The SEAL’s Surprise Mission (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Rache)

by Rachel McNeely

  “I’m sorry for the loss of your man.”

  “He died with pride. We will take good care of his family.”

  “You all must hate me for leading these men to your tribe.”

  “No, we chose to have you stay. It was right. What my daughter did was right and brave. All will be well.” He touched his breast. “I feel it in here.”

  Bear drove the truck with the covered back where the rest of the team except Madison hid with their guns ready. They weren’t far from the village when another truck sped around a curve and halted in front of them. Bear had put on a native costume. Madison sat beside him also dressed as a native. He spoke the language and told the other truck to go to the side.

  The driver jumped out and angrily pointed his gun at Madison and Bear, telling them to get out. Marcel whispered from the back, “This guy looks like the picture we have of the boss of the gang that was holding Glenn.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” Bear said softly. “We’ll open our doors and pretend we’re getting out. You all jump out and try to wound them. The upper rank might be more happy about our little side job here if we bring back valuable prisoners.” Bear put up his hands and he and Madison slowly got out of the truck.

  The short man held his gun on them and asked questions. The man behind him had a rifle aimed at Bear’s heart. The third man stayed in the truck.

  Suddenly there was a loud clang. The two men outside the vehicle jumped and looked away for a second. Bear and Madison grabbed their guns and wrestled the men to the ground. The other SEALs stood with their guns leveled at the two men and the one in the truck. Outnumbered, the men reluctantly gave their guns up. The one inside got out with his hands raised.

  “I thought there’d be more of you,” Bear said.

  “Some idiot shot at us from the hills and two of my men were killed.”

  “For no reason,” another man added.

  “Hmm, I believe you’re the rest of the gang we’ve been looking for and the shooter who killed your man did us a favor.”

  Marcel tied them up and herded them to the back of the truck they’d borrowed.

  Bear glared at their captives. “We’re going to see if the village is all right.”

  It wasn’t much farther before they came to the edge of the village where they hoped to find the reporter.

  Several men came out of the larger home in the village. They all held guns and watched the SEALs with suspicious eyes.

  Bear stopped the truck. He and Madison got out with hands raised. Madison spoke.

  “We come in peace. We heard you might have a reporter from our country staying in your village. We just met and took into custody three men we think may have tried to take her from you or kill her.”

  The village leader smiled and motioned for the others to put down their guns. “She is safe, but wounded. Come with me, and I will show you.”

  Bear motioned for Madison and Hawke to follow the older man. The others stayed with their prisoners.

  As they walked toward the back of the village, the leader said, “We lost one man when the gang came to take her, but she managed to kill two of their men. She is a lady with a warrior's heart. We were proud to defend her.”

  Madison glanced at Hawke and said slowly, “This will be interesting.”

  An older woman came to the door and looked at the leader. “It is all right,” he told her. “These men have come to take her back to her country.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Madison spoke in their language. “We will see her safely home. I promise.”

  She stared into his eyes and Hawke’s. Then she looked at them all over. “You are the ones I saw coming to get her. I told her it would be fine.” She moved aside and let them in. “She may be sleeping. Don’t startle her.”

  They nodded and walked quietly into the dimly lit room. Hawke shook his head. “It’s hard to believe this small woman did all they said, but I’m sure it’s the truth.” He knelt by her figure. It was difficult to make out her features in the room’s low light. “We’ve come to take you home,” he said softly. She stirred, but didn’t open her eyes. “You are safe. We have the bad men. You will be back in the States soon.”

  When her eyes opened, she cringed against the wall, seeing the two large men beside her. She glanced at the old woman.

  “It is all right. These are the ones I saw coming to get you. Go home and be safe. At home, you will find your heart’s desire.”

  Vi sat up, being careful not to move her arm. “I am glad to see you.” She smiled and added, “What took you so long?”

  Madison laughed. “We had a few detours on the way.”

  “Can you help me stand? I’m a bit wobbly on my feet.”

  Madison leaned down and picked her up. “No need to walk at all.”

  Vi leaned down and kissed the old lady. “I will miss you and pray for your well-being every day.”

  “Don’t forget the knitting. You are doing well.”

  “I will try and send you a blanket I make.”

  The old woman and Vi both had tears in their eyes as she was carried gently to the truck. At the truck, she again thanked the leader. “Please tell your daughter thanks. I owe her my life. If you ever need anything, I will send my address, and you can get in touch with me.”

  “I am proud my daughter saved such a strong woman. I will tell her of your thanks. If this war is ever over, please come and visit us.”

  “I will pray for the ending of your war. I’d be happy to visit in peacetime.”

  “Madison, I hate for her to travel in the back, but it’s safer with you in front beside me.”

  Vi laughed. “With all I have seen and done, a crowded truck is not a problem.”

  They all laughed. Madison carried her to the back. He handed her to Marcel. “Take good care of her. She’s a hero.”

  “Oh, please. You all are heroes. I was a woman determined to save my life and help the people who kept me safe.”

  Marcel grinned. “Sounds like a hero to me.” He placed her on some blankets they’d brought with them, and then sat beside her. “If you need a shoulder to lean on, use mine.”

  Chapter 4

  As soon as they got to the base camp, a plane waited to fly Vi to the military hospital in Germany. She’d be checked out physically before flying back to the States.

  Hawke made an excuse and strode into the office. Most of his team stayed and wished her well. I suppose Heath will rag on me about disappearing and for not saying goodbye. I don’t want to know if she’s the girl from high school.

  “Hello, Hawke. What’s up. I thought you’d stay with the others to wave the plane off.”

  “No, I’m tired.”

  Robson smiled. “She must be pretty the way the guys are standing around.”

  He shrugged. “Any news on Glenn’s condition?”

  “The medics said he had broken bones. It’s difficult to tell with the X-ray if he’s got internal bleeding, but the medics don’t think so. He’s on his way to Germany, too. I got the idea he has a chance of surviving if he lives through the flight. They can help him more in Germany.”

  Hawke nodded and stared out the window. He watched as they carried the woman they’d rescued on board the plane to fly her to the same military hospital.

  “You seem pretty interested in a woman you don’t know.”

  “No, just watching to see the plane gets off all right. Tell the others I’ve gone to rest.”

  “All right.”

  Shit, if it is her, she’ll probably tell her friends how I ignored her. What does it matter? I’ll never see her again. She’s a reporter, and I seldom watch the news. I hear enough of it firsthand.

  But he tossed and turned and wasn’t asleep when the others joined him. He kept his head down and pretended. If anyone asked questions or heckled him tonight, he might deck them.

  He must have slept. Bear hit the side of his bunk and made him jump. “Get up. We’re to have a review with the Captain at 08
00. Grab some breakfast and get there on time.”

  Hawke glanced around. The others were already partially dressed.

  Heath grinned. “You must have had a hard night. I heard you tossing and turning until early morning. Were you kicking yourself for not telling the lady good-bye?”

  “Will you get off that subject?”

  “No. It’s too much fun to see you try to ignore my question and squirm when I mention her. I’ll wait, and we’ll go to chow together.”

  “Why does all of this matter to you?”

  “I’ve never seen you act this way. You’re our sniper. You have excellent eyesight. I believe you know our ‘brave little warrior’ was your classmate. Why deny it?”

  “She can’t be. The girl I knew was a coward.”

  “Wow, those are harsh words.”

  Hawke didn’t answer. He hurried to dress. Maybe Heath would shut his mouth in the chow hall. Hawke never knew Heath to be much of a talker or so persistent.

  Heath didn’t say any more as they walked, but he grinned.

  “Your lawyer wife must be rubbing off on you,” Hawke grumbled.

  “She’ll laugh when I tell her you said so.”

  Captain Buchanan met them at 0800. “Nice to see everyone’s on time. I have good news and bad news.”

  Hawke’s heart missed a beat. Did something happen to one of the planes?

  “The good news is we finished our assignment successfully. The bad news, Glenn was beaten badly. He’ll survive, but one of his legs may never work as well as before. The doctors say he’ll have to leave the SEALs. He won’t qualify.”

  “Maybe they’re wrong,” Heath spoke gruffly.

  “We can hope. I wanted to prepare you. Glenn was on our team for a short time, but we all liked him.”

  Heath glanced around the room. “I took his place, but he went out of his way to assure me that wasn’t the reason he was leaving. He had a close friend on the other team.”

  Captain Buchanan nodded. “His friend is with him in Germany. The reporter got checked and is doing fine, although they advised her to see a counselor when she arrives in the States. We’re going home. Wheels up in two hours.”

  Vi was set to leave for the States in a few hours. She checked on Glenn’s room number and went to see him. Before she entered, she knocked and heard a masculine voice say, “Enter.”

  He didn’t speak again until she stood by his bed. “Was it your lap I dropped the USB into?”

  Vi smiled. “Yes. You turned my world upside down.”

  “I’m sorry. I needed to get the information to the upper echelon. Did you get it to them?”

  “They stopped me before I could leave the country.”

  Glenn stared at her. “The enemy got it?”

  She shook her head quickly. “I destroyed it before I left my hotel to fly home. It’s a good thing I did get rid of it. The men who wanted the USB found me at the airport, but someone helped me hide.”

  He sagged back into the bed and covered his eyes with his arm. “I went through all of this for nothing, and now they tell me I may not qualify to return to the SEALs.”

  “It isn’t for nothing.” Vi leaned close to his ear. “I haven’t told anyone yet. I want to be back in America before I talk to anyone. I memorized the face. I can help an artist recreate the picture. The man’s face has stayed sealed tight in my brain.”

  “That worked?”

  She smiled. “I used to do it for fun and to help me draw faces. It also improved my memory. I’d see a picture, study it, and two days later I’d write down the color of their hair, eyes, their height, scars, etcetera. I never thought it would be so handy in my future.”

  “You know, the authorities may not let you tell anyone about what happened to you. There’ll be no big story.”

  “I understand. I can’t even tell anyone about the villagers who kept me safe, for fear someone might retaliate against them.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to take a leave from my job and go home to rest and decide on my future.”

  “I messed up your life and almost got you killed.”

  Vi smoothed his hair off his forehead. “You gave me an opportunity to serve my country, to find out that I am brave, and to meet some of the nicest people who cared for me, protected me, and made me reconsider my life’s work.”

  For the first time since he’d arrived at the hospital, Glenn smiled. “Wow, I did well, and you aren’t devastated.”

  “No, you did good for me and mostly for your country.” She squeezed his hand. “I’ve asked to fly back with you this afternoon. I’m surprised they’re moving you so soon.”

  Glenn looked down. “There’s a civilian doctor they’ve talked to about my case. He believes his surgery will make my leg almost as good as before.” He glanced up at Vi. “You can fly with me, but don’t say when one door closes another opens.”

  “You’ve heard that a few times?”

  “From good people who mean well. They don’t understand how the door that is closing was my whole life. The only job I wanted since I was twelve.”

  “How about I sit with you until they’re ready for us? I’ve been bored. Just having company will make the time go by faster.”

  Glenn nodded and closed his eyes, but he still held her hand.

  Vi stared out the window. She’d hoped to see the man they called Hawke before she left the desert compound. He looked like Taylor Bartlett, her first real crush, and the young man she hadn’t forgotten. But this man had too many muscles, broader shoulders, and stronger face. Even so, she couldn’t convince herself it wasn’t him.

  I’m ready to go home. Nightmares keep me awake. I’m a mess, and yet I know I’m stronger inside than I’ve ever been. It’s time to face my mother and sister and try to have a relationship with them.

  Hawke opened his door and took a breath of stale air. Being home was good. He opened all the windows and threw his clothes in the washer. The light blinked on his answering machine. He’d kept a landline because his parents liked to call him on it and leave news and information that happened while he was away.

  He listened to his brother’s short recording, his mother, and father urging him to come for a visit, and from his sister, who lived in the next town over from the rest of the family. Hawke started to erase the messages when his phone rang. He recognized the number and answered with a smile. “Hi, Sissie. I got your message.”

  “I know you’ll say you need to rest after a mission, but you can rest at home. Mom and Dad’s fortieth anniversary is next week. Please come home and stay a while this time. We all miss you.”

  “What’s the date for their anniversary?”

  “In ten days. Not this Friday, but the next.”

  “All right, Sissie. I’ll take some leave and fly home next week.”

  “Yeah!”

  “I know Randy put you up to this. He knows I can say no to him, but not to you. And I do want to spend some time fishing with Dad and teasing Mom.”

  “They’ll be so happy to see you. But don’t forget when we’re out in company to call me Evelyn. If my students hear Sissie, I’ll never live it down.”

  “Ah, now I have something to hold over your head.”

  “Oh, you haven’t changed at all.”

  In a more serious tone, Hawke added, “I have, but you bring the best out of me.”

  “Love you, brother,”

  “You too, sis.”

  After the call, he went outside and sat in his yard. A large oak shaded most of the backyard. He had plenty of space for a pool and had considered getting one to help him keep in shape. Maybe after his vacation, he’d have a company put a pool in his yard. A cool breeze blew across him, different from the dry wind from where he’d been.

  Vi crossed his mind, but he didn’t want to think about her. He’d not been very successful. He kept seeing her face when she was rescued. Finally, he admitted to himself that it had to have been her. After all these y
ears, why did I have any reaction?

  The knock on the door stopped his thoughts. He opened the front door to a smiling Heath holding a small cooler.

  “Are you ready for some cold beer?”

  “Only if you stay away from certain topics.”

  “I can’t promise anything, but my lawyer wife is at her mother’s. She’ll be back tomorrow. I’m all on my own for one night.”

  “Isn’t the team getting together at Aces?”

  “The word is we’ll meet tomorrow night instead. I promised to let you know.”

  “Come on in.”

  They put four beers in the fridge and wandered back outside. Hawke took a gulp of his beer, and then told Heath about his plan to go home on leave.

  “It’s been a while since you’ve taken time off, hasn’t it?”

  “Yeah, my sister pointed that out to me.”

  “You might run into your friend.”

  “If you mean the woman we rescued, I doubt it. She’ll get back on television as soon as possible to keep her ratings up. Her picture and the story of her rescue would be all over the papers if the military hadn’t kept it all secret.”

  “I think she’ll need counseling. I heard they suggested that to her in Germany. I understand she flew home with Glenn and they’ve become good friends.”

  “Good, go pester him about her.”

  “You’re more fun.”

  “How is Glenn?”

  “Waiting for another surgery on his leg. His bruises and other injuries are healing better. Too bad he won’t be a SEAL anymore. I’m arranging for him to stay at my parents’ ranch. When he’s healed, he can decide what he wants to do.”

  “Where’s his family?”

  “He has none. His parents died in a car crash about six years ago, and he has no siblings.”

  “Good of you to arrange all of this for him.”

  “My folks are getting older. Dad hired one man who’s worked out well, but he needs some others. Cheryl and I visited my folks after our last mission. We take turns between her folks’ and mine.”