ZAK SEAL Team Seven Book 3 Read online

  I wasn’t feeling homicidal yet so they relaxed and went back to what they were doing. That was the one drawback to being so close to people that knew you so well. My brothers would stand in the way if they thought I was a danger to her, and that shit could get ugly.

  I didn’t stop walking until we were back at the house. As soon as we were safely behind doors I turned to her, caging her in with both arms on the wall beside her head.

  “I want you to listen to me, don’t say anything just listen. Did I or did I not tell you that if our paths ever crossed again in this life or the next I was keeping you, and your worries and fears be damned? Answer me.” Fuck Zak you just told her not to speak.

  “Just move your head yes or no.” She nodded her head looking miserable. “I asked you if you had a man waiting for you back home, you said no. Not that I would’ve given a flying fuck, other than to beat the living shit out of you for cheating on me…” She opened her mouth but I cut her off. “I know what you’re gonna say but I don’t give a fuck.

  I haven’t been able to even look at another pussy, much less fuck anyone else in the time we’ve been apart, because what we had was real. If you told me it was that easy for you to let some other dick top you, I would’ve strangled your ass no joke.”

  “Now back to this bull-fuckery, I don’t know how much you know about shit like this, but it is in poor form to spend the night with my dick inside you and then get up the next day with ‘I’m leaving’. If I did some shit like that to you, you and the rest of the bra burning fucks would be up in arms, not gonna happen.

  At some point after things have cooled down around here, I will take you to get your shit, until then you stay put. If you have a job to get back to I suggest you call whoever the fuck is in charge and hand in your resignation, you can fax that shit in duplicate. Call your landlord, work shit out until we get there, we’ll pay the rent for a couple months until I can get there. I can’t get there now because you see what the fuck is going on, work with me here, what the fuck?”

  She held her hand up like she was in class or some fuck, and asking the teacher for permission to speak, cute.

  “Talk.” I know she was dying to roll her eyes at my high handedness, but she had the good sense to restrain herself, which was a good thing because I wasn’t in the mood.

  “You do realize I have a life right, and that I can’t just pick up and move here just because you say so.” I just looked down at her as she stood in front of me with her adorable self. I see she had forgotten who the fuck she was talking to. That shit might’ve worked once because my hands were tied, but not this going down. She was mine; all the way mine.

  No one else had ever had her but me, that meant something in this fucked up world we lived in, it meant something to me. How can I get her to see that she had nothing to fear because of my over possessiveness? She should know that when it came to me, she was the safest person on the earth, but I wasn’t about to give in, not even a little bit. There was only one way for us to work, and the sooner she got that through her thick fucking skull the better.

  “This isn’t a fucking democracy Red, you had your shot I let you walk, now you’re here, end of story. Let’s eat.” I pulled her along behind me because as far as I was concerned the conversation was dead. “Zak wait, there’s something…” I stopped and looked back at her.

  “What is it?” What the fuck, she looked scared as fuck, and that in turn made my heart almost stop. I softened immediately and took her little face in my hands. “What is it baby are you sick?” Please don’t let it be that, anything but that, fuck. I started to pull her into my chest to offer comfort.

  “No I’m not sick, it’s nothing like that.” She stopped and bit into her lip, looking worried as fuck. Whatever it was it was weighing on her heavy. “Tell me what’s bothering you and I’ll make it stop.” I didn’t even have to think twice about making that offer, there was nothing I wouldn’t do for her, nothing. She shook her head and took my hand in hers. “It’s nothing, I’ll call mom later and have her take care of it for me.” I wasn’t sure if I could trust that smile on her face, but I let her drag me along behind her.

  Chapter 5

  ZAK

  The others were already acting like the pigs they were when we returned, but thankfully Gaby had save us some. “You two okay?” Logan gave me the big brother’s watching look and I just nodded my head and sat my woman next to me after kicking Ty off his chair.

  “The fuck?” he didn’t let go of the bacon strip he was inhaling; greedy fuck. I made her a plate before getting my own and dug in. The others started asking her shit about what she was doing back in NOLA and shit about why she’d timed out so soon from the service.

  Some of her answers were sketchy at best, but no one pressed her, it was just like old times. Except there was no mortar in the background and no impending danger.

  Gaby and Dani who was looking like part of the living again, were asking her questions about her time in the service and some of the hairier escapades she’d been a part of. The conversation was making my gut burn but I kept my lips sealed. I didn’t want to start world war fucking four by airing my true thoughts and having to battle the fucking suffragettes. These fucking Southern blossoms can be vicious with their tongues.

  I just listened and glared at my idiot brothers whenever they encouraged her when she told one of her tales. We all knew she was badass, that she was a demolition expert among other things.

  “Well those days are behind you now; thank fuck.” What, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. She just did her eye roll bullshit, like I gave a fuck.

  After breakfast we left the women at Lo’s place and headed back to the cottage after I gave her ass a stern warning. I wasn’t too sure that Gaby wouldn’t talk the other two into some shit.

  She seemed to have wedding fever and not even Lo’s threats seemed to be working. He did whisper some shit in her ear that made her pout right before we headed out, so maybe we’d have some peace today for fuck sake. “So brother, you and Nessa?” I knew what he was asking as the others slowed down to hear my answer. “If I have anything to say about it, yeah.” They each offered their congratulations in some way or the other, and Ty of course started his bullshit.

  “Who the fuck is that now?” Someone was at the gate? Quinn checked his watch and looked at Cord. “You expecting company?” Cord looked fifty shades of confused as he shook his head no.

  “It’s your girl and her brother.” He didn’t even wait for the rest of us to react, just started walking towards the gate to let them in. “Hold it.” That was Logan for you, he didn’t give a fuck kids or not, he wasn’t trusting shit.

  “Zak, check the perimeter.” That was easy, all I had to do was pull that shit up on my phone, it was like Google earth but with a twist. “We’re clear, it’s just the boy and the girl.”

  Cord went ahead as the gates slid open. We were already standing in formation just in case, but the gates closed again behind them without incident. Davey came towards us while his sister stood in front of Cord. What a pair, it was like watching a cartoon or some shit. He towered over her by a mile, but it wasn’t just his stature, it was knowing what kind of man my brother was, and seeing him with someone so tiny.

  I hope he knows what the fuck he’s doing. Plus the fact that she has a mouth on her, somebody better keep an eye on that shit.

  “What’s up kid?” he looked to where his sister was still talking to Cord before turning back to Lo. He looked worried as fuck too. “There were soldiers in town earlier, I think somebody’s missing or something.”

  No wonder the kid looked like he was ready to shit in his drawers. Cord came over to us with Susie in tow. “Con, Lo, Zak, I’m leaving her with the girls, these two are scared.”

  “I’m not…” she puffed up and started to get huffy.

  “Quiet.” She piped down. Damn, how come I can’t tell Red that shit and have her stand the fuck down without giving me headaches?

  “
What about the boy?” Lo asked as Con and I nodded our agreement. If Cord trusted her around our women, then there was no question, plus I’m pretty sure Vanessa could take her if she had to.

  “He’s in this, no use keeping him out.” He had a point. The kid had shared some shit with us about the commander’s last days that we hadn’t known about, and wouldn’t have without him. “Fair enough.”

  Lo gave his consent as I called Red to give her the heads up that the girl was coming. Then the rest of us stood back and listened as Cord lectured her on how to behave while she was out of his sight. “You have got to be shitting me. I’ll meet the rest of you pussy whipped honchos in the cottage.”

  Ty walked off shaking his head. I’ll deal with him later; right now it was more fun watching the drama unfold.

  “What do you think I am two? Look, my brother and I may not come from money and we may not be as lofty as you and your friends, but we do know how to act. We know how to eat with utensils too, and look…” she opened her mouth and showed him her teeth, “We have all our teeth and we’re hard workers.” Oh shit.

  “Brothers and sisters.” That’s all he said and confused the hell out of her. I for one was wondering where the fuck all this calm was coming from. Cord isn’t exactly Mr. Cordial for all that he’s the quietest one of the bunch. “What, what are you mumbling about now?” She looked at him like he was crazy.

  “They’re my family not my friends, and no one ever said you weren’t good enough, now be my good girl and come along.” She folded her arms and looked ready for battle.

  He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. What the fuck? I just looked at the others and followed after Ty. “Lo, Con, you two are the leaders of this outfit, I’m hoping you’re keeping your eyes on that shit, because that right there, is a domestic situation waiting to happen.” I thought I had problems.

  ***

  We had already decided on which of the three to turn. It was easy enough, you find the weakest link and you turn the screws. But we had to use common sense, we couldn’t let the other two know what we were up to, so we separated them. He was hungry, hurting and scared. “So, Adrian, let’s talk about your future.”

  I pulled up the file we had on him on my tablet. “Is this your family? Cute wife, you wanna live to see her again I suggest you not fuck with me on this.” He started sweating and I hadn’t even begun.

  “You say you don’t know who’s calling the shots and we believe you, for now, but we’re gonna need you to do something for us. We need a man inside.” He opened his mouth but I held up my hand.

  “Hear me out, there’s no negotiating, you either agree or you don’t leave here alive. And in case you’re thinking of reneging once you leave here, know that we have someone already in place to watch you. I’m guessing right about now you’re trying to figure out how the fuck you got yourself in this fix? This is what happens when you go south. As far as I’m concerned you’re a piece a shit who doesn’t deserve to live, but we might be able to use you, you try to fuck us on this and we’ll bury you. You won’t see us coming, but you’ll feel the impact two seconds before you’re dead.”

  “It doesn’t matter anyway, they probably already think we went AWOL.” He really is a nervous fucker, and a liar too. That could get his ass shot before he even left the room.

  “No they don’t you’re on leave for the weekend all three of you, and that’s your only freebie, lie to me again and I’ll slice your nuts off. You’ll live, but that pretty little filly won’t have any uses for you.” He got the picture.

  “What do you want me to do?” Lo came off the wall and stood over him making him shake even more in his boots.

  “It’s simple, you’re gonna get word to us when there’s something going down. You’re gonna keep your ears and eyes open and keep us informed.

  Any more surprises and you’re gonna be the one to get it, from downwind.” He knew what that shit meant and one of his buddies had already seen what Cord could do with a gun from a distance.

  It had taken damn near the whole night but Lo had been able to set something up with one of the old man’s oldest and dearest, who wasn’t too pleased when we told him of our suspicions.

  Because this man straddled the great divide between all factions of the armed forces, and was one of the only human beings who did, he was like our very own secret weapon.

  We’d found his name in the codes and the commander had basically told us where to go if something happened to him, like a fucking blue print. It’s like he knew he was getting in way over his head coming on to the end, and that said a lot, because the commander was a smart fuck.

  When we laid everything out for the chief, he’d acted as though he knew a lot more about us than we’d expected. The funny thing was, he knew about the kid as well. Well enough to ask about him.

  We made shit look good by working over the other two as well, just to avoid any suspicion on their part, but we didn’t offer them the same deal. Their backgrounds had shown that these two were criminals in the making before they joined up, men like that were in it for self and was damn near impossible to turn. We blindfolded them and took them out through the secret door in the back wall.

  Dev and Ty took them back to the beach where we’d found them and just left them there. Whatever they did from there was up to them. We went back to the ledger and digging through the old man’s papers and shit to see what else we could find that might be of help.

  We knew that he suspected drug trafficking, but he’d seemed to think there might be something a lot more sinister going on as well. Some of his notes didn’t seem to make sense; they referred back to the Vietnam War and the heroin trade that came out of that.

  “Whew.” I held up the paper I was poring over. Each of us had grabbed a bunch to go through to make shit go faster. “What you got brother?” Lo and the others turned in their chairs to look at me.

  We’d given the kid grunt work to keep him occupied but he too looked up. I studied him for a second but then decided what the fuck. He wouldn’t be here if we didn’t trust him, and since the old man had trusted him, that was enough for us.

  I waved the sheaf of papers in the air. “There are some big names on this shit. If I’m reading this right, then this shit goes way back and there are some heavy hitters involved.” They all left their seats and came to look over my shoulder where I’d been decoding my part.

  I knew what their reactions were going to be before they started reading. “Fuck me this is bad. Total lockdown right fucking now.” Every man headed out to his post leaving the kid scrambling behind us. “What is it, what’s going on?”

  “Shit I forgot about him and the girl…” Lo was about to tell us what to do there but Cord butted in before he could get the words out.

  “They’re staying in, we’ll think of something to say to the mother, but she’s not going beyond these walls until this shit is squared.”

  Okey dokey then, I guess that answers that. Con was riding herd on Ty but for once he didn’t seem to be on the verge of mayhem. Instead he was deep in thought, which under the wrong circumstances could be worst. “I never liked that family, a bigger bunch of fucktards I have yet to see.” At least he was speaking intelligibly.

  “Ty you cool?” I needed to make sure he was okay before I headed off to do what the fuck I had to do. Con and Lo’s women lived here. Cord had already laid down the law where his apparent woman was concerned.

  I had to go secure mine and make sure that she knew there was no way for her to leave now, not only because I didn’t want it, but because it wasn’t safe. I went and took care of my part of security, which was making sure that all the cameras we had linked up were in fine working order, and that all the communicating devices were up to code. Then I went to find her.

  I found her in the living room with the other three and I don’t know what the topic of conversation had been before I came in, but they looked guilty as all hell. I just quirked my brow at them and called her ove
r with the crook of a finger. The others broke into laughter making me eye the cups in front of them, but I knew Dani wouldn’t be dumb enough to drink while carrying Con’s kid or he’d wring her neck, so it couldn’t be that.

  “She’ll be right back.” I walked her out of the house and headed to ours. Ours, I like the sound of that. I sat her down at the island in the kitchen while I grabbed a drink. One thing about the south, it can get very hot, very early in the day. “Something came up while we were going through the old man’s papers.

  Something that makes us believe that anyone who’s been involved in this thing in anyway may be in danger. You can’t leave. Not that I was gonna let you, but now it’s official, no one leaves for the next few days at least.” She got that fucking panicked look on her face again.

  “Those guys, they saw my face, would they go after my family?” I had to think on my feet, something else I’d been taught over the years.

  “I doubt it, too messy and they seem to like things contained, plus I doubt they were paying that close attention.”

  “But they killed the commander, that’s what you think isn’t it?” She was up from her seat in a panic and freaking me the hell out.

  “Yes but that’s because he was getting too close. What is it, what’s wrong?” She moved past me on her way to the bedroom.

  “And you’re sure it’s safe here?” What the fuck was going on with her?

  “Yes I’m sure.” I followed her with my mind full of questions.

  “I have to do something.” She got her phone and sent off a text. It took everything in me not to snatch the shit and see who she’d contacted. I was gonna have to work on my trust issues. I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t have texted some other man in front of me though so my rabid meter was on low.

  “Something you wanna tell me Red?” I hate secrets, secrets get people dead in fucked up ways. She bit her lip and looked everywhere but at me. “Not now, later.” She got up on her toes and kissed me. Uh-huh, fuck is she up to?