SEAL’s Command by Makenna Jameison
Chapter 10
Ashleigh pulled her coat tighter around herself as Slate cranked up the heat in his Jeep. He’d apologized for not being able to let it warm up before she got in—as if she’d been worried about that. He’d grabbed her suitcase while she held her laptop bag and hustled her out the front door so quickly, she’d been scared someone would start shooting at them from the woods or something. The entire night was absolutely surreal. She’d gone to bed after a relaxing evening with Slate, then woken up to find someone had been prowling around the cabin outside, watching them.
And that kiss?
Her skin heated just thinking about it. She didn’t know what had spurred him on to kiss her suddenly, but wow. If they weren’t practically running for their lives, it would be hard to think about anything but his lips on hers.
Slate swiped the screen on his cell phone, lifting it to his ear even as they drove away from the cabin in the dark night. He had one hand on the wheel, his eyes on the road, and she felt safe, content that he could get them out of there. “Ace, this is Commander Hutchinson. I need you to run a name for me. Someone was lurking around outside the cabin tonight. He accidentally dropped the stub from an airline ticket on the front porch. It looks like he flew up to Seattle this afternoon.”
Ashleigh looked over at him in surprise. Slate had told her he found footprints outside in the snow but hadn’t said someone had been that close. This guy had literally been on the front porch. What if he’d broken in? What if he’d harmed Slate and then come down the hallway to her bedroom?
Slate was listening to whatever Ace was saying and then gave him a name, providing a few additional details. “Roger that. Appreciate it. Bye.”
He set his phone down, glancing over at her. “Are you okay?” he asked quietly.
“Okay?” she squeaked. “Someone is after you. I was supposed to be at a quiet cabin writing all weekend, and now I’m in the middle of this crazy situation racing off in the middle of the night with a gunman and terrorists on the loose. How could any of it be okay?”
“I’m sorry,” he murmured.
“You didn’t say he was on the front porch,” she accused.
“I didn’t want to frighten you. And the ticket stub was damp, like it had been sitting out there a while. I think what you heard was the bear around back. I hung the deer I had shot from a tree out there and saw bear tracks in the snow.”
She shuddered, watching as he frowned.
“I think that guy was scouting out the area and gathering intel. He might’ve even been hired muscle by the group. They didn’t know who I was up here with and weren’t about to move in yet until they had more information.”
“Because you might not have been alone.”
“It stands to reason that if I’d come up here hunting for the weekend, there’d be other armed men inside. Maybe if I’d gone out alone, he’d have shot at me, but prowling around in the middle of the night doesn’t mean there’s much chance of that happening. He was seeing how close he could get.”
“How did they even find you so quickly?”
“It’s a good question. If they found my information with the car rental agency, they could’ve tracked my plates. Again, I’m just speculating. I don’t know what they had access to and who else is involved. I don’t doubt that a high-level criminal organization could hack into unsecure databases like those at a car rental agency. I can’t very well be briefed on an unsecure line though, which is part of the reason I need to return to San Diego.”
He didn’t say anything else, and Ashleigh sighed, looking out the window into the dark night. She should’ve been tired, but at the moment, she was too keyed-up to sleep. The sun would be rising in a few short hours, but she knew she couldn’t sleep right now even if she wanted. She’d probably crash at some point later in the day, and she hoped they’d stop at some point to rest.
Would they get a hotel room? Sleep in his Jeep? That didn’t exactly seem safe either if someone was after Slate. She couldn’t help him to drive very easily with her injured ankle. It would hurt like hell to press on the gas pedal and brakes.
“And you’re sure no one is following us?” she asked, looking back toward him.
He smiled, almost looking amused at her question. “I’m sure, Ash. There are no other cars even on the road at this time of night.”
“Right. So, this terrorist group—they were planning to attack places here in the U.S.?”
“Unfortunately, yes. Plots are thwarted all the time, as you may or may not be aware. Some make the national news, and some most people never even know about. The warehouse raid, however, was a major news story. I know we were somewhat disconnected from the world up here, and I was out hunting most of the day, but believe me—the major networks all covered it. The men who escaped scattered and are out for blood.”
“Wow. I guess I should’ve checked CNN or something. I came up here to disconnect though and didn’t bother with anything but writing when I turned on my laptop.”
“That’s what vacations are for,” he assured her. “Even a working one. I’m used to being caught up on current events. That’s a major part of my job. Of course, we receive classified intelligence, too, but this particular case is now a major news story.”
“You’d think they’d be more careful then. You have to admit it’s ironic.”
“What is?” he asked, not glancing over as he maneuvered down the dark mountain road. She studied him in the dim light. Even his profile was a commanding presence—clenched jaw, strong features. He acted like he hurried off in the middle of the night frequently. Maybe he did. But she supposed going into base at all hours didn’t include gunmen after him.
She appreciated the way he was quietly in control. She was positively terrified, and Slate seemed like he could handle whatever life threw at him.
“Your job is essentially to follow the news and be up-to-date on everything,” she explained. “I’m a writer. My career is based on making up stuff.”
Slate chuckled, and she glanced over at him, her lips quirking. They were basically running for their lives, and he was laughing at her. “Are you warm enough?” he asked, his voice husky as he quickly glanced over at her before once again looking at the road.
They’d driven down the icy mountain road and were approaching the small town. In another twenty minutes or so, they’d be on a larger highway and heading away. There were no cars out at this time of night—or morning, really—and she didn’t know if that made her feel better or worse. It was eerie having no other traffic around. Not that she doubted Slate could keep them safe. She knew he had a handgun, and she’d noticed the rifle he’d taken from Jett’s cabin. He probably knew how to change a flat tire and fix any other car troubles as well. She’d never drive alone in the middle of the night, but with Slate at her side, she felt safe. The man seemed to be prepared for anything and everything.
“I’m fine. You can turn the heat back down if you want.” She stifled a yawn, wondering where the sudden wave of drowsiness was coming from. Looking at the empty town must’ve made her realize just how late it really was. It was a little sad and lonely driving through it in the middle of the night, but maybe that was just her exhaustion setting in. Slate was here. She certainly wasn’t all alone.
“You can sleep,” Slate told her gently. “I know it’s the middle of the night, and you’re probably tired.”
“And what about you?” she countered.
“Honestly, I’m used to being woken up at odd hours and heading in to work. Plus, I get up early anyway. Three a.m. is a bit earlier than normal, but I’m usually awake by five. I might not do PT with my men anymore, but I get in a good workout bright and early. I always run before I head into base.”
She cringed slightly, and he chuckled again. “Not a morning person? Noted. If you’re staying with me, I promise to be quiet first thing. You can sleep in and write or do whatever when you get up. I’ll be on base early, but I’ll give you my number and that of some of my men. My house is secure. If need be, I’ll arrange for someone to stay at the house with you.”
She let out a shaky breath. She hadn’t meant to stay the weekend with him, let alone any time afterward. Now she was going to the house of this man she’d just met. She wasn’t scared of him, exactly. This was Anna’s brother-in-law. She knew he’d never hurt her. She was scared of the situation though and intimidated by Slate. She was out of her element and had to trust him to keep her safe. It was scary—almost like she was falling head-first off a bridge. He’d literally whisked her off into the night, driving them somewhere he’d assured her would be safer than the cabin. But would anyone actually have tracked her license plate and found out who she was? That seemed far-fetched at best.
It didn’t stop the fear from snaking down her spine though.
A man had been outside the cabin. Had he tried to open the front door? Peek in the windows? It was creepy as hell to know someone was outside while they were sleeping. Slate had assured her his house had surveillance cameras and alarms. No doubt he also kept guns and weapons there. He was a former Navy SEAL.
He could’ve left her up at the cabin to stay for a few days or catch a flight out of Seattle. Instead, he’d immediately included her in his plans, grabbing her suitcase and ushering her to the safety of his vehicle. He’d offered her his protection.
Yawning again, she leaned against the window. She was scared and still feeling uneasy about the situation, but she was safe with him. No matter what happened, she knew Slate wouldn’t let any harm come her way. They continued driving through the sleepy town, and Ashleigh let herself fall asleep with the capable SEAL commander right at her side.
***
Slate glanced over at Ashleigh an hour later. She’d finally fallen asleep, her head resting against the window of his rented Jeep as he cruised along the highway. He knew she was scared, but she hadn’t freaked out when they’d left the cabin in the middle of the night. She’d dressed, packed, and let him lead her safely to his Jeep.
He’d scouted the area again before bringing her outside. Ashleigh had gotten ready quickly, but he’d wanted to make sure nothing happened to her. When she’d shown up at his bedroom door at three in the morning, looking scared in her pajama pants and top, he’d instantly been alert. There’d been something almost intimate about seeing her in the middle of the night like that—tousled blonde hair, pajamas hugging her curves. They clearly weren’t intended to be sexy. It’s not like she’d come out in skimpy lingerie. But her nipples had pressed against the thin cotton top, the soft fabric had clung to her curves, and he hadn’t been able to resist, letting his gaze rake over her.
He’d been out of bed in an instant, ignoring the tightening in his groin, his only concern for her safety. Yes, she was beautiful, but something deeper pulled at him when she was near. He wanted to protect her and slay all her demons. She was clearly wary of ever getting serious with a man again. Her ex must’ve been a total jackass. He couldn’t imagine cheating on any woman, let alone her.
Something in her eyes made him want to prove to her that he was a good man. Yes, he’d seen violence and war over the years. His time in the military had no doubt hardened him. That didn’t mean he couldn’t be careful around her. Something about Ashleigh softened him—him, a hardened warrior. He didn’t remember ever feeling that way about his ex-wife. Yes, he’d been attracted to her and enjoyed the sex in the beginning, before they began to drift apart. He’d never felt the burning desire to care for and protect her though. With Ashleigh, that instinct had been almost immediate, and he’d barely known her.
And that kiss?
She’d looked so frightened sitting on the bed, he hadn’t been able to hold himself back any longer. He wanted to kiss and soothe her, reassure Ashleigh that she was okay. Someday he’d love to strip her down and make love to her, but he’d just met the woman two days ago. He wouldn’t rush her into anything, but hell if he wouldn’t do everything in his power to assure Ashleigh that he was a good man.
Slate’s phone buzzed, and he quickly grabbed it. “Striker here,” he said in a low voice.
“Commander, this is Ace.”
“Tell me you have information on Jacob Glasgow.”
“Negative, sir. He was possibly traveling under an alias. A Jacob Glasgow did fly into Seattle this afternoon, but there’s nothing tying him to the domestic terror cell or any of their immediate contacts.”
“God damn it,” Slate muttered. “So he either boarded the plane with a fake ID or was hired by them to come look for me. Did you run a background check on the name?”
“Nothing came up, sir. Commander Williams is still trying to get more information. Havoc is here on base with us. Someone was outside his apartment tonight.”
“Is he all right?” Slate asked.
“Affirmative. A woman in his complex saw a man looking suspicious and called the cops. It might be a coincidence, but Havoc came in to help me look into some of these names. Commander Williams is here as well but currently briefing with the higher ups. He may have told you Raptor’s team is going wheel’s up in a couple of hours.”
“He did. Keep me posted if you find out anything. I’m on my way back now but won’t be in San Diego for at least a day.”
“Are you driving?”
“Yes. And I’m not alone. I’ll be bringing a woman back to my place to stay for a few days.”
Ace sputtered on the other end of the line, and Slate resisted the urge to chuckle. Not that it was any of his men’s business, but he needed to ensure her safety. If that meant telling Ace’s and Raptor’s teams about Ashleigh, he would. No doubt he’d just shocked the shit out of Ace, but what Slate did in his free time was his own business. If he wanted them in the loop on keeping Ashleigh safe, then that’s damn well what would happen.
He briefly explained how they’d come to be together at the cabin, informing Ace that the rest of the men needed to be informed as well. As Ace started talking, Slate glanced over at the woman sleeping beside him. She’d pulled her coat around herself and looked cute as hell all cuddled up like that. Slate wasn’t a soft man, but hell if there wasn’t something about her that made him feel weak. He knew he’d do whatever was necessary to protect her and keep her safe, even put himself in jeopardy.
He didn’t like that she’d inadvertently gotten involved in any of this, but he’d be damned if he wouldn’t do everything in his power to protect her.