Targeted: Newlywed Navy Seals Risk It All! (Truth and Lies Series Book 1)

by Pinki Parks

  I saw him limping toward me and he gave me a smile to melt the panties right off of my body. He probably didn’t even notice I was alive, but I couldn’t say the same. He was in obvious discomfort, but he was refraining from using the crutches. It was his macho male pride getting in the way. I wanted to shake him and tell him to follow doctor’s orders.

  His aftershave knocked me back in my seat with my hand fanning myself. It was ripe with a high dose of testosterone which exuded from every pore of his body. This man stood head and shoulders above the rest.

  “That man has clearly gotten you wrapped around his little finger. I have a good mind to invite him to have a few drinks with us. A little socializing doesn’t hurt anyone. He’s probably embarrassed and doesn’t want sympathy. I think I can use some male persuasion to get him to have one drink with us. Wish me luck. I’m going in without a flak jacket.” He was a whiz kid on the computers, but Henry was barely able to lift his own body weight.

  My parents were retired living the high life in Las Vegas spending what was my college tuition. They had my permission after my father had a health scare of a heart attack. It landed him in the hospital for almost two months with complications. I felt a little cheated, but my job paid quite handsomely. It didn’t make me happy.

  “I would be very careful about poking the wounded bear. He might not feel kindly about being ambushed.” I didn’t think he had a hope in hell of getting him to join us. I gave him credit for having the courage to step into the Lions’ den.

  “I’m sure he’s a teddy bear once you get to know him.” Henry was wearing a bow tie and I’d heard through the office grapevine that he was a sought-after commodity by the gay community.

  “Henry, I took a look at his file and most of it is redacted.” I watched him approach, sidestepping the Christmas tree in the middle of the hallway.

  The whole office was decorated for the holidays. It was a little gaudy and made me feel like Christmas had thrown up all over the place. I wasn’t much for festive celebrations. There was a lot of hype for one day. It was a little sickening to see decorations already up right after Halloween. It was still three weeks away and there was no sign of snow in the forecast. It was unseasonably warm, but I wasn’t about to complain.

  “I have some good news and some bad news.” I looked up to see Henry smiling smugly like he had done the impossible. “The good news is he’s going to join us for a drink across the street after work. The bad news is I thought I saw a wedding ring on his finger.” In one breath he managed to burst my bubble.

  Unfortunately, it meant that I was going to have to make small talk with a man that was off limits. It was the story of my life.

  Chapter Two

  Chase

  “I don’t know what you’re complaining about. You took a bit of shrapnel in your knee. The doctors are optimistic you will get the full mobility of your leg back. You’re better off than I am.” Mason Dane stood from his desk and lifted his pant leg to show me the composite steel of his left leg. He started the security company immediately after he left the army.

  “I know it could have been worse, but you have to understand I hate having to be relegated to desk duty. Being the support for those in the field is for somebody else. I need to have my boots on the ground.” I was kicking myself for not grabbing the crutches on the way out of my office.

  I found they were an unnecessary reminder of how I wasn’t bulletproof. I was hitting my stride at 42. I was able to keep up with the young bucks who thought I was too old to make a difference. I had proven myself to be a leader amongst little boys trying to be men.

  “I know exactly how you feel and I live with my shortcomings every day. You’re lucky to be alive.” His words were harsh, but I could count on him for the unvarnished truth.

  “I have to thank you for giving me a chance.” I was getting older, but with age came wisdom.

  “We recruited you after your last tour of duty overseas because of your record. I’m a little biased. You are my best friend.” We had enlisted together at the ripe age of 18 and stationed in Guam for the first 4 years.

  “I sometimes think my time has come and gone.” I was understandably depressed, but I was able to hide it with a stoic expression.

  “If you weren’t in the trenches there would have been more casualties. There were no fatalities.” I had recognized the danger and acted accordingly with the rank of colonel following me into battle.

  I had to put in double the effort, but it was worth it to give the next generation a look at a real hero. I was down to 190 pounds perfectly proportioned with my 6-foot frame. I might have been part of civil life, but my hairstyle was still trapped in the Marines. The buzz cut made me feel like I was still doing something important. Soldiers still looked to me to have the answers.

  “We were lucky this time. I almost missed it.” I remembered the day like it was yesterday and it still haunted my nightmares with the sounds of screaming in my head. It reminded me of the one time I lost anybody on my watch. His memory wasn’t the only face I saw.

  “Chase, nobody could have done any better under the circumstances. We will always second guess ourselves. This is not the time to show weakness in front of the others. They need a steady hand at the helm.”

  “You’ve always been there for me. You’re the brother I never had growing up. My parents did their best, but they were always busy putting out one fire after another. I never had a grounded childhood. I kept moving around from one base to another with my father. I didn’t even know what civilian life was.” I was born to serve and to wave the flag of independence with a gun in one hand and a knife in the other.

  “Chase, you can’t pick your family, but you can pick your friends.” I didn’t feel I had anything to be upset about, not after everything Mason had gone through.

  He was my benchmark, the one I measured myself against. He was the total package. He was not only fearless, but he could think outside the box. Mason was never one to tow the line. Where most of us were duty bound to follow orders, he would always question whether or not we were doing the right thing. It wasn’t long before he realized his place wasn’t in the military. He still wanted to serve his country but doing it with restrictions had left him with a bad taste in his mouth.

  Unfortunately, he lost his leg the last day before he was set to ship out back home. Most people would have lost a part of their soul, but he managed to stand on the one good leg he had. I was amazed by how resilient he could be.

  His company had grown to a major success and I had seen several of his recruits while on active duty in the military.

  “Family comes with it many pitfalls and hurdles to overcome. I’m old enough to have my own family and yet I still feel I need to make my father proud.” I grunted standing on my feet. I moved to where I could see the landscape unfolding in front of me.

  “I’ve always said Washington is beautiful this time of year. The changing colors take a moment to get used to. I know this isn’t the position you wanted, but it’s not forever. Keep doing your physiotherapy on schedule. This is your chance to show those young ones how you bounce back from adversity.” His encouragement helped me to realize life was about changes and nothing stayed the same.

  “I came here to make a difference and to use my unique skill set. If I can’t be in the field, then you should at least give me a license to train. I can adapt by showing them some of my expertise to keep them from getting killed.” I’d seen too many die as a result of their ignorance and inexperience.

  The training in the military was extensive, but it wasn’t enough. Conditioning was the key and finding that muscle memory to follow your gut instinct was paramount.

  “Do you have any idea why I decided Washington, DC was going to be my base of operations? People thought I was crazy, but I wanted to be near where I could look them in the eye. I need to be up close and personal with those who make the big decisions. We both know some behind the lines have neve
r seen active duty.” He was always a little strange and most people were shocked by his stark white hair at the age of 18.

  “I had a feeling it was something like that. You’ve never been one to hide unless it was in plain sight. Then again, how can you hide when your mane of white hair follows you wherever you go? A lot of the other recruits called you father time until they saw you in action.” He was my age, but he looked a little grizzled and weathered around the eyes.

  He wore those scars he had received in battle physically and emotionally like badges of honor. The things that didn’t kill us made us stronger. It was all a matter of perspective and how quickly you could get back up on your feet after being knocked down.

  “I’ve never shied away from doing what wasn’t expected. I can be unpredictable and that usually works in my favor. Procedures are necessary, but you have to know when to do what comes naturally. I only recruit those that show the potential of a true warrior. It’s always in their eyes.” In the years preceding our first meeting when we were 18, life continued to move forward and there was no point in looking back.

  “Mason, I’ve always had an eye for talent and you know that better than anyone. I like to think of myself as someone that flies by the seat of their pants when necessary.” There was a silent respect. We only had to look at each other to know the reality of war.

  “I’m inclined to give the recruits a few hours of your undivided time in the classroom, to begin with. If things go well, then I will certainly consider moving you up to a more on hands approach. I’m fair and hard when I need to be. They will be lucky to have your tutelage.” It was better than pushing papers and I wouldn’t have to frustratingly watch people do what I couldn’t for the time being.

  “I thought I was going to have to twist your arm a little bit more. I should have known better than to think you would pass on a good thing when it’s right in front of you. I can’t promise to go easy on them.” Boot camp had nothing on how I was going to psychologically torture them.

  Mason was wearing camouflage fatigues and was never comfortable in a tailored suit molded to his body like a second skin. He could certainly clean-up well when dignitaries were coming to see the dog and pony show. Black Net was the last line of defense for those who didn’t want to get their hands dirty.

  “Chase, I wouldn’t expect anything less from a man of your character and honor. You still have the rank of colonel. I expect you will have that permanently tattooed on your skin somewhere. It wouldn’t even surprise me if you have it on your lower back as a tramp stamp.” I cocked my eyebrow and with lightning speed punched him in the shoulder hard enough to make him spin around in a circle.

  “I’ve never been comfortable marking my body with ink. I have enough scars with stories for every one of them to last me a lifetime. There was never a need to jump on that macho train when everybody was too drunk to realize what they were doing.” I had a few lesson plans in mothballs which I was going to dust off.

  “Your eye for detail is going to pay off in big time around here. We have some lucrative contracts with several high paying dignitaries to give them the security they are looking for. We want more of the same but we also want to tap into the market of the military.” Mason had big dreams and was willing to talk the talk with those still on the fence about using his company.

  “Mason, our numbers are wearing thin. It’s not easy to poach the military for established talent. We give the next generation an alternative to signing their life away. It’s far more rewarding. I wish there was something like this before we decided to make our mark on the world. It’s better late than never.” I had a fleeting thought of the woman I was going to be having drinks with for her birthday.

  “It’s time for you to get your feet wet and start recruiting. There are a couple of colleges in the area having a career week. I want you to be center stage. We can’t give them the same song and dance as everybody else. It’s necessary for us to stand out from the crowd.” I had seen some of the new recruits and they needed some fine tuning.

  There were many seasoned professionals who had been left with their minds shattered from what they had seen and they were going to leave them in a fetal position rocking back and forth muttering nonsense to a bunch of kids.

  “I think you might be overestimating my talents to encourage young minds to take a leap of faith. But, I appreciate the high praise and I will do everything in my power not to let you down.” Mason was underneath my command in the marines, but he was always a leader when it counted the most.

  “Chase, you’ve always been a blunt instrument. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I had, however, done things I wasn’t proud of.

  I never had thoughts of taking my life. It was the coward’s way out in my opinion.

  “I’m deadly and decisive. I was at the top of my class through boot camp. I excelled in hand to hand combat. I learned to use my environment and not depend on conventional weapons. This is what is missing from the lazy generation. I’m going to test them until they hate me.” Feelings didn’t matter when a gun was up against your head.

  “We can’t condemn the entire generation over a few bad apples. I look forward to seeing how they exceed your expectations. Cynthia has mentioned having you come over for Sunday dinner. I know how you feel about home cooked meals, but maybe you can make an exception.” I knew if I didn’t come he would never hear the end of it from his wife. I had become something of a surrogate brother and thankfully, not some kind of charity case.

  Chapter Three

  Gail

  I was nursing a cosmopolitan alone at the bar looking like a sad case of being stood up by a blind date. It was a crying shame to have somebody like him off the market. I was beginning to think that all the good ones were either married or gay. It didn’t leave much on the bone for those of us still looking for their significant other.

  “I think somebody needs another drink. I’m sorry I even made the suggestion about going out for drinks. It doesn’t look like you are in any mood to socialize. It probably didn’t help any matters when I mentioned he was married.” I could see the shining example of his fidelity on his finger mocking me from across the room.

  “I’m making the best out of a bad situation.” I wanted to feel numb and forget it was my birthday.

  “I haven’t heard him talk about anyone special in his life. It could be he’s trying to separate his professional life from his personal life. I have to admit he does look pretty damn good in and out of his uniform.” I knew what he meant, but anybody overhearing would have been given the impression they had been intimate.

  “Lower your voice and we don’t want to give people the wrong idea.” I had known for quite some time his fascination for men in uniform was his Achilles heel.

  “I’ve never been one to be quiet about anything in my life. The day I came out of the closet was liberating. I don’t care what other people think.” The one thing I admired about Henry was how he could rise above petty differences.

  “I didn’t give 20-years of my life for nothing. People have the right to live the way they want to without being judged. As long as you’re not hurting anyone then there shouldn’t be any problem.” I wasn’t aware Chase was even behind me until he spoke. He was quiet and reserved without any wasted motion.

  “I’m glad to see somebody agrees with me. I didn’t come to work for Mr. Dane to be labeled and ridiculed. I made sure to be upfront with him from the very beginning about my open sexuality. He was actually very understanding and made me feel at home.” I felt the same way that Henry did and was surprised to learn Chase was open minded.

  He seemed rigid in posture and in his thinking. It was possible he was only saying what we wanted to hear, but I didn’t think so. I was going to go home and dress up for the occasion, but it didn’t seem necessary knowing he was already taken.

  “Henry, life is precious and there’s no time for regrets. I don’t prescribe to my own advice, but maybe I could
take a page from your book. Sitting in silence and doing nothing has never been my strong suit. Expect me to be heard when I have something to say.” He did have a military bearing even in the suit he was wearing.

  “I do have a prior commitment, but I am leaving you in capable hands. Gail is one of my best friends and I would appreciate you keeping her company in my absence.” I didn’t think he was bowing out gracefully like that, especially because the colonel has a wedding ring on his finger.

  He was never one to believe in commitment. This was one of those contentions between us.

  “That is a nice locket.” Henry had given me a silver heart shaped locket with both of our pictures inside.

  “Henry gave me present for my thirtieth birthday.” I was going to treasure it.

  “A woman on her birthday should never have to drink alone.” His voice was loud and I looked around to make sure nobody else from the office had heard his declaration.

  “I don’t like my birthday and I never have. It could stem from my father leaving the family on my 11th birthday. I’m sure any therapist would have some choice words to say about that.” I kept looking at his ring finger and imagining the lucky woman who had captured his attention.

  “A birthday is a chance to celebrate a milestone. Turning thirty is a big achievement. Some people don’t even know what they want to do at that age. Others already have their lives mapped out for them. Each milestone gives you the opportunity to reinvent yourself.” His lips were moving, but I could barely hear him over the muscles bulging from his overdeveloped body.

  “I would rather have a quiet ceremony in private. I don’t even know why I told Henry. He has this funny way of getting me to open up. He knows me a little too well.” I needed the liquid courage and downed the cosmopolitan to be replaced by another one at my request.