Stone Hard SEALs Read online

  And then there was the sharp nudge in his ribs from behind.

  They were surrounded.

  Yeah. Awesome.

  His first mission with Ryder’s squad and he’d gone and gotten himself captured by the enemy.

  On the upside, wherever they took him, Brandy would be there too.

  * * *

  Well, he was wrong about that.

  The pirates marched them both to the south, which was good, because if they managed to break away, they’d be that much closer to the beach where they needed to cross to the other island. They headed straight for the village on the south shore, the one the other squads of his team had raided…was it only last night? Now the village was empty except for the pile of bodies on the sand at the tree line. There were signs of a firefight everywhere. Bullet holes in the trees, a doused blaze on the roof of one of the huts…blood in the sand.

  He edged closer to Brandy, but the pirates ripped them apart, urging them to separate huts. Drake’s soul wailed. He wanted to be with her. She cried out as one of the pirates pushed her and she fell.

  He bristled and lunged but couldn’t break away from the three pirates holding him. One of the bastards slammed him on the skull with the butt of his rifle and he went down. Bile rose as pain flooded him. His head spun.

  “Fadlan. Tur. Dhaawacmay!” Brandy called. At first, Drake thought maybe he had a concussion or a stroke or something, because she was talking gibberish…but then the pirates spoke back to her in the same gibberish.

  When she said something like, “Waxaan ahay kalkaaliye caafimaad,” they stilled and spoke amongst themselves. Then, glory be, they dragged him into her hut.

  That they dropped him on the floor in a pile was small consolation. He groaned as he struggled to his knees.

  “Don’t.” She pushed him back down. “Don’t or they’ll tie us up.”

  He scrubbed the back of his neck and winced. “Tie us up?” Okay, he was still a little fuzzy from that hit.

  “Just relax. We have food and water.” They’d riffled through her backpack but had handed it back. His weapon and pack, however, they’d taken. He’d get them back if it killed him.

  You didn’t fuck with a SEAL’s pack. You just didn’t.

  “What did you tell them?” he asked.

  “I told them you’re injured and I’m your nurse.”

  “Clever girl.” He kissed her. “I didn’t want to be separated.”

  “Neither did I.” She sighed. “Do you think you’re up for an escape attempt?”

  He frowned. “I think they’ll be watching pretty close. After everything that’s happened.”

  “Probably.”

  “But they’re not too bright…” He grinned at her. He loved the way his smile seemed to calm her.

  “Not very. But let’s take it one step at a time. Pretend to sleep if they come in and then, in the night, if we can, we’ll slip away.”

  “We’re close to the beach. It’s just a hop, skip and a jump from here.”

  She chuckled. “You forgot to mention swim.”

  He grimaced. “No, I didn’t. I just don’t want to think about the swim.”

  But it hardly mattered, because shortly thereafter, their captors came in and tied them hand and foot.

  Drake glanced at Brandy as the pirate yanked hard on the binding at his wrists. He winced. They were not much gentler with her. The fucks.

  Bound and helpless, they lay down side by side. She sent him a sad smile and he offered a brave grin in response.

  The situation seemed hopeless. He saw as much in her eyes.

  But he was a SEAL. SEALs never gave up.

  There was a way out of this. He’d prove it to her if he died trying.

  And he might.

  Chapter Seven

  When the pirates left, closing the thatched door behind them, Brandy blew out a breath. What a dismal circumstance. The only positive was that she and Drake were together.

  “Are you okay?” she asked into the darkness. It had been horrible rounding that corner to find herself facing the muzzles of so many guns. Horrible being manhandled and pushed down the beach. Even worse? Seeing Drake get clobbered. Seeing him fall to his knees. He still seemed a bit dingy. She hoped he didn’t have a concussion.

  “Hmm?”

  He was rustling around as though he couldn’t get comfortable on the hard dirt.

  Yeah, neither could she.

  “Are you okay? How’s your head?”

  “Hurts.”

  “And your vision? Is it blurry?”

  He barked a laugh though there was little humor in it. “Everything’s dark, Doc.”

  “Ha ha. Did it go blurry after they hit you?”

  “I saw stars.” A grunt. More rustling.

  “What are you doing?”

  He stilled. “Nothing.” The way he said it made Brandy suspect his mother had heard that exact response more than once…when he was up to no good.

  “Drake—”

  “Ah. Yes.” A snap echoed through the room, and then the sound of sawing.

  “Drake? What are you—?”

  “Hush, Brandy. Give me a minute—”

  She shook her head and listened, trying to make out the sounds. She jumped when he sidled up behind her. “What—?”

  “Hush, honey.”

  “How did you get loose?”

  “I had a knife in my boot. They aren’t very good at frisking people.” His breath washed over her cheek as he untied her. She had a sudden urge to kiss him. God, he was amazing. Then realization skittered through her and something cold settled in her belly.

  “You’re not going out there.” She could still hear the pirates moving around.

  “No. I’m not going out there…”

  The way he trailed off concerned her. “Drake…”

  “I’m not going out there…yet.”

  Shit. “Drake. They have guns.”

  “I have a knife. I’m trained for combat. I can take them out. What were there? Six of them?”

  “Eight.”

  “Piece of cake.”

  There was no tremble in his voice, only brash confidence. Surely he was delusional. “I think we should stick to the plan. Wait until it’s quiet—”

  “Oh, I will.”

  “And sneak away. It’s insane to try to battle them all.”

  He sat down beside her with a humph. “They have my pack. And my weapon.”

  “Let them have them.”

  “It’s my stuff.”

  “It’s better than letting them have your life. Drake, I couldn’t bear it. I couldn’t bear it if they hurt you or…” She couldn’t even say it. She did kiss him then. Hard, hot, rash. A pleading kiss. Don’t leave me. She wouldn’t say the words, but she let her passion speak for her. “We’re going to explore this thing, remember?”

  “I remember. How could I not remember?”

  “I need you whole.”

  “Brandy, they have my stuff.”

  “Fuck your stuff. I’ll buy you a new backpack—”

  “You don’t understand. If I return to my squad, shot in the ass and stripped of my gear…”

  “What? Ryder might frown at you? Big whoop-de-fuckin-do. By the way, I’m seriously not liking this dude.”

  “Ryder? Don’t say that. He’s awesome.”

  She stroked his cheek. Kissed him again. “He doesn’t sound awesome. Not if he can’t see what a freaking hero you are.”

  He stilled. “You think I’m a hero?”

  “Of course you are. With a gun, or without it.”

  A snort. “You don’t call it a gun.”

  “What?”

  “It’s a weapon.” He took her hand and set it on his crotch. Unbelievably, he was hard. “This is a gun.” He chuckled as though he’d told a joke. A Man Joke. About penises.

  She sighed. Only a SEAL could get a woody in a situation like this. “Whatever. Please. Just stay here with me until the camp gets quiet. Then we’ll slip away
and swim to the other island. Promise?” When he was silent, she gouged him with an elbow. “Promise.”

  “Oh, all right.” Crickets chirped outside their hut. Conversations from the fire rose as the pirates chatted. And then, after a long moment, Drake murmured, “But if there’s a chance to grab my stuff…I’m going for it.”

  What a baby. “Fine.”

  “Fine.”

  “Good.”

  “Good.”

  She didn’t care that his tone was a touch petulant. All she cared about was that he’d promised to stay by her side.

  Suddenly, that was what she wanted more than anything in the world.

  * * *

  It took for-fucking-ever for the pirates to settle down. It pissed Drake off that they were celebrating this capture. He wanted to storm out there and punch them all in the face, but he’d promised Brandy he’d wait, here, with her. Once he had a chance to calm down, he realized it was the best plan.

  He hated the idea of leaving his equipment behind—he felt naked without his weapon—but if he had to choose between getting her to safety and grapping his crap, the choice was obvious.

  Their captors came in a couple times to check on them, and Drake and Brandy kept the rope looped around their ankles so it looked like they were still tied.

  Each time it took everything in him not to leap up and accidentally break someone’s neck, but he knew more pirates were out there, so he tried to behave.

  It sucked.

  When several hours had passed and they determined it was quiet enough to check the clearing, Drake crawled to the door and eased it open. There was a fire in the center of the village and it was surrounded by pirates, all of whom looked to be asleep. He couldn’t see his pack or his weapon. They’d likely stored them in one of the huts, which meant they were lost to him. He couldn’t risk a search.

  The moon had decided to come out tonight—fuck it all anyway—so a dim light illuminated everything, but their hut was near the edge of the village, so if they moved quickly and stayed low, they could make it to the tree line where they would have cover. He waited a moment or two, to make sure there wasn’t a guard patrolling the perimeter, and then motioned to Brandy.

  Together, they slipped from the hut and crawled over to the trees. Drake levered up onto his haunches and dog-walked into the woods. Brandy followed. Once they were under cover, they stopped and peered back at the camp. Still quiet. A good sign.

  Drake signaled Brandy to follow him, but of course she didn’t. He would have sighed, but he was trying to be as quiet as possible. He rose up and followed her, staying hunched down.

  His heart thudded in his throat as they moved through the stand of trees. The sand was soft, so their footfalls made no sound. The scent of the ocean brine teased his nostrils. So close. They were so close.

  The sight of the moonlit ocean between the boughs sent a scud of excitement through him. All they had to do was slip into the water and swim, and they would be safe.

  He halted her before they hit the beach, and he did a quick reconnoiter. Nothing.

  Perfect.

  Glancing at her, he nodded. “You ready to swim?”

  “Ready.”

  As one, they sprinted for the water.

  A cry rose up behind them and he sped up, urging her on.

  Shit. Why hadn’t he seen the pirate skulking on the brush?

  Rapid fire retorted over their heads. Drake ducked down and Brandy followed suit.

  More shouts. More calls. More rifle blasts.

  A bullet whizzed by him and he ran faster. Almost there. Almost…

  A round hit him in the leg and he stumbled, but he didn’t stop. It was only a bullet. He wouldn’t let it stop him. But fuck. It slowed him down. “Go,” he yelled at her.

  Her eyes were wide, wild as she glanced back at him.

  To his horror, she slowed, wrapping her arm around him and helping him limp toward the water. He tried to break away. “Go. Just go.”

  “No. We go together.” She looked over her shoulder and paled. “They’re gaining on us.”

  “Jesus, Brandy, just fucking go.”

  “I’m not leaving you.”

  They hit the surf, splashed into the water. If he could just get deep enough, he could swim—

  A hard hand grabbed his arm, and another. And a third. Brandy’s cry echoed in his ears as they grabbed her too, and none too gently. One of the pirates tackled her and wrestled her to the ground. From the corner of his eye he saw the fucker land a punch on her cheek. She slumped.

  Fury raged.

  He whirled, shaking off the pirates holding him, and stormed over to the fucker who dared to touch his woman. No way. No goddamn way would he hit her and live.

  He plowed into the pirate, pinning him, pummeling him with one hard slam after another. It was glorious watching the blood spurt from his nose.

  The bastard had touched his woman. Hurt her.

  He needed to die.

  A deafening blow to his head slowed his fists, but he didn’t stop pummeling. It was followed by a second and a third.

  It was the fourth that did him in.

  Pain shot through his brain, bright screaming lights that coiled with the burning agony in his leg. His breath caught. His head spun.

  And he fell.

  His last thought before the darkness took him?

  Not that he’d failed his mission. Not that Ryder would be disappointed in him.

  But that he’d failed her.

  Utterly.

  Completely.

  * * *

  Brandy watched in helpless horror as the pirates beat Drake about the head and neck with the butts of their rifles until he fell. He collapsed, face-first into the water, and something cold crawled along her veins.

  “Get him out!” she screamed, surging forward, fighting their hold, but they didn’t seemed inclined to pull his face out of the water.

  He was going to die.

  To die.

  Right here before her eyes. In three inches of water.

  No. No. No!

  She turned and racked the man holding her in the groin and, when he wheezed and released her, she ran to Drake and turned his body over.

  Even in the moonlight, the curl of blood around his head was chilling. She stared at his chest, praying for a rise, a movement, anything.

  Nothing. His face was pale. His beautiful lashes made sooty arcs on his cheeks.

  “Drake!” she cried, shaking his shoulder. “Drake. Wake up, damn you.”

  When one of the pirates grabbed her arm to drag her away, she snarled at him and he leaped back, a look of shock on his face.

  Brandy thrust her terror aside and went to work, tipping Drake’s chin, pinching his nose and placing her mouth on his. One breath. Two. She checked for a pulse. Oh, thank God. He had one. It was thready, but there.

  She breathed for him again. And again. Lifted a lid. Checked his pupil. It wasn’t blown. That was a good sign.

  How many hits could a man take on his skull before there was permanent damage? She didn’t want to know.

  She kept breathing for him until he groaned and opened his eyes. They were slightly crossed. Then he focused on her. “Brandy.”

  Relief gushed through her. “Drake. Baby. Are you okay?”

  He smiled. It was the most beautiful smile she’d ever seen. “It’s just a scratch,” he murmured, and then his eyes closed again.

  When she leaned back, the pirates rushed in. Two of them grabbed Drake by the arms and dragged his limp form back onto the beach. One of them tried to grab her but she glowered at him. He backed away. “Be careful,” Brandy snapped, following along.

  Oh, what a fright. She’d never been so scared. Not even when she saw the pirates roaring toward their ship. Not when they’d gunned Pierre down as he tried to escape.

  Nothing had ever hit her this hard, and not because she felt responsible for him, or because they’d come through this adventure together.

  But bec
ause it was Drake.

  She didn’t completely understand the feelings swirling in her heart and soul, but she suspected what this unfamiliar emotion was. It seemed inconceivable. Truly it did. They’d only known each other for two days…but it seemed like a lifetime.

  And the heart didn’t lie.

  This had to be love.

  Finally. After all her searching.

  What a bitter irony that neither of them was likely to come out of this alive.

  Chapter Eight

  Apparently, the pirates had learned their lesson. They didn’t put their captives into huts. Instead, they built up the fire and kept her and Drake close at hand. They allowed her to tend him, even brought her the first aid kit when she asked for it.

  Okay, demanded it.

  She cleaned up the mess on the back of his head and was relieved to see it wasn’t as bad as she’d feared. Head wounds tended to bleed profusely. She knew this. It was the goose eggs she was worried about. Too much swelling was a bad thing.

  Her captors watched with much amusement as she peeled off Drake’s pants and, again, dug a bullet out of his thigh. This one, on the other leg, hit the muscle—no wonder he couldn’t run. Fortunately, it was far from the artery. She changed the bandage on his other wound because it was soaked with seawater, and she didn’t know when she’d get another chance.

  Indeed, when she finished, and had dressed him again, they bound her hands, and Drake’s too. She resigned herself to the fact that there would be no more escape attempts, at least for the time being, and settled down at his side to sleep.

  It was a restless night. The pirates kept talking and every time Drake moaned, she would come to wakefulness and check him. When she wasn’t sleeping, or wondering what the morning might bring, she was praying. Praying to God that he survived. She didn’t think she could stand the world without him in it.

  How freaking ironic. She’d always wanted to find love, to find a man she wanted to be with…forever. And now that she had, forever might be a very short while.

  Drake still hadn’t roused when morning dawned. He slept through the meager breakfast the pirates provided, and lunch. At one point, early in the day, her heart leaped as she thought she heard the thud of chopper blades. In her delusion, she imagined it was the cavalry on its way to save them. The pirates all jerked up too and hoisted their weapons, but because of the marine layer, she saw nothing and no one came.