by Elle James
SEAL Salvation
Brotherhood Protectors Colorado Book #1
Elle James
Twisted Page Inc
Contents
SEAL Salvation
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Epilogue
Rocky Mountain Rescue
About Rocky Mountain Rescue
Breaking Silence
Chapter 1
About the Author
Also by Elle James
SEAL Salvation
Brotherhood Protectors Colorado Book #1
New York Times & USA Today
Bestselling Author
ELLE JAMES
Copyright © 2021 by Elle James
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Ebook ISBN-13: 978-1-62695-351-2
Print ISBN-13: 978-1-62695-352-9
Dedicated to my daughter who trained with the US Army at Ft. Carson, Colorado. The location is fabulous and inspired this series!
Elle James
Author’s Note
Enjoy other military books by Elle James
Brotherhood Protectors Colorado
SEAL Salvation (#1)
Rocky Mountain Rescue (#2)
Ranger Redemption (#3)
Tactical Takeover (#4)
Visit ellejames.com for titles and release dates
For hot cowboys, visit her alter ego Myla Jackson at mylajackson.com
and join Elle James's Newsletter at
https://ellejames.com/contact/
Prologue
Hank Patterson paced the length of the conference table in the basement of his home in Montana, muttering, “No man left behind.”
“Hey boss,” Axel Svenson, the giant of a Viking, ducked as he descended the steps into the headquarters of one of the finest security firms in the state of Montana.
Hank, a former Navy SEAL, had started the Brotherhood Protectors after he’d rescued movie star Sadie McClain when her bodyguards were less than effective. Since then, he’d married the movie star, had a couple of kids and hired a number of former Army, Navy and Marine special operations, highly-trained operatives, to provide security or conduct dangerous missions where the government wasn’t or couldn’t get involved.
He took pride in the fact he’d helped so many of his military brotherhood find a place to fit into the civilian world.
With a large contingent of his men based in Montana, he needed to create other bases of operations. He’d set up an office in Hawaii, where former SEAL Jace “Hawk” Hawkins was the only man currently handling business there. He and some of his men had discussed other locations, including Washington, DC, New Orleans, Atlanta, New York City and Colorado.
Having grown up on a ranch, Hank liked the idea of setting up another location in an area much like his beloved Montana. Now, all he needed was to find the men to run the location.
“Hey, Hank,” a familiar voice sounded from the staircase. “What’s up?”
Hank lifted his chin toward Joseph “Kujo” Kuntz. “Sorry to take you away from your family on a Sunday.”
Kujo descended the stairs, followed by his retired Military Working Dog, Six. “No problem. Molly had to go to her office in Bozeman to pick up some files and check in with her supervisor.”
Hank smiled. “How’s the pregnancy going?”
Kujo shoved a hand through his hair. “First three months were a bitch with morning sickness, but she’s feeling good now.”
“Will she continue to work for the FBI after the baby is born?” Hank asked.
Kujo’s lips twisted, and his brow dipped. “Much as I’d like her to quit and raise our baby, it wouldn’t be fair to ask her to do that. She’s good at her job.”
“And you and Six are good at yours.” Hank’s brow rose. “You’re not considering quitting, are you?”
Kujo laughed. “No way. But we’re in the process of interviewing nannies.”
Hank nodded. “Glad to hear it. You’re a vital member of the team, here.”
“Thanks,” Kujo said. “I’m sure you didn’t invite me here to ask about morning sickness and babies. You’ve got your hands full with your own children, one of which is a newborn, probably keeping you awake at night.”
“Truth.” Hank’s smile slipped. “Think you can get away for a couple weeks before the baby is born?”
Kujo nodded slowly. “Where did you have in mind?”
Hank nodded his head toward the white board on the wall where a computer image of a state was projected. “I’ve got a lead on a location for our new office.”
Kujo stepped closer. “New office? Where?”
“Your old stomping grounds,” Hank said. “Colorado.”
A grin spread across Kujo’s face. “That’s great.” As soon as the grin came it faded. “Only, I can’t be gone for long with Molly being pregnant.”
Hank nodded. “I don’t want you to move out there permanently. I just need you to get out there, set up shop and hire a few good men, keeping in mind that one of them will head up the location.”
“I hate to be gone so long from Molly,” Kujo said. “If it’s okay with her, I can give you a few weeks. She’s only four months along, which gives me a little time that I can be away.”
“I wanted to be with Sadie every day of her pregnancy,” Hank said.
“I’d like to be with Molly every day of hers. But if you need me to go to Colorado, now would be better than later this year.”
Hank nodded. “Good. And I have someone in mind for leading the new team out there.” His brow wrinkled. “Only he’s a work in progress.”
Kujo frowned. “What do you mean…work in progress?”
Hank sighed. “Not only has he lost a leg, he’s lost his way.”
Kujo’s eyes narrowed. “I can understand. I was at my lowest when you offered me a job. If it hadn’t been for you and the Brotherhood Protectors…” Kujo shook his head, his hand going automatically to Six’s head.
The dog nuzzled his fingers, sensing his handler’s emotions.
“I figured you of all people would see where I’m going with this. And you’re from Colorado. You’ll appreciate going back.”
Kujo ran a hand over Six’s smooth, sable head. “You saved my life, and Six’s, not long ago,” Kujo said quietly.
“You and Six were worth saving. And so is Jake Cogburn.”
Kujo’s eyes widened. “Jake ‘The Cog’ Cogburn?”
Hank nodded again. “He’s in a bad way, from what I hear.”
“Like I was when you found me and made me rescue Six?”
“Exactly. I figured you’d have a better connection with the SEAL.”
Kujo drew in a deep breath. “He has to be ready to make the change.”
Hank laughed. “And you were?”
Kujo grinned. “I wasn’t. But you were convincing. And knowing Six would be euthanized if I didn’t go to him, motivated me.”
“Cog needs someone to motivate him,” Hank said. “He needs a purpose. He needs to know he’s still relevant in
this world.”
“And you think I’m the man to pull him up by his bootstraps?” Kujo shook his head. “I don’t know. Might take more than the few weeks I can give to the job.”
Hank clapped Kujo on the back. “I’ve seen your work. I know you can handle it.”
“And you want me to set up a new office for the Brotherhood Protectors?” Kujo shook his head. “That, in itself, will take some time. I’ll have to find a building to rent or purchase and equip it with all the infrastructure needed.” He waved his hand at Hank’s basement. “This takes time.”
“I have a connection near Colorado Springs.” Hank turned and walked away. “He’s a former Marine gunnery sergeant running a dude ranch near a small town called Fool’s Gold, which is located outside of Colorado Springs.” He touched several keys on a computer keyboard, and an image popped up on a screen.
Kujo looked over Hank’s shoulder to view a map on the monitor.
“I think Gunny Tate’s ranch has everything we need to set up shop. Great location, private enough and they need the money we’d pay in rent. It’s a win-win situation. Besides, the ranch will give us the cover we need to run our operations without detection.”
“Kind of like what you have here.” Kujo nodded. “We’re just a bunch of ranch hands, until we’re given an assignment.”
“Exactly.” Hank’s grin widened. “Gunny Tate is a character. He raised his only child singlehandedly after his wife died in childbirth. I believe that child is grown now and working the dude ranch with him. Gunny is a blustery curmudgeon with a heart of gold. Met him at McP’s a million years ago after BUD/S training. His team was celebrating his transfer to a recruiting command in Colorado. He’s been in Colorado ever since.”
“Recruiting command?” Kujo’s brows rose. “Who’d he piss off?”
Hank shook his head. “He opted to go into recruiting to end his career in a place of his choice. Being a single father raising a child, when he could be deployed at a moment’s notice, wore on him. He wanted to slow down and give the child a steady home to grow up in.”
“Boy or girl?” Kujo asked.
Hank grinned. “Name’s Rucker. Trust Gunny to give him a tough name. I can only assume he’s a boy. I never had the pleasure of meeting him.”
Kujo drew in a deep breath, let it out and clapped his hands together. “When do you want me to go? This week? Next week? You name it.”
Hank picked up a sheet of paper off the printer beside the monitor. “Your plane leaves at six in the morning from Bozeman and arrives in Colorado Springs before noon. That should give you plenty of time to find the town of Fool’s Gold and Lost Valley Ranch. Gunny is expecting you and will take you to where Cogburn is holed up.”
Kujo leaned his head toward the German Shepherd lying patiently at his feet. “What about Six?”
Hank smiled. “If you want, I can book him in the seat beside yours on the airplane.”
Kujo glanced down at Six. “Guess I’m going home to Colorado. I’d like Six to stay here with Molly.”
Six rose to his feet. Ready to go.
“Sorry, boy,” Kujo said. “You’re needed here.”
Hank held out his hand. “Good luck convincing Cog we have a place for him. He was a helluva SEAL and a leader among his team. If you can pull him out of his funk, he’ll make a great team leader for our Colorado location. That is, unless you’d like to take that position…?” Hank raised his eyebrows.
Kujo shook his head. “Molly’s established herself at the Bozeman office of the FBI. They know her and what she’s capable of. With her being pregnant, it would be a bad time to move. She’d have to start all over making her mark.”
Hank nodded. “Figured as much. Besides, she has a great support system here to take care of your baby when you’re both called to duty.”
“Exactly. I wouldn’t ask her to move now. Maybe in a year or two, but not now. I do miss Colorado. Fortunately, Montana is a lot like where I came from. Wide open spaces, blue sky, mountains and more. Here, I have a team I love working with.” He shook Hank’s hand. “Thanks for pulling me back into the land of the living.”
“You’re welcome. Now go get Cog. I have a feeling he’ll be just the right fit for running the Colorado office of the Brotherhood Protectors.”
As Kujo and Six left the basement conference room, Hank’s gaze followed. If anyone could get Jake Cogburn to pull his head out of his ass and get to work, Kujo was the one.
“Hank?” Sadie’s voice sounded from the top of the stairs.
“Yeah, babe,” he responded, taking the stairs two at a time.
His beautiful wife stood with baby Mac cradled in her arms.
Hank leaned close and captured her mouth with his. “What’s up, beautiful?”
She kissed him back and smiled up at him. “Is Kujo going to Colorado?”
Hank nodded. “He is.”
Sadie nodded. “I’m glad. If I didn’t have to show up on the set of my next film, you could go.” She frowned. “I could call and reschedule.”
“Don’t. Kujo can handle Cog.” He kissed Sadie again. “Besides, I’m looking forward to having Mac and Emma all to myself while I miss their mama.”
Sadie’s smile spread across her face. “I love you, Hank Patterson. And I love that you care about your former teammates enough to help them out.”
He leaned back, raising his eyebrows. “Are you kidding? They’re helping me. I couldn’t have built this business so big and so fast without them.”
Hank took Mac from Sadie’s arms and carried him into the living room where Emma played with her collection of stuffed animals spread out across the area rug.
He prayed Cogburn wouldn’t send Kujo packing. The man really needed a purpose for his life. If he had that, he’d realize that being short a leg wasn’t the end of the world.
Chapter 1
Jake Cogburn sat in the tattered lounge chair he’d scavenged on the side of the street after moving into an empty apartment in Colorado Springs. He hadn’t planned on living in an apartment, nor had he planned on sleeping on the only piece of furniture he could afford without digging into his savings. He’d put aside money to purchase a plot of land out in the middle of nowhere Colorado. On that land, he’d wanted to build a house.
All those plans had been blown away, along with the lower half of his left leg, when he’d stepped on an IED in Afghanistan. Yeah, he had the money in the bank, but what good did it do him? On one leg, what could he accomplish? Working a piece of land and building a house took all four limbs.
He poured another tumbler of whiskey and tipped the contents up, letting the cool liquid burn a path down his throat. Soon, the numbing effect set in. Jake could almost forget the phantom pain in his missing leg, could almost forget he’d not only lost a leg, but had lost the only family he’d ever had.
As a Navy SEAL, his teammates had been his brothers. Every one of them would lay down his life for him, as he’d taken one for the team when his foot had landed on that IED.
Medically discharged, having gone through multiple surgeries and physical therapy, he’d been dumped out into a civilian world that had no use for a one-legged, former Navy SEAL.
What was he good for? His skillset included demolitions, tactical operations, highly effective weapons firing and hand-to-hand combat.
Where could he find that kind of work in a civilian occupation? And doing all that balanced on one leg?
Nope.
He was all washed up. His only hope was to sit on a corner with his hat held out, begging like a hundred other homeless veterans roaming the streets of Colorado Springs.
His free hand clenched into a fist. Jake had never begged for anything in his life. He’d fought for what he’d accomplished. From surviving the gangs on the streets of Denver, to forging his way through BUD/S training, he’d always counted on his mind and brute strength to get through any hardship.
But now…
Through the empty glass tumbler, he stared down at
the stump below his left knee then slammed the glass against the wall. It hit hard and shattered into a million pieces that scattered across the floor.
A knock sounded on the door to his apartment.
“I didn’t put a dent in the damned wall!” he yelled. “Leave me the fuck alone.”
“Jake Cogburn?” An unfamiliar male voice called out from the other side of the faded wooden panel.
“Yeah,” Jake muttered. “I’m not interested in buying anything.”
“I’m not selling anything,” the muffled voice sounded.
“Then get the fuck away from my door,” Jake said and tipped the bottle of whiskey up, downing the last swallow. The bottle followed the glass, hitting the wall with a solid thump before it crashed to the wooden floor and bounced.
“Everything all right in there?” the man called out.
“Who the hell cares?” Jake muttered.
“I do.”
Jake frowned. “I told you. I’m not buying anything.”
“And I told you I’m not selling anything.” A moment of silence followed. “Would you open the door for a brother?”
Anger surged through Jake. “I don’t have a brother. I’m an only fuckin’ child.”
“Then how about a brother-in-arms? A fellow spec ops guy? A Delta Force man?”
Jake barked a single laugh. “Yeah. Yeah. Whatever. The SEALs don’t operate out of Colorado. And as far as I know, there isn’t a Delta Force unit near here.”
