SEAL's RESOLVE - Rebecca Deel Page 0,7
from your father as a side benefit?”
“Oh, come on. I’m not a nuclear scientist or a chemist. I design and make wedding dresses. I deal with bridezillas on a daily basis, not home-grown terrorists. Someone wants to make a quick buck off Dad. Maybe a business rival wants to hurt him. You know my father, Rafe. He’s ruthless in the business world and has a string of people who would love to see his business empire topple.”
A kidnap-for-ransom plot wouldn’t stop the empire. Another hand squeeze. “We’ll talk about it more once you’re safe and see a doctor.”
“I won’t be your problem.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your job was to rescue me. Once you deliver me to my father, your job is done.”
“That’s not how this works.”
“I don’t understand.”
“We don’t walk away from an unfinished job.”
“What does that mean?”
The cavern chamber ended with tunnels branching off in different directions. Rafe tugged Kristi toward the right tunnel. “Fortress won’t consider the job finished until we know who’s behind the kidnapping and why. Otherwise, you won’t be safe.”
“You’re scaring me.”
“The world’s not safe. Never forget that.” Rafe led her deeper and deeper through the mountain, taking winding passages with unerring accuracy. Yeah, he’d spent a lot of time in this cave, unsuccessfully running from his colossal failure to protect the one woman who meant everything to him. Instead of being by Callie’s side when she most needed him, he’d been fighting terrorists overseas as a Navy SEAL.
A lot of good that did him. He’d lost the woman he loved, and the terrorists kept coming even as he worked alongside his teammates in Wolf Pack to stop them. But someone had to take out the world’s garbage. Otherwise, more innocents would be victimized.
When they were within a few hundred feet of the exit, Rafe stopped and turned to Kristi. “In another hundred feet, the passage will turn toward the exit. I have to turn off the flashlight.”
She flinched. “How could they know where we are?”
“You saw eight men. There might be more. If they’re as desperate to get their hands on you as I think, they’ll fan out over Hart Mountain to find you.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.”
His eyebrow rose. “You want me to feed you a pretty lie?”
Kristi shook her head. She motioned toward the flashlight. “Go ahead. I’m ready to breathe fresh air again.”
“Ten minutes, tops,” he promised, and doused the light.
She jerked, sucking in a ragged breath.
Oh, man. Not good. “You okay?”
“Spooked. You must have incredible eyesight to navigate through this pitch-black maze. I can’t see my hand in front of my face.”
Rafe chuckled. “My eyesight is 20/20, but I have the advantage of spending a lot of time in this cave.”
“Can’t imagine why,” she muttered. “It’s cold, musty, and smells like ammonia.”
He decided not to mention the bats inhabiting another part of the cave. No need to push Kristi harder toward a panic attack. From the sound of her voice, she was skating close to a meltdown.
The best thing he could do for her was leave the cave and head for the extraction point. Once she was safe, he could hand her over to one of the other operatives and return to his solitude.
Rafe ignored the guilt spearing his conscience. Solitude was best for his peace of mind. Why didn’t he believe his own argument?
He slowed at the bend in the tunnel. “Turning right,” he murmured. “Two hundred feet to go.”
“Thank God.”
Frowning at her shaky voice, Rafe drew her to his side and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Better?”
She sighed. “Yes. Thanks.”
“You’re doing great. Just a little bit longer.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re not having a screaming meltdown inside your head.”
Rafe tucked her tighter against him. “I understand.”
“Not buying it. You’re a Navy SEAL, a legitimate American hero. I can’t see you screaming even on your worst day.”
Memories threatened to resurface. He shoved them back down. Now wasn’t the time to deal with his personal baggage. “You’d be wrong.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Nope. Might tarnish my macho image.” And send him down a rabbit hole of nightmares when Kristi’s safety depended on his vigilance.
When Rafe estimated they were about one hundred yards from the exit, he stopped and nudged her until her back was pressed against the cave wall. “Stay right here. I won’t be long.”
“Wait.” A small hand clamped around his forearm. “Where are you going?”
“To make sure the coast is clear before we leave the cave. I don’t want to lead you into an ambush.” He