and water is my forte.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  “PUT BRANDT’S OTHER hand in the shackle,” Wiley instructed. When the kid didn’t move, Wiley kicked him. The movement sent Wiley’s leg screaming with pain, but he’d come too far to be bested by Brandt again. She would not send him back to prison. He’d rather die.

  “Now!”

  “No need.” Brandt jiggled her already shackled arm. “This one will hold me.”

  Wiley smiled. “Ah, but if I don’t put the other one on, you might be able to rise above the water.” Wiley turned to Tyler. “Do it now!”

  “Nina?” Ty looked at her.

  She turned her body so he could shackle her other wrist. “It’s okay, hon. Go ahead. I’ll find a way out.”

  “How?”

  “Don’t worry. I will.”

  Tyler reluctantly closed the metal and locked it. “I’m sorry, Nina.”

  “Don’t be. It’s not your fault.” She smiled up at the boy. “I love you, Ty. Always remember that.”

  Wiley wanted to gag. It got worse when the kid started crying like a baby.

  “I love you, too,” the kid said to Brandt.

  “Enough of this sob-fest.” Wiley grabbed Tyler’s arm and shoved him toward the door. He felt Brandt’s focus on him as he made his way up the steps. Once Tyler was in the passageway, Wiley glanced over his shoulder and smiled. “Payback’s hell, isn’t it, Brandt?”

  AT FIRST, QUINN started looking for high ground before he got eyes on the target. Maybe a rooftop? But buildings blocked his view of the alley from too high. So, he needed dead space. He’d get his best shot lying down, but that wasn’t an option either, with the tight quarters. His next preference was to kneel behind the dumpster and use an old wooden crate for his bipod. He took his position, scooting around until he was naturally aligned with where he expected his target to be, putting him in a relaxed position for a better shot. He focused through his scope and read the wind. He couldn’t get exact coordinates until Fagan actually stepped out, but he was close enough that he couldn’t miss, even if he had to make last-minute adjustments.

  Quinn held his stance. Silence stretched out for unbearable moments. His mind filled with the thought of water rising up to Nina’s mouth, and it ripped his heart in two.

  Still, he kept his eye on the scope. Zeroing in on the alley. His body motionless. He recounted the steps he’d performed so many times that he’d often gone on autopilot. Today he had the shot of his life. One chance. That was all he had and he wouldn’t mess it up.

  Ty finally stepped into the alley. Fagan limped behind him.

  Quinn sited his scope on Fagan. Dropped his finger to the trigger and waited for a clean shot. Breathing normally, he prepared to pull the trigger on his natural exhale.

  Now! his brain screamed. He squeezed the trigger.

  Fagan dropped like lead. Ty’s face registered shock. Quinn left his rifle and bolted toward Ty.

  “Coming in,” Connor called from behind.

  “Roger that,” Quinn shouted, now nearly at Ty’s side.

  Quinn stopped to give the kid a quick hug then strapped on a headlamp. “Connor will take care of you. I’m going in for Nina. Pray that I get to her in time.”

  THE WATER WAS cold. So cold that Nina’s teeth chattered as it lapped against her chin. She turned her face up to the ceiling and wished the lights hadn’t gone off so she could see. Her neck was sore, but every time she dropped her chin, she choked on a mouthful of water. She had to get higher somehow or it soon wouldn’t matter.

  She’d tried to get to her knees early on, but her wrists screamed in anguish. She’d stopped and prayed for help. But now? It was looking like no one was coming in time.

  She had nothing to lose.

  She dragged one leg through the water. She managed to get it beneath her, but water rose over her chin and filled her mouth. She coughed hard, her lungs screaming with effort. Panic followed.

  Garrett.

  Is this how he’d felt that day? Going under and not being able to come up for air?

  Tears joined the moisture on her face. The irony of her life ending the same way wasn’t lost on her. She’d lived life so structured, saying no to anything that she thought might be dangerous. Saying no to Quinn. She’d missed out on so much. If she got out of this mess, that would change. She would let go of any guilt she still held about what had happened to Garrett. She’d been a kid. Younger than Ty. And he was no more responsible for leaving her behind than she’d been for not being able to hold on to Garrett’s hand. She’d move forward now. Embrace everything. No matter her fear. That included Quinn, if he’d have her. Even if he remained a SEAL.

  Water nipped at her chin again, bringing her back to reality.

  She twisted her other leg. Got it behind her. But her arms were shackled low, and she gained only an inch or so. Not enough to keep her face above water for long. She strained as high as her legs would allow, pulling at her wrists. The pain was excruciating.

  She laid her head back. The water licked at her chin, filling her mouth.

  Panic took hold.

  She thrashed. Tried to get higher. Her wrists hurt but she kept going. She felt something pop. Stars danced before her eyes, but she’d gained a slight rise. It only lasted a moment.

  She took a deep breath. The water covered her mouth, then her nose. Filled her ears. Her lungs soon screamed for air. Burned.

  Oh, God, no, please. Help me.

  QUINN PLUNGED down the stairs and plowed through cold water that stole his breath for a moment. His headlamp shone on Nina’s face, her mouth and nose barely above water. Her eyes were open. Her lips and cheeks bulging, as if she struggled to hold in her air. He’d have to breathe for her.

  He cupped the back of her head and tipped it forward to free her ears of water, allowing her to hear him. “We’ll do a modified form of buddy breathing. It’s like mouth to mouth. Exhale,” he commanded roughly to get through her panic.

  She released her breath. He took a deep one and pressed his mouth to hers slowly filling it with air. She drew the air into her lungs. Coughed.

  “Let it out, and we’ll do it again a few more times.” They settled into a rhythm, and he felt her calm down. Each time he lifted his head, he searched the shadowy space for anything he could use to help her breathe. He spotted a cup on the table with a rigid plastic straw that was oversized and should work. He held her head with one hand and reached with the other. He jerked the straw free and put it in her mouth. “Get a good seal on it and don’t panic. Nice slow breaths in and out.”

  He heard her pull air in through the straw, then the sweet sound of it hissing out. She was breathing. For now. For another six inches. That meant he had to work fast.

  “I have to find the key, sweetheart. Okay?”

  She blinked her eyes. He released her, and watched as she slipped down into the water, his heart breaking. He waited to be sure she was still taking in air, then swam to the other side of the room. He took a breath. Dove deep. Searched in the rocks. Found nothing. Kept searching. His lungs were nearly exploding with the need to breathe, but he stayed down. He was a SEAL and had the ability to remain committed despite physical depletion. Anything short of that meant someone could die in battle. Today, it meant Nina would die.

  He crawled along the bottom. Inch by inch. His light finally reflected off shiny metal. The key. He grabbed it and shot out of the water. He gulped in air and went back down, making sure not to create a wave that could swamp the top of Nina’s straw. He swam the short distance to her, grabbed a shackle and freed one arm. She struggled for the surface, pounding on his back, but he held his ground and released the other hand. Sh
e shot up.

  He joined her. She was thrashing around. Seeking air. He held her above the water. She clutched his neck, gasping for oxygen. She nearly took him down, but she was far less difficult to control than his swim instructors had been at BUD/S testing, and he stood fast, the water now approaching his chest.

  “Shh, sweetheart,” he whispered into her ear. “It’s over. I have you. You’re fine now. Just breathe. Nice and easy.”

  She slowly relaxed, her eyes clearing and meeting his. “Thank God, you came.”

  “Hey.” He smoothed her hair back. “I’ve got your six. Remember?”

  Her lips tipped in a wobbly smile. He didn’t know if she was so tentative because his promise reminded her that he’d once left her and she thought he might again.

  He didn’t want to leave this time. Didn’t want to go back to that awkwardness with the team. To be alone again.

  But despite knowing of the terror she’d just gone through, despite almost losing her, he couldn’t reconcile remaining an active SEAL and having a family. They didn’t go together well. Add in a woman who clearly had a problem with the lifestyle, a woman who couldn’t stand to not know where her soldier was or even if he was alive—a woman like Nina—and it became impossible.

  But he knew now that he wanted it all. Wanted the family. Wanted Nina.

  So leave the team.

  It was as simple as that. He’d leave the team.

  It was time anyway. He didn’t need the excitement in his life anymore. He had nothing to prove. He wasn’t his father, and he never would be. Nina helped him see that. He’d have to figure out how to live his life after the team, but he didn’t have to wait for that. He knew this was right.

  “Marry me,” he blurted out. “We’ll figure everything else out. The logistics. All of that. I love you, Nina, and I don’t want to be without you.”

  “Yes-s-s,” she said, her teeth chattering. “I love you, too.” Her eyes suddenly clouded with fear. “Oh, my gosh, I didn’t ask about Ty. How’s Ty?”

  “Fine.”

  “And Fagan?”

  “Not so fine,” he answered, figuring she didn’t need to know the details.

  WITH QUINN HOLDING her, Nina’s fear gradually abated and despite the deep cold making her entire body shiver, pain from her wrist nearly stole her breath. “I think I dislocated my wrist. It’s hurting something awful.”

  “Let me see.”

  With Quinn’s arm still around her, she leaned back and floated her hand between them. As soon as she lifted it, pain sliced through it. She groaned and let the water support it again.

  Quinn frowned. “I’ll splint it. Then we’ll get some medical attention. I have to let you go to do that. Can you stand?”

  She stepped back on her own. “I’m fine.”

  He removed his shirt and ripped off the sleeve, then located a small board and secured her wrist. “You okay to walk out of here?”

  “I’d better be,” she said with a laugh. “Or they’ll have to cut a hole in the hotel floor.”

  “No problem.” He grinned. “I’d demolish the whole place if I had to get you to safety.” He led her up the steps and they moved down the passageway.

  They stepped into the alley buzzing with activity. Connor and Becca stood near what she figured was Fagan’s body, now covered with a tarp. Ty sat off to the side, a blanket over his shoulders. He caught sight of them, jumped to his feet, and ran toward them. “Nina, oh, man. Oh, wow. You’re okay.” He flung himself at her and hugged her hard. She felt his body convulsing with tears.

  “Everything’s okay now,” she soothed.

  He pulled back, then took his blanket and tenderly draped it over her shoulders.

  Her heart melted at his concern. “Thank you, Ty.”

  He blushed, then looked at Quinn and punched his shoulder. “You’re the man. You did it. You saved us both.”

  “No biggie.” Quinn lifted a shoulder in an offhand shrug.

  Ty took an awkward step toward his brother. Then another, his expression tentative.

  “Aw, come here.” Quinn scooped Ty into a quick hug then released him. It was as if they didn’t know what to do next.

  Fortunately, Becca and Connor chose that moment to join them. Connor clapped Quinn on the back. “Good job, man. Glad you were here.”

  “I second that,” Becca said, reluctant appreciation in her voice.

  “We’ll have to cut through some red tape for the shooting,” Connor said. “But you’ll come out of it okay.”

  “We’ll make sure of it.” Becca changed her focus to Nina. “You okay? Looks like you hurt your arm.”

  “It’s nothing, I . . .” Nina let her words drop off as her attention was drawn to the mouth of the alley where Sulyard turned the corner. “Guess you ended up calling him.”

  “Sorry. When things got ugly, I had to.”

  “No problem,” Nina said. “I’d have done the same thing.”

  Sulyard stepped up to her. “Glad to see you all made it out okay.”

  She was surprised at his sentiment, but hid it and waited for him to go on.

  “Lange played the recording of Fagan’s confession. You’re in the clear.”

  “That’s good to hear,” Quinn said, sharing a smile with Nina.

  “I hope this clears Ty, too,” Nina said.

  Sulyard nodded. “And thanks to his help, I’m sure DHS will let him off with a stern warning.”

  “Hear that, bro?” Quinn’s smile widened, and he dropped an arm around Ty’s shoulders. “You’re good to go.”

  “My hacking days are over.” Ty peered at Quinn. “I promise.”

  “Of course they are. Mom won’t let you near a computer until you’re ninety.” Quinn knuckled Ty’s head.

  “As much as I’m enjoying this sentimental family moment”—Sulyard’s sarcasm was back—“we need to debrief all of you and get this situation buttoned down. Brandt, you’ll see the medic first. The rest of you, we have cars waiting.”

  Quinn eyed Sulyard and fisted his hands. “I’m not leaving Nina.”

  “Relax, Rambo,” Sulyard said, rubbing his jaw. “I’m giving you a pass on the punch you threw the other day, but if you try it again, you’re going downtown in handcuffs.”

  “It that’s what it takes,” Quinn said, not backing down.

  Nina appreciated Quinn’s concern, but there was no way she was going to let him get into it with Sulyard when it wasn’t necessary. She stepped between them and looked up at Quinn. “This is standard procedure, Quinn. They separate us so we don’t talk about what happened and confuse our stories. So go with them, and I’ll join you after they check out my wrist.”

  He didn’t move.

  “Please,” she said. “I want you to do this.”

  “Fine,” he agreed. “But I’m walking you to the ambulance first.”

  “Fine by me,” Sulyard said.

  Quinn took her hand and when Nina was seated on the ambulance bumper, he gave her a quick kiss, then faced the medic. “Take good care of my girl.”

  The “my girl” raised a few eyebrows, but not Nina’s. Not this time. Some women might find it possessive, but to her, it said he was no longer afraid to commit.

  The medic examined her wrist. Nina hadn’t expected him to insist she take a quick trip to the ER, but he warned she could have permanent nerve damage if she didn’t see a doctor. That quick trip turned into another one, this time to surgery to repair damaged ligaments and put her wrist back into place. As the anesthesia took hold, her last thoughts were of Quinn. He was going to be mad when he learned he hadn’t been there for her again.

  She could just see him. Rushing into the hospital demanding to see her.

  No matter. She drifted further under the anesthesia. Kissing
his anger away would be worth it.

  QUINN STOOD OVER Nina’s bed. He liked the chance to watch her while she slept, but he sure wasn’t happy that he only had the opportunity because she’d been rushed to surgery. He ran a hand over her hair that had dried in tight ringlets. Even in an ugly hospital gown, she was a real beauty, and she was his. Finally.

  She stirred, her long lashes blinking a few times before her eyes met his.

  “Hey,” she said, her Southern accent more pronounced and sexy as could be.

  “Hey, yourself.” He sat on her bed and took her good hand.

  She smiled. “Guess I didn’t get to the office, after all.”

  “No problem. Sulyard debriefed everyone and is standing by in the hallway to talk to you as soon as you’re ready.”

  “He really wants to wrap this up, then.”

  “That and the guy actually seems worried about you.”

  “For real?”

  “For real. He’s been sitting with Becca and Kait. He has your shield and gun to give back to you.”

  Her brow arched. “Guess that means I’m not fired. I hope Kait and Becca aren’t in a heap of trouble either.”

  “He’s pretty much said there will be reprimands in all of your files, but that’s the extent of things.” Quinn shook his head. “I don’t get the guy. He comes across as this real tough guy, and then he lets us all off the hook when he could throw the book at each one of us.”

  “That reminds me of someone else I know.” She pressed her hand on his chest. “A real toughie who didn’t want anyone to see he had a heart of gold—until today.”

  Quinn didn’t like her comparing him to Sulyard, but he couldn’t argue her point so he laid his hand over hers. “I’ve been thinking. Aren’t proposals supposed to be sealed with a kiss? ’Cause we never got around to that part. Something about a bum wrist getting in the way.”

  Her lips tipped in a breath-stealing smile, and she lifted her good arm around his neck. “Nothing’s in our way now.” She drew him closer. “Nothing,” she whispered.

  Epilogue

  SIX MONTHS LATER