Bjornolf working for someone else and with a team now that he’d retired? Not likely.

He did find some appeal in the way the team worked together. After they arrived at a safe destination, they’d share beers or tequila, whatever was easy to obtain, thanking their lucky stars that they made it out alive after another difficult mission. They’d joke and let down their hair, commiserate, blow off some steam.

While he went his own way. They never even knew he’d shadowed them on another mission, taking down the bad guys they hadn’t realized were after them. He meant to revert to his old way of doing things. As a loner on his own, no family to worry about, no pack obligations.

A team like this would soon become family. He didn’t need or want the distraction.

The problem was that he couldn’t have taken out the guard who targeted Anna without her seeing him do it. So he was stuck being part of the team this time around. Just like the last time.

“Glad you could join us,” Hunter said to Bjornolf, his expression mostly somber because of the still precarious situation they were in. His dark brown eyes studied Bjornolf, judging him. Bjornolf could almost see the wheels in Hunter’s mind working furiously through the situation. Did Bjornolf want to be part of the team now? “We can certainly use your help in getting the family out of the jungle and safely home.”

“Couldn’t have my favorite SEAL team, and others,” Bjornolf said, making a point to slide his gaze Anna’s way, “come to harm.”

She cast him a quizzical glance over her shoulder, their gazes locking.

Unable to stop himself and amused at her reaction, he winked at her. He swore she had to be blushing under all that jungle paint as she gave him an annoyed look and continued on her way to provide security with Finn.

Catching sight of Bjornolf’s reaction to Anna, Allan snorted and folded his arms. “More likely Anna’s got his attention.”

Yeah, he was ready to spar again with the woman to prove to her that one alluring she-wolf would never get the upper hand with a SEAL. He’d wanted to kiss Anna ever since he’d met her during his last mission, gotten the best of her, and tied her up with her pantyhose, but he couldn’t make himself do it.

He shook his head at Allan. The man had a boyish charm. When he turned ninety in human years, he’d probably still have that look—wide-eyed innocence, dimples, raised brows. The look was totally deceiving. Under that charming appearance, he was all hardness like the rest of them.

“I don’t know about the rest of the guys, but I missed you, Bjornolf. Good to see you’re still kicking.” Paul clapped him on the shoulder, then crouched down and talked to the five-year-old boy. “What’s your name, son?”

“Jimmy.” Tears left a path of white streaks through the dirt on his face and his lower lip was trembling, but at least the question stopped his and his sister’s bawling.

“I’m going to give you a lift as we move through the jungle, okay? Piggyback ride?” Paul asked Jimmy.

The boy looked at his dad, who nodded. As dehydrated and fatigued as the dad and his brother appeared, Bjornolf knew they would have a hard enough time keeping up and staying on their own feet without having to carry a couple of kids.

Allan didn’t offer to transport the little girl. Finn safeguarded them from some distance away, leaving the others to decide how to handle the logistics of the situation. Hunter was in charge of the operation, so he needed to keep his hands free and his thoughts on the team and the freed hostages and couldn’t haul the girl himself. Anna didn’t seem to be into kids, but even so, she couldn’t carry a child that far without the effort putting a real strain on her.

Bjornolf sighed and stepped forward, towering over the tyke, and said, “Wanna horsey-back ride?” He thought a horse sounded much better than a pig.

She gazed up at him with wide, blue, tear-filled eyes. She was wearing tiny snowman earrings in honor of the season, reminding him again how she shouldn’t be here. The girl glanced at her mother.

Mom nodded. “Go with the man, Elsie. He’ll help get us out of here safely.”

“I’m Bjornolf,” he said, carefully pronouncing his name Byee-or-nulf so she’d understand it. His name meant bear-wolf, but she looked frightened enough without him sharing that additional information.

He probably should have met her eye to eye, like Paul had done with her brother. Then again, his face was covered in camouflage face paint like the rest of Hunter’s team. The strange streaks of olive green, black, muddy brown, and woodland gray markings all over their skin had to look scary.

Her lip trembled and he was afraid she would begin to bawl again. He quickly crouched down in front of her and dug out a camouflage face-paint stick.

“You want to wear some of this so you blend in with the jungle like the…” Bjornolf was going to say “snakes,” but he didn’t think that would appeal to her. “Jaguars who are covered in rosettes, spots,” he clarified. “It makes them almost invisible in the shadows of the jungle trees.”

Allan chuckled. Turning to look at Bjornolf, Anna raised her brows. With her mouth curved up and her eyes sparkling with humor, she looked highly amused. He wanted to ask if she needed any of her camouflage makeup redone because he’d be glad to help her out.

Finn glanced over his shoulder at him, a wry grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. Paul swore under his breath.

“Could we all look like the jungle cats?” Mom sounded hopeful that if they blended into the jungle more, they might get out of this alive.

Grinning, the boy nodded vigorously.

Before the party got under way, four of the SEALs were face-painting the humans, making them blend into the woods as much as possible, while Anna and Finn continued to provide security. Once that was done, the men made sure the family had enough to drink and eat. Then Bjornolf crouched, letting Elsie grab on to his field pack. He held on to her scrawny legs to keep her in place.

Vulnerable, he thought. Both he and Elsie were at a disadvantage, should they be attacked en route to the location where they would be transported out of the country. He felt his stomach tighten with disquiet. He liked being the ghost of a backup. No one knowing he was there. The bad guys died, never getting close to the team. No one to say thanks. No getting emotionally involved.

Except for the last mission he’d had with them, and he hadn’t believed he’d ever get that involved with the team again. That would have suited him fine.

To physically transport a human child out of a potentially volatile situation was also something foreign to him. He was the lone wolf, the hidden security, which fit his personality perfectly.

Paul carrying the boy and Bjornolf the girl, they walked in the center of the group. Mom and the dad led the way, while the dad’s brother hiked behind Bjornolf. Hunter was out in front, Allan bringing up the rear, while Anna and Finn flanked them in the jungle, providing cover to the left and right. Bjornolf couldn’t see them, but he kept thinking that was where he should be.

Elsie whispered, “Did you tell Santa what you want for Christmas?”

Anna instantly popped in his mind. He smiled to himself.

“Have to make up my list,” he whispered.

“I wanna iPad and a phone and a…” Elsie began listing all the colors, brands, and kinds of toys she wanted for Christmas while Bjornolf nodded absently, all the while attempting to listen for trouble.

He smiled to himself. He had to admit the idea of Anna sitting pretty under his Christmas tree sure appealed.

The going was slow, not because of the difficulty with the heat and humidity or the terrain, but because the two brothers and the mom were struggling to keep up. They huffed and puffed as he felt Elsie’s tension-filled legs loosen their grip on him. She’d fallen asleep.

Worrying that she might slip off, he paused. The uncle pulled the sleeping child off Bjornolf’s back and offered to carry her, despite his obvious lack of strength. He looked about done in with his shoulders stooped, sweat pouring off his face, and his eyes heavily lidded.

Bjornolf declined Jeff’s help and continued to carry Elsie in his arms. She was a dirty-faced little angel, her nearly black hair tangled and sweat plastering her bangs to her forehead. He felt a strange pang in the pit of his stomach.

Probably hunger. He hadn’t eaten in hours, he reminded himself.

He caught sight of Anna watching him. He couldn’t tell from her camouflaged expression what she thought. He shouldn’t have cared, but he was curious—as wolves were known to be. Was she amused by what he’d been roped into doing? Or maybe she felt a little sorry for him.

They had traveled for a couple of miles—although the thick jungle made it seem much farther—when he heard a startled male cry come from Anna’s direction. Everyone immediately crouched down. Heart pounding, Bjornolf knew to stay where he was and protect the child at all costs, but he damn well wanted to ensure Anna was okay.

She finally made a bird call, letting them know she was all right and to continue to move the family.

Still caught up in the anxiety that had seized him, he moved with the others, keeping alert, every muscle tense, ready to spring into action in the event of new danger.

Trouble didn’t take long to manifest itself.

The rat-ta-tat-tat of a spurt of gunfire off to his right meant Finn had his hands full. Then Bjornolf heard rustling to the left where Anna was watching their flank. Suddenly, Hunter was fighting a man in front of the group in hand-to-hand combat. Everyone came to an abrupt halt and crouched. Bjornolf handed the child off to the uncle, while Paul left the boy with his father. Bjornolf’s and Paul’s gazes met. Bjornolf motioned with his head toward Anna, indicating he was looking after her. Paul raised his brows a little.

Allan stayed with Hunter to safeguard the family while Paul joined Finn.

Bjornolf stealthily made his way to where he had last heard movement in Anna’s direction. He couldn’t find her. His heartbeat was racing when he heard her soft curse nearby. Even making that much of a sound seemed to be an effort for her.