Page 73 of SEAL's Promise

Amusement gleamed in Jackson’s eyes. “I’ll let them know.” He returned to the suite with Eli, Jon, and Rafe.

“Did your friend make contact?” Eli asked.

“A few minutes ago. He was spooked and wouldn’t talk on the phone except to say what he found wasn’t good.”

Jon frowned. “Cryptic and unhelpful.”

“Anything else?” Rafe asked.

“Sims will contact me with a location for us to meet. He wanted to come here. I refused.”

He snorted. “Hard to believe he suggested that.”

Eli tilted his head. “Is your contact Blake Sims?”

Cal stiffened. “Yes. Why?”

His team leader exchanged glances with his partner. “Sims was one of the few SEALs we worked with who looked after his own hide before that of his teammates.”

Rafe sat in the recliner. “You sure we can trust him, Cal?”

“He owes me. I saved his hide on more than one occasion. Also, he wants a job at Fortress. He won’t screw up his only chance for a possible interview with Brent by feeding me bad intel.”

Jon scowled. “I don’t want him on a team watching our backs.”

“He won’t be,” Cal assured him. “If Brent agrees to interview him, I’ll be honest about his shortcomings.”

“In that case, Maddox won’t hire him. So, what’s the plan?” Rafe asked.

“Choose a place to meet that allows us to blend into the crowd but still provide protection for Rachelle. I don’t trust Blake’s recommendations.” Stunned silence met his statement.

“You’re taking your woman to a meeting with an informant who protects himself first?” Jon’s razor-sharp voice could cut glass.

“I insisted,” Rachelle said. “Cal hates the idea, but I convinced him to see reason.”

“What possible reason could be important enough to risk your life?”

“I think Sims will cooperate if he sees me.”

“Not good enough,” Jon snapped. “Grow a spine, Cal.”

“Sims is a sucker for a pretty face,” Eli said.

“I’ll get the information out of him. Easy to do when the man in question avoids pain. You’d never allow Brenna to risk herself that way. I wouldn’t risk Dana’s life on the instincts of a coward.”

“That comparison won’t fly.” Cal glared at his teammate. “You’re discounting the strength of your women and mine. I can and will protect Rachelle with my life. I’m counting on Wolf Pack to have our backs.”

Eli quelled Jon with a look before facing Cal. “You don’t have to ask. You know we’ll protect both of you.”

“Then let’s find a place suitable for our needs.”

After another frosty stare, Jon said, “Laptop.” He logged into Cal’s computer and spent a few minutes searching the Net for an appropriate place to meet while the rest of Wolf Pack discussed other avenues to track the person targeting Rachelle.

Jon sat back. “The best place to meet is Derringer Steakhouse in Sharondale, Maryland.” He turned the laptop around for the others to see the split screen containing a map of the area and the steakhouse.

Cal studied the layout of the restaurant. “Why there?”

“If we meet at the steakhouse at 8:00 tonight, the restaurant will be busy but most families will be home that time.”