“Daddy? What are you doing here?”
Gina wished her friend’s voice hadn’t gone all girly and small like that. Show him you’re nearly thirty, not thirteen!
Mr. Neal set Maggie back and glanced around the room, a frown forming on his still-handsome face. “I came to bring you back to the States. I’ve spoken to Lloyd. He sends his regrets and is ready to go through with the wedding.”
Gina’s eyebrows shot upward. She wondered what threat he’d dangled over Lloyd’s head to get him to give up the pretty wedding planner.
“I wouldn’t marry Lloyd if he were the last man on earth. He cheated on me, Daddy. Did he tell you that?”
Gina kinked her head to the side and studied father and daughter. Until today, she hadn’t realized just how alike they were. Standing face to face, she noted that their well-sculpted features were similar, as were their ferocious expressions.
“I’m not gong back to San Diego,” Maggie said then moved close to Chase.
Gina held her breath for the big reveal, knowing Mr. Neal was missing the final piece of the puzzle, and predicting that his reaction wasn’t going to be pretty.
Mr. Neal pointed his finger at Maggie. “You agreed to marry him. He’s ready to go through the ceremony to live up to his promise.”
Maggie’s eyebrows lowered. She looked just plain mean. “He broke that promise for good when he didn’t show up at the wedding, because he was too tired from boinking the wedding planner!”
Boinking? Gina bit her lips to hold back a laugh. She really needed to give Maggie some lessons in dirty words. She shook her head and forced herself back to the rapid-fire conversation, because Maggie still hadn’t pulled out her final ace.
At last, Maggie’s chin tilted higher. “I love you, but I’m not marrying Lloyd. In fact…I’m already married.”
Gina had never seen the particular shade of red that suffused Mr. Neal’s face as he sputtered for a second. “What?” He glanced around the room. “Will someone tell me what she’s talking about?”
Maggie held up her left hand and fluttered her fingers, showing him the ring. “I got married last night. It’s too late for me to marry Lloyd, even if I wanted to—which I don’t! He’s not the man for me.”
“But how?”
Gina almost felt sorry for him he looked so confounded. For a man who prided himself on controlling everything and everyone around him, Maggie’s revelation had to be confusing.
She glanced at Carson, whose expression was difficult to read. It was closed. His gaze was steady like he was studying the pair engaged in conflict. Was this a bit too much drama for “Beach-boy”?
“Daddy, this is my…husband…Chase Flannigan.”
Maggie’s dad eyed the SEAL, glaring at him. He had to be thinking the big guy was far away from any man he would have chosen for his princess. How would he control him?
“Please tell me this is some kind of joke.”
“No, this is not a joke. We have the marriage certificate to prove it.”
The pair kept talking, as though no one else in the room existed, until Chase held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”
Of course, Mr. Neal ignored him. “Do you even know this man?” he asked Maggie.
Good question. But Maggie was quick to nod and tell him that she did, adding, “And he’s great in bed.”
Gina covered her mouth and pretended to cough, “Good one.”
“He’s an honorable man, who has vowed to protect me with his own life, unlike Lloyd. What more do you need to know?”
Naturally, Mr. Neal was far from pacified. And Gina didn’t blame him. He still didn’t know about the threat against her. Maggie went on and on about how great Chase was as compared to Lloyd, talking about his military service and how honorable he was. Gina couldn’t help but feel proud of her for being so strong in this moment.
“Chase is a better man than Lloyd could ever hope to be.”
“You go, sister,” Gina said, which earned her a killing glance from Maggie’s father. “Really, Mr. Neal, Maggie wouldn’t have been happy with Lloyd. You don’t want your daughter to marry a man who doesn’t make her happy, do you?”
This time, he didn’t look her way. He stared at his daughter. “I don’t want any man to marry my daughter for my money. I’ll give my money to charity before I let it go to someone who marries my daughter to get to my fortune.”
Gina could tell that didn’t sit well with Chase. Or Carson. Or Trevor. All three men stiffened up like pokers.
“Is that what this is all about?” Chase asked. “You think I married your daughter to get your money?” He laughed. “I don’t know who you are, or how much money you’re worth—nor do I care. I have enough of my own. Money I saved while on active duty, defending your right to make as much money as you want. Defending your way of life. I put my life on the line for you, Maggie, and every American, because it’s what I believe in. I don’t want your money.”
Gina sniffed, thinking that was about the most romantic thing she’d ever heard a man say. And Maggie was eating it up, too, if the dewy look in her eyes was any indication.
“I hope to use that money to raise a few horses and cows, and, maybe, a family.”
Wait, what? Horses? Cows? Those might be deal breakers. Maggie didn’t know a thing about that kind of life.
“I have an honorable job waiting for me in Montana.”
Montana? Gina sucked in a quick breath and nearly shouted halleluiah. Maggie had to stay married to this guy now. Gina had missed Maggie like crazy. She’d make sure her friend loved horses and cows and little kids, just so Auntie Gina could come for visits. She sniffed. “Hell, Chase,” Gina said. “You make me wish you’d chosen me.”
“Hey,” Carson cut in, giving her sideways mock-glare. “He’s married.”
“Right.” She grinned. “He’s married. To my best friend. And I couldn’t be happier for them.”
Maggie sighed. “And right now, Chase and I are headed to the airport to return to the States. If you’ll excuse us, we’ll be on our way.”
Her father’s expression turned sour. “If you just married, I would have thought you’d stick around here to enjoy your honeymoon.”
Good Lord, Maggie would never get out of here if she had to explain every little detail of what had happened the previous night.
“Uh, we’ve decided we’d prefer to spend our honeymoon in Montana! I much prefer the mountains to getting sand in my shorts.”
“But I’m not done with you, young lady.”
He tried to block her exit, and both kept arguing, until Maggie grabbed her suitcase, dodged around her daddy, and headed down the hallway.
When Chase moved to follow her, Mr. Neal poked a finger at his chest. “If you so much as make my daughter cry, I’ll hire a hit man and put you out of her misery. Do you understand?”
After quickly telling the older man he’d never hurt his daughter, that he’d treat her right, he too headed down the hallway.
Trevor glanced at his wife. She gave him a nod. He stepped out of the room, calling, “Hey, wait up.”
Carson glanced at Gina, and she shook her head. “You are not leaving me alone wi—”
Carson kissed her hard then turned on his heel and departed, sprinting down the hallway.
“Coward,” she muttered under her breath.
* * *
Carson made a face as he tapped the elevator button for the ground floor. “I feel kind of sorry for the ladies we left with Maggie’s father.”
“Me, too,” Maggie said, her shoulders deflating. “He’ll be grilling Gina about now.” Then a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “She’ll give him hell. She loves pushing all of his buttons.”
Carson had no doubt his girl could handle the old hard ass.
His girl? He paused and thought about how easily that thought had slipped into his mind. He grunted. “I love when she pushes all of mine,” he said. “That’s one sassy female.” And to save face be
cause the guys were giving him very interested stares, he clapped his hands. “Just the way I like them.”
Maggie didn’t smile at his attempt at humor. “Don’t you hurt my friend.”
He held up his hands in surrender. “I wouldn’t dare. Besides, she scares me.” Not a lie. He chuckled. “I haven’t felt this alive since I came down to Cabo San Lucas. I didn’t realize how much I missed all the action and danger associated with being a Navy SEAL.” He shot a glance at Chase. “I don’t suppose your boss in Montana could use another SEAL on his team, could he?” Then he wouldn’t have to say goodbye to Gina. He’d just show up. See where things went.
“Wouldn’t hurt to ask. All he could say is no. Remind me to give you his telephone number.”
Carson nodded, his mind already leaping ahead to the surprise he’d give Gina when he showed up on her doorstep. “Will do.”
The three men walked with Maggie to the concierge’s desk in the lobby of the hotel where Maggie requested a taxi to go to the airport. After a few minutes, a valet approached. “Your taxi has arrived.”
The men surrounded her as they stepped outside, their gazes going up and down the road, and to the buildings across the way. Carson detected no threats.
Chase waved a hand to tell Maggie to slide inside the taxi first, and she settled in the middle of the back seat.
Trevor ran around the far side of the cab.
Carson moved to the back of the car to load the luggage, while Chase prepared to slide in beside Maggie, but the driver punched the gas, and the car shot forward, the movement slamming the doors.
Chase ran after the car, while Carson glanced around to see what vehicle he might commandeer to follow them, but there wasn’t a single vehicle parked along the street or in the hotel’s drive. His stomach cramped thinking about how scared Maggie must be and wondering how the hell he’d tell Gina that they’d let her be kidnapped.
He turned to watch Chase several hundred feet away, his figure slowing as he no doubt realized it was futile to follow on foot, while the car, with Maggie inside it, drew farther away. He stood faced away for a long, terrible moment, and then turned and ran back toward his friends.
Carson and Trevor shared charged glances.
“This is not good,” Trevor said.
Carson nodded. “Gina’s gonna kill me.”
When Chase reached them, he bent at the waist, breathing hard.
“What do we do now?” Trevor asked.
Chase straightened. His face was set in hard lines. “Looks like I’ll meet with Delgado at midnight, unless we can come up with a better plan.”
Chapter 5
“Where is my daughter?”
The men had kept completely silent during the interminable ride up the elevator. They’d all dreaded this moment. Chase, naturally, more than most. Carson knew he must be going crazy inside, but you wouldn’t know it. His expression was blank and hard.
“Have a seat, Mr. Neal,” Chase said, his voice even.
“I will not sit,” Mr. Neal bit out.
He said some other things too, but Carson’s gaze went straight to Gina, who was frowning, asking with her expressive brown eyes, What the hell is going on? But this wasn’t his rodeo. He’d wait until Chase got to the point.
Still, she must have guessed the worst. “Oh, my God,” she said, tearing up. She walked straight for him, and he opened his arms. “He got her, didn’t he?”
Carson hugged her against his chest and rested his cheek beside hers, providing the only comfort he could.
“The cab driver took off with her before any of us could get into the vehicle with her,” Chase said, pulling out his phone.
“What are you talking about?” Mr. Neal asked. “Why did the cab take off with her?”
Obviously, Gina hadn’t filled in the older man on exactly why his daughter had been so eager to leave for the wilds of Montana. Carson held Gina, absorbing the tremors that shook her body.
Mr. Neal strode toward Chase and grabbed his collar in both hands. “I want answers, now!”
Carson’s body hardened, but Chase was well able to handle one distraught old man.
His friend stood as still as a statue. “Mr. Neal, your daughter has most likely been taken by Raul Delgado, the leader of the Jalisco cartel, here in Cabo.”
While Mr. Neal berated him, Chase continued to stand still, his gaze locked on the far wall. He let the old man rant until he finally fell silent.
Chase lowered his gaze. “Excuse me, sir,” he said, his tone still even and turned to walk to Maggie’s bedroom.
Mr. Neal walked to the couch, loosened his tie, and slumped onto the seat.
Gina pulled away from Carson’s embrace and wiped tears from her cheeks. “I can’t just sit still,” she said softly.
Carson nodded, watching her move toward Maggie’s room.
She pushed open the door and stood in the opening. “We need a plan.”
“I know,” Chase said, his voice muffled by the distance.
Carson shot Trevor a glance and signaled for him to join him in the hallway. He was unwilling to waste a single second more on useless talk. Any plan they came up with would require firepower.
* * *
“Any ideas?” Gina asked. She knew she was pushing, that maybe the guys, since they’d worked together before, might wish she’d be quiet and let them handle things, but that wasn’t how she was made. Her best friend was missing. No way would she sit on her hands while they entered the battle. Not when she could help.
Chase raked a hand through his hair. “We need to find out where Delgado lives. I bet that’s where he’s taken Maggie. If we can find him quickly, we take the fight to him.”
“I’m in,” Gina said, straightening her shoulders. “I can fire an AR-15. I qualified on an M4A1 rifle in Army Basic Combat Training. I shot expert every time we qualified.” She listed off a couple more statistics, but knew she was going on too long, because his eyebrows had risen. She was afraid to stop talking for fear he’d shut her down and exclude her from the mission. Concluding, she said, “That brings our number to four.”
“Against, potentially, one hundred cartel members?” Chase shook his head. “It’s a suicide mission.”
“Yeah,” she said, “but you can’t go it alone.”
A large, strong hand landed on her shoulder, and she turned to find Trevor standing there.
“No, you can’t go it alone,” Trevor said. “So, you’ll have to take us along with you.” When she looked beyond him into the sitting room, he added, “Carson left a few minutes ago.”
Her disappointment was visceral, an ache in her belly. She’d thought for sure he’d want to be a part of this. But then, hadn’t he moved to Cabo to escape the stress?
Trevor grinned. “Carson went to check his contacts. They should have a good idea of where to find Delgado. As soon as he finds out, he’ll be back to take us to his place to pick up the contraband weapons he’s stockpiled.”
Gina felt foolish for doubting him.
“Whatever we do,” Chase said, “has to be at Delgado’s place, not at La Casa Loca. I can’t imagine he’s taken Maggie to the bar. He probably has her locked up at his place. We have the rest of the day and into the evening to make this mission happen.”
“God, I hope Maggie is all right,” Gina said. “I can’t imagine how she felt being kidnapped and driven away by one of Delgado’s thugs.”
They moved into the living room to wait for word from Carson. Mr. Neal wasn’t trusting any plan by the SEALs, whom he held responsible for Maggie’s predicament. He called every American agency he could think of that might offer help, but the delays were unacceptable. After speaking to the U.S. State Department and being told they’d “look into the matter” he hung up.
Gina sat silently, praying for her friend and trying not to imagine all the worst-case scenarios, but every one of them played through her mind. By the time Carson returned, she was a nervous wreck.
He entered the ro
om, his glance gliding over her then homing in on Chase. “Delgado lives in a compound west of town.” He pulled a folded piece of paper from his back pocket, opened it, and spread it on the suite’s small dining table.
Everyone stared down, studying the scribbles. Someone had drawn a crude map of the west side of Cabo with main roads named and arrow marks indicating their route out of town.
Carson pointed at the picture of a large square. “Delgado has a compound with walls seven feet high. The guy I spoke with has been inside the compound. He helped to build it and knows all the places Delgado could have stashed Maggie. He thinks Delgado will have incarcerated her in the wine cellar. There’s a small storage closet at the back of the cellar with a lock on the outside of the door.”
Gina watched as Chase’s fist clenched right along with his square jaw. She had no doubt he’d be going for blood, knowing what Maggie must be going through. Gina was right there with him.
“Okay,” Chase said, “now that we know where he is, we’ll need your stash of weapons.”
Carson narrowed his gaze. “You know going up against the cartel is suicide, don’t you?”
“I can’t leave her there, and we can’t shoot up a bar full of innocent people.”
Gina watched as Carson’s mouth stretched. “I was beginning to go crazy here with so much sun, sand, and relaxation. I’m ready for action.”
Chase nodded. “Let’s do this.”
* * *
At some point, Carson had expected his buddy Chase to squash Gina’s determination to be part of their merry band of commandoes. When they’d prepared to leave the hotel room, after extracting a promise from Maggie’s father to do nothing until he heard from them, Carson had given Chase a wide-eyed stare and a subtle tip of his head toward Gina, to remind him he needed to tell her to stay.
But nooo. Chase behaved as though it was the most natural thing in the world to include the woman. Didn’t he know she wasn’t combat-tested—not like a SEAL. That she’d likely never entered a firefight the entire time she’d served in the desert. She didn’t have the “look”—thousand-yard-stare, taut features, narrowed eyes. Okay, so she didn’t look like him, not with her fly-away dark curls and large puppy-dog eyes. He didn’t want anything about her expressions to change. He loved that he could read every emotion, every thought, in her eyes and the tilt of her chin.
S*x on the Beach Page 4
