The SEAL’s Unexpected Triplets

by Knight, Katie

  William eyed her. She didn’t even trust him with this? He’d thought that making the plans about the threat was the one thing she believed he could do—but now she doubted he’d be able to keep the girls safe?

  “It’s the best way,” he insisted.

  “Find another. Because if you so much as mention that plan again within my earshot, I’ll—”

  “All right,” he said slowly, his mind turning with other possibilities. “I need to go into the office, have a discussion with Ben and others, so we can formulate a different plan.”

  “You do that,” she said with a dismissive wave.

  “The outside security is still in place, so you’re protected without me. Now that we know who we’re looking for, it’ll be easier to keep you all safe.”

  “We’ll be fine.”

  He left without another word to her or the girls, his mind too full of possible plans. He reviewed several as he drove to Alert Security, discarding some and developing others to present to the team that was assembling there.

  “Hey, Ben,” he greeted, walking up to the other operative.

  “Time to nab the bad guy,” Ben said with a grin. “This is Detective Taylor from the local PD, who’ll be with us.”

  After Ben handled the other introduction, William presented the evidence he’d put together incriminating Kelp. It didn’t take long for everyone to be in agreement about William’s findings. They were all ready to move ahead with a trap. They discussed several possibilities, but everyone agreed that catching him in the act was key to getting a conviction.

  “Going to be tough,” William said. “We can’t use the girls.” He didn’t add that Cora had forbidden him to.

  “Understandable,” Detective Taylor agreed. “Minors shouldn’t be put in danger.”

  “But we could make it seem like the girls were in a vulnerable position, and put dolls in their places,” Ben said, leaning forward a bit. “You take them to Woodside Park pretty frequently to play. It’s a good spot to spring a trap.”

  “Dolls in the strollers instead of the girls. That could work. They usually fall asleep on the way to or home from the park, so no one watching would think it unusual if they weren’t moving around.”

  “Yeah, you take them there. Leave them exposed, the bad guy moves in, and we grab him,” Ben concluded. “Cora would have to be with you, or it would look weird since you two go together. You push the double stroller. She pushes the single. Just like always.”

  It made sense as a plan. On a practical level, it required Cora’s cooperation. She had to be there. After their earlier conversation, he wasn’t sure she’d agree. The sequence of events that would take place played in his head. Take the kids to the park, walk off after pretending to be distracted by something, leaving Cora and the dolls in the strollers as sitting ducks.

  Seemed simple, but simple missions often went sideways. What if Cora got taken hostage or hurt when the assailant realized he’d been had? What if she got caught in the crossfire somehow?

  “I don’t know about putting Cora in danger,” William said. “First, she might not agree to do it. And, second…” He cared about her way too much to risk it. He couldn’t say that to the people assembled in the room.

  “Nothing’ll happen to her,” Ben assured him. “We’ll have the park blanketed with officers and a response team standing by. I’ll show you.” Ben unrolled a map of the park. “The girls like the swings best, right?”

  “Yeah,” William responded, wondering just how predictable his movements had become, “the swing set is usually the first stop.”

  “There’s a bench here. Perfect place for Cora to sit with the strollers. You’re going to walk off. Maybe it’ll look like you’re doing a security sweep, maybe we’ll set it up so you run into an old friend to talk to.”

  “That could be me,” Detective Taylor volunteered. “Kelp’s never seen me, so it could work.”

  “Good. You’ll be over here.” Ben pointed to a location on the far side of the park.

  “I won’t have a visual on her from there,” William objected. The spot was behind the play structure under the shade of several pine trees, and a hundred yards from the bench where Cora would be.

  “That’s the point—Kelp will think it’s safe to strike since you won’t be able to see what’s going on. And anyway, you won’t need a visual. You’ll have an earpiece. Operatives, here and here,” Ben indicated other park benches, “will be reporting in. Plus, others strolling through the park. She’ll have six sets of eyes on her at all times. Nothing to worry about.”

  “Yeah, looks good,” William said because it did. He wasn’t thrilled about it, and he’d have to sell it to Cora, but it was the best way to catch Kelp.

  “We’ve got your back.” Ben shot him a glance, probably understanding William’s reluctance better than the others. After all, he’d been in the household and seen the interaction between William and Cora. William hadn’t admitted to anything beyond a professional relationship with her, but Ben wasn’t blind.

  “I’ll talk it over with Cora. What’s the timing?”

  “Too much to get in place for tomorrow. Better make it the next day,” Ben said.

  Two hours later after formulating the plan down to tiny details and contingencies, William returned home. He had one more task and the entire operation depended on its success. If Cora didn’t agree to be part of the mission, they’d have to scrap it and start with something new and potentially not as effective. And in the time it took them to come up with that new plan, Kelp might strike again.

  Once home, he checked in with the security detail and let himself in. Cora had a book with a glossy black cover held up in front of her face and didn’t lower it when he walked into the living room. The house was quiet with the girls in bed, which was just as well since he needed Cora’s undivided attention while he reviewed the plan and got her consent.

  He walked into the living room and lowered himself onto the coffee table in front of her. She turned another page before using a ribbon he’d seen in Paige’s hair a few days ago as a bookmark. It was a habit of hers that amused him. Books, their pages marked with unique items, were scattered wherever Cora thought she could grab a moment to read.

  She snapped the book shut and turned her face to him. It twisted him up inside to think how they’d gone from near enemies to lovers to what appeared to be cool acquaintances.

  “We’ve put together a way of catching Kelp, but we’ll need your involvement.” He should have asked how the girls were, how Cora was, if they watched a movie before bedtime, but he skipped right to business, invoking the distance he should have kept between them during his time in the house.

  “Not the girls?”

  “No.” He explained about using dolls as proxies on a trip to the park. She listened, nodding along in understanding. “The team agrees that you have to be there,” he continued. “I’ve never taken the girls to the park without you, so it would look suspicious if I did now.”

  “Let me get this straight. I’m going to sit on a bench while someone makes a move to nab the fake girls.”

  “You have to look like an easy mark.”

  “I’m tougher than I look,” she argued.

  “No one knows that better than me.” He wanted to smile, but didn’t. “Kelp or his hired thugs won’t. They’ll underestimate you.”

  “What prevents them from taking their anger out on me when they realize they’ve been duped?” she demanded, echoing his initial concern.

  “They’ll be in a hurry, wanting to get away before you have a chance to call for help. Hopefully, they’ll grab the strollers without looking too closely and take off.”

  “And if they don’t?” She questioned.

  “We’ll be on them like lightning.” He wanted to assuage the stress and fear he heard in her voice. Nothing would happen to her. He wouldn’t let it. “Will you do it? We need your agreement tonight so we can put the plan in motion.”

  She looked aw
ay from him, her eyes going to the photographs of the girls on the mantle. Some had been taken before their parents’ death, others more recently. There was even a snapshot of him and the triplets leaning against a framed image. When had she done that?

  “What is it?” he asked, breaking a silence that lasted several minutes.

  “Nothing,” she turned back to him, met his eyes.

  He studied her face. Emotions passed over it, but he couldn’t determine what they were. Fear? Something else? “Cora, I’ve got to see this mission through to the end.”

  “I know. Go on with your plans,” she said, standing up and stepping away from him quickly. “I’ll ask Annie to come watch the girls for me.” A few seconds later, she disappeared up the stairs. Her light footsteps sounded over his head, leaving him alone.

  Twenty-Five

  William scanned the park, checking off the operatives with his eyes as he pretended to make small talk with Detective Taylor, his “old friend,” while they waited for Kelp. Earlier Cora happened to mention in a text message to him that she was taking the girls to the park.

  “Ten minutes in,” Taylor said while glancing at his cell phone messages. “I wouldn’t think he’d wait much longer if he’s watching for fear you’ll head back to join Cora. I’m going to point something out to you in the opposite direction. Look like you’re interested. If he’s watching, he might take the opportunity.”

  Taylor turned and pointed to some ducks at the edge of the pond, his movements inviting William to do the same. Begrudgingly he did. He hadn’t had a clear line of sight on Cora before. Now, he had none. But he agreed with Taylor that a little prompting might smoke out Kelp.

  He pretended to admire the ducks while listening to the feed from his earpiece. The anxiety he felt increased. He’d always been revved during missions as a SEAL, adrenaline pumped. This was different. Fear played a role it never had before. He dismissed the idea he was out of his element. A mission was a mission. He had the training and preparation. But not all his teammates on this one had the benefit of the same experience. Cora was wide-open to attack with no way to defend herself.

  “Man in a blue sports coat and hat approaching the bench.” A voice came through to him and he had to prevent himself from whirling around. It could be nothing. He didn’t want to blow his cover.

  “Watch his hands.” A different voice spoke.

  “Knife.” The single word blasted from multiple operatives.

  William spun and sprinted for the bench. As he rounded the play structure, the assailant wielded the knife at Cora and grabbed for the doll, yanking it out of the single stroller. He must have realized the child was a decoy. He threw it to the ground, giving it a vicious kick before turning on Cora. She’d risen from the bench, putting herself between the assailant and the double stroller.

  William’s heart went to his throat. Why was she protecting dolls? Instinct probably. He put on another burst of speed. Before he reached her, two operatives took the perpetrator to the ground, knocking the knife clear and slamming handcuffs on his wrists.

  William slid to a stop, kicking wood chips in the attacker’s face. Grabbing a handful of jacket, William yanked the man to his feet and brought them face-to-face. Francis Kelp, his sneer still in place, stared back.

  William shook with rage, his fists balled. He couldn’t punch a guy already in custody, but the temptation was huge. He settled for giving Kelp a tremendous shake. “You’d harm children for money? What kind of low life are you?”

  At Kelp’s shrug, William shoved him. Kelp hit the ground hard. Seconds later, other hands grabbed him, and he was loaded in a police cruiser. Just as well. If William had more contact with the bastard, he’d do worse than a shake and shove.

  A hand gripped his arm. Cora. He turned, taking her by the shoulders first and looking into her bright eyes. “Are you hurt?”

  “No,” her breath came in gasps, “he didn’t get that close to me. I’m just…”

  “Come here.” William wrapped her tight in a hug, pressing her head to his shoulder. She trembled, but as she’d said, she was tough. He had no fear that she would collapse or faint.

  He looked over her head to where Ben picked up the doll Kelp had thrown and kicked, his rage boiled again.

  “He would have hurt the girls. Right here in the park,” Cora whispered into William’s shoulder. “What kind of crazy man is he?”

  “He’d gotten desperate.” William stroked his hands over her back, trying to calm her and himself. “Greed drives people to commit heinous acts.”

  “That would have been Paige.” She lifted her head, tears ran down her face. They’d added a soft cast to that doll to mimic the injured triplet. “My little Paige.”

  “We got him.” He cupped her face. “It’s over, Cora. That’s what matters. The girls are safe.”

  “Royce,” Detective Taylor called for him.

  “I’ve got cleanup on this to deal with.” He didn’t want to leave her, but he had responsibilities. “We might need a statement from you, but that can be taken later.”

  “Okay, I’ll…I’ll go home.” She broke free of him, swaying a little before she got her footing.

  “Let me have someone give you a ride.” He didn’t want her walking the distance alone.

  “Sure.” Her color was returning, and she straightened her spine.

  “I’ll be home as soon as I can,” he said, getting the tiniest flicker of response from her.

  William put Cora in an Alert Security vehicle with instructions to the driver to escort her into the house and drive Annie home. Another team was sweeping the property to make sure Kelp hadn’t put in place a backup plan for getting to the girls. William didn’t think it likely, but he wasn’t taking chances.

  After that, he turned his attention to the cleanup of the mission, which included a trip to the police station where he had the satisfaction of watching Kelp be booked for assault. More charges would come once the prosecutor reviewed the case but attacking a child was enough to hold Kelp without bail.

  Before leaving the station, William personally thanked the two men who tackled Kelp. Their quick action may have saved Cora’s life, and he wanted them to understand how much that meant to him.

  The threat was over, he reminded himself, as he drove home in the dark. He felt the tension and vigilance he’d carried around like a heavy coat fall away, and all he wanted to do was see his girls.

  The triplets would be in bed, but he’d still be able to peek at them, see for himself that they were safe. And Cora, too. He needed to know she was okay. He thought about what might come next with her as he parked his truck. They’d fought, harsh words had been exchanged, so he didn’t know where they stood.

  She met him in the foyer as he entered the house. Her bare feet made hardly a sound on the wood floor. She looked calm, not relaxed, but resigned. What was that about? He expected her to be happy that they were safe, but the vibe she was putting off was far from joyful.

  “Hey,” he said, but only got a nod in reply.

  “Is he in jail?” She kept her voice low.

  “Behind bars,” he confirmed. “You’ve nothing to worry about anymore.”

  “Good,” she let out a sigh and seemed to gather herself, “so you’ll be moving out then.”

  “Huh?” He hadn’t expected to walk in and have her greet him with open arms, but it sounded as though she were kicking him out.

  “The job. It’s over for you.”

  The job? Hell, did she really think he viewed his time there as just a job?

  Crap. Wait. He glanced in the open door to the dining room, remembering that’s exactly what he had said just a few days ago.

  “There’s no longer a reason for your guardianship of the girls.” She spoke in a calm, rational tone. “You’ve done your duty. You can go. I’d prefer tonight.” She put her hand on the railing as if to climb the stairs and leave him there.

  “Cora, wait. I don’t want to leave.”

  �
�It’s not your call, William. Job’s done. Alert Security will get paid, and I’m sure they’ll assign you to something else. I want the cameras and surveillance equipment out of here. I don’t want any reminders of what’s happened. The girls and I are going back to living like a normal…family.”

  Without him. And it was his fault. He’d cut himself off from them to focus on the mission. It didn’t matter that he’d had to. The fact was that he didn’t know how to connect with them and had distanced himself when the stress ramped up. And then that fight with Cora—he could understand why she wanted nothing more to do with him.

  “Let me stay a little longer,” he pleaded. Maybe with some time, he could find a way to be part of their household, to mend what he’d broken.

  “Is there a security concern still?” Her tone hadn’t altered, but he noticed the slight tremble in her jaw.

  “No.” Of that he was certain, Kelp had given up the names of people he’d paid to assist him, and they’d all been arrested earlier in the day.

  “Then why should you stay?” She was challenging him now. “Go ahead. Convince me that you should.”

  Although he wasn’t a loquacious man, he’d never been tongue-tied until that moment. His mind whirled with notions that he was part of them, had bonded with them—but none of those ideas formed into words he could speak. Her message to him was clear. She was letting him know he was undeserving of being part of the family she and the girls formed. He wasn’t good enough, and he didn’t know how to fix that.

  He’d faced countless challenges in his life and overcome them. But this was a battle he couldn’t win. He had no weapon that would help him, except retreat. Retreat to his own space where he understood how to function. He wasn’t a family man. He’d only pretended to fulfill that role as part of the job. He didn’t have it in him to truly connect to others, which meant not only the girls, but Cora as well.

  She no longer wanted nor needed him. That was an equal blow to losing contact with the girls. They were a package deal, instant family, woman and kids, and he’d engaged in the fantasy that they could be his. But now the reality set in that they weren’t and never would be.