SEALs of Honor: Evan

by Dale Mayer

  From the hallway, one man walked into the room, leaving the door open. He stood at the window, slightly behind the door so he’d have first warning.

  Evan nodded to him. “Thanks, Benji. I’ll fill her prescription and bring it up to her.”

  “I’ll be here,” Benji said.

  Evan didn’t know this man well, but if Ice vouched for him, then he would be fine. He walked out to find she was in a heavy discussion with Mason. That Mason knew her wasn’t a surprise but that he held her close in a caring hug was.

  He waited until they were done.

  Mason said something to Ice then nodded to Evan.

  Ice turned and smiled at him. “Is she in bed?”

  “And asleep.”

  The other men crowded around. “Now tell me exactly what happened so that we know what we’re up against.”

  He gave them the longer version, adding, “He managed to gain access to her bedroom on the second floor and held a police issue Glock. However, the shots that were fired at my front door came from an automatic rifle.”

  “Right, so different shooters,” one of the men stated.

  “Or one well-armed man,” Ice clarified. “One familiar with sniper rifles and breaking and entering, but one who didn’t like the idea of jumping out of a window to keep his prisoner.”

  Several men curled their lip at that assessment.

  “Keep in mind he either had an accomplice or he managed to track her back to my place. Either way they got a second attempt in.”

  “And missed.”

  “Not by much. So maybe they’ve had bad luck up to now or else they are not as proficient as they like to be. We don’t want a third attempt to be the one that gets her. If they suspect she’s seen something then it would explain why she’s being targeted.”

  “Or they were trying to flush us all out.”

  “Why though? There are so many of us. Some on base and many not. They could attack the base with less difficulty than trying to locate individuals and taking them out one by one.”

  There was a contemplative silence as each considered the ramifications of what that implied.

  “Let’s take this one step at a time,” Ice said in that low calm voice he always associated with her. “Evan, leave her with us. I’ll text you when she wakes up.”

  Evan nodded. “Good, thanks. She’s likely to try to slip away when she does wake up.”

  The men grinned. Benji, now standing in the open doorway, said “She can try.”

  Evan nodded and left her in their capable hands to fill her prescription.

  Chapter 13

  Megan woke to a terrifying silence. She sat up without thinking and cried out, clutching at her side, shuddering with pain. Then instant awareness of her surroundings. One hand clamped around her injury, her breath locked in her chest as she studied the room she was in. Just where was she and why? A hospital room. But she was fully dressed. She glanced down at her foot resting on a pillow in an attempt to keep it elevated and her mind flooded with memories.

  Evan. The intruder. The shooting. And all the damn questions. Right.

  She was safe. In the hospital and it was quiet and she was alone.

  There were worse things.

  She slipped her feet to the floor, gingerly putting her weight on her ankle, then hobbled her way to the bathroom. Inside the small room, she stopped and stared at the mirror. Good Lord. There was blood all over her shirt, her face, even her arms. She sighed and after using the toilet she grabbed the washcloth and soap and cleaned what she could. She brushed her shoulder length hair out with her hands and flipped it back. There was nothing to be done for the injury on the ribs. It hurt like a bitch but time was the only healer for that. As for her ankle, well that was going to take time too…maybe a lot of time. She wasn’t going to be able to walk very far, making work out of the question. She should let someone know she might not be able to work for a few days.

  Her phone wasn’t in her pocket. Sitting on the side of her bed she struggled to think as to where she’d left it. And realized it was on her charger where she always placed it before going to bed. Damn. The intruder could have grabbed it. He’d get all kinds of contacts. But only friends. She knew better than to keep anything more there.

  Still, she missed having it. Could she get back into her house and retrieve it? And what about her purse and personal belongings. A clean shirt would be lovely. When the police were done would they let her back in to collect her stuff, or maybe they’d let her back into her house permanently. That would be the best option. She was sure fingerprints as well as other things needed to be collected, but beyond that there wasn’t a whole lot to be done. Unless they were afraid the asshole would come back.

  Her lips turned down at that. She didn’t want to stay hidden until they caught the guy.

  She hadn’t recognized him. His mechanic suit could have come from anywhere, and it had no name tag. But how hard would it be to find a suit in the hangars – they were everywhere.

  So he’d picked up the easiest of disguises and gone with it.

  That didn’t take brains, just opportunity.

  So what else did this say about him?

  He’d targeted her. Had she been his target originally, or had she become his target for some reason?

  She’d love to know why.

  Had he chased her to Evan’s place or had someone targeted Evan as well, and she’d been at the wrong place at the wrong time. Bastards. Why would anyone want to do that? He was a good man. A damn good one.

  Irate on Evan’s behalf, she stumbled back to bed and lay down again. Lifting her foot up to rest on the pillow, it instantly felt much better. She needed the ankle wrapped up and to be at home where it could rest while she was on her laptop at least. She felt completely useless and hated it.

  The door opened and Ice walked in.

  “Good. You’re awake. I was going to put this on your ankle but figured that would be a hell of a way to wake someone up.” She waggled an ice pack in her hand.

  “I’m glad you restrained yourself.” Megan groaned as the cool ice surrounded her sore ankle. “Much appreciated.

  “How does it feel?”

  “It’s fine. Just need to be off it for the rest of the day, and I’m sure it will be back to normal. I’d rather be at home. Not here.”

  Ice shook her head. “Not happening until Evan gets back.”

  “What does he have to do with anything?” Megan muttered. “It’s the police that get to say if I can go home or not.”

  “Well they could, but they aren’t done with your place yet, and they are also working on Evan’s at the moment so you can’t go there either.”

  “I wasn’t planning on it,” Megan said.

  Ice gave her a long look that had the heat rising on Megan’s cheeks.

  “You’re here and this is where you’re staying until I hear otherwise.”

  “Crap,” she muttered. “I don’t make a very good patient.”

  The door opened. Benji stuck his head around the corner. “Ice, Levi looks to be surfacing.”

  Megan sat up.

  Ice held up her hand. “No. You’re staying right here.”

  And she spun on her heels and walked out. As she left she said, “Benji here will stay and keep you company.”

  “I don’t need a babysitter,” Megan argued, glaring at Benji.

  But the tank with the baby face just smiled at her. “I’m a great babysitter,” he said.

  “I’m sure you are. I just thought I could leave. Maybe grab some food. Some coffee would be good. Sneak home where I can get a shower and a change of clothes,” she said.

  “Nope, not happening,” he said cheerfully. “But we might manage a coffee. Someone is due for a coffee run soon.”

  “But not you?” she asked hopefully.

  “Not me.”

  “Of course not.” With bad grace, she leaned back against the pillows and sighed. “Any chance someone could go to my house and get my cell ph
one or laptop at least and while there pick up some clothes.”

  “Evan was heading over there a little bit ago. If you’re lucky he’s still there and he’ll grab what you need.” Benji pulled out his phone and placed a call.

  Megan watched him carefully. Evan knew a ton of people here. She knew no one.

  “Evan, Megan is awake and she’s looking for a few things from her house.”

  Benji nodded then handed her his phone. “He wants to talk to you.”

  Grateful, she accepted it. “Evan?”

  “Yeah, it’s me. Where’s your phone? I’m standing in your bedroom, nice bed by the way.” And damn if his voice didn’t drop into a sexy whisper. She could hardly respond as she wanted to with Benji standing there and watching her. “My phone is on the back of the dresser sitting on the charger.”

  “No it isn’t. The charger is empty.”

  She frowned. “Maybe it’s in my purse. That’s in the kitchen drawer, first one on your left as you walk in.”

  She could hear his footsteps as he walked down the stairs to her kitchen. “I’m opening drawers,” he said, and she could hear the sounds of them opening and closing. “But not seeing a purse.”

  “I hope he didn’t steal it. That’s got all my credit cards and ID in it.”

  “Base ID?” he asked sharply.

  She gasped. “Yes.”

  “Then there’s no point in continuing the search here. Chances are good that’s what the bastard wanted.”

  “No, he wanted me to get dressed so he could take me somewhere.” She shifted and groaned as the stitches pulled.

  “Lie still,” he ordered.

  “Ha, I am. I’m locked in this room and no one will let me leave.” She glared at Benji who gave her an angel’s smile in return.

  “Good, then the men are doing their job,” Evan said. “Be thankful. If you can’t get out then no one else can get in.”

  “I know that, but I was hoping to get home and get a few things.”

  “Instead, I’m here and can get what you want,” he said in a smooth voice. “Need a change of clothes. Anything else?”

  “Did he leave my laptop?”

  “Where is it? I didn’t see one.”

  “It’s on the floor under my night table. I often have it on during the night when I can’t sleep. So I store it there.” She could hear him running lightly up the stairs. “It’s here.”

  “Oh great. Can you bring that and yes to a change of clothes please. And grab my black jacket from the kitchen chair. I might need a coat.”

  “Okay. I can be back to you in about twenty minutes.”

  After saying good-bye she handed the phone over to Benji. “Thanks for letting me talk to him.”

  “Sure, no problem.” He accepted it from her. “Your phone’s missing?”

  “And my purse.” She glanced at her watch. “I need to call the bank.”

  “Use my phone.” He tossed it on the bed beside her.

  “I can’t yet, I don’t have the number.”

  “It’s got data so go ahead.”

  She smiled. “Much appreciated.”

  He shrugged and settled back along the window. Just enough to see out but not enough to be visible. Hidden but in a good position.

  Always on guard.

  She quickly found the information on the phone once she managed to focus. Then made the call. She was on hold for several moments then finally managed to get through. She cancelled her cards and ordered new ones. How could she get a new phone from the hospital? She couldn’t. Not really. She could easily hook up a new one to the same plan, but she needed a phone – even an older one to do that.

  She handed the phone back to Benji and snuggled deeper in the pillows. She was tired. Not sure why when she hadn’t done anything yet, but there was no getting around the fact she could close her eyes right now and sleep.

  “Nap if you can, it’s what your body needs.”

  “I know but I don’t want to miss Evan. He’s bringing stuff for me.” She let her eyes drift shut. “Wake me when he comes.”

  “Will do.”

  And she let sleep reclaim her.

  *

  He wandered the house. The police were still working, but he’d been allowed to come and collect a few personal items for her. He’d have to check them out so the officers knew what was missing and what he’d taken. He’d told them her phone and purse were gone.

  They’d not been impressed but not bothered until he said she thought that her ID might be in her purse. At that they’d made multiple notations and asked a mess of questions. He answered what he could and told them to contact her about the rest.

  He quickly collected a few items of clothing and found a small backpack in her closet. He laid the items out on her bed, brought in one of the cops to check them off the list before packing them up.

  Next he stopped back at his house and collected an old phone he had in his dresser drawer. It still worked, just didn’t have all the new features he’d wanted. Maybe she’d be okay to use it for a few days until she could get to the store and buy what she wanted. Although, it might be more of a bother for just a few days. Next stop was the coffee shop. She was going to need a shot of caffeine when she woke up. She was a coffeeholic like so many of them on the base – hell, almost everyone he knew was addicted. He pulled the truck to the drive-thru and ordered coffees for all of them. Next stop was…food? Should he pick up something? Or see how she was when he got there?

  “I’ll wait,” he said, feeling like he was on a first date for all the nervous hemming and hawing on what to do. So not his normal style. He made it to the hospital parking lot, texted Ice that someone needed to come and give him a hand to collect coffee and snagged Megan’s backpack. He waited at the truck until Tonner arrived to help carry.

  “Hey, that’s a lot of caffeine,” Tonner said.

  “I should have just grabbed a box of the stuff and some empty cups,” he said. “Would have been easier.”

  “And possibly cheaper.”

  “Something to keep in mind.” He unloaded the front of his truck. “Hell, for what this cost I could have picked up a coffee maker and a pound of coffee and set it up in one of the rooms.”

  The two men tossed his idea back and forth as they made their way up to the top floor. His trays of coffee were quickly emptied as everyone reached out and snagged a cup. Finally, it was just three cups left. With his hands full, Tonner opened the door for him and he walked in to find Benji leaning against the wall and Megan out cold.

  So much for wanting a hot cup of coffee.

  “She asked to be woken up when you arrived,” Benji said, accepting one of the few remaining coffees. “She was pretty insistent.”

  “Good. I like to hear that.” Of course chances were good she was just looking for clothes and her laptop, but he’d take the little bit of fantasy while he could. When she woke up he knew she’d bring him back down to reality fast enough.

  He placed the two cups of coffee on the small table and waited until Benji left to join the others, then he dropped the backpack on the floor at the end of her bed, leaned over and kissed her gently.

  “Wake up, sleeping beauty.” She opened her eyes to see him. A slow smile dawned.

  She shifted slightly reaching up to rub her eyes. “I’m awake.”

  “Ha, you so aren’t.” He remembered this from before. She always talked normally like she really was awake only to find out later that she never remembered she’d spoken.

  “Not good enough. Sit up and open your eyes.”

  With a small groan, she rolled onto her back and stared up at him. “That’s mean.”

  “No, it’s not. I remember how hard it was to wake you before. You need more sleep.”

  She shrugged. “Sleep is hard to come by in a new place. No friends. Left my family back East. Lots of regrets and not a whole lot of good to put sweet dreams in my head.”

  “Ouch. I’m sorry life has been so difficult. I wish I could
make it easier.”

  Moving carefully she sat up and used the button to raise the head of the bed so she could relax back. “Not your fault. It was all me.” Her eyes lit on the coffee cups. “Are those for us?”

  “They are indeed.”

  She smiled as he handed her a cup. “It’s still hot so be careful,” he warned.

  She nodded but took a small sip then smiled. “It’s perfect.”

  “Good.”

  “You remembered I take a single cream.”

  “There’s not much I don’t remember.” He tapped his temple. “Remember that radar? It’s also about the details.”

  She smiled. “And did you bring my laptop or did you miss that detail?”

  “Got it and a couple of changes of clothes, and I snagged your jacket so you’ll be warm wherever it is you end up.”

  The smile fell away from her face. “Good reminder. I’d so hoped to be able to go back to my place.”

  “The cops were there. I told them about your missing phone and purse. So they know about your ID.”

  She nodded. “I feel so stupid.”

  “Why? It’s not as if you could stop the intruder and say, ‘Excuse me, I need to run downstairs, get my purse, run upstairs, grab my phone, then jump out of a window.’”

  She laughed. “When you put it that way…”

  “Exactly.”

  He smiled, happy to see her looking better.

  “So what’s the next step then? If I can’t go home, where can I go?”

  Chapter 14

  “Hopefully my place,” Evan said. “The cops are there too, but the intruder never gained access to my house so the investigation won’t take as long or be as intense on my end.”

  Megan shrugged, her gaze on the cup. “Staying at your house is not a good idea.”

  “Sure it is.” He studied her features. “Why isn’t it?”

  “Because we have history.”

  “Honey, that’s old history.” His lethal grin flashed. “What I’m trying to make is new history.”

  “Exactly,” she said in a dry tone. “We’re in the middle of some scary shit, and I don’t want my focus to get pulled away by you.”