Ethan’s neighbor ran alongside him to the backyard. The patio door was still open, and Ethan frowned. Had they run out that way after Hailey? His gaze swept the yard, but he didn’t see any movement. “Stay behind me,” he instructed.
“Fuck no,” Aaron said. “I might not be a Navy SEAL, but I’m former military. I’m not letting some asshole hurt your woman.” He pulled his Glock from the back of his waistband, his gaze narrowing.
Ethan clenched his jaw but nodded. His neighbors knew about Kim’s ordeal. They’d seen the videos firsthand, and when they first met her, they’d figured out he’d played a role in her rescue. Although he couldn’t confirm his involvement, he didn’t deny it.
Sirens sounded in the distance, but Ethan didn’t wait. Pulling out his knife, he glanced over to his neighbor, nodded, and then the two of them stormed into the house. Ethan’s heart almost stopped when he saw Kimberly lying facedown on his living room floor. She was fully clothed, thank God, but he didn’t know if she was alive or dead.
His gaze swept the area, and he saw Aaron already moving to the kitchen. “Clear!” he shouted.
Ethan knelt down by Kim, briefly checking for a pulse, and nearly fell over in relief when he heard her low moan. “Stay down,” he whispered urgently. His eyes met Aaron’s. “Stay with her,” Ethan ordered.
It killed him to leave her for even a moment, but he had to find her kidnapper. Ethan moved down the hallway even as he heard Aaron helping Kim up and out the back door. She’d be safe. She had to be. And whatever happened to him, he’d deal with.
He heard a shuffling in his office, and as Ethan turned, the man pounced on him from behind the door. Ethan slammed his elbow into the man’s chest, then turned in an instant, pinning him against the wall, his hand wrapped around his neck. The man’s breathing was labored, and Ethan didn’t hesitate, punching him in an uppercut that sent his head smacking into the drywall.
The Afghani spit on him, coughing, and Ethan’s gaze swept over him. He was missing part of one ear as Kim remembered, and his dark eyes were nothing but pure evil. His hand reached for his back pocket, and not waiting to see what he had, Ethan grabbed him in a chokehold. The man fought him, and as they wrestled, Ethan saw a gun.
Trying to throw Ethan off of him, the man uttered something in Farsi. His fingers slid around the gun as they fought, and then as a shot went off in the office, Ethan snapped his neck.
“Police! Don’t move!” male voices shouted from the living room.
“We’re back here!” Ethan yelled out. “The suspect is down!”
He stepped back from the man who’d come after Kim again, disgust rolling through him. He was a large man, with meaty hands and the stench of sweat overpowering him. Ethan wanted to vomit thinking of this asshole assaulting Kimberly. His stomach roiled, and then he turned away as the police officers arrived, hurrying back through the house to find Kimberly.
He burst into the backyard, seeing his teammates and neighbor around her as an EMS crew hurried over. None of them mattered to Ethan though. The only person he needed was Kimberly, in his arms, safe and sound.
Chapter 22
Kimberly snuggled deeper into Ethan’s arms later that night, after hours spent talking to the police officers. They’d been in contact with the detectives in Virginia, her superiors in the Army Reserves, officials from base here in Coronado, and even her manager at the DOD contractor where she worked. After hours and hours of talking to officials and giving their statements, Ethan was relieved to finally be home with Kim.
They’d had a late dinner of pizza with his teammates, and after more phone calls to Kim’s family and Hailey, they were finally settled and all alone.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Ethan asked again, lightly brushing her hair back from her face. She’d showered and changed earlier into a tank top and sleep shorts, and nothing felt better than having her in his arms.
She looked up at him, smiling, as his thick fingers trailed over her cheek. She looked so delicate and fragile compared to his own muscular frame, but damn. She was the strongest person he knew.
“Ethan, I swear that I’m fine. I know you wanted me to go to the hospital to get checked out, but he didn’t hurt