Broken SEAL

by Geri Foster

  “I’m parked right outside. You go ahead and get back to the hotel. We’ll snatch him and get him to tell us everything he knows.”

  Garrett ducked his head and darted out of the store before the man recognized him. He sped away, anxious to check on Haley. He realized the man could be a distraction.

  He breathed a little easier when he rapped twice and quickly opened the door connecting their rooms and found her making a pot of coffee in the small hotel carafe.

  He tossed the bags on her bed. “I hope there’s enough for me to have a cup. I sure could use it.” He decided not to mention anything to her about El Hashem’s man being so close. She had enough to worry about. “I hope sweatpants are okay.”

  She fisted her hands on her hips. “You didn’t,” she hissed. “You know I hate sweats.”

  He grinned. “Nah, I managed to find some cheap jeans. But don’t expect anything special.”

  “As long as it’s not sweats, I’ll be happy.”

  He went to the pot and poured them both a cup of coffee. “I can’t promise anything.”

  She took her cup and went to a chair in the far corner of the room, he followed, but sat on the edge of the bed.

  “What happens now?” She nibbled on her lip. “I mean, how do we get away?”

  He cleared his throat. “I know a guy. Tomorrow I’ll pay him a visit and see if he can help us find out exactly what El Hashem is planning. He’s pretty knowledgeable about his community.”

  “I hope you can get to the bottom of this.” She took a sip of coffee. “I’m off work for the next two days; and if it isn’t safe by then, I’ll call in and get my shift covered.”

  “We may not have a choice.”

  She frowned. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  Preston answered his phone, hoping it was Nagi. Much to his displeasure, it wasn’t. Instead, it was the devil he’d made the deal with. “How is our pet project coming along?”

  “There have been a few hitches but I’m taking care of them.”

  “I hope you don’t disappoint me. You know what happens to people who displease me.”

  “Oh, stop talking like some kind of movie villain. I’m doing everything I can to make this work, I don’t need shit from someone like you.”

  Silence filled the line.

  “Not many men have the nerve to talk to me like that. Perhaps if something should happen to your family, your mood might soften.”

  “Listen, you son of a bitch. You pull anything stupid and I’ll bury your ass. You may have a lot of power in Europe, but here, your twenty-year-old son is just another rich, spoiled college kid, smoking weed and screwing sorority bitches. Someone I can get to in less than an hour.”

  A deep sigh traveled over the line. “Touché,” his caller laughed wryly. “I knew I’d picked the right man to do business with. My only concern is can you get it done on time?”

  “I’m in the process of making all the necessary arrangements. Not something that can be pulled off without a lot of planning and coordinates. You’re going to have to be patient.”

  “That’s not my strong suit.”

  “Too fucking bad. I’m not here to babysit. Grow up and get your head out of your ass. I’ll keep you posted.” Preston disconnected the call and tossed his phone onto the desk.

  He left his office and went to see his accountant. When he entered her office without knocking, she neither appeared shocked nor concerned. Annoyed with the current state of affairs, he slumped into a chair in front of her desk. Janice was a rare beauty but she didn’t put out for anyone that he knew of. He often wondered if she might be gay. What he did know was that she was smart, damn near brilliant.

  And he wanted her ass so bad it hurt.

  Haley clasped the warm coffee cup in her palms. She was hoping to avoid spending so much time with Garrett. It was too dangerous for her heart. Yes, she’d broken off the relationship, but she’d regretted it before he even walked out the door. Only her unrelenting pride prevented her from begging him to return.

  “It sounds like we’ll be together for a while,” she managed to say. “I hope that doesn’t make you uncomfortable.”

  He shrugged. “Just doing my job.”

  “You mean, it doesn’t bother you to be around me?” She stared down into her cup. “You have no feelings left?”

  His eyes narrowed. “What I felt for you got tossed in the trash two years ago. I can’t afford to play games with a woman who can’t make up her mind. I’m assuming you still feel the same way and have decided we can’t make a go of it.”

  “It was your job, not you.”

  “I am my job, and you should’ve realized that. I can’t change any more than you can.” He slapped his knees and stood up. “You know what the difference is between you and me? I would never expect you to.”

  His words cut her deeply and Haley casually set down her cup, trying valiantly to hide her pain. Had she been unfair? Her fears for his safety were real, so real it nearly drove her crazy every time he packed to leave. Too many sleepless nights, never able to eat, and having to be overly cautious in the OR so she didn’t make a careless mistake, had all taken their toll on her.

  She had been wrong to think cutting him out of her life would ease the heartache and worry so her life could get back to normal. What a crock. If anything, it made the hole in her soul larger and more painful...like a toothache that faded, only to be excruciating when you ate something hot or cold. Being so close to him now, her heart felt like it was breaking all over again. But what could she do?

  It was so difficult to be in the same room with him. To stare at his handsome features, to recall their lovemaking and the tender way he touched her.

  She closed her eyes.

  “I think it was a difficult time. You were gone so much, and I always imagined the worst.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how Emily, Kate, or Abby stand it. I guess they’re stronger than I am.”

  “Obviously,” he ground out dryly.

  Her head came up and her eyes burned furiously. “Are you insinuating that I’m weak? That if I were stronger we’d still be together? That’s not fair.” The pitch in her voice rose. “You don’t know what it’s like to sit home wondering if the person you love is alive or dead. To be afraid the minute you’re out the door I may never see you again.” She took a dangerous step toward him and pointed her finger. “That’s not fair, Garrett.”

  He put his hands on his hips and cocked his leg. “Then what is, Haley? Tell me, how do I take your fear away? What can I say or do to stop you from worrying? That’s something you have to learn to deal with, I can’t help you.” He turned away, presenting her his broad back. “Dammit, why are we beating a dead horse? This conversation is over.”

  Haley thought perhaps he was right but the more she thought about one thing, the angrier she got. “So, you have no responsibility in this? It’s all up to me, huh? Take it or leave it?”

  “And you are obviously happy to send me away.”

  “Wrong. I’m not happy now and I sure as shit wasn’t happy then.”

  He turned back to her, his expression weary. “I don’t know what to say, Haley. I can’t make things better. I’m going to chase after bad guys as long as I can. You think Brody, Mac, and Tony’s wives are braver or stronger than you are. They aren’t.”

  “Then what? What’s the difference between them and me?”

  He moved closer. They were so close she smelled the soap he’d used at some time during the day when he’d washed his hands.

  “They’re proud and respect the things their husbands do. Sure, they always worry and I’m sure they’re often afraid, but they don’t allow it to control their lives. They take pride in their husbands’ determination to serve their country, in or out of the military. Because that’s what I do, Haley. I serve my country, and each and every Falcon agent is willing to die to keep this country and her citizens safe.”

  Her throat constricted, and Haley suddenly felt ve
ry small.

  Nagi waited impatiently for the man he’d sent to the store for supplies to return. Hopefully, they would be able to heal El Hashem. Inwardly, he seriously doubted that their meager knowledge would help the dying man.

  The medical items Dr. Kingston had written down were so complex they feared trying to use them. None of them could make sense of the directions.

  Nagi had no choice but to go through the motions of tending to El Hashem in order to gain the men’s loyalty once their leader died. If they even suspected he didn’t care about Zareeb’s fate, they’d slice his throat. When El Hashem’s died, they still might.

  Zareeb El Hashem lay on a dirty, tattered couch, with a stained pillow beneath his head. His breathing had grown shallower each time his chest rose and fell. Nagi wondered why he was still alive.

  The youngest of the men sat at his idol’s head, sponging his forehead and muttering prayers, and hoping against hope that he’d survive. Nagi knelt and took his friend’s hand. “I’m afraid he’s not long for this world.”

  The kid grew angry. “Don’t say that. He is the Anointed One. Allah has a great mission for him and he will see he does it.”

  “I hope you are correct, but he’s gravely injured. Perhaps Allah wants us to complete the mission in his place.”

  Abdulla’s face grew darker. “How can you say that? Allah only speaks to El Hashem. Not to you. We don’t even know you.”

  “El Hashem told you we are great friends, that I’m important to accomplish all that Allah as set before us.”

  “Do you wish him dead? For him to die so you can take over and get all the credit and blessings Allah would bestow on us?”

  Nagi held out his hands and lowered his voice. “No, no, that is not my desire.” He put his palms together. “I pray my brother will be there with us to honor Allah by bringing many deaths to these vile and corrupt Americans. It is my dearest wish.”

  The kid appeared satisfied by Nagi’s affected sincerity. He could not afford any dissension between him and El Hashem’s men. He had to keep them together. So far, one had been captured and two were killed in a car accident. Without help from the remaining four, he couldn’t pull off Preston’s plan. According to Preston, he and Zareeb had been making preparations for years.

  Now, he prayed to see it all come to fruition.

  The man from the store finally returned. He carried a plastic bag with everything they thought might help their leader. He dumped all the items on a chair. Nagi inwardly groaned. Gauze, rubbing alcohol, and Neosporin weren’t going to help in this situation.

  They needed that doctor to remove the bullet and sew him up. At least then the men would think he was doing everything possible to save El Hashem. He had to get her back or he could lose everything.

  “My friends,” he looked at each man, “we must re-capture the doctor.”

  The men’s voices rose. “She’s a woman and cannot be trusted. She could kill him.”

  “She’s the only one who can remove the bullet. And you...” he glared at the man to his left. “You shot at her? What if you killed the doctor? She might be a woman, but perhaps she’s the only one who can save Zareeb.” Nagi didn’t believe a word he said, but he had to convince the men that he only wanted to save El Hashem. “We need her alive.”

  Sa’id, the man who recently moved to America said, “I know the man who rescued her is a Falcon agent.”

  The Falcon agents’ reputations were well known, even as far away as the Middle East. “How do you know such a thing?”

  “I saw his picture in El Hashem’s things. He said the one thing we were to be cautious of was to stay out of the reach of Falcon’s men.”

  And here he’d brought them right to their doorstep. Sweat broke out on Nagi’s body as he stood in a cold, drafty house. He hated to have to explain to Preston that now Falcon Securities knew all about them. And they were the president’s men. Nagi hung his head.

  The mission may well be over before they even got it off the ground.

  Chapter Ten

  Garrett hated that he’d talked to Haley so harshly. He knew his job was hard on her. Yes, it could be dangerous, but he didn’t want her obsessing about him getting hurt. He knew how to take care of himself.

  From the doorjamb, he gazed over at her. She lay on the bed and tears glistened in her eyes. “Look...” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t mean to sound so hard. I don’t think any Falcon agent’s wife is different than you. They just deal with the stress in their own ways.”

  “They ignore the danger?”

  “No, they go on with their lives and trust their husbands are the best damned trained agents in the world and can take care of themselves.”

  “Need I remind you that many Falcon agents have been seriously hurt? And last year one died.” She folded her arms. “You can’t deny that.”

  “You’re right, I can’t.” Garrett ran his fingers through his hair. “Things happen. Things we can’t control, but you have to let it all go and go on with your life.”

  “Like nothing is happening?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Did you ever worry about me when you’re on an assignment?”

  “Of course I did. Remember when you had strep throat? I hated leaving when you were sick.”

  “So, you worried, too?”

  “Yes, and I didn’t allow that to interfere with my job. I gave it some thought on the way to my destination, then I let it go until I headed home. That’s the way it has to be.”

  “I think it’s heartless.”

  He threw up his hands. “Why do I bother? You and I are done. We’re not ever getting back together, so why are we even discussing what was wrong with our relationship. It’s done and over with. Time for both of us to move on.”

  She paled, and Garrett’s heart ached. He reminded himself that she was the one who called it quits. They were history, correct? They had no future. Period.

  “Have you moved on?”

  He didn’t want to answer that. Didn’t want to tell her that he’d been miserable and spent too many lonely nights staring out the window, wishing she were in his bed.

  No, he refused to do that. He’d never show any sign of weakness. Besides, she’s the one who asked him to leave. He’d walked in the door after an assignment and she’d already packed his few belongings, had them sitting next to the door.

  At least she hadn’t just left him a note; or worse, a text. He had to give her credit. She stayed to face the music. Stayed to stand up to his anger, his hurt, and his disappointment.

  She hadn’t hidden, and that took a certain amount of courage. He didn’t want to admit it, but he almost admired her for dealing with him face to face. However, she gave him no chance to defend himself.

  Not like he really could. She’d only be happy if she quit his job and found something she considered safe. That might have worked for a while, but she never once considered he’d grow to resent her for depriving him of doing what he loved. He loved being an agent almost much as he loved her.

  “I wouldn’t say I’ve moved on exactly, but I’ve survived.”

  She lowered her gaze. “Haven’t met anyone else yet?”

  He hadn’t even been looking. “No. I’m in no hurry for that.” He cleared his throat. “You?”

  She pressed her hand to her chest, her eyebrows were almost at her hairline. “Me?”

  “Yeah, is there someone else? Perhaps one of the other doctors?”

  “I decided to give up when it comes to romance...well, for now at least. Maybe I’m not ready to have a serious relationship.”

  “Maybe you won’t ever be.

  “Really?” She dipped her head. “That’s a mean thing to say.”

  “No, saying ‘get out’ the minute your man walks through the door is mean.”

  She shoved her hair back. “I didn’t say it like that. I thought I was very nice about the whole situation.”

  “How can you be nice while kicking a gu
y out?”

  “I explained why it wasn’t working. I didn’t want to break up. I loved you, but it wasn’t working between us. So, I made an intelligent decision.” She held up her finger. “And I tried to be nice. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

  “Well, you did. And you caught me off guard; you surprised the hell out of me. I never expected that from you. The last I knew we were planning a trip to the Caribbean.”

  “I wanted us to go on that vacation very much, I just couldn’t stomach the idea of you leaving on another assignment.”

  He took a bottle of water out of the fridge. “Grow up, Haley. My going on a mission isn’t the end of the world. I think you just grew tired of the whole relationship, that you felt it was time for you to move on.”

  She stepped closer, sucking in a long breath. “That’s a damned lie. It was all about your life being in danger. That was the only reason.”

  He held out his arms. “Am I safer now? Did us splitting up change anything besides causing us both a lot of unnecessary pain?”

  “I had hoped...”

  “What? That I’d drop to my knees and beg you to let me stay if I quit my job?”

  She shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Who do you think you’re fooling?”

  She gritted her teeth. “Go away, Garrett. I’m going to take a shower and go to bed. You can stay up and argue with yourself.”

  She shoved him in the chest, backing him up a step. She marched past him and into the other room, slamming the door behind her. In a matter of seconds, he heard the shower running. He looked at the items he’d purchased at the store and deposited on his bed. He grinned. She’d have to come back for those.

  Garrett knew he wasn’t being fair. He sometimes wished his job didn’t always put him in harm’s way, but he told her what he did in the beginning and explained she shouldn’t worry about him or what he did for a living.

  He should’ve saved his breath.

  Women. What was that old saying? Can’t live with em and can’t live without ‘em.

  He conceded he’d found it hard being without her. He missed her every single day, and it’d been two years. Time hadn’t healed any of his wounds. He wanted to spend his life with her.