Trusting the SEAL (Saving the SEALs Series Book 3) Read online

  “I don’t understand,” Kyle said, frowning.

  “After his country and his precious values and principles, the thing my father loves most are those books. If we can’t use his patriotism to get him to reveal himself, then we need the next best thing. Also, as Spencer mentioned, he sent me a text earlier.” She glanced sideways at Spencer, her brow raised. “The first and only one in months, in case you were wondering. Which I’m sure you were. It’s just two words, but maybe your hacker can use it to track his location.” She stood and walked over to the far wall, then faced the guys again. “And in case you’re harboring any resentment about me not telling you about the text when I got it, I meant to tell you earlier, Spencer, really I did, but with the dress rehearsal and then the attack, there just wasn’t time.”

  He watched her, his expression inscrutable.

  Toni sighed, then continued. “Anyway, with all the bad things that have happened prior to my foundation’s press conference tomorrow, I’d say we need a little good in the mix. Thanks to you guys, we’ve added an auction to the PR event tomorrow, with the proceeds benefitting the village attack relief fund. I’d say we could still use a star donation, don’t you?”

  Kyle slowly smiled. “Right. Coran sees his precious books are about to be sold and he’ll feel compelled to save them.”

  “Yep.” She stood and pulled her phone from her pocket to make the call to her father’s library back in the States. Before she finished dialing however, Spencer was at her side, his disgruntled expression swiftly changing to concern.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked, his tone low.

  “We all need answers, Spencer. This is the only way I can think of to get them quickly.”

  “What about Arrieta?”

  “What about him?”

  He took her arm and led her a bit farther away from the other guys. “He’s still out there. What if he shows up and threatens you again?”

  Toni placed her hand on his chest, and gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “That’s what I have you for, right?”

  Later that night, after they’d all had dinner and the guys had returned to their motel, Spencer sat in a small alcove off of the large main living room, alone. Through a small window beside him, the lights of the city glittered below like scattered jewels and everything seemed so peaceful and calm, it was hard to believe in a few hours, chaos would ensue.

  Fucking Arrieta.

  That guy had a death wish a mile wide where his team was concerned and he seemed to be baiting them these days. He wondered if the guy had hired the two snipers who’d shot at him and Toni too? Kyle and the team were still checking into that, but when you were tracking pay-for-play killers, things tended to get murky.

  He exhaled slow and leaned farther back into the shadows, squinting at the rooftop of the luxury hotel across the way. Well, whoever had hired them, those shooters had shitty aim. Spencer could’ve made that kill from a mile away with a blindfold on. As a precaution, though, he’d asked Scotty to keep an eye on the neighboring buildings to make sure there wouldn’t be any more issues.

  “Want some company?” Toni asked from behind him, her soft tone sending ripples of need through his system.

  Words couldn’t really express how much Spencer wanted her company right about now, but keeping his distance was for the best. Kyle had pulled him aside after dinner and questioned his emotional integrity in regards to her. Again. Him. The guy who’d always put the team’s interests before his own, even when it came to relationships. Jesus. The whole encounter had knocked him back a step or two mentally.

  And yeah, he and Toni had slept together and yeah, it was probably the hottest damned encounter in his whole life, but he wasn’t emotionally invested. Nah. That was crazy. Hell, he hadn’t even known her long enough to know what her favorite color was or her favorite song or even whether she preferred the Yankees or the Red Sox—which was crucial information for any long-term relationship.

  Still, it was a lovely evening and it seemed a shame to waste it all alone. “Sure.”

  She walked into the darkened alcove, two bottles of pale ale in her hands. She gave him one, then stretched out on the bench seat beside him and stared out. The city lights shone below them, nearly blotting out the twinkling stars above, so beautiful yet so cold. On clear nights like this back in Afghanistan, Spencer had loved to imagine those stars were, in fact, entrances to heaven. And that maybe, just maybe, his beloved grandparents were looking down on him and were proud of who he’d become.

  His chest pinched at the fond memories of their nearly sixty-year marriage. Toni came closer to his ideal than any woman had in years. She was funny and smart and she challenged him to see the world differently. No easy feat when it came to a guy who specialized in knowing all his angles and the precise placement of every shot within a five-hundred-foot radius.

  “The calm before the storm, huh?” She turned her head to peer at him through the gloom. A sliver of moonlight shown through the window and a slight breeze sent the gauzy curtains billowing. Sitting so close to the outdoors probably wasn’t the wisest choice after all that had occurred the past couple of days, but they were hidden in the shadows. Plus, his team was on patrol as well, so Spencer felt a little safer, from everything except the woman standing so close behind him he could feel her heat through his thin cotton T-shirt. He suppressed a shudder of pleasure at her nearness.

  “Tomorrow should be interesting,” she said.

  “Yeah.” He exhaled, frowning, then took a swig of his beer. “You realize your dad might never forgive you for selling his books, right? I thought winning his approval was the most important thing to you, after your foundation.”

  Toni stared past him out into the night. “Considering all the things you guys have accused him of, I guess it shouldn’t matter anymore.” She sniffled and gave a sad little snort. “My whole life I’ve lived in the background of his life and been the good, obedient daughter.” The hint of resolute sadness in her voice broke his heart. “At least now, he’ll have to acknowledge me, for better or worse.”

  “Yeah.” He smiled. “Especially since you leaked the auction to Huff Po. Pretty ballsy move, partner.”

  “You liked that, huh? Man, he’s going to be so pissed.” She laughed, the sound washing over him like a caress as she clinked her ale bottle with his. “Going to his competition to break the news will give me some extra zing where Dad’s concerned. Plus, thanks to their blog post, the monetary donations to Williams Wishes have tripled just in the last hour and I got a text from Sheik Saaed asking if he can add a few more friends to the bid list for the special items.” She feigned polishing her fingernails on her white PJ tank top. “I still got some moves.”

  “Yes, you do.” Spence looked over at her, waggling his brows suggestively. “And I have to say I won’t mind seeing his nuts roasting over an open fire for a while after he printed all those lies about me in his tabloid rag.”

  “Cold-As-Ice SEAL Guilty of Murder?” Toni chuckled then looked down at her lap “Yeah, I saw that headline. Not exactly a stellar moment in journalism.” She scooted around on the seat, fidgeting slightly. “Hey, listen. About what happened at the oasis. I just want you to know I don’t usually, you know, do things like that with my bodyguards.”

  “Glad to hear it,” he said, his tone droll.

  “I’m serious. With my crazy schedule and lifestyle, I don’t get the chance to date much. And when I do, I’m always leery the guys are only there because of my fortune and my family name, not who I really am. It’s tough for me to open up and trust someone enough to… well, you know.”

  “What happened out there between us was nice. More than nice. Awesome.” He shrugged, feeling a weird need to reassure her that it had meant something to him too, had meant more to him than he wanted to admit, actually. “Where women are concerned, I don’t usually—” He lowered his head and shrugged. “Let’s just say there’s a grain of truth to that ‘cold-as-ice’ th
ing.”

  She gave him a dubious look and he snorted. “Not because there isn’t opportunity, but because we never know where our next mission will take us. Hard to put down roots and create something lasting.”

  “Well, aren’t you just full of contradictions, Mr. Spencer Nixon?”

  “I do what I can.”

  They remained silent for a while, just enjoying the evening and quiet.

  “What are you most nervous about tomorrow?” he asked after taking his last swallow of beer.

  “I just really want to get this presentation right and impress Sheik Saaed enough to gain his support. It will literally keep my foundation going.” She leaned a shoulder against the wall. “What about you? Do SEALs even get nervous about stuff?”

  He chuckled. “Hells yeah, we get nervous. Like will I look hot enough in my camo to attract the ladies and is there enough beer and condoms to last all night long?”

  Toni laughed. “I’m serious.”

  “So am I.” Spencer grinned, enjoying her company. “But honestly, I just want things to go smoothly, with no gunfire or violence, if at all possible. And I’d really like it all to work out for you too. I mean, since you’ve worked so hard and all, it would be good.”

  “Yeah. It would be good,” she said, finally facing him once more. “But you’ve taught me something Spencer Nixon.”

  “I have?”

  “Yep. That sometimes you have to set aside what’s best for you in favor of what’s best for others.”

  “Huh?” He scrunched his nose. “You lost me.”

  “That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing tomorrow. I still want my father’s love, maybe I always will, no matter what sins he’s committed. But I want to catch the bad guys more.”

  “I taught you that? Really?” He blinked at her. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For listening to me, for giving Kyle and Nick and the rest of my team the benefit of the doubt. For tomorrow.”

  “Don’t count your chickens yet, cowboy.” She winked at him, then drank the rest of her ale in one, long swallow. “Things could still go horribly wrong in that ballroom, even with four SEALs on patrol.”

  “True. But no matter what happens, we’ve got your back.” He narrowed his gaze. “Earning Kyle’s confidence isn’t easy, but once you have it, he’s loyal to a fault. Besides, between him and Gage and Scotty and me, we won’t let things get out of hand.”

  “How long have you guys worked together?”

  “Ugh. Seems like forever.” He squinted one eye shut as he calculated the time in his head. “Wow. Five years already. God, it’s been so long we don’t even have to talk anymore in tight situations. We can give each other hand signals or a look.”

  “Five years is a long time.”

  “Yep. Four tours in the Middle East.” He grinned. “One time, in Kandahar, Nick was completely blotto in the officer’s club and Kyle got him to stand up in front of a whole platoon and wail four choruses of I Will Survive, hopping around on stage like a chicken having a seizure. Man, oh man.” Spencer’s sides hurt from his laughter and once he managed to glance over at Toni, he saw she was cracking up too. “Those guys are my family now. They’re goofy as hell sometimes, but I love ‘em.”

  “Nice.” She met his gaze, her eyes huge and luminous in pale shadows. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For everything.” She leaned over and kissed him, soft and sweet, on the lips, but pulled back before he could take things further.

  “My pleasure.” His body tightened at the memory of her beneath him, wrapped around him, so hot and wet and tight. The moment hung heavy between them, full of promise and passion. His gaze dropped to her full, pink lips before returning to her eyes. "You ready to sleep?”

  “Yeah, I suppose. We’ve got to be up super early tomorrow.” Toni stroked her fingers gently over his jaw, her coy smile more seductive than gold. “Maybe we could take a raincheck? You know, after this is all finished and we’re back home again and life gets back to normal?” She gave a small shrug. “Well, as normal as can be for people like us?”

  “Definitely.” Spencer gave her a crooked grin then watched as she walked away, appreciating the lush curve of her hips in those silly pink PJ bottoms. “Most definitely another time.”

  Chapter 10

  “Up next,” the professional auctioneer said, “the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Lot 179—a complete set of first edition works by Ernest Hemmingway, signed by the author. These novels were painstaking collected by esteemed businessman and publishing titan, Coran Williams. His daughter, Toni, has graciously donated them to the auction tonight, with all proceeds benefiting the literacy programs instituted through her marvelous charity, Williams Wishes. Bidding will start at five-hundred-thousand American dollars. All right, we have our first bidder. Do we have five-hundred twenty-five-thousand?”

  Toni swallowed hard then turned away from the assembled bidders below, checking her phone yet again to see if he’d responded to the texts she’d sent, but nope. Nothing. Yes, of course, she understood it would take more than a few texts from her to get Coran Williams to respond, but she’d hoped adding his precious books to the mix would add additional incentive for him. She hadn’t been lying when she’d told Spencer that her father loved those books more than he did her. And, if her guess was right, he’d go to any lengths to keep them.

  She glanced over to the side of the stage and spotted Spencer and Kyle near the back wall of the ballroom. Spencer caught her eye and gave her a small smile and quick nod of assurance, but that didn’t squelch the dread boring into her chest.

  “And we’re up to one million dollars!” the auctioneer said, giddy elation evident in his crisp British voice. Sheik Saaed had hired the most prestigious auction house in the world to handle this part of the gala. He’d graciously donated several rare Etruscan artifacts to help raise funds as well. “Do we have a bid of one-point-two million?”

  As the heated bidding war continued, she made her way to the stairs that led down to the ballroom floor then joined Spencer and Kyle. “Any sign of my father yet?”

  “Not yet,” Spencer reached between them as they stood side by side and twined their fingers together, all the while keeping the gesture out of his team leader’s site. He’d never said anything specifically, but Toni supposed him getting emotionally involved with someone he was guarding was against the rules for him too.

  “You doing okay?” he whispered, leaning a tad closer to her.

  “Yes, I’m fine.” She gave him a hesitant smile. “I’d be better though if this auction was over. Selling off my father’s most prized possessions won’t sit well with him.”

  “We’ve got you covered,” Kyle said, his tone as rigid as his posture. Given what Spencer had told her about what the poor man had been through these past couple of months—the death of his brother, finding his sister-in-law Natalie only to lose her again, struggling to keep his team together under such horrific circumstances and scrutiny—Toni couldn’t really blame the guy for being guarded.

  Kyle’s attention snapped to the ballroom’s grand auction and his expression grew even colder. “Target sighted, eleven o’clock.”

  “Five million dollars. Final bid.” a familiar voice called from just inside the enormous glided doors and Toni’s heart faltered. The crowds parted to reveal Coran Williams, dressed not in a tux, but in his usual dressed-down attires of an oxford shirt, freshly ironed jeans, and brown leather loafers. “Those books belong to me and I intend to keep them.”

  “Sold!” the auctioneer said, the decisive smack of his gavel on the podium echoing through the now quiet room.

  Should I go to him? Stay here? Flee the place entirely?

  As if sensing her thoughts, Coran Williams zeroed in on his daughter like a beacon, his dark eyes narrowed with anger.

  Spencer squeezed Toni’s hand tighter. “Easy, partner. I’m right here with you. I won’t let him hurt you ever again.
”

  She glanced sideways, took in her bodyguard’s hard stance, the tight line of his clenched jaw, the way his free hand hovered over his holstered weapon. There might’ve been no love lost between her and her father, but that didn’t mean she wanted the man dead either.

  “Let me talk to him first.” Toni pulled free from his grip.

  “We’re beyond talking,” Spencer growled. “Either he comes with us now, or that’s it.”

  “Stand down, Lieutenant!” Kyle hissed as Coran headed their way. “That’s a direct order.”

  As Coran approached, Gage and Scotty circled in behind her father, essentially boxing him in.

  Toni took a deep breath and did her best to relax. There was no going back now. “Hello, father.”

  Coran stopped about a foot away, still assessing her with an angry gaze. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  “Hosting a fundraiser for my foundation.” Her attempt to be flippant sounded strained, even to her own ears. “And you?”

  “Those books belong to me. You have no right to auction them off.”

  “Maybe if you cared more about your family rather than some musty old books, none of us would be standing here,” Spencer snarled, staring daggers at her father. “But I guess you don’t care about anyone but yourself, do you Williams?”

  “If you could dial down the testosterone, that would be marvelous.” Shoulders squared, Toni moved to her father’s side, more to protect him than herself. The stares of Spencer and the rest of his team burned holes through her, but she stood firm. “I’m sorry about the books, Dad, but I needed to see you and you never answered any of my calls or messages. I thought this would be the best way to flush you out.”

  “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Coran bit out the words, his voice sharp as a razor. “And what the hell are you doing with these criminals? They’re blacklisted, for Christ’s sake, Toni.”