“Get down,” Rayne yelled and pulled her to the ground.
“What’s going on,” Brielle yelled over the sound of gun fire. She huddled into a ball sure she was about to get a bullet in the side.
“Ghost is talking to me. He’s saying that for our safety we need to stay where we are. The guys know our location.”
Brielle had forgotten that Ghost was able to talk to Rayne, no wonder she appeared so calm when they’d been taken.
Footsteps sounded close to her and Brielle closed in on herself tighter. With her eyes screwed shut tightly she had no idea if the person approaching her was one of the team or one of the kidnappers.
It finally penetrated her that the gunfire had stopped. She raised her head when a hand landed on her shoulder, relief flooding her as Tim’s face filled her line of vision. “Tim,” she cried as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re okay.”
“Yeah, honey, I’m fine. Are you okay?” He pulled her up and kept her close to his chest. “They didn’t hurt you, did they?”
“No, they just grabbed us and brought us to the cabin. Oh my, God, Dad.” She pulled out of Tim’s arms. She’d taken two steps before she stopped, taking in the scene around her. Bodies littered the ground, blood pooling under them.
Tim pulled her close again. “Don’t look, I’ll take you too him, but I have to warn you, he—”
“I know,” Brielle interrupted. “I saw him, but I don’t care. He’s my dad. He’s all that I have left of my family. I need to be near him.”
“Okay. Cowboy’s looking at him and we’ve called the authorities. Paramedics are on the way. Feds also as they need to come and clean up this shit.”
“What about Aarav?” she asked.
“Dead. He won’t be a threat anymore.”
“I’ll never understand why he did what he did,” Brielle said as they made their way to where she last saw her father.
“Aarav wasn’t who he seemed to be, the world is safer now because he’s gone. Maybe when your dad recovers, he’ll be able to shed some light on this whole situation.”
“Maybe.”
The second they reached where her father was lying on the ground, Brielle pushed out of Tim’s hold and rushed to her father’s side. “Dad!” She clutched his hand and held it against her cheek. “Dad, I’m right here. You’re going to be okay.”
She was aware of the men working on her father, wiping away the blood and checking for other injuries. All the while she kept muttering inane words. She didn’t know what she was saying. She only relinquished her hold when the paramedics arrived and loaded her father onto a gurney and took him away.
Tim was beside her the whole time, his silent support and strength was the only thing that had kept her from collapsing. As the ambulance pulled away she turned into his chest and cried.
“It’s going to be okay, honey. His injuries look worse than what they probably are.”
“I hope so,” she whispered.
“Come on, we’re all going to the hospital.”
Brielle clung to Tim’s side as they walked through the darkness to the SUV, the rest of his team walking ahead of them. She stopped causing Tim to stop as well. “What about what happened back there? Will you guys get into trouble?”
Tim shook his head. “No, Tex has it all sorted out. He always does when stuff like this happens. But it shouldn’t be an issue as the guy who took you and your father was a known terrorist threat. We did our job.”
Brielle nodded, convinced there was more to the story than what Tim was letting on, but she wasn’t going to question him. If they were going to have a future together there were things she wasn’t allowed to know about his job and she was fine with it. So long as he came back to her in one piece she didn’t care. He was doing his job and his job kept everyone safe. She reached out and touched his bruised face. The fact he was still able to stand himself after being beaten up amazed her. But she shouldn’t be. He was a SEAL. “I love you, Tim.”
“Oh, honey. I love you, too.”
She sighed as he lowered his head and captured her lips in a sweet kiss. Out of the worst tragedy of her life, she’d found love.
Epilogue
Three Months Later
Brielle handed the baby she was holding back to his mom, Erin. It has been a crazy couple of months since the night she’d been taken for the second time.
Kieran Joseph Porcelli had come screaming into the world a five weeks later. They’d all been at the hospital then. She and Tim had just landed from their weekend in Vegas when they’d received the text message saying Erin was about to have the baby. Once they’d arrived at the hospital, they broke the news to everyone that they’d eloped. After the initial congratulations and what the fucks, they made sure the attention was firmly on Erin and Italy. One of the reasons they’d run off to Vegas was because they’d wanted their wedding to be for them only.
She smiled when her dad sat down next to her. He was slowly recovering from his injuries, as well as the disappointment of learning his trusted business associate was responsible for his daughter’s kidnapping, as well as other atrocities around the world, and had wanted him dead as well.
“Are you happy, sweetheart?” he asked.
Brielle squeezed her father’s hand. “Happier than I’ve been in my whole life.”
“I can tell.” He canted his head toward where Erin and Suzie sat, babies in their arms. “When are you going to give me a grandchild?”
Brielle laughed. “In a couple of years. I want to enjoy my time with Tim before we bring a baby into the world.”
“Good idea.”
“Thanks for hosting this party, Dad.”
Over the past couple of months, Tim’s team had visited her dad while he’d been in the hospital. Tim had also taken the time to get know his future father-in-law and Dad had been totally fine with them eloping so long as he could throw her a party later. And later was now.
He smiled and she loved seeing it on his face. He seemed happier knowing she was settled now. “Sweetheart, I’m more than happy to do it. I wanted to, remember?”
“Yeah, I know, but I still wanted to check.”
“Plus, it’s my way of thanking the guys for rescuing you not once, but twice and me as well. Without them,” he paused and Brielle placed her hand on her father’s arm. “Well, I don’t want to think about what might have happened.”
“I know, Dad. I know.”
They sat there for a few more minutes talking about nothing when she spied Tim watching her. She smiled and blew him a kiss.
“Go,” her dad said. “Go to your, husband. I know I’ve said it before, but I couldn’t wish for a better son-in-law.”
Brielle leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Dad.”
Tim met her halfway as she walked to him. “Hey, Honey,” he said as he dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Everything okay?”
She cuddled into her big Navy SEAL. Sometimes she had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. “Couldn’t be better. How about you?”
“Fantastic. Erin was wondering if you could get her a blanket, she wants to pop Kieran on the ground.”
“Sure, I’ll just go grab one.” There was a loud shout of laughter and she looked over to where the other guys from Tim’s team were standing. Red’s face was as bright as his nickname. “What’s going on?” She asked.
Tim looked over at the guys. “Oh, Red’s been getting texts all afternoon from this chick Amberley. Apparently, she’s a screenwriter in Hollywood and has been asking him all sorts of questions about being a SEAL. Guess she’s writing a screen play or something.”
“Okay, well that doesn’t sound bad. Why are the guys razzing him about it?”
A silly grin broke out over her husband’s face. “Because he insists they’re just friends but every time the phone buzzes he gets this goofy look on his face.”
Brielle shook her head. “You guys are worse than the girls in high school.”
&
nbsp; Tim laughed and dropped a kiss on her lips. “We gotta get our fun somehow. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she said and walked down the hallway to get a blanket from her dad’s linen cupboard. Everyone should be as happy as she and Tim were.
As she was walking back she heard voices coming from one of the rooms.
Brielle recognized Antonia’s voice and figured she must be talking to Robot. He was the only one out of the team that could elicit such an emotional response from her.
“An assistant from my former lawyer’s office called me yesterday, the annulment papers were never filed. We’re still married.”
“Please tell me this isn’t true?”
Oh my god, Robot and Antonia were married?
Brielle hurried back down to the party, keeping the news to herself. She hated keeping this secret from Tim, but deep in her belly she knew she wouldn’t betray her friends.
“Hey are you okay?” Tim asked when she returned to his side after giving Erin the blanket. “You look a little shell-shocked.”
Damn, she’d thought she’d done a good job of hiding her shock. But she recalled her silent vow. She wasn’t saying a word. It wasn’t her story to tell, it was up to Robot and Antonia to spill their news. “I’m fine. Just a little tired.”
“I suppose we can’t leave our celebration just yet, can we?” Tim mused.
“Nope, we have to cut a cake.”
“There’s cake?”
“Or course, there’s cake, it’s a party.”
An evil glint entered Tim’s eyes. “Does this mean I get to smash it in your face?”
“You do, T-Rex, and you’ll be paying for it big time.”
Tim laughed. “I’m almost tempted to do it and see what happens.”
Brielle laughed with him and snuggled into his side. “Thank you for loving me and being my rock when I need it.”
“I’m happy to be your rock, honey. Life is perfect with you.”
She reached up and touched his face, her palm cupping his cheek. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Their lips met and the kiss they shared promised a future neither one of them could wait to experience.
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About the Author
On her very first school report her teacher said ‘Nicole likes to tell her own stories’. Many years later she eventually sat down and wrote her first book.
Nicole writes sexy contemporary romances, seducing you one kiss at a time as you turn the pages. She enjoys taking two characters and creating unique situations for them.
Learn more about Nicole Flockton at http://www.nicoleflockton.com.
authornicole@nicoleflockton.com
Acknowledgments
This book wouldn’t be available to you if it wasn’t for the amazing Susan Stoker who created Aces Press after Amazon announced that they were closing their Kindle Worlds. Her and Amy Hrutkay have been wonderful to work with and I’m excited I can continue my Guardian Seals stories with you.
Thank you my great friend Abigail Owen for sprinting with me, for beta reading my book and helping me whenever I need it. This writing gig is so much more fun now that I’ve found you.
Jennifer, my brilliant cover artist, who is always so cheerful when I say, “can we tweak this” I know she’s probably cursing my name.
As always being able to do this writing gig wouldn’t be possible without my wonderfully supportive husband Jason, and my two kids who put up with my vague answers when I’m in the zone.
Also by Nicole Flockton
Guardian Seals Series
Protecting Lily
Protecting Maria
Protecting Erin
Guarding Suzie
The Elite
Fighting to Win
Fighting to Dream
Fighting for Love
Fighting for Redemption
The Freemasons:
The Victor
The Hunter
Sweet Texas Secrets
Sweet Texas Fire
Sweet Texas Series Boxed Set
Bound Series
Bound by Her Ring
Bound by His Desire
Bound by Their Love
Bound by The Billionaire’s Desire - Boxed Set
Lovers Unmasked Series
Lovers Unmasked: The Complete Series
Masquerade
Rescuing Dawn
Seducing Phoebe
Emerald Springs Legacy Series
Daniel’s Decision
Emerald Springs Legacy Collection
Standalone Titles
White Knight (Co-Written with Abigail Owen)
Novellas
Tangled Vines
Melt My Heart Anthology
Tango Love
A Vacation Affair
Medal Up: A Winter Games Duology
Swipe for Mr. Right
Wrong Time for Mr. Right
As you know, this book included at least one character from Susan Stoker’s books. To check out more, see below.
Delta Force Heroes Series
Rescuing Rayne (FREE!)
Rescuing Aimee
Rescuing Emily
Rescuing Harley
Marrying Emily
Rescuing Kassie
Rescuing Bryn
Rescuing Casey
Rescuing Sadie
Rescuing Wendy
Rescuing Mary (Oct 2018)
Rescuing Macie (April 2019)
Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series
Justice for Mackenzie (FREE!)
Justice for Mickie
Justice for Corrie
Justice for Laine (novella)
Shelter for Elizabeth
Justice for Boone
Shelter for Adeline
Shelter for Sophie
Justice for Erin
Justice for Milena
Shelter for Blythe
Justice for Hope (Sept 2018)
Shelter for Quinn (TBA)
Shelter for Koren (TBA)
Shelter for Penelope (TBA)
SEAL of Protection Series
Protecting Caroline (FREE!)
Protecting Alabama
Protecting Fiona
Marrying Caroline (novella)
Protecting Summer
Protecting Cheyenne
Protecting Jessyka
Protecting Julie (novella)
Protecting Melody
Protecting the Future
Protecting Alabama’s Kids (novella)
Protecting Dakota
New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Tennessee where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, Indiana, and Texas. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.
She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.
If you enjoyed this book, or any book, please consider leaving a review. It’s appreciated by authors more than you’ll know.
www.stokeraces.com
susan@stokeraces.com
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Victoria Bright: Surviving Savage
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Liz Crowe: Marking Mariah
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Delilah Devlin: Between a SEAL & A Hard Place
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Casey Hagen: Shielding Nebraska
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Jesse Jacobson: Fighting for Honor
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Silver James: Rescue Moon
Silver James: SEAL Moon
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