Chapter 6
Amber stirred as the first light of dawn crept through the trees, filtering into the campsite with a soft gray luminescence. She had barely slept, her mind replaying what she had witnessed, the conversation with the police and the sexy ass Navy SEAL sleeping a few feet away. The crunch of gravel under heavy boots roused her fully, and she sat up, heart pounding. A silhouette loomed at the edge of the clearing. She quickly threw back the canvas tent and stepped out onto the platform.
Hunter was already on his feet, his hand instinctively near the weapon holstered at his side. He relaxed as the figure stepped into the light. Taking her cue from Hunter’s body language, she knew who the looming man was.
Ghost.
“Morning,” Ghost”s voice was like gravel, low and certain. His eyes, hidden beneath the brim of a baseball cap, swept the campsite with an assessing gaze.
“Ghost,” Hunter acknowledged with a nod. “Thanks for coming.”
“Wouldn”t miss the fun,” Ghost replied, his posture relaxed yet undeniably alert. He moved with the quiet confidence of a man who had faced down death and walked away unscathed. His presence filled the space, the air seeming to hum with his controlled energy.
Amber watched, taking in the broad shoulders concealed beneath a tactical jacket, the utility pants that spoke of readiness for any eventuality, and the boots that had seen more miles and rough terrain than most would in a lifetime. She felt a flicker of something like hope—or was it trust—in this stranger who held their lives in his capable hands. After the police refused to listen to them, Amber became increasingly frustrated. She’d contemplating calling the forest rangers, or even the feds. Her contact list was large. But Hunter had another plan all together. Amber had always been a law-abiding citizen, and believed her work to expose the underbelly of society was a way to make it safer. Hunter didn’t see the world in black and white. As they’d spoke throughout the day, Amber concluded that Hunter worked in the shadows.
“Amber Ross, meet Ghost,” Hunter introduced.
“Ghost,” she greeted with a slight nod. Her brown eyes met his, searching for some hint of the man behind the enigma.
“Amber,” he acknowledged with a curt nod. His face was rugged, lined with experience, and his eyes held stories he”d never tell. “Heard a lot about you.”
“Hopefully, all good things,” Amber managed a half-smile, extending a hand which Ghost shook firmly.
“Only that you”re the best at what you do,” Ghost said, releasing her hand. “And that makes you valuable in this fight. We did research on you. You have more deployment and combat experience than some of our military personnel. I watched a few videos of yours on the flight. I’m impressed and don’t get that way easily.”
His words were a balm to the gnawing anxiety within her. To be recognized by someone of Ghost”s caliber was no small thing. She straightened her shoulders, feeling the weight of her own reputation.
“Ghost has history with the cartel we”re up against,” Hunter said, his tone serious. “He knows how they operate.”
“I guarded a friend’s sister from them after she’d been kidnapped in Mexico. I see you also have a history with them. Watched your fentanyl trafficking episode.”
“Then we”re lucky to have you,” Amber said, meeting Ghost”s gaze once more. She saw sharp intelligence there, the unwavering focus of a predator set on his prey. It was reassuring and unsettling all at once.
“Let”s hope luck is on our side,” Ghost replied. “Now fill me in. I hear you took a video?”
“I’ll grab my phone.” Amber ducked back into the tent. She’d slept in leggings, a sports bra, and T-shirt. It was habit to sleep in clothes that made escape easy. Grabbing a sweatshirt, she quickly pulled it over her head. After palming her phone, she headed back outside. Hunter handed her a mug of coffee while Ghost stroked the roaring fire.
As the sun lifted higher, casting a pale golden glow over the rugged terrain, Amber watched as Ghost and Hunter slowly analyzed each detail of the video she’d taken. She’d airdropped the video to their phones. They sat together, a notebook between them, writing notes about the men on the video, their word choice, the weapons they carried…along with a few of the little details Amber missed, like the way one of them limped, favoring his right leg and another had a recent wound to his hand.
This was definitely not the relaxing vacation Amber needed. Instead, she found herself in the middle of two former Navy SEALs, and plotting on taking down a cartel using her family’s forest as their personal meeting space. She shook her head. Real life was definitely stranger than fiction, especially hers.
Amber’s mind raced as she studied Hunter. The raw masculinity permeating from his body did something to her. As they’d spent the last day together, Amber found herself increasingly drawn to Hunter. Despite their initial agreement to keep things casual after their one-night stand, something had shifted between them. Or at least, Amber believed so.
He’d opened the passenger side door of his rental Jeep and ushered her inside before walking around to the driver’s side. When they parked in the tiny one-horse town, he’d maneuvered her to the inside of the sidewalk, taking the stance alongside the road. She’d wondered if he was aware of how protective he was being. It’d felt like an electric current straight to her clit when he put his hand on the small of her back and guided her through the police station. She’d never been with a man who’d done that before, and she was shocked by how much she liked it. Instead of feeling awkward, his hand guiding her gave her a sense of security. A reminder that he was there and had her back. Not that she needed it. There was absolutely no way she’d forget Hunter was standing behind her.
His presence seemed to command the room, his intelligence and eloquence surprising her at every turn. The way he effortlessly navigated through conversations and situations left her in awe. She couldn”t help but admire his intellect, realizing there was much more to him than she had initially assumed. When she’d met him, she wrote him off as a meathead Navy SEAL. His muscular frame exuded strength and power, igniting a primal attraction within her that she couldn”t ignore. Sure, he’d been good in bed—although he outdid whatever fantasy she could have possibly conquered with her initial assumption—but surely he’d have little else to offer.
She couldn’t forget their one-night stand. Not with him standing close enough to her that the heat radiated off his body and his smell—a unique mixture of outdoors, cologne, and the spearmint gum he was constantly chewing, was a constant reminder. Each time his gaze met hers, a wave of heat surged through her body, setting her senses ablaze.
When Hunter caught her eye and winked, a shiver raced up Amber”s spine, sending a cascade of tingles down her arms. As they worked together, their chemistry intensified, sparking a tantalizing dance of temptation between them. Every touch, every fleeting glance, sent electric currents coursing through her veins, awakening desires she had tried to bury. She found herself craving his presence, yearning for the intoxicating rush of his touch. Was this what her grandmother meant when she said when you find your person, you will just know?
No.
Love wasn’t sudden. It took time to build. She didn’t believe in instant attraction or love at first sight. Her mother and grandmother loved those sorts of fairytales. Not Amber. She was practical. Logical. Doubt there was anything more between them than chemistry gnawed at her. She had agreed to keep things casual, to guard her heart against the inevitable complications of romance. But now, faced with the undeniable pull toward Hunter, she questioned her own resolve.
What if. What if they were right and love at first sight wasn’t a fairytale? What if what she was feeling for Hunter wasn’t some passing physical attraction? Was it foolish to deny herself the chance at something more? Was it worth risking everything for the sake of fleeting passion? Amber grappled with these questions, torn between her rationality and the emotions swirling within her.
The Colorado sun dipped lower, bleeding its last light across the rugged peaks as the trio settled around the crackling campfire. Amber”s gaze once again flickered between Hunter and Ghost, her instincts homing in on the subtle cues of their body language. The air around them seemed charged with a tangible energy that spoke of both urgency and understanding.
The sound of an approaching four-wheeler caught all three of their attention. Amber noticed how both men’s hands suddenly rested on their hips, instinctively going to where their guns were concealed. She was the first to sigh in relief at the sight of Cameron.
“I told Lauren that you had a friend coming to join you,” Cameron said. “I know there’s something more going on here, but I won’t pry. Since you asked for staff to be kept away until further notice, I brought dinner to you myself. He prepared roasted green chile elk burgers with Monterey jack cheese, and a side of sweet potato fries with a tangy sauce to dip it in. There are peaches and your favorite brownies for dessert, Amber. I also brought beer, wine, and drinks to stock the mini fridges. I’ll leave the food on the table and get out of your hair in five.”
Hunter went over to help Cameron unpack the ATV while Amber ducked into her tent to use the bathroom and wash her hands before dinner. Her mouth watered at the smell of the burgers. She knew the green chiles would be local from Pueblo and the peaches would be from her grandparent’s friend’s orchard. Palisade Peaches. The best in the world in her opinion.
As she stepped down from her platform and headed to the table, she noticed Hunter had set out the food and placed himself at the head, with Ghost to his right and her directly to his left. She settled in and took a bite of a sweet potato fry.
“Freaking delicious,” she moaned. She’d missed freshly sourced food like they had here at her grandparents. They were big believers in eating seasonal, organic, and local food. During her travels for the show, Amber was exposed to a variety of cuisines. But nothing was as sentimental and comforting to her as the food before her. Her favorite childhood memories were from spending time here. Food quickly brought her back to them.
A comfortable silence ensued as each of them dug into their massive cheeseburgers. “Never thought I”d be sharing a fire with Spartan Elite”s command,” Amber said, breaking the silence. Her words were casual but laced with respect. She caught a brief, approving nod from Hunter before she turned her attention to Ghost. “My documentaries have taken me around the world. I’ve been to Mexico, the Amazon, Africa, the Middle East. Multiple islands… I’ve covered smuggling, trafficking, kidnapping, black market selling of organs, infants, exotic animals. We’re getting ready to start season six of the show. Each season has ten episodes... All of this is to say, I’ve been around the block a few times. I didn’t mention it earlier to Hunter, but I’ve heard of you all. You were the ones hired after the chlorine gas spill to rescue the trapped family, right?”
“You knew who I was before I told you?” Hunter asked.
“No. I had no idea. But when you told me you worked for Spartan Elite, the name rang a bell with me… I couldn’t place it. Later that night when I couldn’t sleep, it came to me. They never call you Spartan Elite, they just call you Team Elite. You are one in the same, right?”
“Yeah.” Hunter visibly relaxed. “I’m not entirely sure who started calling us that. We have specific teams within the company, but I’ve also heard us referred to as Team Elite.”
“I’ve crossed paths with a few of your men during filming. I heard about you landed a helicopter next to the chlorine spill and rescued the trapped family, even though the police said they’d open fire on you. Glad they didn’t.”
“We were prepared if they had. Bunch of cowards,” Ghost muttered.
“You would have opened fire on police?” Amber knew they sometimes crossed the line but this…
“We had an other than lethal plan in place if they opened fire. They set up containment, look, I get it. But there was an entire family with young children that needed help to get out. When the husband, a local firefighter, tried to get through the police line, they refused to let him. Threatening to arrest or shoot him if he tried. He called us and we flew over the line, landed in his field, quickly got his wife and small children out. They should have been able to do the same. Instead, they were all scratching their asses, waiting for hazmat to arrive. Turns out, Hazmat didn’t get there for another two hours. The entire family would have been dead,” Hunter explained.
“I see.” Amber said quietly.
Ghost”s eyes held a steady flame as he looked back at her. “The SEALS, Spartan Shield, and Elite have taught me and reinforced one thing—it”s about the people you stand with,” he shared, his voice a low rumble against the evening chill. “I was willing to lay down my life, yes for my country, but more importantly, for the men who stood beside me, my brothers. I fought for them, for their safety, I still do. Elite is a paycheck?—”
“A damn good one at that,” Hunter interrupted.
“A damn good paycheck,” Ghost said with a small smile. “But it also gives me a way to continue to fulfill that mission. I look out for society, remove some of the dangerous men from it, while continuing to have my brother’s backs. I’ve served with many of the men who have decided to put down roots in Grand Ridge. They are good men. When the cartel decided to target them, they targeted family. That’s one of the reasons I’m here right now. We don’t allow anyone to mess with what’s ours. Our women, or our brothers. Ever. That’s the hill I will die on.” His admission revealed a sliver of his world, a personal stake in their collective fight.
After they finished their burgers, they moved back over to the firepit. The air was tense, each lost in their own thoughts about the cartel and danger that lurked beyond the tree line. Amber had wanted immediate action; she didn’t like the way this was playing out. But she had to trust the men in front of her. They had experience in this sort of thing. Feeling a desire to break the tension of their dangerous mission, she decided to steer the conversation toward something lighter. “So, since we don’t know each other very well,” she began, a playful glint in her eye, “what”s your favorite food?”
Ghost smiled. Amber was shocked at how the small movement relaxed his entire face, softening it. “Well, I”m a simple man. Can”t go wrong with a good ol” ribeye steak and mashed potatoes.”
Amber nodded. “Classic choice. Who doesn’t love a good steak?”
Hunter leaned back, a mischievous smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “I don’t know about that,” he said, his gaze flickering between Ghost and Amber, “I”d have to say Ghost”s favorite food is a shark coochie board.”
Ghost groaned, rolling his eyes at Hunter”s playful jab. “Oh, not this again,” he muttered, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice.
Amber raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Shark coochie board?”
“It’s a long story,” Ghost said.
Amber shrugged. “We have time. I have to hear this story.”
With a reluctant sigh, Ghost relented, launching into the tale of Bobby”s attempt at romance. “So, I told him it was called a sharkcoochie board. He repeated that to Dee, and he’s never lived it down. Somehow, I’ve now become the recipient of multiple shark shaped cutting boards. Dee is constantly mailing them to me. I threatened to spank her with the next wood shaped shark board that was mailed to my house. That seemed to stop them from coming.”
“Did you say spank?” Amber asked.
Ghost merely shrugged. “There’s a lot of that sort of thing in Grand Ridge. You’ve been around the block, you’ve never run into BDSM before?”
“BDSM, Domestic Discipline, Daddy Doms, Femdom…all of it,” Amber said with a small smile. “To each their own. As long as everyone involved is a consenting adult, I don’t care or judge what people do in their private lives. One of the ways I get the people I interview to talk to me is my honesty that I’m not there to judge them. I’m only there with the desire to seek to understand them. I approach them with a level of respect and dignity, hoping they will return the sentiment.”
“I wish more people had that view,” Ghost said. “Would make life easier for everyone else.”
“So,” Amber said, changing the subject, “Hunter, you never told us what your favorite food is.”
“All of it. If it’s food, it’s my favorite,” he joked. Laughter echoed around the fire as they continued to chat, their worries about the cartel momentarily forgotten in the warmth of the moment.
The conversation flowed easily avoiding the weightier topics that loomed over them. Eventually, the conversation turned toward their future plans, and Amber told them about the next season of her show.
“Do you have a bodyguard? Security?” Ghost inquired.
“No. My goal is to get people to talk with me. It’s counterproductive to show up with large, armed men.” She laughed softly. “How do I gain their trust if I show I don’t trust them? If I go in and start snooping around with an armed entourage I am saying, I don’t trust you.”
“These types of men don’t deserve your trust. They’d break their word in a second if the price was right,” Hunter said.
“When I was in college, I wanted to know why people did what they did. My bachelor’s degrees are in sociology and criminology. I have a desire to understand humans and the behavior that drives them. Especially, criminal behavior. I was a bit na?ve, thinking the worst crimes were occurring only overseas. I believed America was relatively safe. I didn’t know how much time and politics went into convincing Americans of that. One of my criminology professors opened my eyes to the fact that these crimes we think are only happening overseas aren’t as far away as we think. They are here, in America. Under the cover of darkness. Being kept away from the voters. We really live in a false sense of security.”
“True.” Ghost nodded. “That’s where we come in. We have contracts with the people you speak of. We sweep away the dirt, clean up the messes in the shadows. The goal is to hide the grime from the people. If they feel secure, they’ll keep voting the way they always have.”
“Yeah. I guess in a way, I’m an enemy to keeping things in the dark. I became a journalist to shine the light into the worlds that we don’t know anything about. Who are these people? Why do they do what they do? How do the power structures work? How did they get to this point in their lives? It’s a risk to get close to them, but I can’t get the stories otherwise. The danger element is there, but after so many seasons, it’s not about the danger. It’s about the story. My assignments have a reason. I battle curiosity and fear. I would say, the more I do this, the less fear I feel. I know I’m not invincible. Things can turn ugly at any time. I’m called to tell the story. Just like in your world, where things aren’t black and white, neither is it in their worlds. I’ve found many of the men I’m interviewing are doing what they have to in order to feed their families, law be damned. Many of them do what they are doing because of a lack of opportunity, not because they are bad people.”
“You have a good heart,” Ghost said. “But believe me when I tell you, there are men out there who do bad things because they get off doing them. I’ve had my own assignments and seen real evil.”
“Speaking of assignments,” Hunter said changing the topic. Amber wondered why his eyebrows had drawn together and where the tik in his jaw came from. Had she said something to upset him? “I”ve got something for you when we get back.”
Ghost raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? What”s the gig?”
Hunter leaned in, his voice low as he revealed the details of the security job for the famous author, Iris Higgins. “Ms. Higgins needs some extra muscle for her book signing event,” he explained. “And I think you”re the perfect man for the job.”
“The author? Iris Higgins?” Amber asked.
“Yeah, you know her?”
“I know her work. I’ve read a few of her books while traveling. Sometimes, I question who her sources are. She hits it right on the head and the details feel like someone who has been there, not making up the details as she goes. She’s good.”
“You know I don’t like bodyguard gigs. They are boring.”
“It pays well, and we always need the money. It should be a quick gig. Fly in, make sure she’s safe, fly out. I need you to do this for me.”
“Fuck it. Do I have a choice?”
Hunter laughed. “No.”
“Then, I guess I’m in.” With that settled, they passed around the bin of brownies and settled back, enjoying the decadence chocolate, the flickering flames casting shadows across their faces as they savored the simple joy of each other”s company, grateful for the bonds that held them together in the face of adversity.
After they finished eating, Ghost pulled out a rucksack and after pulling out the contents, spread a series of maps across the rough wooden table. The gentle glow of the lantern cast long shadows over the contours and lines, each marking pathways both known and treacherous.
He’d come prepared. Amber hadn’t expected anything less from the man but couldn’t help but be impressed by the level of detail he’d put into helping them.
“First things first,” Ghost began, his voice low and steady, “we need to establish zones of control. My team at Elite often uses this in urban environments, but the principle is the same here in the wilderness.”
“Control the terrain, control the fight,” Hunter interjected, leaning forward, his eyes tracking Ghost”s hand as it moved across the map.
Amber”s heart drummed a nervous beat as she observed Hunter and Ghost huddle over the spread of maps and aerial photos. Their murmured strategy session was punctuated by the occasional rustle of paper or the scrape of a boot against the rocky ground.
“We need eyes everywhere,” Ghost said, his fingers tracing lines on the map. “Recon at dawn, silent comms only.”
“Satellite feeds?” Hunter interjected; his brow furrowed in concentration.
“Already in place. Spartan Shield has tech that can spot a rabbit in a snowstorm.” Ghost”s reply was matter of fact, but to Amber, it felt like assurance—the kind that came from having trust in someone who knew exactly what they were up against. Hunter nodded; he knew what his company was capable of.
“Communication is our lifeline,” Ghost continued, his eyes meeting Hunter”s, then flicking toward Amber. “We go dark unless it”s mission critical. Hand signals when we”re in proximity. No room for error.”
“Understood,” Amber said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline beginning to course through her veins. She caught the briefest nod from Ghost.
“Teamwork is non-negotiable,” Hunter stated, glancing from Ghost to Amber, his expression hardening with resolve. Amber had a feeling a lot of this conversation was merely for her benefit but went along with it. “We move together, we protect each other. This cartel has taken enough lives; we”re not giving them any more ground.”
“Agreed,” Ghost replied, his hand closing into a fist momentarily before releasing. Amber wondered how much discipline it took these two men to control their emotions the way they did. They were ice cold. If it wasn’t for the small giveaways, signs Amber learned both from formal education and field experience, she’d worry about their sanity. “It”s about coordination, precision. We strike as one—no hesitation, no second-guessing.”
“Like a Spartan phalanx,” Amber murmured, the historical reference not lost on her companions.
“Exactly,” Ghost confirmed, the ghost of a smile touching his lips before vanishing as quickly as it came. “Unbreakable.”
“Here,” Hunter”s finger jabbed at a point on the map, “is their weakest link.” His gaze locked with Ghost”s, a silent challenge hanging between them.
Ghost leaned in, his scrutiny intense as he traced the contours of the terrain with a practiced eye. “We use the ridge for cover. I know these bastards” routines—they won”t expect an assault from the high ground.”
“Agility and the element of surprise will win over firepower,” Hunter agreed, nodding sharply. “We keep it tight, fast. In and out before they can mount a counter.”
“Exactly.” Ghost straightened, rolling his shoulders with the ease of a man accustomed to bearing heavy burdens. “I”ve seen what they do to communities, to families.” His voice was a low growl, the sound of gravel tumbling down a mountain slope. “I”ve acted as body guard for a woman in their sights, and escorted kids to school under the threat of these animals. No more. We”re ending this.”
Amber watched the determination ripple across Hunter’s features as he nodded in agreement, and it sent a shiver down her spine that wasn”t from the night air. Here was a man who had witnessed too much evil, who stood unflinchingly at the edge of darkness, ready to push back with everything he had.
The silence that fell was not empty but filled with the weight of their impending actions. Amber felt the tension coiling within her, ready to spring into motion when the moment arrived.
“Let”s get some rest,” Hunter finally said, rolling up the map.
“We”ve got a long day ahead.”
“Agreed,” Amber replied, rising from her seat. She took a deep breath of the cold mountain air, letting it fill her lungs and steel her resolve before heading into her tent.