Dixie Under Siege (A Warrior's Passion #2) - Natasza Waters Page 0,23
but this guy is different. Dix isn’t a wilting flower. She’s more pissed off than worried.” He tapped the desk with his finger. “And so am I. Her stalker isn’t some skilled insurgent.”
The Admiral glanced at Red and nodded slowly. “You’re missing my point, Commander. This isn’t about his skills. It’s about the target. You haven’t connected the dots yet, but you will because I can see she’s more than just a friend.”
Josh shifted in his chair and sat a little straighter. Was the admiral just guessing? Or was Josh missing something? Austen had been in his shoes. Kayla’s stalker had already brutally murdered several women before he’d turned his sights on the petite brunette who worked at Base Command.
Admiral Austen watched him with a penetrating stare before adding, “Dixie’s not scared now, but she will be once she figures out her stalker’s target is you.”
“Me? He’s not after me.”
The admiral chuckled. “He is now and that’s when things go sideways.” He returned to his seat and palmed the paper cup. “It took years before Kayla told me the truth. When the Shark started hunting her, she didn’t care if she died. What terrified her was when I declared war on the sonofabitch. When I put myself in his cross-hairs, that’s when Kayla really got scared and she did exactly the opposite of what I thought she’d do. She tried to drive me away and attract the Shark.”
Red cleared his throat. “And Thane almost fell for it.”
The admiral’s brow wrinkled. “Not for long.”
“Sorry to interrupt…Shit. Admiral!” Ditz, aka Clay Sacks, stood in the doorway to their office.
Austen rose to his feet. “How you doing, Ditz?”
“Keeping my ass out of hot water.” They shook hands. “Team is gonna want to go out for beers, sir.”
“I’m here on the QT.”
“Any more people see you around, it won’t be a secret anymore,” Red stated.
Ditz grinned. “Are you staying for Lt. Bach and Rayne’s housewarming party?”
The admiral nodded. “You bet.”
Petty Officer Sacks glanced toward the comm room. “Where’s Kayla? Did she come with you?”
“She and the kids are with Marg, but Nina doesn’t know she’s here. Want to keep that quiet for a couple days.”
“You got it, sir.”
The admiral surveyed the black bag hooked over Ditz’s shoulder. “You got the video from the Erotic Bean in there?"
Ditz patted the leather case. “Yes, sir. CDR Hunter asked if I’d review them with Nina.”
“Let’s have a look.”
“Ghost!” Red’s tone held a definite wave of warning. “Not your battle.”
The admiral’s brow rose, then he glanced at Josh. “Your call, Commander.”
Austen only deferred to one other person other than his wife and that was Captain Redding. A set of eyes like the admiral’s couldn’t hurt.
Josh stood up. “Let’s go see what’s on the video.” He paused. “But I’m not lying to Callahan’s wife about Kayla being here, if she asks.”
The admiral’s rigid jaw tightened with a grin. “I can handle her.”
He snorted. “Nobody can handle that woman.”
Austen chuckled. “Good to know she’s keeping you on your toes, Commander.”
They filed out of the office with Josh in the lead. At the hatch access to the comm center, he slid his card through the reader and keyed the pass number into the control pad.
The thick metal door opened with a click and a hiss.
Josh appreciated the admiral’s involvement. He sure wouldn’t refuse the man’s help. Nor would he forget Austen’s warning about Dixie.
Back in the day, a story had circulated that Austen and Kayla were deeply in love by the time the Blood Shark turned his attention on her. At the time, Austen held the rank of commander. Alpha Squad was privy to the budding romance and kept it to themselves. Kayla had worked directly for CDR Austen. Relationships in their department were forbidden and carried serious consequences. Yet, if anyone wanted to count backwards nine months from when their son Adam was born, the numbers didn’t lie.
The SEALs considered Ghost a legend in their community. Josh surmised the Navy would rather sink a thousand ships than fire him. By the time Austen killed the Blood Shark, he’d been promoted to captain. With his Special Ops service and degree of excellence, the veteran SEAL was offered the position of Admiral and command of the West Coast Chain.
Snow White, aka Kayla, retired and married Ghost after giving birth to their son. Their daughter, Sloane, was born a year or so later.
Even though Josh and Dixie weren’t in the same place romantically as Ghost and Kayla, Dixie was important to him. Getting