Jackson chuckled. “Yep. I couldn’t do half the things she does. She runs her own graphic design business while she’s finishing her degree. I have to admit, she impresses the hell out of me every day.”
Troy’s lips quirked. “Well, what are you waiting for? Raptor and Ghost proposed to their women.”
“She’s young,” Jackson said. “I know she wants to finish her degree, so there’s no rush. Plus, things didn’t end well with her ex.”
“Yeah, but you’re nothing like that asshole,” Troy said. “And you live together, so it’s not like marriage would be significantly different in that regard.”
“Yep. Someday.”
The waitress brought over their burgers, and they dug into their food, joking around. Troy’s gaze swept the restaurant, watching as young Navy guys flirted with the pretty women there. Damn. That had been exactly what they’d done most weekend nights for the past several years. Hell. Logan still was picking up women. Troy doubted he’d show up after his walk with the blonde.
“I took Kim here a couple of weeks ago,” Ethan said with a chuckle. “She couldn’t believe what a pick-up joint it was.”
“Way to wine and dine her,” Troy joked.
Ethan shrugged. “She wanted to see where we used to hang out.”
“And what’d she think of us coming here tonight?” Blake asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Eh, she wasn’t worried. They’ve got awesome beers and burgers.”
Troy glanced down as his phone buzzed again, and then he realized his teammates were all reaching for their cell phones as well. What the hell?
Report to base ASAP. There’s an imminent threat to the admiral and his wife.
“Damn it. What the hell happened?” Blake asked, pushing his chair back and standing up. He got out his wallet, dropping some money down on the table. The rest of the guys were jumping up as well.
“The big anniversary party was this weekend,” Ethan said.
“On the yacht?” Troy asked. Their CO had mentioned that NCIS agents would be present at Admiral Rice and his wife’s party. There hadn’t been any new threats in weeks though, and while Troy knew the incidents were still under investigation, it had seemed like whoever had sent the threatening letters had been spooked. There’d been no incriminating photos released, and no one had attempted to harm the admiral or his family.
“Affirmative. I assume something happened at the party tonight. God damn it.”
“Where’s the admiral now?” Jackson asked, tossing his own money down onto the pile on the table.
“That’s a good question,” Blake said.
The men quickly moved out of Salty Sunset, heading toward the vehicles. If NCIS was already on scene, Troy couldn’t imagine what the hell would involve a SEAL team. Were they needed to help secure the area? The federal agents and MPs would most likely escort the admiral to a safe location. Was he returning to base as well? Was there a lead on whoever had been threatening him?
Clenching his jaw, Troy looked out at the setting California sun. Despite the balmy weather earlier, there was a slight chill in the air. The hair on the back of his neck stood up. Something big was happening.
Chapter 7
Caitlyn screamed and dropped down onto the deck as several armed men boarded the yacht, firing shots into the air. One moment she’d been talking with the caterers about what time dinner would be served, and the next, there’d been a commotion on the pier followed by people screaming.
They hadn’t even set sail yet, the captain citing some minor problem that would be rectified shortly. The guests hadn’t been concerned. They’d enjoyed appetizers and cocktails on the deck in the balmy evening, watching as the sun began to set while they bobbed up and down in the San Diego Bay. The night had been off to a fantastic start, and Caitlyn had heard the hum of the engine moments ago, assuming they were finally ready to set sail. The party was supposed to be several hours long, and after they enjoyed the boat ride, dinner, and champagne toast, they’d return to the pier.
Now people were screaming and running, and she even saw one couple jump overboard. Admiral Rice and his wife were being hustled off to the side by an NCIS agent, and she gasped as she realized one of the federal agents had been shot and was lying on the ground in a pool of blood.
She looked around for her cell phone, which she’d dropped in the confusion. She needed to call 911. The gunshots hadn’t been quiet though. Hopefully the captain had realized there was a problem and had called for help himself or someone else nearby had called the police. There were other people and boats on surrounding piers. Bystanders walking by. Civilians.
Who would even come to their rescue? The San Diego police department? The Navy? She knew they had military police, and there were federal agents around, like the ones supposedly guarding the admiral. Did the Coast Guard come when there was trouble in the water? She had absolutely no clue.
“Hurry, hurry!” a woman yelled, urging her husband to move faster as they rushed off in one direction.
Caitlyn crawled toward the side of the deck, more thankful than ever that she had on black pants instead of a cute dress. Her phone was lying on the ground by one of the tables holding appetizers. She could grab it and hide while she called for help. The cocktail tables wouldn’t offer any cover, but this long rectangular one might. She just needed to get beneath the tablecloth.
“Nobody move!” one of the gunmen shouted, firing another shot into the air. She heard the bullet ricochet off something metal as someone screamed.
Caitlyn whimpered but stilled, listening to some of the other women crying. Looking to the right, she almost threw up as she realized the agent who’d been shot was dead.
