Playboy (The Trident Series II: BRAVO Team #4)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Playboy climbed out of the transport, feeling the usual rush of adrenaline tapering off now that their mission was over. It had been a surprisingly short, clean operation with no major issues. It was just how they liked it. He glanced around at the team and could tell that they were all ready to settle back into some normalcy, at least for a few days.

As they made their way inside their building and down the hall to their gear room, Playboy spotted Derek waiting for them.

Derek’s face was serious, his expression a mix of concern and uncertainty. Neither expression sat well with Playboy, and his instincts kicked in immediately—something was wrong.

“Commander,” Bear called out, looking like he had picked up on the vibe as well.

“Welcome back,” Derek began. “And congratulations on a successful mission.” He then motioned toward the room. “Let’s go inside and talk.”

Once they all entered the room and set their gear down, all eyes were on their commander.

“Before I explain, know that everyone is safe. However, there was a situation earlier today at Bear and Jocelyn’s house.”

Playboy saw concern and worry in Bear’s expression increase as he stepped forward. “What the hell happened? Are Joce and the kids okay?”

Derek held his hand up. “Let me repeat myself. Everyone is fine. That includes Jocelyn and the kids. Hannah and baby Izzy. As well as Clover and Gabby.”

Derek then began to explain what happened and how the girls called him, but he couldn’t get over there, so he called Tink, and Tink and a few of his guys went and checked things out.

Playboy’s stomach was in knots as Derek explained the situation. His mind went blank for a split second, then roared to life with worry and anger.

Bear’s face darkened in anger when Derek told them that Amira had been outside with Gabby when she saw the car.

“But everyone’s okay, right?” Playboy asked, needing to hear Derek confirm it one more time. He could already feel the heat rising in his chest, the protective instinct roaring to the surface.

“I assure you, they’re all fine,” Derek said, his voice steady though the tension was still thick. “Gabby, Jocelyn, Clover, Hannah, the kids—everyone’s safe. Tink went out, but the car was gone by the time he got there. He did find a pile of cigarette butts right where Gabby said the car had been.”

“Someone was watching,” Bear growled, fists clenched at his sides. Playboy could see his friend’s shoulders bunch up, the thought of his daughter being in danger igniting an all-too-familiar rage. But the fire in Playboy’s own chest was burning just as hot.

The cigarette butts. That meant someone had been sitting there, waiting. For how long? And for what?

Derek looked at Duke. “Tink sent one of his guys to watch over Hannah and Izzy, just in case. We don’t know if this person’s a threat or not, but we didn’t want to take any chances.”

“I appreciate that,” Duke said, concern etched on his face as well.

Playboy’s mind was racing. Who the hell would be creeping around Bear’s place? One of the possibilities that crossed his mind was whether this could be connected somehow to Gabby’s accident.

Suddenly, Jay Bird broke the silence. “Do we know yet which cartel was behind the drugs that were involved in Gabby’s accident?”

The question hit like a punch. Playboy’s breath caught, and he could feel the ripple of realization pass through the group. Jay Bird had just put into words what he was thinking but hadn’t said out loud. Could this be revenge? Could someone from the cartel be targeting Gabby because of the money they lost? Because of the men they lost?

Derek’s frustration was evident. “DEA’s been keeping tight-lipped. They’re not releasing much, but I’ve got some feelers out. As soon as I hear anything, I’ll pass it along.”

Playboy's mind was already racing ahead, trying to piece it together. If this was cartel-related, if they had put a target on Gabby’s back, then that car sitting outside wasn’t just a coincidence. It was a threat.

After a few more exchanged words, the group dispersed. Playboy, without a word, hopped into his car, his body tense with the need to see Gabby. He followed Bear and Joker to Bear’s house, his foot heavy on the gas.

But then, as the trees blurred by, a thought struck him like a ton of bricks. Why was she at Bear’s house? He thought she was going camping with her teammates.

His grip on the steering wheel tightened, a mix of confusion and worry swirling in his gut. Something wasn’t adding up, and he needed answers. Fast.

◆◆◆

Playboy pulled up to Bear and Jocelyn’s house. He saw one of the Tink’s guys standing on the porch talking to Gabby. Just the sight of her brought him instant relief.

He exited the car and quickly made his way to her.

“Gabby!” He called out, his voice filled with urgency. And when she looked up and saw him, her eyes lit up.

“Tanner,” she said, her tone a mix of relief and concern. She hurried down the steps towards him.

As soon as she reached him, he pulled her into a hug and held her for what felt like minutes. He needed that reassurance that she was indeed okay.

Before he could ask any questions, she pulled back a little and started speaking. “Are you okay? How was the mission? Is everyone else okay?”

Playboy couldn’t help but smile at her concern. Here she was, possibly in danger, yet she was more worried about him. “We’re all fine, honey. Everything went smoothly,” he reassured her, pulling her into another tight hug. “But I’m here because I heard about what happened earlier.”

She pulled back slightly, looking into his eyes. “I know we can’t prove what that person was doing exactly, but I’m telling you, I could sense their eyes on me.”

He brushed a strand of her blonde hair away from her face, his expression serious. “I believe you. And you ladies did the right thing by calling Derek.”

He thought about telling her what they had discussed with Derek about the possibility of a connection with drugs. But then he decided to hold off until Derek could get more information. He didn’t want to worry her more than she already was.

But then he remembered the question he had for her.

“Why are you even here? I thought you were camping with the guys.”

“I was going to. But then Jocelyn invited me over to spend the day with her, Clover, and Hannah. As much as I love the guys from the team, I decided I wanted to spend time with my new family—my SEAL family. Plus, I got to work a little on the mural in Bear and Jocelyn’s room.”

Playboy’s heart swelled the moment Gabby said it. “My SEAL family.” The words caught him off guard, and for a second, everything else faded. All he could focus on was the warmth in Gabby’s voice and the way she smiled when she said it.

Her SEAL family.

He knew she would fit into their world. But hearing her claim his team and their families as her own? It hit him in a way he wasn’t expecting.

He couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride, not just in Gabby but in the life they were building together. She’d become part of this tight-knit circle without even trying, and his brothers—and their wives, their kids—had welcomed her with open arms.

He looked at her, his chest tightening with emotion. She belongs here. She belongs with me.

And there was nothing he wouldn’t do to protect her, to keep that sense of family and belonging strong for both of them.

“What do you say that we get out of here and go home?”

She smiled. “I’d love that.”