Page 67 of SEAL of Valor

“I want to see him.”

She smiles widely, but it’s dripping with venom. “That’s why I’m here, sweetheart. He’s going to need some tending to. Come on, right this way, and I’ll take you to him.” Without so much as a glance back to make sure I’m following, Brenda turns on those stilts and starts out of the room. I follow, desperation to see Weston outweighing any desire I have to try to knock this woman off her shoes and escape.

We emerge in a dark hallway, concrete on the floor, ceiling, and both walls. Unease slides up my spine with every step we take.

Where are we? Some kind of bunker?

After rounding a corner, Brenda opens a door and steps to the side. It’s dark, but a second later, a light is flipped on, illuminating a small, concrete room.

And then I see him.

Chains wrapped around his wrists have him hanging from the ceiling, his legs barely touching the ground.

“Weston!” I rush forward. His face is bloodied, his chest bare and battered. There’s so much blood I can’t even see where the injuries might be coming from.

Tears stream down my cheeks. “What did you do to him?” I growl the words and clench both hands into fists as I search for a weapon. Anything I might be able to use to get us out of here. I might not be much of a fighter, but I’ll do whatever damage I can on the way out.

“I didn’t do anything,” Brenda replies.

A man steps into the doorway, blood staining his knuckles and splattering his white shirt. He looks up at me and grins. “Hey there, Reese. Afraid that I can’t make that dinner date.”

My stomach twists into a knot so tight I can barely breathe as bile burns my throat. “Max?”

“Oh, that’s right, you two do know each other,” Brenda says, then glances around behind me at Weston. “They’re dating.” She pouts. “Sorry to be the one to break it to you.”

“How dare you!” I scream and rush forward. Max reaches in and wraps his hand around my throat, squeezing just enough to stop me in my tracks.

“Let. Her. Go,” Weston chokes out.

“I don’t play nice, Reese. Let your ex-husband’s face be proof enough of that.” He throws me backward, and I hit the wall hard enough to knock the air from my lungs.

“Don’t you touch her again,” Weston snarls.

“You’re not in much of a position to make requests.” Another woman steps from the shadows.

“Ash?” The betrayal stings like acid on my skin.

She walks right over to Max and leans against his side as he wraps an arm around her shoulders.

Is this really happening?

“Sorry, Reese. I really did like you, but family comes first.”

I look from her to Brenda, putting the pieces together, all while bile burns a hole in my stomach. This whole time, Ash and Max were planning this?

“But why? I don’t understand? What is happening?” I look back at Weston.

His gaze is hard, his jaw taut.

“How about you fix Weston up first. Can’t have him bleeding out too soon.” Brenda reaches behind her and retrieves a red first-aid kit, then tosses it toward me. It lands on the ground right in front of me.

“I’m a vet. He needs a doctor.”

Brenda laughs. “Honey, Cowboy is more of an animal than any man I’ve ever met. You’re more than qualified. Bring him down.” She points behind me, and I turn right as the chains binding Weston to the ceiling are dropped. He falls, and I reach for him, barely managing to keep him from hitting the ground with his full body weight.

I sink down with him, his blood smearing over the front of my dress.

“I’m sorry, Reese.” He groans.