SEAL's Target, page 17
“Stop!” the man roared. “Don’t you dare move!”
She stayed crouched on the ground, her heart thundering in her chest, and hastened a glance at them. The guy with the scars—what had Wyatt’s team called him? The Red Flame? He and the men he was with would shoot her if she ran. She knew it. They’d kill her right here if she didn’t do what they wanted, and she’d never see Wyatt or any of her friends or family ever again. Tears smarted her eyes as she lay there on the ground. Would Wyatt check her social media tonight when he couldn’t find her? He was planning to come to her apartment after work. When she didn’t answer his call, would he show up at her place anyway?
Alexa.
She’d told Alexa where she was going.
Her friend wouldn’t be expecting her back for hours though, Callie thought dejectedly. She wouldn’t think anything of not seeing Callie this afternoon. Wyatt would no doubt check with Alexa at some point when he couldn’t find Callie.... Icy cold dread snaked down her spine. It’d be too late. He’d come looking for her, and she’d already be dead. She’d have to try and fight these bastards now or die trying.
Callie heard their footsteps getting closer, and then rough hands yanked her up. One of the men picked up her backpack, rifling through it. Her stomach twisted. Those were her things. Her personal belongings. They had no right to touch them, and she couldn’t stop them even if she wanted to. The man holding her yanked her closer, and she stood perfectly still. Luckily, he’d grabbed her good arm, so she wasn’t in any pain—yet. She’d act complacent, finding out what they wanted, and then run the first chance she got.
The man gripping her arm turned her, and the man with the scarred face stalked closer. Anger crossed over his features. Even with his disfigurement, she could see the hate in his expression—in his glare. “I’ve been looking for you, Callie Spencer. You were quite a difficult woman to find. I always love a good challenge.” She tried not to whimper, determined to remain strong, and the grip holding her arm tightened.
“What do you want with me?” she asked, hating how her voice wobbled.
The Red Flame’s gaze moved over her, calculating. He licked his lips in a way that made her stomach churn. “You’re the only one who could identify me. Those idiots who dragged you to the cockpit should never have let you see my face. They should have killed you then. My plans are not going to be thwarted by a silly American woman.”
“How did you find me?”
He huffed out a laugh, dark and sinister. “That hardly matters, because I’m here now. I can’t stay in Manila forever. New plans are in place.”
“So you flew all the way to Hawaii?” she asked in shock.
“A little detour,” he sneered, his eyes raking over her once again. “I can see why my men liked you. Small tits, but a slim body. Womanly curves. You’re going to come with me before I kill you. After all the trouble you’ve caused, I’m going to enjoy using you first.”
The man holding her shoved her forward, and she gasped, stumbling. Callie had to stall him—distract him—anything. She didn’t want him anywhere near her, but with the two other men here as well, she didn’t think she could run. She was outnumbered. Outgunned. Which one of them had fired a shot anyway? She was too scared to look around but sensed the man who’d grabbed her walking away. They were leaving her here with the mastermind of it all.
“Where were you going?” she asked, her voice shaking. “If Hawaii was a detour, where were you flying next?”
“LAX,” he said, his eyes hard. “Those idiots who took over your airplane didn’t handle the situation with enough finesse. I’ve got new people in place,” he said with a wicked grin. “Simultaneous explosions at multiple airports. Manila, Tokyo....”
“And LA,” she finished. “That’s why your men—the hijackers—were there to begin with.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You saw them?”
“The other passengers did,” she said, lifting her chin. “They were arguing even then, drawing attention to themselves.”
“And they got themselves killed with their incompetence. They’re not my problem anymore, but you are,” he said, his voice hard as he moved closer. “Take off your top, pretty girl. I want to see those tits while you wrap your lips around my dick.”
“No,” she said, her voice shaking. Beads of sweat broke out across her forehead, and she wished she didn’t have on skimpy shorts and a tank top. Not that any form of clothing was exactly armor to protect her from this crazed man. She was going to die here. She knew it. Callie was all alone. Tears smarted her eyes as she thought about how she’d never get to see Wyatt again. What would he think when he found out that she’d been killed? He’d saved her once, but he wasn’t here this time. She would die alone at their waterfall, her body discarded after they had no more use for her.
“Take it off,” the man snapped, stalking closer. “That flimsy fabric won’t keep you from me. You’re the only one on that plane who can identify me, tie me to the hijacking, and I’m going to enjoy using you before I end you once and for all.”
Callie screamed as he launched himself at her, and then they were on the sand as she pushed at him, trying to fight him off. His hands were reaching for her top, moving over her stomach as he readied to yank the material up, and then a single gunshot sounded.
WYATT CLUTCHED HIS rifle as the men jogged on the trail. He hadn’t thought to grab any weapons as he’d rushed out of the bullpen, but thank God Sawyer had. Wyatt’s Glock was locked in his safe at home, and he wasn’t about to waste time stopping there either—not when Callie’s life was at stake. The men were trained to kill with their bare hands, and not having a weapon at the ready wouldn’t have slowed him down much at all.
Fortunately, the rest of the team had caught up to them, Sawyer and Hudson sliding rifles into their hands. It wasn’t exactly following standard operating procedures to leave base for an unauthorized mission with military weapons, but the hell if he cared. If Wyatt lost his career over this, so be it. Callie’s life was at stake. And this fucker had masterminded the hijacking of her airplane. She’d already suffered at his hands, and he’d be damned if it happened again.
While their CO had gotten on the phone with the local authorities, alerting them to the situation, Wyatt and his teammates had rushed off to find Callie. The Honolulu PD was on their way, as well as various other local and Federal agencies. That fact that Callie had come here didn’t mean much in and of itself, but when Alexa had told them about the suspicious person in the parking lot of their apartment complex? Austin had gotten the plate number from the police. It matched a vehicle parked at the trailhead, and Wyatt’s blood had run cold.
He picked up the pace, careful to watch his footing on the dirt trail. It was another perfect Hawaiian day, the birds chirping, the sun shining, and his entire world was about to be shattered in an instant if anything happened to Callie.
Hudson’s gaze swung over to Wyatt’s. “The CO called in for some EMTs to stand by in the parking lot.” Wyatt’s stomach dropped. There was no telling what condition they’d find Callie in. It made sense to stage emergency crews, but he hated to even think of that possibility. As soon as Wyatt had learned that Hasnawi had landed here in Oahu, rage had burned through him. He’d managed to keep a level head until now, but just barely. This was Callie, the woman he loved. She’d come to mean everything to him, and he’d get to her no matter what.
“We’re almost there,” Wyatt told the others. “Less than ten minutes. I’ve never jogged this trail before, but we’re making good time. Hopefully those mofos moved slower than us, and we’re not too late. Maybe they haven’t found her yet.”
It was wishful thinking. They’d landed in Hawaii that morning and gotten a head start. While Wyatt hated that Callie was out here alone, he was thankful she hadn’t been at her apartment complex. Wyatt didn’t even know how they’d found out where she lived. Callie was subletting. Even if Hasnawi’s men had somehow hacked into multiple databases for apartments and hotels on the island, her name wouldn’t be there. It must’ve been some data she’d unknowingly shared with posting her photos and videos that led them right to her place.
“I haven’t been to this waterfall in months,” Aaron said, keeping pace beside Wyatt. “I nearly forgot about it.”
“I wish I had,” Wyatt ground out. “If I hadn’t shown it to Callie, she wouldn’t have come here alone.”
“Don’t think like that,” Austin told him. “Not a single part of this is your fault. She deserves to live her life. No one would’ve expected Hasnawi to fly off the hinges over a single passenger on that airplane.”
“He was that set on hiding his identity,” Wyatt said. “No one had seen his face. I wonder what the fuck he’s doing here with all of his men though? The latest intel was that airports in Tokyo, Seoul, and Manila were the targets.”
“Maybe this was just a stopover,” Sawyer said. “Honolulu might not have been a target, but the West Coast could be.”
“Jesus. Simultaneous attacks?” Hudson muttered.
Wyatt slowed his pace, lifting a hand up for his men to stay behind him. They’d nearly crested the top of the trail, and the waterfall and lagoon would soon be in view down below. He swung his gaze around, looking at his teammates. “If they’re down at the lagoon, they’ll see us up here. We’ll have to stay low to the ground so they don’t spot us.”
“Let’s spread out,” Sawyer said. “Some of us can stay up here, with an eagle’s eye view of everything. This is the way back anyway, so we’ll be able to stop anyone returning to the parking lot.”
“I’m hiking down to the lagoon,” Wyatt said. “Callie’s down there. I know it.”
The men eased forward quietly, listening. The last thing they needed was to charge in blind. Austin flanked Wyatt to the right, with Hudson behind them. Sawyer was already crouched down at the tree line, hustling in the other direction to watch from above. No hikers were around. None of Hasnawi’s men were in sight. It was almost too quiet.
“The trail down is right there,” Wyatt said, pointing. An odd stillness seemed to fill the air at that moment, even over the sound of the waterfall. He hesitated, the hair on the back of his neck standing up. His instincts had served him well in the field, and in that split second, he knew something was about to happen. A distant gunshot reverberated through the air, Wyatt and his teammates instantly hitting the ground.
“Stop!” a man shouted, his voice coming from down by the lagoon. “Don’t you dare move!”
“They found her,” Wyatt ground out, shock washing over him. A heartbeat later, and he was jumping up, running, his pulse pounding in his ears, his muscles tense. Wyatt raced down the second trail, skidding in the dirt before regaining his footing. His could see three men down by the lagoon, but it was the sight of a blonde woman lying on the ground that made it feel like his heart was being ripped out of his chest.
Callie.
The world seemed to stop, a feeling like he’d been sucker-punched preventing any air from entering his lungs. “Wyatt—” Austin’s hand clamped down on his shoulder, and Wyatt realized he’d come to a dead halt on the trail.
Just as his knees were about to give out, Callie shifted on the ground, looking toward Hasnawi. Wyatt nearly cried out in thanks. The air filling his lungs was a sweet relief. She might be injured, but he was no longer choking on his breath, fearing that she’d already been killed. They began moving again, Wyatt’s gaze tracking over her, searching for any injuries or blood. She was cowering in fear, and one of the men went over and yanked her to her feet. Wyatt wanted to roar in anger. Another man grabbed her backpack, and he watched him yank out her cell phone and smash it. The terrorists still hadn’t seen Wyatt or his teammates, and it killed him to stay silent until they got closer. He watched in horror as one of the men shoved Callie forward, closer to Hasnawi.
Time seemed to stand still, the entire scene like it was happening in slow motion. “Sawyer has a shot,” Hudson said in a low voice from behind him. “You deal with Hasnawi. He’ll take out the other two men.”
“Roger,” Wyatt said, not even concerned that he and Austin didn’t have their comms units like his teammates. They’d rushed to get here first, and the men had trained together so long, they could practically predict one another’s movements anyway.
Callie was holding her hands up, trying to ward off Hasnawi, as Wyatt, Austin, and Hudson hid at the bottom of the trail. Wyatt lifted his rifle, ready to take a shot, a sense of calm finally washing over him. His finger caressed the trigger, his eye on the scope. “The angle is wrong,” he said in a low voice. “Almost there. Come on, asshole. Turn.”
“Once he’s taken out, Sawyer has the other two,” Hudson said smoothly.
“They’re retreating,” Austin said quietly. “They’re leaving him alone with her.”
Suddenly, Callie screamed as Hasnawi launched himself at her. They rolled on the sand, Callie trying to fight him off. As Hasnawi pushed himself up to a sitting position, tugging at Callie’s clothing, Wyatt fired the kill shot. Hasnawi slumped over as Callie’s terrified screams filled the air. Wyatt was on his feet and running before he even realized he’d stood. His friends would cover him if the other terrorists still lived. He just needed to get to his girl.
Two more gunshots sounded, and he knew it was finally over. Somewhere above them, Sawyer, Aaron, and Ryan kept watch. Wyatt dropped to the ground beside Callie as his friends yanked Hasnawi’s body off her. Wyatt pulled her into his arms, and Callie clung to him, crying hysterically.
“I’ve got you,” he soothed, his hands running over her, making sure she was really okay. “You’re safe. You’re okay now. Hasnawi is dead, and you won’t ever have to worry about him again.”
“How did you find me?” Callie asked, her voice shaking. “I was afraid you wouldn’t even realize I was gone until tonight, until it was too late.” Fresh tears began to fall, and he tightened his arms, his lips pressing against her temple. Wyatt let out his own shaky breath. “I’ll tell you everything later on. Are you hurt? I want to shoot him all over again for touching you.”
“No. I was terrified, but I’m not hurt. You saved me,” she said, finally looking up and meeting his gaze.
“I’ll always come for you, Callie,” he promised, searching her eyes. He could see the fear and love mixed in them, and he felt competing emotions warring in his own chest. He’d almost lost her, and he wanted nothing more than to hold her close, safe in his arms. “The other guys will wait here for the police and brief our CO. They’ll deal with the aftermath. I’m going to take you home.”
Epilogue
Two weeks later
Callie grinned at Wyatt, her sundress blowing in the gentle Hawaiian breeze. The waves crashed on the shore behind them, and she breathed in the salty air as Wyatt stalked toward her, a heated look on his face. “I’m glad we’re getting to redo our beach party,” he said, his voice gruff. “The last one ended with—well—taking a wanted terrorist off the face of the Earth. That was a positive.”
“It was a plus,” Callie agreed lightly. His hands landed on her hips, and he pulled her closer, Callie eagerly letting him. “And what’s so special about parties on the beach?” she asked.
“I get to see you in this sexy sundress again,” Wyatt said, letting his gaze rake over her.
“You do have a thing for dresses,” she teased. “What can I say? They must look good on me.”
“They look good partially off you, too,” he said, his eyes hot as they met hers. She flushed, and Wyatt lifted her hand to his mouth, kissing the palm. “I see you remember, too,” he said huskily. “I kind of love how you still blush for me.”
“How could I forget?” she asked, breathless. Just like the first time he’d pleasured her, Wyatt had undressed her slowly the night before, letting her breasts spill into his palms after pushing aside the straps of her sundress. He’d leaned her back on the sofa once again, buried his head between her thighs, then proceeded to make her see stars. She’d been flushed and disheveled as he’d carried her to his bedroom afterwards, and she’d loved every second.
His hand brushed back a strand of her hair, and then he was looking into her eyes, more serious. “I thought I lost you a few weeks ago. I love you more than anything, Cal, and I’ll do whatever you want to make you happy.”
“I am happy,” she assured him. “And I love you, too. So much it hurts.”
His eyes softened, and she felt her heart soar. It was incredible to have this gruff, protective alpha go so gentle and sweet around her. His protective side made her feel safe, but all the rest of him made her feel whole. Wyatt was like her missing half, something she’d never even known she was missing until they’d met.
“I know your sublet is only for a couple more months,” he said, cocking his head to the side. Those green eyes studied her, and she felt her heart racing the way it always did when he was near. “I’m hoping when it’s up, you’ll want to move in with me.”
“Yes!” she said happily, throwing her arms around his neck and rising up for a kiss.
“Yes?” he confirmed after his lips had eagerly met hers.
“Yes. Of course, yes. We’re together almost every night anyway, and I don’t have plans to move back to California. I don’t want to move back. I love you, Wyatt Miller. My life is here with you.”
“I love you, too,” he murmured. “My entire life is you.” And then he was drawing her even closer, kissing her deeply as their bodies pressed together, their hearts beating as one.
“Geez guys, get a room!” Alexa teased as she and Austin walked over. Callie was flushing, her lips swollen from Wyatt’s kiss, but she was too happy to be embarrassed.
“Aw, Lex, they’re cute,” Austin said.
Alexa elbowed him playfully as Callie exchanged a look with Wyatt. Although both of their friends had said things were casual, they seemed awfully comfortable and couple-like when they were together. Austin had even taken Alexa’s car in for an oil change the other day, a chore she absolutely hated.
