Page 77 of SEAL of Valor

Weston smiles at me, then starts lowering the boat toward the water. With each passing moment, my heart breaks a bit more.

Piece by piece.

I leave it standing right up there on the deck of this container ship.

God, save him. Save us. Please be with us. Please.

Chapter 22

Weston

The rescue boat hits the water, and I cut the lines, releasing them into the water right after it. Then I stand a moment as I watch her fade from view, ensuring she gets away from the ship without the wake tipping her boat over.

As soon as she’s clear and I know she’s safe, I pull out the third and final phone I’d lifted from the guards and dial Garrison’s number.

“That you, Cowboy?” he answers on the second ring.

“Is Zane there?” I check the weapon in my hand, counting the rounds I have.

“Yeah. You’re on speaker phone.”

“Great.” I set it aside and check the magazine of the rifle on my back. “I need to know how to disable a container ship so they can’t navigate it.”

“You need to get to the main cabin. All navs are there,” Zane says. Once you’re there, put a few new holes in the control dashboard, and you’re good to go. We’ve got a lock on you, and we’re heading out now.”

“Great. Reese is in a lifeboat. I’m still on board, but my plan is to join her soon.”

My team is quiet for a moment. “How bad is it?” Zane questions.

“I’m pretty beat up. Have a few new holes myself.”

“So, bad.”

“Been worse. Get to Reese first. If I’m not there⁠—”

“You will be. Good luck, Cowboy.”

“I need a bit more than luck. Do me a favor, and say a prayer that God is listening. Because I’m going to need a miracle.”

“Already done, Brother. And He is.”

I end the call, a lump in my throat, and shove the phone back into my pocket as I move along the side of the ship. I leave the pistol tucked into my jeans at my lower back and utilize the rifle, training it straight ahead.

Any movement and they’re done.

But a single shot will alert everyone on this ship.

Honestly, the fact that they haven’t raised the alarm yet likely means the guys who came after me were the same ones monitoring the camera. Which is a miracle in and of itself.

A few more hours, though, and this ship is going to be crawling with soldiers ready to take me out, then hunt Reese for sport. It’s my only mission to make sure that doesn’t happen. Whether I live or die on this ship, my team will get to her, and they will keep her safe.

I come around a corner and flatten myself to the container when I see a man step out and light up a cigarette, the flickering light my only warning that he was there. Shifting gears, I move around the corner, then slip the sling of the weapon over my neck and drape it along my back.

Reaching up, I use nearly all the strength I have to pull myself up over the railing. I land near silently, then creep forward toward the main cabin. Peering inside, I see a man sleeping near the controls.

Perfect.

I move inside and sneak behind him, then slam the end of my weapon into the side of his head. His head falls slack to the side, and blood trickles from the injury. I lower him to the ground, then study the panel.