Page 65 of SEAL of Valor

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“See, I knew I wouldn’t get to you unless you were perfectly distracted. Which is exactly why she’s here. Now, I know that Tank went in with you, so how about we move this conversation to somewhere more private? Unless, of course, you want the pavement painted with his blood, too.”

The idea of watching Tank lose his life makes me sick. Because I don’t doubt for even an instant that Brenda won’t do exactly what she’s promising. “I will do whatever you want me to do, but leave Reese here.”

“No.”

“I’m not bringing her. I go only if she stays.”

“Oh, honey, you are not calling the shots.” She pulls out a silenced handgun, points it at me, and fires. The bullet tears into my lower abdomen—right below where I’m holding Reese.

The pain drops me to my knees, breath punching out of my lungs, but somehow, I maintain my hold on Reese, holding her against my chest so she doesn’t hit the ground.

“Sorry about that, Cowboy, but we both know you’re not going to go quietly. Have to level the playing field. Take them both,” she orders.

Half a dozen masked men come out of the shadows, all rushing toward us.

I push to my feet, grinding my teeth against the pain as I hold Reese in my arms. “Touch her, and I’ll rip your arms off,” I snarl. Every movement costs me greatly, and every step is a fight to remain upright.

Brenda laughs. “Hey, if he wants to suffer, let him. Go on, Cowboy, walk your bride to the van. But just know that if you try anything, the next bullet goes into her.”

I remain rooted in my spot, trying to come up with a plan that doesn’t end with us in that van. Running isn’t an option, and with Reese unconscious, she can’t fight back.

Brenda clicks her tongue. “Come on, Cowboy. We’re out of time, and you either play along, or I’ll kill you both and go for someone else. Garrison would suit my needs quite well. I’m sure he’d be a whole lot easier to control given he went and got himself a family.”

Katelyn. Thomas. The baby.

No matter what, I can’t put them at risk. So, I start toward the van, warm blood trickling down my left side. Pain eats away at me with every small movement, but I’ve operated with worse, so I continue forward, knowing that failing this mission means losing Reese.

And that just isn’t an option.

“There it is,” Brenda coos. “I knew you’d make the right choice if properly motivated.”

I continue to the van, monitoring the cars nearby and the men flanking us. If I can get Reese on the ground, then maybe I can fight long enough for Tank to come out of the bar and see what’s going on.

One guy to the left. Two to the right. Three right behind me.

I calculate exactly what I need to fight our way out of this, but a blade digs into my lower back.

Brenda laughs. “Stay focused, Cowboy. I see those wheels turning, and unless you cooperate, this only ends with you both dead.”

My stomach churns, anger and fear burning a hole straight through me. Getting in that van likely means we don’t come back. If Reese weren’t with me, they’d have to put a bullet in me right here in this parking lot.

Something Brenda counted on. Which is why Reese is here at all. Why she was drugged. Because Brenda knows I won’t risk Reese.

I hiss through clenched teeth as I climb into the van, then set Reese right beside me. Three armed men jump in the back along with the woman who was with Reese, while Brenda gets into the passenger seat.

The doors are slammed shut, and the driver accelerates quickly. As I try to breathe through the pain, the world tilts for just a moment, blood loss and pain trying to pull me under.

“Hands together, Cowboy. I’m Ash, by the way. We really didn’t get a chance to meet. Huge fan.” She grins at me, a savage smile so like Brenda’s that I can’t believe I didn’t see the resemblance before.

“So you’re just as deranged as your sister. Must run in the family.”

She grins. “Brenda said you were smart. Not smart enough to recognize me right off the bat. I was honestly a little worried at first.” She zip ties my wrists, then my ankles.

I should have seen it. Now my mistake might cost Reese her life.

The man to my left presses a cloth to the injury on my side, and pain shoots through my body as he applies pressure, but I grit my teeth, not giving him the satisfaction of seeing just how badly it hurts.