SEALs Of Honor: Mason Part 1

MASON.

SEALs of Honor.

Dale Mayer.

KILL OR BE KILLED.

Part of an elite SEAL team, Mason takes on the dangerous jobs no one else wants to do or can do. When he's on a mission, he's focused and dedicated. When he's not, he plays as hard as he fights.

Until he meets a woman he can't have but can't forget.

Software developer, Tesla lost her brother in combat and has no intention of getting close to someone else in the military. Determined to save other US soldiers from a similar fate, she's created a program that could save lives. But other countries know about the program, and they won't stop until they get it and get her.

Time is running out... For her... For him... For them...

Praise for Dale Mayer.

I love to read Dale Mayer's books... keeps me guessing.... I am getting good though trying to figure out who did it.... I am on my fourth book....

...Review left on Vampire in Deceit, book 4 of Family Blood Ties.

Dale Mayer's work is always outstanding and Haunted by Death is no exception.

...Review from Haunted by Death, book 2 of the By Death Series.

This is a GREAT series that you don't want to miss out on!

...Review from Broken Protocols Series.

This is my favorite author I enjoy all her books and I can't wait for more... her books are easy to get into and I love the storyline ...Review from Dangerous Designs, book 1 of the Design Series.

Dale Mayer is a gifted writer who now has me hooked as a new fan. She characters are complex and she shares her knowledge of energy work clearly and simply. Makes for fascinating reading...

...Review from Rare Find, book 6 of Psychic Visions Series.

Don't underestimated Dale Mayer. Combination of JD Robb and Heather Graham. Paranormal suspense.........

...Review left on Maddy's Floor, book 3 of the Psychic Visions Series.

Wow! I read a lot, and I can honestly say that there a few books that I have read that I will remember for years. This is one of those books. Thank you Dale for giving me the gift of this magnificent story. It was both heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time.

...Review left on Skin, book 1 of Broken and yet...Healing Series.

Touched by Death is an outstanding novel by Dale Mayer. Unlike her usual novels that contain paranormal activity, this novel is sheer malevolent actions from ordinary humans.

...Review left on Touched by Death, book 1 of By Death Series.

Dale's books are spellbinding in more ways than one. She has a unique way with words. Her characters are fun and funny and loving. I love the way the story flows. Her characters all have personality. She takes you from suspense to love, then fear love and eternal love.

...Review left on Second Chances, book 1 of Second Chances... at Love Series.

Chapter 1.

IT WAS A s.h.i.+tty day to die. And sure as h.e.l.l wasn't on his d.a.m.n list of things to do when he got up this morning.

But with a gun pointed right at him by an old a.s.shole he'd been tracking, s.h.i.+t happened in its own time. Including in the jungles of Mexico.

Lieutenant Mason Callister slowly straightened, his hard gaze unwavering on his foe's face. "Daniel Hardesty. Nice to see you again."

The grin on Daniel's face was enough to make most men cringe. But Mason wasn't most men. And he cringed for no one.

Least of all this guy. Daniel had washed out during BUD/S training. h.e.l.l week had kicked his b.u.t.t and had kept on was.h.i.+ng his sorry a.s.s all the way back home. The two men had been friends once. But not making it through the worst week of his life had left a bitter taste on Daniel's lips. He'd finished his time and walked away from the military first chance he had.

It happened that way for some people. Not everyone could handle failure. For some defeat ate a bitter corner into their psyche where it festered.

He'd never have thought that would be Daniel's path, but h.e.l.l week changed a man. For better or for worse. For Mason, it was that tilt of the hat that said he could handle anything. He'd already known it but having that added to his life achievements, well there'd been no feeling like it before or since.

Apparently, failing had an effect on Daniel for the same reason. He'd quit and gone to the other side a mercenary for anyone with enough money to pay for his services.

"It's nice to see you too, Mason," Daniel said affably. "Especially as you're looking down the end of my gun."

With a slight nod of his head, Mason gave him the point. Not that anyone was keeping score. "And the woman? Where is she?"

Daniel's grin widened. "Not your problem."

"Maybe not, but she is going to be your problem."

"I see you know her." Daniel slapped a hand over his cheek and slowly rubbed the long red scratches visible between his fingers. "That d.a.m.n woman is a pain in the a.s.s. She deserves everything coming to her."

Mason's insides iced over. There were a lot of reasons for a woman to fight so hard she'd scarred Daniel and none of them were good. "Being sold to the highest bidder? Really? She deserves to be kidnapped? Beaten?" There would be worse treatment for her too, both men had seen too much of it. Neither needed to bring it out in the open.

"She's developing new military tracking software. And she won't share it." Daniel shrugged. "So what does she expect?"

She expected her country to protect her. And Mason had no intention of failing. "So, she's alive?"

"So far. If she doesn't give over...well, you know how it is." Daniel tilted his head as if listening for something.

Mason did indeed. "Waiting for someone?" he asked casually.

"Not you. You're a dead man and she's going to be picked up in about...thirty minutes." He glanced down at the watch on his wrist.

That was just about enough time. Mason hoped.

A hawk cried, the large bird presumably circling overhead. Mason made as if to look up but kept an eye on Daniel. Sure enough Daniel looked up to search for the bird. He'd gotten slack. c.o.c.ky.

That was all the time Mason needed. He dove forward, grabbed Daniel's leg. The gun went off, but he'd lost his aim as he went down. Mason didn't waste any time, he took Daniel out in seconds. The unconscious man lolled beside him as Mason quickly gave a responding hawk call in return. Hawk, one of the men on his team, had taught them all how to imitate the powerful birdcall. Now they used it to signal between the six team members.

His men separated from the trees around them. Daniel never had a chance but he hadn't known it. Typical.

"We need to find her. We've got thirty minutes before she's to be picked up."

As silently as they moved out of the trees, they slid back into the forest. They knew Tesla Landers was here somewhere close by. And her time was running out.

Mason secured Daniel, resisting the urge to kill the b.a.s.t.a.r.d for hurting the woman, but he was too valuable to kill. They needed the intel he had.

Someone would swing by and pick him up in a few minutes.

Now for Tesla. She came first.

Chapter 2.

TESLA LANDERS HER friends had loved it when the car company started up, saying the two of them were well matched, both with innovative ideas, drive and a sleek look glared at the dark plank wall in front of her. Tears threatened but she refused to let them drop. She had to stay strong. She had to believe she'd be rescued. That she had value to both sides in this war and not just the wrong one.

She had to trust.

Or else she was lost.

And staying strong wasn't an option it was everything. Everyone had a breaking point. She refused to consider this was hers.

She would survive.

She closed her eyes and for the hundredth time in the last hour she let the litany of bolstering sayings ripple through her mind.

She could do this.

She would do this.

Every disaster had a silver lining.

The military looked after their own.

She was a valuable member of the team. Or would be if she could close the d.a.m.n deal.

She couldn't help but worry that even for all those things, they might not find her in time. The SEALs were good, but they weren't perfect. She clenched her jaw, willing the cry to stay hidden within. Her arms had been yanked and secured behind her, the pain so bad she'd bitten the inside of her cheek to hold back her sobs. She'd be d.a.m.ned if she'd let the a.s.sholes know they were hurting her. They looked like the kind of guys to get an extra jolly out of that.

Now, every breath she took, her ribs expanded and pulled on her shoulders. She knew she would move past the pain into a numb state eventually, but she wasn't there yet. She closed her eyes, wondering how the h.e.l.l she'd gotten to this place in life. Right because she wanted to save lives. Or rather, she didn't want more unnecessary lives lost like her brother's. He'd been stationed in Iraq when the truck he was riding in had driven over a land mine. No one had survived.

A techie since diapers, she'd been determined to find a way to track the weapons used against her countrymen and save more of the brave soldiers like Harry. To find the land mines before they were triggered. And that technology was what the enemy wanted. Why had she never really considered that if her software could save her people then other countries would want it to save theirs?

And how the h.e.l.l had they known what she was working on? That bugged her. She'd been working as quietly as possible. The only answer was someone had sold her out. And d.a.m.n it, that hurt. She knew her team. Loved them all. To think of someone doing such a thing broke her heart. Maybe they were desperate for money, but it could have been they were desperate to save someone instead. It was obvious the enemy wasn't planning on holding back and didn't care who they killed to get what they wanted. The only reason she was alive still was they wanted more from her. The software hadn't been completed. There were bugs still. A few things to pull together. But it was so d.a.m.n close. They'd kill her once it was operational.

Therefore, they might as well kill her now.

Her team could finish the job for the Pentagon.

Maybe.

A tree branch rustled against the wall in front of her sending a heavy wave of pine scent into her nostrils. The shack was so old and rickety she figured a good shove and it would collapse. The sound came again.

She froze. Please don't let it be him again. The leader of this pack had terrified her. That he was as American as she was, made it all that much worse. She hated him. What he was doing. Why he was doing it. He'd been very voluble in what was happening and why. His explanations made her hurt that people like him existed. Poor humanity. It was doomed.

According to him, she was to be collected in an hour and taken to her new owner. Just putting collected and owner together in the same sentence with her name made her cringe. And that hour was well gone. She had no idea where the men were, but as she had nowhere to go, and couldn't move to begin with, she lay frozen on the bed. And waited for someone to help her.

And hoped she hadn't been forgotten or deemed not important.

A tiny drilling sound started right in front of her face. A minuscule hole opened up. She tried to s.h.i.+ft back so her face wasn't in the firing line, but a tiny white light flashed in her eyes regardless. A startled exclamation sound followed with the light being immediately shut off.

She had nowhere to go. No place to hide.

The door opened quickly. She tried to sit up so she could see but could only lift her head and twist. The doorway was empty. Groaning, she flopped back down.

"d.a.m.n wind."

"Yeah, wind, that's me." A deep husky whisper floated over her head then suddenly hot breath rippled against her neck. She closed her eyes, shaking, waiting. Friend or foe?

A hand slapped over her mouth. Her eyes opened in shock, and she tried to pull back. Only the restraint holding her arms back released. Her mouth opened, a soundless cry escaped.

"Shh. Not a sound."

Her body shuddered in agony as her arms flopped forward.

"I'm here to rescue you," he whispered in low tones. "Do you understand?"

She shot him a fulminating look but gave a short clipped nod.

He slowly removed his hand. "Good. I'm going to sit you up and straighten your shoulders, so they will ease up faster. Ready?"

She nodded again. Like h.e.l.l she was ready. Was anyone ever? But he gently helped her into a sitting position, her arms falling uselessly at her side.

He grabbed her shoulders and forcibly moved them back and forth, rotating them one at a time. Then he grabbed one arm and gave it a shake. He squeezed her hand. "Squeeze back."