Kidnapped by a SEAL - Makenna Jameison Page 0,25

didn’t meet anyone. I flew back with you assholes, remember? I dropped off her suitcase and said goodbye.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jacob said. “I’m just yanking your chain.”

“Jackass,” Ryker muttered. “I’m concerned about her safety—there’s a chance those assholes could come after her.”

“Yep, I’m concerned, too,” Colton said. “But I’m not rushing back up there, am I?”

Ryker shook his head as the guys all headed back to the locker room on base. “Look, she’s gorgeous. I’m not denying it, but I’m not looking to hook up with a woman who lives several hours away, a woman who’s been injured at that. There are plenty of babes to bang around here.”

“Charming,” Mason said. “But you could also mail her necklace back. Send it overnight via FedEx or something. The only reason you’re driving all the way there is because you’re into her.”

Ryker shook his head, ignoring his buddies as they ribbed him. Jesus. You’d think they’d never been concerned about a woman’s safety before. He’d fully intended to stay with her at the hospital until the intel they’d been waiting on panned out. There’d been no new leads for several days though, and her friend had been with her.

But now?

Worry niggled at the back of his mind. They were waiting on some information from a few different sources. That didn’t mean he should just sit back and assume she was safe.

Hell.

What if someone was waiting for her to settle back into her condo? The hospital had security, visiting hours, and protocols to follow. There was lots of attention focused on her now. If someone was really after her, it would make sense for them to wait until she was released.

Until she was helpless and alone in her condo.

Ryker’s gut churned.

Thirty minutes later he hopped into his black Jeep and headed West on I-264, out of Virginia Beach. Hell. He hadn’t even had a woman ride with him in his Jeep since he’d been seeing Michelle over the summer. And that was just purely fun. They’d had wild night after wild night, both knowing she’d eventually head home.

And he’d been more than fine with that.

But what the hell was he supposed to do up in DC? He’d requested to have the weekend to go up there and see Emily, but damn. He had his training back at Little Creek. The team could be called up at virtually any time.

Was he planning to chauffer her all around? Watch her every move?

Gripping the steering wheel with one hand, he turned up his radio, listening to the blast of music. Maybe drowning out his thoughts for a while would ease some of the tension coursing through him. He felt alert as hell, adrenaline pumping through his veins, which was crazy. He wasn’t rushing into battle, moving out on a mission.

He was going to see a woman.

And damn if he wasn’t looking forward to it far more than he should.

***

Ryker parked in a busy garage in Georgetown, shaking his head as he walked toward the swanky condominium building. Jesus. Emily must get paid pretty well to afford a place like this. Or maybe her parents helped her out. That sweet beach rental they’d all enjoyed hanging out in over the summer had been on Michelle’s parents’ dime.

Jessica was readying to move in with Jacob in a week, unable to keep paying the rent on her teacher’s salary. Ryker smirked.

Hell if his buddies weren’t all pussy-whipped.

Not that any of them were complaining. It was Friday night—they were probably all with their women or meeting up with them later on. He hadn’t exactly expected to be driving four hours north from Little Creek for a woman, but damn. They’d rescued her from a fucking terrorist compound. He wasn’t about to let harm come to her now while she was back on U.S. soil, even if they didn’t have any real proof that she was in danger.

He texted her from the lobby, letting her know he was there. There was no point in freaking her out, knocking on her door unannounced after all she’d been through.

A short elevator ride later, and he was standing in front of unit 421. He knocked softly, surprised to see Emily herself opening the door.

“Where’s Caroline?” he asked, looking past her into the condo.

“And hello to you, too,” Emily chastised, closing the door after he’d walked in. The lock clicked into place, and his gaze swept the room. Grocery bags were sitting on the kitchen counter. A blanket was tossed across the sofa, the TV still