Password to Her Heart (The American Soldier Collection 9)

She swallowed hard as she caressed Keith’s hand with Lee standing behind her, holding her around the waist. His support, his masculinity brought her such relief and made her feel strong and secure.

“He’s going to keep getting better and better. When he wakes up, he’s going to be hell to deal with, you know?” Lee whispered against her ear and neck. She loved the scent of his cologne, the feel of his muscular arms keeping her safe.

“I know. But I have the five of you to help me keep him in his place and of course his gunnery sergeant who will lay down the law.”

Lee chuckled. “That you do.”

He pulled back and held her hands.

“Will you be okay while I leave to get gas in the SUV and call the guys to let them know how Keith is doing?”

“Of course. I would go with you, but I want to be right here in case he wakes up momentarily again.”

“Okay.” He leaned forward and kissed her.

She smiled.

* * * *

Tex was working at the office when he got a call from Sandman.

“Hey, Sandman, what’s going on?” Tex asked. He glanced at the clock. He would head home a little early today. It was Friday and he and his brothers planned on taking Shawna out to Casper’s for dinner and drinks. They wanted her to meet their friends. He wondered if Sandman was going to be there, too.

“I got some news. Just caught wind of a little chatter from an arrest someone made a few hours ago.”

“On Chavez?”

“Even better, his associate, Emoy Roman. Seems that these Hispanic men were looking for some people to play a little interference with the police. Something about a package being taken and then shipped off, and that these men needed decoys.”

“Okay, I’m not getting it. What does this have to do with Chavez?”

“I’m not a hundred percent sure aside from the fact that these men are part of a gang. That gang has members who are key associates to Emoy. They came in overnight, and the feds got some information on some sort of drug deal or, like I mentioned, a package being taken from one point to another. It could be another missile and the government isn’t taking any chances.”

“Damn. So they have people on top of it?”

“They do. I’ll keep you posted, but perhaps if the feds catch these guys with this package or follow it so they can bust their development facility, then maybe it will lead to Chavez’s location.”

“It very well could. I don’t know why they would talk to some local guys about being decoys. Aren’t they afraid that the locals will rat them out just like this guy did?”

“He saved his own ass. Had a pound of cocaine in his car, and baggies of heroine.”

“It sounds like this might be about drugs, not terrorist activity and missiles.”

“Well, they’re not taking a chance. I’ll call you soon with an update.”

“Great. Thanks.”

Tex hung up the phone and leaned back into his chair. He thought about Shawna and had that feeling in his gut. He called Lee.

“Hey, how’s our girl?”

“She’s good. I just left her to go fuel up the SUV. I was going to call you. Dragging her away from Keith is going to be like pulling out nails with my fingernails. Since Keith woke up for like half a second, she’s afraid to leave his side.”

“That’s understandable. Are you headed back to the hospital now?”

“Yep. Just finished up. We’ll call when we’re on our way back to the ranch.”

“Okay. I’m leaving soon, too. Bye, oh and give her a kiss for me.”