Page 44 of Stranded with the SEAL

He touched her shoulder and ushering her back in the bedroom. “It won’t take long, Livy.”

“If you don’t mind me saying, it’s colder than a witch’s tit in here,” said Cowboy. “You got any wood for a fire?”

Trevor shoved his feet into the ski boots. “We can’t be seen.”

Jax held open the door and Hawk stepped outside, crossing his arms and squinting against the sunshine.

“How’d you find me?” Hawk asked.

“GPS in your phone.”

“The explosion didn’t knock that little fucker out?”

“It sends a ping every few minutes. We used your last known coordinates.”

“If I knew you were coming, I’d have baked a cake.”

Jax crossed to Hawk. “Is this a fucking joke to you?” he asked. “Dragging all of Alpha Squadron across the country after you were given a direct order not to pursue Steele?”

Hawk took a good look at his friend, his SEAL brother. They’d been through more together than most people could imagine. Fought for their country, for right over wrong and good versus evil. They’d gone through Ralph’s death together. Then somehow, Jax had just disappeared. Let Hawk down. Dropped the most important ball he’d ever held in his hands. Steele.

Hawk shook his head. “You’re the joke, Jax.”

Jax punched him square in the belly. Trevor doubled over but came up swinging, catching Jax’s cheek and nose with the solid uppercut they’d been begging for for years.

It felt good to hit Jax. It even felt good to be hit, knowing from this display that Jax hid some kind of emotion about Ralph down deep inside. It was Jax’s apathy that had been so hard to bear. His canned answer about good tactical decisions and bad, month after month, while their friend rotted in the ground and Hawk ached.

The punches flew, with a random kick thrown in for good measure, until the men were bloodied, sweaty, and worn.

Jax spit out blood. “You’re out of HERO Force, as of right now.”

“Tell me why you did it,” said Trevor. “Tell me what was so important to you that you sat back on your heels and let Steele get away with murdering Ralph.”

“You think that’s what I wanted? That I enjoyed letting that fucker walk this earth after what he did? Hell no! Homeland Security told me to back off. They were in the middle of an active investigation and if we interfered in any way, years of working to get Steele would be washed down the drain.”

Trevor shook his head. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”

“It was need-to-know, damn it. I couldn’t tell you.”

“And you don’t think I needed to know? You didn’t fucking trust me?”

“It wasn’t my call. My hands were tied, Hawk. There wasn’t a damn thing I could do without HERO Force getting blown out of the water, until now.”

“What’s changed?”

“When you went rogue and came out here to pursue Steel, I had to notify Homeland Security. I was told their investigation is on hold indefinitely.”

“Why?”

Jax shook his head. “Don’t know. Don’t care.” He met Trevor’s stare. “Ralph’s waited long enough for justice, don’t you think?”

Hawk put his arms in the air. “Booyah! We’re going to get that motherfucker!”

Jax shook his head. “You’re staying here.”

“What?”

“Insubordination. If I can’t trust you off the field, I sure as hell can’t trust you on it.”