The SEAL’s Surprise Mission (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Rache) Read online

  The SEAL’s Surprise Mission

  Special Forces: Operation Alpha

  Rachel McNeely

  Contents

  Foreword

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Epilogue

  Books by Rachel McNeely

  About the Author

  More Special Forces: Operation Alpha World Books

  Books by Susan Stoker

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  © 2018 ACES PRESS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No part of this work may be used, stored, reproduced or transmitted without written permission from the publisher except for brief quotations for review purposes as permitted by law.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please purchase your own copy.

  Dear Readers,

  Welcome to the Special Forces: Operation Alpha Fan-Fiction world!

  If you are new to this amazing world, in a nutshell the author wrote a story using one or more of my characters in it. Sometimes that character has a major role in the story, and other times they are only mentioned briefly. This is perfectly legal and allowable because they are going through Aces Press to publish the story.

  This book is entirely the work of the author who wrote it. While I might have assisted with brainstorming and other ideas about which of my characters to use, I didn’t have any part in the process or writing or editing the story.

  I’m proud and excited that so many authors loved my characters enough that they wanted to write them into their own story. Thank you for supporting them, and me!

  READ ON!

  Xoxo

  Susan Stoker

  About the book

  Vivian Seaborn has come a long way since she was a shy high school girl with an overbearing, social climbing mother in small-town Montana. Then, her only rebellion was her crush on sweet, serious senior Taylor Bartlett. So how’d she find herself on the run from a gang of thugs in the Middle East looking to get their hands on top-secret information that literally fell into her lap?

  SEAL sniper Hawke Bartlett can’t believe his eyes when he sees the foreign correspondent his team is dispatched to rescue. Vi is brave, bold and the pretty girl from his youthful fantasies has grown into a raven-haired stunner. He’d be a fool to trust her with his heart after the way she stomped on it before. Besides, she’d never be able to handle the uncertain, stressful life of a SEAL’s wife.

  Vi might trust the sexy blond warrior with her life, but her heart? Her mind’s not so sure, but her lonely soul insists he’s a man worth fighting for.

  To my dear sister, Joan. I can’t thank you enough for all your help and support, especially this past three years and to my brother-in-law, Paul, who has helped so much, too. Hugs, to both of you.

  Thanks to:

  My editor: Raina Toomey, for showing me how to how to make my story better and especially with the extra help at the end of the story.

  Cover Artist: Pat Dengate, for all your patience with me until we find just the right cover.

  To Susan Stoker, who made it possible to get this book and my others published. Thank you so much.

  Thanks to Amy Hrutkay for all your assistance in helping me get all the pieces together for my books. Your smile and kindness come through your emails. You are a pleasure to work with and quickly respond to my many questions.

  Prologue

  Vivian Seaborn trailed behind the high school’s most popular girls. Her mother insisted she be friends with them. She stayed at the edge of the group as much as possible.

  In the distance, she spotted Taylor Bartlett. Her heart raced as it always did whenever she saw him.

  One girl turned to her and laughed. “I can’t understand why you accepted a date with Taylor.” She shrugged. “But your mother put an end to that.” Her nose went up, as did those of the other girls when they walked past him. Vivian smiled at Taylor, hoping he’d understand she didn’t agree with the group. He ignored them all as he strode by on his way to class.

  Irritated even more than usual, Vi, as most called her, stepped up beside the girl who’d spoken. “What I want to know is why you all dislike him.”

  Her eyes narrowed with contempt. “Taylor isn’t rich, and never will be.” She flashed a superior smile. “Nor is he an athlete. No football, baseball, nothing. He’s a nothing.”

  “He’s smart. They’ve chosen him to be the valedictorian when he graduates this year.”

  The other girl frowned at Vi. “You’d better forget him. Your mother will never approve. After she found out about your meeting in the library, I heard she set down some firm rules.”

  Vi breathed a sigh of relief as she saw their classroom up ahead. Thanks to her younger sister’s big mouth, her mother discovered Vi’s meeting with Taylor. Consequently, Vi had to come straight home after school, or her mother would come looking for her. The popular girls only tolerated Vi because watching hers and her mother’s reactions entertained them.

  Vi sat at her desk and glanced out at the sunny, blue sky. She wished Emma was at school today to talk to, but her best friend had stayed home sick. I swear, after I get out of college, I’ll move away, and do as I want. Mother is suffocating me. But I hope to have a secret date with Taylor to tell him how sorry I am about what happened and explain why I hang out with girls who either ignore him or mock him. If he ever gives me another chance.

  Taylor ignored the girls who loved to mock him or made hurtful remarks. He didn’t understand why Vi had them as her friends. He’d thought she was different. But the one time they were alone at the library, Vi’s mother marched in, and Vi jumped up and followed her out.

  To him, she was more attractive than any other girl in his school. He’d try one more time to see her before graduation.

  Maybe I can uncover what she’s really like when not with the society girls. Hell, I’ll probably be disappointed again, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll be leaving soon for the Navy, and we won’t keep in touch. It’ll all be over.

  Chapter 1

  Somewhere in the Middle East

  Vi Seaborn Webley sat outside a local restaurant. Her cameraman sat across from her. After two months, she still found herself in awe that she’d gotten the job to cover her company’s news from here. If the regular correspondent hadn’t gotten sick, she’d be back home in San Diego doing the evening news reports.

  A slight breeze stirred the dust. It was a hot day, and there had been nothing newsworthy in the last two days.

  Her cameraman, Ralph, had covered the news for years. He smiled at Vi. “Getting bored? Believe me, when something happens you may wish for days like this.”

  “I know. I’m fascinated with the people and culture. Not bored.” She sipped from her cooling t
ea.

  A man sprinted around the corner. He looked desperate. When he saw Vi and her cameraman, he headed toward them. Just as he reached their table, a crowd of men in native dress ran around the corner toward him. He careened into Vi’s table and put on a burst of speed. It didn’t matter. The four men behind him were gaining.

  “Let’s get out of here,” her cameraman said.

  “Why?”

  “This doesn’t look good. We don’t want to be sitting out in the open if those guys come back. Before you get up, check your lap.”

  Vi glanced down and saw a small USB in her lap. “What the hell?”

  “Grab it before they return. Go to your room, lock the door, and try to get out of here in the morning.”

  “What will you do?”

  “I have friends who will hide me. I’ll be safe. Go!”

  Her heart beat fast, and a shiver of fear ran down her spine. She pocketed the USB and rushed down the street, across another the street and into the unimpressive hotel where her cameraman had encouraged her to stay. He was right. Any pursuers would check out the places where most of the journalist hung out before checking the less expensive places.

  For the first time, Vi appreciated the advice she’d gotten to wear brown contacts. With her native clothing unadorned and her black hair and brown eyes, she melted into the crowd as a local woman. Only when she had to report on television did she change her clothes to Western attire.

  I’d like to kiss my cameraman for his good advice. Some of the others told me it wasn’t necessary to go as far as I did to hide my nationality, but I liked the idea. They just chuckled when they saw me the first time.

  Once inside her room, Vi looked around for a hiding space. There was none. If they found her room, they’d tear the place apart to find what they wanted. She called her boss on the secret line and told him what happened.

  “Get out of there tomorrow morning. I’ll call and get the reservations and get back to you. Bring the USB back to the States.”

  “I will. I’ll pack now.”

  Vi unceremoniously shoved her belongings in her bags and tossed them on the bed. Fear flowed through her, and she tried to gain control of her almost panting breaths. Slowly, she took the USB from her pocket and fit it to the port on the side of her computer. A face came up on the screen and the word, TRAITOR, in big letters. Vi memorized it. She’d always been good with recognizing faces. She’d gotten better when she took drawing lessons.

  She almost jumped out of her skin when the phone chirped softly, alerting her to a call. “A plane is leaving at six o’clock in the morning,” her boss said quickly when she answered. “Be at the airstrip and get on it. I’ve notified the CIA, and they will be notifying the military. Be careful, Vi. You may be in danger.”

  “I know. I’m scared, but I’ll be on that plane.”

  “Good girl. See you soon.”

  Vi paced the room. What if I get caught at the airport? She looked at the man’s face again. I can remember him. Without another thought, she yanked the USB out of the port and placed it on the floor.

  She grabbed the one pair of high heels she’d brought with her and crushed the USB into tiny pieces. Then she opened a window and scattered the pieces in the wind. There. She’d done all she could to make sure the bad guys didn’t get hold of it. And if she made it home, she’d tell them what she knew. If, being the operative word.

  Vi lay on top of her bed. She couldn’t sleep, and her heart beat fast with fear. She tried to push the fear away.

  I must get back, so the people who need this information will get it. I hope the bad guys don’t think about the airport until after six in the morning.

  The burly men hit and kicked the American tied to a chair. One of them spit in his face. “What did you do with the evidence? We know you were trying to pass off information. You hadn’t had a chance before we caught you.”

  “Yes, I did pass it on earlier.” He tried to smile and spit back in the man’s face. Another slap, kicks, he zoned out the way he’d learned to, but he’d never had to use his skills before.

  I hope to hell that young woman knows what to do with the evidence and gets the hell out of the Middle East. Clever of her to dress like a local.

  The beating went on until he passed out.

  Vi slipped out the back door of the hotel and crept along the fence that lined one side of the alley. It wasn’t light yet. She’d left her suitcase. No need to have extra baggage. It hurt to leave her computer behind, but she erased all the information and smashed it also.

  She spotted a taxi at the end of the alley and moved slowly toward it.

  “Can you take me to the airport?” she asked the driver in his language. Once she’d known she wanted an overseas job, she’d gone to night school and learned the language. It hadn’t been easy.

  The driver eyed her suspiciously. “No luggage?”

  “No. I’m meeting a friend.”

  He nodded abruptly and told her to get inside.

  Vi did as he said and leaned back. But she wasn’t relieved. Not yet. Only when she was on the plane and the wheels were up would she sigh with relief.

  She relaxed fractionally when they made it to the airport without incident. She paid the driver and hurried inside.

  There were few workers or passengers at the airport this early. A large family sat in the front row seats, and two men and a woman sat in the next row. Vi walked to the counter and checked in.

  “We’ll be loading passengers in about fifteen minutes,” the woman behind the counter said.

  “Thank you.” Vi found a seat behind the two men and the woman. She almost took a deep breath of relief, but not yet. Instead, she closed her eyes and said a silent prayer for safety.

  At fifteen minutes, the announcement to board the plane came through the speakers. Everyone stood and made a line. It moved forward, and a brief burst of hope filled her.

  “Stop that woman!”

  Vi’s heart dropped. She turned quickly to face the direction of the shout and saw three running men headed right for her. She knocked aside the other passengers and ran onto the ramp to the plane. At the end of the ramp, she went out a side door and hoped they didn’t see her change direction.

  They’d check the plane first. That should give her a little time. Vi ran as fast as she ever had. She sprinted under the plane’s belly and reached a door further down the side of the terminal. It was unlocked.

  She raced through several corridors. Because of the early hour, there were few people around. Most watched her with startled eyes, but one woman stepped forward and whispered. “Go in the next door. There’s a place to hide. I will take you to a safe place after work.”

  Do I dare trust the woman? But there’s no choice. Eventually, they’ll catch me.

  “Thank you,” she said in the native language and quickly entered the room. When she heard the noise of the men’s footsteps getting closer, she got behind a huge machine.

  The men opened the door, glanced around, and when they started to close the door, Vi heard her rescuer tell them a woman had run through the area. Soon their footsteps faded in the distance.

  Vi sat on the floor and put her head down on her knees. What can I do to stay alive? My boss won’t know I’m not on the plane until it lands. He’ll see I got my ticket.

  The fear she’d been holding back took hold, and she shook uncontrollably. No! I won’t go down shivering like a coward. And if I get a chance, I’ll take as many down as I can before they get me.

  Just making the resolve strengthened her. In the dark, a sense of peace cloaked her. She chose this mission. I won’t complain that it didn’t end the way I wanted. I’ll go down fighting with whatever means available to me.

  Chapter 2

  Stateside

  Captain Buchanan called in Bear’s team. They all arrived within a few minutes. “I’d guess you’ve been practicing at the beach from all the sand you’re tracking in.”

  “Yes, Captain,” said Ja
ckson “Bear” Langley.

  “I’m glad you were close. There’s a serious problem in the Middle East. We need to get you over there as quickly as possible. Two lives hang in the balance.” He motioned to a woman who stood to the side. “This is Miss Haley Robson. She has studied the Middle East area and speaks the language. The FBI has loaned her to us for this mission.

  “Bear, you will be working with her daily. If it’s necessary for her to leave the base to help on this mission, she must get permission from Washington. Most of the time she’ll be in contact with anyone off the base area by phone. Are there any questions?”

  “Yes,” Bear said. “What’s our mission?”

  “Have a seat.” The Captain indicated for them to move the chairs closer together. Once everyone sat, he considered the group of men sitting around him.

  “I’m certain you all remember Glenn Tilford. He was sent on a special assignment and found the information we needed, but he got caught.”

  “So, the enemy has the info and him?” Heath asked.

  “Not exactly. Glenn dropped the USB into a reporter’s lap, a woman reporter. She called her boss, and they set up to try and get her on a six o’clock morning flight today. It didn’t work. The group who wants the USB discovered where she’d gone rushed into the airport, preventing her from boarding.”