Wanted (Hostage Rescue Team Series Book 8) (23 page)

It was hard to wrap his mind around the sweet, kind woman he’d known being able to evade the NSA and hunt down targets. “And why me?”

Briar gave him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I think we both know the answer to that.”

No. He was too paranoid not to wonder if everything between them had been a carefully constructed lie. “Enlighten me.”

Briar exhaled. “You got to her. Once upon a time I knew her well. As well as anyone could know her.” She waited a beat. “She tried to save you that day. Put her life in danger to save you. That tells me all I need to know about what you mean to her.”

The hope he’d been suppressing expanded into a painful pressure in his chest, all but crushing his bruised heart and lungs. Was it possible that Julia—Georgia—had cared for him that much? He shook his head.
They’re manipulating you and you’re letting them
. “She disappeared for a reason.”

“Because she thought you were dead. Everyone did, until ten days ago. Even Rycroft.”

He didn’t believe that for a moment, but didn’t bother saying so. “If the NSA can’t find her, how do you expect me to?”

Briar’s gaze was steady. “She might have hidden her real identity from you, but based on her behavior I know she’d have told you things she’s never told anyone else. Not even me. And if she finds out you’re still alive and that you’re looking for her, I think she’ll surface.”

She sounded so confident about that.

Bautista thought back to everything Georgia had told him during their time together. If he examined it all carefully enough, maybe there was some hidden clue that would help him find her.

“If you let me out of here and announce that I’m still alive, I won’t be for long.” He’d made a lot of enemies during his time as Perez’s enforcer. Some of them would want revenge. And right now, he was barely able to function. It would be weeks more until he regained even half of his strength.

Briar inclined her head. “You’ll have backup. We’ll be working together on this.”

He wanted to laugh but it would hurt too much. “You and me?”

“Yes, along with whatever NSA resources we need. We’ll have to be careful how we make the announcement, and who we announce it to.”

If she thought he would jump at the offer, she was mistaken. “What about my grandmother?”

She didn’t show any surprise at the sudden change in topic. “She’s still in her care facility in Miami.”

“I want to see her, talk to her. And she’ll need to be moved to a more secure facility. I want her looked after for the rest of her life.”

She nodded. “That could all be arranged, provided you sign the contract.” She shifted Georgia’s picture aside to expose a legal document, and tilted her head. “So you’ll do it?”

“I didn’t say that.” Who knew what terms they’d included in that thing? There was no way they were ever going to let him be a free man again. Not after what he’d done.

“But you’ll consider it.”

His jaw tightened. They had him exactly where they wanted him, and they knew it. His choices were either to spend the rest of his life rotting away in whatever dark hole they put him in, or play the puppet and face death once more by agreeing to take this op. He’d constantly be on guard against the enemies gunning for him, as well as the people who claimed to be his allies.

He was done with that kind of life. It was why he’d been about to relocate to the Caymans after that last job for Perez in the Keys. Then, within the space of a few hours, everything had gone to hell.

“I’ll read the contract,” he finally answered.

“Good.” Briar stood and headed for the door. “When you make your decision you can let one of the guards know.” She exited the room.

Alone, Bautista stared into the mirrored wall before him. People were out there in the hallway, watching him, Rycroft certainly. He didn’t care about any of them, more concerned with the reflection staring back at him.

He barely recognized himself. His face was sunken, deep shadows beneath his eyes, the only color in his too-pale face. Even his body, once powerful, was now frail-looking, shrunken in the bright orange prison suit.

He looked…broken.

But he wasn’t. Not even close.

Almost against his will his gaze strayed back to the folder on the desk. Georgia’s cool blue eyes peered back at the camera, devoid of emotion except for a hint of anger he recognized all too well.

The government had turned her into a weapon, same as it had him. They were merely assets to be exploited by the people who wanted to use them, nothing more.

How strange and ironic, to learn they had far more in common than he’d ever realized. She’d haunted him. Would haunt him forever. The memory of how she’d looked at him, with such trust and admiration. They way she’d touched him, the feel of her lips on his skin, her naked body writhing beneath his.

He stared at the papers. The contract was an opportunity for him to find out whether any of what they’d shared was real. A chance for closure, or…

Maybe even the infinitesimal chance of something more.

Ten weeks later

Clay stared at the swell of Zoe’s abdomen as the technician spread some kind of gel over it, beneath the end of the dangly bat belly-button piercing Zoe wore. She’d probably have to take it out in another few months.

His wife’s belly was going to get a whole lot bigger before this was over.

It still felt surreal that they were married and having a kid together. They’d wound up eloping at the courthouse on Halloween night, with Tuck and Celida acting as witnesses. His team had been busy as ever these past few months, but the timing had worked out and Clay was glad he’d been able to marry Zoe on her most favorite night of the year.

She gasped, let out a giggle. “That’s cold!”

The tech smiled at her. “I know, sorry. But it’ll warm up quick. You ready?”

“Ready,” she answered with a nod. She reached for his hand and Clay grabbed it, lacing their fingers together.

Truth was, he was nervous as fuck, and doing his damnedest not to let it show. The doctor had assured them already that there was only one baby in there, but what if he was wrong? What if there were two? And what if it
was
only one, but it only had one eye? Or it was missing part of its brain or something? He’d seen a documentary about that two weeks ago.

He’d had nightmares about it ever since.

“Okay, here we go.” The tech set the Doppler against Zoe’s abdomen.

Clay’s gaze shot to the black and white screen mounted on the wall. At first he saw nothing but a series of indistinguishable lines, but then a fuzzy shape appeared. Something round, then something even bigger and rounder.

Shit, his heart was pounding. He didn’t know what the hell he was even looking at, so he had no clue if it was normal or not. He squinted.

The tech moved the device around some more. “Can you shift onto your right side a bit?” she asked Zoe.

Zoe rolled a little and Clay tucked a pillow under her lower back to bolster her. Then Zoe gasped and his gaze darted back to the screen. What? What was happening? Was something wrong?

“Oh…”

Zoe sounded on the verge of tears, and Clay prayed they were happy ones. He held his breath as he stared at the screen, squinting to see whatever it was that had made Zoe so emotional.

Then, out of the fuzzy shadows and lines, a tiny profile appeared. Clay went dead still, unable to look away.

“Oh, Clay, look,” Zoe gushed, squeezing his hand tight.

“I see it,” he said in an awed voice. A tiny head, a cute little nose, even an itty-bitty chin. Their baby. He was looking at a picture of their baby.

He hadn’t thought he’d get emotional, but the sight of that fragile little being tucked inside Zoe made his throat tighten.

Hey, little fella
, he silently told it.

Not it,
him
. Had to be a him, because Clay wasn’t sure he could handle the alternative. Constantly worrying about the health and happiness of one female in their house was enough. Adding another one would surely kill him.

The tech smiled and began pointing things out to them. The brain was perfectly intact, thank God, and the other organs appeared to be well-formed. She divided a look between them. “Do you want to know the sex?”

“Yes, please,” Zoe said eagerly.

“All right. Baby’s being pretty cooperative at the moment, so let’s see if we can get a peek.” The tech slid the wand lower, to between the baby’s legs. Only the baby was turned the wrong way. “Shift a little more to your right side,” she told Zoe.

Zoe did, and to Clay’s amazement, their baby moved. Its little arms jerked, as if startled by the movement, and its legs shifted apart.

Clay leaned forward, staring hard at the spot between its legs.
Please let there be a penis. Please let there be a penis.

“Well, Dad?”

It took him a moment to realize the tech was speaking to him. “Huh?”

She laughed. “What do you think? Boy or girl?”

He peered back at the screen. “I don’t know, I can’t see anything…”

“That’s exactly right.” She smiled at them both. “Congratulations, it’s a little girl.”

What?
No way
. Leaning in closer, he squinted hard. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” the tech answered dryly.

“Oh, Clay, it’s a girl,” Zoe breathed, sounding like she might start crying at any second. If she did he’d lose it. He couldn’t stand seeing her cry.

But instead of crying Zoe turned her head to look at him and burst out laughing.

Clay blinked at her reaction. “What?”

“Oh my God, you should see your face. Wait, do it again,” she insisted, reaching for her phone and holding it up. “I want a picture to send to Tuck and Celida.”

He scowled at her. “No. There’s no face.”

She giggled at him. “There totally was.” She turned to the tech. “My former SEAL husband is freaking out over the thought of being a father to a little girl.”

Both of them laughed while Clay sat there and took it, a blush creeping into his cheeks. “I’m not freaking out.” SEALs didn’t freak out, they dealt with shit.

Ignoring the women, he stared back at the screen, a powerful and unexpected rush of love filling him. It was amazing, seeing her fragile little form inside Zoe.

That’s my little girl right there
, he thought in awe.

He might not have the first clue what to do with a daughter, but he’d learn. And he’d kick anyone’s ass who fucking dared hurt her. On purpose or by accident, it didn’t matter. Either way, they were fucked.

“Oh, and I’m well-acquainted with
that
look,” Zoe said, snapping a picture. She lowered the phone, a pleased smile on her face. “Just look at that shot, Daddy.”

She held up the phone for him, showing the picture. The image startled Clay. He looked fierce as he stared at that first image of his daughter. Like a warrior. Ready to kick ass and keep his little girl safe at all costs.

He looked like a father, ready to protect what was his.

And he would. Always.

Taking pride in both the thought and the image, Clay smiled and leaned over to kiss Zoe’s lips, totally unapologetic about his expression in that photo. “Once a SEAL, always a SEAL. And nobody’s gonna mess with our baby girl with me around.”

—The End—

Thank you for reading WANTED. I really hope you enjoyed it and that you’ll consider leaving a review at one of your favorite online retailers. It’s a great way to help other readers discover new books.

If you liked WANTED and would like to read more, turn the page for a list of my other books. And if you don’t want to miss any future releases, please feel free to join
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http://kayleacross.com/v2/contact/

Romantic Suspense

Hostage Rescue Team Series

Marked

Targeted

Hunted

Disavowed

Avenged

Exposed

Seized

Wanted

Titanium Security Series

Ignited

Singed

Burned

Extinguished

Rekindled

Bagram Special Ops Series

Deadly Descent

Tactical Strike

Lethal Pursuit

Danger Close

Collateral Damage

Suspense Series

Out of Her League

Cover of Darkness

No Turning Back

Relentless

Absolution

Paranormal Romance

Empowered Series

Darkest Caress

Historical Romance

The Vacant Chair

Erotic Romance (writing as Callie Croix)

Deacon’s Touch

Dillon’s Claim

No Holds Barred

Touch Me

Let Me In

Covert Seduction

Many thanks to my team for helping me with this story! My editors Deb and Joan, Katie Reus my fabulous critique partner and bestie. And DH, for lending me your eagle eyes.

Couldn’t have done this without you guys!

NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylea Cross writes edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense. Her work has won many awards and has been nominated for both the Daphne du Maurier and the National Readers’ Choice Awards. A Registered Massage Therapist by trade, Kaylea is also an avid gardener, artist, Civil War buff, Special Ops aficionado, belly dance enthusiast and former nationally-carded softball pitcher. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and family.

You can visit Kaylea at
www.kayleacross.com
. If you would like to be notified of future releases, please join
her newsletter
. Direct link:
http://kayleacross.com/v2/contact/