SEALs of Honor: Mason (18 page)

What did she think he’d do? Sit them down and spank them? Well, he had in a way, he’d spanked the one with a metal pipe.

“No, the one man had already done a good job of trying to kill the other.” He spun around searching the fog. “We need to get to shore.”

She nodded. “Do you have a way to communicate with the others?”

He nodded. “The ship’s radio if nothing else.”

With that he hopped up to the wheelhouse, and playing with a few knobs, clicked a display. Crackling noises filled the air. With her watching his every movement, he soon had the radio working. He sent a message to Mason first. Then he checked the gas and started up the engine that had been previously shut down. He motored slowly to the wreckage of the other boat and marked the GPS location for someone to clean it up and so the authorities would know there’d been no loss of life in the accident.

Then he turned the vessel, and its dead cargo, toward shore.

Tesla settled into the passenger seat beside him, curling up against the bitter wind. It would be a nice day at this hour, but on the lake in the fog there was nothing but a deep chilliness that seemed to seep into the bones.

“You saved my life,” she whispered from somewhere around her knees. He couldn’t see her face, just the top of her head as it burrowed deeper against her legs. He looked around but couldn’t see a blanket. And he had no intention of sending her below. Not with the men down there. He knew the one was gone and doubted the other was still alive. He’d get medical attention as soon as they could get it but suspected it would still be a good twenty minutes.

It wasn’t likely that he had that long.

“Do you think this is done?”

There was no misunderstanding her meaning after all the shit they’d been through. “It damn well better be,” he said, leaning across to rub her shoulder. “Regardless, we’ve got your back.”

She smiled mistily up at him, and as she lay her head back down on her knees, she whispered, “Thank you.”

He shook his head. “You saved my life and you’re thanking me.” Who knew there were women out there like her? She was Mason’s. No doubt there. But she was damn fine. If Mason didn’t want her, Hawk wouldn’t mind a chance.

She was some kind of woman. He took another look over at her and realized she’d curled up like a kitten and slept.

Yeah, she was some kind of woman.

He steered the boat to shore. With any luck she’d get enough sleep to be able to handle what was coming.

Chapter 26

W
HEN SHE WOKE,
the wind was biting and swirling through the small cabin. The sun was trying to shine, but it was held back by the fog. And although lifting, the fog didn’t appear ready to give up its domain.

Tesla had hoped Mason would be here by now. Wherever here was. She just wanted to get the hell home. And even that couldn’t happen. She had to go to the damn demonstration. Looking the way she did. Great.

She could probably push it off for a few days, but then this hell would continue. Better to suffer through the demonstration and then go hide away and lick her wounds. If Mason found her then, that was a whole different story.

Right now, they all had a job to do.

She was just so damn tired of doing it.

Through the fog, she could see a shoreline take shape. She smiled. Now that was a mighty fine picture. She stood up to see better. “Any idea where we are?”

“I’m not sure.” But from the dark tone to his voice, she thought he might but didn’t want to tell her.

He grabbed the radio. “Penderson Marina. That’s the name I can see.”

He clicked off and waited for a response. When it came she didn’t quite understand. Until Hawk said, “Okay, we’re going to be about an hour then unless you can arrange a ride to pick us up.”

He nodded at the next response and shut down the radio. “We have car and a helicopter on the way.”

At the word helicopter her heart sank. Then she realized after all she’d been through, how damn appropriate this would be. She’d arrive in style and to hell with them all. She’d come to do a job for those men. She’d do it and go home.

She sat in silence as Hawk handled the boat with enviable skill. She had no idea how long he’d been doing this, but he made it all look easy.

The weather was clear by the time he pulled up to a mooring spot and hopped off, tying the boat up securely. He glanced around and saw what he was looking for. He motioned to the dock. She gasped at the sea of uniforms racing toward them.

Hawk helped her out of the boat and stood with her as the men came and ushered her to a waiting car. She was driven to a small helicopter pad and loaded up and within minutes she was airborne.

Hawk still at her side.

She glanced down and realized she was no longer scared. She’d been through so much shit already, riding in a helicopter was no biggie.

“You’re not worried this time?”

She grinned. “Nah, why would I be? Mason’s not here.”

He frowned, his gaze searching. “What difference would that make?”

“Tons,” she said with a laugh. “He’s not here to throw me out.”

Hawk laughed and laughed. “Wait until I tell him that.”

“If he doesn’t like the answer, he should have been here,” she cried. “Would that have been so hard?”

“You know he’s going to blame himself for this, right?”

She twisted in her seat. “Why would he?”

“He had to leave to make sure the security was in place for the day. When he left, the enemy moved in.”

She nodded slowly. “I knew but hadn’t considered how long he’d be gone. Figured he’d gotten busy.”

“He’d never have left without it being a direct order.”

“He was ordered to leave?” At Hawk’s nod, she smiled. “That makes me feel better, but maybe someone should be asking the hard questions as to who ordered him away.”

Hawk sat back and stared at her. “You think military are involved?”

She laughed. “Hawk, at this point, I suspect everyone but you and the rest of the team.”

That beautiful white toothed grin flashed. “Glad to hear that.”

They landed soon after and were quickly transferred to another car. Inside, she caught Hawk glancing at his watch.

“How close are we?”

“They started the opening speech a few minutes ago.”

“Oh good, I’m glad to miss that. Hate those things.”

Hawk barked with laughter and she grinned. “What do you think? Should I go like this?” She motioned to her blood stained clothing.

“It would be unique,” he said.

“But it would also be the truth. And I’m all about that.”

It was taking a chance, but if someone in that room had given the order to pull Mason back off the house and leave Hawk vulnerable to the enemy then maybe they should see that they failed first-hand.

“Don’t give them any warning,” she said suddenly. “Just tell them we’ll be on time.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Did you find out who ordered Mason off the protection detail?”

He shook his head. “I’m asking him that now.”

“Find out before I go in, then find that man in the audience and watch him closely,” she said as they entered the security checkpoint. She twisted to look at him. “Got that?”

He nodded. “I got it. Mason said he’s looking for him.” He was reading the next text that came in. They’d been steady for the last ten minutes. “He’s in position at the demonstration. He’s standing at the back door.”

“That’s nice, but I could be shot from anywhere in the damn room. I’d rather have him beside me.”

Hawk picked up the phone and called Mason instead of texting this time. Good. He quickly relayed the message. That made her feel better. Slightly.

Knowing Mason was waiting for her, lifted her heart. She needed to see him again. To be hugged. She’d had such a shitty morning. And after the best night of her life. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, so hot and puffy now. She kinda blacked out at that point. She had to prepare for what was coming. It was going to be close.

In many ways.

*

M
ASON REALIZED SHE
was safe if she was giving orders like she had been, according to Hawk. He could believe it. He needed to hear the details of the nightmare she’d been put through already and knew it was likely bad, but she was alive and that was what counted. She just needed to do this demonstration. And he was going to stand at her side and make sure she was safe.

Guilt ate at him. He’d hated the orders pulling him away from her. Had been working since finding out she’d been kidnapped on sourcing where the orders had come from. And why. He’d fought leaving her but on the assurance that several other men were going to be there looking after her, he’d gone to make sure she’d be safe after leaving the hotel.

But instead she and Hawk had damn near died. Again.

So much for those assurances. But he was on it. And had his suspicions now. Then again Tesla’s father had helped. Hawk had contacted him as soon as he knew.

The conversation still burned his gut. But at least he’d cared. After the first meeting Mason had wondered. This time there’d been no doubt.

“She’s been kidnapped? Again?” The panic and incredulity in his voice had gone a long way to helping Hawk understand the man’s emotions had been tightly banked before.

But not now. He hadn’t wasted time with ripping Mason to pieces. He wanted details. And then gave him a little background on one of the men above Mason.

Check out…

No reason given. Just the name. Followed by, “Find her and bring her back to me.”

When Mason had called back to let him know she was on her way home again, her father had gone silent. He’d released an emotional sigh of relief then had immediately turned businesslike. “Is she going to the hospital?”

“She’s coming for the demonstration. She refuses to do anything less.”

“Then I’ll be there.” And he hung up. He’d sounded like he meant it.

Mason hoped her father made it. For her sake and maybe his. Sounded like there was some healing needed.

That Tesla had been hurt again was something Mason needed time to get over. But she was alive. They could live with everything else.

He shook his head. How many more lives did she have? She was more cat than human at this rate. His communicator squawked. “She’s entering the side door.”

Mason raced to the door to be able to open it for her. He was attracting attention, and he didn’t give a damn.

The door opened and Hawk grabbed him, shoving him back a few steps and out of the doorway. “Mason. Man, you need to hold back when you see her.”

“Why?” That was a hell of thing to say. He glared at Hawk. “You look like shit.”

“She’s been beaten. And she’s got cracked ribs. And she’s looking…a little rough.”

Mason’s fists clenched as he realized what Hawk was saying. “You said she’s okay?”

“She is. In fact, she says she’s fine.” He paused and rolled his eyes. “And she’s a hell of a liar too. I know the ribs are cracked as I checked them myself. Her eyes are almost swollen shut and the wind coming back made them worse.”

Her eyes and ribs. He got it.

“Those bastards are dead.” He turned, looking for Tesla, and caught sight of someone standing hesitantly, her back to him, in front of the entrance. Her long sweater had stretched well past her hips. Only it was ripped and bloody – just like her jeans. As he got closer he could see her fingernails were bloody and torn. She turned to face him.

His fists clenched.

His gut heaved.

His heart died a little.

It was Tesla. And she’d been not just beat up. She’d been
beaten
.

God he was going to kill the bastard behind this.

Just then the announcer said, “Now let me introduce the creator of this program. Miss Tesla Landers.”

There was a lot of murmuring going on behind him, but he was staring at Tesla, wondering what she was going to do. Then he realized what the problem was. When introduced, she’d turned and walked several feet forward to the base of the stairs leading to the podium. And stopped. She was looking at the stairs, but she was having trouble seeing them. Her depth perception was off. And she wasn’t sure what to do.

Meaning she hadn’t seen him.

He strode to her side, and in a calm movement, reached for her hands and held her swollen fingers in his gentle grasp. “Let me help you.”

She gasped with joy and clutched at him. He smiled and held her close. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered, knowing they had no time.

The gurgle of laughter bubbled up from her chest. “Good,” she said. “You can make it up to me later.”

He grinned. After all she’d been through… But she was right.

This was not the time. “The stairs are right in front of you,” he said.

She nodded. “Oh thank God you’re here. I’m so scared,” she whispered as he helped her up the stairs.

“You, after being shot at, beaten, and survived being thrown out of a helicopter and a drowning. What could possibly scare you?”

He was genuinely puzzled. He’d yet to see anything rattle her. Stuff that would send normal men running had her sucking in her gut and facing the enemy.

“What if they don’t like it?” she whispered as they walked the long road across the stage to where the mic waited. Mason knew he’d likely catch hell for being on the stage with her, but there was no way he was going to desert her right now. He was also shielding her from the curious eyes staring at them. They’d see her soon. That would cause a hell of a reaction.

He heard Hawk’s voice on the communicator. Calm, dependable, powerful Hawk. Giving orders and moving into position as if he’d just woken up from a nap.

The table stood in front of them. “You don’t have to do this,” he whispered, his voice caught by the mic and reaching out across the room. He winced.

The audience shuffled uneasily.

“I’m fine,” she said.

In a voice that reached to the back of the room, Tesla repeated, “Against all odds, I’m fine.” Then she patted his arm, told him to stay close and stepped around him to face the audience.

*

A
CRESCENDO OF
cries filled the air. The announcer rolled over to her. She held up her hand to stop him. “Good morning. Some of you know that I am Tesla Landers. Some of you met me last night where I gave a presentation of my work. This morning I’m giving a demonstration of how it works and what it can do. However, most of you have no idea what I’ve been through to get here. What others have done to try and stop me. And to gain my work for their own use. So let me tell you.”