Dangerous Rescue - Linzi Baxter Page 0,22

neighbor or chance taking her to daycare.

Siena followed Gumby and Sidney through their home. It was cute and cozy. They stopped in the kitchen and stood around the counter.

“Have you talked to Cy?” Gumby asked.

“Yes, this morning. He still hasn’t found any information on who exactly put the bounty on her head. The only lead he has is that someone paid a hefty price to get Siena’s ex out of jail. And I ship out tonight. All signs point to the cartel.”

“She can stay here,” Sidney said without missing a beat.

“It’s not only me. And I’m fine at Hudson’s house.” She let out a shaky breath. “Hudson’s worried about my daughter going to daycare during the day. He thinks this person will use her to come after me. I was wondering if you could watch her. I’ll pay you. Please don’t feel like you have to watch her. I think she will be fine...”

Gumby gave her the same look she was used to seeing on Hudson’s face when he didn’t believe what she was saying. How did I end up having to deal with two alpha males?

“I can watch her. I only have a couple jobs scheduled the next few days. Between the girls and me, we can help. Maybe tonight, I can have everyone over so you can meet them.”

Siena did everything she could to hold the tears back. For so long, it had been she and Mia only. She wouldn’t have changed that, but it was nice to get some help. She’d met Angel when she moved into the duplex, and they’d become instant friends. Now she had more people to help.

“Are you sure? Hudson seems to think I’m in grave danger. What happens if this person hurts you? Gumby and Sidney, I really don’t want anything to happen to you.”

Hudson rested his hand on her back. She couldn’t help but lean into his touch. It felt like home, and everything upside down in the world was turned right side up. But she knew deep down that wasn’t the case. Her crazy ex was still coming after her.

“My team can help as well,” Hudson said. “I’m the only one being deployed, but I don’t think my daughter will feel as comfortable around my teammates. And I’m not sure any one of them knows the first thing when it comes to kids.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Sidney said. “She can stay here during the day. And we’ll work out a rotation with your team watching your house at night. But what really bothers me is you going on a mission alone.”

Siena remembered him mentioning something about going on a mission with Angel’s team. She wasn’t sure why that was an issue. When they’d dated, she didn’t ask about his military missions because she knew he couldn’t discuss what he was doing. It was also early in his SEAL career. She wasn’t even sure what team he was on.

God, maybe we didn’t know each other at all. Siena had still been traveling around the world, modeling, at the time. When they were together, it was explosive, but maybe that was all it was—great sex. Well, better than great. It was mind-blowing.

“What do you mean you’re heading out on a mission without your team?” Gumby growled. “I haven’t heard of the other teams needing help.”

“I’m going with my old team back in Virginia,” Hudson said.

“That doesn’t sound right. Crossing to another squad, yes, but crossing to a completely different team…especially DEVGRU…”

“I know. That’s why Xavier’s team is also going as my backup.”

“I don’t like this at all,” Gumby said.

“Can someone please explain why all of this is bad?” Siena asked. Worry fluttered in her stomach. She didn’t understand Hudson’s work. That didn’t mean she hadn’t worried about him over the years.

“The mission I’m going on is with a crew out of Virginia,” Hudson said. “There are times our team will assist theirs, but they never borrow just one person. And yes, I was on that one years ago.”

“Something doesn’t feel right,” Gumby said.

“Exactly. That’s why I need to make sure Siena, Kaiden, and Mia are safe. Because I need my mind on the mission.”

“We’ll take care of your family,” Gumby declared. “I’ll let the rest of my team know what’s going on.”

“Thanks. Cy dug into Xavier recently and said the man isn’t what he seems on the outside. I’m still not convinced he doesn’t work for the CIA.”

“He might walk the line between good and bad, but he won’t put your life