As soon as the door closed behind Errol, Nolan turned and raced through the small office, past the little workroom, and slammed through the door leading to the alley in the back. Dialing 911 as he ran, he circled around the back corner of the building and continued racing until he came to the front corner where he halted. Peeking around the corner, he watched as Errol clicked the locks to his car and forced Lynn into the passenger side.
Glad that the car was parked facing away from him, he waited until Errol glanced around to see that the coast was clear. Errol lowered his gun by the side of his leg to not draw undue attention to himself and walked briskly around the back of his car for the driver’s door.
Charging forward, Nolan’s boots ate the sidewalk as he pounded toward Errol. Keeping his eye on his prey, he observed the moment Errol heard the approaching footsteps and began to turn with his gun hand lifting.
Years of practice kicked in with instinct and he leaped forward, his powerful legs forcing his body into the air, twisting to stay out of the line of fire. The weapon discharged and the recoil sent Errol backward. Nolan wrapped his arms around him, and they fell toward the ground. He felt a burning sensation and knew the bullet had grazed his side. Not caring that Errol’s body landed under his on the hard pavement, they crashed to the ground, grunts of pain emanating from both of them.
In a flash, he rolled to the side and held Errol on the ground with his hands behind his back, keeping him secure. Looking down at the blood on his shirt, he cursed.
“Nolan!”
Lynn’s scream pierced the air, her terror cutting through him. But just hearing her voice and knowing she was safe, he breathed easier.
Lynn threw open the passenger door and bolted from the vehicle. Rushing around the back of the car, her gaze landed on the gun that had been knocked out of Errol’s hands. Stumbling as she tried to keep running and bend at the same time, she snatched it up with no plan other than knowing she would use it if she had to.
Hearing grunts and curses, she raced around to the driver’s side of the car and spied Nolan on his knees beside a prone Errol. The air rushed from her lungs in a whoosh, and the sound of sirens was heard in the distance.
Nolan twisted around, giving her a head to toe body scan. “Drop the gun, Lynn, and stay back. I’ve got him restrained and we don’t want an accident.”
Her head jerked up and down in a nod, and she lay the gun on the ground, barely aware of her shaking hands. Standing, she wanted to rush to him, but with Nolan still restraining Errol, she stood awkwardly to the side, not wanting to get in his way. As he shifted around, her gaze dropped to his side, gasping at the sight of his shirt now covered with blood.
Unable to stay back, she bolted forward, her hands raised toward him, sure that he would drop to the ground at any second. “Oh, my God! You’re shot!”
“Flesh wound, babe. That’s all it is. A flesh wound.”
Her hands now shaking more, she tried to pull up his shirt to see how bad it was. He managed to hold Errol in place against the car while shifting to the side so that he could get directly in front of her face.
“Babe, I’m okay. But I gotta keep him here. I promise, babe, I’m fine.”
The sound of the sirens grew louder, and quickly the parking lot filled with police. It took several tense minutes to explain what was happening. Lynn showed the police Errol’s weapon as another officer gathered the papers that had been in Errol’s hands.
An ambulance followed the police, and she watched as Nolan was treated. He didn’t want to go to the hospital, but she insisted. Grabbing his cheeks with her hands, she said, “I need you to do this for me. Please. For a few minutes, I had no idea if I would ever see you again. I had no idea if I would ever have a chance to tell you that I want you for my husband, no matter how we have to make that work. So please, Husband, go to the hospital. I’ll go with the police to the station and give my statement. I’ll give them the information from the FBI agent that I’ve talked to and I’ll call Sally.”
“You want me no matter how we have to make this work?”
Her lips curved, and she nodded slowly. Lifting to her toes, she pulled him into a kiss. Light and easy. She started to press her body forward when his hands on her waist held her in place. Pulling back slightly, her gaze dropped to his shirt.
“Nothing more I want than to kiss you fully, but sweetheart, right now I’m a bloody mess.” He leaned down and kissed her lightly again and said, “As soon as they check me out, I’ll call my parents and get them to take me to the station. You stay there and I’ll meet you.”
An officer came up beside her, his gaze anxious and questioning. She shook her head and said, “You don’t have to worry. I’m not going to fall apart or become hysterical. After all, I’m married to a SEAL.”
23 Nine Months Later
Standing in his backyard, Nolan looked over the small gathering. The white rental chairs were lined in rows on the lush grass. His parents, Nancy, Lynn’s parents, and her brother sat in the front rows, and the rest were filled with his team members and their women. Jacob and Casey; Trigger and Cassandra;
