Saint by Zoe Dawson

Epilogue

Saint ranaround the car to open Aella’s door. She smiled at him as she handed him the Greek potato salad, the recipe for which had been handed down through the Mikos family. The barbecue was to celebrate the dropping of his charges and his engagement to Aella.

Fast Lane was hosting the party in his big back yard that had a fire pit where they were roasting a pig, along with grilled steaks, hotdogs and cheeseburgers.

Between the time he proposed to her in Florida and now, he’d bought her a ring. In fact, she’d gone shopping for it herself. It looked good on her finger because it told everyone she was his.

Once she was out of the car, she took the bowl back and he locked the doors. They went up the walk.

“Hello.” Fast Lane’s grandfather was rocking on the porch.

“Are you the official greeter?” Aella asked.

“I am.” He smiled. “I’m supposed to tell you that all nonperishable items go on the counter. I’m not going to insult your intelligence and tell you where the perishable stuff goes. You look like a smart girl.”

She laughed softly. “Okay, charmer.” Then she leaned in to Saint and whispered, “Looks like your LT didn’t inherit his grandfather’s charming ways. He’s much grumpier.”

“I heard that, young lady.”

She looked sheepish. “My bad.”

“No, it’s true. He’s grumpier.” Then he winked at her. “I might be old, but my hearing is just fine.”

They went into the house and Aella put the potato salad in the fridge. Saint could see that everyone was outside: Dragon, Jo, and their daughter Ceri, Pitbull, Mikayla and Samantha, Hemingway and Shea, Dodger and Anna, Mad Max and Renata, and 2-Stroke and Chry. He’d also invited Rock’s team: Professor, Gator, Blitz, D-Day, Zorro, Buck, and Bear, who was hard to miss—tall, built and Native American. Professor and Hemingway were talking together. It was clear to see they had really bonded during BUD/S. The only team member missing was Rock, his wife Danielle and their two daughters, Emily and Caitlin.

Everyone greeted them as they came in, the aroma of frying meat and smoking pork made Saint’s stomach growl. He hoped they were eating soon.

Fast Lane’s cell phone rang and every man in there paused in conversation. It resumed again when no one else’s phone rang.

Saint looked over to his CO and Fast Lane’s expression turned from jovial to stricken. “When?” he murmured. Saint got a bad feeling, and he wondered if it had something to do with Zasha.

“Guys,” he said. “Can I have your attention.”

The buzz of conversation faded.

“I just got some terrible news. Rock’s car was t-boned by a drunk driver running a red light.”

“Is he all right?” Professor asked, his team running the gamut of reactions—shock, sorrow, worry and fear.

“Yes, but he’s critical.”

“His wife…the girls?”

Fast Lane shook his head. “I’m afraid they didn’t make it.”

“We’ve got to go. What hospital?” Professor asked.

Aella turned to him. “How awful,” she said as she snuggled into his arms. He tightened his grip around her, holding her close.

* * *

Fast Lane knewthat he should never drink alone. His grandfather was out at his bingo night. He’d just gotten back from the hospital after checking on Rock. He was still in intensive care and his mom and dad were fielding questions. They said he had a broken pelvis with complications. The prognosis wasn’t good. He might never operate again once he recovered. He was in a medically induced coma. He still didn’t know about his family. The funeral was next week.

Fast Lane got up, knowing he shouldn’t do it, but not being able to help himself. He grabbed a photo album from one of his bookcases and opened it up. There were pictures of Solace in there laughing, touching him, kissing him.

He rolled his shoulders and exhaled heavily, his heart hurting. His grandfather had suggested they get rid of the album, but he couldn’t seem to do it. He wanted the memories of her. He didn’t want them to fade, then he would be completely without her. This way he could keep the memories close. He threw back another shot and closed the album. Replacing the album back on the shelf, he pulled out his cell phone.

He scrolled through his contacts until he came to her name. Another stupid thing he refused to do was delete her number from his phone. His thumb hovered over the tiny call icon. All he would have to do is press it to hear her voice.

It was pathetic and he knew it. He shut his phone off and closed his eyes. Damn, he remembered how soft she was, the way she had reacted to him, the sounds she made when she came.

Regret washed through him. He wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or seeing her recently, but the overwhelming pain took over, and tears slipped down his cheeks.

He fell asleep thinking about how big a fool he’d been and if he ever got the chance, he would make it up to her.

* * *

Fast Lane leftthe cages and headed for the briefing room, a hangover banging in his head. Yep, he shouldn’t have been drinking. He dry swallowed some pain medication, making a mental note to grab some water to help with his dehydration.

After what had happened with Saint, Commander Thompson had been reassigned to another command. They were getting a new leader today. Fast Lane hoped he wouldn’t be a dick like Thompson, letting his personal bias affect his command decision.

He entered the briefing room to find his team assembled, Mad Max throwing a ball to Jugs. The ball bounced past him, and Jugs had to slam on the brakes, but he couldn’t quite do a quick stop on the polished floor, and he slid, his paws going akimbo.

He plowed into Fast Lane and took his legs out from under him. Fast Lane fell hard, slamming into the floor. The file he had in his hand went flying, papers floating down everywhere. Pain in his hip and elbow throbbed in rhythm to his heart beat. “Max!” he yelled. But all his annoyance dissipated when Jugs came over and licked his face. He reached up and ruffled the dog’s fur. “Apology accepted, buddy.”

“Well, this doesn’t bode well for the beginning of my command.”

Fast Lane stiffened. He knew that voice.

He pushed up into a sitting position to find Commander Bowie “Ruckus” Cooper standing there.

“Cooper!” he cried as he took the hand Ruckus extended to him. “How the hell are you?”

“Not bad for a contrary bastard.”

“You’re our new CO?”

“Damn straight. I heard I inherited quite a top-notch group of men.” He looked around the room. “Sound off.”

Each of the team members introduced themselves.

Jugs whined and sat down at Bowie’s feet. “He even knows when to at ease.”

“That’s Jugs, sir.”

Ruckus’s head came up. “Jugs?”

“Ah, it’s short for Juggernaut.”

Ruckus laughed softly. “Good.”

After the briefing, Fast Lane and Ruckus went out for a drink. “So, you left your team.”

“A while ago. Was the hardest damn thing I’ve ever done. I miss those crazy bastards.”

“How’s Dana?”

“She’s great.”

“You have a daughter now?”

“Two,”

“Damn. Who took over the team?”

“Hollywood. He went to officer candidate school. Graduated at the top of his class. Kid Chaos is still operating, along with Wicked and Scarecrow. Blue left to become a Navy doctor, Tank is training Belgian Malinois for the Navy, and Cowboy left service to run his ranch in Texas.”

“Lots of changes, but inevitable.”

Ruckus leaned forward and said, “I like input from my team leaders, but my word is final. Always bring everything to me even the ugly stuff. I will always have your backs.”

“Sounds like we’ll do just fine together.”

* * *

The day of Danielle,Emily, and Caitlin’s funeral was gray and overcast. Unusual for Southern California, but Aella thought it was fitting. They were laying Adrian “Rock” Lane’s family to rest. The sky should look gray.

Even with the sadness she felt for him and his team, her happiness couldn’t be dimmed. She entered her bedroom with two steaming cups of coffee, eggs, bacon, and toast on a tray. She approached the bed and smiled, her gaze sliding over him where he lay naked on top of the sheets.

Well, except for the dog tags and the small amber Nidar necklace Saint still wore around his neck.

Nidar Ba Ku Heli. Saint would go back out to punish the naughty and raise hell while he was at it.

She signed. He was so beautiful, his face almost sweet in sleep, like a fallen angel, but there was nothing sweet about his body. Six feet of raw power and testosterone roped with muscle and sinew, he was a force to be reckoned with, a force of destruction when he so chose—and a force of unbearable pleasure when you added her into that gorgeous mix.

He stirred but didn’t open his eyes. “Is that coffee I smell or am I dreaming.”

“You’re not dreaming,” she said, nudging him.

He opened one blue eye and pinned her with a seductive look. “Did I ever tell you I would work it for coffee?”

“No, but that’s good information to tuck away.”

He made room for her to sit on the bed and the front view of him was just as spectacular as the back had been. She set the tray down and he snagged the coffee and took several swallows, then grabbed a piece of bacon, shoving it in his mouth.

He chewed, then said, “Thanks, babe.” He leaned up and kissed her, tasting of bacon and coffee.

Her robe slipped down over her knee, revealing her scar where the bone had come through the skin.

She bent down and rubbed at it. She turned her head to look at him as he forked up some eggs.

“I never did thank you for saving my leg, saving my career, and making it possible for me to walk and run again.”

He slid over and ran his palm over her leg. “You’re welcome.”

Cupping his face, Aella closed her eyes, a host of emotions piling up in her chest. This was one thing she had done right.

“I would do anything for you, Aella. I’d die for you.”

Her throat so tight she could barely swallow, she shoved the tray out of the way and hugged him hard, loving him so damned much that she felt as if she couldn’t hold it all in.

He finally eased his hold a little, turning his face against her neck. “You smell good.”

“Thank you,” she said, her voice thick. Sensing that they needed a little lightness right then, she gave him a squeeze. “You going to eat that bacon?”

He hugged her back. “Don’t touch my bacon, woman.”

“Whatever happened to your statement that you’d do anything for me?”

“Mmm, I guess I have limitations.”

“Do you?” she said. Then she started to tickle him, which led to too much body contact, then kissing. She put her hand on his chest. “We’ll be late.”

His face went solemn. “We can kill two birds with one stone.”

“How’s that?”

“Shower sex.”

“You are a multitasker?” she said, giving him a skeptical look.

“Yes.” He smiled.

“Get the water going. I’ll be right in.”

He eyed the bacon. “Nice try.” He snatched it up and broke it in two, handing her one half while he ate the second. Then, fully naked, he got off the bed and disappeared into the bathroom.

Her heart was full to bursting. Saint was all about taking risks, in everything he did—operating, when making love, and even when it came to wearing his heart on his sleeve. As for her, she’d found that living for a job wasn’t living at all. She’d meet this man halfway in all things. They would be partners, trusting each other with their emotions, problems, everything good and bad.

Giddy with happiness, she entered the bathroom and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her heart was wide open for all the love this man had to give her. She pressed an open-mouthed kiss to his lips, then looked so deeply into his eyes she thought she’d drown in the unabashed emotion she saw there. Adoration that went both ways.

What more she could she possibly need for their happily-ever-after?

* * *

The laughof a hyena cackled in the darkness, but the woman who knelt on the ground paid the sound no heed. Vicious animals knew their own kind. There hadn’t been a moment since she’d pulled that trigger that she hadn’t heard the echo of that shot.

Zasha was on her own, which was the way things had to be.

She was going to coldly destroy, change the world and make it as desolate as her soul. She reached into the hole and pulled out the metal canister with the biohazard symbol on it.

She had fulfilled Mohammad Angar Said’s quest. It was done and he’d offered her sanctuary until the weapons he was building were done.

She glanced down at the canister in her hands. She was getting ready to become notorious. Crossing lines that shouldn’t be crossed.

She looked up and out into the darkness, the shadowy shapes of the hyenas paced, watching her. Carrion feeders. She was glad Darko was dead. She loved him too much to drag him down with her into this, to have him hunted.

She would be hunted, regardless of how successful she was in her quest. The US and their allies were on the chase, following the breadcrumbs she was leaving for them. Fast Lane and his SEALs broke some rules, but the few they kept, they held dear. Their survival depended on it, and revenge had no place in their operating procedures or in their hearts. They were the good guys, and not a one of them doubted it, because not a one of them had ever killed outside the law. They’d all rattled the chain of command, but none of them had ever broken it. They acted under orders, and only under orders.

She smiled. They would have to break the rules to catch her.

She closed her hand around the canister, so tightly she could feel the sharp edges pressing into her skin.

The line had already been crossed long ago.

There was no turning back.

None.

Not when everything inside her pushed her on. Not when she’d been forced to her knees more times than she could bear by the monster in her mind.

If the US wanted her after she did what she had to do, they were going to have to find her, and she wasn’t going to let that happen.

* * *

Next up will bethe 16^th book in the SEAL Team Alpha series, Fast Lane. He’s hell bent on tracking down international terrorist Zasha Vasiliev, his nemesis for so many missions. This time he was going to find her and stop her from her global terror and unleashing death and destruction on innocents. But when she gets the drop on him, she doesn’t hold back…she wants him dead. Except he’s not the only one in her crosshairs. His ex-wife Solace is with him when their chopper is shot down over the deadliest place in Pakistan…Mohammad Angar Said’s backyard. Now it’s a race against insurmountable forces to survive in a hostile environment…and maybe, build a second chance at love with the woman he’d never stopped loving.