Page 38 of Loved by a SEAL

“Enough,” Patrick bit out.

The other men followed in groups of two, crouching low to the ground behind Patrick and Mike as they ran toward the terrorist camp. Ryan could watch the feed from anyone on both of the SEAL teams. It was almost like he was right there as the situation unfolded, except he couldn’t do a damn thing to help them if anything went awry.

He clenched his fist as his gaze followed the feed from each of the men. Nothing like watching the big game without being able to join in.

Fucking hell.

“Two guards on the outskirts,” Patrick said quietly into his mouthpiece.

“Both heavily armed,” Mike said. “Assault rifles, looks like grenades and a rocket launcher.”

“Delta team is in position on the desert side,” Hunter said through the headsets. “More heavily guarded here—five, no, make that six insurgents. Although it looks like one of them may be sleeping.”

“Fucking hell,” Brent spat out.

“Are the drones still overhead?” Christopher asked.

“Affirmative,” Ryan said, crossing his arms as he stood watching from Little Creek. “No movement inside the camp.”

“Looks like we’re about to give them a little wake-up call,” Matthew drawled, training his assault rifle on one of the guards.

“Positions?” Ryan asked, clenching his jaw.

The affirmative replies came over the headsets.

“Move in,” he commanded.

Gunfire broke out on the desert side of camp, where Hunter’s Delta Team was. Matthew and Brent took out the guards on the mountain side as Patrick and Mike swept into the camp area. Ryan’s gut clenched as he wondered about the American woman. Had she been fed during her captivity? Injured? Would she be able to run out of camp on her own?

No doubt a group of SEALs rushing in wearing full combat gear, heavily armed, would frighten her more. There was no telling how a hostage would react in a situation like this. Panic, fear, disorientation, adrenaline—anything was within the scope of possibility.

And would she even be able to run out of camp on her own? Any of the men could carry her out, but it would slow down their escape. Prevent them from fighting the insurgents. The tent she was believed to be held in was located near the mountain range side of camp, and Patrick and the Alpha SEAL team would head there first. There was always the possibility their intel was bad. That they’d go in and find nothing.

Plan B involved clearing every damn hut until they found her. Destroying anyone who crossed their path. He didn’t want it to come to that option.

“Five guards taken out,” Hunter’s voice said over the headset. “We’re inside camp.”

“Roger that. We’re making our approach. Third hut over,” Mike said on his headset.

“One guard outside,” Patrick said.

The grainy image of a lone man outside the hut filled the screen as Ryan watched. Mike’s laser scope aimed at the guard from one hundred feet away, and a moment later, the man slumped over.

“Man out,” Mike said. “We’re heading for the package.”

“Easy does it, boys,” Hunter said. “I hope to hell she doesn’t run out of there screaming. That’s all we need—a panicked woman.”

“Fucking hell,” Brent growled. “She’s a damn hostage. You worry about the insurgents, our team will worry about her.”

Patrick and Mike hustled toward the hut as the sounds of more gunfire erupted.

“They know we’re here,” Ryan said coolly, assessing the situation as he watched the live feed on the massive TV screen back in Little Creek. “Let’s grab her and go.”

“Just took two more out on the perimeter,” Matthew drawled. “Looks like we have company.”

A different grainy image of the hut came into view as Patrick’s night-vision goggles scanned the area. Ryan clenched his jaw as Patrick and Mike approached, ducking low as they hustled over.

“We’re on your six, Ice,” Christopher said as he and Evan swept in behind Patrick and Mike. “Grab the package and let’s go.”

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