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The men eased forward quietly, listening. The last thing they needed was to charge in blind. Austin flanked Wyatt to the right, with Hudson behind them. Sawyer was already crouched down at the tree line, hustling in the other direction to watch from above. No hikers were around. None of Hasnawi’s men were in sight. It was almost too quiet.
“The trail down is right there,” Wyatt said, pointing. An odd stillness seemed to fill the air at that moment, even over the sound of the waterfall. He hesitated, the hair on the back of his neck standing up. His instincts had served him well in the field, and in that split second, he knew something was about to happen. A distant gunshot reverberated through the air, Wyatt and his teammates instantly hitting the ground.
“Stop!” a man shouted, his voice coming from down by the lagoon. “Don’t you dare move!”
“They found her,” Wyatt ground out, shock washing over him. A heartbeat later, and he was jumping up, running, his pulse pounding in his ears, his muscles tense. Wyatt raced down the second trail, skidding in the dirt before regaining his footing. His could see three men down by the lagoon, but it was the sight of a blonde woman lying on the ground that made it feel like his heart was being ripped out of his chest.
Callie.
The world seemed to stop, a feeling like he’d been sucker-punched preventing any air from entering his lungs. “Wyatt—” Austin’s hand clamped down on his shoulder, and Wyatt realized he’d come to a dead halt on the trail.
Just as his knees were about to give out, Callie shifted on the ground, looking toward Hasnawi. Wyatt nearly cried out in thanks. The air filling his lungs was a sweet relief. She might be injured, but he was no longer choking on his breath, fearing that she’d already been killed. They began moving again, Wyatt’s gaze tracking over her, searching for any injuries or blood. She was cowering in fear, and one of the men went over and yanked her to her feet. Wyatt wanted to roar in anger. Another man grabbed her backpack, and he watched him yank out her cell phone and smash it. The terrorists still hadn’t seen Wyatt or his teammates, and it killed him to stay silent until they got closer. He watched in horror as one of the men shoved Callie forward, closer to Hasnawi.
Time seemed to stand still, the entire scene like it was happening in slow motion. “Sawyer has a shot,” Hudson said in a low voice from behind him. “You deal with Hasnawi. He’ll take out the other two men.”
“Roger,” Wyatt said, not even concerned that he and Austin didn’t have their comms units like his teammates. They’d rushed to get here first, and the men had trained together so long, they could practically predict one another’s movements anyway.
Callie was holding her hands up, trying to ward off Hasnawi, as Wyatt, Austin, and Hudson hid at the bottom of the trail. Wyatt lifted his rifle, ready to take a shot, a sense of calm finally washing over him. His finger caressed the trigger, his eye on the scope. “The angle is wrong,” he said in a low voice. “Almost there. Come on, asshole. Turn.”
“Once he’s taken out, Sawyer has the other two,” Hudson said smoothly.
“They’re retreating,” Austin said quietly. “They’re leaving him alone with her.”
Suddenly, Callie screamed as Hasnawi launched himself at her. They rolled on the sand, Callie trying to fight him off. As Hasnawi pushed himself up to a sitting position, tugging at Callie’s clothing, Wyatt fired the kill shot. Hasnawi slumped over as Callie’s terrified screams filled the air. Wyatt was on his feet and running before he even realized he’d stood. His friends would cover him if the other terrorists still lived. He just needed to get to his girl.
Two more gunshots sounded, and he knew it was finally over. Somewhere above them, Sawyer, Aaron, and Ryan kept watch. Wyatt dropped to the ground beside Callie as his friends yanked Hasnawi’s body off her. Wyatt pulled her into his arms, and Callie clung to him, crying hysterically.
“I’ve got you,” he soothed, his hands running over her, making sure she was really okay. “You’re safe. You’re okay now. Hasnawi is dead, and you won’t ever have to worry about him again.”
“How did you find me?” Callie asked, her voice shaking. “I was afraid you wouldn’t even realize I was gone until tonight, until it was too late.” Fresh tears began to fall, and he tightened his arms, his lips pressing against her temple. Wyatt let out his own shaky breath. “I’ll tell you everything later on. Are you hurt? I want to shoot him all over again for touching you.”
“No. I was terrified, but I’m not hurt. You saved me,” she said, finally looking up and meeting his gaze.
“I’ll always come for you, Callie,” he promised, searching her eyes. He could see the fear and love mixed in them, and he felt competing emotions warring in his own chest. He’d almost lost her, and he wanted nothing more than to hold her close, safe in his arms. “The other guys will wait here for the police and brief our CO. They’ll deal with the aftermath. I’m going to take you home.”
Epilogue
Two weeks later
Callie grinned at Wyatt, her sundress blowing in the gentle Hawaiian breeze. The waves crashed on the shore behind them, and she breathed in the salty air as Wyatt stalked toward her, a heated look on his face. “I’m glad we’re getting to redo our beach party,” he said, his voice gruff. “The last one ended with—well—taking a wanted terrorist off the face of the Earth. That was a positive.”
“It was a plus,” Callie agreed lightly. His hands landed on her hips, and he pulled her closer, Callie eagerly letting him. “And what’s so special about parties on the beach?” she asked.
“I get to see you in this sexy sundress again,” Wyatt said, letting his gaze rake over her.
“You do have a thing for dresses,” she teased. “What can I say? They must look good on me.”
“They look good partially off you, too,” he said, his eyes hot as they met hers. She flushed, and Wyatt lifted her hand to his mouth, kissing the palm. “I see you remember, too,” he said huskily. “I kind of love how you still blush for me.”
“How could I forget?” she asked, breathless. Just like the first time he’d pleasured her, Wyatt had undressed her slowly the night before, letting her breasts spill into his palms after pushing aside the straps of her sundress. He’d leaned her back on the sofa once again, buried his head between her thighs, then proceeded to make her see stars. She’d been flushed and disheveled as he’d carried her to his bedroom afterwards, and she’d loved every second.
His hand brushed back a strand of her hair, and then he was looking into her eyes, more serious. “I thought I lost you a few weeks ago. I love you more than anything, Cal, and I’ll do whatever you want to make you happy.”
“I am happy,” she assured him. “And I love you, too. So much it hurts.”
His eyes softened, and she felt her heart soar. It was incredible to have this gruff, protective alpha go so gentle and sweet around her. His protective side made her feel safe, but all the rest of him made her feel whole. Wyatt was like her missing half, something she’d never even known she was missing until they’d met.
“I know your sublet is only for a couple more months,” he said, cocking his head to the side. Those green eyes studied her, and she felt her heart racing the way it always did when he was near. “I’m hoping when it’s up, you’ll want to move in with me.”
