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Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“All right, gentlemen.” Dig kept his deep voice low as he came to a stop a stretch later. He waited for the others to gather in closer, ensuring their attention was locked onto him before speaking up again. “Just as we discussed, we’ll move west for approximately one and a half clicks to the island’s main property. From there, we’ll split into groups and initiate our plan of attack. Any questions?”

“What about Shadow?”

“Don’t you go worrying your pretty little head there, Bones.” The woman’s voice filled Beckett’s ear right on cue. “I’d never let my favorite boys play in the sandbox without me.”

“Sandbox is right,” Falcon scoffed. The former Ranger kicked one of his feet to the side as if he were trying to shake some imaginary sand particles free. “I swear, no matter how tight my dive suit is, I still end up with the shit all over me.”

“Tell me about it.” Aleck made a show of picking at the seat of his wetsuit.

Beckett grinned as he and the others started to move. The thick bed of dried-up needles gathered beneath the tall pines swallowed their footfalls, making their approach virtually silent.

Minutes passed, and yards were covered as they kept their eyes peeled and their weapons held tightly in their fists. When they reached the end of the tree line, Digger lifted a fist, giving both teams an order to stop.

“SITREP,” the man in charge asked Shadow for an updated report on their current situation.

“Satellite feed is still showing eighteen warm bodies. Same locations as before. Once you exit those trees, you’ll see the property’s concrete privacy wall positioned about ten yards directly in front of you.”

“Damn.” Aleck smirked, having heard the interaction through his team’s linked comms. “Sounds like she’s as good as they say.”

“Shadow?” Beckett glanced over at the other man and smiled. “Oh, yeah. She’s awesome. Best tech support I’ve ever worked with.”

“I’m sorry, did you just call me your tech support? ” Shadow sounded immensely offended. “You do realize I can hunt you down anytime…anywhere. Right?”

“Ah, come on, now,’” he drawled slowly. “You know what I meant.”

“For your sake, you’d better hope I do.”

Aleck’s shoulders shook with the man’s deep chuckle. “You know, if I wasn’t already head over boots for my gorgeous wife, I’d think I’d be downright smitten.”

“Why thank you, Aleck.” The woman’s response was sugary sweet. “It’s nice to know at least some people appreciate my many talents. Apparently there are those who don’t share your wise insight into?—”

“Let’s cut the chit-chat and focus, yeah?” Digger grumbled from Beckett’s right.

“Focus,” Shadow repeated after a slight pause. “Right. Sorry, big guy. Anyway, as I was saying…the main property’s concrete barrier is a few yards from where you are now. You’ll climb over the wall and then make your final approach through the lawn. There won’t be much cover, if any, as it’s mostly cut grass with a few adult trees strategically placed throughout. There is a decent-sized pool house, however. You know, just in case you need someplace to hunker down in a hurry.”

“And the water?” Digger asked next.

“Quiet on all fronts. From what I’m seeing, it’s just the baddies and their hostage. All that’s missing is a group of badass heroes to swoop in there and save the day.”

“Missin’, hell.” Beckett shot the others a grin. “Better take another look at that crystal ball of yours, darlin’. ’Cuz we’re standin’ right here.”

The sound of hushed laughter was cut short by the sight of Digger’s raised hand. “All right, boys. Playtime’s over.” His assessing gaze fell over the entire group. “You heard the lady, and you know the plan. Stick to it, stay alert, and whatever you do”—he turned his intense stare Beckett’s way—“make damn sure you stay alive.”

With the man’s final reminder to keep his focus solely on the mission at hand, Beckett filled his lungs, gripped his rifle tight, and gave his teammate a nod.

Digger looked away, leading them through the nearby clearance. As promised, the massive wall instantly came into view.

Seven feet tall, the massive structure stretched on for as far as the night sky allowed him to see. To the average person, the wall screamed no way in. But for guys like Beckett…

He looked to Dig, waiting for the signal to climb. The moment his leader motioned for them to move, Beckett readied himself for the ride.

His right hand slid down toward the end of his rifle’s barrel, grabbing the thick shoulder strap at the spot where it connected to the weapon’s rail. There were about five yards separating him and the wall, which allowed for plenty of space to gather speed.

Beckett took a broad step forward, using the grip on his rifle’s strap to swing it up and over his left shoulder with ease. With it hanging behind his back and out of his way, he picked up his pace and jumped.

Arms stretched high above his head, Beckett’s upper body slammed against the concrete with an audible oof . He curled his fingers around the wall’s upper ledge, grunting as he immediately began pulling himself up.

The rubber soles of his boots kept his feet from slipping free as he worked his body up the wall. Biceps burned, and the muscles in his thighs screamed from their efforts, but thanks to countless hours spent training, Beckett and the others cleared the crest of the wall with relative ease.

A quick glance at the ground below confirmed he was cleared to land. Not wasting any time, he pushed himself off the ledge, and for a full second and a half, he was completely airborne.

His feet hit the manicured lawn as the others dropped to the ground around him. Before they could take another step, Shadow made herself known once again.

“Excellent job, boys. Now comes the fun part.” The sound of Shadow typing resonated throughout the comms. “Everything’s still showing a go from my end.” A few more clicks. “Just watch your backs and stay alert. This thing will be over before you know it.”

Easy for you to say, sweetheart.

Using nothing but hand signals, Digger put the next stage of the mission into motion. The two teams moved together as one, like a well-oiled machine designed to kill…and protect.

With their focus on point and their rifles at the ready, the highly trained group of men spread out wide. Moving side-by- side in a long, horizontal line, they crossed the first part of the estate’s expansive backyard with ease.

Beckett scanned the area where they were headed. The home’s outdoor lighting was more than sufficient, making it easy as hell to spot their first two marks.

Two men. Both early thirties, if he had to take a guess. Dark skin, closely shaved heads, and baggy clothes that looked more than a little worn. In their hands were matching automatic rifles, but their focus was on each other and the conversation they were having, rather than where they should have been looking.

They have no idea what’s about to go down.

Their suits and weapons were black as night, helping to conceal their presence as they covered more ground. Water squished around Beckett’s toes as he walked, but as he’d done numerous times before, he ignored the uncomfortable sensation and kept on.

Digger caught their attention with a sharp wave of his left arm. With all eyes on him, he gave further instructions without ever uttering a single word.

In a methodically smooth transition, Mustang, Midas, and Pid broke away from the rest of the group. They flanked out to Beckett’s left.

Their goal was to neutralize the targets standing guard at the massive structure’s southwest corner before making their way to the assholes watching over the front door. From what Beckett had read about the badass group of sailors, he had no doubt in their ability to get the job done.

Next to cut loose from the pack were Jag, Slate, and Aleck. Taking the opposite approach, the three SEALs kept their rifles up and their steps purposeful as they moved to cover the north.

With the other team initiating coverage for those areas of the estate, Beckett, Digger, Apollo, and Falcon headed due west. Twenty yards in, Digger pointed to the left of the pool they were quickly approaching.

He gave Falcon a silent order to head that way as Digger and Beckett continued straight. As they moved, their team leader used the same sort of hand signals to send Apollo to their right.

Knowing his teammates were covering both him and Dig, Beckett’s focus lasered in on the man standing to the left of the patio door. He kept the man in his sights while moving across the freshly cut grass. Using a tree as cover, he came to a stop while Digger did the same behind a different tree several yards away.

Digger looked over to where Beckett stood, checking to make sure he was ready. A curt nod was all it took for the former SEAL to initiate their final approach.

Here goes nothin’.

On Digger’s mark, he took aim, readjusting his sights to ensure a fast, clean kill. His target came into perfect focus, the man’s attention still honed in on whatever his buddy was saying.

Beckett’s finger slid down into position, slowly curling around his rifle’s trigger as he watched and waited for Digger to make the final call. When he did, both men took their shots, and the two targets standing guard by the mansion’s back door dropped to the concrete below.

Neither Beckett nor Digger wasted time thinking about what they’d just done. Instead, the two hostage rescue specialists each rounded the trunks of their respective trees before moving swiftly toward the edge of the impressive in-ground pool.

As they did, Falcon and Apollo took care of the four targets they’d been authorized to kill, which gave their entire team a clear path to the home’s rear entrance.

“East side clear,” Digger spoke through the comms, giving everyone—including Shadow—an update on their status.

“Copy that,” Shadow came through first. “It looks like Mustang and his men are almost finished?—”

“North side clear,” Slate announced gruffly.

Mustang followed that with a quick, “South and West are, too.”

“That’s twelve down with only five more to go. Stand by…”

The woman’s voice faded as Beckett and the others waited for her to pass along to them whatever it is she was seeing. Luckily, they didn’t have to wait long.

“Okay, so three of the five targets inside just moved from their previous positions. From what I’m seeing, it appears as if one went into a bathroom upstairs, and the other two are heading straight for the kitchen.”

“That leaves two with the hostage?” Beckett checked, just in case.

“Affirmative,” Shadow confirmed. “The unmoving signature is still in the Great Room, still in the exact same spot as before.”

The guy’s definitely restrained.

“Mustang, you and your men still holding steady at the front entrance?” Digger asked the man in charge of the other team.

“Affirmative. Just waiting for the signal to breach.”

Digger looked down the line, his sharp gaze finding Falcon and Beckett before turning to check with Apollo. Seeing his men were ready to roll, the moment they’d all been waiting for finally arrived.

“Remember…” He spoke to every man there. “Shock and awe is the best chance we have at keeping Rahal alive. They hear us coming, they might cut their losses and kill him to keep him from talking. So move fast but stay quiet for as long as you can.”

“Copy that, Dig,” Mustang acknowledged on behalf of his team.

“You ready?” Beckett looked to Digger and waited.

In total mission mode, the other man gave a slight dip of his chin and repositioned his gun before rumbling a low, “Let’s do this.”

Beckett’s damp feet hit the smooth pavement surrounding the pool clearly built to entertain. Complete with a diving board, fancy slide, and a waterfall feature that probably cost more than his car, the outdoor area was just one of many signs that whoever lived here had money to burn.

Maybe if the guy toned things down a bit, he wouldn’t have made himself a prime target for dickhead pirates lurking in the waters, waiting to stumble upon their next big payday.

But Isak Rahal did make himself a target, and now those dickhead pirates were holding him captive in his own home. And it was up to Beckett and the others to see to it the billionaire made it out of this alive.

Just a few more minutes to go…

Beckett and his team stepped past the two dead guys on the way to the home’s French doors. The lights were on inside, making it easy to clear the immediate area, and when Digger saw the coast was clear, he reached for the door.

Trip wires weren’t a concern, given the men at their feet would’ve gone in and out the same way, so Dig simply turned the shiny knob and pushed open the door before crossing the threshold while using his weapon to do an automatic sweep from side to side.

Beckett followed his teammate, the other two men zippering into a single-file line, and within seconds, the entire team was inside Rahal’s house.

Chill bumps raced down his spine as he was met with a blast of cold air. As if the AC had been left running on full blast.

The glassed-in sunroom the team had just entered was a spotless display of white marble. Chic lounge furniture and several lush, green plants gave the space a comfortable and relaxing feel.

Beckett didn’t feel comfortable, and he sure as shit wasn’t relaxed. But he was ready to do his job and help put an end to Rahal’s terror.

“Okay, boys, listen up,” Shadow returned with some helpful intel. “Dig, if you’ll go out that door directly in front of you and take a left, there’s a hallway that will lead to the Great Room. At the moment, your path is clear. Mustang, yours, too. The targets in the kitchen are still there, but I don’t know for how long. Your fastest route is through the front door and to the right. If you get to the library, you’ll know you’ve gone too far.”

“Copy that, Shadow,” Mustang responded for his team.

Beckett and his other two teammates followed Digger the remaining distance to the door. It was already half-open, making slipping through it damn near effortless, and in no time, the men of Tac-Ops were on their way down the hall.

The sound of whispering gunshots filled their ears, and Digger’s fist flew into the air. Beckett’s entire team stopped on a dime, standing one in front of the other while they held their breaths and waited.

“Kitchen clear.”

Mustang’s hushed voice was music to Beckett’s ears.

“Copy that, Mustang.” Shadow’s response was immediate. “I’m still showing a target in one of the second-floor bathrooms. Sixth door on your right once you reach the top of the stairs.”

“We passed the staircase on our way to the kitchen,” Mustang let her know. “Midas, Pid, and I will head that direction. Jag, Slate, and Aleck will meet your men in the Great Room to provide additional backup.”

“Copy that, Mustang,” Shadow let the man know she’d heard his plan. “You’re clear to head to the second floor now.” To Digger, she said, “Tac-Ops, your pathway is also clear, so you’re good to go whenever you’re ready.”

“Copy,” Dig confirmed the final stage of their plan.

Ten down, two to go.

It was like taking candy from a baby, really. Especially with the other team’s added support. So much so, Beckett almost felt bad about outnumbering the remaining two targets.

Almost.

He and the others followed Digger’s lead as they made their way down the home’s spacious and elaborate hallway. Beckett’s gun remained steady as he kept its barrel pointed out in front, his fists holding it tight, and his trigger finger ready for the call.

“Uh…Dig? We may have a slight problem.”

Another fist brought the team to a halt before Shadow continued.

“One of the two target signatures is moving. And I think…damn. I know they’re headed straight for you. You’ll have to cut him off at the pass without alerting the remaining HT.”

Because alerting the remaining hostage taker would put Rahal’s life in even more danger than it already was.

“Copy that,” Digger whispered as he resumed his previous steps.

Beckett’s heartbeat filled his ears with a sizeable rush of renewed adrenaline. Any minute now, they’d come face-to-face with the man, and it would only end one way.

Taking a life—even a piece of shit thief like the one they were about to encounter—was never something to be taken lightly. And while he knew he’d someday have to answer for each and every black mark on his soul, Beckett’s peace of mind came from also knowing the world was a better…much safer place without them.

The sound of booted footfalls echoed down the curved hall. He drew in a long, cleansing breath, his gut clenching with anticipation as his feet carried him closer and closer to the source.

The man was still out of their view, thanks to the pathway’s sharp curve several feet from where they were. But any second now, the man they were after would come into view, and when he did…

Their target rounded the corner, his eyes growing wide as saucers when he saw that they were there. He lifted his hand, revealing a pistol as the man shouted something in a language Beckett didn’t understand.

All four Tac-Ops men opened fire at the same time their target pulled his own trigger. The man’s shot went wild, but Beckett’s hit with perfected precision.

His. Apollo’s. Falcon’s. Dig’s.

They’d each fired their weapons with no other choice but to kill.

It was either him or us, brother. It was either him or us.

With their cover having been blown, there was no longer a need for discretion. They moved quickly, their one and only goal in that moment to get to Rahal…before it was too late.

“Upstairs clear,” Mustang announced after another single gunshot sounded through the comms.

At the same time, Digger pointed to an arched entryway about five yards up ahead.

“You’re almost there,” Shadow let them know. “You should see a big opening coming up on your right.”

They continued forward, reaching the entry to the Great Room without any further incident. Inside the massive space, they found exactly what Beckett had imagined.

Billionaire software mogul Isak Rahal was strapped to a chair in the middle of the room. His wrists and ankles had been secured with plastic ties, and the guy looked like he was about to piss his pants.

The remaining threat stood directly behind him. Eyes wide, sweat beading on his shiny forehead. And the pistol in his hand was pointed straight at Rahal’s head.

“Drop your guns, or I shoot!” the HT warned.

Like his counterparts, the man’s Hispanic accent was thick. Also similar to the newly deceased, this man’s clothes hung loosely on his thin, lanky body. The worn t-shirt and pants covered in small rips and noticeable stains.

Desperate men with nothing to lose and everything to gain. Which is probably what they tell themselves to justify their criminal actions.

It was also what made the situation that much more volatile.

“Come on, man.” Beckett worked to control his breathing as he and his teammates stood frozen in place. “Look around you. The only way out of this is to surrender your weapon and let Mr. Rahal go.”

“I said…” The HT spoke through a set of clenched teeth. “Drop your guns or this man dies.”

There was no way in hell he and his teammates were giving up their guns. Not for him or anyone else.

“You either toss your weapon and stand down, and or you’ll be full of holes before you ever hit the ground,” Digger warned.

The man’s eyes were wild with the urge to fight or flight. Rahal winced as the gun’s barrel was pressed even harder against his skull.

“Sitrep!” Mustang spoke through their comms.

“We’re all good and in the Great Room,” Aleck informed the other man. “Final tango has a gun on the hostage, and we have ours pointed at him.”

“On our way.”

“Copy that.”

Beckett half-listened to the interaction between teammates, his focus more on watching the HT closely. He studied him with an operator’s eye, looking for even the slightest sign he was about to shoot.

“Seriously, dude.” Beckett tried his hand at negotiating a second time. “If you shoot, then we gotta shoot. And if we shoot, there’s gonna be a huge, bloody mess to clean up. And that shit won’t be easy on this fancy white tile.”

“You won’t shoot me.” The man denied Beckett’s claim. “You won’t risk killing the man you came all this way to save.”

“Oh, but we will.” Digger took a slow step forward. “And trust me when I say, we hit what we aim for.”

Doubling down on their promise, Apollo flashed the man a sinister grin, doubling down on Digger’s claim. “If you don’t believe us, just ask your buddies.”

“Probably won’t work, though,” Beckett chimed back in. “Seeing as how they’re all already dead.”

Fury raged behind the man’s dark stare as his focus bounced back and forth between all five men. The gun trembled in the man’s hand, giving away the bastard’s heightened level of desperation. Fury raged behind his dark stare as his crazed focus bounced around the room as he attempted to keep an eye on the multiple threats he faced.

Which meant their plan was working.

If they pissed the guy off enough, he might be pushed to the point of doing something stupid. And when criminals get stupid, they start to make mistakes.

Come on, asshole. Take the fuckin’ bait.

“You can still walk away from this right now if you’ll just lower your weapon and take a step back.” Falcon tried next.

“Bullshit!” Spittle flew from the angry man’s mouth. “I drop my gun, and I’m dead.”

“Well, if you shoot the man you’re holding, we’re definitely going to shoot you,” Slate’s deep voice sounded from somewhere close behind.

Beckett’s lips twitched with the urge to smile even as Digger gave the man in their sights his final warning.

“Last chance, asshole.” The former SEAL was as serious as Beckett had ever heard him. “Drop the fucking gun and let the man go!”

Their target’s frantic stare swept the room once more in what appeared to be a last-ditch search for a means of escape. But there were no such means, and like any cornered animal whose very existence was being threatened, the asshole followed his instinct to do whatever it took to survive.

Beckett forced his pulse to remain steady as their target shifted his hold on his pistol. The slight move was almost indiscernible to the untrained eye. But Beckett’s eyes were those of a former SF operative, and he wasn’t about to risk missing a single fucking beat.

Pulling the pistol away from Rahal’s head, their target appeared ready to surrender. The dumbass must have had a sudden change of heart, however, because with Beckett’s very next breath he heard himself shouting?—

“Don’t!”

The echoed warning filled the expansive space as the man in their sights lifted the gun in Beckett’s direction. The target pulled his trigger at the same time Beckett and the others fired their weapons, the barrage of booming shots ending with their target dead on the floor.

Several seconds passed by before anyone said a word. When they did, it was Shadow who broke the silence first.

“Tac-Ops, what’s your status?”

“Target down, hostage is safe, and both teams are present and accounted for.”

“Holy shit!” Isak Rahal exclaimed as he remained tethered to his chair. He was looking down, his eyes glued to the guy bleeding all over his expensive marble tile. “W-who are you guys?”

“We’re with Tac-Ops.” Digger reached down to his thigh and pulled his tactical knife free.

“Tac-Ops?” The wealthy man frowned.

“It’s a…subsidiary to Travel Assurance.” Beckett carefully explained while his team leader cut through the plastic ties holding the other man in place. “I believe you hold a policy with our company.”

“Travel Assurance…” Rahal let the company’s name linger on his tongue. But then recognition flashed behind the man’s weary eyes, and he gave a jerky nod. “Ah, yes. You’re Rafe Owens’ men.”

“The four of us are.” Falcon motioned to Beckett, Apollo, and Digger.

“Does the hostage have any injuries we need to be made aware of?” Shadow cut back in.

“You hurt?” Beckett asked the billionaire while giving a cursory assessment of Rahal’s physical condition.

“Nothing a long, hot shower and a few stiff drinks won’t cure.” The man didn’t sound as if he was joking.

He had to admit the guy was holding himself together damn well after being terrorized in his own home for the past several hours.

“You catch that, Shadow?”

“I did, and that’s wonderful news. What about you guys? Anything that needs to be reported?”

“Negative on all counts,” he answered for the others after getting a thumbs up from each of the other men.

“Excellent. I’ll let Owens know you have yet another mission success under your belts.”

“Correction, darlin’…” Beckett slid his knife back into its protective sheath. “ We have another mission success. You know we couldn’t do this job without you.”

“Yeah, you could,” Shadow disagreed. Her tone became laced with humor as she added a quipped, “But wouldn’t be nearly as much fun.”

“Truer words were never spoken.” He chuckled.

“I guess the only thing left to do now is to bring you boys back home.”

Hell, yes!

A few tantalizing thoughts—all featuring a particular brunette he couldn’t wait to see—ignited a spark of excitement Beckett barely managed to keep hidden. He couldn’t wait to get back to Evie, but the last thing he needed was another lecture from Digger about staying focused in the fucking field.

“And you?” Rahal’s gaze landed on the group of men standing behind the men of Tac-Ops as he pushed himself into a trembling stance. “You are?—”

“Their backup,” Mustang responded truthfully. He didn’t elaborate. To Digger, he asked, “You guys still good with the previous plan for exfil?”

Digger gave the other man a curt nod. “We’ll wait for you here.”

“There’s enough of a clearing east of the pool it shouldn’t be a problem putting the chopper down there.”

“We’ll listen for your approach.”

With that, Mustang and the others disappeared down the hall as they began their trek back to the beach. For the next several minutes, Beckett spent some quality time with Rahal, giving him a more thorough field triage before escorting him into the kitchen to get something to eat.

Once their hostage finished his sandwich and chips…along with two large glasses of crystal-clear water, the billionaire excused himself to shower and change before the flight back to the mainland.

Beckett was standing in front of the sink finishing off his own offered glass of water when Falcon’s concerned voice pulled his attention away.

“Holy shit, dude!” His teammate rushed over to his side. “Were you hit?”

“What?” He frowned. “No, I’m not?—”

“Your suit.” Falcon reached up and began messing with the material at the side of Beckett’s neck. “Sure as shit looks like a bullet hole to me.”

What the…

Beckett set the glass back down onto the counter before lifting his hand to the exact same spot. Beneath his fingertips, he could feel the area Falcon had referenced.

Holy shit.

A small, almost perfectly round hole had been torn clear through the section of his wetsuit covering the left side of his neck. His pulse spiked as he spun on his heels, immediately scanned the immediate area in search of the nearest mirror.

He remembered seeing several throughout the areas of the mansion he and his teammates had covered. Surely there was one around here somepla?—

There!

He took off, his dive boots smacking loudly against the tile with every purposeful step.

From behind, Falcon hollered after him with a confused, “Hey! Where the hell are you going?”

But Beckett didn’t hear his teammate. Or maybe he did, and he was simply blocking him out. Either way, it didn’t matter. Right now, his entire focus was on getting a look at the damage to his suit.

He came to a casual seating area located a few yards from the kitchen’s open exit. Beckett’s movements were swift as he passed between a pair of twin couches, both pieces of furniture facing one another from their position in front of an impressive brick fireplace.

Centered high above the structure’s heavily polished mantle was one of the biggest mirrors Beckett had ever seen. His image appeared as he came to a stop directly in front of it, as did Falcon’s, who stood a few feet behind.

He sucked in a quick breath when he got his first real look at where the bullet had struck. His hand went back to that spot as his feet slowly carried him forward, inching him closer and closer until he had no other choice but to stop.

“Damn, brother.” Falcon’s tone was somber as he kept a respectable distance. “I’d say that was about as close as it can get.”

Beckett used the reflection for a closer inspection, moving the slightly gaped material between his forefinger and thumb. The projectile had gone clean through both sides of the suit, searing the neoprene mere centimeters from the base of his neck.

It was one of the very few places where the wetsuit wasn’t flush with his skin. And if that bullet had hit just a few centimeters the other direction…

I’d have already bled out all over the fancy tiled floor.

He’d be dead. Fucking dead. As in no longer walking the face of this earth. His parents would be utterly gutted; the team would mourn his loss, and Evie…

She never would have even known I loved her.

That realization, above all others, left his head spinning damn near beyond comprehensible thought. He’d been so sure holding back his true feelings was the right call. Damn it, he hadn’t wanted to scare her away when he’d finally found the person he knew deep down—he knew —he was meant to be with for the rest of his life.

Evie was smart. Funny. Sexy as hell with curves that drove him mad with need. But even more than that, she was sweet, selfless, and had the biggest heart he’d ever known.

Yet, despite the massive blows life had recently thrown her way, the woman hadn’t let them break her. It wasn’t as if her abduction and captivity hadn’t happened, nor was the bullshit with the man who’d pretended to be her father something anyone should ever have to face.

But she had. Evie had faced both him and those Taliban assholes with courage, strength, and an unwillingness to surrender. She was, in essence, the absolute perfect woman for him.

A partner he could count on and trust. A future he wasn’t wasting another minute waiting to begin.

“Bones, you good?” Falcon appeared beside him.

Beckett blinked, realizing only then that he’d just been standing there, staring at that damn hole in his suit that whole time.

“Yeah.” He dropped his hand to his side and turned to face his friend. “I’m good. In fact”—a goofy-assed grin spread wide across his face—“I’m fuckin’ great.”

He was alive and in love, and that’s exactly what he planned to tell Evie the second she opened the door. Because her friend Lo was scheduled to return home in a few more days, and after that…

I can’t let her go back to Portsmouth without telling her how I really feel.

So yeah. That was the first step in his rapidly evolving plan. As for the second…

Beckett put a hand to his earpiece, activating the one-on-one option on his mic. “Hey, Shadow, you still around?”

Silence filled the tiny speaker a few seconds before he heard?—

“Are you back home, snuggled safe and sound in the comfort of your own bed?”

With any luck, my bed won’t be the one I’m crawling into. “Not yet,” he told the smartass woman what she already knew.

“Then of course, I’m still here.” Shadow’s tone held a slight hint of admonishment. But by her next question, the brilliant woman had already returned to her naturally chipper tone. “What can I do for you, Bones?”

“I have a favor.”

“Ooh…so like…you’d owe me one?”

“Yes, but it’s not actually for me.”

“Color me intrigued. Who’s it for?”

“A…friend.”

“Friend, huh?” A soft chuckle filled his ear. “Would this friend happen to be of the female species, and would her name happen to be?—”

“It’s for Evie,” he offered up what the woman already knew. “The favor’s for Evie, and…it’s kind of a big one.”

Apart from giving Evie a ring—which he’d damn well be doing as soon as he could find the time to visit a jeweler’s—this was the biggest, most personal gesture he could think of to show her just how much she meant to him.

“Oooh, a challenge. Okay, then…” Shadow sounded almost as excited as he felt. “Lay it on me, big guy, and I’ll see what I can do.”

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