Page 98 of SEAL of Valor

“He’s the new Brenda,” Sawyer adds.

Agent Jones glances over at Sawyer, clearly not at all amused by the comparison. “Hardly.”

“Why are you here?” Weston demands again.

“Caldwell sent me. He wanted you to be aware that we have a location on Brenda, and we will be monitoring it for an appropriate time to take her back into custody.”

“An appropriate time?” Weston’s tone is low, and fury drips from every word. “Any particular reason you’ve decided to take your sweet time catching her?”

Agent Jones’ frustration is plain as day on his face. He very clearly doesn’t want to be here.

“Because they let her escape.” With those five words spoken by Zane, the tension in the room increases by the thousands. Each member of Weston’s team stiffens, their gazes taking on a murderous edge.

The pressure is nearly too much. As is the idea that the woman who had Weston tortured and threatened to kill us both was released on purpose.

“Didn’t you?” Zane questions.

Agent Jones doesn’t deny it. “I am here merely as a courtesy and to warn you to stay in your lane. You aren’t soldiers anymore. You’re civilians. And as such, you are not authorized to operate in any tactical fashion.”

Weston charges forward and wraps his large hand around the agent’s throat. He slams him into the wall hard enough to dent sheetrock.

The guard draws his weapon and aims it at Weston. “Let him go, or I’ll drop you where you stand,” he threatens.

The door opens, and the other armed guards come in, weapons raised. Tensions surge, and my pulse skyrockets.

Zane, Ryker, Sawyer, and Garrison all snap to attention at once, moving in closely so they can intervene should it be necessary.

Adrenaline surges through my system.

“You’re going to want to tell your men to lower their weapons,” Weston warns. “They may succeed in putting a bullet in me, but none of you will walk out of here alive if they do.”

Agent Jones’ glare never leaves Weston’s face. “Release me, and they will.”

“Nah. I rather enjoy seeing the fear in your gaze.” Weston’s expression is unrecognizable, and for a moment, I get another glimpse at the soldier he became. “Lets me know when you’re lying.”

“Put them down,” Agent Jones orders his men after a moment of hesitation.

“Now, why did you release Brenda?” Weston demands.

“I’m not answering a single question when your hand is on my throat,” he snarls back.

“That woman was responsible for the near-deaths of people very important to me. Not once…but four times. You’ll answer, or I’ll take you out right here and let the cards fall where they may. Even if it means your guys put a few new holes in me, too.”

Fear turns the blood in my veins to ice, and I start to move forward. He can’t do this. Why does he keep tempting death? Garrison’s hand on my arm is the only reason I stay in place. And out of the corner of my eye, I catch Zane and Ryker exchanging glances, right before Ryker moves in closer to Weston.

They’ve got this. God, please let them have this. Please keep this from escalating.

“Get some perspective, Hayes. She’s hardly the biggest fish out there.”

“So she’s bait,” Zane says. “Release him, Cowboy.”

Weston glares at Agent Jones a moment longer, but then surprises me by following Zane’s order and releasing the man. He moves back a few steps, putting himself between Agent Jones and me.

“Good to know you have a chain that can be pulled,” Agent Jones taunts.

I move forward, remnants of Brenda’s comments about Weston being a dog on a chain surfacing. “Watch your mouth. You don’t get to come into my house and speak that way.”

Weston’s arm prevents me from moving fully around him, but Agent Jones seems almost amused by my anger. At least, if the partial grin on his face is any indication.