Crazy for Her(2)

Doc handed the captain his gun, then ripped Prescott’s shirt open.

Logan sucked in air when he saw the blood pouring from three bullet holes in Prescott’s chest. For the first time since becoming a SEAL commander, he questioned his orders. What had they accomplished on the mission but to possibly trade a life for a life? He didn’t know Davis, didn’t know if he was a good man, married, had children, and went to church every Sunday or if he worshiped the devil, but Evan was the most honorable and loyal man he knew. Evan had a wife who loved him. How could Logan face her if he failed to bring Evan safely home to her?

The thump, thump of rotor blades in the distance gave him hope they might get Evan to triage in time. “Cowboy, hang on, man. Don’t you dare die.”

Evan focused pain-filled eyes on Logan. “Take care of her, Kincaid.” He took a rasping breath as a trickle of blood rolled from his mouth and down his chin. “Promise.” He gulped for air, and the sound every battle-weary soldier recognized and dreaded resonated in the air. The sucking noise coming from Evan’s chest declared there was no hope for the man who was closer to Logan than any brother could have been.

“Damn you, Evan. If you won’t live for me, then do it for Dani.”

A gurgle sounded in Evan’s throat. He grabbed Logan’s arm, his strength surprising. “Didn’t tell you. Dani’s pregnant. Take care of them. Promise.”

Unshed tears burned Logan’s eyes. He put his hand over Evan’s and squeezed. “I promise.”

The Black Hawk came in and hovered a few feet above the rooftop.

“Go!” he yelled to his team. He and O’Connor picked up Evan and followed the others as they ran for the open door. After pushing Evan and O’Connor inside, Logan reached for the hand waiting to pull him in when pain exploded in the back of his head and everything went black.





CHAPTER TWO

August 2012



South Carolina

Logan twisted the throttle of the Harley-Davidson V-Rod to full open and raced recklessly up I-95. It was four in the morning, so the chances were slim a state trooper hid behind a tree pointing a radar gun at him. His speed was a dare to the gods, a challenge he’d made often since walking out of Bethesda Naval Hospital fourteen months earlier.

He was on his way to keep a promise made to a dying friend and SEAL brother. He’d started on this journey more times than he cared to count but had never made it to his destination. The Harley’s headlights illuminated the road sign announcing I-26 two miles ahead. As he had each time before, he pulled onto the shoulder.

He’d never taken the exit that would lead him to her, had come this far and each time turned around and gone home. Now she’d asked him to come. Stepping off the bike, he removed his helmet and walked the cramps out of his muscles. He stopped in front of the sign and stared hard at it. He was a coward who couldn’t face the woman he’d been in love with since he and Evan first met her in a bar near their home base of Little Creek, Virginia.

They’d been enjoying a few beers at Sinner’s when the heated conversation at the next table intruded on their last few hours in the States. Logan tried to shut out the argument between the couple, but their voices grew louder. The asshole was pressuring the girl to go home with him.

“For the last time, no,” she insisted.

The man ran his fingers over her arm. Logan shared a look with Evan. If the dude didn’t back off, he would soon realize his bad luck that two SEALs had chosen that night to have a beer at Sinner’s.

“I didn’t take you for a tease, babe.”

Logan glanced at the girl to see her reaction to the man’s words. The air left his lungs. She was gorgeous. The auburn-haired beauty met his gaze, embarrassment in her eyes. She reached into her purse and fished out a cell phone.

“Who’re you calling, babe?” the man asked.

“A cab, and I’m not your babe.”

Logan smothered a grin. If she’d looked at him like that, he would’ve called the cab for her. The jerk snatched the phone out of her hand.

“You came with me, babe. You leave with me.” He wrapped his hand around her upper arm, his fingers digging deep.

Logan rose from his seat, but before he could do more than that, Evan pushed away from the table, swiveled his chair around, and grabbed the man’s hand. Snatching the phone from the man’s grip, he handed it back to her.

“Take a hike, dude,” Evan ordered. “My friend and I will see the lady safely home.”

Logan eased back into his seat.

The man narrowed his eyes. “Get lost, douche bag.”

Evan flashed Logan a shit-eating grin. “Did you hear that, Kincaid? This piece of dog doo just called a SEAL a douche bag.”