Page 60 of Rescue Me (Tempting SEALs 6.10)

FOUR

“GOT YOURSELF A REAL sweet little piece there don’t ya, pig?”

Seth sized up the two men, assessed the threat. They were big. Out of shape, beat up by the trail and mad as hell. Trigger fingers as itchy as dogs with fleas.

He didn’t think he knew either one of them. Yet they seemed to know him, or at least they knew he was a cop.

Axe to grind. That was the obvious call. Big axe to have tracked him all the way down here. The question then was, could he convince them they had more to lose if they shot him than they did if they just walked away? The bigger question, how the hell did he keep Elena from getting caught in the crossfire?

“Don’t know what your beef is, fellas, but I’m sure we can settle it without the guns, okay? Why don’t you just put ’em down before someone gets hurt?” he suggested in a calm, evenly modulated voice. “You look thirsty and beat. We’ve got water. Food. You’re welcome to both.”

“Well, that’s real generous of you—considering we’re callin’ the shots.

“You. Lawyer bitch.” The guy with the Glock motioned at Elena with his gun. “Get us some water.”

Every cell in Seth’s body screamed to red alert. Whatever this was about, they knew who Elena was, too.

“Look, guys, whatever your problem is with me, leave her out of it.”

“Shut the fuck up, hero!” Glock guy exploded with rage. “And let’s get something straight. If it was up to me, both of you would be dead or dying right now, got it? So don’t push me.”

“What’s this about?” Elena asked.

“I think my old man already told you, bitch.”

Elena’s fingers clutched Seth’s arm like a vice. “Oh, God. You’re … you’re Jake Devine. Joey’s brother.”

Oh, Christ.

“That’s right. You and this asshole cop are responsible for putting my little brother in prison. Which means you’re responsible for him being dead.”

Worse and worse.

Riled to the point of losing control, Devine closed the distance in three long, angry strides. Got right in Seth’s face as Seth shoved Elena further behind him. “I’d like nothing better than to waste you both right here and now, but the old man wants to save that pleasure for himself. He wants to kill you slow-like. Wants you to know the pain he’s going thr

ough. Wants you to feel it over and over again.”

Jake shoved the pistol hard and deep into Seth’s gut. “So don’t push me or I might just forget my old man called dibs and start working you over myself.”

Eyes still locked with loathing on Seth’s face, Devine yelled at Elena. “Now get us some water! And get some goddamn food while you’re at it—”

It was now or never. Taking advantage of Devine’s attention on Elena, Seth chopped the gun to the side and down before Devine ever knew what hit him. The pistol went off, fired harmlessly into the dirt as Seth wrestled Jake to the ground.

“Elena, run!” he yelled as the two of them rolled over the ground, hitting rocks and brush and sending camping gear flying.

Seth ended up on top, drew his arm back to land a right hook and heard the unmistakable sound of a hammer being cocked. The business end of the Ruger revolver pressed into his spine, directly between his shoulder blades.

“Back off,” the other guy said. “Raise your hands now, cop, or you’re dead right here.”

On a controlled breath, Seth unclenched his fist and raised both hands beside his head in a show of submission.

An explosion of pain stole his breath and his consciousness as something slammed into the back of his head.

“YOU RUN AND I’LL kill him,” Jake Devine threatened, rising to his feet. “Then I’ll hunt you down and kill you too.”

Elena hadn’t planned on running. She wasn’t leaving Seth.

“Tie ’em up, Benny,” Jake ordered the other man.

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