Page 110 of SEAL of Valor

“It doesn’t matter,” Garrison says. “We’ve got your back.” He drops the magazine of his pistol and counts the remaining rounds, then shoves it back in.

“We’re right behind you,” Ryker assures me.

With a hold on the back of Max’s bulletproof vest, I set my weapon aside and start toward the door. I keep him in front of me as I move. That way, if Brenda has any ideas about taking me out here on the porch, she’ll have to kill Max.

We step outside to a scene that might as well belong in a warzone.

There’s a line of armed hostiles all bathed in the headlights from two SUVs.

Sawyer is bloodied and on his knees in front of Brenda, a gun pointed at his head.

Reese is beside him, on her knees, with Ash behind her.

My brother and the love of my life.

Both at the mercy of our enemies.

God, please help me save them both.

Everything begins moving in slow motion as I take stock of the situation, trying to determine exactly how this needs to play out. Because there is no doubt in my mind that Brenda is going to try to kill every single one of us the moment she has what she wants.

There are ten hostiles outside, including Brenda and Ash.

Ten.

Still, even though we are outnumbered, I’m not afraid. They could have me in their sights right now, and it doesn’t even matter.

Because I know I’m not alone.

“You okay, baby?” Ash calls out, her eyes wide and terrified as she looks at the man in front of me.

“Fine,” he snaps.

“Let Reese and Sawyer go.”

Brenda glares at me. “All you had to do was follow my orders one last time, Cowboy, and we could have avoided all this bloodshed. It’s not like your rebellion changed anything. See, there was never any bigger fish. Caldwell and his team just couldn’t see past their own desire to catch someone far worse than me.” She laughs. “Except, they didn’t realize I’m as bad as it gets.”

“So he’s who you were after.” Guess that’s why he’s not answering his phone.

She grins. “All you had to do was put them down, and your girl would have lived. I might have even been inclined to let the rest of your team live, too. So long as they stayed here in this backwater town and left me be.” She yanks Sawyer’s head back by his hair, and he hisses through clenched teeth. “Would you have done that, Sawyer?”

“Not a chance,” he replies. “You put yourself on a kill list the moment you messed with Cowboy and Reese.”

She takes her gun and slides it around to the side of his throat. “Maybe we don’t need to exchange anything. Maybe it’s time to shut you up for good.”

Fear kicks my pulse into overdrive, but I shove it back down. He’s going to be okay. He has to be okay.

“Brenda. No,” Ash says. “Please.”

“Little sister has a crush, how sweet,” Sawyer says. Brenda slams the butt of her gun against Sawyer’s head, and he groans, falling forward.

“When are you going to learn to keep your mouth shut?” I ask.

Sawyer laughs and straightens. “Never. It’s part of my charm.”

“Not for long,” Brenda replies.

“Let them go,” I tell her. “And I’ll release your sister’s boyfriend.”