Page 28 of Protected By West (San Antonio S.W.A.T. #1)

TRACY

When Tracy got home from the credit union, she dropped her things onto the kitchen counter next to the side door and went straight through the living room and kitchen and flopped onto her bed, her eyes staring at the ceiling above her head.

The plain white expanse was boring and mind numbing, almost what she needed.

Again, she considered calling around to see if someone could mount a flat screen to the ceiling so she could watch shows without having to sit up.

And again , her next thought was the possible headline in the morning paper: WOMAN MARRIED TO HER JOB, CRUSHED BY TV IN BED.

She smiled and sighed softly to herself. “Better crushed by a TV instead of a mirror. I’d never live that down.”

Then again, she mused, she’d be dead, so she wouldn’t be embarrassed.

“With my luck, there would be an afterlife, and I’d have to see people making fun of me.”

With a laugh she rolled to her side and stared at her bathroom door. There was a tub in there, but she just didn’t have the energy to fill up her tub with water, light candles, and find the bath bomb she’d won at the last credit union staff Bunko night.

It was… somewhere.

Who knew it would take so much energy to relax?

“Shower. That’s easy.”

She sat up and managed to stand without her legs turning into noodles and headed for the bathroom, stopping only to hit the green ON button on the remote to start up her TV.

The local news station filled the screen. Not surprising since it was the station that came up first, but it was also the station she used in the morning to check weather and traffic before work.

Reaching for the buttons on her blouse she headed for the bathroom door.

“Thanks, Maya. And now, we cut back to the live coverage of the SWAT standoff outside a residential home in the Thunderbird Hills area.”

Tracy stopped and backed up to look at the screen.

The map on the screen behind the newscaster did show Thunderbird Hills. The pin that dropped down on the map showed that it was on the other side of the neighborhood from her house.

The map faded and live footage popped up.

The camera panned from the house to what looked like a dark colored transport van just inside the yellow taped area.

Tracy moved closer and narrowed her eyes on the figures standing inside the van. They were all wearing black from the neck down. Kevlar vests with SWAT in white across their chests.

They didn’t have helmets on or hats so she could tell who was who as they spoke. Fox was the tallest of the group, his salt and pepper hair would be easily distinguishable even if he wasn’t taller than the others.

Myles was beside him, a rifle against this back, in clear contrast with his lighter blond hair.

And Jack was there as well.

Who could mistake the only female member of the team? She didn’t wear a lick of makeup while she worked, but her features were strikingly gorgeous in any light or situation.

She looked ready to kick ass and never break a sweat.

The group shifted and opened up, giving Tracy a clear view of Weston.

He moved to the doorway of the van and looked out. His placid work expression faltered for a split second, and she saw irritation clearly written on his features.

Weston turned to the side and leaned out to talk to a uniformed Deputy stationed just outside the doorway.

He didn’t say many words, but the deputy made a beeline straight for the camera, putting his hand up to block the lens.

"Sorry, sir. We need you to back up another thirty feet for the safety of the Ranger team.

Tracy sat back down on the side of her bed, her hand still touching the button she was about to open.

“Looks like they’re moving our cameras back again.

” The newscaster chuckled a little. “From what our crew has been able to gather at the scene, what started as a domestic violence call has escalated. Two people inside the home have been injured and talks have broken down in the attempt to release the injured people from the tense standoff.”

WLZE had put the map back on the screen and Tracy drew in a breath as she bit down on her lip.

Since she’d started dating Weston, she’d paid more attention to news stories about law enforcement.

Especially SWAT.

Before, she’d avoid those news stories like the plague.

She would have to be dead not to know that her father was Chief of the Texas Rangers. He’d been the face of the agency for years.

It was impossible for her not to know what he was doing, professionally.

She just didn’t want to see him if she could help it.

Unlike her mom who had found love again, Tracy felt a different emotion at his mention.

Pain.

There was still this hole inside of her.

It started when they’d locked the door of the house behind them and had stayed open ever since.

Sure, her mom was amazing and had showered her with love. Her stepdad was a good man, too. He was always checking in with her, making sure she wouldn’t need for anything.

He might not be her biological father, but he was her dad in other ways.

It just wasn’t the same thing.

Her father was the one she’d always wanted to hold her. When she fell down and broke her arm, she’d wanted him to lift her up off the ground and hold her close.

But in the ER, it had been her mom and an officer who had been sent to tell them that her father was at the scene of a robbery and he’d be there as soon as he could.

She was trying really hard to put that all behind her.

And yet, here she was, watching with rapt attention as the SWAT team was called in to a situation and she knew the danger they were facing.

The danger that Weston was facing.

Suddenly, she was on her feet, moving back through the main room and over to the counter in the kitchen. Her phone was there, the screen on and glowing blue in the half-dark.

Tracy picked up the phone and saw there were a number of messages on her phone.

SMEXY: Hey, Babe. I'm on the way to a call.

SMEXY: I was off shift, but the call came in.

SMEXY: Just wanted you to know.

She took a breath in and slowly let it out.

He'd sent her a message.

Several.

He'd let her know that he was out on a call.

As much as she hated the worry, she knew that he was trying.

Connecting.

She blinked back the tears and typed out a reply.

TRACY: When you're back to the station later, send me a message. If you want to, come over to my place.

She sent it and then she stood there, thinking if there was something else she wanted to tell him.

She could feel it, the ache in her chest, the warmth filling her from the inside out.

Typing out a message, she deleted it and typed out another message...

And deleted it again.

Finally, she sent one.

TRACY: I've got something to tell you.

Then another.

TRACY: So make sure you're still around to hear it.

She knew that he had his cell phone in the locker at the station, but when he got back, he'd see it.

That's what she was holding onto.

Holding her cell phone against her chest, she closed her eyes and spoke. "Stay alive, Weston." She smiled and sighed a long exhale of breath. "You big, beautiful jerk."

She took her phone into the bedroom and set it on the bed.

When she was done with her shower, she'd start a pot of coffee and wait.

She wasn't sure she could watch the ongoing footage.

That might be too much for her, but she'd find something to keep her occupied until she heard from him.

And she would hear from him.

She had to.

WEST

West looked back up and shook his head. Fox had gone back out to talk to the man inside the house. They could all hear him in one ear through their coms, but their focus was on their plans.

“Duval? Cover the back door. Myles, you go with him as cover.”

The blond nodded.

Weston caught the attention of Blue and gave him a smile. "You'll stay at the door after they go in. Cover the windows and the door, just in case.

He turned to the others in the group. "Jack? Breach."

She smiled and he thought he saw an eager glint in her eyes. He wasn't worried that she'd step outside of her orders. He knew that she'd adjust if there was a need, but he also knew how valuable she was on doors. She wasn't the biggest of the group, but she had the power to match any of them.

"Dally cover."

Dally gave him a thumbs up.

"Oxy?" Weston lifted a brow at him.

Oxy's smile was a little too much like a smirk. "Don't let the bad guys get away?"

Weston rolled his eyes. "If," he dropped his chin, "and that's a big if , they get past the others, don't let them run."

Oxy clapped his hands together and rubbed his palms against each other. "I won't."

"Of course," Dally turned to look at the screen showing the forward-facing camera in the transport van, "Fox might still get through to this guy."

Dally's optimistic words weren't reflected in his eyes.

Weston understood the sentiment. They were hoping that Fox could make headway with the suspect inside, but he'd been drinking heavily for hours before they got the call and as calm and convincing as Fox could be, there would always be some people that couldn't be reasoned with.

He looked around the group and nodded. “Got the plan?"

Everyone nodded.

He barely held back a smile. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins. "Any concerns?”

Every head shook.

"Then let's saddle up."

As the team moved out of the transport van, Weston watched Jack reach out a hand and snag a protein bar out of the box at the end of the counter where they kept their surveillance gear and computer systems. She ripped off the end of the plastic packaging and spit it into the trashcan with perfect aim.

Oxy turned around as he hit the ground outside the van. "Are you eating?"

Jack took a big bite out of the end of the protein bar and talked around it she started to chew. "A: It’s chocolate and peanut butter. B: None of your damn business."

Oxy huffed at her answer and walked away.

West hopped down from the truck as Blue turned back and moved toward Jack.

"You feeling okay?"