Ladies Love Lawmen: When It's A Matter of The Heart or Death...

by D'Ann Lindun

  “Leave me. Save yourself,” Lauren mumbled.

  “No chance in hell,” he countered. “You’re getting out of here if it’s the last thing I do.”

  His men held back the guerillas as he and the other SEAL carrying Natalie sprinted for the chopper. Everyone scrambled aboard the Black Hawk as gunfire continued to rain down around them.

  “We’re all counted for.” Coltraine waved wildly at the pilot. “Get this bird off the ground.” He held Lauren across his lap. “Told you we’d get you out of here.”

  Her arms tightened around his neck. “Thank you.”

  In the next moment, a bullet tore through her back, severing her spine and killing her instantly.

  Coltraine blinked away the image of Lauren’s blood pouring over his hands. He’d failed her after he promised her he’d get her out. Something he couldn’t forgive himself for. He couldn’t fail again. If he did, he’d quit the SEALs. Become a recluse somewhere in Mexico, where no one would ever know his shame.

  A light snow continued to fall, making the forest feel like a safe haven. A trap. His skin felt too tight and his scalp tingled with awareness. He glanced at the sky. No sun to tell time by, but he guessed it to be around 1500 hundred hours. Not long until dark.

  The air thinned. The elevation had to be around 11,000 feet. None of Andy’s people seemed to be fazed by it, though. All marched steadily along, moving quietly. For civvies, they were damn impressive.

  His gaze went to Andy. Especially her. Quiet, controlled. Steady under pressure. Exactly what he liked in a woman. Whoa, Jack. What was he thinking? She was gorgeous, but he couldn’t go there. After this mission, he was moving on just like he always did. A relationship wasn’t in the cards, and he preferred it that way.

  Women only clouded a guy’s thinking, got good men killed.

  Howler came to a halt and pointed to an open mountainside opposite where they stood. “Look.”

  Pieces of wreckage lay scattered over the snow-covered area. Coltraine recognized the call numbers on the tail section as that of Sheikh Dul Fiquar’s private jet. “It’s them.”

  “I don’t see anyone,” Andy said.

  “Hopefully, they managed to get out of the storm,” Coltraine said. “Let’s get over there and find out.”

  “Not so fast,” Howler said. “We’ve got a little problem.” He pointed again, this time to the narrow chasm between them and the mountainside where the plane rested. “That thing is hundreds of feet down, and it’s treacherous on a summer day. One misstep and—” He made a slashing motion across his throat— “we’re toast.”

  “How do we cross it?” Coltraine studied the terrain, trying to figure a way around the obstacle.

  “We jump,” Andy said.

  “And if we don’t make it?” Savedra’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

  Andy shot her a glance. “We will if we go one at a time and tie a rope around our waist for safety.”

  Savedra snorted. “Who goes first?”

  Coltraine stepped forward. “Me.”

  Andy removed her backpack. “I have a rope in here. Tie it around your waist. We’ll secure it on this side.”

  He took the end she handed him and looped it around his middle. “Got it.”

  “Be careful.” The look in her eyes warmed him. She seemed to care if he lived or died.

  “I got this.” He bent and removed his snowshoes, tucking them into his backpack.

  With a quick nod, she headed for a sturdy looking tree and tied her end of the rope. “Got it.”

  With a deep breath, he measured the distance, then sprinted for the ravine. Like a champion long jumper, he leaped. Pumping his arms and legs, he pushed himself over the gap. With a thud, he landed.

  After untying the rope from his waist, he tossed it back and gave the others a thumbs-up.

  Painter came next. He tied on the rope, then leaped. His feet found purchase, but he fought to stay upright. Coltraine caught his outstretched hand and pulled him to safety.

  “Thanks, man,” Painter gasped.

  “You bet.”

  Coltraine tossed the free end of the rope to Howler, who tied it onto Savedra. She gave him a quick kiss, then took a flying run at the crevice. Like an angel, she seemed to float over the lip of the gorge. “That was fun.”

  Fun wasn’t what he’d call it, but Coltraine nodded. “Let me have the rope.”

  She handed it to him with a little pout. “Here.”

  To his surprise, Howler came next, leaving Andy for last. He made it across with little effort and threw the rope to Andy, who caught it easily. She looped it around her waist, and double-checked her tie. After untying the knotted end from the tree, she tossed it to Coltraine. She hesitated. He could see she was scared.

  “Come on, baby. You can do it.” He hadn’t realized he spoke out loud until Painter arched a brow his direction.

  Before she left the ground on her side, he could see she wasn’t going to land right. She’d taken off too soon. Instead of her feet hitting square, her hands clutched snow. Her body slid backward, dangled above the icy abyss below.

  When their gazes met, Coltraine saw the terror in her eyes. He dropped to his belly and grabbed her wrists. “I got you. Hold on.”

  Their combined weight pulled him toward the edge. he He still held the end of her safety rope. Behind him, he felt hands grab his ankles and the back of his coat. Staring into Andy’s frightened blue eyes, he said, “Pull, guys.”

  Inch-by-inch, they raised him until he and Andy lay on the frozen ground, panting.

  “You okay?”

  She nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.”

  “None needed.” He would have kissed her if four pairs of eyes weren’t locked on them. Instead, he pushed to his feet and held out his hand. “Ready?”

  “Yeah.” She took his hand and stood. “What is you SEAL types’ motto? ‘The only easy day was yesterday?’”

  He shot her a surprised look. “Yeah. One of them.”

  Her grin was shaky. “Truer words were never spoken.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Andy still shook half an hour later. Although Coltraine hadn’t allowed her to fall to her death, she’d been scared out of her mind. Heights were the one thing she hated about SAR missions. Often, they found people on the side of a mountain, where they had no business being.

  Thank God Coltraine had caught her. The look in his eye had let her know he had her, wouldn’t let her die.

  She tried to force away the shakes as they grew close to the crash scene. The overwhelming scent of jet fuel filled the air as they circled the perimeter of the open mountainside. One of the wings and the fuselage lay out in plain view, broken apart, but upright.

  Although Painter had wanted to go directly, Coltraine had vetoed the idea, insisting they’d be too exposed. Going around took longer, but worth it if it kept them alive.

  As they approached the wreck, Coltraine took the lead, weapon in his hands. Andy and the SAR team fell in behind him as if they had been doing so for years. He motioned for them to wait as he entered the plane.

  When he disappeared inside the torn metal, Andy held her breath until he reappeared. He motioned them to come forward. “We have casualties and injuries.”

  Andy’s heart sank. “The sheikha?”

  He shook his head. “She’s alive, but injured. The pilot and crew are dead, killed on impact.”

  “Oh, no,” Andy said.

  “Yeah, but right now, our concern is Sheikha Sabar.” He looked grim. “Come inside.”

  The interior of the plane was dim, and it took Andy’s eyes a few moments to adjust. Seats and luggage were strewn everywhere. Stepping carefully, she followed Coltraine toward the front of the plane.

  Three women huddled together, staring at them with fearful eyes. They wore colorful hijabs, leaving their faces exposed. All three women were in their mid-twenties and stunningly beautiful. Andy was reminded of fawns in the forest.

  Coltraine spoke to them in Arabic. />
  “We speak English,” one of them responded. “The sheikha knows about you. Her father has spoken of you.”

  “We’re here to help,” he said. “How badly are you injured?”

  The same woman pointed to the lady in the middle. She held her arm close to her body, her face pinched with pain. “Sheikha Sabar’s arm is broken.”

  “Are you hurt, too?” Coltraine asked, kneeling.

  The maid flinched away. “Just bruised.”

  “You cannot touch us,” the third woman said. “It is forbidden.”

  Andy stepped forward. “May I?”

  The woman nodded reluctantly. “Yes.”

  “Have you seen anyone else?”

  Coltraine’s tone must’ve alerted them because their eyes widened as they shook their heads no.

  “My uncle?” The sheikha spoke for the first time. Her voice was lilting, soft.

  “I’m sorry.” Coltraine shook his head.

  Tears glimmered in her eyes, but she blinked them away. “He was a brave man.”

  “Yes.” Coltraine straightened. He spoke to Andy. “I’ll take the men and scout around while you and Savedra examine the ladies.”

  “Okay.”

  After he left, Andy and Gabriella did a fast exam of the women. The Sheikha’s arm was broken, and they set and wrapped it. A doctor would have to cast it when they arrived back in town, but it would hold until then. All three women had bumps and bruises, but nothing life threatening.

  “What happened to my uncle?” the sheikha asked.

  Andy hesitated. How much to say?

  “Was he murdered?” the princess pressed.

  “Yes. Someone shot him,” Andy said finally. “I’m sorry.”

  She closed her eyes and said something in Arabic. A prayer, Andy assumed.

  “We need to concentrate on getting you out of here,” she said.

  Gabriella raised her brows. “Tonight?”

  A flashback of Margot’s death went through Andy’s head. She fought to keep her voice steady. “The princess doesn’t have life-threatening injuries. It would be better to move her into the light.”

  “We nearly froze to death last night,” the princess said. “We were so frightened.”

  “I can only imagine,” Andy told her. “But you’re safe now. The men will build a fire, and we’ll eat something soon.”

  “Thank you.” She leaned back against a seat cushion and closed her eyes.

  “Excuse me, please. I need to let Coltraine know how bad your injuries are, and that we plan to camp here tonight.” Andy made her way through the debris to the exterior of the plane. She found the men gathered around the broken off tail section.

  “How is the sheikha?” Coltraine asked when Andy stepped outside.

  “Her arm is broken, and she’s banged up pretty good. The other two women are bruised, but not seriously injured. I think we should stay here tonight, not risk going down the mountain in the dark.” She looked between the men, who all frowned. “What?”

  “Her injury will slow us down,” Howler said. “And it looks like more snow. I don’t want to get trapped at this elevation with these women. They probably don’t know how to use snowshoes.”

  “I don’t want to cross that crevasse in the dark,” Andy argued. “I barely made it across, and my arm isn’t broken.” She pointed to the plane. “We’re safer here, too, right?”

  “Safer from the elements, but if the insurgents trap us here…” Coltraine looked grim.

  “Are you sure they’re even up here?” Howler asked. “We haven’t seen a sign of anyone. Maybe they got scared off by the snow?”

  “I’m sure they’re here. These are not the kind to quit,” Coltraine said.

  “What is your opinion on staying the night, then?” Andy was torn. Part of her was anxious to get off the mountain because Howler was right, more snow was coming. But the other side of her craved the relative warmth and safety of the plane.

  “I think staying makes sense,” Coltraine said finally. “Get some rest and a hot meal in the ladies, and us, too. Start at dawn.”

  “You better pray those women don’t have internal injuries then,” Gabriella said from behind them.

  Andy spun around to face her. “They don’t.”

  “You can’t know that for sure, can you?” Gabriella looked at Coltraine. “You see, the last time Andy insisted we stay on the mountain one of our victims died. She made the wrong call. We should have moved, as I suggested, not waited..”

  He pinned a cold stare on her. “I’m aware of what happened, and Miss Baines did the right thing. If you’re ever in charge, Miss Savedra, you’ll find it isn’t as easy as Andy makes it look.”

  Andy didn’t know who looked more shocked by his words, Gabriella, or her. She sensed praise didn’t come easily from the badass SEAL, yet he said she made leading her team look easy. If he only knew how much she struggled to regain her footing after Margot’s death. And how did he know what happened? Had Mick told him? Or, had he researched her somehow?

  “You tell that to the girl who died’s family,” Gabriella shot back.

  “I have, many times,” he said. “And it never gets easier.”

  With a huff, Gabriella spun on her heel and disappeared back inside the wreckage. Howler and Painter shifted uncomfortably, not making eye contact.

  “Do you two agree with her?” Andy demanded. “Do you think I made the wrong call, too? Or, do you think Gabriella’s right and we should have moved Margot off the mountain that night?”

  “It would have been crazy to have taken her out in the storm,” Painter said. “You couldn’t know she was going to have a pulmonary embolism. None of us could have. You made the right call.”

  Andy fought to speak. “You mean that, Frank?”

  He nodded. “I do. And I said so to your dad when he asked.”

  Why had he never told her this before? “Thanks.”

  “You’re a good leader, Andy.” He touched her shoulder.

  She swallowed the lump in the throat. “That means a lot.” Turning her attention to Howler, she said, “You feel that way, too?”

  He hesitated for a long moment. “Yeah. You did the right thing.”

  Why the hell had they not said so before? Maybe because she hadn’t given them a chance, she realized. After Margot’s death, she’d blamed herself, so she figured they all had, too.

  “Thanks, guys.” She shook off her cascading emotions. “Let’s get situated. Daylight’s almost gone, and it’s going to be a long, cold night. We don’t dare light anything with all this jet fuel splashed all over the mountainside.”

  “We have to make sure the ladies are in separate quarters,” Coltraine said. “I’ll stand guard.”

  “Howler and I can sleep in my tent,” Painter said. “And I can spare you part of the night.”

  “Can you take first shift?”

  “Yes, sir. I sure can.”

  “I can take one, too,” Howler insisted.

  “We’ll split into three shifts then,” Coltraine agreed reluctantly.

  Andy pulled herself to her full height and stared at him with a steely eye. Woman, or not, she was just as capable of standing guard as he was. “Three? Don’t you mean five? There are five of us here, not just three.”

  “I agree with you,” Coltraine said. “But, the sheikha needs attending to and a man unrelated to her cannot do it. So, if you and Savedra will care for the princess and her maids, Howler, Painter and I will keep lookout tonight.”

  He made sense, she supposed. “Oh, okay then.”

  “Where will you sleep?” Heat flared on her cheeks at the flash of something intense in his eyes.

  “I brought my pup tent,” Howler said, breaking the sudden tension arcing between Andy and Coltraine. “We can take turns using it.”

  “We need to put it somewhere out of sight.” Coltraine looked around, then pointed a few yards away. “There. Under that stand of trees.”

  “I’ll set it up now
.” Howler headed that way.

  Painter moved into the fuselage. “I’ll see about food.”

  When Andy and Coltraine were alone, she hesitated. “I’m sorry you had to witness my personal drama.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Already forgotten.”

  “Do you agree that we should stay here tonight?” His answer mattered more than she’d ever admit.

  “It doesn’t matter what I think. The decision is made. Now we execute it.” He sounded anything but encouraging.

  “Understood.” She spun away until a hand on her elbow spun her around. She collided with a granite chest. “What the he—”

  With his lips and tongue, he assaulted her mouth, giving her no time to resist or even react. This was no quick brush of the lips. His tongue plundered her mouth with a fierce intensity that stole her breath and made her knees weak. Instinctively, she wrapped her fingers in his coat to hold herself upright.

  As his tongue wrapped around hers, she thought he tasted like clean snow. Not like he had eaten snow, but fresh, clean and sharp. The thought made her giggle.

  He pulled back. “Not exactly the reaction I was hoping for.”

  Instead of answering, she placed both hands on his cheeks and lowered his face to hers. She invited him to kiss her by pressing her lips against his until he groaned and claimed her mouth again.

  Prepared for his brutal assault this time, she met his hot kisses with her own. Her nipples hardened, pressing painfully against her bra. What she would give to have his hands on them, or better yet, his mouth.

  He’d nudged her legs apart with one of his and the vee of her body rocked against his thigh in time with his tongue plunging in and out of her mouth.

  “Is this a private party?” Gabriella’s voice broke into Andy’s thoughts.

  Humiliated, she jerked out of Coltraine’s arms. “What do you want, Gabriella?”

  “I thought you’d want to know I’ve hung a blanket across the aisle for privacy so that the men can use the back half of the plane.”

  “I do, thank you. The guys are going to take turns standing guard tonight, though, so they won’t be in the plane after dinner.” Andy glanced at Coltraine. “Will you eat with the princess?”