Several SEALs, including Xavier, gathered round as George gave his account. He’d witnessed Jeb’s murder and watched as a man was forced at gunpoint into the lodge, his hand dripping with blood. He’d seen the other trainers all get dragged into the ballroom. He’d then gone to Jeb’s and set to work making weapons, unsure how he could use them, but aware his ability to move unseen in a forest combined with his knowledge of the lodge complex and surrounding woods could be used against the intruders.

Others chimed in when his account intersected with their experiences. A man she guessed was Paul Cohen due to his bandaged hand shared the story of a dead merc being shot with a nail to the eye in the wee hours of yesterday morning. Huang and Flyte had witnessed that body being dumped in the lake.

The mercenaries had no intention of taking their dead home, it seemed. How many more had been deposited in the lake? Cohen stated the mercenary leader’s words indicated at least two others had died.

The one Xavier killed in the forest, and possibly the man who fell from the ledge before the SEALs had jumped into the lake?

When those accounts were complete, Cohen cleared his throat. “There was another exchange I witnessed, between the leader and two goons.” His gaze shifted from Audrey to Xavier, then back to Audrey. “I believe these men were the ones who cornered you in one of the inholding cabins, Dr. Kendrick.”

“Audrey, please,” she murmured. She was fairly certain she knew what Cohen was about to reveal. Her hand went involuntarily to her belly. She’d gone from no one but her doctor knowing about the baby to telling Xavier, a group of mercenaries, and now a platoon of SEALs. Not the usual progression for sharing big news, but at least she was alive to do it herself. “They found my letter to Xavier.”

Cohen nodded.

“They know I’m pregnant.”

Again, Cohen nodded. He turned to Xavier. “But the part that interested the leader most was the fact that you are the father. It was the second time he’d made it clear he knows you.”

Xavier jolted. “Knows me? By face?”

“Yes. The first time was when I was delivered to him. He was angry when he saw me. Said I wasn’t Rivera.” He faced Audrey again. “He’d put a bounty on Rivera. He doubled it for you. He said…well, he said he wants to hurt you in front of Rivera.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Guilt threatened to swallow Xavier whole. This had been about him all along. It didn’t make sense. He was nothing. No one. Not a SEAL anymore. Just a trainer.

How could it be about him? This was a trial run for a vital op. If not Xavier, some other trainer would have planned it.