Page 30 of Protecting Clove (Loved by the SEAL #5)

B ud was ready to head home, but they ended up staying on the aircraft carrier for a few days. Sometimes the slow movement of the military drove him crazy. He wanted to press forward and get things moving, but the military took its own sweet time.

When they were finally headed home, he felt relief. He just wanted to get home and see Clove and Neo. He was ready for more with Clove. Maybe he was moving too fast, but he felt great about her being in his life.

They were midway over the USA when they were diverted by a storm. A freak hurricane had developed off the coast and was set to hit San Diego when they would be landing.

When they learned they were landing in Texas, every single one of them groaned, unhappy they would have to spend another night away from home. He didn’t have his phone with him, so he would have to wait to call Clove. Maybe he could find someone and borrow their phone.

“This sucks,” Trip said. “I was looking forward to a long weekend with Ellis.”

Kevlar nodded. “Yeah, we all want to get home.”

Bud agreed with them, but it wouldn’t do any good to complain about their circumstances. It was midnight in California, and he wanted to be awake to chat with Clove when she woke. He went in search of a place to bunk to get some much-needed rest.

Clove woke to the alert sounding on her phone.

She hadn’t been paying enough attention to the weather to know a storm this bad was rolling in.

Luckily, Remi had stopped by and stayed late watching movies then crashed on her couch because she didn’t want to walk home so late even though her place was just down the street.

Clove went out to the den and found Remi already awake. They still had electricity, so Clove started the coffee, glad they at least had that going for them.

“Any idea how bad the storm is?” Clove asked.

“It’s bad. There is a tornado north of here, but we’re just getting wind and rain.”

A shiver worked through her. “I hate tornados.”

Remi shook her head. “Same. It’s not cool that we’re getting hurricanes and earthquakes.”

They both laughed. “Yeah, I could do without both,” Clove said.

They had the weather up on their phones and were looking at the bands of rain coming in. She didn’t want to wake Neo, but if the wind got any worse, she would be forced to.

They hadn’t heard from any of the guys, and she wondered when they would be back. She hoped they weren’t trying to come back into this mess. It would be horrible to be flying in this.

Remi sipped her coffee as she scrolled on her phone. “You know, I think Pecky needs to go through this storm. Maybe I can have him be swept away and go on an adventure after the storm.”

“That would be fun, kind of. I mean, who doesn’t like a Pecky story where something wild happens?”

“Yeah, sometimes the really far-out ones get the best play.”

“I like them all. Before I knew who you were, I followed Pecky and read most of them. Now I read them all. I like seeing how your mind operates.”

Remi laughed and then raised her eyebrows. “I’d like to see how your mind works.”

Clove chuckled. “Through food. I love making new pastries. I thought I would always work in a kitchen, but then Neo happened, and now I teach. I like it better. I really didn’t think I would, but now I like the freedom it affords me. I get to create new treats.”

“That sounds like fun. I will say the things you’ve brought over have been amazing.”

“Thank you. That’s my passion. I know I can’t eat them all, but I want to share them.”

“Well, everyone I’ve talked to who you’ve shared with really appreciates it.”

A gust of wind hit, making them both jump. They laughed, and Clove stood and moved over to the window to look outside. She didn’t expect to see anyone outside, but there was a man walking around the side of her house. She gasped and turned to Remi.

“I saw someone outside.”

Remi sat up and put her phone on the couch cushion. “Who would be out in this?”

Clove shook her head. “No idea. They were walking between the houses. Do you think it’s a neighbor?”

Remi shrugged. “I don’t know. Let’s go look out in the backyard.”

Clove glanced upstairs, worry filling her. “I don’t want Neo to wake up.”

“We’ll be quiet. We won’t go outside. We’ll just look.”

Clove nodded as a weird feeling slid through her. This was wrong. Something was really wrong, and she felt the need to stop, but she continued on to the kitchen and to the back door to look outside.

Remi put her hand on her shoulder to stop her. “Let’s turn off the light first.”

“Yes. You’re right.”

She flipped off the light and waited a moment before going to the door and raising one slat of the blinds covering the window at the top of the door. At first, she saw nothing. Then she spied movement. Someone had come into Bud’s backyard. She jerked back, fear sliding through her.

“Someone is out there.”

“Who?” Remi whispered.

“I don’t know.”

“Would you go check on Neo and make sure she stays safe?”

“Are you sure? I could stay down here.”

Clove shook her head. “No. I need to know there is someone between me and Neo. Call the police, but I don’t think they will be responding right now. There’s too much going on with the weather.”

Remi put her hand on Clove’s shoulder. “I won’t let anyone get up there.”

“Thank you.”

Remi disappeared into the den, and Clove grabbed a knife, ready to defend herself. She stood back from the door, waiting to see what would happen. A minute passed, then another. Maybe nothing would happen, but fear told her to stay vigilant.

After another minute, she heard something rattle the back door. She wanted to scream at them and tell them to leave, but she didn’t want them to know she was in the kitchen alone.

Who was it? Could it be Keith? Had he found her?

It couldn’t be. It wouldn’t be Keith. There was no way he found them. Or had he? She’d been going to the library, going to the store, doing a few other things, but trying to stay hidden.

The door handle rattled again, and she stepped back. He couldn’t get in. She knew that he couldn’t but worry filled her. She wished she had one of Bud’s guns. Moreover, she wished Bud was here.

She was about to flip on the light when a loud bang happened. She let out a scream before she covered her mouth with her free hand. The knife in her other hand shook. There was no way she could defend herself.

Another loud bang happened, and Remi called down to her. “Are you okay?”

She turned so she wasn’t yelling toward the door, about to answer, when the door flew open behind her.

She screamed, turning to see a figure standing in the open doorway. The knife clattered out of her hand and onto the floor. The guy stepped closer, and she tried to back away.

“You can’t outrun me.”

The sound of Keith’s voice sent a chill through her. “Leave us alone.”

“I need money. I made a deal with a guy for you.”

“Don’t hurt Neo.”

“I’ll come back for her later. Right now, you get sold to the highest bidder.” Keith closed the distance and grabbed her, pulling her to him.

She screamed, fighting to get free, but he held on and squeezed harder. Then he punched her in the side of the head.

“If you don’t come with me, I’m going upstairs and putting that knife you dropped into Neo’s throat.”

His words made her freeze, and it was easy for him to drag her outside. The rain pelted her, sending cold spikes down her spine. Lightning flashed and thundered cracked. She screamed, and he jerked her harder.

They were closer to the road and probably his vehicle. If she got inside, she would be lost. She had little doubt it would get bad fast.

Clove tried to yank away, but Bud held on. He was behind a car, and she knew he was going to try to get her inside. What she hadn’t expected was him opening the trunk and shoving her in, then slamming the trunk lid hard. She cried out for help and kicked at the lid, but it was already closed.

Keith had her and planned on selling her to someone. What did that mean? She frantically felt around for a trunk release but didn’t find anything. She was trapped with no escape. What the hell was she going to do?