The Cat's Meow (SEALS, Inc. Book 5)

by Mia Dymond

  The older man snickered. “You see, we have two guns and you have one.”

  Rather than give up while he could, Warren decided to be cocky. Tess fought the urge to whack him upside the head. Idiot.

  “Then I guess we are at a stalemate because she’ll die before I will.”

  Ranger was heading towards Tess’s house when he saw her pull her car into the street and head in the opposite direction.

  Shadow pointed at the vehicle. “Isn’t that Tess?”

  “Yeah. And Warren. I’ll hang back and give them some space.” He slowed the truck. “My pack and rifle are in the backseat.”

  Shadow reached over the seat, grabbed the pack, opened a zippered pocket and extracted two earpieces. He handed one to Ranger. “Here, put this in.”

  Ranger took the tiny earpiece and stuck it in his right ear. Shadow did the same with another one. Ranger clicked his on.

  “Captain Sterling, we have a visual.”

  “Steele and I are wheels up. We’ll be right behind you. Don’t do anything stupid and keep me posted.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Ranger clicked off and looked at Shadow, who now reached back over the seat and grabbed the rifle. “I know the answer, but this is loaded, right?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Any ideas?”

  “Not until we know where we’re going. You?”

  “No. There’s not much out here. You’ll need cover and a halfway decent vantage point.”

  “What about you?”

  “We only have one rifle and two pistols. Looks like I’m the negotiator.”

  “Think that’ll work?”

  “If it doesn’t, you’re Plan B.”

  “Slow down. Looks like they’re pulling over at that old gas station.”

  “They’ve got company.”

  Ranger stopped the truck and pulled the binoculars from his pack, scanning the area for cover. “No trees. A few clumps of cactus but no height.” He handed the binoculars to Shadow. “Tell me what you see.”

  “Sweet,” Shadow said after several seconds. “One o’clock, about 200 yards back there’s an old barn. Loft window. I’ll go.”

  “I’ll wait until you’re in position.”

  Shadow handed him the lenses. “I’ve got your six.”

  “Stay safe.”

  “Don’t have to, Bro. I’m the Shadow.”

  Ranger watched him quickly disappear like the ghost he claimed to be. He clicked on his earpiece.

  “Shadow’s getting into position and I’m going in. Three perps, three guns. Two innocents.” He inched the truck forward.

  “Sounds like good odds,” Sterling answered. “We’re about a mile behind you.”

  “Affirmative.”

  “Shadow,” Sterling said across the line, “do you have a target?”

  “In my crosshairs, Captain.”

  The waves went silent as he left the truck and headed the same direction as Shadow, intent on using the gas station for cover. It would take several more seconds to get there, but he could do it without being discovered. If he wanted to make a grand entrance, he needed to use the element of surprise as a contributing factor.

  As soon as he squatted behind the building, he peeked around the edge of the rotting wood to survey the area. Veronica sobbed. Tess remained quiet, but he could read the fear in her eyes. Seeing Warren’s gun pressed to her temple caused murder to flash through his brain. Warren stood opposite the two other men, apparently attempting some sort of negotiation of his own.

  “You have a target, Ranger?” Shadow spoke low in his ear.

  “Affirmative.”

  “I see them. I’m ready when you are.”

  “I’m ready now.”

  He stood and stepped from behind the building with his pistol drawn. “Drop your weapons. All of you.” He pinned Warren with a stare as he spoke.

  Warren turned toward him, placing Tess between their weapons.

  “Let her go, Hicks.”

  “You’re outnumbered, Ranger. You drop yours.”

  “You think I came alone?”

  Warren screamed and fell to the ground as a shot rang out and his gun fell from his grasp. Somehow, Veronica escaped her captor’s hold and ran to her husband. The larger of the men grabbed Tess.

  The other man laughed. “Nice trick. Ranger, is it? Another shot and your woman dies.”

  Screw what he told Shadow. He wasn’t in the mood to negotiate. “Let her go and we might let you live.”

  Warren crawled closer to his feet. “Help me. He’s going to kill us. Get us out of this and I’ll tell you everything. I can put him away for a long time.”

  “Kill him, Antonio,” the other man ordered.

  Shadow’s second shot whizzed through the air and tagged Antonio square in the kneecap. He dropped his gun and grabbed his knee as he fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

  Tess moved then, picking up the gun and backing away from the injured man as he reached for her.

  Ranger cocked his gun. “Last chance, old man.”

  At that moment, Sterling’s truck came to a screeching halt, sending dirt and gravel flying through the air. When he saw the old man cover his eyes, Ranger made a flying tackle and took him down. One punch to the jaw and he lay comatose against the dirt.

  He kicked the gun away and then rushed to Tess, pulling her into his arms. She shook hard but managed to stay on her feet. Hell, maybe they were both shaking, he didn’t know for sure.

  “Baby, it’s okay.” He tucked her head under his chin and planted a kiss against her hair. “It’s over now.”

  “Gun,” Sterling demanded as he approached.

  Tess placed the weapon in his hand.

  “Ranger, you might think about turning off your microphone now.” Shadow said in the depths of his ear.

  He chuckled and reached to turn it off as he continued to stroke Tess’s hair with his free hand. “Are you good?”

  “I’m good. Thank you for coming. How did you know?”

  “I didn’t. We got lucky.”

  “Me too.”

  “It wasn’t luck,” Shadow boasted as he joined the party. “We got the bad guys with skill.”

  While Sterling called 911, Tess told them what had happened while Ranger attempted to convince himself that she was really safe and sound. Warren still moaned and Veronica sobbed so he almost didn’t hear the ringing in Shadow’s pocket.

  Sterling heard it loud and clear, though. “Good thing that didn’t ring earlier.”

  Shadow just shrugged and glanced at the caller ID. “It’s Claire. Hey, Claire Bear, what’s up?”

  Ranger saw the color drain from Shadow’s face. Steele took the phone from him, spoke to his sister for a minute, and then hung up.

  “Claire’s in labor. Holly’s taking her to the hospital.”

  Ranger tossed his keys to Steele. “Take my truck.”

  Shadow hadn’t moved. Steele steered him to the truck. “C’mon, Bro, time to be a daddy.”

  Sterling took over as usual. “You two go on. Ranger and I will talk to the police and meet you at the hospital later.”

  Ranger watched them get into the truck and peel out. He turned to the Captain. “He really looked green.”

  “Don’t worry. He’ll pull it together or Steele will kick his ass.”

  Sterling did most of the talking to the police while Tess and Ranger gave their statements. Two hours later, they headed for the hospital.

  Ranger tucked Tess up close to his heart. “Sterling, I still need that device.”

  “Fine by me.” Sterling chuckled. “Cameron keep hers in her jewelry box, just in case.”

  Tess raised her head and frowned. “What device?”

  “I’ll show you when we get to the hospital.” He pressed her head back against his chest, basking in the fact that she was still alive. It would be years before he could forget the picture of her with a gun to her head. She probably wouldn’t appreciate it, but he really wanted
to consider locking her up somewhere.

  As soon as they parked in the hospital parking lot and headed inside, Cameron met them at the Emergency Room door.

  “About time,” she drawled as she accepted a kiss from her husband and then led them to the maternity ward waiting room.

  “Any news?” Tess asked.

  As soon as the words left her mouth, Rachel, Holly and Cameron surrounded her in a group hug, ignoring her question for the moment.

  Steele checked his watch. “Nothing yet. Why is it taking so long?”

  Hawke stood and picked up Harmony. “It took Rachel over six hours. And that was just for one.”

  Just then the double doors in the hallway opened and Ranger turned to see Shadow standing there with one blue bundle tucked under one arm and a pink one in the other. The SEAL stood there, sporting the biggest smile he’d ever seen.

  “Claire’s always been an overachiever,” he bragged.

  Ranger pulled Tess into his arms and planted another kiss atop her head. “Come on, sweetheart. After we check on Claire, you’re coming home with me.”

  “Bossy,” she said from the depths of his chest. “But, okay.”

  EPILOGUE

  From the bench of the picnic table in Rachel and Hawke’s backyard, Tess smiled, amused by the activity around her.

  “She’s out again,” Cameron told her husband.

  He gave her a smug grin. “Not my problem, that’s Macy.”

  “Um, no. Pink camouflage is Macy; purple is Lacy. That is Lacy, your charge, and she is out of the gate again. She’s headed straight for Tess and most likely the pickles on the table.”

  “Well, damn,” Max muttered as he headed toward the picnic table.

  Tess stood and bent to scoop up the baby. “I’ve got her, Max. Take a break.”

  She sat down with Lacy on her lap and inhaled the comforting baby smell from the top of the infant’s head. Such innocence. There was just something about the sweet smell of a baby to make the whole world seem right.

  “Think you can handle one like her some day?”

  Ranger took a seat next to her and offered his finger to Lacy. The baby giggled and latched on, pulling the digit straight toward her mouth. He chuckled and lowered his hand.

  “I think so. But I should probably find a husband first. No way could I handle one of these on my own.”

  “Think you might be in the market for a husband?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Just curious. I happen to know someone who might be interested. Down the line, of course.”

  She nodded. “Of course.”

  Lacy giggled and shook Ranger’s finger in her tiny grasp.

  “I think she approves,” he said.

  Before she could respond, Cameron stood at the table and took the baby. “I have it on good advice, that the baby is interrupting a tender moment. Thanks for rescuing her.” She turned to Ranger and winked. “Carry on.”

  His low chuckle traveled her spine and caressed her nerve endings as he took her hand. “Never a dull moment in this place.”

  “True,” she agreed.

  “Tess.” He placed a finger at her chin and turned her head to face him. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  “About how long do you think it will take you to seal it with a kiss?”

  “You know,” Rachel said from the patio, “The average person spends two weeks of his life kissing. You better get started.”

  Although her cheeks warmed, Tess felt the love from her friends surround her. They were her family now and for that, she was insanely grateful. And this man who now sat beside her and professed his love was both her hero and her friend.

  “How about now?” she whispered.

  Other books by Mia Dymond:

  Leather, Lace and Rock-N-Roll

  (SEALs, Inc., Book 1)

  www.smashwords.com/books/view/87362

  It is perfectly acceptable to attend a rock concert bare-bottomed with your panties in your pocket. And even more acceptable to flash your "goodies" to get backstage. That's what beautiful, brainy architect, Rachel Newberry learns when she loses a bet to her fearless best friend, Cameron Tremaine. Determined to ditch her annoying habit of being reserved and controlled, she learns that breaking the mold may prove too much to handle.

  Rock-n-Roll icon Jaydon Hawke (Hawke) is ready to settle down, build a home, and start a family. Spoiled and pampered, he's used to getting exactly what he wants, and what he wants now is Rachel. Except, she may not have the same idea. For the first time in his life, he struggles to win a woman's affection.

  Hawke’s carefully orchestrated plans go awry when Rachel's professional reputation is challenged because of their relationship - and the crazed stalker who has sights set on Rachel doesn't help much either. In a desperate attempt to gain her trust, Hawke must break her heart to save her very life.

  Outspoken Angel

  (SEALs, Inc., Book 2)

  www.smashwords.com/books/view/90312

  What do you get when you cross a flamboyant, smart-mouthed interior designer with a disciplined, reserved Navy SEAL?

  A bald, beefy Adonis with exceptional fashion sense.

  Cameron Tremaine lives life to the fullest, successful in business and fiercely independent. She digs in her heels when her best friend, Rachel, assigns the task of protecting her from a stalker to Max, head of security for Rachel's rock star husband. She doesn’t need a bald, bossy bodyguard – thank you very much – especially one oh so delectable as Max.

  Handbags, stilettos, and spa dates – not retired SEAL Max Sterling’s usual m.o. – until Cameron Tremaine. Max is a self-disciplined, no-nonsense ex-Navy SEAL, for Pete’s sake. Under his command, soldiers fall in line and follow orders as expected. Except, Cameron’s no soldier – she challenges his every command and does it with a sweet, syrupy smile.

  Duty bound, Max tolerates her sass and smart mouth until she pushes too far. When someone decides to silence her for good, he learns that bold and brassy go hand in hand.

  Freaky By Nature

  (SEALs, Inc., Book 3)

  www.smashwords.com/books/view/97541

  Former Navy SEAL and private investigator Brett Steele didn't realize there was a politically correct term for stripping until he met Holly London. Initially drawn to her long legs and curvy, toned body, Brett soon learns there is more to the sensual dance instructor than he thought.

  Holly has a colorful secret: psychic ability allows her to read aura through color. Believing she is a freak of nature, Holly avoids personal relationships and ignores her curse, rendering it a nuisance - until the atmosphere warns her she has become the target of a madman. Faced with exposing her secret, Holly must risk trusting Brett in order to stay alive.

  Tightly Wound

  (SEALs, Inc., Book 4)

  www.smashwords.com/books/view/107217

  Claire Steele has spent her whole life dodging shadows. Psychic since birth, she uses her talent to chase the evil lurking in the recesses of her mind.

  For years, Lt. Malcolm "Shadow" Windsor has walked the fragile boundary of friendship, silently waiting for Claire to acknowledge her love for him. An ex-Navy SEAL and expert tracker, he knows patience is the key to her surrender - until sinister forces threaten to eliminate her.

  Caught between love and death, Claire and Shadow must combine both talent and skill to survive.

  Never Cry Uncle

  www.smashwords.com/books/view/115187

  Often a dead-end job is so ... dead.

  When Allison Campbell and Lucy Monroe learn their boss is cheating them out of bonus money, they decide blackmail is the perfect revenge - until he ends up dead and they become prime suspects. Fearing the worst but refusing to ask for family assistance, Allison hires Luke Owens, private investigator.

  Working behind the scenes are Allison's uncles (members of the notorious Scarletti family) who discreetly conspire to use the situation to their advantage. With help from Don Antoni
o Scarletti, now reincarnated as a two hundred pound Rottweiler known as Scar, they launch an elaborate matchmaking scheme.

  Armed with honorable intentions, Luke ultimately finds himself helping the lead detective, chasing Allison, and working for the Scarletti family all at the same time. He finds out firsthand just exactly what paves the road to good intentions.

  Racing the District Attorney to solve the mystery, Allison and Luke must risk both their hearts and their lives to catch the real killer.

  Playing with Fire

  (Primrose, Minnesota, Book 1)

  www.smashwords.com/books/view/123319

  Liberty doesn’t come cheap. In fact, she costs $200 an hour.

  Dr. Liberty Prescott is trained to heal - problem is, she can’t practice what she preaches. Forced to deal with her own weaknesses, she leads a quiet, solitary life, focused on healing her patients.

  Fire Inspector Shane Hartwell fights demons in the dark. Held hostage by both fear and pride, he refuses to give in until he has no other choice. Desperate to end his torture, he seeks Liberty’s help.

  As attraction sparks between them, an arsonist burns out of control and evidence points straight to Liberty. Against his heart’s denial, Shane accuses her until new evidence emerges. Now with his heart in his hands, can he reclaim hers?

  Positively Criminal

  (Primrose, Minnesota, Book 2)

  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/287558

  Dr. Sabrina Miller is the queen of camouflage, and keeps her closely-guarded secrets locked deep in her heart. Fiercely dedicated to helping others, she refuses to let anyone interfere with her carefully-planned, somewhat out-of-the-ordinary techniques.

  Detective Jake Rawlings knows he holds the golden key to unlock Sabrina’s secrets, even if she claims otherwise – he just has to find a creative way to expose them. Much to his dismay, she outfoxes him every time.