Chapter 3
3
Mateo gagged and rolled over on his side, sure he was going to vomit, but nothing came out. Was there anything worse than dry heaves?
Where was he?
He tried to push up, but he fell back down again, but at least he landed on something soft.
He took a deep breath and the sharp scent of alcohol-based disinfectants and latex assaulted his senses, and he gagged again.
He was in a hospital. There was something worse than dry heaving.
“Yo, drink some water. It’ll help.”
He squinted but couldn’t make out a face.
“Why am I—” he croaked out the question in a voice that sounded like a rocky landslide.
Fuck, like the explosion itself, everything came roaring back to him. The party, the kids, the singing, and the goddamned rainstorm. And Brax. He slammed the back of his head against the pancake-thin pillow, wishing it was a brick. Wishing it would knock him out and he could go back in time.
“Yo, Mateo, you need to watch it. If your blood pressure goes up anymore, those machines will start going off and they’ll kick me out of here.”
“Braxton?”
Brax gripped Mateo’s hand. The one that wasn’t connected to an IV. “I’d turn on the light so you could see me, but you’ve got a severe concussion, my friend, so I’ll just say yes instead.”
“But how?”
“Heard you yell. Almost had that bomb disarmed but couldn’t get ‘er done. Knew I couldn’t go through the house, there wasn’t time. Yelled at Lucy to follow me to the back metal fence. I hoisted both our asses over and ran like hell. Lucy’s fine. I got hit by a brick on my thigh. I asked to be let out of tomorrow’s obstacle course. Kostya denied it, the bastard.”
Mateo’s laugh turned into a cough.
“So, everybody’s all right?”
“I wouldn’t say that. Right now, the team is pretty goddamned pissed. Those two bombs were set to blow when the kids would be in full birthday party mode. But Kostya, being the paranoid bastard he is, thinks that whoever did it, knew that our team members would still be at the pub watching the game.”
Mateo thought about what Brax was telling him. But he wasn’t connecting the dots. Instead, his head was pounding. He didn’t have a marching band in his head; he had Metallica playing with The Lord of the Dance stepdancing to it. It was a wonder his ears weren’t bleeding.
“I’m not tracking.”
“Between your injuries and the drugs, it’s not surprising. Kostya is thinking that whoever set the bombs planned to kill the women and children. Some of our women and some of our children, but keep us alive to grieve.”
“That’s pretty fucking stupid. Have a bunch of enraged SEALs on their ass?”
“Think it through, Mateo. Just how effective would some of us be?”
The idea of Nolan O’Rourke losing Maggie and his daughter Iris knotted his gut like a snake constricting around his throat. And Jase losing Bonnie and the twins? Jesus, the man would burn down the world.
“The Kraken,” he breathed out. “They’d do this.”
“Yeah, that’s what the rest of us have been thinking. They’ve gone to ground since Dubai. We might have killed off the latest head with Ely dead, but that soul sucker Amanda is still around.”
“I thought she was your new girlfriend,” Mateo tried to tease, but then coughed again.
“You know, I don’t give a shit if you cough so hard you break a rib, after that comment. That Aussie bitch is a stone-cold killer. I don’t know if she was really into Ely or not, not with her coming onto me the way she did. I can’t decide if she would be behind this kind of retribution or not.”
Mateo finally got his coughing under control and squinted so he could see Braxton clearly.
“According to Ryker, she was a psycho.”
“She was that, for sure. It made my skin crawl when she called Ely ‘Daddy.’”
Mateo cringed. “It would have made my skin crawl, too. Are you sure she wouldn’t want revenge for Kostya killing her sugar daddy?”
Brax slowly shook his head. “I really think she was in it for the money. And they were out over fifty million dollars.”
Mateo grinned, then so did Braxton. Everybody on the Omega Sky team grinned when they thought about one certain part of the mission: everybody but Landon, Tanner, and Keegan. Those were the three men assigned to stay in the basement of the Burj Khalifa tower where all the shit and sewage was gathered each day and then pumped into over a hundred trucks. Their job had been to check all the supposedly empty trucks that came back from the desert to see which ones contained the C-4.
The three SEALs found the C-4 and forced the driver to take them to Ephram Brady, who was going to use all the explosives to blow up the US Consulate and the British Embassy. Ephram was taken into custody by the United Arab Emirates. While discussions were going on between the US and the UAE about extraditing Ephram back to the US for trial, he was unfortunately killed in a prison fight in the UAE prison. It was curious, since he was supposed to be in solitary confinement. All in all, Mateo and the rest of his team were happy with that particular outcome.
“If you think she was in it for the money, what would be the point of coming after our families?” Mateo asked. “I mean us? Yeah. There are always bounties on Navy SEALs, but not the kind of money she’s used to.”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Braxton muttered. “We haven’t heard word one about the Kraken since Dubai. That’s been five months. Absolutely nothing, and you know Gideon has had his ear to the ground. What if this is the way for the Snow Queen to prove that her organization is still relevant? What if showing that she is busy taking down an entire Navy SEAL team does that?”
“I go back to my last statement. She had the opportunity to set those bombs for when we would be there, not when only the women and kids would be there. How would that be a show of strength to potential customers?”
Braxton clenched his fists and his jaw tightened. “That’s the part that I haven’t been able to work out. The bitch is all about money, not retribution. I know it in my bones. But Gideon and Kostya keep saying that this has to be revenge, and for all intents and purposes, it looks like it.”
Mateo’s head was killing him. He was trying to keep up with Braxton, but it was difficult. Just how hard of a hit had he taken? He struggled to hold back a yawn as he asked, “Recruitment?”
Braxton gave him a funny look. “I don’t understand.”
“Remember when Ryker told us about the Kraken killing his brother’s friend’s parents? That was after the guy tried to quit the Kraken Elite. Then they said they’d kill his wife and kids. Maybe this was their way of making us fall into line so we’d do what they’d say.”
“There is no way that would happen. No way,” Braxton shook his head vehemently.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Mateo, you’ve been out of it for the last couple of days. The team’s rage is palpable. Kostya is having a damn hard time keeping everybody under control. There’s no way any of us would turn.”
“Okay, it was a stupid idea,” Mateo agreed as he tried to rub the back of his neck but found his hand trapped since he was tethered to an IV pole. He grunted in frustration and used his other hand.
“Maybe it’s not. I haven’t had much sleep since Gideon’s house blew up, but you have. Maybe you’re on to something. I’ll bring it up to the rest of the team. Now that you’re awake, expect visitors. Bonnie’s been chomping at the bit to see you, but Jase is even worse.”
Mateo frowned. “What’s up with that?”
“You’re a hero.”
“Shit, I was just the guy who showed up at the right place at the right time. Any one of us would have made the same moves, and you know it.”
Braxton tilted his head and gave him a long look. “I’d like to think so, but I’m not so sure. Your instincts have always been on point. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but when you talk, the Lieutenant pays special attention.”
“Humph. Are you sure you weren’t hit in the head?”
Braxton shrugged. “Whatever. Just glad to see you awake. You were out for twenty-four hours. We were getting worried. I’ll let the team know you’re awake now.”
“Why were you here?”
“Bonnie told me that all the way into the ambulance, you kept calling for me. Well, me and the dog,” Braxton grinned. “They wouldn’t let me bring Lucy in, but I figured that seeing my ugly mug when you woke up would be a good thing.” Braxton smirked.
“Ahhhh, you love me. Admit it.”
“It’s true. I’ve been lusting after you since you were transferred from Blue Cascade four years ago. And here I’ve thought I’ve kept it under wraps.”
Mateo let out a whoop of laughter. “Hmm, hmm, I believe that. But seriously, Brax, thanks for sticking around. I was sure the bomb got you.”
“It’s going to take more than a few pounds of C-4 to take me out,” Braxton winked at him. “Now I’m going home. That recliner,” he pointed to a chair in the corner in the room, “leaves a lot to be desired. I’ll let the nurse on duty know that you’re awake.”
“Don’t. I’d like to sleep instead of being poked and prodded, okay?”
Braxton gave him a chin lift. “You’ve got it.”
The day after he’d woken up, Mateo had assured the doctors that he’d have someone at home to stay with him and monitor him if he could be discharged, so they’d released him after having his prescriptions filled at the hospital pharmacy.
It was the Uber driver who had signed the release paper and wheeled him out to his car. Mateo had tipped him huge. Brax had clued him in that Bonnie was going to want to say thank you, and the last thing he wanted was for her to be hovering over him while he was lying in a hospital bed, looking all helpless and shit.
He’d been right, too, because that night after he’d checked himself out, there was a knock on his door. When he opened it up, it wasn’t Bonnie and Jase, though. It was his Lieutenant.
“Are you out of your fucking mind or just stupid?” Kostya roared and Mateo winced. “Oh, did my yelling hurt your tiny little brain? Perhaps if you’d stayed in the hospital where you belonged, I wouldn’t be yelling at your sorry ass.”
“Kostya, you promised you wouldn’t do this,” a woman’s voice said. Mateo looked past one of the two men on his team who was his size, and saw Kostya’s beautiful blonde wife, Lark.
“That was before I saw what pathetic shape he was in.” Kostya scowled at his wife. “We saw him in the hospital when he was unconscious. I had a hope and a half that he might be looking a little better if he’d checked himself out. Instead, he looks worse. Look at the bruises on his face and the road rash on his chin. He looks like he was hit by a ton of bricks!”
“Will you at least keep your voice down? Every time you yell, he winces. The man has a concussion and you’re not helping.” Lark shoved Kostya to the side and pushed past Mateo to get into his home.
“Mateo, we need to open a window in here. All I can smell is pizza.”
“Just don’t open the blinds, yeah?”
She squeezed his upper arm and nodded as she moved toward one of his windows and opened it, ensuring that the blind remained closed.
“Go sit down before you fall down,” Kostya ordered, as he pointed to Mateo’s couch. “And to think I depend on you when we’re out in the field,” he muttered. Mateo watched as he stalked into his kitchen and opened the fridge.
“Who hauled your ass home?” Kostya called over the door of the fridge.
“Some nice Uber driver. He stopped at the store and loaded me up.”
Kostya rolled his eyes and pulled out a liter of Gatorade and brought it to Mateo. Lark shook her head at her husband as she passed him on the way to the kitchen.
“When was the last time you ate?” she asked.
“Last night. I ate a couple of slices of pizza.”
This time, she shook her head at him. She opened the box lid of the pizza he hadn’t remembered to put in the fridge last night.
“Seriously, Mateo? Meat lover's pizza with concussion and pain killers? It’s a wonder you didn’t spend most of the night yacking it up.” She looked over her shoulder at him and must have read the guilty look on his face. “Men,” she said derisively.
She opened up his fridge and pawed through it, then started opening up his cupboards. “You need something that would soothe your stomach, not spicy sausage and pepperoni.” She went over to her purse and fished her phone out. She turned away from him, leaving him stuck with Kostya.
“Drink the Gatorade.”
“Is that an order?”
“Yes. If you don’t drink it, I’m hauling your ass back to the hospital.”
Kostya sat down on Mateo’s sturdy coffee table so he could watch his subordinate drink. Mateo rolled his eyes but drank down the beverage. It tasted really sweet and he was surprised at how thirsty he was. Shit, he should have realized he was dehydrated.
Lark slipped her phone back into her purse and went back into the kitchen. She opened up his freezer. “Ah-ha. At last.”
Mateo watched as she pulled out a carton of frozen custard. It was his favorite from Blue Cow, mint chocolate chip. She looked in his cupboards and found a bowl. She dished out three scoops and brought it out to him.
“Here you go. This should help soothe your tummy.”
“Tummy?” he and Kostya said at the same time. They both laughed.
“You’ve been talking to Romy too long if you’re using words like tummy,” Kostya said with a warm smile.
“Can it, buddy. You’re just as bad when it comes to our daughter.”
Now Mateo was laughing on his own. Married life and motherhood hadn’t mellowed Lark Sorenson-Barona, that was for damn sure.
“Now you,” she pointed at him. “Quit your laughing and start eating. When are you due for your next pain pill?”
“I hate those things. I can’t think straight, and I already can’t think straight with the damned concussion. I just need some Tylenol.”
“You damned Navy SEALs. Okay, where do you keep it?”
He started to get up.
“Just keep your ass planted and tell me where the bottle is.” This time Kostya chuckled.
“You better listen to her.”
“And start eating your ice cream.” She jabbed her finger at him before darting down the hall.
“The bottle is next to my bed,” Mateo yelled after her.
When she left the living room, he turned his attention to his boss. “Braxton filled me in. What have you all come up with?”
“I’ll tell you about it, the day after tomorrow. Like you just said, you can’t think straight.”
“I said I couldn’t think straight on the meds. I’m fine with Tylenol. Now tell me what the fuck is going on. We know it’s the Kraken. Do we think the Aussie bitch is in charge now?”
“Braxton’s take is that she could take charge after Roberts and Brady were killed.”
“Yeah, he told me how she was fucking him and calling him ‘Daddy’ but his take was that she would have slit his throat during the night so she could take over if she thought she could get away with it.”
“Nice.” Kostya grimaced. “Women can be ruthless.”
“And don’t you forget it,” Lark said as she came back with the Tylenol bottle. She stopped and opened it up and shook out a couple of tablets.
“Make it three,” Mateo said as he kept his hand held out.
This time it was her turn to grimace. “Fine.” She shook out one more. “Drink it down with the Gatorade, then eat all of your ice cream. You need the milk to coat your stomach. What in the hell did your Uber driver get at the store for you anyway?”
“Gatorade, protein bars, Doritos, protein shakes, cheese puffs and ice cream.”
Lark started to say something when his doorbell rang.
God. In the name of all that was holy, that sure as hell hurt. He needed to get that damn thing disconnected.
Lark opened the door and let Amy Linden in. She was holding a crockpot with oven mitts. Where in the hell was Ryker?
Kostya was off the coffee table before Mateo could blink and had the crockpot out of her hands and on the kitchen counter. Ryker came in loaded for bear. He had at least seven grocery totes.
“What in the hell?” Mateo demanded to know as he got up off his couch.
Lark looked over at him and winced. “I really should have known better than to have called Amy. I should have called Jada. She wouldn’t have bought out half of Teeter’s Grocery.”
“You called while we were grocery shopping. It was no problem,” Amy said with a smile. She was already starting to unload everything and put it away. She’d plugged in the crockpot and a heavenly smell was wafting through the air.
“And the crockpot?” Lark asked.
“We just stopped by our house and picked that up. Since it’s our dinner, we figured we’d make it our lunch instead and come on over here and share. And check up on the idiot who checked himself out of the hospital three days early.”
Shit, he’d forgotten that Amy was Lark’s best friend and she didn’t pull any punches either.
“That smells really good,” Mateo admitted.
“Too bad you don’t get any.” Amy smiled at him. “It’s spicy chili. I brought yogurt and I’m going to whip up some homemade chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for you.”
“But I love chili,” Mateo heard himself whine.
“And in three days I’ll give you some.” She handed Ryker the half full pizza box and pulled out the trash can from under his sink. “Here, honey, take out the trash. This is stinking up the house.”
Ryker looked over his shoulder at Mateo. “You owe me.”
Mateo got the feeling he was going to be owing half his team before the next two days were over. He’d been out of the game for seventy-two hours being held hostage at the hospital and lying around here in his condo, and it was two more days until he’d be in a meeting. It was five days too long to be out of things, as far as he was concerned.