Page 41 of SEAL the Deal

Ali feigned ignorance. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t fuck around with us, Missy.”

She could tell by the look that he meant it.

“She left, I don’t know when she’ll be back.”

“She’s lying,” said Camo Guy.

Cowboy spat on the floor. “Tie her hands. We’ll take her back to Carter. He can decide what to do with her.”

The pistol was thrust into her face and a moment later they spun her around, binding her wrists with tape. Camo Guy shoved her through the door as Cowboy smashed the radio.

Outside two buggies were parked side by side. A morose looking Bloodhound sat on the back of one of them. Camo Guy gestured for her to climb into the passenger seat of the other. As she did the dog started whining.

“Bones, what the fuck’s wrong with you?” said her captor as he climbed into the driver’s seat.

There was a menacing growl from the opposite side of the buggy and the hound’s whining intensified.

Ali recognized the sound instantly. She turned and saw Axe, hackles raised and teeth bared, standing a few yards away.

“Aw, shit.” The man raised his pistol.

She shoved him with her shoulder and the gun went off, hitting the dirt.

Before he could recover Axe leaped onto the hood and pounced through the open roll cage, clamping his jaws on the man’s bandaged arm. He screamed and the pistol was flung clear as the dog shook his arm, tearing flesh.

“Carl, get down!” yelled Cowboy from the porch. He had his rifle aimed at Axe.

Ali screamed. “No!”

The boom of a gun echoed off the mountains. A chunk blew out of the cabin wall next to Cowboy’s head. As he ducked Ali turned and saw Rick storm out from the bushes. He had a shotgun held firm in his shoulder the barrel aimed unwaveringly at Cowboy. A tattered wetsuit covered his legs the top half hanging from his waist. He looked like he’d been through hell.

“Next one’s on you,” he bellowed.

Cowboy stood staring at the SEAL, his rifle held low.

Rick stopped ten yards short with the shotgun aimed directly at his chest. “I see that gun move and you’re dead.”

Axe had released the other man’s arm and stood on the hood of the buggy, teeth bared and eyes fixed on his throat.

There was a rustle in the bushes and Jenny appeared with her gun raised. “Drop the rifle.”

Outmatched, Cowboy let his weapon drop on the porch. “You people don’t know who you’re fucking with. Carter is going to be pissed.”

“Carter? Lieutenant Carter Brown?” asked Jenny as she approached.

Cowboy realized he’d already said too much and buttoned his lips. Rick stepped onto the porch, kicked the rifle away, reversed his shotgun and drove the butt into the man’s stomach.”

He doubled over and dropped to his knees, groaning.

Rick bent down to whisper in his ear. “If anything’s happened to my friends you’re going to wish you never lived.”

Jenny freed Ali and then found the roll of tape Carl had used to secure her. They bound both men’s hands behind their backs and dumped them on a bunk with their feet taped.

“We can’t get a call out,” said Ali as she joined them with Axe by her side. “They smashed the radio.”

Rick inspected the cabinet as Jenny poured him a mug of cold water from the sink. “Can you fix it?” she asked, handing the mug to him.

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