“Yep,” Amy muttered. “We will be.”
“Let’s go skinny dipping when we get back!” Michelle said. “And have a bonfire on the beach again.” She yawned, leaning back into her seat. “Maybe I’ll just rest a bit first.”
“Yes,” Jessica agreed, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. “Rest.”
She and Amy talked quietly as the cab moved along Atlantic Avenue, and then her mind drifted as she caught sight of the moon rising in the sky. She caught a few glimpses of it gleaming off the ocean between hotels, and her heart caught. Jacob could be all the way on the other side of the world for all she knew—off fighting somewhere dangerous or saving someone like he’d helped Amy the other night. If he looked up, he could see the same sun and moon in the sky though. The same stars. It was funny how the world felt so big and so small at the same time.
Chapter 8
JACOB TURNED AND WALKED a few steps toward the low building in Kabul, sand and dust kicking up on his combat boots. It was hotter than hell in the desert—a dry kind of heat that made his skin crawl. He longed for the salty ocean breezes back home in Virginia Beach.
Funny that anyone would ever miss that kind of humidity.
“Any updates?” he asked in a clipped tone, his gaze scanning the room as Hunter and Ryker walked up to the rest of them.
“Negative,” Ryker said as he stopped beside them holding his weapon. He grabbed his canteen and chugged some water, adjusting the strap of his helmet.
“Fuck,” Jacob muttered. “They fly us halfway around the world for goddamn wrong intel?”
“That’s Washington for you,” Noah said with a smirk.
The rest of the men gathered around as Hunter gestured for them to come over. “You know as much as I do. The latest SITREP indicated the terrorist group is holding someone else hostage,” Hunter said, his voice gruff. “The missing American official’s whereabouts are currently unknown. We’ll rescue whoever the terror cell is holding and take the kidnappers in. The U.S. government can question them and deal with the aftermath.”
“And the woman?” Mason asked, a frown on his face.
“Might end up being another op,” Hunter said, looking around at each of the men. “If we don’t know her whereabouts, we can’t stage a rescue operation.”
“Jesus Christ,” Colton said, swiping his brow. “Is the Alpha team still moving in to nab the leader?”
“Affirmative. They’re in the air now. The cell we’ve been watching hasn’t left yet for his location as we originally believed would happen.”
“Probably because the woman’s with someone else,” Noah said.
“So who’s being held here?” Jacob asked. “Someone the leader has no interest in?”
“It’s believed to be a British soldier,” Hunter said. “We’re just waiting on confirmation from the Pentagon. A man went MIA yesterday during a routine patrol.”
“Well hell,” Jacob said, feeling restless. “Let’s grab him and get the hell out of here. If we have to wait for more intel on the whereabouts of the woman, we might as well do something.”
Ryker smirked. “Eager to get home to your new lady friend?”
“Well I am,” Noah quipped. “Eager to get home, that is. This is the first op we’ve been on since Bailey and I have been together. She was cool about me leaving, but I could tell she was worried. The longer we sit around here doing nothing, the more stressed out I am.”
“Suck it up,” Hunter said. “Emma’s at home alone and pregnant. Do you think I enjoyed leaving her? That the other men enjoy leaving their women?”
“Well I sure as hell can’t wait to get back,” Ryker said. “Michelle was a firecracker. She promised me a spectacular welcome home.”
“Enough thinking with your dick,” Hunter ground out. “We’ve got a job to do. If we have to wait here for new intel, then we wait.”
Their commander’s voice suddenly came through over their headsets, and the men paused, listening to the latest information. “As you’re aware, we’ve had an abrupt change in plans,” Ryan said. “The location of the missing State department official is currently unknown. A British soldier was captured though in the confusion. You’ll move in at oh-three-hundred local time and infiltrate the camp. It’s a possibility the American is there, too, and we’re unaware of it. In which case, you’ll be bringing both hostages back.”
“Roger that,” Hunter said. “We’ll sweep the entire area after we move in. There’s nothing on the table to ambush them while traveling?”
“Negative,” Ryan said. “We’re heading directly to the camp now. You’ll receive new specs shortly—sat imagery of their camp. If the American woman is there, obviously she’s coming with you. But our focus right now is on the British soldier until further intelligence is received.”
Jacob clenched his fist, feeling his blood boil. Rescuing a soldier was an important mission, but not knowing where the missing American was put a crux in their original plans. If they grabbed this guy, she’d still be out there somewhere—scared. Alone.
And he didn’t like the idea of leaving her in harm’s way.
“Tell the Pentagon to get their damn heads out of their asses,” Noah muttered.
Hunter smirked, but they listened to the rest of Ryan’s direction.
“All right,” Hunter said after the commander dismissed them. “Let’s do this. Review the new maps and imagery. Memorize the coordinates. Then rest up.”
Jacob glanced at the clock nearby. Three hours until go time.
JESSICA PULLED HER card from the ATM at the bank in the business section of Virginia Beach and walked back to Michelle, who was sitting in her convertible with the top down. The ocean breeze blew through the air, and even though they were a few blocks away from the boardwalk and ocean itself, it felt like they were right there in the midst of the action. It was another perfect summer day, meant to be spent outside with her best friends.
She tucked her wallet back into her purse and pulled the handle on the door.
“Ready to grab some groceries?” Michelle asked, flipping her hair over her shoulder as Jessica climbed in. “We can pick up a few things and then head back to meet Amy after her yoga class. I think there are some beers and sea breezes calling my name.”
“Sounds good. Let’s get what we need to make dinner tonight, too. We can’t eat out all summer long.”
“Speak for yourself,” Michelle joked. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail as Jessica started the engine. “I haven’t minded the food and views—both of the ocean and hot guys on the beach.”
Jessica giggled. “Well we could eat out all summer if we wanted to go broke and gain like twenty pounds.”
Michelle’s laughter trailed through the air as Jessica backed out of the parking space. “Let’s save our money for drinks at all the oceanfront bars then. I’m also up for yummy cocktails and delicious-looking men.”
“What about Ryker?” Jessica asked.
“He can buy me a drink himself,” Michelle joked. “If those guys ever get back.”
Jessica huffed out a laugh. “It’s only been a couple of days,” she said as they began to drive, the wind tousling her hair. “I mean, we don’t even know how far they traveled or where they went. Meanwhile, we’ve got enough to do around here without them.”
“I wanted to do Ryker,” Michelle protested.
Jessica shook her head, smirking as they pulled up to a red light. Her friend seriously had a one-track mind. A brief twinge of worry skittered through her—she didn’t know exactly what Jacob did, obviously, but she knew it had to be dangerous.
What if those guys didn’t come back?
She shook her head, trying to clear those negative thoughts. “All right, enough about Ryker. Did you see that creepy guy back there hanging out at the front of the bank? He was totally giving off a weird vibe.”
“The one with the tattoos all over his arms?”
“Yeah, I just got the creeps watching him. He was looking around too
much or something.”
“It’s probably nothing. I mean, what if he was just waiting for someone? I’d look around, too. And he was holding a smart phone—it’s not like the guy was homeless or something.”
“Maybe—I just thought he was strange. If he’s there the next time I go to the ATM, I’m going somewhere else.”
Michelle shrugged, examining her nails. “You worry too much. And I need a fresh manicure. Maybe we can make reservations for mani/pedis tomorrow morning?”
“I’m up for that,” Jessica agreed as she pulled forward. “The sand is doing a number to my nails. I’m not sure what places are good around here.”
“I’ll text Bailey and ask her for a recommendation. Maybe she wants to join us—I don’t think she usually works until later.”
“Good idea. I was thinking bartending would be a tough job, but she probably likes having her days off. And let’s be honest—she probably makes more than us on a teaching salary.”
“I’m sure twelve-year-old’s mowing lawns make more money than us,” Michelle said. “Teacher’s salaries are a joke.”
“At least you have your parents to help you out. I mean, renting a beach house for the entire summer on a teacher’s salary just wouldn’t ever happen. And life at the beach beats teaching summer school, right?”
“Um...is that a rhetorical question?” Michelle joked. “Of course it does. And you’re only young once. Why not enjoy, right? Best friends, the beach, boys...,” she added with a giggle.
“Well, I don’t mind looking at all the hot military guys prowling around, but I’m not having some kind of summer fling like you.”
“Who said it was a fling?” Michelle asked. “Right now, it’s just a one-night-stand.”
“Oh come on,” Jessica protested. “Are you for real suggesting you won’t see him again? Ryker looked happy as hell the other morning. Guys like that don’t spend the night if they’re not into you—they sneak out after you give them what they want.”
“You mean sex?” Michelle asked loudly as they pulled into a parking spot at the shopping center.
Jessica rolled her eyes as she climbed out of the car. “Of course that’s what I mean. And I’m just saying, if he didn’t want to see you again, he’d have been long gone before any of us saw him the next day.”
“It was hot as hell the way they swam out and rescued Amy, wasn’t it?” Michelle asked.
“More like terrifying,” Jessica said. “I was worried they wouldn’t be able to get to her in time.”
“Well thank God they did. Basically, you all have me to thank. I’m the one who insisted we set up in that spot on the beach.”
“We were there before them!” Jessica said with a laugh. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“The universe knew we needed some guys, and hell did it deliver.”
Chapter 9
COLTON CROUCHED DOWN in the dirt near the perimeter of the camp, scanning the ground. Jacob watched him from fifteen yards away and quietly spoke into his headset. “Do you think there’s a tripwire?”
“Negative,” came Colton’s reply. “The larger compound that Ice’s team is moving in on is probably wired with explosives since the leader is there. This spot looks clean.”
“No one important is here,” Hunter said over the headset. “Just the lowlifes carrying out the dirty work. Isn’t this our lucky day.”
Jacob’s gaze swept the area through his night-vision goggles, his pulse quickening. He could see his other teammates getting into position around the camp, weapons ready. The moment before they began an op was always the most tense. As soon as they were up and moving, he’d be caught up in the action. The adrenaline.
But right now?
His heart always pounded as everything around him went silent. As his vision tunneled and senses heightened. The calm before the storm was a real thing.
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.
Amy was off at another yoga class and Michelle was inside taking a nap. She might as well rest a f
ew minutes, too. They’d probably be out late tonight for drinks, and she could use a little nap. Her hammock swayed some more, and the gentle ocean breeze began to lull her to sleep.
“Hello! Anybody home?” a deep voice called out.
Jessica yelped in surprise, nearly falling out of the hammock as she tried to sit up. Strong arms caught her, and then Jacob was apologizing as he helped her to stand up. “Sorry, angel, I didn’t mean to sneak up on you like that. We got back last night, and I thought I’d drop by and surprise you.”
She flushed as embarrassment washed over her, realizing his hands were still at her waist, and she took a step back, putting some space between them.
Jacob gazed down at her, all tanned and muscular, wearing a cotton tee shirt over his cargo shorts. He had dark stubble covering his jaw and chin, and she noticed a hint of dark circles beneath his eyes. His gaze locked with hers though, and she relaxed as he grinned at her, looking completely at ease.
“You scared me,” she admitted.
“I’m sorry about that. We just got back late last night. I was going to text you and see if you wanted to meet up, but then I thought I’d surprise you. It seemed like a good idea at the time.” He shrugged, having the decency to look a tiny bit sheepish.
“Yeah, it’s fine,” she said, her skin prickling with awareness as he edged slightly closer. “I’m glad you came by. I was just reading and fell asleep in the hammock. You startled me is all—I wasn’t expecting anyone. Amy’s gone, and Michelle’s upstairs taking a nap.”
“That hammock does look pretty relaxing,” he said. “Can I try it out?”
“Uh, sure,” she replied, watching as his large body sank down into the hammock. He stretched out, practically taking up the entire length, and rested one arm beneath his head, looking far too sexy for his own good.
What was a gorgeous man like him doing showing up at her beach house, stretched out in her hammock like some sort of Greek God?
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