Wed to a SEAL (Hot SEALs) (Volume 8) (18 page)

CHAPTER 18

The first day of Isabel’s married life had started early with her new—albeit temporary—husband running out the door just after sunrise to get to a meeting.

An hour later, it couldn’t have been much longer than that, Lola was fed, bathed and dressed for the day and Isabel slowed down enough to realize she was getting pretty hungry herself.

The problem was, she didn’t know what to do about that. She was just considering driving around the base in search of food when her cell phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Hey. It’s Rocky.”

“I know.” She smiled. She’d recognize his voice anywhere. Especially after hearing it against her ear last night.

“I wasn’t sure. Anyway, I can’t talk long and I’m really sorry, I’m not gonna make it back to the room to see you. I’m about to board a plane.”

Her smile disappeared. “Oh. Do you know when you’ll be back?”

“No. But I’ll call when I can.”

“Okay.” She didn’t know what to say. There were so many things she needed to ask. More than she had time for.

She was trying to narrow the list down to the most important few things when he said, “Shit. Gotta go. Talk soon. Bye.”

The click of his disconnecting came at the same time she said, “Bye.”

She glanced around the room feeling alone and helpless. How long did she even have the room for? Was she supposed to stay until he got home or would she have to check out? And where would she go if she had to leave?

She didn’t even have anyone’s phone number.

Lola babbled, content on the blanket on the floor in the middle of her toys.

Isabel looked at her daughter, straightened her spine and renewed her resolve. They’d been in far more precarious situations than this. She could call the front desk and ask about the reservation. She had her car so she could drive to find something to eat.

They’d be fine. Heck, she didn’t even need a phone number since she could drive over to Darci and Rick’s house if she had to . . .

But if she left the base, could she get back on? And if she couldn’t leave, would they allow her to buy food on base if she didn’t have a military ID?

Every solution she thought she’d found seemed to raise a new question, another problem.

Things not looking as bright as she’d deluded herself into thinking, her determination waned.

Just as she was starting to panic all over again, her cell rang. She didn’t recognize the number but dove for the button to answer it anyway, in case it was Rocky calling back from a different line.

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s Jon Rudnick. Rocky asked me to call.”

“Jon. Hi. Thanks for calling.” The relief flooded her. Giving up trying to be strong and upright, she sank down onto the sofa. “I have a few questions about some things.”

That was the understatement of the day.

Jon’s laugh came through the earpiece. “I’m sure you do. Don’t worry. It’ll take a bit of time but we’ll get you all straightened out. I figure I’ll grab Chris and come on over. We could be there in about an hour, if that works for you.”

“That would be perfect.”

“Good. The girls are working today but they wanted to do dinner with you tonight, if you’re free.”

Now it was Isabel’s turn to laugh. What in the world else did she have to do? “Yeah. I’m free.”

From there the ball started rolling and it hadn’t stopped. Isabel did more in one day than she ever imagined possible.

Jon and Chris had proven Rocky had been correct in trusting them. She appreciated them and their military connections and knowledge more than she could express.

There had been a real chance things wouldn’t go smoothly with Rocky being absent and the marriage certificate and power of attorney both signed yesterday. Isabel’s requests had raised a few eyebrows.

Scrutiny of her was compounded by the fact she wasn’t a citizen. She had last semester’s college ID, a student visa that she hoped no one would check on because they’d find she had violated the terms by quitting school, and a valid Florida driver’s license and her Cuban passport.

Not exactly an impressive array of official identification.

The most valuable of all her assets were Rocky’s friends. Jon and Chris countered every obstacle on her behalf. They went to battle for her using military-speak she had trouble even following.

By day’s end she had her own military dependent photo ID that they assured her would get her on base with no problem.

Of course that assurance was quickly followed by Jon’s warning that she shouldn’t leave the base alone and definitely not go to work until the Tito situation was straightened out.

The day wasn’t all forms, lines and paperwork. There was also the tour of the base and everything on it and a rundown of the intimidating base rules and protocols.

By the time they’d met up with Ali and Darci for dinner, Isabel’s head had been spinning.

Now, finally back in her hotel room, she laid an exhausted Lola in her crib and closed the door to the bedroom.

Darci was just wrenching the cork out of the bottle of wine they’d picked up when Isabel came out of the bedroom.

“You are drinking with us, right?” Darci asked putting the bottle down on the tiny counter. “You can pump and dump if you’re worrying about drinking while breastfeeding.”

“Sure. Thanks.” She wasn’t much of a drinker but she felt like she needed it after today.

Ali opened the cabinet above the sink and took down three glasses. “This place is pretty nice.”

 
“It is. I’d never been in these units before.” Darci reached for the television remote control. “They even have a big screen TV.”

Isabel hadn’t had the experience of having adult girlfriends. She’d gone from her grandmother’s home in Cuba, to a college dorm room, to being a single mother on the run.

Sitting on the sofa next to Darci while Ali poured the wine and they all talked was so normal it felt strange. As much as she enjoyed it, she reminded herself it was all temporary . . . just like the marriage to Rocky and when that went away, so would the friends that came with it.

When Ali handed Isabel the glass of wine, she took it and drank a long swallow.

The commercial on the television ended and a news program came on.

“
In international news, a US special operations team killed the Islamic State’s second-in-command in a pre-dawn raid early today inside Syria. Haji Imam, the ISIS finance minister, was the terror leader considered the man most likely to take over for ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, if he were captured or killed.
”

“We don’t need to watch this stuff. Let’s see if there’s a movie on.” Darci jumped from her seat on the sofa and reached for the remote control she’d set on the table.

Sitting in the one upholstered chair in the room, Ali yanked her gaze from where it had been glued to the story on the television. After shooting Isabel a sideways glance, Ali turned her attention to Darci, who was still standing and squinting at the remote control’s many buttons in the room’s dim light.

Meanwhile, the reporter on screen continued, “
Military sources say the terror leader was killed in a clandestine raid conducted on the ground by American special operations forces who entered Syria by helicopter. There had been hopes to take Imam alive but he and three others were killed in the firefight
.”

 
“I don’t mind watching the news . . .” Isabel began her protest but Darci had already flipped to another station.

Why were Ali and Darci both acting so strangely, insisting on changing the channel? Why didn’t they want her to see that news report?

“What’s going on?” Isabel asked.

“What do you mean?” Darci didn’t look at Isabel as her gaze stayed trained on the screen. “Oh, look. Meg Ryan. I know it’s an old movie but I just love her in this one.”

“Darci. Those special operations guys in Syria, was that Rocky’s unit?” It sounded crazy even thinking it in her head. Saying it out loud had felt even more so, but in a way it made perfect sense.

Rocky suddenly getting shipped off on one hour’s notice. How he wouldn’t say where he’s going. Then US forces are on the TV for killing a terrorist. All the pieces seemed to fit.

“The truth is, we don’t know.” Darci sat next to her, rubbing her back in what was probably meant to be a comforting action. No amount of back rubbing would quell the storm in her gut thinking that Rocky had been in Syria in a firefight.

“We’ll never know. We’re not allowed to know. Even after it’s over.” The frustration was clear in Ali’s tone.

The late hour combined with Isabel’s exhaustion amplified her fear. In a panic, Isabel angled to face Darci. “So then we need to watch the news. To see what’s happening. To see if he’s all right.”

Darci had switched the channel before the report was complete. What if there had been US casualties?

“No.” Darci shook her head. “That’s a good way to drive yourself crazy. Besides, we don’t even know it’s his team. There are thousands of operatives, from all branches of service, at places all over the world. Rocky could just as easily be at a training here in the states.”

Isabel didn’t miss the fact she continued to keep possession of the remote control.

“Don’t seek out the news, Izzy. I understand the impulse but believe me both Darci and I have been through this. It’s too hard.” Ali drew in a breath and let it out. “On you and on the relationship.”

Isabel didn’t know much about Ali and Jon but she did know about herself and Rocky. “There’s no relationship. Rocky married me because of Tito and my visa issue.”

Darci pinned her with a doubt-filled stare. “There are other ways to keep you safe. He didn’t have to marry you. He wanted to.”

“No. Really—”

Ali cocked a brow. “Izzy, Jon’s condo is outfitted like a fortress. You could have hid out there and been more than safe, without being married to Rocky.”
 

“I’m sure he just didn’t want to put Jon out by asking if I could stay there. Just like how I felt bad inconveniencing Rick and Darci by staying at their place.”

Darci pulled her mouth to one side. “Don’t use us as an excuse. Rick’s with Sierra most of the time and I had no problem sleeping at Chris’s place. Nope. A man doesn’t get married just to avoid inconveniencing his friends.”

“I agree.” Ali nodded, her gaze penetrating as she said, “Don’t try and tell us you and Rocky aren’t getting
closer.
”

“Well, I mean . . .” The blood rushing to her cheeks made Isabel give up trying to lie.

Darci’s eyes widened. “Oh my God. Did you two . . .
have sex
?”

“Darci!” Ali squealed. “Don’t ask that.”

Isabel was ready to crawl under the sofa but definitely not to answer that question, even if the truth was she had jumped Rocky last night.

“Notice she didn’t deny it.” Darci smirked.

Still horrified at the turn the conversation had taken, Isabel couldn’t control her smile. “All right. We kind of did.”

“Kind of?” Ali asked, looking ready to bubble over with excitement. “Or did?”

Resigned, Isabel let out a huff. “Okay, we did.”

The reaction from the two women in the room at that information had Isabel laughing full out. Prying friends or not, it was a good feeling to be able to laugh.

CHAPTER 19

The team transport touched down in Virginia barely forty-eight hours after they’d taken off.

In and out fast. That’s what command wanted. Rocky too, truth be told, especially for this op.

Mission accomplished and now home to Isabel. He glanced at the time on his cell phone. It was too early in the morning to call and risk waking her. He could text Jon though and let him know he was home.

Not having any word from home was killing him.

While he’d been in the midst of the action he’d been fine, but after twelve hours in the air he was losing his mind not knowing how things went without him.

Rocky punched in a quick text to Jon and hit send just as they popped the hatch.

Standing, he pocketed the phone and resolved himself to the knowledge he might have to wait until he’d stowed his stuff and drove to the hotel to find out anything.