Never Surrender (23 page)

Bay moved slowly to ease the stiffness of being in one position for so long. She sat down and crossed her legs, holding her palm open, just staring at the carving. Her mind was spongy, but in her heart, this was a lifeline, a gentle nudge to her brain about happier times. And God knew how she needed to see and feel something good, clean and positive about her life after her unrelenting hell. It had dragged her to a place of such darkness, Bay didn’t have the strength to struggle out of it on her own anymore.

The sun continued to climb into the sky, warming her more. There were white, puffy clouds here and there, telling her a new front was going to come through the area. This time, snow would probably fall instead of rain. It was late November, and that was when over seventy inches of snow would begin to cover the Allegheny Mountains, making everything look new and clean. Clean instead of dirty. Light instead of soul-devouring darkness. Just holding the carving gave Bay something to cling to. It fed her, as if Gabe were here, with her. His unswerving love for her had helped her get this far. But her mind simply refused to work, as if stuck in neutral. Bay wasn’t sure of anything anymore.

* * *

G
ABE
WARILY
WATCHED
B
AY
. He’d taken the biggest risk of his life by carving the jaguar again and then, in the middle of the night, laying it close to her tent. His stomach hurt, afraid of what it might or might not do for Bay. He hoped it would bring her memories back of happier times. Of them being together. Their incredible, undying love for one another. He had no idea what her reaction was because, from his position, Gabe couldn’t see the front of her tent. He lived in a special hell of not knowing.

Only much later, when he saw Bay stand up, her hand pressed to her heart, did he know for sure, she’d found the carving. The look on her face shook him as little else ever would. She’d turned, looking to her left, and he’d gotten a quick glance at her profile. Her cheek glistened with tears; her lower lip trembled. Gabe had no idea what it meant, only that his arms ached to hold Bay, his heart screaming at him to reveal himself to her now because she needed him. His intuition, which had saved his life countless times in the past, warned him to wait it out.
Again. Patience.
It wasn’t what he wanted to do, dammit, but Gabe wasn’t going to go up against his gut instinct.

* * *

B
AY
SAT
ON
a fallen log on the bank of the river. It was the place where she sketched and drew every day. Near midafternoon, more memories fell into place for her. This time, her eyes tightly shut, she saw herself in the cave where she’d been beaten and raped. She escaped, running away from Khogani. She now understood what Gabe had yelled out in desperation to her in the parking lot. He had been there! He and Reza had tracked and found her! And Gabe had saved her life after she’d been shot in the head.

Bay was numb as she saw the entire firefight on the scree slope of the mountain. She had stood up to try and stop the enemy from overrunning Gabe and Reza’s position on that small knoll across the goat path. She’d crawled out of her hide to try and help. Bay saw it all, felt all the powerful, wrenching feelings, her fear, her love for Gabe and nearly losing him. Bay had used herself as a target in order to save them. That was why she had stood up, screaming at the Taliban to get their attention.

The satisfaction of knowing she’d helped save their lives, as half of the enemy force turned and charged her, felt healing to her fragmented soul. She’d willingly have given up her life because she loved Gabe. And Reza was a dear friend, a loyal friend, she’d worked with before. She didn’t want to see either man killed by the Taliban. And as she had turned to leap back into the hide in the depression of rocks, she’d glanced over and seen Khogani not more than fifty feet away from her. Half his head had been missing. Somehow, Bay knew in that instant, Gabe had killed him. And it had given her hope that she could survive this firefight where they were hopelessly outnumbered. Confidence to somehow survive it and not die as she fired repeatedly at the charging, screaming soldiers who wanted her dead.

Drawing in a ragged breath, Bay’s gaze clung to the slow-moving water. The river was so deep, with strong currents beneath it, just as she had strong currents of love emerging and quietly flowing through her once more. Those feelings of love, of being cherished by Gabe, began to dissolve the grip of darkness that had slowly been strangling the life out of her. Closing her eyes, the carving clenched in her hand, Bay bowed her head, completely overwhelmed by so many memories, good and bad.

At dusk, she finally moved from the log, trying to push her feet in front of her to get back to her tent. She’d not eaten or drunk anything all day. The sky was red and gold, beautiful, and it filled her. She could feel the first tendrils of fragile desire awakening within her. Just when she had given up, the carved jaguar had miraculously appeared and fed her heart, whispering for her to hold on, to not give up. Had it magically reappeared to help her in her worst moment of need? It must have. She remembered Gabe telling her one time SEALs had a saying: Never surrender.

Bay was exhausted. Listening to her need for rest, she knelt down and slipped inside the tent that had been her home for the past three weeks. She placed the carving beside her, picked up a bottle of water and drank the contents.

Bay slipped beneath the warm sleeping bag, nestling her head into her jacket and closing her eyes. She pressed the carving against her heart, as if Gabe were that close. Loving her. Holding her. Watching over her and keeping her safe....

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

S
OMETHING
SNAPPED
G
ABE
AWAKE
. He’d dozed intermittently every night, like he always did. Blinking, he saw dawn crawling across the hills, a fragile pink color chasing away the darkness. He felt danger. What kind? Instantly, he moved to the Win-Mag, looking through the Night Force scope. Panning, he moved past Bay’s tent toward the meadow to his right. There, just coming around the hill, was Baldy and ten men following him obediently with heavy packs on each of their backs.

The sky lightened, and Gabe could see the lead man’s face clearly. His senses instantly went on high alert. Heart starting a slow pound, Gabe could feel adrenaline leaking warnings into his bloodstream. Years of combat had honed his senses to a fine bladed point. Baldy was looking intently toward Bay’s tent where she slept. She was unaware of what was going on around her. Baldy’s focus never left the tent.

Gabe quietly stood up, shoved the .45 in his drop holster on his right leg. Grabbing the other .45, he jammed it into the waistband at his back. Impending danger screamed at him as he shrugged into his heavy Kevlar vest and swiftly Velcroed it into place.

Gabe didn’t need his helmet, instead settling a black baseball cap on his head. He leaped silently out of the hide and moved like a noiseless shadow down through the trees, aimed at the intruder who had just changed direction. Baldy was heading straight for Bay’s tent where she slept.

Nostrils flaring, Gabe halted near the last tree, hiding behind it. He saw Baldy give a hand signal to the mules, telling them to stop. They did, confused looks on their collective faces. Cold ice flowed through Gabe’s veins as he saw Baldy pull out a KA-BAR from a sheath he carried beneath his heavy jacket.

The son of a bitch.

Gabe stepped out of the shadows, his palm brushing the butt of the .45 in his drop holster.

Baldy jerked to a halt as a man dressed in camo gear appeared like a ghost out of the tree line and stopped in front of him. He scowled, anchoring to a halt. His feral gaze quickly assessed the unknown intruder, his upper lip lifting away from his teeth. Whoever he was, there was a flat, hard look in his narrowed eyes. The bill of the cap he wore hid the upper portion of his face, but there was no mistaking the man’s intent. His mouth was tight. Determined. Baldy’s gaze dropped to his right hand resting almost casually over the butt of the pistol he had in the holster.

“Get outta my way,” Baldy snarled softly. “This ain’t any of your business.”

“It’s my business,” Gabe rasped. “If you’re smart, you’ll turn around and leave right now.”

Snorting, Baldy relaxed a little. “Who the hell are you?”

“Your worst nightmare, asshole.”

“You ATF?” he growled.

“Doesn’t matter.” Gabe watched the man, felt his rage, felt him wanting Bay. Anger exploded through him. Baldy was a hulk of a man, maybe two hundred and thirty pounds and six and a half feet tall. Gabe sensed he’d been in the military. He was carrying a KA-BAR. Anyone who really knew how to handle a knife always kept it close to their side like he did.

Rubbing his chin, Baldy squinted through the gray dawn light. “What’s your business here?” Baldy hurled back, pissed.

“She’s mine.”

Baldy stared belligerently at him. There was ten feet between them. The tent was to his right. And then, he must have noticed Gabe’s embroidered symbol above the left pocket of his shirt. “What the hell is a SEAL doing out here?” he rasped, moving his fingers open and closed around the handle of his KA-BAR. He wasn’t going to get any backup from those mules.

Gabe smiled a little. A cold, unnerving smile. “I told you, she’s mine.” He saw Baldy’s eyes flash with anger. There was no way the guy was going to reach him quick enough to stick a blade into him.

Gabe only worried about Bay. Did she hear them talking? He prayed she was still asleep because if she came out of that tent right now, she could easily become a pawn to Baldy. He was close enough to grab her, and Gabe wasn’t going to let that happen one way or another. His heart beat slow and steady. He was poised. Ready for whatever this bastard wanted to hand out.

Rock it out...

With a hiss, Baldy jerked the knife upward.

Instantly, Gabe’s hand blurred as he slapped the butt of the .45 with his palm and lifted it out of the drop holster in one smooth, unbroken motion. He squeezed the trigger. The blast was tremendous, the kick hard against his hand, wanting to jerk his entire arm upward and backward as the bullet fired. The noise echoed around the meadow like thunder rumbling through it.

Baldy screamed, the bullet striking his hand. The KA-BAR flew upward as he crumpled to the ground. He held his bleeding hand-cursing and sobbing.

While moving forward, Gabe holstered the .45 and jerked a pair of plastic flex-cuffs from the pocket of his H-gear. The man was rolling around, screaming repeatedly. Gabe jerked him up by his meaty shoulder, straddled him and shoved him down hard. He smashed his face into the grass, momentarily stunning him. In seconds, he’d hauled both his thick arms behind him. He’d cuffed so many prisoners over the years it took seconds for him to tighten the unbreakable plastic bands around his thick, hairy wrists. At no point did Gabe lose sight of the men frozen on the path beside the meadow.

Baldy was squalling as Gabe moved away. At that instant, he saw Bay emerge from the tent, her sleepy eyes suddenly wide with confusion.

“Stay there,” Gabe ordered her, drawing his .45 and walking toward the group of men.

Gasping, Bay looked into Gabe’s hard, flat-looking eyes. Her mind reeled with shock. For a split second, his face softened.

“Stay right where you are, Bay,” he said. “Please?”

Nodding jerkily, Bay watched Gabe’s face resume that unreadable SEAL mask as he turned on his heel, pistol in hand as he strode across the meadow toward the men wearing large packs. Bay stared at the man cursing and rolling around on the ground. Fear shot through her as she looked at the blood on his body and face. What had just happened?

Gabe barked at the men in Spanish to shed their rucks, lie down on their bellies and put their hands behind their backs. They obeyed immediately, real fear in their faces. They’d just seen him take down Baldy, and they didn’t want to be next.

Breathing harshly, Gabe went from one man to another, swiftly flex-cuffing every one of them. When he was finished, the meadow was lighter, and he could see Bay standing unsurely at the front of the tent. Baldy was still shrieking in rage. Served the son of a bitch right. Gabe ordered the men to sit up and not move. Instantly, they complied with his order.

Jogging toward Bay, Gabe pulled out his cell phone and hit the number for the county sheriff’s department. He slowed as he approached, his eyes never leaving hers. He gave the GPS location of the meadow and told the dispatcher what happened. He suggested she bring at least four deputies and an ambulance. Flipping the cell phone closed, he dropped it into his pocket.

Bay felt her heart explode with hope. Gabe walked toward her with that lethal, boneless grace, his narrowed, glittering eyes holding hers. He flicked a glance toward the bald man. And then he shifted his full attention to her. She felt an overwhelming sense of protection enveloping her, warming her, easing her fear.

“Gabe...” she whispered, automatically stepping forward. He opened his arms to her, his face allowing her to see the love he held for her alone.

“Come here,” he said thickly. In seconds, Gabe swept the woman he loved into his arms, holding her, holding her tight. He groaned and pressed his face into her hair, felt her tremble as she slid her arms around his waist.

“You’re safe now,” Gabe growled near her ear. He inhaled Bay’s sweet scent, felt her warmth, her soft cheek brush against his. Easing her back just enough to stare down into her eyes, Gabe said, “I don’t know who these guys are, but this one was coming toward your tent.” His voice lowered. “I wasn’t going to let that happen, Bay.”

Shaken, Bay felt his hands holding her firmly. She looked again toward the angry, cuffed man. “I— My God...”

He nodded. “It’s okay, baby. You’re safe. No one’s ever laying a hand on you again....”

* * *

T
HE
SHERIFF
’
S
DEPUTIES
arrived ten minutes later. Bay stood by the tent, arms wrapped around herself as she watched Gabe talk with the head deputy, a redhead about forty-five years old. The meadow was flooded with sunlight. The sky was a light blue.

She shivered because it was barely above freezing. The paramedics from the fire department were taking care of the bald man with the hand wound. His murderous small eyes made her shiver, and she turned away. They starkly reminded her of Khogani’s black, lifeless glare.

Biting her lower lip, Bay had so many questions for Gabe. How did he get here? She watched him in the distance, her heart opening fiercely with joy. He’d saved her.
Again.
Gabe had protected her. A crazy bunch of emotions rolled through her. Every once in a while she saw him turn to look at her, as if to check and make sure she was all right. And every time she felt Gabe’s heated gaze upon her, an incredible flood of love flowed through her.

The bald man walked away with the help of the two paramedics, his right hand wrapped in white gauze. A sheriff’s deputy came over with his camera, taking a photo of the KA-BAR lying in the grass near her tent. He picked it up with gloves on and placed it into a brown evidence bag. Then, he turned to her, notebook in hand, wanting to interview her. What could she tell him? Not much.

Gabe hung on to his thinning patience. He’d just wrapped up interviews with the head deputy and turned, walking quickly back to where Bay stood. She looked alone, and he could see the stark, worried expression on her face. And then she gifted him with an unsteady but soft smile of welcome.

“How are you doing?” he asked, placing his hands across her shoulders. Gabe had to touch her.

“I’m okay. More confused than anything else. That gun blast ripped me out of my sleep.” She saw his mouth quirk with apology.

“I knew it would. I was hoping it wouldn’t come to that, but the guy went for a knife.” Gabe’s voice softened. “I’m sorry, Bay. This isn’t the way I wanted to come back to you.”

He so desperately wanted to kiss her. “The deputy told me this dude I wounded is wanted by the FBI and ATF. He’s a major drug runner. Those guys with him carrying the rucks are mules. The deputies found cocaine in bags in their rucks.”

“Oh, my God.”

He gently squeezed her arms. “They were coming through here at dusk and dawn every day since you’ve been here.”

Stunned, she blinked. “This meadow...it was where I grew up...it was so peaceful....”

Gabe nodded. “I know that, baby. Everything changes. I’m sorry.”

Her mind worked furiously over his statement. She lifted her hands, resting them on Gabe’s arms. “How do you know that? I mean—”

Gabe smiled wearily. “Baby, it’s a long story. What do you say we get your gear wrapped up and we’ll go home?” He touched her cheek with his fingers. “I know your mother is worried sick about you. We can talk after she knows you’re safe?”

For a moment, Bay swayed in his arms.
Home.
The word had such power over her. She still couldn’t believe Gabe was here. Holding her. Giving her a tender look of love that said so much without anything being said at all. “Yes,” she whispered.

“Why don’t you give your mother a call and let her know we’re coming in? Don’t say anything about what happened, just that you’re coming back home with me. We can fill her in on the details once we get there.” Gabe glanced at his Rolex. “It’s only 0800. I’ll get things packed up here.”

Nodding, Bay hungrily absorbed his embrace. His hands were strong without being hurtful. She stepped away, dizzied by the sudden turn of events. With her cell phone, she made a call to her mother.

* * *

“C
AN
WE
TALK
NOW
?” Bay asked Gabe as they entered their small cabin. They’d spent an hour with Poppy and Eva-Jo. Everyone was glad she was home again. And so was she. Bay shut the door quietly behind her and watched as Gabe set the tent and duffel bag that belonged to her father, Floyd, behind the couch. He took off his cap, running his fingers through his short hair.

“Come on over.” Gabe motioned to the couch where they’d spent many happy nights with one another.

A flicker of fear moved through Bay as she sat down next to him. She curled up, one leg beneath her, facing Gabe. He looked incredibly exhausted, and she reached out as he eased back and slid her fingers across his hand. “It was you who put that jaguar carving there for me to find, wasn’t it?”

He rubbed his face. “Yeah, it was.” The look in her half-closed eyes touched him deeply. Gabe felt Bay searching, trying to put all the pieces together. “When you left here,” he began, his voice husky with emotion, “I asked Poppy where your favorite hideout was as a kid. She told me Stony Bottom. I grabbed my gear and took off after you. Luckily, you were there.”

Bay dragged in a ragged breath. “Gabe...I’m so sorry. I hurt you so much, and I didn’t mean—”

“Baby, it’s okay. I understand why.” Gabe tipped his head toward her, soul-deep tiredness in his tone. “I was a jerk that night out in the parking lot. I shouldn’t have yelled at you, shouldn’t have... Hell, I was in the wrong all the way. I let my anger at the therapist blow up, and I took it out on you. That’s not acceptable.” He managed a slight, pained grimace. “It’s me who should apologize, Bay. Not you. Okay?”

Her heart fluttered and she absorbed his fatigued smile. They were both run into the ground in different ways. Gabe had fought so hard to help her. “I didn’t mean to break your trust, Gabe.” Bay touched her brow. “I’m trying to learn about my emotions, but damn, they whipsaw on me, out of the blue. The music and noise, the crowds at the gym got to me that afternoon. I felt like a piece of raw meat.”