Luciana would have a lot to deal with in the coming days and weeks.So would he.Harrison wasn’t sure what disciplinary action he’d face upon their arrival at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, but he knew the admiral wouldn’t be happy.Admiral Swenson, however, hadn’t stopped the Alpha SEALs Hawaii team from deploying to Panama.Everything about this op had been unorthodox, from Harrison’s literal boots on the ground to their sole purpose of rescuing a foreign citizen.
He didn’t regret a thing.
“She looks good,” Sawyer commented, nodding toward Luciana.“Healthy, considering the circumstances.She was frightened but didn’t panic despite the situation.We’ve found plenty of hostages in worse condition.”
“We have,” Harrison said, a brief feeling of regret washing over him.“And some we couldn’t save,” he added darkly.“That’s the reality of war—senseless deaths, innocent people injured or killed.”He shook his head.“While it’s nice to have a win this time, it’s still never enough.I’d love to cripple the Gulf Clan—hit them so hard, it’ll take years to rebuild.Santiago Garcia wasn’t among the men killed tonight, although there were multiple casualties.This was only a blip in the grand scheme of things for a group like that.”
“Taking a massive chunk out of their operation isn’t something I’d say no to,” Ryan said, anger flashing across his face.“Maybe we should’ve stayed longer and ended them.”
“I’m sure the admiral would love that,” Sawyer noted sarcastically.“Nothing like going rogue again.”
Harrison eyed Wyatt.“I got a scathing message from the admiral while I was mid-flight.What exactly did he tell you before you went wheels up?”
Wyatt cleared his throat.“Admiral Swenson told me you’d taken personal leave.When I said the team wanted to fly to Panama and rescue the additional hostage, he arranged for the transport himself.”
“Damn,” Harrison muttered, surprise blooming within him.He owed the man his immense gratitude.Going against orders was grounds for being court martialed.He glanced toward the front of the plane again.“I wish Ms.Rodriguez wouldn’t have refused a medical exam before going wheels up, but given that she’s a nurse....”He shook his head.“She promised to see a military doctor on base after we land for a brief examination.”
“She was in remarkably good health, all things considered,” Wyatt said.“They clearly kept her fed and well cared for, given the circumstances.”
“But not clothed nearly enough,” Harrison ground out, irritation roiling through him as he recalled how they’d found her in nothing but a nightgown.“She didn’t have a damn thing in that bedroom aside from the nightgown she was wearing and the sheets on the bed.”
Wyatt eyed him.“Do you think she was assaulted?”he asked in a low voice.
“I’m not sure,” Harrison admitted.“She wasn’t afraid of us like I’d expect a rape victim might be.The cartel traffics women, however—” He cut off, and the men sobered.While Luciana hadn’t told them anything about her captivity, there also hadn’t been time.She’d fallen sound asleep after take-off, and he wasn’t about to wake her now for questioning when she so clearly needed her rest.“There are a number of things I’d like to know,” he finally said.
“Do you believe she’s still in danger?”Wyatt asked.“The cartel might realize we were U.S.Special Forces, but they sure the hell don’t know where we’re stationed or where we took Luciana.”
“I’m not sure,” Harrison said.“If she remained in Panama?Absolutely.I don’t think they have the means or motivation to track her to Hawaii.I do wonder why the cartel brought her out in public to begin with.It was a risky move.”
“Agreed.A crowded nightclub isn’t exactly private,” Sawyer noted.“There were no doubt multiple witnesses who saw her there.”
“Maybe they wanted her to be seen,” Wyatt mused.
Hudson’s head swiveled toward him.“What are you thinking?”
Wyatt lifted a shoulder.“Could be anything.Maybe she was bait.Maybe they were showing her off—proving that they were untouchable and could kidnap whoever they wanted without repercussions.”
Harrison’s gaze narrowed.“Luciana mentioned something earlier that’s been bothering me.She thought she recognized someone at the nightclub.”
“Someone who worked there?”Ryan asked in surprise.
“I don’t know,” Harrison admitted.“She recognized either a patron or an employee.She told me she’d explain more later but didn’t get a chance.Given she fell asleep right after takeoff, I’m hesitant to wake her just to ask.She needs to rest.”
“Maybe it was a blast from her past,” Sawyer quipped.“An unwelcome one.”
Harrison clenched his jaw, thinking.“She looked almost spooked by it.It could’ve just been the circumstances of our escape earlier, but my gut is telling me it’s something more.There’s a lot to her background I don’t fully understand.Yet.”
“She’s been through a hell of a lot,” Wyatt said.“It might take time for her to open up—if she ever does.You don’t exactly give off the warm and cozy vibes, sir.”
Harrison muttered a curse.“Maybe not, but she agreed to stay in my home.”
Ryan eyed him.“That surprised me—both your offer, and the fact that she accepted.”
“It’s just temporary.”He glanced down at his forearm, now covered with both the bandage Luciana had applied and a clean uniform.His bloodied shirt was in his bag, waiting to be washed when he returned home—with her.Harrison hadn’t had a roommate in years.He didn’t bring women home either.The fact that he’d suggested she stay told him a lot—most of which he didn’t want to dwell on.“She had no trouble jumping in when she thought I was injured,” he said, changing topics.
“You were injured, sir,” Wyatt said.
Harrison shot him an irritated look.“The bullet only grazed me.”
