Her lashes lowered, then lifted so that her gaze could hold his. He loved her eyes—so deep and green and shining with emotion. So—
“You told me that you loved me.”
The machines beeped a little louder.
“Cassidy, I—”
“Don’t tell me it was the blood loss or delirium or anything like that.” Her voice had sharpened. Her eyes narrowed. “Because I’ll know that you’re lying to me.”
He didn’t want to lie to her.
Cassidy’s shoulders straightened. “You said you loved me because you thought you were going to die, and you didn’t want to pass without telling me.”
He stayed silent.
She glared. “Next time, don’t wait for death, okay? Just tell me.”
Uh, okay.
“Because I love you, too, Cale. I love you so much. And when you were bleeding out on that ground, I felt like my world was ending.”
He ignored the pain and reached for her, pulled her against him as best he could and kissed her.
Her lips parted for him. Her fingers pressed to his cheek. He could taste the salt of her tears.
And the sweet promise of their future.
“I don’t want my world to end,” Cassidy whispered. She pulled back a bit to meet his stare. “Cale, I want my life to start again, with you.”
He couldn’t imagine a life without her. Things between them had developed so quickly—maybe too quickly, but he didn’t care. He knew what love was because he’d lived too long without it.
“Whatever we have to do, I’ll do it,” she promised. “I want to be with you.”
He kissed her again. The nurse cleared his throat. “You seem…uh…pretty okay in here. I’ll just…step outside a bit.”
Cale held tight to Cassidy. Plans, ideas, were racing through his head. Cassidy needed a home base, a place where she could feel safe.
He wanted to give her that—wanted to give her the world.
He would. He’d give her everything. “There’s this little town,” he whispered. “I mentioned it before, in Texas…”
“Your home.”
It hadn’t felt like home to him for years, but now, when he thought of her… “Let’s take a visit there.” See what happened. How she liked it. What she liked.
Because he’d go any place with her—London, Rio, even Whiskey Ridge, Texas.
Wherever Cassidy was happy, that was where he wanted to be.
But Cassidy laughed, a light, husky sound that skipped right through him. He loved it when she laughed. He’d make sure she had plenty of reason to laugh and smile in the years to come.
She was smiling then, flashing the little dimple that he just had to stroke.
“Oh, Cale.” Her hand lifted and brushed back his hair. “Don’t you understand? Home for me—it’s going to be wherever you are. As long as we’re together…”
They would be. Together for the rest of their lives.
“Then I’m happy,” she finished.
He gazed at her, completely lost for a moment. His society girl, his fierce fighter.
His.
The woman he’d cherish for the rest of his days.
“I love you, Cassidy Sherridan.”
Her smile widened.
Protecting her had been the best assignment of his life. He’d owe Mercer for that, for connecting him with the woman of his dreams.
Cale was sure Mercer would come collect on that debt. The guy always did.
But that didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered—she was in his arms.
The place where he always wanted her to be.
Cale kissed her again.
They were both home.
* * *
MERCER TURNED AWAY from the hospital door, but Cassidy’s quiet words still rang in his ears. When you were bleeding out on the ground, I felt like my world was ending.
He knew exactly how his daughter felt.
But Cassidy’s world wouldn’t end. She’d have her man, and they’d be together. Cale was a fighter, a protector—that was why Mercer had recruited him for the EOD. And it was also why he’d sent Cale down to guard Cassidy.
I’d thought, hoped…
And his plan had worked. Cassidy would now have a warrior by her side, day in and day out. A man willing to put his life on the line for her.
More plans would have to be made. Cassidy wanted out of her prison. He had to find a way to make that happen. He’d have to figure out a way to clear her so that his enemies wouldn’t hunt for her any longer.
Had Genevieve leaked the information that she’d had? Sold it to any of her and Ian’s connections? He’d find out, and he’d eliminate any threats to his daughter.
He might have to use some bait, might have to call in some old favors, but he would give Cassidy her freedom.
Mercer had lost his chance at love, but he’d make sure that his daughter had her happiness.
She deserved it.
He began to whistle as he walked down the hallway, plans and schemes running through his mind.
Cassidy was going to be free.
And she’d have the life that she’d always wanted.
No matter what, he’d make the dream happen for her, even if it meant he had to get his hands a little bit bloody.
After all, the EOD was used to blood and death.
He was the EOD. He had this.
EPILOGUE
She wasn’t in a ballroom anymore. She wasn’t wearing a glimmering green gown that matched her eyes.
She wore jeans, a faded T-shirt.
She was standing in a meadow, laughing.
Cale’s arms were crossed over his chest as he stared at Cassidy. They’d been in Whiskey Ridge for two weeks—just two short weeks—and Cassidy seemed to glow with happiness.
She didn’t wake up afraid that one of her father’s enemies would find her. She slept through the nights, held carefully in his arms.
They watched sunsets together. Rose at dawn to see that same sun rise.
They made love.
They talked about the future.
And he dreamed of everything that he wanted to give her.
Because that was what she’d already given to him.
She’s every damn dream I ever had.
Cassidy glanced over at him, and she smiled. Her dimple flashed. His heartbeat kicked up.
Slowly, she strode toward him. “Hi, there, cowboy.”
The title had been mocking once—still was their own joke. The cowboy and the princess. That was how he thought of them.
Two different worlds. They probably should have never been together.
But they were.
When he’d finally been released from the hospital, Cale hadn’t been able to get her home soon enough.
And this place…with her there, it truly felt like home.
“I’m happy here,” Cassidy said, the words simple. True. No telling hitch gave away a lie.
She didn’t lie anymore or, at least, not to him. That hitch had sure slipped through when she’d gamely tried his sister’s roast beef the day before.
“Could you always be happy here?” he asked her carefully.
Her hands rose. She stroked his face, her fingertips lightly smoothing over the stubble that lined his jaw. “I told you before, I’m going to be happy as long as I’m with you. And I don’t care where we are.”
As long as they were together.
He held her gaze and slowly dropped to one knee.
“Cale?”
He opened the box in his hand. Before he’d left D.C., he’d picked up one very special item. He opened the box.
A diamond wasn’t nestled inside.
An emerald was. One that reminded him perfectly of her eyes.
Those eyes were very wide right then.
“Cassidy Sherridan, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
She just stared at him.
Oh, hell. He should have gone with the diamond. Getting the emerald had been a bad idea. It was just—
She yanked him to his feet. Kissed him hard and deep and wild. He could taste her love and her passion and all the sweetness that was his Cassidy.
“Yes,” she whispered against his lips. “Yes!” That time, she shouted her answer.
And he laughed and held her tighter.
Sometimes, dreams did come true—even the broken dreams of an ex-mercenary.
“Like I was going to let you get away,” Cassidy whispered, giving a small shake of her head. “Not happening.” Then she sobered as she stared at him. “It’s not every day that a man is willing to die for me.”
And it wasn’t every day that he was given something special to live for—someone special.
His Cassidy.
“I hope the wedding’s soon,” she told him, and a wicked glint had entered her eyes.
“Sweetheart, it will be as soon as you want.”
He was ready for their forever to start—a lifetime of love and happiness. No more fears.
And no more nightmares for Cassidy.
He’d make sure the rest of her days were as good as this one.
He kissed her again and knew that life couldn’t get any better.
* * * * *
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LOCKED, LOADED AND SEALED
CAROL ERICSON
CONTENTS
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Epilogue
PROLOGUE
A possible target came into view and a bead of sweat rolled down Austin Foley’s face and dripped off his chin. It wasn’t the mission making him sweat, even though technically the SEALs weren’t supposed to be operating in Pakistan; it was the heat rising from his rooftop hideaway, even in the dead of night. The corner of his mouth lifted. He had full confidence in the mission—he always did.
He adjusted his .300 Win Mag slightly to the left, repositioning the target in his crosshairs. The man in his sights had just slipped around the corner of a whitewashed building and stepped around a whirlwind of sand in his path—and his path led to the Jeep parked in front of Dr. Hamid Fazal’s house.
“I have eyes on a suspected target. How’s it looking, Grayson?”
Chip Grayson, his spotter, sucked in a breath. “It’s that guy who just came around the corner, right?”
“That’s our man, and he’s heading for the Jeep and Fazal’s house. Is the doctor out yet?”
“Not yet. Do you see a weapon?”
“Nope, but I don’t see his hands.”
“Movement at the front door. Whaddya got, Foley? Do or die time?”
Austin let out a measured breath, the man in the crosshairs his whole world, the man’s movements determining Austin’s next step and the target’s own fate. The suspect turned his head to the side once. Austin blinked. Another drop of sweat plopped to the gravel on the rooftop.
“Fazal’s at the door, outside, weapons up.”
“The rescue team can’t see our guy yet, which means nobody has a clear shot.”
“Except you.”
“Got that right.”
“Are you gonna take it?”
“Patience, my man. He could be a friend coming to say goodbye to Fazal.”
“Except nobody’s supposed to know he’s leaving, especially not in the company of a navy SEAL team.”
The man hunched forward suddenly and Austin’s finger tightened on the trigger, the action an extension of his brain. The suspect couldn’t have a gun. He wouldn’t be ducking if he wanted to shoot.
The target pulled his hand from a pocket, clutching something dark and pear-shaped. Austin’s jaw tensed as he recognized the object. The man reached for the grenade with his other hand.
Austin took the shot. “Got him.”
The man jerked and fell, the grenade dropping from his hand and rolling away from his body.
Grayson got on the radio to the team now assisting Dr. Fazal into the Jeep. After acknowledging Grayson’s communication, one of the SEALs broke away and approached the dead man on the street.
A movement on top of a building across the way caught Austin’s attention. With his scope, he zeroed in on the sniper raising his rifle and aiming at the SEAL in the street.
Austin took him out…and the fight was on.
CHAPTER ONE
Sixteen months later
The soles of Sophia’s sneakers squeaked on the slick cement floor of the parking structure. She hit the key fob and her trunk popped open. As she swung her bag into the car, it fell on its side, scattering the contents across the carpeted trunk.
She huffed out a breath and hunched over to collect her junk—a hastily wrapped leftover sandwich from lunch, a dog-eared paperback…and Dr. Fazal’s files.
“Damn.” She must’ve swept them up by mistake in her rush to leave the office. She checked the time on her cell phone clutched in her hand, and grimaced. She’d planned to leave work a little early so she could get ready for her date tonight, but Dr. Fazal had wanted her to look up something for him and one thing had led to another, which it usually did with Hamid, including a stop at the pharmacy on her way out. Now she had to return these files to him since he was burning the midnight oil and might need them.
She hadn’t disappointed her mentor’s faith in her yet and didn’t plan on starting now. His belief in her these past months had been the highlight of her year—hell, the highlight of her sorry life.
She grabbed the folders, shoved the rest of the stuff back into the canvas bag and slammed the trunk shut. As she turned with the folders pressed to her chest, a car squealed around the corner from the parking level abov
e hers.
She jumped back, coughing on the exhaust the old beater left in its wake. The car had sped past her and was already too far down the aisle for its driver to benefit from a choice hand gesture from her, so she just shook her head.
Grinning, she shoved that hand into the pocket of her sweater. Dr. Fazal had been helping her curb her temper, too. In fact, the doctor had been like the father she’d never had. So, she had no problem going back up to the office to return his files—even if it did make her late for her date.
She hadn’t been having much luck with the guys from that internet dating site anyway, although she had high hopes for Tyler.
The elevator settled on her floor, and she stood to the side as the doors opened in case anyone was coming out, not that she expected people hanging around the office building at this late hour. Dr. Fazal stayed late most nights.
Due to the emptiness of the building, the elevator car sped upward without stopping once. Sophia got off on the fourth floor and almost tripped over Norm’s bucket.
Two doors down from the elevator, Norm looked up from his mop. “Sorry, Sophia. I thought you just left.”
“I left a while ago, but I had to make a stop at the pharmacy downstairs and then got all the way to my car before I realized I forgot something. I’m assuming Dr. Fazal is still here.”
“I just got up to this floor. Heard someone on the stairs a little while ago, and thought it was you. Maybe it was the doc.” He returned to his bucket and dredged the mop in the soapy water. “Make sure you walk where it’s dry.”
“I will.” She jingled her office keys in her hand as she made a wide berth around the wet linoleum.
Maybe Dr. Fazal left early tonight, and since he didn’t call her about the files, he hadn’t missed them. He had seemed distracted all day, for a few days actually, so maybe he’d decided to call it quits.
She strode to the last office on the left, where Dr. Fazal had his orthopedic practice. Leaning into the door, she tried the handle first. He’d locked up since she left.
“Dr. Fazal?” She tapped on the heavy door. Then she inserted her key and pushed it open.