Broken SEAL
Page 19
Haley shoved off the wall and braced her feet. “So, someone paid you to kill the president. What kind of cowards are you, anyway? A person’s life means nothing to you?”
“Shut up,” shouted the Aussie. “I ain’t in no mood to put up with a mouthy bitch.”
The elevator door opened, and they were shoved out into the hall and herded in the direction of the Oval Office. Once inside, they locked the door and instructed them to sit down and keep quiet.
A man sat behind the president’s desk with his feet propped up and his legs crossed at the ankle. “Yes, do be quiet. I’m in no mood to listen to you two run off at the mouth.”
“Who are you?” President Davis demanded. “What do you want?”
He pointed to Haley. “Her.” He grinned. “I want her...first.” He glanced at the president. “Then you, and then the Falcon agent, Garrett Mann.”
“You’ll never get away with this.”
“My men have already infiltrated the White House. I’m sure by now most of the Secret Service is dead, along with your friendly Falcon agents.”
President Davis flashed her a cautionary glance. “I don’t believe you,” he barked.
The man stood and walked toward them, his hands clasped behind his back. “Allow me to introduce myself.”
“I know exactly who you are,” President Davis snarled. “Preston McCoy. Or should I say Amid Tuni.”
A look of surprised flashed briefly across the arrogant man’s face. “Very good. Then you know why I’m here.”
“I have no idea.”
McCoy or whatever his name was, bowed slightly. “At first I thought it best to stay as far away from the destruction as I could. I have no death wish. Then I thought, ‘Why miss all the action?’” The man threw up his hands. “I mean, isn’t this wonderful? Everything I ever desired will be mine today.”
“And where do I fit into all this?” she asked. “I’ve done nothing to you. I don’t even know you.”
“My dear doctor, Agent Mann is in love with you.”
She glanced at the president and hoped she didn’t blush. “What’s it to you?”
“He murdered my whole family, including my mother and younger sister. He killed those I loved and now I’m going to kill the person who means the most to him.”
She scoffed. “Sounds like senseless murder to me.” She crossed her arms. “There is nothing you can say that would convince me that Garrett would kill two defenseless women. He’s not that kind of man.”
“I can assure you, he is.”
Before she could continue to argue, a horrific crash stunned them all and something flew through the window. Before she could open her mouth to scream, Garrett rose up on one knee and fired two shots. The men who’d manhandled them earlier lay sprawled out on the floor.
Garrett bounced to his feet, his gun trained on McCoy. “Don’t move a muscle or you’re dead.”
Garrett walked backwards to unlock the door so Frank and Tony could enter the room. His gun trained on McCoy the entire time. Frank rushed to them. “Mr. President, are you both all right?”
“Yes,” President Davis nodded and put his arm around Haley. “I think you might have got here just in time.”
Haley pushed off the couch and rushed to Garrett. He had several cuts and scrapes on his arms and face, but she thought he looked wonderful. She threw her arms around him and squeezed. “I was scared to death. That man wants to kill me because he said you murdered his family.”
“I did,” Garrett admitted, setting her aside. “I shot both his mother and his sister in the back.” He glared at McCoy. “And I’d do it again.”
“I want you dead, Mann,” McCoy screeched, nearly splitting her eardrums. “You deserve to die like a dog.” He looked around frantically. “Where are my men? Why are none of you dead?”
“We received a tip from a friend of yours. One Sergio Malakoff. He took the liberty of removing the firing pins from those guns he sold you while you were paying him.”
McCoy’s face reddened so deeply, Haley feared he’d have a heart attack or a stroke.
“Nooooo.”
“Shut up, Amid,” Garrett hissed. “You know the truth about your family’s death. I had no choice.”
“You killed two innocent women.”
“No, I killed two women wearing suicide vests who were running toward a busy market place. Your father is responsible for that. He insisted they blow themselves up to restore his name. Here you are doing the same damned thing. When are you going to realize your father was nothing but a common criminal who played both sides.”
“That is a lie. My father was an honorable man.”
“No, he wasn’t,” Frank argued. “We’d had eyes on him for months. He took money from both sides. The reason he wanted your mother and sister to blow up the market was because he’d been exposed and the men coming to kill him were at that market waiting for him.”
“I don’t believe you,” McCoy pounded his fist on the desk. “I refuse to believe your American lies.”
“There’s something else you should know,” Frank said. “Your contact in Brussels, the one with connections to the EU?” Frank crossed his arms and glared at the terrorist. “He’s already in custody.”
Garrett went over and slapped a pair of handcuffs on McCoy before he did anything crazy. Just then another man burst through the door, a bomb strapped to his chest.
Garrett looked up just as a Pakistani man charged into the Oval Office. The man grabbed Haley and pulled her against his body. He had a bomb attached to his clothing and a detonator in his hand.
Haley struggled, but the man was too strong.
“Let her go,” Garrett ordered. He still had his gun out and it was pointed right at Megaza Nagi.
“Put the gun down or everyone dies, and she goes first,” Nagi demanded, his voice shaky and uncertain.
Frank held everyone back. “Let’s all remain calm. There’s no need for anyone to die.”
“Yes, there is,” Nagi said. “My friend’s family honor must be avenged, and I am to become a martyr.”
“Hey, Nagi,” Tony called from across the room. “All that martyrdom stuff isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. Not if you die in the process.” He pointed to Amid. “That guy won’t be around to tell your story. And did you know it’s now American policy to not name terrorists in the press? You press that detonator, and the only thing folks will hear around the world is that someone set off a suicide bomb. So really, you’re dying for nothing.”
Surprisingly, Nagi thought about that for a few moments. Then Amid opened his mouth. “My friend, let me go and I will tell the world. You will be spoken with reverence all over the world, like I promised.”
Garrett realized Amid’s little game. “Is he the one who talked you into strapping that bomb to your chest? Is he the coward?”
“I do it for Allah and for ISIS.”
“Let me go,” Haley pleaded. “I’ve done nothing to you.”
Frank had managed to move so he could whisper in Garrett’s ear. “Mac’s the best shot I have but he’s not here. You’re the next best. Take the shot.”
Garrett didn’t want to inform his boss he wasn’t comfortable about taking such a dangerous shot when Haley’s life hung in the balance.
Amid held out his hands to Garrett. “Undo these cuffs so I can get out of here before he blows the place to hell and gone.”
Not taking his eyes off Nagi, Garrett shook his head. “Don’t have a key, now get back before I kill you myself.”
This would be difficult. He had to hit Nagi in the left eye and hope the bullet reached his brain before his squeeze set off the bomb. Garrett took a smooth breath, ignored all the sound in the room, released the air in his lungs, and blinked twice. He tightened his grip on the gun, braced his body for the recoil, and pulled the trigger.
Haley stood stiff as a corpse in rigor mortis. Nagi dropped to the floor and the detonator rolled away, harmless. He lowered his weapon and ran to her, gathering her i
n his arms, grateful for the feel of her warm body against his.
“Oh, my God,” she whispered. “I thought we were all going to die.”
“But we didn’t,” Frank reminded her. “We’re safe and sound, thanks to Garrett.”
Haley lay on the warm sand with her eyes closed, listening to the gentle ocean waves. Garrett decided they deserved a little vacation after everything they’d been through, but she knew this was all for her.
He lay next to her, his sunglasses on and a tropical drink at his side. During their stay he’d been absolutely adorable, patient and loving. Exactly the way she liked him.
She was a little sad that this was their last night at the beach. Tomorrow they were flying back to Dallas. She’d decided that she was returning home, no matter what happened to them. She needed her friends and family. He turned over and then leaned down and kissed her, sending her heart into overdrive.
“Let’s go back to our room,” he suggested seductively. “I’m getting sunburned.”
“Liar,” she teased. “I know why you want to go back to the room and it has nothing to do with the sun.”
He laughed. “You’re right.”
She looked out at the water and sighed. “I hate leaving tomorrow. It’s been so relaxing.”
“I’m glad you got your old job back.”
“Me too. That took a lot off my mind.”
“You could’ve moved in with me.”
“I don’t even know where you live.”
He rolled off her and draped an arm across his eyes. “You might not want to know.”
She sat up. “Yes, I do. I want to know about your family.”
“My father is in prison for killing my mother. It happened twelve years ago.”
She was stunned silent. After a moment, she swallowed hard and found her voice. “What did you just say?”
“I said, my father murdered my mother. He was found guilty and is now serving a life sentence.”
“How in the world did you live through that?”
“It was the worst thing that could happen to a family. Since then my two sisters and I have grown very close. We all live in the same neighborhood.”
“Do you...” Her voice choked, and she cleared her throat. “Do you see him?”
He shook his head. “No. After the trial, we decided we’d all be better off living our lives for the future and not focus on to the past.”
“What happened?”
“We’re not sure. He never denied killing her, so we let it go. Our mother is gone and there is nothing we can do to bring her back.”
Haley leaned down and hugged him. “I love you so much.” She straightened. “But I wish you would’ve told me.”
“I was scared you’d be afraid of being involved with a murderer’s son.”
“Don’t be silly. You’re not your father.”
“I’m glad you think that way.”
“But why didn’t you want me to know where you lived?”
“Both my sisters are married and can see my house from their kitchen windows. If they’d seen you around, they’d have had us walking down the aisle in a week.”
She smiled. “That doesn’t sound like a really bad idea.”
He sat up. “You serious?”
“I am. Are you asking?”
“Hell, yes, I’m asking. No, I’m begging you to marry me.” He suddenly looked away. “But what about my job?”
“I’ve had a lot of time to think about that. I’ll still worry my head off, and I’ll miss you, but I now know you can take care of yourself. The world needs men like you, Garrett Mann, as well as the rest of the Falcon agents.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “I love you.”
The Sleeper SEALs Series
Susan Stoker – PROTECTING DAKOTA – 9/5/17
Website: http://www.stokeraces.com
* * *
Becky McGraw – SLOW RIDE – 9/26/17
Website: www.beckymcgraw.com
* * *
Dale Mayer – MICHAELS’ MERCY – 10/3/17
Website: http://www.dalemayer.com
* * *
Becca Jameson – SAVING ZOLA – 10/17/17
Website: http://www.beccajameson.com
* * *
Sharon Hamilton – BACHELOR SEAL – 10/31/17
Website: http://authorsharonhamilton.com
* * *
Elle James – MONTANA RESCUE – 11/14/17
Website: www.ellejames.com
* * *
Maryann Jordan – THIN ICE – 11/28/17
Website: http://www.maryannjordanauthor.com
* * *
Donna Michaels – GRINCH REAPER – 12/12/17
Website: www.DonnaMichaelsAuthor.com
* * *
Lori Ryan – ALL IN – 1/9/18
Website: http://loriryanromance.com
* * *
Geri Foster – BROKEN SEAL – 1/23/18
Website: http://gerifoster.com
* * *
Elaine Levine – FREEDOM CODE – 2/6/18
Website: https://www.elainelevine.com
* * *
J.M. Madden – FLAT LINE – 2/20/18
Website: http://jmmadden.com
Also by Geri Foster
Falcon Securities Series
Out of the Dark
Out of the Shadows
Out of the Night
Out of the Past
Out of the Depths
Out of Luck
Out of the Blue
Out of the Abyss
* * *
Women of Courage Series
Part One: Love Released
Episode One
Episode Two
Episode Three
Episode Four
Episode Five
Episode Six
Episode Seven
Christmas Episode
Episode Eight
* * *
Part Two: Love Renewed
Episode One
Episode Two
Episode Three
Episode Four
Episode Five
* * *
Accidental Encounters
Wrong Room
Wrong Guy
Wrong Plan
Wrong Bride
Wrong Holly
Wrong Fling
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Geri Foster is a multi-genre author with over 15 titles. They include her bestselling Romantic Suspense series Falcon Securities, the Historical Romantic Suspense serial Women of Courage and cute, short, sexy ERoms, Accidental Encounters. She stays busy continuing her series and consistently coming up with new and exciting stories for her readers.
She’s been writing for years and enjoys hearing from her fans and chatting on her Facebook Groups, Women of Courage Book readers and Smart Women’s Romantic Suspense Readers Group. She’s been a member of RWA for almost twenty years, and belongs to two local chapters.
She enjoys her grandchildren, friends, family, and traveling. Europe is her favorite destination. She always has fun at conferences and can usually be found at the bar.
She lives with her husband and their shy rescue dog, Lola, in the DFW area of Texas.
Geri loves connecting with her readers. Join her Facebook group to join the conversation!
For more information:
www.gerifoster.com