Sweet Affliction

Sweet Awakenings 4

Sweet Affliction After spending years serving his country as a Navy SEAL, Commander Nick Slater is ready for retirement. Mercenaries hired to kill him ambush him, and his plans take a drastic turn. AJ Harwood is facing one of the most difficult times of her life. A chance encounter with Nick Slater is the last thing she wants, yet she is thrust into his world and trapped in its surroundings. AJ is Nick's only hope as he tries to find out who is out to kill him. With each passing day, more secrets are uncovered, and the reason behind the attack is revealed. Nick joins forces with his former teammates to find the person behind the high-priced hit put on all of their heads. As precious time ticks away, Nick and AJ are faced with the possibility that after finding each other, they may lose everything in an instant. Note: 10% of the author royalties on this book will benefit nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing educational assistance and support grants to families of wounded and fallen United States Navy SEALs. Genre: Contemporary Length: 76,232 words

SWEET AFFLICTION Sweet Awakenings 4

Nicole Morgan

EROTIC ROMANCE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer. WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at [email protected]

A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Erotic Romance

SWEET AFFLICTION Copyright © 2012 by Nicole Morgan E-book ISBN: 1-61926-549-4 First E-book Publication: June 2012 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Sweet Affliction by Nicole Morgan from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Nicole Morgan’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Morgan’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION This being the fourth book in my Navy SEALs series, I have learned a lot along the way about these men who so many look at as modern-day warriors. Navy SEALs are considered some of the most elite when it comes to our Special Operations Forces. Their training is rigorous, selective, and unforgiving in that only the most physically and mentally strong can survive and hope to graduate BUD/S to become a United States Navy SEAL. Over the years I have met some wonderful individuals in my quest to learn more about the SEALs so I would be able to properly depict them in my stories. During this time I have been blessed to form friendships with some of them. First and foremost I would like to dedicate this book, as well as the other three in this series, to Rob and Max. Without the guidance, support, and constant ear you two have provided me I do not think I would have a true appreciation or understanding for the men behind the Trident. So many times in today’s world with the constant media attention we can forget that our SEALs are not superheroes, but men. You two have been patient, kind, and understanding in my thirst for knowledge with not just the SEAL teams but with those who serve as a whole. I cannot begin to tell you both how much your time and friendship means to me. I am truly honored to know you both. I would also like to say thank you to Sheri (the best #ToolKitFriend ever), Dave, and Toni. All three of you have been true friends in every sense of the word, and I thank you for standing by my side through thick and thin. And to my friend Kim, where would I be without you? Probably talking to myself, that’s where. Thank you for always being available through the good times and bad. Lastly, 10% of the author royalties on this book will benefit nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing educational assistance and support grants to families of wounded and fallen United States Navy SEALs. So please enjoy this book, lose yourself in the story of Nick and AJ, knowing that some of the proceeds from your purchase of this book are being given back to those who have done so much for all of us.

SWEET AFFLICTION Sweet Awakenings 4 NICOLE MORGAN Copyright © 2012

Chapter 1 He dove in the water as bullets sprayed against the waves. Applying pressure to his side, he kicked and tried to achieve more distance than depth between him and the men firing at him. He swam under the boat and to the other side so they wouldn’t have a chance to hit him again. What the fuck had just happened? How had he gone from enjoying a cold beer with a former teammate to watching a trail of blood drip from his forehead and nearly two dozen men carrying an arsenal of weapons boarding the small yacht? He ignored the gutwrenching realization that his friend of nearly twenty years was dead. The cold stare of shock in Tom’s face as he fell forward told him he was killed instantly. A single shot from a sniper had taken out a man who served his country for over twenty years while managing to live to tell about it. The whizzing sound of bullets hitting the water was becoming more distant. Despite being hit he was still a strong swimmer. His training had saved his life more than once, and this time proved to be no different. If his bearings were right and he wasn’t disoriented from blood loss, he’d estimate that he was about two miles from shore. If he swam around the south peninsula of the island, that would put him far out of the sights of whomever the hell was shooting at him. It

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would mean at least a three-mile swim. With blood loss and pain it wasn’t going to be easy, but he’d survived worse than this before so he had no doubts that this time would be no different. Exhausted and starting to feel light-headed, he tried not to panic. He had to remain focused. One thing he learned was that if he rested to float for even a moment he would tire even more so and never continue on. While he hoped the men firing at him assumed they were successful in their attempts to kill him as well, he couldn’t be too careful. They could be scouring the dark waters with a spotlight looking for any sign of him. The shore was in his sights now. He kept on, kicking with everything that he had despite the burn in his muscles. If he was able to use his full strength it probably wouldn’t be so strenuous on him, but having to hold his side in an effort to diminish some of the pain left him somewhat handicapped. When he was so close to the shore his kicks met with more sand than distance he finally rested, allowing the surf to carry him the rest of the way. His mouth filled with sand as his body swept up to the soft beach. He laid there for a moment, breathless and physically spent. The pain from his right side where the bullet hit was radiating to his arm, rendering it useless. It took all his will to use his other arm, the muscles still burning from his several-mile swim. He crawled farther up the beach, not wanting to chance the waves that carried him in to safety pulling him right back out again. There was a small opening against the cliff. It was only a few yards away but seemed to be so much farther. He crawled to what would be his shelter for the night. Echoes of his BUD/S instructors shouting at him for being a pussy swam in his mind. He was a United States Navy SEAL for Christ’s sake. Well at least for another month until he retired, that is. He was trained to never give up. What would they tell him in training? Take off your girlie panties and swim like a man with your balls swaying free in the water. It was a dumb-ass analogy, but it served the purpose at the time

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when he’d heard it. He had survived BUD/S training and twenty years in Naval Special Warfare. A measly bullet wound in his right side wouldn’t be the death of him. Somehow he managed to pull his shirt off. He couldn’t remember a time when he was this tired. Everything he’d ever experienced seemed like a drop in the bucket compared to this. The events of the past several hours flashed through his head. He arrived in town by small plane to meet up with Tom who had just begun to celebrate his retirement. Living large on the open sea he had called it. They ate some steaks that Tom’s onboard cook had managed to charbroil to near perfection while enjoying a couple of cold Coronas. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He still had two days on his leave, so the two had planned to fish and do nothing much of anything else. He shook his head as he replayed the events in his mind. None of it made sense. He was damn good at sensing danger. Hell, they both were. One minute they were laughing about some señorita who would hit on Tom every time he went to town, and the next the slow trail of crimson drew a line down his forehead, his eyes wide and surprised as they stared back at him. “Fuck!” Tom had given twenty-two years of his life to the navy. Why the hell did this have to happen a mere two weeks after his retirement? What in God’s name was going on? Once again, playing everything back through his mind over and over, he kept looking for some sort of a sign. Something he may have missed. Still he could find nothing. He had only known that type of surprise killing capable of three types of men—military, mercenaries, or the mob. None of those possibilities made any sense. Tom was a decorated war hero. He had saved countless lives in leading men on various missions. The military would have no reason to want him dead, except maybe the Taliban, but these men weren’t Taliban. He couldn’t see their faces

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behind their grease paint, but they moved much too disciplined to be a part of that sect. That ruled out his possibility of the mob as well. Aside from the cool, calculated methods of killing, they didn’t have the physical skill to move like a trained soldier. That was it. A trained soldier. These men moved like military, but something was off. A military force, even Special Forces for any country, would’ve been identifiable to him in one way or another, but they weren’t. These men were former military. Mercenaries, no doubt. The question was, why would mercenaries be after Tom? His friend had led a clean, by-the-book military career, only killing when it was required and the only means necessary. Tom never stepped on toes or used anyone to his advantage. Everyone on the teams looked up to and respected him. Those conclusions left him with only one possibility. These were foreign mercenaries, sent from another country to shut Tom up. Why would anyone want or need a former Navy SEAL dead when he was no longer a threat to them? Something wasn’t adding up, and he was becoming more and more tired. The blood loss was taking its toll. He needed to get medical attention, get the bullet removed and get stitched up. He was surprised he hadn’t gone into shock yet. Adrenaline had no doubt kept him going. Pushing up with his one good arm he tried to steady himself to stand. He was nearly on his feet when he collapsed from fatigue. If he just closed his eyes for a few minutes then maybe it would reenergize him. At least he hoped it would. He knew if he stayed here any longer he would either die of blood loss or those men would find him to finish the job. It was his last thought before he saw the barrel of a gun pointing down at him and his eyes closed.

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Chapter 2 Rex reached in the cooler, his hand moving around in the ice to pull out three beers before handing two of them to Jack and Adam. All three twisted the caps off before taking a healthy swig. He knew they had all three turned into a bunch of sappy asses, but he didn’t care. He was damn happy with how his life had turned out. Adam and Jack seemed to be of like minds, too. Jack with his new son, JJ, and Adam with brand-new bride, Chelsea. “Would you look at us? What a bunch of tough bad asses we are, huh?” Rex mocked them all. “Speak for yourself, big guy. I am every bit as much of a bad ass as I used to be,” Adam answered. Jack threw back his head in laughter. “Right, until Chelsea calls for you. Then it’s all, ‘what do you need, sugar.’ Yep, Mr. Bad Ass himself.” “Says the man with the baby monitor attached to his waistband where he used to holster a gun.” “Oh shit. He’s got you there, buddy. You’ve turned into one domesticated rebel.” Rex patted Jack’s shoulder. Now in complete hysterics, Adam set down his beer, crouched down on his knees and pretended to aim an invisible gun. “Freeze, bucko. Jack Peyton here! International Dad Extraordinaire. Drop your weapon or I’ll spray you with baby powder.” “Oh listen to the fucking comedians. You know damn well if my beautiful wife and handsome baby boy weren’t within shouting distance I’d kick both your asses to hell and back.” “Yeah, he doesn’t want to get in trouble,” Rex added.

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“Babe.” Jack’s wife Tamara stood in the patio doorway, smiling. “Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. Kick their asses. I’ll close the door so the others don’t hear.” All three men laughed, but Rex shouted back to her before she could close the door. “Traitor!” Jack set down his beer. “You heard the lady.” He made a joking attempt to put Adam in a headlock, and the two proceeded to take a few playful jabs at one another. Rex could only grin at the two men who for years served as his brothers on the teams, but who had more importantly become his friends. Jack had always been his friend dating back to BUD/S class, but Adam was someone he met years later. He was a good guy to have on your side in an ugly firefight, and he never had a problem with him. Somehow though, Jack and Adam had clashed many times over the years. He could remember countless times the two had run into one another, and an argument always ensued. Hell, Adam always was a cocky son of a bitch, but when the going got tough there was no better man to have on your side. “You two idiots look like Abbott and Costello.” Both of the men stopped, looked at Rex, then at each other and then back at Rex again. “Oh fuck.” Rex ran down the deck stairs, both Adam and Jack hot on his tail in pursuit, Jack with a pitcher of lemonade and Adam carrying a bowl of potato salad. “Rex! Get in here! Hurry!” Shelby shouted through the kitchen window. All three men froze, but Rex had a sense of foreboding. His beautiful wife wasn’t yelling at them for roughhousing in the backyard. He knew her like he knew no other. Her voice sounded anxious. In mere seconds all of them were entering the house to find out what was wrong. Each of them went to their wives and stood by their

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sides to find out what had them all looking so shocked. A sound from the television redirected Rex’s attention. He turned to see a live news report out of somewhere that appeared to be tropical. “Local authorities have yet to release any motive behind the attacks, but it is thought to have been the work of terrorists trying to send a message to the United States,” a serious-looking blonde reported. “What happened?” Jack asked. Adam picked up the remote and turned up the volume. “Constance, have they released the names of the Navy SEALs killed in the ambush?” a stocky male sitting behind a desk in some studio asked the field reporter. Rex’s stomach churned at the man’s question. More of his brothers had fallen, and by the hands of terrorists. Mother fuckers! When would this madness end? It was times like this that he wished he was still in. A quick side-glance toward his wife, and he knew she all but heard his thoughts. He took her hand in his to reassure her he wasn’t going anywhere before redirecting his attention back to the television. “Yes, Phil, they have. Commander Tom Drake, a recently retired United States Navy SEAL, was one of the men attacked and killed in the ambush. However, authorities have yet to release the name of the other Navy SEAL who was found badly injured and later was pronounced dead-on arrival after being transported to the Hospital de la Comunidad de Loreo.” “Horrible, simply horrible. Amber, please keep us posted on any updates from this tragedy.” The news anchor’s voice trailed off as anguish roiled up inside Rex. Jack turned the volume down when the news switched to an irritatingly inappropriate commercial for a clothing store, which showed people dancing and singing all because they had the newest and hippest pants. Didn’t television networks have a conscious? They

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should have a moment of silence once a breaking-news alert like that airs. He pulled away from Shelby and went to sit on the nearby couch. Placing his elbows on his knees, he dropped his head in his hands and shook it from side to side. He had known Commander Drake, worked with him on more than one mission. Hell, he led the search-andrescue team that had led to Jack and him being saved all those years ago in Colombia. “Rex?” Shelby went to him and placed an arm around him after sitting beside him. “Did you know him?” He didn’t answer. It was just so unbelievable. He remembered hearing about his retirement party after the fact and wished he had known about it sooner so he could’ve gone. That was only three weeks ago. “Drake was the guy who led the team which rescued us several years back,” he answered Shelby. The room was filled with an overwhelming sense of sadness. Rex knew Jack would be upset by the news and understood why, but he hadn’t been prepared for the cold stare on Adam’s face. He looked nearly frozen in shock. “You all right, man?” he asked him. Adam stood there, no reaction whatsoever. Rex knew out of the three of them Adam was always the cooler, less emotional of the men, but this was different. Something was off. “Adam, you’re scaring me. Say something,” Chelsea insisted. Rex shook his head at his friend’s new bride. She was sensitive and so very sweet, the exact opposite of her new husband. Sometimes he wondered how the hell the two even meshed together, let alone well. Adam could be an unattached son of a bitch at times and just shut down. This seemed to be one of those times. Calmly, Adam turned to Chelsea and gave her a soft kiss on her cheek before giving her a reassuring smile. “I’m going to go for a little walk. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

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“Adam, please don’t go. Stay here and talk to me. Talk to us.” He was out the door though before she finished. Rex felt sorry for her. At times she looked so timid, and he wondered if all her scars had healed from everything she’d been through. She’d just gotten away from an abusive relationship when she met Adam and became embroiled in his revenge plot against the mob boss who had killed his fiancée and their unborn baby. Soon after she was kidnapped, and to this day he didn’t know how badly she had been hurt in that ordeal. He knew Drake’s death was probably a shock to Adam, but he wished the guy would get his shit together sometimes and consider others. Clearly embarrassed for the way Adam had walked away from her in front of a room full of people, and so very true to her loving nature, she turned toward the others and said, “He gets like that sometimes. He doesn’t mean anything by it. He’ll be back soon.” Shelby and Tamara followed her into the kitchen. It seemed a moment of sisterly understanding was in order. “He can be such a dick sometimes,” Jack said quietly. “Yeah, I know.” They both sat there in disbelief. It was bad enough when a team member was killed in action, but to have someone like Commander Drake, one who epitomized all they stood for, live through over twenty years of service, proudly serving his country, only to be killed mere weeks after his retirement seemed to be a sick twist of fate. “He never married or even dated that much. He always said he’d settle down and meet the right woman after he served his country,” Jack muttered. “It’s not fucking fair. He was a good man.” “Yeah. That he was, brother. That he was.” Jack patted Rex’s shoulder. “It puts things into perspective you know. I wonder who the other one killed was.” Rex was interrupted by Adam coming back in the house.

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He watched as Adam calmly walked outside to the back deck, reached in the cooler, and retrieved three beers. Quietly and without making eye contact he handed two of them to his friends. Removing the caps they raised them to clink with one another. “To Tom Drake, one of the finest men there ever was. Fair winds and following seas, brother,” Adam said. “Hooyah!” Jack added. Rex couldn’t be sure, because Adam refused to look at either of them, but his voice sounded strained, and his eyes looked a bit weary. He pondered for a moment that his tough-as-nails, don’t-give-a-shitabout-anyone-but-himself friend had actually cried on his brief walk, but quickly dismissed the idea. Tears just weren’t something he thought Adam was capable of. “Adam, you’re back so soon.” Chelsea came to sit beside him on the arm of the couch. Rex watched him. One minute the insensitive jack ass, the next a smooth-as-silk operator. He pulled Chelsea on his lap and gave her a loving kiss. “Now didn’t I tell you I would be?” Rex gave Jack a knowing nod of what the fuck. The man was a walking contradiction. He knew it, Jack knew it, hell even Chelsea knew it. Yet the way she looked at her husband with such adoration showed she didn’t really care.

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Chapter 3 Nick woke up to the sound of a woman’s voice. She seemed stressed by something. For some reason everything looked blurry. Blinking several times, he tried to focus the haze away that was clouding his vision, but the more he tried the harder it became. His head felt like it was swimming. A bright light shone somewhere above him, and he felt like he was floating. A memory of guns being fired and him swimming came to him. He was tired. He remembered being exhausted and thinking of his friend. He was missing something. Why was he so disoriented? The more he tried to open his eyes, the beam shining at him seemed to get brighter and more unbearable. Fighting for some sense of balance, he extended his hands out to brace himself from falling, but there was nothing to hold on to. It was as if he was suspended in midair. The calming sense of peace that was washing over him made him feel as though he was flying through the air yet only moving at a snail’s pace. Again he could hear the woman’s voice. She seemed so upset. A man was with her. They were arguing. Something happened to a man. He was injured and another was dead. That was all he could make out as the two continued to argue. He wondered who was hurt and what happened to the man who had died. Despite the anger he could hear in the woman’s voice, he felt sorry for her. He sensed something else, too. Fear. The poor thing seemed to be terrified despite her bravado. He’d always had a soft spot for women. Protecting women, watching

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over them, making sure they were safe. Hell, it was one of the reasons he had joined the navy in the first place. The navy. His navy. He was a SEAL. He’d been shot. And Tom…oh shit. It all came flooding back to him. Bits and pieces were slowing restoring themselves into his memory bank. He knew his long-time friend and former teammate, Tom Drake, had been killed. No. Not killed, but murdered. It was a cold and calculated assassination. The men on the boat. They’d shot him just before he was able to jump overboard and swim to safety. A piercing moment of dumbstruck realization fell on him. He thought he’d been safe. Suffering from fatigue and blood loss, he crawled to shelter and to hide from whoever had been shooting at him. He remembered seeing the barrel of a gun staring down at him right before he lost consciousness. Oh shit, he thought to himself. He’d thought he swam to safety, but the sons of bitches who shot his friend had tracked him all the way to the beach where he ended up. All that fucking swimming to get away, and in the end he was dead anyway. That’s why he felt like he was floating. And the bright light…well, he guessed it was true what they said about the afterlife. Knowing all this though, something still didn’t seem right. So his friend and he were killed by some foreign mercenaries. But arguing? In heaven? He sure as hell couldn’t be in hell. He was too damn happy. Hell was supposed to a whole lot scarier than bright lights and peaceful feelings of floating throughout the air. It was the arguing. People didn’t argue in heaven. Did they? Granted he had never been to heaven before, but surely they had a nobickering, no-raising-your-voice rule. He found it hard to believe that God would allow people to live in the eternal afterlife filled with angst and hostility. “See now, look what you’ve done. He’s starting to wake up. He needs his rest. You mustn’t be so loud,” the man’s voice scolded the woman.

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Even through his blurred vision he was able to make out the form of a large figure coming toward him. It was a man. The same man he’d heard talking just moments ago, he assumed. Whoever he was, he picked up something long and seemed to stare at it for several minutes. He felt the strangest sensation of his arm being raised in flight, much like that of a bird. Maybe he was flying. Shit, maybe he really was dead and God had made him an angel. Stranger shit had happened before, right? He considered the possibility. Maybe it took a while to get used to your wings or something. Sure, he had killed his fair share of tangos in his day, but he’d always prayed to the lord after, asking for forgiveness and seeking redemption. Never having been forced to go to church when he was a boy, he was never quite sure of the right thing to do. Surely, those actions were close to what God might deem appropriate after you kill a man. The woman’s voice interrupted him from his thoughts. She was past being distraught now. She was full-on crying. He could hear the sound of her voice cracking as she fought against her emotions. The poor thing was terrified and very shaken up by this man she kept referring to. He didn’t know who this man was, but heaven or no heaven he wanted to kick his ass. No man should make a woman cry like that. Women were gentle creatures to be cherished and looked after. They weren’t made for men to hold their power over them, making them fearful. When he was used to his new surroundings he would give the woman a hug, anything to make her feel better. He wondered how long that would be as he listened to the couple continually go back and forth with raised voices. All he knew was the man they were fighting over was someone she feared and he respected. It all seemed so very strange. Too bad he couldn’t go back and tell the world how wrong they were. Heaven, in all its beauty and peace, still held conflict.

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A strange feeling shot up his arm. He had felt it before. It seemed familiar. It was unpleasant, though he couldn’t remember why the feeling registered as something he’d experienced before. Perhaps going to heaven came with memory loss. Ouch! What the fuck was that? Any amount of serenity he felt just seconds ago suddenly vanished. Pain. That’s what it was. The mother of all pain shot through his body and seemed to be felt the strongest in his arm. What the hell kind of heaven is this? A life ever after filled with people bitching at each other while he suffered in pain? He didn’t like this one damn bit. Maybe it wasn’t heaven though. Maybe he really was in hell. Paying penance for having killed all those people while serving his country was no surefire ticket to get in the pearly gates. Could it be that everyone had it wrong? Was hell really a place that mind fucks you, giving you the feeling of peace and tranquility right before they yank the rug out from underneath you and say, “Sorry Charlie, you be fucked!” He couldn’t help but notice that the woman’s voice went from shaking and anxious to a feeling of concern and remorse. Something about this man again. He was racing or something to that effect. What the fuck was this jerk who was making her cry out racing for? She was obviously upset. He should be here tending to her. Insensitive men really pissed him off. They gave all the rest of them a bad name. Not that any of that mattered anymore. He was dead and all. “He’ll be fine. I’ll give him another dose of morphine, and his heart rate will stabilize.” “You’re sure?” the woman asked. “Yes, I’m sure. I was trying to wean him off of it little by little so he could start to gain his strength back, but the trauma his body went through was too severe. It’s too soon.” Morphine, huh? Well he must be in hell then. He can’t imagine anyone needing morphine in heaven. So the man they fought about so passionately was hurt and needed painkillers. Interesting.

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“I didn’t mean those things I said. Honest, I didn’t. I’m just scared. If whoever did this finds out what you’ve done…” He listened to the husky voice apologize to the man whom she’d been yelling at mere minutes ago. He found it so strange that this one man was affecting two people’s lives so much. He always had been a strong believer in the old adage, live and let live. It was foolish that these two were wasting so much of themselves on a man who was apparently nothing but a giant headache. Wait. These two weren’t dead. They were very much alive. They didn’t sound like two restless spirits. Not that he knew what restless spirits sounded like, but the fear he’d sensed in her voice was accurate. She was afraid, afraid for her life. Whoever this mystery man was, it was obvious he was trouble with a capital T. He could have continued with his thoughts, but pure ecstasy flooded his senses and wrapped him up in a warm blanket. He felt so happy and content. The pain he felt just a bit ago was miraculously gone. This time he truly was flying. He could all but see himself soaring up in the clouds with the eagles. His eyes, which were mere slits of foggy illusion, closed as he gave in to an awesome feeling of bliss. **** “Are you sure no one will come?” “I am positive. You and I are the only ones who know about this room in the cellar.” “You keep saying that, but I’m not so sure,” the woman continued to prod him. “In all the time we’ve lived here, not one person has made mention of it. Obviously the doctor who lived here before us liked his secrets. Whatever he was into couldn’t have been legal.” “It just seems so risky. Why didn’t you just call the local authorities and let them handle it?”

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The man shook his head at her. She was always naïve, seeing the best in anyone and everyone. Even the corrupt Mexican Police terrorized everyone else in town with threats of potential accidents happening to their homes or family members if they didn’t pay the un-taxable under-the-table protection fee. “Sweetheart, for the last time, I did what I felt I had to do at the time. Would I have done it again given the same set of circumstances a second time around? I don’t know. But I do know that in that single moment I was faced with a choice.” “And you believe you’ve made the right one?” she questioned him. “Yes, I do. This man, if he is who he appears to be, wouldn’t have been treated with any amount of respect or care. He probably would have died.” “Another thing you keep saying. But you don’t know that, Dad.” Frustrated and running out of patience, he snapped at his daughter. “No, I do not know that! I suspect it to be true though. He bears the tattoo of a trident. He had a United States Navy ID in his wallet. The man didn’t serve his country to be treated like a piece of shit like the local police.” He held up his hand in mock protest. “No! I don’t want to hear another word on the subject. I’m tired, and I need to rest.” “Oh, God. I’m so sorry. I’ve been horrible to you. I haven’t even asked you how you’ve been feeling. I’m just so scared.” The young woman came to her father and wrapped her arms around him. “I love you, Dad.” He kissed the woman who stood before him while he recalled memories of her dancing in a pink tutu. Her hair was up in pig tails, and she did the cutest little twirls on her tiptoes. “I know, sweetheart. I love you, too.”

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Chapter 4 Adam came into the kitchen, freshly showered after his morning jog. The three-mile run did little to relieve the frustration he felt that two brothers had lost their lives while they had been sitting leisurely on a boat somewhere off Isla Coronado. Some of his tension subsided, if only a little, when he saw Chelsea standing in front of the sink, rinsing his plate. “I would’ve gotten that, babe.” She turned her head sideways and gave him a sarcastic grin. “Uh huh. Maybe in a few hours.” He threw back his head in laughter. She knew him well and was right. He probably would’ve left it sitting there on the counter for hours before he bothered to even set it in the sink. “Well maybe it just turns me on to see you standing there washing my dishes.” Placing the sink in the dishwasher, she then closed it, wiped her hand on towel, and turned to him. “Wow, you horny? What are the odds?” “Oh, I see we’re a wise ass this morning. Maybe I’ll have to spank you until you behave.” He didn’t give her a chance to argue but instead pulled her close to him and planted a firm hand on her ass. “Ouch!” “Shut it. You love it and you know it.” The phone rang, interrupting their playful banter. “Hold that thought,” he told her. “Hello?”

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Adam walked into their living room, picked up the remote, and turned it on. “What channel?” Chelsea followed him. “What is it?” He held up a finger to his mouth to silence her. “Yeah, man, I’ll call you back.” He handed the phone to Chelsea and sat in one of the two chairs that flanked the sofa as he listened to the reporter. “This is Amber Sorensen reporting live from Isla Coronado just off the coast of Mexico. The Department of Defense and the United States Navy have released the name of the other SEAL killed in the ambush of two nights ago by a yet-to-be-named terrorist organization. Commander Nick Slater was found alive but later pronounced deadon-arrival after being transported to a local-area hospital.” Adam closed his eyes in disbelief. Slater? What the fuck was going on? A recently retired SEAL and one who was set to get out in mere weeks? “What a simply awful blow to the Naval Special Warfare community, Amber.” “Indeed it is, Phil. In a sad and shocking twist of events, it seems that Commander Slater was also set to retire and had only a month left to serve. No official statement has been released, but it is believed that both men were unarmed and unprepared for the attacks that took their lives.” “Thank you, Amber. Please keep us posted with any more news as it becomes available.” “Certainly, Phil.” Adam hit the power button and set the remote down on the coffee table. The news of Drake yesterday had been a big enough blow, but Slater, too? He was a damn good operator. Hell, they both were. All three of them had been on the operation to rescue Jack and Rex all those years back when things went high and right. “Did you know him?” His sweet wife’s soft voice was like a drug to his restless soul. Her hand covered his, and she laced her fingers underneath, grabbing

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on tight. He looked to her and wondered how the hell he ever ended up with someone like her. She was so petite and dainty, yet on the inside had a strength like no one he had ever known. He squeezed her hand in return. “Yes. I knew him well.” Bringing her hand to his mouth, he gently kissed it. “I’m so sorry, Adam.” “Come here.” He pulled her into his lap and pulled her head to lay into the crook of his neck. The position looked as though he was shielding her from harm, comforting her from pain, but in actuality holding her like this was what calmed him. It was selfish to admit, but he needed her. Many nights she had been a comfort to him when he’d awoken from a nightmare as he recalled the night his one-time fiancée and mother of his unborn child was murdered. Chelsea was his world, his strength. Holding onto one another she asked, “What can I do?” “Come with me when it’s time to go?” She gave him a look of confusion. “Adam, I would go anywhere with you. You know that. But go where?” “Coronado Island.” Chelsea looked at him even more confused, but he appreciated her not pressing. If there was one thing his wife had learned about him, it was when to push and when to drop something. He was grateful for her smile. “Of course I will.” “Thanks, baby.” **** Jack walked into Rex’s house and gave his brother a knowing look of remorse. They were both thinking the same thing. Two men who’d helped ensure their future and saved their lives were now dead. It was fucked up on so many levels he couldn’t quite make sense of it.

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Rex gave Tamara his customary kiss on the cheek and kissed his godson, JJ, before she joined Shelby in the other room. “Adam and Chelsea here yet?” “No. Should be here shortly.” They both heard the sound of Adam’s Charger pull up and decided to meet him on the porch. They walked out and were greeted with a soft smile and a kiss from Chelsea before she retired inside to join Tamara and Shelby. “How you doing, man?” Rex asked, placing a comforting arm around Adam. Adam didn’t answer but instead walked in the house and went straight for Rex’s den. He and Rex followed him in there, and he shut the door. “You don’t look so good,” he told Adam. The two didn’t always see eye to eye, but he knew what the guy was going through. Adam only shrugged as he looked out the window into Rex’s backyard. There was an awkward silence in the room. None of them ever really knew how to deal with Adam when he shut down. No one except for Chelsea, but he assumed that she had already done everything she could. It was up to Adam now to decide if he wanted to talk or clam up. “One month. One fucking month!” Adam snapped. Jack knew he was referring to Slater being so close to retirement. The fact that both men were killed while not on a mission—Drake already retired—didn’t seem like a point that would be appropriate to make at this time. At the end of the day, both men were dead. Retired or not retired didn’t seem to be a deciding factor for whoever ambushed them. Again silence filled the room. Rex and he weren’t stupid. Adam’s statement hadn’t required a response. He was merely thinking aloud. Any further comment, even if agreeing with him, would only end in anger from their friend. They needed to let Adam deal with this in his

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own way. Adam and Nick were like brothers. Not team brothers but like real brothers. Having been swimming partners in BUD/S class and serving on the same team for most of Adam’s career, he knew this was hitting him harder than most. “I’d like you guys to be there.” Rex eyed Jack curiously before asking, “There?” Adam turned to the two men then. For the first time since he had arrived they were both getting a good look at his eyes. They were red. Not from tears but from no sleep. Jack hoped he wasn’t having nightmares again. Tamara had told him that Chelsea broke down months ago and turned to her for a shoulder to cry on. It seemed their friend suffered from post-traumatic stress. He didn’t ask too many questions, only listened to what little Tamara did tell him. From what he could gather it stemmed from watching his fiancée and unborn child being gunned down in front of him. He remembered thinking at the time that he was damn grateful that the shit they had seen in war hadn’t claimed sleepless nights of yet another brother. “To Coronado NAB.” Coronado NAB was just off the coast of San Diego and home to the United States Naval Amphibious Base. Jack cocked an eyebrow at Rex. The two had known each other for so long that they could communicate with the simplest of gestures. Rex shrugged his answer and shook his head. Clearly Rex didn’t know what Adam was talking about either. “Sure, we’ll be there.” Adam nodded and looked back out through the window. “I think he’d like that.” Jack motioned for Rex to ask him what the hell he was talking about because he had no clue. He assumed the funeral would be held at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, where Slater’s parents were buried. Rex and he had sent their condolences when Slater’s mother passed away several months back, but Tamara had been too pregnant to travel, and Rex and Shelby hadn’t wanted to miss the

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birth of their godchild in case she went into labor. Adam and Chelsea had attended the services though. “Brother, we’ll do whatever we need to. You know that. But um, why are we going to Coronado anyway? Isn’t he going to be buried at Miramar?” Rex asked. Adam took a long and deep breath. He walked closer to the window and crossed his arms. His movements were calm, but Jack could see the veins in his arms. He was tense and probably doing everything he could to not throw a punch at anything in his path. “The service will be at Miramar.” He turned around and faced them. “After his mother’s funeral he told me it was good his parents were reunited.” Jack knew that Slater’s dad was a naval pilot but didn’t know much else other than he had been killed in 1994 when his plane went down during Operation Desert Storm. Adam continued, “He never cared for the ground. Dirt, that is. Didn’t want to be buried in it.” A cynical laugh came from him. “Maybe that was why he became a SEAL. The son of a bitch loved the water, you know. Always around it, even when he wasn’t on assignment.” Neither he nor Rex said anything. He hoped Adam didn’t realize what he’d just said. Judging from the look on his face he knew all too well the irony of what his friend’s love for water had gotten him in the end. “Anyway,” Adam went on, “knowing his mom and dad were finally together again, he said when old age took him he wanted to be cremated and his ashes scattered out in the ocean where his SEAL instructors first beat the snot out of him.” Jack and Adam were never very close, but he had nothing but sympathy for what the man was going through. “Can you believe that shit?” Adam turned around then. The redlined whites of his eyes were filled with anguish. “He thought he was gonna live to a ripe old age.”

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“I think we all think that, man.” Rex put a consoling hand on Adam’s shoulder. “He was tired of fighting in a war that there seemed to be no end in sight to. He wanted out.” Adam motioned toward the hallway. “After meeting Chelsea he razzed me, saying he wanted to get himself one of those little numbers.” Jack couldn’t help but smile at that. That sounded like Slater. The man had a way and a soft spot for all women. While he never saw Slater with a woman who wasn’t attractive, he didn’t seem to have a type, but rather liked all women. Rex echoed Jack’s thoughts. “Yeah, he loved the ladies. Even stole a couple gals who had my attention a time or two. Back in my bachelor days, of course.” “You mean before Shelby whipped your ass into submission?” Adam smirked at him. Even though it was a cover, Jack was glad to see a grin on Adam’s face. “Let’s go grab something to eat. Tamara made some sandwiches with some Greek salad or some shit like that. I don’t know, ever since she had JJ she’s become very domesticated, trying out all these different recipes.” All three of them walked from the den. There was still a sadness left lingering in the air. They’d lost two of their own. Any way you sliced it, it sucked to high heaven.

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Chapter 5 He opened his eyes, or tried to. They were heavy, almost like they were being held down. He felt exhausted. The peaceful serene feeling that consumed him once before was now replaced with aches and pains. Hell. He had to be in hell. That was the only thing that explained the mind fuck that he’d been experiencing. Bliss then pain, peace then people arguing. Obviously the devil had a sick sense of humor, but I guess they didn’t call him the master of all evil for nothing. Thankfully he couldn’t feel flames licking at his feet, so at least it wasn’t as bad as all those books would have you believe. Suddenly a voice distracted him from his thoughts. He gave up the effort of trying to open his eyes and just relaxed. It was a woman’s voice. The same woman from before, he wondered. She wasn’t talking or even yelling this time. She was humming, almost singing really. It was a peaceful melody. It rang familiar to him. The tune seemed to be something he’d heard before. Actually it was something he knew quite well. He relaxed and allowed himself to soak in the soothing echo of her melody. It was as if it was reverberating around him, soaking into his achy joints and muscles, relieving the pain. He wished he could touch her. She sounded like an angel. “Hello?” Someone had come to visit her? Whoever it was, she was surprised to see them. A sense of panic washed through him as he worried that it might not be a good surprise. A man had upset her before, and he hadn’t liked it. He didn’t want anyone else causing her worry.

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“Can you hear me?” Oh. It dawned on him them. She didn’t have a visitor, she had a phone call. Bad connection, it sounded like. Well good, he thought, at least he didn’t have to worry about her being upset again. Maybe she would go back to singing. He prayed for the peaceful humming that she was doing seconds ago to return. He wondered if it was in bad taste to pray in hell, but he didn’t really care. It’s not like hell was filled with a lot of rule followers anyway. Wait a minute. What the fuck? Something wasn’t adding up. Granted he never paid attention in Sunday school when he was a kid, he was always too busy chasing girls around the classroom, which, in retrospect, was probably why he was always getting in trouble. All that aside though, he didn’t remember any mention of telephones in hell, let alone heavenly maidens singing to him while he lay in pain. Pain. He was in pain. The man that she had argued over before. The mention of morphine. He was exhausted. He was the man who caused her such worry. He wasn’t in heaven or hell. He wasn’t dead. He was alive. Just then he felt something. It was the softest brush against his hand, so gentle it barely even registered at first. “Can you hear me?” Her voice seemed so sweet. She had a softness about her yet seemed timid at the same time. He remembered all too well how she was able to let out her fiery side if she didn’t like something though. The sensation against his hand was getting stronger. He could feel warmth and something moving up and down against it. “What am I doing? Talking to myself like some kind of crazy woman. You can’t hear me. If you could you would open your eyes. Why? Why won’t you open your eyes?” Despite it being a question, her last sentence came out in frustration. He wished he didn’t upset her so much, but truth be told, he was too damn happy in the realization that he was still alive and not in some head-game hell to feel too much regret for her emotions.

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Maybe she was one of those emotional women who were all over the board with their mood swings. Be that as it may, she was still a woman, and he happened to like her kind. He could still feel the stroking against his hand. A sudden jolt of tiny needles shot through his arm at the same time and vibrated down to his fingertips. Fuck! A pain tore through him at that precise moment. He could feel fingers, her fingers lacing together with his and holding tightly. “Shh. Oh no, please don’t wake up in pain. I’m all alone here, and I don’t know how to help you.” Shit! He tried to ignore the excruciating jolt, which kept radiating up and down his arm, and focus on the fear he heard in her voice. What the fuck was it about him that scared her so much? It was really starting to piss him off! Driven by pain and a bad temperament, he put all of his energy into opening his eyes. He had to see the woman who he was causing such hardship to. Come on, open your fucking eyes, you pussy! Flashing back to days when he was still trying to become a SEAL, he thought of every instructor who had screamed in his face and told him he was a worthless sack of dog shit not fit to be lit on fire and stomped on. Every time one of those shouting sons of bitches came at him it only lit a fire under his ass and gave him an adrenaline boost. “Oh my God!” His eyes opened to see a tanned young woman with brunette hair. She had removed her hand from his and was covering her mouth in shock. “You’re awake.” Since obviously he was the cause of many of her mood swings he thought it was probably not best to spit out a smart-ass comment about her stating the painfully obvious. His mother always taught him

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manners, so he figured he should probably take that route despite her seemingly dumb yet innocuous question. “I...” Holy shit! He sounded like someone had taken broken glass and rubbed it against his vocal chords. “Oh my, water. You need water.” She jumped up from her chair and raced out of the room. She was wearing a pair of khaki shorts and a white tank top. They were plain and ordinary, but they did nothing to hide her incredible figure. If he wasn’t in the worst fucking pain he’d felt in his life and still reeling from the news that he was alive and not rotting in the depths of hell, he could probably have some sort of a reaction to a body like that. Fuck it if he wasn’t just too damn tired to care right now. A minute later she came running back into the room, with a coffee mug and a spoon. What the hell did she make him, hot tea with honey? He wasn’t a tea man. Cold water and hot coffee were his main two beverages of choice. She sat next to him. “Open your mouth.” Again, he realized not the best time to make a crack about not falling for the old open-your-mouth gag, so he obliged. Surprisingly and thankfully she hadn’t made him tea but instead brought a spoonful of ice chips to his mouth. Heaven. Alive or not, he was now in heaven. The cold felt awesome on the inside of his mouth. And for some reason the small amount of moisture it provided him gave him a hint of a nasty taste in his mouth. What the hell? Had someone shit in his mouth? He could only imagine what his breath might smell like to her. No wonder she was fearful of him. She probably thought he was Satan himself. Smells like that coming from a human being just weren’t natural. He opened his mouth again when she brought another spoonful to his lips. He wanted to demand she dump the whole damn cup in his mouth, but he was afraid opening his mouth for longer than one word

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at a time would surely make her run for the room screaming while she looked for her bible and cross. Instead he laid there like a good little boy as she scooped in several spoonfuls of the greatest fucking thing on earth. Ice. It truly was fucking underrated. Unless you were on the Titanic, in which case you probably weren’t a big fan. His throat was finally starting to feel somewhat normal again and not like a scraped up piece of flesh after getting a nasty case of road rash. What he really needed was water. These ice chips were fantastic. And he’d be happy to thank her once his breath didn’t taste like the back of a dog’s ass, but he needed some water. “Water?” His voice was still scratchy but comprehensible. “I don’t know. You just woke up. He said only give you ice chips.” “Please.” The word struck him. Had he ever said please to a woman before? Ever? Huh. He’d have to revisit that at a later time. “You could get sick.” He was no rocket scientist and never claimed to be the genius of his team, but if his memory served him right he was pretty sure that he’d been shot. Somehow getting sick from too much fluid didn’t seem to be a real big problem and was definitely a risk he was willing to take. “Please?” Yeah so he was begging. Big fucking deal. He was goddamned thirsty. It’s not like anyone was around to actually witness it. No one would ever even know he had to grovel to a woman for a drink of water. “All right, but just a little. I’ll be right back.” He gave her a smile, or tried to. His face felt all weird and contorted. The irony of the situation didn’t escape him. A SEAL was begging a woman for water. Hell, he lived in the water. He was the strongest damn swimmer in his BUD/S class and held onto that reputation throughout the years.

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As if a gift from God, she reappeared with a small glass of water. It probably only had a couple ounces at most, but at this point he’d take whatever she was willing to give. He tried to lift his head as she brought the glass to his mouth. He was struggling, and she placed her other hand behind his head and helped him. Stiffness just soared through his neck and shoulders as he drank the small amount she gave him. She placed the glass on a table beside the bed and lifted his hand. For a minute he thought she was going to hold his hand again. He would be lying if he didn’t admit the idea seemed nice, but instead she placed fingers to his wrist and looked to the wall above his head. Assuming there was a clock above there, he waited while she counted. She seemed satisfied and not worried with what she determined. So what did he have here? He’d been shot. He was alive. For some reason unbeknownst to him he made this woman’s emotions hit all over the radar. He was used to causing a reaction in women, just usually not a bad kind. That was another topic for another time though. He glanced around the room and found the dingy appearance of the cabinets and lights to be older than he’d expected. Even for Mexican hospital standards this place was dated. He remembered something then. When she’d been arguing with that man about him they made mention of an underground doctor’s office and something about illegal activity. “This isn’t a hospital is it?” he asked. Her nervousness reappeared. What the hell, did he have the numbers 666 tattooed on his forehead? He couldn’t stand it. He had to ask her. “Do I scare you?” She cautiously stepped a few steps away from the bed and eyed him curiously. He seriously needed to get in front of a mirror so he could figure out what the hell was wrong with him.

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“Look, I don’t know who you are. I don’t know where I am. If anyone should be scared it should be me.” “You’re um…being cared for.” “Where?” No matter how scared she seemed, his patience was running thin. He wanted answers. This was no damn hospital. He’d been in hospitals in third-world countries, but something was off here. It wasn’t just the old dated furniture and drab feeling. The hallway seemed to look dark like there was no light. Then he remembered something he seemed to know just minutes earlier. They mentioned a cellar. Fuck! What the hell was wrong with his memory? Everything seemed foggy. He waited for her to answer him, wondering if she had it in her to lie. Something about her just didn’t seem the type. She had an almost innocent nature to her, not in the sense that she was a child but in the way she saw the world. “You’re in our home.” Were her hands shaking? “Are you okay?” She backed farther away and edged herself closer to the door. “Do you think you’ll be all right? If I leave you be?” What in God’s name was going on here? She was afraid to be alone with him. Having only been awake for a short time he was sure he already had her pegged. If he told her he needed her to stay, he was positive that she would. He bet on his chance and took it. “No. I don’t feel so well. Could you stay with me? Just in case I get sick or something?” Nervous, she picked up a small plastic pale that was near his bed and put it near his mouth. “I knew I shouldn’t have given you that water.” She all but hit him in the face with it with the way she moved so abruptly. He started to laugh, but that jolting pain that he felt in his arm earlier was now all over his torso. “Fuck!” “Oh God! Did I hurt you?”

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The poor girl was pacing back and forth while he controlled his breathing against the onslaught of pain. This scared-as-a-mouse bullshit was getting on his last nerve. His combination of pain mixed with his lack of patience didn’t result in an even temperament. “Sit!” he snapped at her. He didn’t know what annoyed him more, that he’d had to shout at her in order to get her to be still, or that she’d jumped so far when he yelled that she all but jumped out of her skin. A minute of deep calming breaths and the pain he felt started to subside. His once-racing pulse was beginning to steady itself. He needed to find out where he was, how the hell he got there, and what was wrong with him. He wasn’t going to be able to do that if he was edge and she was jumpy. His mouth tasted like shit, and he had a sneaking suspicion his appearance matched his odor, so charming the socks off of her might seem fruitless, but it was the only weapon at his disposal. “Please relax. Can you do that for me? I’m not going to hurt you.” Fidgeting with her hands, she nodded to him. Be patient, Nick. “No really. I’m a good guy. I don’t hurt women.” “I know that.” Okay, so foggy memory and being shot aside, he was all kinds of confused. She knew he wasn’t the type to hurt her, but she was afraid of him. Well that sure as hell made sense. He filed a frustrated thought that came to his mind about women for a later date. “Good. That’s good you know that because I wouldn’t. Ever.” “Okay.” She wasn’t completely relaxed, but she’d stopped picking at her fingernails. Surely that was a sign of progress, right? “Now, will you tell me how I got here? Why aren’t I in a hospital?” “My father brought you here.” “That man you argued with before was your father?”

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She dropped her head down and stared at her lap. “Please don’t talk about him in the past tense. He is my father.” Oh for fuck’s sake. What was she, a goddamn English teacher? “Sorry. He is your father. And he brought me here because?” “He wanted to protect you.” Okay now he was intrigued. A man wanted to protect him. The last thing he remembered was a gun pointing down at him. How did he get from there to here? “I remember a man with a gun. Is that who your father was trying to protect me from?” She nodded her answer. He only remembered hearing the man’s voice, but the hazy image of him didn’t register as being an overly large man. In fact his size seemed average at best. He wondered how the hell her father would have been able to overpower whoever was holding the gun. He’d gotten a good look at the size of the men when all hell broke loose on the boat. They were all large-framed, muscular men. This game of twenty questions could go on all day. He needed to know what the hell happened. “Look, I feel like I’ve had the shit kicked out of me. Can you just tell me everything that happened starting from the—” He wasn’t able to finish his sentence as he succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep.

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Chapter 6 Warmth. It was the first thing that came to his mind when he started to wake. The room was quiet, but he could hear the trickling sounds of water. Then he felt wetness. On his face and neck. It was dripping. Was he back in the ocean? Damn! Just once he wanted to wake up to a feeling of knowing where the hell he was and what the fuck was going on. Opening his eyes didn’t prove to be as hard as the last time. His eyelids were heavy, but he still managed to get them open before quickly shutting them again. The room was bright. “You’re awake.” There she was. Her voice was incredibly sweet, but she had to win the award for the most obvious statements. “Why is it so bright in here?” He heard a splashing sound and her feet scurry across the floor. “Is that better?” Squinting as to not shock his pupils again, he opened his eyes slowly. It was much darker. There was still light in the room, but she had obviously dimmed whatever monstrosity was blinding him. “Much. Thank you.” She smiled at him. It was nice. Wait. What the…she smiled at him? “You have a nice smile.” It could have been a line, but it wasn’t. She had straight white teeth and a dimple on her right cheek. It was cute. “Do you mind if I continue?” she asked, ignoring his compliment.

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He looked down to his side and saw a small bowl filled with water and a wash cloth. The water. So that’s what he was hearing. She was trying to clean him off. Good God it must be bad for her to resort to bathing a man who clearly invoked such fear in her. “Not at all. Thank you. Any chance you have a tooth brush and something minty to rub all over my teeth?” “I think I can probably find something.” “Thanks. I guess I should be apologizing though. I’m wagering my breath smells nothing short of a putrid scent from the gates of hell.” Again she smiled. Wow. Two smiles in such a short time? Whatever he did to ease her nerves, he was glad for it. “It is kinda bad,” she admitted. “Thanks for sparing my feelings.” Sure he was being a wise ass, but her bluntness had surprised him. She merely shrugged in response before wringing out the wash cloth before bringing it back up to his mouth and rubbing at something that was obviously troublesome and she couldn’t get off. “Pretty bad, huh?” “No. Just some dried blood.” That has to look great, he thought. He didn’t want to chance the possibility of her mood swings doing a flip on him again, so he decided to fill in some more of the gaps while he was still coherent enough to understand what she was saying. “Will you tell me what happened now? From the beginning?” She seemed to be considering whether or not she should tell him when she sighed. “Okay, I’ll tell you. Please though, try and understand that my father is a good man. He’s made mistakes in his life and is trying to make up for them, but he’s a kind and caring person. He would never hurt anyone,” she insisted. Again he wanted to make a wise ass crack about women but thought better of it. She was being a little too melodramatic for his tastes. He had no doubt her father was a fantastic guy. Shit, he’d

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saved his life from one of the mercenaries who had a gun trained on him. Why the hell did she think he’d judge her father? Before he even considered asking the question, he thought better of it. He didn’t give a rat’s ass why she said it. He just wanted answers. “Okay. I believe you.” Well, what was he going to say? She blew out a deep exhale and looked up at a ceiling that was cracking and in desperate need of repair. It was as if she was searching for the right words as she stared in thought. “My father and I were walking on the beach. It’s one of the many things we do together. Walking is a good way to decompress and just talk with someone.” Great. That’s super. Get on with it please. The words nearly fell from his lips, but he thought that probably wasn’t the best way to handle the situation. She didn’t seem the type to appreciate sarcasm. “We were only a dozen or so yards away from you when we saw you crawling to a small recess in the cliff wall. It was obvious from looking at you that you were hurt. A trail of blood followed you as you inched along.” That sparked his memory. He remembered his long swim and dragging himself across the beach to shelter. “Please go on,” he said. “Dad didn’t know who you were. You could’ve been anyone, but he also couldn’t leave a man injured if he was able to do anything to help him. We both were approaching you when we saw a small inflatable boat with a motor whip around the inlet and come toward us. We both hid in a cluster of palm trees while the man jumped out of his boat. He had a gun.” She said the last words as if they were a sin. She whispered the word “gun” and shuddered. “I remember the gun. But not the man,” he added. “It seemed like only seconds passed and he was bearing down on you, coming at you like he couldn’t wait to make you hurt. It seemed…I don’t know, personal maybe? I didn’t even know what

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was happening. Dad had asked me to sit there and not move. No matter what, he’d said. Next thing I knew he was running after the man and tackling him. They both went down with a thud on the sand and started to struggle with the gun.” Wow. He was impressed. Not only had her father literally saved his life, but he seemed to have a set of balls bigger than watermelons. That was the kind of thing you saw in the movies. Very rarely did he ever hear of someone stupid enough to actually try it. “I guess he saved my life then. I really have to thank him. Now, where is he?” “He’s resting.” While she said the words calmly, her eyes betrayed her. He saw something there, something she obviously didn’t want him to see, because she quickly turned away with the bowl and washcloth in her hand as she set them both on a small table by the doorway. “Is it late?” he asked. Turning back around, her brow furrowed. “I’m sorry?” “You said he was resting. I have no idea what time it is. Hell, I don’t even know what day it is.” “It’s the 19th. You’ve been here for a little over a day.” Holy hell. He’d only lost a day? He felt like it’s been days, maybe even a week or longer. Reaching down, he felt the pain in his side and now knew why it still hurt like a mother fucker. “Only a day? I was shot. How did…” His voice trailed off as he considered who he was dealing with. Your average person can’t just stick their hands in your sides and pull out a bullet. “Is your father a doctor?” Her eyes widened in surprise. “Technically.” Technically? For the love of God, why did this woman insist on speaking code? He was either a doctor or he wasn’t. What the hell was this “technically” bullshit? He reined in his annoyance. “Meaning?”

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She looked at him quizzically. Was she trying to size him up? He would’ve laughed had he not found it kind of endearing that she thought she stood a chance in hell. “Not technically. I mean he’s licensed to practice his medicine. In the States that is. You’re just not his…Well, his patients are usually furry and most have tails.” “A veterinarian? Your dad is a vet?” She nodded her reply. Well fuck me running. He had not been expecting that one at all. Damn if he didn’t want to laugh at the news. A doc of four-legged creatures had taken down a damn mercenary and saved his damn life. Unbelievable. “Your dad sounds like a bad ass mofo.” A pain shone in her eyes as she rubbed at them, faking fatigue, but he saw the tears well up. He didn’t know why, but he was remorseful. “I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?” Rubbing her eyes a bit longer than necessary, he wondered if she would rub them clear off of her face. When she finally looked back at him, he saw dark shadows lingering beneath. If they’d been there before he hadn’t noticed, but he was, after all, recovering from a bullet wound. “Is it true?” She pointed toward him. “About the tattoo, I mean.” “My tattoo? If we talked about my tattoo I don’t remember.” She shook her head. “No. We didn’t discuss it. Not you and I. My father said it means…Well he thought you might be…” She contorted her mouth to one side and chewed on the inside of her cheek. Oh. So her father saw the tattoo and suspected he knew what it meant. “You mean the trident on my back?” “Well, yeah.” He could have and should have denied it, but he was lying in a bed recovering from a gunshot wound and pretty much at her mercy. Or at least until her father awoke. The idea of pissing her off didn’t seem like the smartest idea, so he opted for half truth.

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“I can tell you I’m in the United States Navy, ma’am.” The corners of her mouth curved up, and she gave him a small smile. “He said if you were a SEAL you would never admit to it.” Was she smiling because she thought by saying he was in the navy he had admitted to it? Or was she smiling because she took his answer for what it was, a vague acknowledgement of his service with little detail? She was hard to read. That was unusual for him. He could almost always tell everything there was to know about a person within minutes of meeting them. “Well I’ve known some SEALs in my day, and I’d have to agree with your father. Speaking of which, when can I shake his hand and thank him?” “As I said, he’s resting.” Her smile disappeared again and was replaced with a sadness. He couldn’t tell if there was something he was saying that was upsetting her or if she was just a crazy woman who had mood swings that flew up and down faster than a bungee-cord descent. “Right. Well when he wakes I’d like to…” He stopped for a minute. The room suddenly was spinning, and he was overcome with the need to vomit. “Are you okay?” Despite being only a few feet away from him, she all but ran to his side as she placed a hand on his forehead. Her hand was soft and felt so cool against his skin. What was the temperature in this place anyway? He felt like he was burning up. “Oh God. Wait right here.” He closed his eyes and waited for the nausea to pass. Wait here? Yeah, sure thing. Where the hell was he going to go? Oh hell, he didn’t have the energy for sarcasm. A sound echoed inside his head like everything was magnified. It was her and her father. They were back. Their voices were calm as they discussed something, but despite their even tones it felt like they were screaming inside his head. Somewhere on his head was a small

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circus monkey banging symbols together over and over. With every clatter of the brass circles clashing he could feel someone jabbing two very large knives into his eye sockets. Opening his eyes, the pain intensified. A bright white light sliced at his pupils, nearly blinding him. He howled in pain and felt his insides roil and curdle like he’d just chugged year-old expired milk. Not a moment later he was covered in his own vomit. The wrenching smell flared his nostrils in disgust as he smelled bile and other scents he didn’t know his body was capable of. He listened to the two discuss things that didn’t make sense. There was mention of apologies, of doing the right thing, of sacrifices. He thought he heard her cry, and he felt an unknown tug from his insides. Despite all her crazy emotions he didn’t like the sound of her sadness. He closed his eyes, spent and exhausted. Sleep took him as he listened to the man promise his daughter that she was strong enough.

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Chapter 7 All six of them climbed into the SUV. No one complained when Adam insisted on driving. They knew it occupied his mind and kept him from processing his grief. None of them agreed with his methods, but it worked for Adam, and no one relished the idea of challenging him on it. Rex looked at his wife and covered her hand with his. She had been a rock for him during the service. Her hand had squeezed his tightly at almost every time he felt moisture was approaching his eyes. She had stood patiently by his side as he shook hands with some teammates he hadn’t seen in years and offered polite condolences to everyone she met. His Shelby had been through a lot of things, and it amazed him how well she had healed. Her strength, although she never admitted to have any, left him awestruck. The thought brought his attention back to Adam. Chelsea sat beside him in the front seat, holding the wooden box bearing the trident in her lap. Their marriage had taken Rex off guard. Adam was never a one-woman man as far back as he could remember, but that obviously changed back when he’d been engaged to the woman, Alie, that no one was ever to mention. Even after that though, he seemed broken. Chelsea, for all her sweetness, had swept in under Adam’s radar and managed to hook him. Their relationship was the opposite of conventional. Adam had a roughness that never seemed to leave. He at times was rude and curt, and more than once Jack and Rex had wondered if he was trying to push his new bride away. She seemed to understand him though. She

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almost always knew when to retreat and wait patiently while he came back from his dark moods. Despite Adam being a puzzle that Rex didn’t think he’d ever solve, he was glad that Chelsea seemed to have most of the pieces in place. She grounded him in a strange way. For all his quietness, the only time Rex ever saw a tender moment was when it involved Chelsea. Hell, even the short eulogy Adam spoke at the service was absent of emotion. He simply stated that his buddy Slater was going out to sea where he most felt at home. He commended him on his duty to service, his years of admirable work, and how he was always a trusted brother that any of them were lucky enough to come across. And just as simply as he’d said the words he stepped back to stand beside his wife and saluted Nick’s urn. So here they were, leaving Miramar on their way to Coronado NAB to stand on one of the high rocks to scatter Nick’s ashes in the ocean. It surprised the hell out of him when Adam had supplied the navy with a notarized copy of Slater’s last will and testament. He knew the two were close at one time but never knew they had kept in touch this whole time. He watched as Adam’s hand reached across the console of the SUV to take his wife’s hand. Rex couldn’t help but smile. Clearly there was quite a bit more to his friend, Adam, than met the eye. He looked down as Shelby rested her head on Rex’s shoulder. She’d seemed tired all day, but she held up without lending a hint to her exhaustion. God how he loved her. He was one lucky son of a bitch, and he knew it. A tap on his shoulder had him look to the seat behind him. Jack, who was sitting with Tamara, looked stressed. “Yeah?” Jack shook his head in frustration and nodded his head toward Tamara, who looked equally annoyed. He couldn’t help but smile. Jack and Tamara never argued, but whenever they did it was an

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instant moment of satisfaction for him. Jack needed to be brought down a peg or two once in a while, and Tamara was damn good at doing it. “What’s the problem?” he asked them. Exhaling a big breath, Jack answered. “Would you please tell her that when Colleen says JJ is fine, that it actually means that he is fine.” Rex bit back any laughter that was itching to break free. Why on earth Jack thought he would win an argument over their new baby with Tamara he had no idea. The man was clearly an idiot. Giving a sympathetic smile to Tamara, he asked, “Why don’t you think he’s fine, sweetie?” She looked at him for a few seconds and rolled her eyes at her husband. “I guess I don’t really think that. Colleen wouldn’t lie to me.” She held up her hand to interrupt Jack, who’d started to talk. “But it’s just that when I called she kind of scolded me for nearly waking him up after she’d just gotten him down for a nap. I asked if he’s been fussy, or colicky, or even sick, but she swore he wasn’t.” “Okay then. There’s your answer. You said it yourself, she wouldn’t lie to you. Especially not about JJ.” “Yes I know. It’s just she sounded kind of tired or like she was at her last rope. Maybe he’s too much work for her? What if…” “Oh for God’s sake! She is at her last rope with you. You call her about every fifteen minutes!” Jack snapped out so abruptly that everyone in the SUV heard him and glanced to the backseat. Tamara’s cheeks flooded with embarrassment. “I don’t call that much.” Despite her protests, the inflection of her voice gave her away. Rex felt a tug of sympathy for her. Tamara was a loving soul, and baby JJ was her whole world. He winked at her and gave her a smile before turning to Jack. “You pull me into an argument with you and Tamara again over my godson, I’ll kick your ass first then take her side.”

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Jack flipped him the finger and put an arm around Tamara, who was trying to stifle back some tears. Despite not having a family of his own, Rex was pretty damn lucky to have these people in his life.

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Chapter 8 Nick woke to the sound of humming, singing. She was there with him again. Her soft voice was like a healing melody that made him feel peaceful. He could picture her lulling a child to sleep with her angelic sounds. Slowly he opened his eyes, careful as to not have the light startle him like it had the past few times he’d woke. Faint memories of waking several times for only a few minutes only to quickly fall back under came back to him. Each time he remembered her being there, yet he couldn’t remember seeing or hearing the man she called her father. He was coming to expect her to be there, like she was his personal nurse. The thought brought him back to reality as he wasn’t in a hospital, and the people who cared for him were not medical staff. It perplexed him why the few times he’d been awake and asking questions that it never dawned on him to ask the biggest one of all. Why the hell wasn’t he in a damn hospital? Even though he didn’t admit to being a SEAL, clearly her father was not a stupid man. Hell, it sounded like he was one brave son of a bitch. He needed answers. Ready to demand them, he was surprised with which question he whispered first. “What’s your name?” With his eyes barely open he found himself confused by his question. Really, Nick? Of all the shit you’re in and you want to know her name? Hey, next ask her if she likes Italian food, and maybe you two can grab a bite later. What the fuck? “Good morning, Commander Slater.”

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So she knew his name and rank. He sure as hell didn’t remember giving it to her. The idea that she knew that about him while he had so many holes in the cluster fuck of what his past two days had become pissed him off more than he’d expected. He didn’t confirm nor deny that he was Commander Slater. Instead he asked stoically, “Your name?” “AJ. Well really it’s Alyssa Jo, but everyone calls me AJ.” AJ. It was an oddly tomboyish name for someone that seemed so delicate and whose voice was so serene. He stared at her for a moment before he asked her anymore. The knowledge of her name was a surprise. He had expected to her something completely girly and princess-like. Granted, he wasn’t sure what a princess-like name sounded like, but “AJ” just didn’t seem to fit the bill. “How are you feeling?” A vague recollection of lying in his own vomit flashed across his foggy memory. He looked down to see he was lying in clean sheets and smelled of soap. New bandages covered his bullet wound, and gauze was wrapped around his bicep. He lifted his arm in confusion. He didn’t remember being shot in his arm. As if reading his thoughts she spoke, “You didn’t have a bullet there. Well, not one to remove anyway. Dad said it was a…” She looked up for a minute as she tried to recall what was told to her. He wondered why the man always seemed to disappear whenever he was awake and coherent. Not really seeing this man, and knowing nothing about him other than what his daughter told him, made him uneasy to the core. Regardless, he knew what she was talking about. “Was it a through and through?” “Yes!” He was surprised by her glee that he’d found the words to finish her sentence. Something about her confused the hell out of him. She was manic. Up, down, smiling, frowning. Woman or not, she was riding the emotional rollercoaster of mood swings and making it harder than hell for him to read her.

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Enough of this shit, he needed answers! “All right, AJ. Mind telling me just what the fuck is going on here?” He tried not to wince as he watched her visibly jump back from his words as though he had shoved her. Damn it, but he didn’t want to scare her. He just wanted…No, fuck that, he needed answers! One of his best friends, a brother, a team member, had been killed right in front of him. Too many things were happening that just didn’t make a damn bit of sense. “Well?” he asked her again when she just stared at him. “I…don’t know what you mean.” Despite the soreness of his arm, he brought it against his chest and crossed it with the other as he gave her a mocking glare. “Really? Your father, a veterinarian, removed my bullet and sounds like saved my life. All this after he tells you that I’m a United States Navy SEAL. Neither one of you appears to have medical training, other than his extensive knowledge on deworming of dogs and cats, but yet here I lie in what seems to be a dirty makeshift clinic, which I’m told is in the basement of your home.” He watched her as the words sunk in. He was purposely adding sarcasm to everything he said in hopes she wouldn’t fuck with him. He was in no mood for it. Whatever pain and nausea he felt before he was now feeling stronger. Resolving to not succumb to exhaustion again, he stared her down and waited for her to respond. “Cat got your tongue, AJ?” He purposely emphasized her name. Hell, how did he know that was her name? She could have lied. He knew nothing about this woman. “No. I just…I don’t know what you want me to say.” He wanted to scream when he heard her voice crack. She better not cry. Fuck it all, if she cried he didn’t know if he’d be able to be this intimidating with her. He didn’t know why. Maybe because despite not knowing anything about her or her father or having a damn clue about what was going on, she had been caring for him.

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Despite his hesitance he refused to relent his line of questioning. “How about telling me why I’m not in a hospital. I was ambushed. That much I remember. My friend is dead. I’m still active-duty military. Surely they’re looking for me. I mean if my time is right I’ve been here for at most three days, right? So why the fuck isn’t anyone looking for me?” He shouted the last sentence, and much to his dismay she burst into tears. Fuck! Okay, Nick you can do this. He took several calming breaths, reminding himself that when it came to the female species, sweet words got you much further than shouting. “Don’t cry.” She looked up at him then. She was making no sounds, but tears continued to trickle from her eyes. “I’m sorry I yelled. I’m just very confused and have no clue what is going on. You must understand what that’s like to be completely in the dark about where you are or why you’re even there.” His voice was calm and soothing as he pleaded with her to understand. Surprisingly though, it wasn’t a rouse. He was being sincere. “He’s a good man.” Okay. Huh? “I’m sorry? Who is a good man?” “My father. I told you before. He’s a good man. He wouldn’t hurt anyone. That’s the last thing he would ever do.” As a moment of “oh my God, what the fuck” consumed him, he chose to not react and pray she had an actual point to her sudden change in subject. “I already told you I believed you.” “Do you though? He thinks he did, no…he still thinks what we’re doing is the right thing to do.” My lord, but he wanted to rip the words from her. She explained things like a child who made no sense.

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“Please, I don’t understand. What are you doing that he thinks is the right thing?” She shook her head emphatically. “No. You’ll think he’s crazy. You’ll be angry and…” Her voice trailed off into a whisper, and she stopped her thought. Enough was enough. He was getting nowhere with her. Nothing she said made any sense, and she was wearing what small thread of patience he had very thin. “With all due respect, ma’am, how do you know what I think? You don’t know me at all. What little you have told me I’ve taken at face value, which is something that goes against everything I believe in. You could be lying about everything you’ve told me. I’m only assuming you’ve been truthful. I haven’t even technically seen the man. Sure, I’ve heard his voice, but every time I wake he is resting and you are here.” He put a finger to his mouth to shush her before he continued. “I know you’ve cared for me, but come on…even you have to admit that something in what you’ve fed me makes no sense. You and your father”— he made mocking quotation marks in the air with his fingers at the mention of her dad—“have been caring for me. Your father tackled a man and removed my bullet. Your father is a good man. Your father is not crazy. I mean, shit. Where is this father of yours? For all I know you are the crazy one. For all I know you are the one who removed my bullet. For all I know you are disguising your voice to sound like a man every time to lend to the reality you’ve created that you live here with a father.” He was now fired up and on a roll. “Hell, for all I know, you have your dead father in the next room dressed up in one of his old suits as you mimic the voice he once had as you live out this deranged fantasy of him still being alive. Hello? Psycho? Should I be afraid to take a shower in here? If I wander upstairs will I really see a motel?”

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For every possible reaction he’d expected to get from her, he hadn’t been prepared for the one she gave. She lurched at him with a fire in her eyes. He hunched over in pain as she began pounding on him with her fists and managed to get a good blow in his side where the bullet hole was still trying to heal. Shouts of disgust and anger tore from her as she called him every name in the book. Curse words he was surprised that she even knew rolled off her lips. He grabbed onto her arms and tried to fight her off, but damn she was strong for a little thing. Her hair was flailing about as she continued to scream at him. Wetness trickled on his chest, and at first he thought she’d spit on him. Then he felt her body shake as her motions slowed. Still holding her wrists, not sure if it was a trick, he studied her for a minute, waiting for her to react. She was trembling in his grips. “AJ?” Slowly she looked up at him. Her hair was tangled across her face, but he could still see her eyes. They were flooded with pain, deep, gut-wrenching sorrow that came from somewhere deep within her soul. His heart squeezed so tight he thought it would stop beating. “Soon.” She choked out the word. Never before had he been so confused. He knew he shouldn’t have trusted her, but he released the tight grip that was holding her. He expected her to bolt from the room and come back with any type of weapon she could find to finish the job of beating the shit out of him. Surprisingly she sank to the bed and sat beside him. Her head went down to stare at the sheets. He wanted to say something, anything. Shit, he wanted to say sorry for making her cry. Why the hell he felt that way he had no damn idea. He wrote it off to the physical trauma his body had been under, even though he knew it was bullshit. They sat there for minutes. Neither of them spoke. Her breathing, which was erratic, was now slowing. An urge to stroke her arm pulled

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at him, but he refused to give in, telling himself that if he was patient enough she would soon say something. He breathed a sigh of relief when his patience proved him right. She ran her hands through her hair, pulling it off of and away from her face. Her eyes looked haunted, and she had the look of someone who was all alone. His jaw clenched at the sight and he ignored how badly he wanted to reach out and touch her. “He’s dying.” She closed her eyes tightly for a moment before she continued, “Pancreatic cancer. We just arrived last week to spend his last days here where he met my mother.” She looked to him then. Tears welled in her eyes and spilled from them like a faucet. “It’s why he’s always resting. I don’t know where he got the strength to attack the man who held the gun on you, but in that brief moment I saw the man I once knew before he got sick.” Nick watched her as tears continued to come. There was no sound in her cries, just a never-ending waterfall of grief and sadness. He needed to touch her, but his reach proved to be too late. She got up from the bed and walked out of the room.

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Chapter 9 Nick had been lying there for at least an hour, maybe longer. Hell, he didn’t really know. It felt like a long damn time though, while he waited for her to return. Completely still, he cocked his head to one side at the slightest sound. Each time he heard the slightest creak in the floor he braced himself for her to enter. He wanted to apologize to her. The pain he’d saw in her eyes still was fresh in his mind. Her father was dying and used what little strength he had to save his life, twice. First with the mercenary and second when he removed the bullet and stitched him up. Despite all of her father’s heroics, though, all he could offer her were insensitive jokes about her dead father. He wanted to kick himself. “You’re such a shit, Slater.” “Should I come back when you’re done telling yourself off?” His gaze shot up to the doorway. She stood there carrying a tray, which held a bowl and a bottle of water. Both items promised pure enjoyment to his stomach, but for some reason that was the furthest thing from his mind. “No, please come in.” Her hair was damp and held in a high ponytail atop her head. The T-shirt she wore was faded, but he could see the slight hint of the USC Trojans mascot. He wondered if she was from the area. She set the tray down on the bedside table. “It’s just some chicken soup. Actually it’s more broth then anything, but Dad said I shouldn’t give you anything too heavy. You could get sick.” “AJ.” He placed a hand on her wrist before she turned away.

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Her wrists were slim and delicate. The memory of her pounding against his torso with fury seemed unbelievable as he felt her soft skin and wondered how such strength came from something so small. “I need to get back upstairs. I don’t want to leave him alone long.” “I understand. I just want to apologize for the things I said earlier.” He thought she was pulling away from him to leave, but she surprised him by sitting beside him on the bed. One of her hands touched his side where his bandage was. “Did I hurt you?” God help him. She looked so vulnerable. After all he’d said to her, after all she’d done to take care of him, and she was worried about him. He may not have died and gone to heaven, but she was the closest thing to a saint he’d ever come in contact with. “No. I’m fine.” She looked to him while shaking her head. “I shouldn’t have behaved that way. I’m not a violent person. It’s just…” She took a deep breath and looked around the room before continuing, “we only just arrived, and the past three days have been so crazy.” He hadn’t stopped to think what this whole ordeal had been like for her before he blew up at her. He would have never come at her like he did if he knew her father was sick. He wanted to explore why any of this mattered to him. Truthfully it wasn’t his style to feel sympathy. Any time there was a job to do, he went in, got it done with no complications, and left. The irony that he was almost killed just days ago and one of his very best friends actually was and he was holed up somewhere, someplace with a complete stranger that was hurting and all he could think of was easing some of her hurt, escaped him. “AJ.” He reached a hand up and nudged her chin back up to meet his gaze. “I am so sorry. My mother died just a few months ago. I know how hard it is to lose a parent.”

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He watched while she visibly tensed under the subject of her father’s death. She reached over and grabbed the bowl and a spoon from the tray. “You should eat this before it gets cold.” Adjusting his pillows behind his back, he sat up and took the bowl from her hands. The second the meat smell hit his nostrils he remembered how hungry he was. He took a spoonful and slurped it in his mouth. Damn but it was good. Better than any steak he’d ever had. He knew that was bullshit, but after not eating for days, chicken broth was like a goddamned delicacy. Two more spoonfuls, and he was impatient. He wanted the entire warm concoction of yellowish water to coat his starving stomach. He placed the spoon on the tray and brought the bowl to his mouth, drinking like he was a kid watching Saturday-morning cartoons while slurping down the last of his Fruit Loop-flavored milk. “You shouldn’t drink that so fast,” she insisted. By the time she tried to stop him he was already setting the bowl beside the spoon he discarded just moments before. He wiped his mouth and grabbed the water bottle, quickly disposing of the cap as he gulped nearly all the contents down in seconds. He tried his best not to laugh at her expression. “What? I was hungry.” “I guess so. You’re going to have to take it easy. I don’t want you getting sick again.” He was afraid to ask the question, but his curiosity got the better of him. “Did you clean me up?” She raised her brows and gave him a bemused look. “Afraid so.” Mortification. That was the only word to describe it. Getting shot and having a pretty little lady take care of him wasn’t that big of a slap to his ego. He rather liked the idea. Puking in front of her and having her cleanup said puke though, that made him feel like a child and brought him to an all new low. “Shit. I’m sorry.”

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“It wasn’t your fault.” “I know I was recovering from a bullet wound, but still. That’s nasty. You’re a saint.” She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “No, I’m not. The first day you were here I fought my father like crazy to turn you in. I didn’t want you here.” Turn him in? For what? He thought of asking her questions, but she was already talking again. “There’s more. Things I didn’t get a chance to tell you. I beg you to please try and understand. He’s my father, and I swear to you everything I told you about him being a good and kind man was true, it’s just…” He didn’t know why he felt the need to reassure her, but he reached over and gently rubbed his fingers on her knuckles, which were nervously clutching onto the sheet. “I know. He saved my life, remember?” The fear in her eyes was driving him mad. For some reason he wanted her to trust him. “I just don’t know if we did the right thing. See, my dad was a marine once. When he was younger. Before I was born. He fought in Vietnam. I’d seen pictures of him in his uniform, but he never talked much about it. Everyone who knew him just assumed he didn’t want to, so the issue was never forced. When he saw that man was standing over you with a gun, I saw something in him I don’t think I ever have. It was like something in him clicked.” She turned to him then. Tears shimmered in her eyes as she recalled the events to him. “Whoever it was, he wanted to kill you. Not like hold a gun to you and shoot you because he had to or was supposed to, but because he wanted to. As my father and I stood in the small cluster of palm trees, we could hear him saying something about waiting too long and you were finally getting what you deserved.”

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The news of that surprised him, and he decided to file it away for later rather than interrupt her. Unless she spoke Spanish, he could only assume the man spoke in English. He’d have to remember to clarify that later. “That’s when my dad told me to stay put. I pleaded with him to not leave me. He was so weak, so frail. How he even ran toward the man, let alone knocked him down, still amazes me. Anyway, he told me something wasn’t right. I tried to argue with him, but he held up his hand to silence my mouth and said something about never leaving a man behind. It was strange. I’d heard the phrase before, but I never saw such conviction in my father’s eyes. He was always so tender and loving, but in that moment he looked like someone I didn’t recognize.” For some reason, unbeknownst to him, he needed to be closer to her. He could feel her anguish over her father’s illness in every word she spoke about him. He scooted his body a little closer to her despite the ache in his side. Completely covering her hand with his, he asked, “Will you go on, please?” He said it so damn politely and caringly he wondered if he was under the influence of a heavy medication. She nodded. “Unbelievably, he sprang into action. It’s the only way I can think of to explain it. My dad, who was walking along side me and holding my hand just minutes before as I worried whether he would be too tired to make the short trip back to the house, suddenly ran toward the man, knocked him down, wrestled with the gun and…” She stopped, and he felt her hand tense under his. “It’s okay.” “It went off. I was so scared. I ran to them while screaming. He stood up and tried to catch me before I saw. The man’s face was…gone.” She winced as she said it. “Somehow my dad had fought with enough strength to make sure the bullet not only didn’t hit you, but it didn’t hit him either. Once it was aimed at the man my father pulled the trigger. He was nearly unrecognizable, as a man I mean. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen.

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My dad was covered in blood, and I searched him for signs of injury, but he looked into my eyes and calmed me before he tended to you.” The story she was telling was unbelievable. Not in the sense that he thought she was lying, but clearly the man must have been riding on pure adrenaline. “It was when he saw your tattoo. He started shouting for me to check the man’s pockets as he searched yours. He found your ID and read the name aloud before sliding it in one of the dead man’s pockets.” No matter how much he tried to stop himself from interrupting her, it was fruitless. As a moment of “what the fuck” consumed him he asked, “What the hell did he do that for?” Her tension turned to fear again. He was starting to be able to read her better and hated that his question scared her. “Please? AJ, I need to know what’s going on.” “He wanted them to think the man was you. That you were dead.” His eyes closed tightly shut, and he ground his teeth together in an effort to keep from screaming. Some of the loose ends were starting to make sense. That was why he wasn’t taken to a hospital. That was the reason. As far as the United States Navy knew, he was dead. “Please let me explain.” Her words were distraught. He wondered what the fuck kind of explanation she could come up with that would even come close to justifying faking his death, but none came to mind. He was already classified as dead, so listening to her really couldn’t hurt too much. “Okay,” he answered, although anger raged within him. “He started ranting. He was going on about a sixth sense and how when he’d stare through the scope of his rifle the little hairs on the back of his neck would stand up when something wasn’t right and how he felt that again. None of it made sense. I was confused. My father was covered in blood and so weak, yet he was barking orders at me, telling me to brush the trail of blood you’d left away with my

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feet, covering it with the sand. It was almost like something in him snapped. All I wanted to do was get him back here and resting.” She looked deep into his eyes then, truly staring at him with everything she had. He could see just how confused she really was. “Don’t you see, Commander Slater? My dad is dying. He has no strength and can barely handle a short walk in the evenings, yet when he saw you it was as if someone had injected him with superhero powers. He was strong like he used to be, only stronger than I’d ever known him to be. And for some reason when he told me that I needed to trust him, that no one could know you were alive…” She shrugged. “I trusted him. He’s my dad.” Nick thought before he chose to respond. Debating on the right thing to say, he kept his hand on hers. For all intents and purposes, her story was insane. Every normal person in the world would hear that story and roll their eyes in an exaggerated manner, writing the whole thing off to utter and complete bullshit. Something she said was nagging at him though. Her father was a marine. Granted, he was a navy man, but marines were not candy asses. Sure they liked to poke jabs at the other branch of military and vice versa, but he’d served with many marines over the years and knew damn well that some of the finest men the military had to offer were from the corps. That mixed with her father’s description of hairs rising on the back of his neck while he searched through his scope. He knew that feeling all too well, and it had saved his ass more than once. Several times actually. He couldn’t be sure, but based on the little information he had it seemed more than probable that her dad was a marine corps sniper. Knowing he served in Vietnam as well only heightened his belief that maybe her dad knew exactly what the hell he was doing. He’d heard stories of some of the marine snipers from Vietnam. Some of those stories were legendary. Their kill numbers were high, and very few of them ever made a mistake.

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The idea that he was dead, at least in the official capacity, pissed him off. He couldn’t ignore all that her father had done though. Those things all played an important role in him deciding how he was going to handle this. As a matter of fact, something told him that if her father believed it was best everyone thought he was dead, then dead he should be. “I understand, AJ.” Surprise washed over her. “You do?” He wanted to do something to erase the unease he saw in her. Motioning toward his bandages and his body, he answered, “Do I have a choice?” She looked at him, confused. He sucked at being aloof. It wasn’t his thing. “Come on. Your dad tackles someone hell-bent on killing me, struggles with a gun, shoots the man who wants to murder me, removes a bullet from my body, stitches me up, and from what I can remember gave me medicine and convinced his very sweet but incredibly tenacious daughter to not turn me in…I’d say it’s kind of a no brainer. Your dad saved my life in more ways than one. I would be a jackass not to understand.” Thankfully he watched as relief put some color back into her cheeks. “Would you like to meet him?” He smiled at her and gently brushed his thumb over her knuckles. “I would like that very much as a matter of fact.” “Can you walk? I can get you some clothes. They’re my dad’s and will probably be tight on you, but at least you won’t be naked.” He cocked an eyebrow at her and lifted the sheet that covered the lower half of his body. For some reason he hadn’t thought to look before now, but sure as shit, he was butt naked. A smirk was itching to show itself as he looked at her and caught sight of a blush filling her cheeks. Clearly she had blurted it out and not thought about it before she said anything. Oh, how he could’ve teased her about it, but

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that wouldn’t be appropriate right now. Instead he decided to spare her any embarrassment and act as though she said nothing. “That would be great. Thank you.” “Okay, wait here. I’ll be right back.” Nick watched as she hurried from the room. She was a pretty little thing, long brown hair to match her deep chocolate brown eyes. The eyes that he wished didn’t hold so much anxiety. Deciding he didn’t want to be a pussy in front of her when she returned with his things, he swung his legs to the side and placed both feet firmly on the floor beside the bed. Being in bed for three days had done no good to his body. It relented against him in that moment as his legs shook with the pressure he placed on them. Standing proved to be harder than he thought. Sweated beaded on his brow, and he decided to sit and wait for her to return. He didn’t want to use all his strength until he absolutely had to. He bunched the sheet around his waist and waited.

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Chapter 10 AJ raced up the stairs. Conflicting thoughts flooded her mind. Her father was near the end. She knew this to be true. Every time she checked on him she wondered if it would be the last time they would be able to speak. She knew their time was limited when they came here to the island. His oncologist had even advised against traveling. It was important to him though. He wanted so desperately to live out his final days in the place where he had met and fallen in love with his wife Callie. She smiled at the memory of her mother, taken from her when she needed a mother most at the tender age of thirteen all because someone didn’t know well enough to not get behind the wheel of a car after a night of binge drinking. Her parents had loved each other very much. Despite her encouragement her father had never truly moved on from the death of his wife. Even setting him up on a few blind dates over the past few years when she’d become truly concerned that he would spend his life alone, all he’d done was compare each of the women to his Callie. Entering the bedroom where her father slept, she repeated what she’d done so many times in the past few days. She leaned over and studied his chest to assure herself it was still rising and falling with his breaths. He looked so peaceful while he slept. So much so that he barely moved. That scared her the most. She feared when the time would come that she would lean over and not see him inhaling and exhaling. Breathing a sigh of relief when she realized this was not that time, she walked over to the small chest of drawers and found a Tshirt and pair of sweatpants.

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She closed the drawer and took a glance back at her father before she headed back downstairs. How she wished he would flutter his eyelashes as though in deep sleep while dreaming, but he just lay there so still. She first stopped in the bathroom to grab him some toothpaste, figuring he could use his finger until she could get him a toothbrush. Then she went into the kitchen to grab another bottle of water from the refrigerator. Their patient downstairs was clearly thirsty, judging from the way he guzzled down the last bottle she’d brought him. Not that she could blame him. First he was shot, and then he had nothing to drink for nearly three days. He was a large man. It wouldn’t take a genius to figure that he ate and drank lots more than she did. Walking into the small makeshift exam room, she was surprised to see him peeking underneath his bandage. “What are you doing? You don’t want to get that infected. The last thing I need is for your temp to skyrocket again. That scared the crap out of me!” He eyed her quizzically and replaced the bandage back against his skin. “Skyrocket you say? How high was it?” She wished she hadn’t said anything. He took the news of everything else so well she felt like any further bombshells would just be pressing her luck. “AJ?” Wincing, she answered. “Well, you may have had a slight infection.” Leaning against the side of the bed, he crossed his arms and raised a brow. “I may have? Or I did?” She set the clothes on the bed next to him and sighed. “Okay, you did have an infection. You and I were talking yesterday morning, and you started acting really strangely. Then you seemed like you were in a trance or something. I can’t really explain it. You were burning up, and I didn’t know what to do. I had to get my father. He found some penicillin in one of these old cabinets and gave you some. By the

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afternoon your fever had gone down, but we gave you another dose, and for good measure I gave you one this morning.” “You gave me one? As in you gave me an injection? Are you qualified to do that?” “No.” What could she say? She wasn’t going to lie to him. “I see.” “It’s not like that. He showed me how yesterday afternoon. Besides, I watched him give you other shots, and it wasn’t that hard. Really.” She wondered why he was staring at her like that. Something was on his mind, and the way his eyes never left her made her nervous. Hell, everything about the man made her nervous. He was close to a foot taller than her. His shoulders looked like he should be a linebacker for the San Diego Chargers and not in the navy. Even wounded and donning bandages, he seemed to be a formidable presence looming over her. “What else did he give me?” Whew. She was strangely relieved. That was an easy question to answer. “Morphine. For the pain.” Again he was staring at her. Why? It was driving her mad. She could swear she all but saw the wheels turning in his head. “What aren’t you telling me, AJ?” She was thoroughly freaked out. Why on earth would he assume there was something she omitted from her answer? She was leaving something out, sure, but he didn’t know that. “I’m sorry?” “No offense, sweetheart, but you are a horrible liar. Don’t ever play poker.” Was that an insult or a compliment? She wasn’t a good liar? Who wanted to be good at lying anyway? Still it was a cheap shot. “I beg your pardon. I don’t know what you mean.”

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He threw his head back in laughter and quickly held his side. “Look, AJ. We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” “What’s the difference?” He merely shrugged. “No difference. They both end up with the same result.” “And that would be?” “You telling me whatever it is you’re not telling me now.” Good Lord, but the man was tenacious for just being shot a few days previous. She had a feeling he wasn’t bluffing. One way or another she would tell him whether she wanted to or not. Any attempt to play dumb would be pointless. “My father may have accidentally given you too much morphine. The first night you were here after he removed your bullet and stitched you up. It was…touch and go for an hour or so.” She winced at his expression. He was shocked, surprised even, but for some reason she didn’t see anger in him. “Wait, let me see if I understand this. Your father saves my life twice. Then he injects me with a near-fatal dose of painkillers?” He said it so calmly she was wondering if it was all a ruse and he was actually going to blow at any moment. She lifted her shoulders and took a deep breath. “Yes. That’s about right.” He shook his head at her. She would understand him being upset, even outraged because they could have killed him when he should’ve in fact been taken to a hospital. Yet she saw a smirk on his face. Damn, he was perplexing. “Anything else I need to know?” “Isn’t that enough?” she asked, exasperated by his question. “Oh no. That’s plenty. Believe me, but in light of everything I’ve found out and how my past few days have gone I can’t help but wonder that there’s more.” She saw his point. Everything that she’d told him would be a lot for anyone to take.

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“That really is everything. He’s fixes animals, not people. Plus he hasn’t been well.” She shook her head. “I know we should’ve gotten you medical attention, but he was so adamant that we needed to protect you. Kept saying over and over again that he hadn’t felt that feeling in over forty years. I saw his eyes. He believed what he was saying. So I believed what he was saying, too.” Surprisingly he touched her shoulder. It was a gentle and comforting movement and definitely one she hadn’t expected. “I understand, AJ. I wasn’t lying when I told you that. If your father felt something that strongly, then I believe he had good reason. Besides…” He gave her a wink. “Despite everything you still didn’t manage to kill me.” A bitter laugh bubbled up. It really wasn’t funny, but she couldn’t help but be amused at the irony of him trying to cheer her up for them almost killing him. “There are your clothes. Oh and here’s another bottle of water and some toothpaste. I don’t have a toothbrush for you, but we can see about getting you one. I’ll just wait outside the room here. Can you get dressed on your own?” Why had she asked that? He better say yes. She could not help him. It was one thing that she had bathed him and was privy to every part of his nakedness, but there was no way she could help him while he was awake. Aside from her whole face turning bright red with embarrassment she would probably be so mortified she wouldn’t be able to look at him ever again. It surprised her that she didn’t want to take that kind of chance. She’d grown used to his face, the curve of his jaw and the way his eyes fluttered when he slept. “No worries. I got it.” Thank God. The words nearly fell from her mouth, but she caught herself. “Okay, well I’ll be outside. Just yell for me when you’re all done and I’ll help you to the stairs.” His hand, which was still resting on her shoulder, rose up, and he brushed his thumb against her chin. “Thank you, AJ.” “You’re welcome. I’ll be outside.”

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Chapter 11 The short walk up the stairs proved to be a bigger challenge than he’d anticipated. Begrudgingly he had allowed AJ to help him up the fourteen steps. Damn if the fourteen hadn’t felt like a hundred. He was sore, stiff, and every muscle in his body screamed in protest with every foot forward. Lying in bed, while a necessary part of his near-death experiences, didn’t serve his muscles too well. He was going to have to make an effort to loosen up and get well so he could figure out what he was going to do next. From what AJ had told him he was sure the navy assumed he was dead. While SEALs were known for being elite Special Forces operators he never knew of one to come back from the dead. People would definitely be talking about him for years to come. He was hit with sadness for his longtime friend Tom Drake. He was by far one of the best men he had ever known. It was a cruel twist of fate that he’d survived all the missions he had only to retire in hopes of finally enjoying life and then being gunned down mere weeks into his new life. The upstairs of their beach bungalow was nice but not too nice. Everything seemed almost too ordinary. His thoughts went back to the secret underground clinic, and he wondered if whoever had lived here before had been involved in something so illegal that he took every step necessary to not draw attention to himself. “Dad’s right in there.” He had his arm around her shoulder, and she was holding him tightly around his waist. Any other time he might have enjoyed it, but

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now all he could think of was the pain he saw in her eyes when she spoke of her father barely holding on. They entered the bedroom, and for the first time Nick got a good look at the man who had saved his life. Despite his frail appearance, Nick saw the marine that AJ had described. His hair was still in a traditional jarhead cut. While it was gray, it still had a sense of authority attached to it. “Dad?” He watched as AJ gently touched her father’s chest, trying to wake him. He was about to tell her to let him rest, but his eyes opened and he smiled at her. “I was just dreaming of your mother.” “Oh, Dad.” She kissed the top of his head. “How’s the young man?” AJ moved out of her dad’s path of vision and motioned with her hand in his direction. “See for yourself.” He walked over to the frail man and offered a hand. “Sir, I heard I owe you a debt of gratitude.” “AJ, get the poor boy a chair.” She brought a small chair over to his bedside, and he sat. Seeing the man now, he was having a hard time imagining this man having the strength to tackle anyone, let alone struggle with a gun and win. Adrenaline could be a tricky thing though. This he knew to be true. “How do you feel, Commander Slater?” “You saved my life, sir. I think you’ve earned the right to call me Nick.” “In that case you can call me Liam.” There was a knowing nod between the two men. Both of them understood the importance of respect and honor. “Your daughter tells me you were a marine? I must say, being a navy man myself I would normally razz you, but it sounds like you have done more than your fair share to earn my respect. It’s an honor to meet you, Liam.”

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“It is I who is honored.” Barely lifting his head he looked at AJ who was standing at the foot of the bed. “Sweetheart, could you leave us alone, please? I need to talk to Nick about some things.” “I already filled him in, Dad.” The look in the old man’s eyes was very telling. He knew it well. Whatever he wanted to talk to him about was something that AJ knew nothing of. “I don’t doubt you have, dear. I just would like to explain a few things myself. Besides, he’s up and around now. He’s going to be hungry. Maybe you could fix him something to eat. A sandwich or something?” Wanting to reassure the worried look on her face away, Nick added, “I would love a sandwich. Do you think you could make one for me? My mouth is watering just thinking about it.” He watched as she hesitantly left the room, but not before she made him promise to yell for her if he needed anything at all. While he knew her concern was for her father and not him he couldn’t help but be touched by her Florence Nightingale persona. “Okay, she’s gone. What doesn’t she know?” The old man smiled at him. “You’re a smart man, Nick.” He shrugged and crossed his arms together as he waited for his next bombshell. Lord have mercy, his life was sure being hit hard with a few twists and turns these past few days. “I didn’t intend to keep it from her. You must understand, she was already so upset that I refused to take you to a hospital or call for help. Placing your ID on the man who tried to kill you did nothing to calm her anxiety.” “She’s already explained all this to me. From what I understand you were a sniper in Nam. She tells me that you told her of a feeling that you had. Hairs standing up on the back of your neck and all that.” The old man took a deep breath. He looked to be in some kind of pain, and Nick wondered if the morphine he was given was intended

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for Liam instead. Being that he was a marine, he knew better than to ask if he was all right or not. Even if he wasn’t he knew he would deny it and muster through it. “Yes, that was all true. What she doesn’t know, what I didn’t tell her because she was already so worried and distraught over everything, was what I overheard right before I got to you and the man standing over you.” Nick cocked an eyebrow. “What did you hear?” “I only heard a small piece of it, but he was laughing at you. He said something about leaving men behind and you should have known better to let them die.” He scanned his memory bank for information that could relate to such statements. Nothing was ringing a bell. Sure he’d saved many men in his day, but he’d also lost some men as well. It was the nature of the beast. War was an ugly son of a bitch that didn’t care who it hurt. “I don’t know if I understand. So he was trying to kill me because I saved someone? Or because I didn’t?” Liam shook his head. “I don’t know. It is kind of a mixed up puzzle in my head. I can remember bits and pieces but not really all of it.” “I see.” “I’m sorry. I’m not sure why, but at the time and the way the man said it, it seemed so significant. It was like you should have known exactly what he was talking about.” Maybe he should know. Between being shot, the infection, and the painkillers, maybe his brain was still clouded. “Colombia.” Liam blurted out the word. A tumble of memories churned inside him. Of all the things he would’ve expected the old man to say, that wasn’t one of them. Colombia held a memory for him that he would sooner forget. “Come again?” “I just remembered. He said something about Colombia.”

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Nick’s gut burned with acid. He could almost feel it boiling up inside him. “Do you remember what he said about it?” The man’s eyes were growing heavy. “I’m sorry. Just what I told you.” He watched Liam drift off to sleep. As he said his last sentence he looked to be exhausted. Only up and talking for a few minutes and he was too tired to continue. Liam was truly a man hanging on to his last bit of life. He forced himself to push that aside so he could focus on what he just learned. What Liam had first told him meant little to him. Once he added Colombia to it though, that opened up some old wounds. Ones he thought were dead and buried. Literally. Two Army Night Stalkers lost their lives on that mission. Two of his friends and fellow teammates, Jack Peyton and Rex Metcalf, had barely escaped with their lives. Had it not been for a rogue rescue mission led by Tom Drake with both he and his other teammate Adam Collins as backup they would have died. Nick sat there shaking his head in both disbelief and amazement at the man lying before him. A former marine sniper who hasn’t served his country in forty years never lost that survival instinct and risked everything to save a complete stranger. As big of a shock as that would be, the most surprising was that the man was dead-on. Something about the ambush and assassination of Tom didn’t quite make sense to him. The whole time he was swimming away he kept playing over it in his mind, and something didn’t add up. Now it did. Revenge. Some high-ranking fucks lost their careers after that cluster fuck of a mission almost cost them two of their men. After the court martial and all the testimony had been given, he’d heard little of what happened to the guilty parties. He wanted to kick himself. That should’ve been his first clue. A quiet enemy was never a good one. His testimony as well as Tom’s had help prosecute the ones involved. He wasn’t the only one who

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testified though. Adam, Jack, and Rex had all given very compelling testimony. He shot up from his chair and ignored the pain that shot through his side. If Tom was assassinated and he was a target, he was damn sure that his other teammates were next. Moving at the quickest pace possible with his stiff muscles he ran from the room to find AJ. He didn’t get very far when she came around the corner and ran right into him. The plate carrying his sandwich fell to the floor. “Nick? Oh my God! What happened?” She ran down the hall toward her father’s room. Flustered he turned and went after her, annoyed at himself for scaring her. He came in the room to find her leaning over his chest. “AJ, he’s fine. He just fell asleep.” She swung her head around and came toward him. He could see the fear in her eyes, though she tried to mask it with anger. “Why would you scare me like that? I thought…” She covered her eyes and shook her head. Fuck. She was crying. Damn it to hell. “Come here.” He didn’t wait for her to oblige. Instead he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into him. “I’m sorry I scared you.” He stood there holding her for a moment while her tears ceased. Tears were one of the least favorite things he liked about a woman. Seeing AJ cry though, well, it hit him somewhere in his gut extra hard. She pulled away, wiping her eyes and looking relieved. “Why were you so rushed?” “Your dad heard more than he told you. He didn’t want to worry you, but…” He hesitated. It wasn’t that he didn’t think she could handle it, but he was really beginning to hate seeing her upset. “What is it? Please tell me.” He considered it. Her eyes were desperate and pleading.

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“I promise I can handle it.” Damn, the woman was a puzzle to him. It was like she was reading his thoughts. “All right, I’ll tell you.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Your father overheard something the man who tried to kill me said. It…well, it makes sense now.” She shook her head, clearly confused. “What makes sense?” “I know who tried to kill me. And I know who’s next on their list.” He gripped her shoulders firmly before he hit her with the big one. “I need your help, AJ.”

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Chapter 12 AJ stared at him blankly. She must have misunderstood him. What on earth could he need her help with? It was only by sheer miracle and a bit of luck that she hadn’t completely lost it the past few days. Lord knew there were a few times she came close. “I don’t understand.” “The things your father overheard would have sounded benign to the average person, but to me and a few of my former teammates it explains a lot.” “What did he hear? Why didn’t he tell me?” “I already told you he didn’t want to worry you. He’s an intuitive man. That feeling he told you about, it was dead-on. I don’t know how he knew what he was hearing was so important, but I’m glad he did. If they find out I’m alive, I’m a dead man.” She gave him an exasperated look and pulled away from him. “Can we please talk about this somewhere else? I don’t want to wake him. He needs his rest.” He nodded, and they both proceeded down the hall toward the kitchen. He had picked up the sandwich, brushed whatever foreign substance he had seen off of it, and took a giant bite. She would’ve offered to make him another, but the truth was she wouldn’t be able to anyway. They were running low on food. She had planned on going to the small market in town the morning after they’d found Nick. That became impossible though. Her father was too weak to care for Nick on his own, and as weak as he was she didn’t want to leave him anyway. That didn’t even take

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into account what she feared may have happened to Nick if she hadn’t been there when his infection was at its worst. She refocused her thoughts, not wanting to relive the past few days. Her nerves were shot, and she didn’t know how long it would be until she finally broke. “I think we still have some milk. Would you like some?” Through a mouth full of food she was able to make out a mumbled answer of “yes” from him as he sat down at the table. She poured him what was left of the cartoon into a glass, barely filling it half full. The food they had was not going to be enough for the next day. She was going to have to go soon. The idea scared her so much. “Something wrong?” he asked her while wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Food.” He cocked an eyebrow at her and tilted his head. “What’s wrong with food?” “We don’t have any.” He stopped as he was about to put the last bite in his mouth and surprised her by holding the sandwich out to her. “Here, you have it.” She really couldn’t help but smile at the gesture. He hadn’t eaten for days and here he was willing to give her what he had. “No, thank you. I ate earlier.” His stare told her he didn’t believe her. “Honest, I did.” Shrugging, he put the last bite in his mouth and washed it down with a big gulp of milk. Momentarily she was mesmerized by the way his throat moved as he swallowed. His head was tilted back, and it accentuated his masculine jawline and broad shoulders. He set the glass down. “So, we need food?” “I’m afraid so. I just…I don’t want to leave. What if something happens while I’m gone?” He got up from his chair to come toward her. She noticed he struggled and used the table as leverage, but she had a feeling he

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didn’t want help. The fact that he was up and around and moving on his own was a very telling sign. For the first time in days she actually believed what her father had told her. She doubted that they’d be able to help him and was sure that he’d end up dead, leaving them responsible. Her father always was a smart man though. Tenacious, stubborn and all that went along with that. God how she loved him. “I understand why you’re scared and what you’re scared of, but it doesn’t sound like I can go to the store, and your father can’t. You’re the only one that can go.” He was right. She hated that he was, but it was true. She had checked the local paper the morning after they’d found him, and it had already been reported that he was dead. He couldn’t very well walk into the local market to buy eggs and all the essentials if his face had been plastered all over town following his death. “I know. Damn it.” She ran her hands through her hair and paced the small kitchen. “Will you stay up here with him? Keep an eye on him?” He nodded. “Of course I will. AJ, he just fell asleep. He might be out for awhile. He seemed really tired.” She closed her eyes tightly, fighting the tears that wanted to seep through. He would be asleep for hours if the last few days were any indication. She hated how much his energy had diminished since that night they had the walk along the beach. They came here to take advantage of what little time they had left together, not for heroics. It was a selfish thought, but she couldn’t get this horrible feeling out of her mind that every time she spoke with him would be the last. Maybe cancer did that to everyone. Maybe what happened with Nick had nothing to do with his weakened state. There were so many maybes, too many to count. “I suppose I can go now. I’ll be real quick. Do you need anything?” She grabbed a pen and a pad of paper from a nearby drawer and began making a list. “Just food and lots of it.”

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She listened to his request but was too busy jotting down all the things they needed to comment. “Oh, can you pick up some ibuprofen while you’re there? The painkillers make me groggy, and I’m getting my strength back. If I’m going to start dealing with what happened I need to be on my game. Can’t be knocked out from morphine.” She acknowledged his request and finished writing a few things down. She didn’t want to ask what he meant by “deal with what happened.” The truth was she didn’t want to know. Something told her it was dangerous, and it would only stress her out more. Tearing the paper from its pad she grabbed her purse, which was hanging on the back of one of the kitchen chairs. She did a quick glance of her wallet to make sure she had enough pesos on hand and wouldn’t have to walk even farther out of the way to the small bank, which housed the island’s only ATM. Satisfied she had enough to cover all that they needed, she wrapped her bag’s long strap around her neck and crossed her purse over to the other side of her body. The island had a reputation for purse snatching, especially when the victim was American. She may have dark hair and tan skin, but it was obvious to anyone that saw her that she was not of Hispanic origin. “Smart girl,” Nick said, pointing toward how she had positioned her purse. Smiling, she answered, “My dad taught me well.” “I’ll bet he did. Listen, when you’re there can you see if they have any recent newspapers from the States?” All she could do was give him a half-hearted nod. The anxiety of leaving her father was building up. She had to get out of here, hurry, and get back as quickly as she could. The idea that she wouldn’t be here if he woke, or if he…she couldn’t even think it. “I’m going.” She opened the back door, which led to the beach, and started to leave.

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“Any chance you have a computer with Internet?” he shouted to her from the doorway. “Yes, there’s a small netbook in a bag in my room at the end of the hall. In the bag is a WiFi drive you can hook into the USB port. Now, please get back inside and shut the door.” She looked around, hoping no one saw or heard him. It may seem paranoid to scan the surrounding area for lurkers, especially since they didn’t have any immediate neighbors, but the horror that her father had shot a man and they’d put the identification of a United States Navy SEAL on a dead body to fake his own death was still too fresh in her mind. **** Nick checked on her father once more before going to her room to retrieve her bag. He put the small drive into the port and waited for the magical little hourglass on the screen to talk to whichever satellite it was trying to acquire service from. It was taking forever. He walked around the room with it, hoping to find a better spot where it would connect. Finally, standing at the end of her bed, it connected. He sat down and put in on the bed beside him. Luckily, he caught himself before his instinct directed him to check his e-mail. Surely someone would notice that a dead man had signed into his e-mail account. That would send up a red flag or two. Opening Internet Explorer, he went to the first place he knew any releases would be listed, The Department of Defense press releases site. He tapped his fingers impatiently as the page took forever to load. When it finally did he wasn’t prepared for what he saw. He sat there staring at it before he dared click on the link. Marked with yesterday’s date it read DOD Identifies Navy Casualty. With nervous fingers he clicked on the link, which took him to the full release. He had heard the story from AJ and again from her father.

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He knew, judging from what they told him, that everyone must have assumed he was dead. Somehow that must not have set in, because as he stood here staring at the screen he felt sick. DOD Identifies Navy Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who had supported Operation Enduring Freedom. Commander Nick P. Slater, 39, of San Diego, California, died Oct. 7 while on rest and recuperation leave from supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. An ambush by those believed to be terrorists took place, and Commander Slater suffered fatal wounds. He was based out of Coronado NAB with SEAL Team 7. He read it at least a dozen times while he allowed the reality of it to sink in. He was dead. For the first time since the passing of his mother he was actually glad she was no longer with them and now resting peacefully next to his father. The thought that she could have gotten that kind of news killed him. He took a deep breath. “Get a hold of yourself, Slater.” He needed to pull it together, and quick. He exited the DOD page and started browsing through both national and San Diego local newspapers, looking for any signs that Adam, Jack, or Rex had been targeted yet. He saw nothing. His fingers slowed when he caught a funeral announcement for himself. The navy was having a service for him at Miramar, and his remains would soon after be scattered to sea by a close friend. Adam. “Fuck!” Adam was like a brother to him in more ways than one. They’d served on several missions together throughout the years. His old friend had always kept a low profile, pretty far under the radar, but this would bring him out in the open and make it easier for whomever that fuck hired to find him. He had to get word to Adam, and fast. He

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was positive that whoever had orders to kill them was pulling out all the stops. E-mails and phone calls could be easily tracked. He was going to have to get creative and at the same time be very damn careful. And he was going to have to do it soon. He scanned through several announcements but could find nothing more on his services or where they planned to scatter his ashes. Adam knew he wanted to be laid to rest off the beaches of Coronado, but it was a big island and there was no telling where he would do it. He considered leaving a message at Coronado NAB to see if they could intercept Adam when he arrived at the island checkpoint, but in order to do that he would have to make a big extravagant story up in order to get those stationed at the main building to do it. A big story only translated into people talking and asking questions. That wasn’t an option. He wanted this kept low-key and innocuous. What he wouldn’t give for an untraceable satphone right now. It would certainly handle a lot of his immediate problems. Come to think of it, a lot of the gadgets they had access to in the teams would do him loads of good right now. He struggled with his options. There was always sending an email from a general account, which would take him no time at all to create. He could keep it simple and innocent sounding as to not alert anyone in case his e-mails were being watched. A call was out of the question, as was any form of a text message. A tracer would only have to see which area the call or text came from and they’d know that something was amiss. It was an infuriating feeling to feel helpless to do anything. Hell, he was fucking dead. You don’t get much more helpless than that. He needed to punch something. Hard. There was no time to wait. These mercenaries who were hired to take them out could strike at any moment. They could be en route to any of their locations as he sat here on his ass doing nothing. “Fuck it!”

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He clicked on a new browser window and went to Yahoo.com. Hurriedly he typed through the steps of opening a new e-mail account. Adam was no slouch when it came to tech things, so he purposely made his identity something that only Adam would understand. It was a shit ass thing to do, and he would regret it later, but he knew it would get his friend’s attention and hopefully whoever was tracking them didn’t have enough intel to figure it out. At least if nothing else he hoped it bought them time to prepare themselves for any oncoming ambush. Under the section for name he typed in Allison Williams. The name would grab his attention in a heartbeat since it was the name of his deceased fiancée. For date of birth he typed in Adam’s. He wasn’t sure of the year, but he remembered it was April 4th. For location he entered New Orleans, Louisiana. The place where Adam had first met his fiancée. The similarities would not only get his attention but they’d make him start digging into who sent him the e-mail, if for no other reason but to kick their ass. His old teammate definitely had a temper. It was a fact he was counting on. Once the e-mail account was set up, he started to compose the message to Adam. He was thankful that in the past they rarely used his military address for corresponding with one another. Adam also had an e-mail account that was thankfully easy enough to remember. Adam, I know you’re remarried now and happy, but we still have things to discuss. Please stop avoiding me. I don’t want to have to go to your wife. Perhaps we could arrange a financial resolution to the predicament you got yourself into? P.S. I named him after your father, Reginald. Allison He read through it a few times before deciding it was hopefully the last thing that would tip someone off. With the news of him being

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dead and the notice of his funeral, he prayed that no one would even be suspecting him to e-mail his friend from the dead to warn him. His friend would have to be on his game in order to catch the hidden clue. God help them all if Nick was wrong and Adam didn’t.

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Chapter 13 Adam stood at the edge of the steep terrain. His head was bowed as he clutched the small wooden box. Thankfully, Jack had said a prayer right before he’d scattered Nick’s ashes. There was no way he would have been able to get through more than a word or two without getting choked up. Not that he would ever admit that to anyone. Nick Slater was a damn good man, though. This was just ten shades of fucked up. Chelsea wrapped her arms around his arm, entwining their fingers together as she took one of his hands. He was lucky to have her. That was something he never took for granted. For all the crap in his life, he still managed to have a happy ending by finding her. He knew this wasn’t the end per se, but she was the closest thing to guaranteed happiness and more than he could’ve ever hoped to wish for. With Nick’s death it just reinforced to him how fortunate he was. He had a home, a wife, and good friends. Most people could only dream and wish for such things. When he got back home he intended to get a few things in order. His issues with the past still crept up on him at times. Chelsea was always patient and understanding with him, but he knew damn well she didn’t deserve it. He was a grown man, and it was time he start figuring out how to cope with things so she didn’t have to bear the brunt of his moods. “That was nice.” Tamara spoke quietly. “What’s that, babe?” Jack asked. “The way the wind picked up right before Adam poured his ashes out. It was as if he was being carried out to sea.”

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Adam had to smile. Tamara was a good woman. She always saw a silver lining in every situation. At times it annoyed the crap out of him, but then there were other times when he knew that her “glass half full” way of looking at things was probably an outlook he needed to adopt. He turned and placed a small kiss to his wife’s temple. “Thanks for being here, baby.” Just like the angel she was, she offered him a soft and reassuring smile. He knew there was nowhere else she would be. She has been loyal and by his side from the moment they’d met. He truly was one lucky son of a bitch. “It’s getting kind of chilly. Maybe we should head back to the rental,” Rex suggested. “Yeah. You guys go ahead. I think I’m going to stand here for a couple minutes longer.” He tossed Rex the keys and kissed Chelsea. “I’ll be there in just a minute.” He waited until everyone was a dozen or so yards away before he put his hands in his pockets and looked out to sea. “Man, you really piss me off, you know that? You were so close to being out and done with all this shit. You could’ve had a life.” He squeezed his eyes tightly shut to keep the wetness from leaking through. “You were one of my best friends. Oh, shut up. I know what you’re thinking. Hard ass, cold as ice Adam Collins didn’t have friends. Well, I did. You were a good man, Slater. A damn fine SEAL, and don’t think I forgot about that time you stood up and acted as a decoy years back. You ended up getting yourself shot. You were always doing stupid shit like that.” Adam rocked back on his heels and looked up to the sky. This sucked to high heaven. “I’m gonna miss you, man. Now, I gotta go. If I don’t get back to the car soon the boys are gonna give me all sorts of shit.” He turned

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away, hesitated, and took one last glance at the sea. “I love you, brother.” Walking back to the SUV, he felt his BlackBerry vibrate from his inside jacket pocket. He pulled it out, annoyed because he’d told everyone, even business associates, that he would be unreachable for several days. He clicked on the e-mail icon flashing on his screen and was already mentally preparing a verbal tongue-lashing to whichever one of his contacts had dared bother him when he saw the name flash on his screen. Allison Williams. What the hell? He selected the open-message option on his screen and waited impatiently as the little hourglass on his screen seemed to take forever. Now standing on the outside of the vehicle, he heard Chelsea ask him if everything was all right. He looked up to her, and his expression must have betrayed him because she turned stark white. She opened the window and asked him what was wrong, but he didn’t answer. Instead he got in behind the steering wheel, calmly closed the window, and put a hand up to silence her while he waited for the little hourglass to stop spinning. Finally it opened. He scanned the message. His curiosity made him want to take in as much as he could at once. Then he slowed down and read it all again. More carefully this time he went over every sentence. He bunched his brows together in confusion. Why would anyone fuck with him like this, especially now when he was laying a friend to rest? “Adam, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?” He looked to his wife, shaking his head before looking back to his phone. This didn’t make any sense. Alie was dead. She and their baby had died. He didn’t even know Chelsea when Alie was alive. “Dude, you all right? You need me to drive or something?” Jack asked from the back of the SUV. He knew he should be answering them. At least maybe acknowledging them in some way, but he felt frozen. Getting over the

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guilt of losing her and their child because of his actions was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do. He still wasn’t totally over it. It was a daily struggle for him to look in the mirror and not hate himself. What kind of sick fuck would taunt him in this way? “Hey, you okay?” Rex asked. He could hear a few mumbled voices surrounding him. He tried his best to sound them out while he tried to concentrate on the words. Something wasn’t right. Obviously whoever sent the e-mail didn’t bother to do their homework. There was the most obvious flaw in their e-mail, that Alie was dead long before he met Chelsea. Then there was the part about naming him after his father, Reginald. That wasn’t his father’s name. He sat there shaking his head and shushed everyone around him. They were becoming more agitated from him not responding to them. An idea struck him. He went back to the Yahoo! home page, and he hovered his smartphone’s mouse over the user name of the person who sent it. When the message “Would you like to see this user’s profile” popped up he clicked on it. The damn hourglass popped up again. For being a smartphone it sure took its sweet ass time getting things done. A tap on his shoulder from behind him broke whatever amount of patience he was holding onto. He swung around and stared down Rex. “Hold on!” he shouted. Rex gave him a bemused look and held his hands up in a “don’t shoot” manner. Finally the hourglass stopped spinning and the page loaded. A quick cursory glance at the information provided told him the account was just set up today. No. Correction. The account was just set up, like in the last hour. He read all the other information. Allison Williams. Female. Birthdate, April 4. What in the fuck was going on? Someone used his birthday. They used his deceased fiancée’s name. They provoked him with knowledge of a child who never was born. Then the Reginald comment? None of it made any sense. Hell,

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he only knew one Reginald in his entire life, and he was his swim buddy in BUD/S class. Hardly the father-figure type. He was a mouthy arrogant little shit who was lucky he didn’t get his ass thrown out of BUD/S. The only thing that saved him was his ability to swim for miles without even getting tired. Their instructors used to call him the product of a mermaid and seal having sex. He went back to the e-mail and read it again. Allison Williams. April 4th. Their child. Reginald. What the hell reason would anyone have to make up an e-mail account just to send him something so cruel? He didn’t even give out this e-mail address, only a few close friends and…oh God. He looked up at Rex and Jack in the rearview mirror. His expression wasn’t lost on his two friends. They both looked at one another and then back at him. “What is it?” Jack asked. A silence filled the vehicle. All three of their wives stared at him, waiting for him to explain. “Nick is alive.” He no sooner said it before he heard a loud pop and felt something slice through the air beside his head. Glass flew inside the vehicle, showering him and Chelsea with tiny pebbles of glass. “Sniper nine o’clock,” Rex shouted from the back. “Ladies on the floor. Now! Adam, get us the fuck out of here!” Jack added. Hunched down in the seat, he turned the key in the ignition. “Chelsea, are you okay?” A wave of relief flooded through him when she answered, “Yes, just drive!” He’d lost Allison to a gunshot. No way in hell he would lose Chelsea, too. He hit the gas, and the tires spun against the gravel. It

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had been years since he’d brushed up on any of his defensive-driving skills. A real life sniper was the last scenario he wanted to test his skills. He prayed to God whoever was shooting at them didn’t plan to follow them. He wanted Chelsea as far away from whoever the sniper was as possible. He knew he was only echoing the thoughts of Rex and Jack. “Are they following?” he asked. “Negative,” Rex answered. “Now, you mind explaining to me just what the fuck you mean when you say Nick is alive?” If he wasn’t trying to navigate an area he hadn’t been to in years while slouched down in the vehicle he might explain it all, but getting them out of there came first. “Adam?” Jack said, waiting for him to respond to Rex’s question. “Let’s find someplace out of the way to hole up in first. Then I’ll explain everything.” “Shelby, stay down, damn it,” Rex snapped from the backseat. Then he added, “That’d be great, man. Because I kinda thought we just had a funeral for Nick.” Rex was right to be confused. He and Jack probably both would’ve thought him crazy, but the gunshot shattering the side window of the SUV probably made them think anything was possible at this point. He hoped that old rundown motel in Mission Bay that only cheap tourists frequented was still up and running. No one would think to look for them there. If he could get the women safe somewhere out of the sights of a scope then he could explain everything to Jack and Rex. Would they believe him? Well, that was another story entirely. It was a stretch for sure. There were just too many red flags in the email, the fact that someone had just opened that account with information that would only mean something to him. Combine that with the use of the name Reginald. No. It was too many coincidences. It wasn’t someone trying to screw with him. It was someone trying to

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get his attention in the only way they could. Obviously they were concerned about saying too much and drawing attention to themselves. Could Nick think that his e-mail account was being tracked? Two United States Navy SEALs were ambushed for an unknown reason while vacationing off the coast of Mexico. Still days later, no terrorist group had come forward to claim responsibility, or rather take credit for the attack. That was it! Terrorists weren’t behind the attack. Nick was alive, and he was using the only way he felt safe to contact him. No one knew they were coming out to Coronado today. A few of the higherups in the navy knew, but that was it. It wasn’t discussed with anyone, and he was even careful to make sure it was kept out of the local papers For all anyone at the service knew, they were taking Nick’s ashes home with them to sit on the mantle. Fuck! “Turn off your cell phones. Everyone! Do it now!” Not only did Nick worry that he was being tracked, the bullet in his side window all but confirmed it.

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Chapter 14 Nick paced the small kitchen area for as long as he could. His side was aching, forcing him to sit. He must have checked the small clock above the stove at least a dozen times in the past five minutes. After he’d sent the e-mail to Adam he knew he might not hear anything back from him right away. His current anxiety had nothing to do with that though. AJ had been gone for nearly forty-five minutes. She assured him she wouldn’t be long. It wasn’t as if she specified how long she would be, but he had a bad feeling. He wanted her back here. He didn’t like the idea of her being out there without him to protect her. The irony in his statement made him chuckle. She had cared for him for the past few days. He had done nothing for her, other than make her nervous and upset. His physical state was not up to par, and he was far from being able to protect her. Regardless, he just wished she would hurry up and get back here. Too nervous to sit still, he went back to check on Liam. He was still resting peacefully and didn’t appear to be in any pain or discomfort. On the contrary, for a man dying, he looked serene and happy. After he left there he went back to her bedroom to see if a new email had popped up on the screen. He saw none but knew there was a chance Adam hadn’t even seen it yet since this was the day of his memorial service. The thought still sickened him. Still, he was thankful for Liam’s quick thinking, which made him for all intents and purposes dead. Being dead saved his life. That he was sure of.

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Walking down the hall toward the kitchen, he peeked in on Liam once more. Anything to kill the time. Despite the pain that was starting to shoot needles in his side straight through to his arm, he couldn’t sit still. When he caught the time, he was frustrated to see only five minutes had passed. Where the hell was she? The market couldn’t be that far. Could it? Why wouldn’t she have told him she’d be gone so long? She should have a bike or some form of transportation if the walk into town was so far. He was infuriated. Ten minutes. He would give her ten more minutes until he was forced to leave and go look for her. No, five minutes. That’s it, that’s all she had left to return her cute little ass back to this bungalow or so help him he was going to… His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the sound of someone coming up the back stairs. A quick peek out the kitchen window and he saw her struggling with three bags in her arms as she climbed up the wooden deck. He crossed the room faster than he’d moved in days and quickly flung the door open. “Where in the hell have you been?” He winced when she screamed and dropped the bags at her feet. Fuck. Why was she so damn afraid of him? It was really starting to piss him off. “My God, Nick. You scared me!” she scolded him. He rolled his eyes at her obvious statement and bent down to retrieve two of the bags as she picked up loose fruit, which had fallen from the other one. “Just hurry up and get inside.” Holding two bags in one hand, he held the door open and waited for her to pass by before taking a quick survey of the surrounding area. He saw no one and nothing that appeared unusual or out of place. Satisfied she wasn’t followed, he closed the door and locked it behind him. He turned toward her, prepared to give her one hell of a tonguelashing about not dillydallying around town all day while he was here

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worried sick about her. Just the fact that he was worried about her annoyed him, but he would deal with that issue later. When he spun around to begin the lecture he was surprised to see her bag sitting on the table and her nowhere in sight. “For crying out loud. Where did you go?” He set his bags down and walked down the hallway to find her. He stood in the doorway to Liam’s room and watched as she placed a kiss to his forehead and said, “I love you, Dad.” His heart felt tight when he heard the pain in her voice. He was ready to chew her ass, and the first thing on her mind was checking on her father. The idea that she had dillydallied about town instead of hauling ass back here was ridiculous. Quietly he walked back toward the kitchen to put the food away. She deserved that private moment with her father without him looming over her. Pulling out the contents that didn’t need to be refrigerated, he placed them in the cupboard by the stove. He had to commend her on her choices. She’d picked items high in protein and nutrients. Clearly she stayed away from the sweets because not one item in the bags had sugar in them, unless he counted the natural sugars of the oranges and bananas she bought. He placed the milk, eggs, bacon, lunch meat, and cheese in the refrigerator and closed the door. She was standing on the other side of it, her expression bleak. “Is everything okay?” he asked her. She crossed her arms and stared at him for a moment. He was no great psychologist, nor did he claim to understand the women species, but if he was a betting man, and he was, he would place a wager that she was a little peeved with him. “Uh-oh. What’d I do?” “What did you do?” Oh, it was going to be one of those types of conversations. He was in no mood to play her games. Women in general were notorious for

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not saying what was really on their minds, but she was an extra hard nut to crack. “You seem upset.” She tilted her head to one side and scrunched her brows together. “I do? Well, I can assure you I’m not upset. At least not so much that I would shout at someone who has done nothing but care for me for days.” He didn’t miss her sarcasm, and he wanted so bad to smile at her. In that moment she looked incredibly adorable, but somehow he didn’t think a smile was the best plan of action right now. “Yeah, about that. I’m sorry.” Rather than respond or accept his apology she just tilted her head to the other side in a show of impatience. He thought women loved to hear men say they’re sorry. Maybe she was one of those that really needed to believe he meant it? “I’m really sorry, AJ.” He relaxed a little when she uncrossed her arms. “I got back here as quickly as I could. It’s a good twenty-minute walk.” Information which would have been helpful before you left! He thought the words but knew better than to say them aloud. “I didn’t know that. Look, I was worried about you. I paced this damn kitchen, checked on your father twice. I was almost ready to go out looking for you.” He watched as her face suddenly softened, and she smiled. “You checked on him twice?” He shrugged and nodded. “Well, yeah. I mean I’m not a complete asshole, you know.” She laughed. Lord have mercy, she laughed. Damn, it was a beautiful sound. Her face lit up as her beautiful smile spread across her face. He wished he could bring that out in her more than the other emotions he seemed to cause her. He watched and waited for her laughter to slow. Taking it all in, he stood there in amazement at how her whole face lit up with such joy. It made him sad to think she

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probably hadn’t laughed much lately. She had the kind of smile and laughter that should be shared with the world. “I’m glad you find that amusing.” “I did. I mean, no, you’re not an asshole, but just the way you said it. It’s like you know that sometimes you’re not so nice.” “I’m so hurt. Me not nice?” In a mocking gesture he held his hand to his heart and staggered backward. Between being shot, lying in bed for three days, and barely having enough food to sustain him on a normal day, his strength wasn’t what it normally was. He lost his balance and fell backward. AJ reached for him, trying to right his balance, and they both went down with a thud. Pain. Excruciating pain enveloped his side and radiated throughout his body. He had tucked his head in so it didn’t hit hard against the floor, but when he saw AJ falling with him his first instinct was to wrap his arms around her, protecting her from the fall. “Oh God, Nick. Are you okay?” He gritted his teeth to keep every curse word from flying out of his mouth. His eyes were glued shut as the pain rocketed through him. Damn that hurt. AJ squirmed in his arms, and he felt her soft hand touch his face. “Nick? Please say something.” He opened his eyes. She was no more than an inch away from him. The small features of her face seem magnified but not in a bad way. It was as if he was seeing her for the very first time. Her eyes were brown, but close up reminded him of creamy milk chocolate. They held caramel-flavored hues in them, and he wondered if they looked even more vibrant when she wasn’t under so much stress. “Are you hurt?” He laughed at her question. He couldn’t help it. She was too damn cute with her obvious questions. Was he hurt? He still had a hole in his side, and he could tell from the warm feeling on his side that the jar from the fall had probably torn a couple of his stitches. “What is so funny?”

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“You are. Am I hurt? Sweetheart, I have a bullet hole. I’ve had better weeks.” She grinned at him. He was really starting to like that smile of hers. She had a dimple on her right cheek that made her look extra cute. “I think you know what I meant, smart-ass.” “Uh uh uh…careful,” he warned her. “The last time you hurt my feelings we ended up on the floor.” He was trying to make her laugh again and thankfully it had worked, but the truth of the matter was he kind of liked being here on the floor with her lying in his arms. Sure he could have done without the jarring pain, but the end definitely justified the means in this case. “You’re something else, Commander Slater. Come on, let’s get you up off of this floor.” When she placed her arms on either side of him, bracing herself to get up, he tightened his hold on her. “Nick, what are you doing?” He didn’t stop to think. If he had he might not have gone and done it. Something inside him wouldn’t allow him not to take what he wanted in that moment. Lifting his head up just one more inch he touched his lips to hers. It struck him how soft they were. Despite her tiny features, her lips were so full and so inviting. He prayed the toothpaste he’d used a couple hours earlier had a lasting effect. He removed one of his hands from her body and brought it to the back of her neck, holding her firmly to the kiss. Slowly he slid his tongue against her lower lip, sliding it back and forth before using it to part them. When she opened her lips and sighed he could feel it deep to his bones. His body woke up despite its recent trauma. He brushed his tongue against hers, slowly stroking it and teasing her to join him. She was timid and unsure, but she hadn’t pushed him away. He spread his hands against the back of her head and gently brought them both just a bit closer.

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His blood was rushing through his body, straight down to his cock. It started throbbing intensely and becoming harder with every second he kissed her. She must have noticed it, too, because she tensed her body, and her timid kiss turned into a frozen one. She lay in his arms still, almost unsure of what to do. “AJ, please kiss me back.” He was begging, and he didn’t care. He wanted her kiss so bad right then he would have done anything to get it. Covering her mouth with his again he slipped his tongue past her lips and did everything to entice her. Sliding a hand up her back and massaging the back of her neck were actions more for him than they were for her. Suddenly, in that moment the need to feel her body against his was so strong. Bullet hole or no bullet hole, no one could’ve pulled him off of this floor. The pain, the snipers, none of it mattered. He just desperately needed her kiss. His prayers were answered as her head tilted to one side. Her tongue met his, danced with it and explored his mouth as he explored hers. The timidness he sensed in her moments ago was gone. She wasn’t holding back this time. They were kissing each other. He couldn’t help himself. His hands started stroking her back, rubbing up and down, trying to soak up all of her that he could. He was in agony he was so hard, wanting so desperately to rid her of her clothes and slide in between her thighs. The thought made it unbearable for him. He pulled away from her kiss and firmly tugged her head back with his hand. Trailing his tongue from her mouth down her neck he could taste the saltiness on her. It was hot outside, and obviously the heat had made her perspire. The exotic flavor to her skin just heightened his awareness of how great her body felt lying on top of him.

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He made his way to her earlobe. First he flicked the end of it with his tongue, but it looked too inviting for him to not do more. He closed his mouth around it and gently nibbled. She tilted her head to grant him better access, and he wanted to applaud her for her ingenuity. It gave him a teasing glance at the small dip between her neck and shoulder. It was the sexiest damn thing he’d seen in a very long time. Refocusing his attention he brought his mouth down the side of her neck, alternating between featherlight kisses, nibbles, and licks. She moaned in appreciation of his work. His eyes opened, and he saw her hovering over him. Her cleavage was a teasing view in front of him. “Jesus,” he muttered. With both hands he grabbed onto the side of her face and brought their mouths back together as he laid his head back down against the floor. She went willingly with him. Her mouth met him just as her kiss did. Their tongues were no longer strangers to one another. Each of them had found a rhythm with each other in a very short time. The ache was too strong. He thrusted his hips against her just a little. Desperately he needed to feel the warmth of her body against his hardness as he ground against her. She moaned again. Damn she sounded sexy when she did that. He wanted her. “You are so…” He didn’t have a chance to finish his sentence. A voice from the other room interrupted them. “AJ? Sweetie, are you here?” Quickly she pulled away from the kiss. Bracing herself on the floor she got up and hurried to the other room while adjusting her clothes. Nick closed his eyes and tried to rein in the lust that was coursing through his veins. Seconds ago he was holding her in his arms and wanted to bury himself inside her heat, and now, just as quickly as it had begun it was over. “Fuck!”

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Struggling, he somehow managed to push himself off of the floor and back into a standing position. He looked down and shook his head. His dick was sticking clear out and was an obvious sign. No way in hell could he go in there like that. Cancer or no cancer, that former marine would get out of bed and kick his ass. He reached into the refrigerator and got a bottle of cold water and all but tiptoed to her bedroom. He could hear the two of them talking. Obviously he was okay after resting. The two of them needed their alone time anyway, so he decided he would check his new e-mail account to see if he had heard back from Adam.

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Chapter 15 Jack walked back into the motel room, locked the door behind him, and tossed the keys on the small round table flanking the window. “Did anyone see you?” Adam asked. “Negative. I took the tourist route. Drove around so many side streets and back roads and then went in a couple of circles. If anyone was following me they took no shot, and I lost them anyway. We’re now the proud rental customers of a dated station wagon.” Rex took a peek out the window and grinned. “Nice.” He laughed. “You sure you didn’t just get that to test it out for JJ?” “Positive, smart-ass,” Jack replied before turning his attention to Adam. “So are you going to tell us what the hell is going on now?” He waited while Adam took his phone from his pocket and turned it on. Tossing it at Rex he said, “Read the e-mail from Allison. But be quick about it. I want the phone turned off within a minute. If they are tracking us, I don’t want to take the chance they’ll have enough time to lock in a location.” “Allison?” Chelsea looked at him confused. Jack read the message immediately after Rex and quickly shut the phone off. He listened intently as Adam explained to all of them in detail all he had deduced from the e-mail. He might have told him he was crazy. That his theory was convoluted at best, but he couldn’t ignore the fact that they were shot at. When the glass shattered, Tamara and JJ were the first things that flashed through his mind. If anything happened to them…well he didn’t want to think about that. A couple of years back he had come

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dangerously close to losing her so quickly after he’d found her. Nothing and no one would jeopardize his family, not as long as he drew breath. “Wait, I don’t understand. Why use this guy Reginald from your BUD/S class as a clue? I’m not seeing the importance in that,” Rex asked. Adam, who was lying on the bed, his back against the headboard with Chelsea resting against him, rolled his eyes in annoyance. “Don’t you get it? I told you. That dude was the strongest swimmer I’ve ever seen. He could swim in freezing cold water without tiring or cramping up. Nick was on a boat when they were ambushed. I think it was his way of trying to tell me that he was able to swim away to safety.” Jack granted him that path of logic, but still it all seemed just a bit too unbelievable to…well, to believe. “Okay, so Nick swims away to safety. But didn’t we already suspect that from him being found on the other side of the island? I mean they found his body, Adam. How are you going to dismiss that?” “Wrong!” Rex and Jack eyed each other curiously. “Come again?” he asked. “They found a body. When I showed up with proof that Nick wanted to be cremated and I was to be granted his ashes, I asked to see him before they went ahead with it.” “Oh, honey. I didn’t know that. Is that why you didn’t want me to go with you?” Chelsea kissed her husband on the cheek. He nodded at her before continuing. “The CO at Coronado told me that his face was blown apart. Apparently he’d been at close range.” Jack sat next to his wife and put a comforting arm around her when he saw her shift uncomfortably on the edge of the bed. “So, who exactly identified him?” Adam shrugged. “They said his military ID and wallet were on him.”

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Rex stood up in apparent outrage. “That’s it? A piece of cowhide and plastic and they wrote him off as being dead without any positive ID?” “Dude, what the fuck do you want from me? I wasn’t there. I’m only telling you what I was told. And what I know to be true now,” Adam snapped back. Jack held up his hands to cool the two hotheads. “All right, let’s all settle down here. Rex, I know you’re stressed about us getting shot at while the women were with us, but stop jumping all over Adam. And you”—he pointed to Adam—“I agree your theory has some merit, but it’s not a fact. Let’s just slow down and think about this. We need to decide what the hell we’re going to do, because one thing is a fact. Someone was perched up on one of the cliffs with a rifle and scope. That was no gangbanger. That was a damn sniper. I don’t need to tell you what that means.” Clearly distraught, Shelby spoke up. “Well you need to tell me. I’m betting Chelsea and Tam are a little curious, too. Need I remind you, Jack, that we were not SEALs?” She was right, and he knew it. The three of them who served on the teams together knew things that their wives never could. He forgot that sometimes. “Sorry, Shelby. We’re not active duty anymore. Meaning we’re not on assignment somewhere where the chance of getting taken out by a sniper is plausible. It means that it was a professional hit.” “Oh God.” Tamara’s chilling response cut through the air. “Jack? What about JJ? We always said if anything ever happened to us that we wanted Rex and Shelby to take care of him, but they’re here, too.” Jack went to hold her when she covered her face and started to cry. Wrapping his arms tightly around her, he smoothed her hair down and kissed the top of her head. “Nothing’s going to happen to any of us, sweetheart. You have my word.”

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“He’s right, Tamara,” Rex added. “Haven’t you ladies learned anything by now? Do we let anything bad happen to you, ever?” He winked at Shelby and gave her a kiss. “Let’s get down to business,” Adam interrupted as he took a laptop out of its case. “I’m going to set up a dummy e-mail account. I’m going to use my name but Reginald’s last name. Leave a couple clues in the message and see if he bites. Concur?” Jack looked to Rex, and they both nodded. Rex took the keys to the rental and left for the convenience store they spotted down the street to pick up some water, whatever food he could find, and hopefully a couple of those prepaid cell phones. He periodically peeked from behind the curtain, keeping a close eye on the parking lot outside their room while Adam continued typing away. He looked at Tamara a couple of times and hated the worry he saw on her face. Years ago when her deranged ex-boyfriend Brent had kidnapped her, he had come close to killing her. That didn’t count that the time he had beat Shelby within an inch of her life. He could only imagine the thoughts and fear that were going through their minds. “All done.” Adam interrupted him from his worrying thoughts, and he walked over to the screen to read the message. The account was set up as he said it would be. He used his name but Franklin for the last. A moment of recollection hit him. He had heard of someone named Franklin who swam circles around the other tadpoles in BUD/S school and years after. Allison, I don’t know what your game is, and quite frankly I don’t fucking care. I gave you money for the kid, so don’t even think about threatening me with contacting the wife. Remember what happened when we were in New York and you pissed me off? Yeah, well I’ll

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make it worse this time. That fat lip will seem like a damn picnic. So take the money I already gave you and get the fuck out of my life! Adam Jack read the message and looked at Adam. He was surprised he had taken it to that level, but if there was one thing he knew about Adam it was that he had good instincts. “Are you sure about this? You’re sure it’s Slater?” Jack asked him. “As sure as I can be.” “And you really think this is going to work?” “I sure the hell hope so, because someone took a shot at us and we damn sure need to find out who the fuck it was and why they were aiming at us.” Jack looked to the ladies, who were talking amongst themselves. He knew Adam was right. Whatever was going on it wasn’t good, and they needed to answers. No one was going to hurt his wife or any of his friends. No way in hell.

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Chapter 16 AJ spent close to an hour talking with her father. He refused to eat, saying that his stomach didn’t feel up to it. She forced the issue though and managed to convince him to at least eat some toast with a light coating of peanut butter on it. When she’d gone to the kitchen to prepare it she was thankful that Nick wasn’t still in there. She wasn’t sure what had come over her when he kissed her. Her reaction was probably a bigger surprise to her than it was to him. While she had gone on dates in the past, she had never dated much. Sure she had an occasional date here or there when she needed someone for a work function or such, but no one that she really ever liked or was incredibly attracted to, not like she was with Nick. Her biggest problem with most of those men was that after a date they always came on way too strong. She was no prude, but she liked to date someone for more than four hours before sleeping with them. After a while she found most men who asked her out on dates just annoyed her so she kept her distance. Just once she wished she was asked out on a date at a time when she’d run to the store with no makeup on, her hair in a ponytail and looking a mess. It dawned on her then that Nick hadn’t seen her in makeup, nor had he seen her hair in anything other than the style that that day’s brushing had decided. She would like to blame her reaction to his kiss on that knowledge, but the truth was he was an attractive and sexy man. He definitely knew how to kiss a woman. The moment she had even tried to resist him had quickly passed with the way his tongue worked against hers so expertly.

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She forced a deep sigh and tried to recollect her thoughts as she washed off the plate that held the single piece of bread she’d managed to convince her father to eat. Now that he was sleeping again she had no excuse to avoid Nick. She had to check on him whether she wanted to or not. After drying the dish she headed back to her bedroom. She knew he was there. She had heard his attempt at quiet footsteps pass behind her while she spoke with her Dad. Running a hand through her hair she made an attempt to soften her tousled appearance. When she walked into the room she had prepared for a confrontation, of which kind she wasn’t sure. She wasn’t sure if she should apologize for her behavior or be embarrassed for it. The truth was she wasn’t sure what his demeanor would be like, and that made her more nervous than anything. To her surprise, though, she was met with the sight of him lying on his back, both of his hands folded on his stomach and his chest gently rising up and down with each breath he took. She didn’t want to wake him and knew rest was essential to his recovery, so she thought she’d tiptoe out of the room and let him be. Sure she knew it was a cop-out and just another excuse to avoid talking to him, but if it put off any potential embarrassment she was okay with being a coward for a bit longer. Just as she was leaving the room she heard a beep come from her laptop. She knew he’d asked to use it, but he didn’t say what he needed it for. Hitting the space bar to awaken it from the screen saver’s sleep mode, she saw a new e-mail message alert. Despite the yellow streak of cowardice running down her back she knew she had to wake him. Whatever was going on with him could not be ignored, not even for her foolish womanly insecurities. “Nick?” She spoke softly so she wouldn’t startle him. It must have been too soft though, because he didn’t budge. Slowly she sat on the edge of the bed next to him. The T-shirt she’d given him to wear was too

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tight already, but with him lying down, his breaths causing his chest to rise and fall under the constrained fabric, it only accentuated the muscles that she had seen for days when he had lain in the bed completely naked. Bathing him had been a test on her libido. She tried to not feel anything while she cleaned his body off with a warm soapy wash cloth, but he was a magnificent-looking man. Placing a hand on his chest, she said his name again. “Nick?” Abruptly and without warning he had grabbed onto her wrist. She moved to get up off the bed, but his grip on her was too strong. Her eyes flashed to his and saw that any signs of him resting peacefully were now replaced with a wide-eyed alertness. “Nick…I…” She stuttered her words but had no idea what she was going to say anyway. “You shouldn’t sneak up on me like that, AJ.” A lump of fear built up from somewhere deep inside her, choking her. She wanted to say something, apologize. Anything so he would get that look off of his face. His grip loosened, and he gently brushed his thumb across her wrist. “I’m sorry. You startled me. Did I hurt you?” She shook her head, telling him no. He hadn’t hurt her. Scared her, shook her to her core, maybe, but not hurt her. As much as her heart began racing when he’d grabbed onto her, she knew it was more from his touch than his swift actions. “Why do you always look at me like that? Do I scare you that much?” Oh, if he only knew. She wasn’t fearful of him in the sense that he would hurt her, quite the opposite, in fact. Her reaction to his kiss earlier just confirmed the attraction she’d felt for days. The fear she felt was of herself. She couldn’t trust herself around him. Even when she had bathed him it took all of her energy to not think about how sexy he was. The man was pure muscle from head to toe. She didn’t remember seeing one flaw on his body. Even the scars he bore looked like they belonged there. As if God himself had placed each scar

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strategically in the perfect spot to make him look even more desirable than he already was. “You don’t scare me. I scare me.” He looked at her confused. “What scares you?” She wished he wasn’t stroking her wrist with his thumb. It was making it way too hard to concentrate on what she needed to say. “What happened in the kitchen earlier, that shouldn’t have happened. I should have…” Any chance she had of speaking was quickly put to an end by Nick pulling her down to him and crushing his mouth against hers. He didn’t wait to coax her as he did earlier. Instead he held her body close to his and slid his tongue inside her mouth, instantly stroking it against hers and making her whole body scream yes in agreement. The speech she had prepared mentally and was ready to give him was suddenly completely out of the question. She wondered why she had even considered saying the words. Meeting his kiss and giving into the moment was all she could manage. Several minutes later Nick pulled away. Both of his hands framed her face, and he stared at her. She was breathless and unable to do anything but look into his eyes. They were the most intense blue she could ever remember seeing. The color brought to mind the hottest point of a flame and only reminded her that her body was getting warmer. An intense ache was starting to consume her, and she found herself wishing that his hands would wander her body until they found those aches and alleviated them. “I want you, AJ.” Those four simple words ignited the embers that were burning somewhere inside her. In that very moment she could feel a wet heat seep from her and coat her panties. The ache she felt was now a painful emptiness. Her breasts suffered the same sense of neglect as her nipples pebbled and seemed to throb in agony over not being catered to.

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Every part of her mind that she always used for reason and logic seemed to have short-circuited as she fought the urge to tell him just how badly she wanted him, too. Insecurities flooded her mind as she thought about how much of a mess she must have looked. She had done absolutely nothing to fix herself up. She hadn’t even worn any perfume or body spray in days. How on earth could he possibly want her? Was he still under the influence of his pain medication? She wished she didn’t feel so inadequate compared to the kind of women that a man like Commander Nick Slater had been with, but she couldn’t ignore the realization that a man like him probably had a girl in every port who looked like she could take her pick between being a Hawaiian Tropic girl or a Playboy centerfold. It was insane of her to think she could ever compare to women like that. No matter how great of a kisser he was or how much her body seemed to ache for anything he was willing to give her, she couldn’t be a fool. Nick Slater was a Navy SEAL for Christ’s sake. She would be kidding herself if she thought a man like him could ever go for a woman like her. She pulled away from him and got up off of the bed. Backing away she purposely put several feet in between them before she said anything. “I only woke you to tell you there was a message.” She pointed to the laptop and quickly looked away. The evidence of his wanting her was very clear through the two-sizes-too-small sweatpants he was wearing. “Don’t run away from me. I wasn’t the only one into that kiss.” Change the subject, AJ. Quick, say something. “I should make you something to eat. You need your strength. I’ll be back in a little while. You can have privacy while you read your mail.” She quickly left the room, all but running from it and closing the door behind her. Never before had she been able to relate to the purpose of a cold shower, but now it seemed so very appropriate. He

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was saying something to her as she shut the door, but she’d purposely sounded his words out, refusing to listen for fear that she would turn right around and go back in there, giving him exactly what he wanted. Whatever was going on with the both of them, she needed to try to stop it. Nick Slater might be incredibly sexy, but they had no future. Getting hurt had never been on her list of things to do, and she knew if she gave herself to him she would fall for him. Fall hard. She shook her head. “You can’t allow that to happen, AJ,” she whispered to herself.

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Chapter 17 Nick pounded his fists against the mattress. He wasn’t lying when he told her he wanted her. It was insane how much he did. Just holding her wrist had already broken his self-control. That was why he grabbed her so forcefully. It wasn’t his style to be so rough and caveman-like. The need to feel her body against his and explore her mouth was too strong. He just took her, not even considering the possibility that she may not be feeling the same thing he was. He shook his head. He remembered all the women over the years who had slapped him across the face and warned him that one day he would find a woman who didn’t fall at his feet. That day had finally come. His exes had finally gotten their wish. He couldn’t remember ever wanting someone with so little encouragement as he did AJ, but make no mistake, he wanted her like his life depended on it. He tried not to laugh at the irony of his thoughts. His life had depended on AJ taking care of him, and she did. In retrospect, he should be grateful to her for that, not grabbing her like he was some sort of animal. Suddenly he remembered he had a new message. He got up from the bed slowly, trying not to jar himself and agitate his side, which was still sore. Clicking on the e-mail, he couldn’t help but smile. He knew Adam well. The message staring back at him from the newly made e-mail address confirmed his prayers were answered. Adam caught on to the clues and knew something was going on. It was the only way to explain the reference to New York City. He rubbed his jaw at the memory of when Adam coldcocked him in Times Square right after he had gone on a drunken rant about some

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girl he was sure he saw first at a bar they’d been to. They didn’t fight over women, and as a whole, team guys had a rule to never do so. Women were to never come in between the brotherhood. He had been drunk off his ass though and completely unaware of how big of a jackass he was being. Adam squared him away real quick though. He squared him away right onto the sidewalk. Not one of the other guys had helped him out either. They all just shook their heads at him in disgust and disapproval. Now that he had Adam’s attention he had to figure out what to do next. At least his mind was eased knowing that he’d gotten his friend’s attention in time. He was now on alert. Anyone targeting him wouldn’t have the element of surprise. He prayed that the same could be said for Rex and Jack as well. He needed a disposable cell phone, one that couldn’t be traced to him and, most importantly, AJ. Now that Adam had set up an alternate e-mail he could send him a number and they could at least talk and figure out what was going to be their plan of action. Taking several deep breaths he tried to clear his mind from thoughts of how good she had felt pressed against him. A cursory glance down at his lap told him it wasn’t working. His dick was hard and throbbing, just begging for release. Release wasn’t all that he wanted though. He wanted her. Despite his desire to have her, she made it clear she didn’t feel the same. He hated it, but the last thing he was going to do was push himself on her. She’d taken care of him for days. Hell, she’d even cleaned up his vomit. The woman deserved a damn medal or to be made a saint, not groped like she was some tipsy girl he picked up in a bar. “Get your shit together, Slater. You’re a damn SEAL.” He chided himself for having such little self-control. For several minutes he removed AJ from his mind and went over the events since Tom had been assassinated right in front of him. He

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replayed everything Liam told him. Anything and everything, but AJ was on his mind. At least that’s what he kept telling himself. He couldn’t put it off any longer. He needed to talk to her. Whoever Broderick hired to take him out would still be gunning for his former teammates. They needed to nail this son of a bitch for good and make him rue the day he ever sacrificed his brothers for his selfish reasons. Then he could come back from the dead. It didn’t take long to find her. She was making some eggs and bacon in the kitchen. The smell alerted him to her location faster than the sound of the sizzling meat did. He stood on the opposite end, watching her silently work. Her hair was up in a ponytail now. Loose strands were falling everywhere around her face. The khaki shorts and plain T-shirt she wore looked like they were made for her body for the sole purpose of teasing him. She jumped when she turned and saw him. The spatula in her hand fell to the floor. “Jesus, I’m sorry. I wish you weren’t so afraid around me.” He closed the distance between them and picked up the utensil off the floor. The pain rocketed through his side from the simple maneuver, but he didn’t care. “It’s okay. I just didn’t realize you were standing…” He couldn’t help himself. He took her nervous hands in his. “AJ, I’m sorry for the way I acted back there. I will respect you from now on. You didn’t deserve that.” Thankfully her face softened by his words. He didn’t want her to feel unease. He wished he could see her smile again, but he forced himself to turn away and move several steps away. The need to touch her face and kiss her again was overpowering him. “Are you all right, Nick? The food is almost ready. I was going to come get you when it was dished up.” He kept his back turned to her. Why the hell was she still taking such good care of him? It would be so much easier if she wasn’t so sweet. If only she wasn’t such an amazingly caring person. He

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worked his jaw and tried to think of his bullet wound and what he was dealing with. “Nick? Are you upset with me?” What? He swung around at her. “Upset with you? No.” He went to sit at the kitchen table. Despite the yard or so separating them he needed to widen the gap. He was still too close to her. “What’s wrong then? Are you in pain?” If she only knew. “No. I’m fine.” She came to him and placed a hand on his forehead. “You look flushed. Did your fever return?” Damn it to hell. What the hell was she trying to do to him? Make him suffer? He had a fever all right but not the kind from an infected bullet wound. Just having the back of her hand rest against his forehead was making him want to grab her and pin her to the floor. He removed her hand and motioned toward the chair beside him. “I need to ask you a favor. Could you sit down?” He wished she didn’t look worried when he asked. “Sure. Let me get the pan off the stove.” He waited for her to return. It infuriated him that he had a hit out on his life, his friends’ lives, his friend was dead, and he couldn’t stop thinking of her. “Okay, what is it?” He hated to ask her to leave so soon again after just getting back. He really should have thought of it earlier, but it was too risky having him go into town. “I need you to get a disposable cell phone.” He saw the hesitance in her eyes as she looked toward the hall. “AJ, I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.” She looked down and seemed to be thinking over her answer. “You’ll look after him? I have to go a little farther to get to the bigger market that might have them.”

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“I promise. I will stay in the room with him the whole time you’re gone.” He was surprised but thankful when she looked at him with relief. “I believe you.” It was going to be getting dark in the next couple hours, and he didn’t want her out there walking alone. “You need to hurry though. Darkness will be here before we know it. I don’t want you still out there then.” She rose from the table. “Let me just peek in on him first. I’ll be right back.” He wanted her to hurry but was glad that she out of the room. Just having her near was a test of his willpower. Somehow he was going to have to get himself in check. There was no way he was going to accomplish anything when he was constantly hard and aching to be inside of her. “He’s sleeping now. I shouldn’t be more than an hour and a half. It takes a little over a half an hour to get there. Then I’ll get what I need and hurry back.” She was putting her purse strap around her neck as she spoke. He stared at her, completely entranced at how beautiful she looked. Her hair was in a ponytail, and loose strands were falling all around her face. She wore no makeup, and her eyes were shaded underneath with fatigue. He stood up to get the door for her. “Please be careful, AJ.” “I will.” She smiled at him as she assured him. Seeing those pearly whites was his undoing. He took her face in his hands and pulled her to him, his lips crushing hers while his tongue slid into her mouth seeking the same response he had gotten from her earlier. Please God, don’t let her push me away, he silently prayed. Like the Lord had truly heard him, he felt her hands wrap around his neck as she moved closer to him. Her tongue, her silky and

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seductive tongue, met his and stroked it, teasing him. Only a moment kissing her and his cock was already throbbing unbearably hard again. He moved her against the doorjamb and planted his legs on either side of hers. She was trapped and surrounded by his body. Dropping his hands from her face he slid them down her sides, catching the fullness of her breasts as he continued his path until he was able to grab her hips and pull her closer. She whimpered, and he swallowed the sound. Thoughts of making her whimper as she writhed underneath his body ran through his mind. She had seen his body, but he was dying to see hers. He wanted to know what her nipples looked like. He wanted to see them pebbled under his touch. Suddenly he felt her pushing him away, ruining the moment. “AJ, please.” Breathless, she pushed him farther away. “Nick, I can’t do this. I need to get to town and hurry back.” Fuck! He ran a hand through his hair and placed his other above her head on the doorjamb, resting his forehead against hers. “You’re making me crazy. I can’t help myself.” His words came out in a whisper, and they surprised him probably more than they had her. She stared at him and bit her lower lip. He wanted to scream “no fair!” like a child, wishing he was the one nibbling on her succulent lips. “Tell me you feel it, too.” He kissed her lips softly, sliding his tongue along her lips, trying to entice her. “I…I have to go, Nick.” He hated how nervous she looked. He wanted her to look flushed and needy for him. “AJ, you kissed me back. I know you liked it. You can’t fake that kind of response.”

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A moment of sexual tension loomed in the air between them. He had never pushed any woman like this before, but he had never felt this way either. His need for her felt elemental. Primal. “I have to go. I’ll hurry back.” She pushed past him and ran down the stairs to the sandy beach. He watched her as she disappeared into the distance, refusing to look away. She never looked back to meet his stare. Shaking his head, he wondered if he was crazy. Could he have been imagining her response to him? No. There was no chance. Her body betrayed her. No matter what words she said, he knew she wanted him, too. Regardless of how stubborn she was they were going to have a talk when she got back. Because one thing was for certain, sooner or later he would have her. The idea that he wouldn’t wasn’t something he was willing to accept.

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Chapter 18 AJ ran as fast as she could away from Nick and the beach bungalow. Her need to distance herself from him was essential to her survival. The way he was making her feel could only end badly for her. She had way too much to deal with already. Her father was dying. No matter how much she tried to deny it, it was inevitable. Sooner or later his body was going to give in to the cancer, and she would be all alone. Getting involved with Nick Slater in any way was the last thing she could deal with right now. She was well out of Nick’s sights by now, but she kept running. Even though she never turned back to look at him she could feel his eyes boring a hole right through her. Everything about him was intense. His kiss was like a magnet. No matter how much her mind protested any response to him, her body gave in each time. A combination of stress and exhaustion made her slow her pace. Her run turned to a jog and then quickly to a slow walk. She was tired, not just physically but emotionally. She couldn’t exactly go running through town anyway. That was a surefire way to grab the attention of the locals. While she was no expert on how to be a super sleuth, she figured that after faking the death of a United States Navy SEAL, drawing any attention to them was an all-around bad idea. A young boy sat on the street corner next to a bucket of wilting flowers. She smiled at him and handed him two coins. He tried to hand her a flower, but she shook her head at him. “Por tu mama.” He couldn’t be more than ten years old, but every time she came to town she saw him peddling flowers that she was sure he’d gotten

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out of a dumpster from the big florist in town. She heard rumors that his mother was ill. She didn’t know what was wrong with her, but the boy’s determination and situation made her heart go out to him. He was far too young to go through the pain of losing a parent. She reminded herself to say a prayer for him that night when she went to bed. The market she needed to get to was just a few blocks up. She hurried her pace, deciding she’d pick up a small treat for the boy while there. Hopefully he would be here when she came back this way. Inside the market she wandered for a bit, trying to find the prepaid phones. She didn’t want to ask for help to locate them, afraid the two women at the counter would turn her into the latest town gossip. Finally she found the phones. There were only three to choose from. One looked like a toy phone you would give to a toddler. Another looked like a phone she remembered owning about ten years ago. The last option was a bit more updated but still looked to be a version at least a couple of years old. Of course it was the most expensive, but she knew this wasn’t the time to be frugal. She picked up the phone along with two cards for one hundred minutes of usage each. Picking up a couple of chocolate bars and a soda, she made her way to the front register. The two women standing on the other side gave her a smile and spoke to each other in Spanish before laughing. She knew they were making fun of her, and she didn’t really care. Let them see her as nothing more than a stupid tourist. The last thing she wanted to do was stand out. She walked briskly down the street, in a hurry to get to the corner where the boy was. Rounding the corner she was glad to see him still sitting there. She had already decided to give him all her loose coins, but it dawned on her then that as long as he had flowers to sell he would remain there.

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First she handed him the chocolate bars and soda. Her Spanish was rusty at best, so she couldn’t say all she would’ve liked to. Instead she handed him three bills and all of her coins. His face beamed with a bright smile as she retrieved the half-dozen flowers from their bucket. “Gracias, señora.” “De nada.” He didn’t stick around. With a smile on his face he picked up his bucket and ran off in the opposite direction she’d come from. She knew what she’d done was a small gesture, but she hoped with all he had to contend with in the future that this was a short moment she was able to give him that he wasn’t sad. She felt a heaviness lift off of her a little as she continued on her walk back to the bungalow. Dealing with Nick wasn’t something she was looking forward to, but in the grand scheme of life it wasn’t so bad. So she was attracted to him. Correction. She was insanely turned-on by him, but that wasn’t the end of the world. There were so many worse things that could happen. With new resolve she felt somewhat at ease. She was here to take care of her father and spend his last days with him. The desire she felt for Nick couldn’t deter her from that. She would have a talk with him when she got back. She would explain to him that she would continue to do anything she could to help him, but that her father came first and nothing would distract her from that. Yes. When she got back she would refocus. Getting involved with Nick Slater was a bad idea. Surely once she spoke with him even he would see that.

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Chapter 19 Nick watched her leave, hating the fact he was the one who’d sent her away when he wanted nothing more than to have her lie beneath him while he explored every inch of her body. He didn’t know what it was about her, but he had zero self-control where she was involved. She was the opposite of most women he dated. Although, he admitted dated was a generous interpretation of something that was really more like the occasional hookup. When she rounded the bend along the far side of the path he found himself wishing she would run back to him for one last kiss. He licked his lips and could still taste the kiss they’d just shared. Damn if he didn’t want to taste so much more than that. He grumbled to himself and went back inside. Closing the door he checked the clock above the stove. It was just after six o’clock. He hoped to God she made it back here soon. The idea of her being out there alone and unprotected when people had tried to kill him didn’t thrill him. He wanted her right in front of him where he knew she was safe. Before he went back to sit with Liam he made himself a plate of the food AJ had prepared for him and grabbed a bottle of water. With fork in hand he shoveled a few bites in his mouth before he even entered. When he saw Liam awake and writing down something on a pad of paper he nearly choked on his eggs. He set down the plate next to the bed. “You’re awake. How are you feeling?”

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Liam looked at him with tired and disturbed eyes. The man didn’t just look in physical pain, but emotional. His anguish was clearly etched in every line of his face. “Nick, sit down.” He did so without saying a word. The man had an air of authority about his tone. Despite being out of the military for so long, he could still sense the marine in him. “Can I get you something?” “No, thank you. Please just listen. I don’t have a lot of strength. I need to use all I have to write this letter to AJ in case she doesn’t make it back before…” Nick watched as the man who had shown such strength and bravery just days before now seemed so broken. His eyes were filling with tears as he tried to speak. Liam was at or near his end. Here he was lying before him and close to taking his last breath. Nick had seen men, even friends, die before, but this man didn’t have a bullet wound or shrap metal tearing up his body. Just the opposite, this man had saved him from a bullet wound and death, and here he was about to watch him die and there wasn’t a goddamned thing he could do to stop it. The realization that he had sent AJ away hit him like a ton of bricks dead center in his gut. She came down here to spend time with her father and enjoy their last days together, not to spend her days caring for him and to be sent away when he drew his last breath. “I’m listening, Liam. Go on.” “AJ is very special. You must know that. She mustn’t be hurt.” The look on the man’s face told Nick he wasn’t just referring to the pain of losing a father. Could he have over heard them in the kitchen? Suddenly uncomfortable, he fidgeted in his chair. “I won’t let anyone hurt her. I promise.” “I believe that. You seem to be a good man, from what I know of you, Commander Slater.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “There is no one to protect her from you though, is there?”

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He wanted to look away. Liam’s stare was penetrating him like a father holding a shotgun. He had never been a coward though, and he didn’t see the reason to take up that characteristic now. “I won’t hurt her.” He was surprised when the frail man before him let out a loud and boisterous laugh. “Sir?” “Stop it with the ‘sir’ nonsense. I’ve already told you that.” Nick gave him an agreeing nod and waited for him to continue. “Look, I know there is no way you can guarantee you won’t hurt her, but I do ask that you remember who you are.” “With all due respect, Liam, I know very well who I am. You don’t know me. I’m sorry you had to overhear what happened between us in the other room, but I’m not an asshole. I won’t hurt her.” Nick didn’t like the way Liam’s face changed. He seemed to have a hint of anger in his eyes. “I didn’t overhear anything between you two. I can see the way you look at her. Even through your fever and your day and a half of rest, every time you woke you searched the room for her.” Shit. Talk about playing your cards too soon. He’d just fucked up majorly with a man who had saved his life. The look on Liam’s face told him that he wasn’t too happy to hear that there had been anything to overhear. “Liam, I can assure you…” Despite the man’s weakened state he shut him up quick. “Stop! You can assure me of nothing. You are a man. We are by definition less-than-gentle creatures.” He couldn’t argue with the man, but there was something different about AJ. Could he explain it? Hell no. It was true nonetheless. “Nick, you are a navy man. Honor on and off the battlefield. Remember those words. Please. She is my only child, and she

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deserves nothing but happiness. Please remember that. I’m begging you to remember how well she cared for you.” A pit started to churn in his stomach. With each sentence and every word Liam’s voice became quieter and seemed more strained. It wasn’t emotions that were causing it but his overall will. He was about out of everything he had. He shook his head, not willing to accept the fact that he would die before AJ returned. “Damn it, Liam. Knock this shit off! You’re a marine! You hang on. She’ll be back in around an hour or so.” He shook his head in response and handed the pen and paper to Nick. “I can’t write anymore. You need to write it for me.” “No!” Nick shot up from his chair and loomed over the man. “Once a marine, always a marine! Now buck the fuck up and hold on.” Liam smiled at him. “Nice try, son. I’m tired. I don’t know if I’ll wake up again. I need you to write my words for me. Please, do it for AJ.” He turned away, not wanting the man to see his emotions. He barely knew the man, yet he seemed to play such an important part of his life. Hell, he saved it. That and…he brought AJ to him. “Nick?” He turned around and faced him, knowing all too well that his watery eyes would give him away. “Jesus, pull yourself together. I need you to be strong for her.” He sat in the chair again and cleared his throat. “Liam, I will write what you say, but you have got to hold on for her. She’ll never forgive…” He stopped himself from finishing, not even realizing until the words almost came out how utterly selfish they would have sounded. A man was dying, his daughter would be heartbroken, completely devastated, and all he could think about was whether she would blame him.

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“I will do my best. Now please, just listen.” And so he did. He listened and wrote down everything that was said, ignoring the emotion that tried to seep its way into his subconscious as he heard Liam’s voice crack. He hated that he was doing this, that he’d sent AJ away and she might have to hear her father’s final words in the form of a letter. She deserved so much better than that. In an odd way he felt like he was eavesdropping on a private conversation between the two. As Liam poured his heart out to his daughter while he transcribed it, he couldn’t help but feel like he was doing something wrong, as if he was invading their privacy. Finally he was done. It was unbelievable to him that the man lying in bed was the same man who had saved his life. He couldn’t speak for his state days ago, but now he looked so frail and weak. He saw Liam’s eyes start to close. “Please stay awake. I can’t…Just please hold on.” Barely able to move his head, he answered in a straggled whisper, “I’m trying…she’s…so prec..ious…to me.” Nick closed his eyes. He wasn’t going to make it. He’d watched men take their final breath before and knew the signs. At most he figured Liam had minutes. Damn it. AJ. Please hurry. He grabbed onto Liam’s hand and held it tight. Squeezing, he looked at him with sincerity and respect. “I won’t hurt her. She’s become special to me. You have my word. And my word is all I have.” Liam squeezed Nick’s hand in return. He could barely feel it, but he knew that he had put everything he had into it. “Hon..or.” It was hard to hear the once-strong man, the marine, sound so broken and barely able to say one word. He knew what he was trying to say though. He knew, and he respected him even more for it.

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He nodded his head. “Yes, sir. Honor. On and off the battlefield. You have my word. I will not hurt her. I will take care of her. I will keep her safe.” The two of them exchanged a moment of mutual admiration for one another. For their service, for what they’d both undoubtedly seen in their years at war, and for their love of AJ. Yes. He was in love with AJ. As epiphanies went this was a big one. Yet he felt no great sense of shock or disbelief. He loved her. It was just that simple. The look in Liam’s eyes told him he knew it, too. “Tell…her…she’s…best thing…ever did.” Nick watched as his eyes closed and felt his grip loosen. In that moment he could literally sense an aura fill the room. The sadness felt only seconds ago was now replaced with a sense of peace. He dropped his head and prayed that AJ would also feel the peace he now did. Her father was no longer suffering. He would now watch over her from above. God, he hoped she would be able to understand and accept that. Raising his head, he looked toward the ceiling. “Fair winds and following seas, sir. I won’t break my word. I swear to you.” **** Nick sat on the steps that led to the beach. He sat in the room with Liam after he’d passed and allowed the peace to consume him. He had never believed in ghosts or the afterlife, but he could swear he felt the man giving him peace of mind and calm to have the strength to be there for his daughter. Out of respect to AJ, he hadn’t covered his face like he would’ve in the battlefield. Instead he rested his hands on his stomach as though he was lying there taking an afternoon nap. He struggled with it, wondering if it was morbid, but he knew she wouldn’t want his face covered. So he did what he could to try to soften the sorrow she would feel when she returned.

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She’d been gone over an hour, so he knew she’d be back soon. He hated knowing that tears would flood her eyes. Realizing he was in love with her wasn’t something that he expected, but it wasn’t something he cared to analyze either. It seemed to just be a matter of fact, just one of many, like his promise to Liam. He would not hurt her, not a chance. He caught sight of her in the corner of his eye. Her pace was hurried as she came toward the bungalow, but a bird in one of the tall palm trees caught her attention. It wasn’t until she was a few feet from him that she looked down and saw him sitting there. “Nick? What are you…” He stood up and closed the distance between them. “AJ, something’s happened. I’m so sorry.” She shook her head at him. “No! No! I wasn’t gone that long. I hurried! I’m here now…I…” Tears poured from her eyes like a waterfall. She pushed past him to get inside. She threw her purse on the kitchen table and ran toward the bedroom. He came in after her, closing and locking the door before following her down the hall. His chest tightened in pain as he found her head lying on Liam’s chest. Her sobs echoed in the room, slicing through the peace that once loomed. He came up behind her and placed a hand on the back of her head. “Sweetheart.” Not prepared for the way she swung around at him, he nearly fell backward. Shouting and screaming, she began beating on his chest. Her words were barely audible through her choking sobs. “You! You did this! You made me leave him! I hate you! I hate you! I wish you’d died!” He wrapped his arms around her as she continued to pound her fists against him. He ignored the pain both her words and blows caused. He’d expected this and would take anything she gave him as long as it helped her cope with her grief.

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“Say something! Damn you! I hate you! Why did you have to come? Why did you…Why?” Despite the force with which she was striking him, he could feel her tiring, both emotionally and physically. He kept his arms wrapped around her back, holding her to him as she pummeled him. Several moments passed. Her shouts were no longer understandable. Her grief was overpowering and taking hold of her emotions. She continued to beat against his chest as her tears drenched his T-shirt. He wasn’t sure how long had passed before she finally stilled in his arms. Her breathing was erratic like she’d just run a marathon. Wrapping his arms further around her, he pulled her into him. With one hand he gently pushed her head into his chest and rested his chin atop it. He wanted to completely surround her, make her feel safe and cared for. He wanted to take away her pain. She didn’t say anything, nor did she push him away or fight him. Her body curled into his, and she allowed him to comfort her. The simple gesture on her part meant so much to him. They would have to call the local coroner and make plans for whatever she wished to have done with the body. It was something they hadn’t had a chance to discuss in their short time knowing each other. That could wait just a bit longer, he decided. Right now all that mattered was holding her and making sure she knew she wasn’t alone. It was no longer about him wanting her. It wasn’t even about his promise to Liam. It was about her. She was what mattered. Whatever he had to do for her to help her through this awful part of life, he would do. AJ Harwood was too important to him. She was now his responsibility. He loved her, and nothing or no one would come before her. She was his. She just didn’t know it yet.

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Chapter 20 Nick paced anxiously in the cellar. He could still hear voices upstairs and what sounded like wheels rolling across the floor. From what he could tell, the island’s coroner had already left with Liam’s body. He wanted to be upstairs with her when she dealt with one of the hardest things a child would ever have to endure. It pained him to think of all she’d been through in the short time since he’d come into her life. He finally heard the door shut, followed by a few steps and then silence. He waited for a minute, not moving so that he could clearly hear what, if anything, was happening upstairs. Still no sounds could be heard. Quietly he took the steps one by one, careful not to step in the center where he knew they squeaked the loudest. When he reached the top he slowly turned the handle and opened the door. Through the small opening he was able to see AJ sitting at the kitchen table. She was hunched over it, her arms laid out while her head rested on them. He flung open the door and took three long strides to reach her. He placed a hand on the back of her head. “AJ, are you okay?” She turned her head just enough to see him. Her eyes were swollen and red from her tears. “I can’t believe he’s gone.” No sound escaped her as a tear fell from her eye. It was as if someone had just turned the tap to her emotions on, releasing more anguish. “Oh, sweetheart. Come here.” He didn’t allow her the chance to protest. He sat in the chair next to her and pulled her to his lap. Cradling her in his arms, he was so

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grateful when she didn’t fight him. Her arms wrapped around his neck without hesitation. They sat there in the kitchen for the longest time. He held her tight as she just curled up in his embrace. She never once removed her hands from around his neck, nor did she say a word. They were in silence. He didn’t need words and was sure she didn’t have the energy to talk. All he cared about was being there for her, giving her strength and trying in any way he could to take away some of her pain. It had long since turned dark outside. The window above the kitchen sink was open, and a cool ocean breeze flowed through the room. The moon shone through onto the worn tile floor in an almost peaceful sight. He wondered if that was Liam sending him a message, thanking him for taking care of his little girl. It would be an unnecessary gesture, because there was nowhere he would rather be at this moment than having her in his arms. “His body will be flown back home to the States sometime tomorrow.” Her soft voice broke through the silence and interrupted his thoughts. “Where’s home, sweetheart?” “San Diego.” He kissed the top of her head when she let out a sigh of exhaustion. It dawned on him them that he didn’t remember her eating a thing all day long. It was well into the night now. “Jesus, have you eaten anything today?” He lifted her face with his forefinger, gently rubbing his thumb along her chin. Shaking her head, she responded. “I don’t think I could eat if I wanted to. I’m so tired, Nick.” He knew she wasn’t exaggerating. She had been going on little sleep and adrenaline for days. It was a wonder she was able to function at all. “Please eat something? Just a little something and then you need to rest.”

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“Nick…I just don’t think I can eat. I feel sick to my stomach.” Lifting her up and off of his lap he helped her sit in the chair next to his. “Just wait here.” Rummaging through the kitchen, he couldn’t find anything that wouldn’t take time to make. He knew as tired as she was that she wasn’t going to be up much longer. Deciding on a bachelor’s meal, he made her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, then grabbed a glass and poured her some milk. He returned to the table and set the plate and drink down in front of her. “You have to eat.” Again she shook her head and pushed the plate away. He refused to let her win this argument though. She was both physically and emotionally exhausted. Unless she got some protein in her body she would end up running herself down and getting sick. “Come on. It’s got peanuts for protein, jelly for fruit, bread for grains, and milk for dairy.” He persisted while pushing the plate back in front of her. She gave him an annoyed glare. It was one he understood. He always hated when people tried to force him to do things he didn’t want to. Hell, his mother was the worst at trying to force food down his throat every time she saw him. His mom. Now more than ever he wished she was here. She would have liked AJ. They were a lot alike, the first to take care of others before themselves. “I’ll take a few bites, but I really don’t feel well.” He sat next to her, picked up the sandwich, and handed it to her. “That sounds fair to me.” Unable to resist, he ran his hand down the back of her hair, smoothing it as he went. He needed to touch her in any way. Just to feel her and know she was with him. It made it seem so much more real, like he hadn’t dreamed her up in some fantasy of the perfect woman. She had taken a couple of bites and swallowed a few drinks of the milk before pushing the plate away. “Nick, I just can’t eat anymore.”

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With her elbows on the table she rested her forehead in her hands. “I just can’t believe he’s gone. I told myself when the time came that I could handle it. That I would be ready.” She shook her head then and looked at him. Tears started to fall again, and her voice cracked. “I wasn’t ready though. I want him back.” When her cries became audible it was his undoing. He stood from his chair and bent down, lifting her up in his arms. His side burned unbearably as the extra weight and strain was put on it. No amount of pain could have stopped him though. With his arm wrapped underneath her knees and his other holding her back, he held her close. Walking from the kitchen, he flipped off the light switch with his elbow and carried her down the hall and past the room where her father had passed. When he carried her into her bedroom, he didn’t switch on the light. He walked to the bed and sat down on the edge. She was still cradled in his arms. He could feel her hands holding on the back of his neck firmly, and he prayed she wouldn’t let go. Whatever she needed he would give her. “Nick?” “Yes, sweetheart?” “I’m so sorry for earlier.” “Shh…don’t you worry about that. You need to get some sleep. Do you think you can rest?” She didn’t say anything for a moment. He waited for her to argue and say she couldn’t, but she surprised him. Looking up, she asked. “Will you stay with me?” “Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.” He softly kissed her forehead and lay back on the pillow. She was still in his arms, but she loosened her hold around his neck and nestled next to him, curling up alongside him. “Are you comfortable? Do you need a blanket?” he asked. “No. I mean…I am comfortable, and I don’t need a blanket.”

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Her voice was filled with fatigue. He wanted so desperately to somehow make everything better for her and just erase all the pain she was feeling. It was an impossible wish, but if he could he would do whatever it took to make that happen. He ran a hand up and down her arm that was draped on his chest. Her skin was so soft and felt so good under his fingertips. With his other hand he gently massaged the back of her neck. The action was as much for him as it was for her. Something had happened to him when he shared those final moments with Liam. A week ago, falling in love was the last thing on his mind. All he wanted to do was finish his last month of service, maybe buy a house somewhere nice and sunny. He figured he would look into his options for future careers, but was in no hurry. He had enough money saved up where he could probably not work for several years if he was smart with what he’d set aside. Sure he had thought of maybe someday meeting the right woman, getting married and starting a little family, but that was so far off in his future. He never gave it more than just a passing thought. Yet here he was, lying in bed next to the woman he was in love with, a month away from retirement, which technically he couldn’t take part in because he was for all intents and purposes dead. Boy, fate sure dealt you a hand, Slater. The thought amused him as he continued to hold AJ. Wherever fate took him next, he knew he would be just fine as long as he had her by his side.

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Chapter 21 AJ woke to the smell of coffee. Her head was pounding, and she felt weak. The small amount of sunlight slicing through the tiny openings the curtains provided was still too much for her sensitive eyes. She squinted and covered them with her hand. A tapping sound caught her attention, and she lifted her head just enough to see Nick sitting on the edge of the bed, with her laptop. He must have had eyes in the back of his head, because without turning around he said, “How did you sleep?” “My eyes hurt, and my head is killing me.” He kept typing. “Give me just one second. Almost done.” She heard a few more taps on the keyboard, and then he closed it and turned to face her. “Okay, all done.” “Is everything all right?” Setting the computer down, he came around to her side of the bed and sat beside her. His large hand cupped the side of her face as his thumb brushed along her cheek bone. She wanted to close her eyes and get lost in his simple gesture. “I think I should be asking you that. How are you feeling besides all that?” His masculine features, which at times made him look so serious, seemed to soften as he asked her the question. It would be so easy to fall for him. Lying in his arms last night was the first good night’s rest she’d gotten in months. Ever since her father had been diagnosed it had been a long and hard road. Her worry and sleepless nights only increased when his body stopped responding to treatment. It seemed so unreal that he was gone.

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“It doesn’t seem real. I feel like I should go check on him…but I know he’s not there.” “I know, sweetheart.” He shook his head and pulled her up to him. He wrapped his arms around her so tightly and comfortingly, it was impossible for her not to nuzzle into his chest and just breathe a sigh of relief. She felt safe with him. Despite the grief of losing her father and all the worry she’d been facing, somehow when she had his arms around her that all seemed to disappear. “I can’t begin to tell you how sorry I am you weren’t here. I tried to…Jesus, I’m just so sorry.” He sounded so sincere when he said it. It was hard for her to believe that this man, who had so much to deal with, would even care about how she felt, but the inflection in his voice made it hard not to believe it to be true. “It’s not your fault, Nick.” “I sent you away. If I hadn’t made you leave then, you might have been here when…” “He was very sick. I knew the time was coming. I don’t blame you. I know I said I did, but I…” She pulled away from him just enough to look up at him. She felt horrible for the way she’d treated him when she returned last night. “I wasn’t ready to let him go. I guess I was looking for someone to blame.” “Shh…I know. It’s okay.” “I’m glad he wasn’t alone. Thank you for being here for him.” Unbelievably, her sorrow found more tears. A lonely one spilled from one of her eyes as she blinked. “Sweetheart, don’t cry.” He kissed her cheek where her tear fell. His lips felt soft and warm on her skin. She thought he would pull away, but instead he left his lips there for several seconds. She was about to say something to break the intimacy of the moment, fearful of what she might do, but he didn’t allow her the opportunity. One of his strong hands slid up her back and held the back of her neck. Slowly and with apparent

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purpose he started to place small, soft, and gentle kisses across her cheek bone. First one, then two, and finally a third kiss until he was on the corner of her mouth. She sat there frozen. The combination of his hands, arms, lips, and his entire body’s warmth mixed with the sensual way in which he was touching her was warming her from the inside out. “Nick.” It surprised her when his name came across her lips in a whisper. Her subconscious had betrayed her by saying aloud what her mind was thinking. He took her single word as an invitation. His lips slid across her mouth and pressed against hers. It was impossible and pointless to try and fight something she wanted and felt so good. He surprised her this time. He didn’t slide his tongue inside her mouth and explore her mouth with urgency. Instead he kissed her with a tender patience. It reminded her of the kind of kiss a girl would get on her first date when she was sixteen years old, sweet and full of emotion. The kiss lasted for maybe a minute, but even when finished he didn’t pull away from her. He dropped his forehead to rest against hers. She opened her eyes and was surprised to see his closed. Seeing him like this, so gentle and compassionate, so considerate of her feelings, was such an incredible contradiction. Just yesterday he was bold and aggressive with his actions, yet now he seemed like he would do anything to make her feel at ease. It was like he actually cared for her. She tried to erase the thought from her mind. The notion that Commander Nick Slater, US Navy SEAL could have feelings of that nature for her was ludicrous. Oh, but it would be so easy to lose herself in him, just for a day or two and forget about all the pain she was feeling. She recollected her thoughts, refusing to get caught up in the moment. Just losing her father was enough. She couldn’t allow herself to fall for him and get hurt when he walked away from her.

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Losing two men she loved was too much, way more than even she could handle. Her eyes widened, and she pulled away from him. Love him? What? “AJ, what’s wrong?” Why did he have to look so concerned about her? That wasn’t helping her rational train of thought. “Nothing. I just…” Think, AJ. Distract him and change the subject. “Did you find the phone I bought?” “Yes I did. You shouldn’t be worrying about that though. Let me fix you something to eat. Lie down while I…” “No.” She scooted across the bed as fast as she could away from him, needing to break the feeling of safety he gave her. “Where are you going?” “I’ll make something to eat for us. You were on the computer before. Finish whatever it was you were doing, and I’ll let you know when it’s ready.” She didn’t wait for his answer and all but ran from the room. A quick stop in the bathroom to freshen up was what she needed. She would wash up, brush her hair and teeth, and snap out of whatever she felt whenever he was too close to her. She washed her face with first warm and then cold water, hoping to shock herself back to reality. Her hair was a tangled mess. After finally ridding it of the snarls, she wet the brush and smoothed out the bedhead look she was sporting. She ran her fingers under each eye. They were both puffy and red. If she had cried anymore she might’ve looked like a prize fighter. The dark rings only added to her haggard appearance. Once her teeth were brushed she felt a bit better. At least she was more awake and ready to face Nick without feeling completely helpless to his touch. She opened the door from the bathroom, and every thought she just had about reality and snapping out of the warm feelings of comfort he gave her diminished in a second. He stood there in the

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doorway. His large frame loomed over her as each one of his hands was on either side of the door frame. “Nick…I…is everything okay?” He shook his head at her. “No, everything’s not okay.” She tried to swallow the lump of nerves that was building in her throat but found it literally impossible. “What’s wrong?” she asked, not entirely sure she wanted to know the answer. “You.” “Me?” “Yes, you. Damn it, AJ. I care about you. Please stop running from me every chance you get.” “I’m not…” She started to deny it, but the stern look in his eyes told her it would be pointless. This would be an argument she would lose. That and she knew he was right. She had run from him three times in the past two days. It was foolish to even try and claim she had no idea what he was talking about. She sighed. “I guess I am. I just don’t know what to do.” “What do you want to do? Right now, what do you want?” He asked her the easiest question in the world. She didn’t have to think about her answer. She knew what it was. What worried her was what that answer would bring. She struggled with the words, wanting to say them but for some reason afraid of saying them aloud and bringing them to life. “AJ, please. I’m right here. What do you want?” His eyes. They were the deepest shade of blue, like the ocean on a moonless night. She could swear she saw the surf in them, calling to her and urging her to give in. How much she wanted to look into those eyes when they didn’t know they were being watched. She wondered what emotions she would find lurking beneath the tough exterior he tries to put on. “I’ll ask you again. What do you want?”

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His patient voice with persistent questions was just another example of the contradiction that was Nick Slater. Maybe that was what drew her to him. He seemed to be one thing but then appeared to be the exact opposite entirely. She wondered why she was even trying to deny the comfort he offered her. Searching, she found no good answer. “I want you to hold me.” It was an incredibly honest yet simple answer and one that made her feel completely vulnerable. “Come here then.” He held his arms out to her, and she walked into them willingly. She wrapped herself into his embrace and reached around to his back. The feelings of his muscles under the T-shirt he wore flexed beneath her fingertips. The sensation made her wonder what they might feel like without fabric keeping her from touching his taut skin. “See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” She couldn’t help but smile at his question. “No. Thank you, Nick.” “Shh. I am not going anywhere. I’ll hold you as long as you want.” If there was ever a statement she wished were true that would have been it. Her mind was screaming to tell him to never let her go, and she prayed her lips wouldn’t betray her a second time. It was crazy that she felt so safe and at peace with him. She couldn’t remember how long it had been since she felt so cared for, like everything would be okay. When she was with Nick, and especially when his arms were holding her so firmly, she couldn’t help but think everything truly would be okay. “What are you thinking about?” “That I don’t want you to let me go.” She wanted to literally bite her tongue for admitting it to him. “Funny, I was thinking the same thing.”

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She closed her eyes and allowed the words to sink in. Her mind told her that fatigue was playing tricks on her, there was no way he could have said that. The way he held her, though, told her an entirely different story, one that made her believe that was exactly what he was thinking. They stood there in the doorway between the bathroom and the hallway. Their arms wrapped around one another, silence loomed except for the sound of their calming and steady breaths. She felt such incredible peace at that moment. Her mind went to her dad, and she was able to finally believe he was in a better place without the feel of tears stinging her eyes. “Are you hungry?” he asked. “Yes. I’m starved.” The truth was she was famished. Fifteen minutes ago she wouldn’t have been able to eat a single bite. The few minutes she spent in his arms seemed to wash away her tension and make her entire body relaxed. “Good, me too. Let’s go to the kitchen. I’ll even cook.” She looked up at him. It was so sweet that he offered, but despite all she was going through, she knew his life was far from settled down. “No, let me. Finish what you were doing on the computer. I know you have things to deal with that can’t be put off.” “I would argue and insist you relax, but I do have to check to see if I’ve heard back from some former teammates. We have to figure out what our next move is going to be. Things aren’t over with yet, and I don’t want anyone else to die.” His face changed then. The soft and compassionate expression was removed and replaced with a look of all business. She couldn’t forget that he, too, had been through a lot. “Take care of that, Nick. That’s more important. I’ll make us something to eat.”

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She pulled out of the hug and went to move past him, but his hands quickly grabbed the side of her face, and he brought his lips down to hers. His kiss was still soft and gentle like before, but this time he slid his tongue inside her mouth, stroking and exploring her as though it was the first time their tongues had touched. The kiss either lasted too long or not long enough. She was filled with mixed emotions of wanting to continue but knew if they did they may not be able to stop. The look in his eyes told her he was thinking the same thing. “I’ll be in the bedroom. Call me if you need me.” His husky voice sounded so soothing to her. “I’ll be fine.” He released her from his possessive hold, and she walked toward the kitchen. “AJ?” She turned and saw him standing in the same spot. His eyes were piercing and seemed to leave her frozen, completely unable to move. “Yes.” “It’s you and I now. I need you to understand that. I’m not letting you out of my sight.” He didn’t wait for her response as he turned and walked down the hall to the bedroom. He wasn’t asking her, he was telling her. Somehow he had just claimed her, and even if she wanted to argue, there would be no point. She knew he was right. There was no denying that she would be with Nick wherever it took her and whatever that meant.

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Chapter 22 Rex hung up the phone and turned to Adam. “It’s been arranged. There’s an old airfield at the northeast corner of the island. He’ll have to find an old map. It was called Coronado del Norte Aeropuerto.” Adam nodded. “I’ll get him the information. When are they being picked up?” Rex looked at his watch. “About eight hours from now.” Jack interjected. “And you’re sure we can trust this guy?” “Positive. He’s being paid a ton of cash to ensure he doesn’t talk to anyone. Besides, he’s a small old guy with kids and grandkids. He’s not going to do anything to piss me off.” “And passports? There won’t be a problem when they land in the states?” Jack persisted. Rex gave him an annoyed glare. “It’s handled. The pilot is doing a ‘routine’ charter to Honolulu.” “What?” Adam asked. “For fuck’s sake. Do you guys think I’m stupid? I paid a lot of money out to get Nick and whoever this girl is back to the States without being detected. A failing charter group in Honolulu is on their last leg. My generous donation to their records-keeping department ensures they will stay afloat for at least another year. It’s all covered. A few people paid off, a few documents forged, and Nick will be home and we can sort out whatever the hell is going on.” “Don’t get pissy, man. This is our friend’s life we’re talking about here,” Jack reminded him. “You think I don’t fucking know that, Peyton?” Rex shouted at him.

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Adam stood up and held his hands up. He was the hothead of the group, not these two. This whole situation had everyone’s nerves barely hanging on. “Look, everyone calm down. I know we’re all worried about Nick, and while none of us are saying it, the ladies are clearly a big concern.” “Tam is worried about JJ.” Jack sat down on one of the two chairs in the small, rundown hotel room. “Truth is, so am I.” Rex sat in the other chair. “I’m sorry, man. You called Cullen and Andrew though, right? And the Bristow’s took him away, right?” “Yeah, but to play it safe we don’t know where. It’s killing her she doesn’t know where her son is.” Adam sympathized with the man. He was worried about Chelsea, too, but having to worry about your child was more than even he could imagine. He glanced at his watch. He didn’t want to worry them more, but the girls had left a couple of hours ago, and they should have been back by now. “Rex, how far away was that bank the girls had to go to?” “Forty five minutes at the most. I know…I’m thinking it, too.” Jack ran his hands through his hair. “And you’re sure no one knows about this account? Shelby withdrawing the money won’t send up any red flags?” “Positive, man. I had it set up right before we were married. It’s in her maiden name. No activity on it since the day it was opened. Can’t be traced back to me, so they won’t be looking for it. It’s safe.” “All right, I’m gonna send this e-mail to Nick and let him know what he needs to do. I’m sure by the time I’m done the girls will be back with the money and a car.” Adam tried to reassure them both, despite his own nerves. The only thing that would reassure him was to see Chelsea walk through that door. He went back to the laptop and typed instructions out to Nick. He already had the disposable cell phone number where he could be reached. The three of them had given the girls specific instructions to

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first buy a used vehicle, hopefully an SUV with tinted windows, from one of the smaller little lots who weren’t as concerned with paperwork and state regulations. They needed to buy as much time as they could, and the longer it took for a dealership to file paperwork on a vehicle purchase with the state, the better. Then they were to buy at least a dozen disposable cell phones. Again they told them to try and get smartphones so they had the most capability. Then they were to hightail their asses back to the hotel. Even with all they gave the women to do, they should’ve been back by now. The used-car lots in this part of town were notorious for wanting to take people’s money and push them out the door as quickly as they’d arrived. He went over a few more details with Rex to make sure he had everything right for Nick. Time was of the essence, and they didn’t have time to dick around. They would only have one shot at getting Nick and whoever this mystery woman was stateside, so they had to get it right. A knock came at the door right as he hit send. Relief washed over him when he heard Shelby call from the other side of the door, asking to be let in because their hands were full. Jack opened the door to find all three of the women holding bags of food. They came in, and the aroma of cheeseburgers and french fries filled the room. They’d barely eaten anything in the past day, so diner food sounded like a delicacy. “Where have you guys been? We’ve been worried.” Rex took a bag from Shelby and kissed her. “We’re all starving, and we know you three won’t eat unless we force it on you, so consider yourself forced,” Tamara answered. Adam kissed Chelsea’s forehead and whispered, “Don’t worry me like that again.” Her adoring smile and nod always kicked him in the gut, and it was no different this time. “Okay, now let’s eat. You don’t want to look at the—well I guess we’ll call it a ‘vehicle’—on an empty stomach.”

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“Why? What did you guys get? Were you able to get an SUV with tinted windows?” Jack asked. All three of the women burst out laughing, none of them able to contain their laughter. “What?” Adam asked Chelsea. “What’s so funny?” “Holy shit!” Rex peeked out the curtain. “Please tell me that monstrosity is not what you bought.” The women, still laughing, shrugged in answer. Adam and Jack joined Rex at the window. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Jack said. In front of their hotel room was a purple and black two-toned Cadillac Escalade. The windows were tinted and it had a custom grill on the front which sported a scorpion. Its suspension was dropped making it a contender for world’s cheesiest looking low rider. Adam turned to Chelsea. “That’s the best you could do?” She smiled. “You wanted an SUV. Check. You wanted tinted windows. Check.” She made ticking motions in the air. “So it was either that or the family trickster-like mobile with wood-looking side panels.” Rex put a hand on each of his and Jack’s shoulders. “Well, looks like the pimp mobile will have to suffice then.” “Fine,” Jack said, “but we’re taking down those dice hanging from the rearview mirror.” Tamara laughed. “Fine. You should know they threw those in though since we paid cash. Now let’s eat, I’m hungry.” Adam sat on the bed next to Chelsea as they all dug into their burgers and fries. In about twelve hours Nick would be back in the States, so they had to be ready. A meal. A nap. Then it was time to figure out how their world got so fucked up, so it could be unfucked right quick.

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Chapter 23 Nick scooped the last few bites of goulash into his mouth before taking a healthy swig of water. He’d had the dish a few times in his life but never remembered it being so good. He was hungry though. Getting his strength back also meant getting his appetite back. Plus, he had to admit AJ was a pretty damn good cook. She’d only made him a couple meals, but he had a suspicion there probably wasn’t much she couldn’t do. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and placed it on the table. She hadn’t said too much since he told her about Adam’s e-mail. If she was scared he understood that, but he wished she knew that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. She was picking at her food and had only eaten about half of what was on her plate, which was only half of what she served him. Knowing she had very little to eat and the wrinkle in her brows, he wasn’t able to allow her to quietly contemplate whatever was troubling her. “What’s wrong?” She looked up at him, startled, as if she forgot he was even sitting with her. “I’m just…thinking.” “Yeah I see that. I also see you’re not eating. So what is it?” She dropped her fork on her plate and dropped her head back, looking at the ceiling. Shaking her head, she answered, “What is this? What’s going on? You were nearly killed. You’re dead. I mean…at least that’s what everyone thinks. My dad is now really dead, and you’re telling me I have to get on a plane with you, avoid customs, and meet up with your friends.”

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He knew it was a lot to take in, but there wasn’t anything she said that wasn’t true. He wasn’t sure what she was confused about. “AJ, I don’t understand. I know you’ve been through hell the past several days, but I’m just giving it to you straight.” “Are you, Nick?” He looked at her confused. “Yeah, I am. What are you talking about?” “You told me I’m going with you. You told me this is what we’re doing. It’s just decided.” “Oh hell, is that what this is about?” No matter how much he cared about her, he didn’t have time for women sensitivity. This was not the time nor the occasion to get her feelings stuck out because she didn’t like the way he asked. “Excuse me?” Her glare toward him couldn’t be good, but shit. This was life or death. What did she expect? That they could just board an international flight? Hell, he was dead, and she was…well she wasn’t in any immediate danger, but he couldn’t take the chance. She was too damn important to him. “This isn’t the time for this, AJ.” He grabbed his plate and got up to place it in the sink. “I beg your pardon. This isn’t the time for this? Just what in the hell does that mean?” He turned around to see her no longer sitting but standing up and facing him. She was angry, so angry that her brown eyes seemed to have flames licking at her eyelashes. The fire he saw must have radiated off of her because he could already feel his need for her grow as his dick hardened. “Sweetheart, I’m going to have to ask that you don’t look at me like that.” She gave him an exasperated look, grabbed her plate, and headed for the sink. Pushing him aside when she placed her uneaten dish on the counter, she turned on the water. Every movement she made was

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exaggerated in an obvious attempt to prove to him how utterly furious she was with him. Depending on his mood he knew that other times he might be annoyed with her childish slamming around as she washed the dishes. Hell, he might even think it would be cute, but right now all he cared about was running his hands all over her body as his tongue explored every inch of her. He stood with his back to the refrigerator. His arms crossed as she finished washing the dishes and set them on the drying rack in the alternate sink. He would have offered to help her if he wasn’t so fixated on watching every move she made. Her hair, or most of it anyway, was up in a ponytail again. He wondered if that was her signature hairstyle. The loose strands that had fallen out of the elastic band holding it might have made most women look a mess, but on her it gave a look of tousled sexiness. A small bead of sweat trickled down the back of her neck. Having already tasted the sweetness of her kiss, he wanted to kiss her skin and taste the saltiness of her sweat. He wanted to take in every bit of her until he’d uncovered all the hidden mysteries of AJ. Then he would start all over again and discover new and unchartered territory until he claimed her, making her his. She dried her hands and turned to him. Her anger hadn’t diminished in the few minutes it took her to clean up the remnants of their meal. Her eyes reflected bonfires back at him. “Nick…” Oh to hell with this. He was only human. Closing the short distance between them he pressed his body up against hers, pushing her into the counter. His hands grabbed the sides of her face as his mouth crushed hers, stealing any words she was about to say. This. Oh sweet Jesus. This was what he needed. Her mouth was so hot and tasted so good. He wondered how she tasted in other parts. Damn he wanted to find out.

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Her tongue met with his, stroking and dancing in a rhythmic motion while the blood coursed through his veins. He felt like a teenager kissing in the backseat of his old Charger. With every second he was growing thick and more rigid. His hands left her face and moved on their own accord, trailing down her neck to her chest and finally her breasts. A hardened nipple poked at the fabric of her shirt while his thumb played it, rubbing it in circular motions. The simple motion must have felt as good to her as it did him. She pulled away from his kiss and dropped her head back as she moaned. Her neck offered an invitation he couldn’t refuse. He closed his mouth on the side and used his tongue as a guide as he worked his way down. He prayed she wouldn’t stop him this time. If she did he would stop, but he would surely die if she did. He slowed his wandering movement when his mouth felt the swell of her breast. He gave her a moment to give him a sign that this was okay. Her fingers running through his hair and holding the back of his head was all he needed to venture on. He pulled both the scoop of her tank top and bra down in one fluid movement. Her round breasts pushed up as an almost tease to him. Her large areolas were the centerpiece to the feast that stared back at him, with her hardened nipples being the cherry on top. He stared at them for a moment while each of his thumbs rubbed over them. The ache in his pants was becoming unbearable. He dropped his head and took one of her nipples in his mouth and sucked it in while teasing her with his tongue. She held the back of his head firmly against her. He could feel her body press against his and knew there was no way she didn’t feel his erection. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. If she even thought about pushing him away this time, she would have one hell of a debate on her hands. He moved his mouth over to her other nipple, his thumb and forefinger gently playing with the one he just left. Her occasional whimper was going to be his undoing. He wanted to be inside of her,

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thrusting inside her wet heat while she made those sounds from being filled by him. His thoughts were wreaking havoc on his self-control. He hated leaving her nipple, which felt so good under his touch, but he had to know. His hand made its way down her stomach and found her shorts. He made quick work of her snap and zipper and slid his hand below the band of her panties. Oh fuck. He could feel a neatly shaven small amount of hair on the inside of his hand as the outside felt the dampness against her panties. Her skin felt so hot. Sliding his middle finger past her lips, he dipped it inside of her. His mouth stopped its ministrations on her. “Jesus, sweetheart. You’re so wet.” Any longing he thought he had for her was a drop in the bucket compared to what he felt in that moment. His cock hardened unbelievably so. It was heavy, thick and pounding with the need to drive inside her. “Nick…” Her one-word whisper sliced through him. She sounded like a virgin who was needy for the first time in her life. Slowly pulling his finger out, he brought it up an inch and slid it across her clit. He expected a moan, anticipated her to respond, but he hadn’t planned on her scream. It was loud. One you would expect to hear after hours of love making. The sound a woman would make when she had been brought to the brink so many times and finally allowed to let go. Molten juices flowed from her pussy and coated his hand as her chest heaved from rapid breaths. He slid his finger back up inside her and felt the spasm of her walls as it convulsed around his finger in the aftershock of her orgasm. He was floored. Utterly shocked. They’d kissed for a matter of minutes. He had barely begun to touch her and lose himself in how enticing she felt when she gave into his touch and found release.

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He would be lying if he didn’t admit that it boosted his ego about ten notches and filled him with an insane amount of vigor. Primal needs consumed him, wondering what it would feel like to be surrounded by her as she screamed his name and pulsated around his cock. Lifting his head, he met her gaze. Her eyes were locked on his while her breaths still came hurriedly. The fire he saw raging in them minutes before now seemed to leave a trail of glowing embers still hot and burning beneath the surface while being calm and at peace. He knew it would only take a small wind of encouragement to blow those glowing orbs into balls of passionate fire once again. “Say something,” he urged her. “Why me?” Her whispered answer surprised him. Out of all the things she could say, he wasn’t expecting that. “Why you what?” “Why do you keep doing this to me? You know…Obviously you can tell that I want you. You know I feel things when you…” “Shh…AJ, what is this about?” He hated how he felt her body tense and become distant, not in location but in emotion. His body was dying for her. He knew if he kissed her and stopped her from thinking that he could have her right back where he wanted her, but he couldn’t do that to her. How she felt, hell, everything about her mattered to him. He stood upright, slowly removing his hand from her panties. His finger, still wet with her juices, filled his nostrils with a primal aroma. He tried with everything he had to block the part of his brain from responding to the sweet smell while he trailed his hands up her arms, across her shoulders and finally cupped the side of her face. “Talk to me. Tell me why you keep doing this. You know the feeling is mutual, AJ.” He glanced down to his rock-hard cock and looked back up at her. “I don’t believe you can’t feel that and know how desperate I am for you.”

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Her eyes. The ember was gone. Now they were just brown. The heat was gone, and instead he saw something cold, something fearful. He hated when she was scared. “What is it? Jesus, trust me. Please,” he pleaded with her. “I’m afraid.” He knew it was true, but he hated hearing it. It deflated his ego and attacked his pride. He wouldn’t hurt her. Even in the end Liam knew that to be true and he had barely spoken to the man. AJ and he had…It hit him then. They really didn’t know each other. Sure she’d spent days caring for him and been his only means to contact the outside world, but she somehow managed to seep into his senses and provoke every instinct he had. She was his. He was hers. They belonged together. He didn’t know how the fuck it happened, but it did nonetheless. It pained him she didn’t see that. “Sweetheart, I’m going to tell you something, and I want you to listen good because never have I ever meant something so much. Okay?” He waited until she nodded her head, agreeing with him. “I won’t hurt you. Not now, not ever. You have no reason to be afraid of me.” “That’s easy to say, but…” “No. No buts. I said it, and I meant it. I would sooner die than be the cause of any amount of pain you feel. You and I will be together. One way or another.” The room went dead silent. He couldn’t even hear the sound of her breathing. She just stared at him, as though she was looking for signs that he was trying to bullshit her. “Trust me.” Her eyes closed, and she shook her head. “You make it sound like it’s so easy.” “Look at me.” He waited for her eyes to open before he continued. “You know I’m not lying. You know. Stop listening to your head.

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Listen to your heart and tell me what you want. Tell me that you want me as much as I want you. Tell me you believe me. Hell, tell me anything.” “I want you to make love to me.”

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Chapter 24 Silence loomed over them. She stood there looking into his eyes, wishing she hadn’t said it aloud. It didn’t make sense to her that her subconscious gave into him so easily. That wasn’t her. She had distanced herself from many men ever since William, the one man who she ever allowed to get close to her. The only man she ever let into her heart. His calming blue eyes were so inviting, they made her want to soak into them, losing herself in tranquility. She hated how he was able to make her succumb to him so easily with the smallest of touch. The way his gentle touch had brought her so quickly to release could have been explained by the two years it had been since she’d had sex, but something told her that time had nothing to do with the power Nick Slater held over her. If he didn’t say something soon she would die of mortification. She allowed herself to be exposed to him, not just in the physical but her innermost self, and then she admitted to him what she wanted most. How could he just stand there staring at her with his intense eyes that seemed to hypnotize her? “AJ.” Oh God. His voice was just as effective as his stare, as his touch. She knew she should say something, but it was impossible. No words would do justice to what she was feeling. She was positive any attempt she made at intelligent conversation would come out like her sounding a rambling fool.

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“If I take you back to that bedroom”—he brushed a thumb over her lower lip as he spoke—“I will do just that. I won’t be able to pull away and stop this time. I want you too much.” What could she say to that? There was no argument from her. She wanted him just as much and knew that any fight she put up could be quickly defeated by his kiss. The truth was she didn’t want to fight him. She wanted him. Not just to make love to her, but all of him, everything he had to offer. “I understand.” “Do you? Because I’m on the edge, sweetheart. If we take this any further I won’t be able to hold back.” Oh how much she understood just what he meant. It was inexplicable and went against everything she believed in, but her head was losing the war with her heart and body. The past days had been horrible. If she learned anything at all from her recent experiences it was that life is too short and can be snatched away from you whether you’re ready to say good-bye or not. She tilted her head up and pressed her lips against his. There were no words that would be sufficient to tell him how she felt. She would give into him and give him all of herself. Selfishly she had to admit she was doing it as much for herself as for him. Nick pulled her close and crushed his erection into her belly. He met her kiss and swept his tongue into her mouth. The way he was able to entice her with his tongue was something she had never experienced before. Never before had one man’s simple touch or kiss invoked such arousal in her. She tugged at the hem of his shirt and slid her hands underneath the fabric, which had spent the past two days annoying her. When he had been lying in bed for days as she cared for him, she was given more than a teasing glance of his hardened chest muscles and the contours of his arms. She ignored the way his naked body made her feel as he had laid there unconscious. Now, being in his arms, having his kiss seduce her, was just more than her restraint could handle.

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His abdomen muscles contracted under her gentle touch as she allowed her fingers to explore every inch of him. Sliding her hands around his sides to his back, she dug her fingers into him as he ground his hardness against her. “Nick, please…” Her damn subconscious betrayed her again. She was thinking the words but had no intention of saying them aloud. He pulled his mouth from hers and dropped his forehead against hers. Breathless and apparently as achy as she was, he gave her a warning. “AJ, you don’t have to say please. I want you, too, but I’m giving you one last chance. If I take you back there, there will be no turning back. I’m barely holding back as it is.” She understood just how he felt. Sliding her tongue back into his mouth, she showed him how much she wanted him, afraid any more words would betray her once again. He pulled away from her kiss and held her face in his hands. His eyes searched hers as he stared at her intently. “Jesus, you’re like the sweetest most sinful indulgence. I could spend hours just touching you, kissing you, feasting on you.” “Show me.” Damn her subconscious. It was hyperaware of everything he did to her and refused to allow her secrets from this man. He didn’t respond to her simple two worded statement, despite the enormity in which she invited. Instead he grabbed her hand and led her back to the bedroom. All but running down the hall, her hand in his, she felt a giddiness at the thought of what was to come next. Everything that had happened in her past week defied any logic or realm of normalcy. Why should her feelings for Nick be any different? She refused to allow herself to be fearful of what her future held any longer. No matter what the outcome was, she would give herself

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to Nick Slater. In body and soul she would submit to his enticement and enjoy what the moment had to offer. He pulled her in the bedroom and laid her on the bed quicker than she had time to react. In seconds his large body was on top of her, his tongue in her mouth and his hardened cock pressed against her as his hips ground into her. Her hands pulled at the hem of his shirt once again, frantic to remove the barrier between them so she could feel his warm skin against her aching breasts. She made quick work of her task, and he broke their kiss for a moment to help her with it over his head. Seconds later they were kissing again, his movements more urgent as he reached his hands under her ass and pulled her that much closer to him. This was it. This is what she wanted. No matter what the future held, she would allow herself this. She wanted to feel Nick inside of her, taking her. **** Nick pressed back down against her. The feel of her hardened nipples all but injected a deeper arousal into him when they pressed against his chest. Her kiss was driving him mad, and no matter how much he hated to tear himself away from hit, he wanted and needed more. Pulling away, he braced himself up on his forearms. Pain shot through his side and reminded him of his wound. He hated being vulnerable and having to cater to a part of his body that was hurt, when another part was aching and miserable, but he had to be careful to not hurt it more. Begrudgingly he got up and off of her. Standing at the side of the bed, he held out his hand and waited for her to take it. When she did he swiftly pulled her up until she was standing before him. “I want to see you, AJ. All of you.”

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He didn’t wait for her to answer. Anything she said he may not have heard. Her perfectly round and plump breasts were still staring at him, the tips darkened and swollen with her arousal. With his fingers he pulled her tank top and bra straps down her arms. His movements were not graceful or romantic. He was frantic to see more of her. When her bra and top were pulled down to her waist he was met with the sight of her pretty stomach, tiny waist, and the cutest belly button he was sure he’d ever seen. He wanted nothing more but to kiss it and lick her until she squirmed under his touch. He dropped to his knees and did just that. He started at her belly button, placing small gentle kisses from her center then in circular motions around it, only to return back to where he started, swirling his tongue around it and dipping inside it. “Nick…” “Say it again.” His words mumbled against her skin. He loved her voice when it sounded so needy. “Nick, please…” She didn’t have to beg. He’d give her everything she wanted and more. Her shorts were still undone and hanging on her hips. He grabbed her bunched-up top and bra and took her shorts with it. Quickly he pulled them down to her ankles. Her ankles. He didn’t know how he’d never noticed how incredibly dainty and sexy they were. Actually, he didn’t know ankles could be sexy at all, but hers were. Her skin was tanned, but he could tell her coloration was usually more fair than dark. With his hands he grabbed the back of each of her calves and felt her small leg muscles. Visions of holding those legs while he thrust inside of her flooded his mind. Bringing his hands up the back of her legs until he felt the round globes of her ass, he stared at her panties. They seemed to be a complete contradiction of all that AJ was. They were ordinary and

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practical cotton but with bright pink polka dots. One thing he was learning was that nothing about her was ordinary. He couldn’t help but knead his fingers into her ass cheeks. They felt so perfectly conformed to his hands, almost like they were made for his grip. Her hands fell on his shoulders, and he looked up to see her looking down at him. She’d removed her ponytail, and her hair was falling freely around her face. She looked…beautiful. There was no patience left in him. With his hands still resting on her bottom, he pulled the back of them down as his fingertips met with the softest skin he’d ever felt. Continuing to pull them down, he caught sight of the tiny patch of hair he’d felt minutes earlier in the kitchen. His cock thickened and became even harder when he saw her neatly trimmed thatch of hair. The outer part lent no sign that hair was once there. Without resistance his mind forced his lips to go where they wanted. He placed a kiss to the beautiful image before him, and his nostrils flared when he caught the scent of her arousal. He felt her hands dig into his shoulders and sensed when her legs widened for him. With his tongue he trailed it downward until it slipped past her lips. Heaven. That’s what she tasted like. The sweetest most sinful slice of heaven all wrapped up in a warm blanket of wetness. “Nick...” Her one word came out in a whisper. He felt the jolt of her body right before she said it. His tongue had flicked across the sensitive nub that he brought such pleasure to in the kitchen, and he wanted nothing more than to make her scream again, only from his mouth this time. He alternated between slow and meticulous swipes of his tongue as they circled her entrance until he would finally slide it inside of her. It was taking all restraint he had to not throw her on the bed, pull down his pants and drive inside of her. This wasn’t just about his needs though. He wanted her to truly feel and experience all the pleasure he could give her.

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His hands were still pressed against her round cheeks, and he used them to bring her that much closer to him as he feasted on her delicious nectar. Her taste, her scent and her feel were his undoing. He needed to feel her get lost from him again. He swiped his tongue across her clit. It was swollen and still sensitive from earlier. Her entire body jolted as he did it again and again, but he held her firmly to him, refusing to stop until she screamed. “Oh, God…Nick…” Her voice was strained and her breathing ragged. Fingernails were digging into his shoulders as he brought her closer. His whole mouth was buried in between her thighs and covered with her wetness. The heat of her alone was making his cock leak with pre-cum. “Yes…oh…” There. Oh Jesus, there! It was heaven. He slid his tongue into her opening and relished in the feel of her pussy contracting around him as she came, flooding his mouth with her release. He held onto her firmly as she continued to shake and tremble under his touch. Her fingers were loosening their grip on his shoulder, but he could hear her breathing. She was spent and exhausted. And sated. His ego expanded and filled with male pride that he had given her such pleasure. She may not understand it yet, but sooner or later she would. She was his, and what had just happened was the beginning. Her trembles ceased, and her fingers became lax as he finished drinking up her passion, knowing she had ruined his taste buds for life. Nothing would ever be as intoxicating as what he just tasted and experienced. Placing tiny kisses on her outer lips he slowly loosened his grip on her rear. She seemed to almost fall over, unable to stand on her own. He held onto her and stood up to face her, ignoring the pain that

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rocketed in his side. Nothing was going to stand in his way of taking care of her. Her eyes were heavy-lidded and barely seemed coherent of her surroundings. It was obvious she was still lost in the aftereffects of her orgasm, and he found the way she looked at him to be the most beautiful thing. She looked like a goddess. Surprisingly he wondered if any man had ever given her such pleasure, and a twinge of jealousy plagued him. “AJ, you’re so beautiful.” Her eyes opened and seemed to be more aware of his presence. “Nick…I–I can’t stand…” “Shh. Lie down, sweetheart.” He didn’t know what she planned on saying, but it was okay. He would take care of her. What she’d just experienced twice was nothing compared to what he was about to show her. She was important to him, and if it took countless hours of making her scream and come then he would just have to suffer through the task at hand. A wicked grin washed across his face as the thought entered his mind. She was lying on the bed now, her clothes bunched at her ankles. He lifted her feet and pulled them off, dropping them to the floor next to the bed. “Raise your arms over your head,” he instructed her. She did as he asked, and he felt his cock twitch at the sight. She looked heavenly. Her womanly curves were always evidenced under her clothing, but seeing her lying before him, completely naked and exposed to him, he saw a sensuous and erotic side to her that he wondered if she even knew she possessed. He saw her eyes travel down his body and stop on his midsection. The sweats he was wearing did little to hide his bodily reaction to her. They were the only remaining barrier between them, and he hated them. Sliding his hands in the band of his pants, he pulled the too-tight fabric down and past his waist. Her eyes widened, and he saw the fire

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return to them when his dick jutted out almost proudly from the constraining fabric. He knew she’d seen him naked before but certainly not in this state. Although it wouldn’t be that farfetched to believe that even unconscious she aroused such a reaction in him. He continued to slide them down his thighs and finally his calves until they remained at his ankles. He quickly kicked them off and stood before her. A droplet of pre-cum sat on the tip, and he rubbed it with his thumb, grasping his hardness and stroking it twice. “This is what you do to me. From the moment I woke up and saw you, I’ve wanted you.” “Then show me, Nick. Please.” If he had a genie standing before him and offering him three wishes, none of them would come close to being as magnificent as what laid before him. She was perfection. He climbed on the bed and pushed her legs apart as he crawled between them. Her gaze was locked on him. Her nipples were pointy and seemed to beckon him to hurry and take her. He positioned himself at her entrance and looked down at her. “You’re sure? There’s no turning back after this.” He asked her, needing her to be sure, needing to hear that she wanted this as much as he did. “Yes, I’m sure.” Slowly, he slid his head past her lips, delving into her wet slit and stretching her opening. Her pussy felt so tight he couldn’t believe it. He nearly stopped for fear he was hurting her, but her eyes closed, her head dropped back, and she arched her entire body into him. He had to be careful not to put too much weight on his side, so he wrapped his fingers around her waist and pulled her closer to him. The movement drove him deeper inside her. He gritted his teeth and tried to hold on. He was only halfway inside her and he could already feel himself losing control. She was so tight, like a velvet grip surrounding him with the finest silk.

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She whimpered, and he watched in bliss as her hands met with her breasts, cupping and squeezing her nipples. He needed to feel all of her and thrust himself inside her. “Oh, Nick!” She screamed his name, and it snapped the small amount of restraint he had left. He drove into her deeper, using his grip on her waist to rock in and out of her hot core. He was lost in the images before him. If he looked up he saw her fondling and pinching her nipples as her head was flailing from side to side. If he looked down he could see his dick, thick and hard and coated with her wetness as he slid in and out of her. The tight vice she provided him was pure heaven. It was just the right amount of stroking to increase his throbbing. Continuing to glance between her hands teasing her nipples and the sight of him thrusting in and out of her, he quickened his pace. He was so close but wanted to feel her fall just once more. He wanted to know the feel of her walls spasm around him as she screamed once again. Urgent and hungry for that pleasure, he trailed his right hand down her hip and brought it to her drenched opening. His impatience didn’t allow him to coax her to release. The need was primal to feel her come while he was inside her. Sliding his thumb against her clit, he rubbed it vigorously. Her body jolted, still sensitive from the last two times he had taken her there. He watched in amazement as her body shook from every flick of his finger. “Jesus, AJ, come for me, sweetheart.” As if she was waiting for his instruction, she did just that. She screamed his name and brought up her back into an arc. She looked like an angel. The walls of her pussy contracted around him, pumping him while her core flooded him with the hot proof of her orgasm. A pain shot through his side from the pressure he was putting on it. He ignored it,

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burying himself deeper inside her, allowing her to surround him and take him with her. His orgasm clawed at him, creeping up at him from the inside out until it finally exploded. His hips bucked wildly of their own accord as he felt the first of his cum spill into her. He shouted something, whatever it was he didn’t know. He was too lost, too entranced by the feeling she gave him to concentrate on anything else. Seconds, moments, minutes went by. How long he wasn’t sure. His eyes were closed, and his breathing hitched, still trying to come down from arguably the best sexual experience of his life. A sudden and stabbing pain struck his side. With his hands still wrapped firmly around her, he fell to his side, taking her with him. He turned on his back. Her body curled up and into his while he still lay inside her, lax and hot from their bodies’ fluids. “Nick, are you okay?” “Shh…just lie here with me.” He barely was able to speak between his heavy breathing and pain. “Are you hurt?” “AJ, please. Just stay here like this with me.” He opened his eyes and placed a gentle kiss to her lips. She nodded her agreement and curled her body against his. This was it. This was what he had waited his whole life for. Even the pain was subsiding just knowing she was with him. She was his comfort, his peace. She was the one who made him complete.

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Chapter 25 AJ woke up to the sound of a phone ringing. She glanced at Nick, who was out and sleeping soundly. His eyes held no movement beneath the lids, and his breathing was steady. She quietly and carefully raised herself off of him. A moment of emptiness filled her when she felt his body leave hers. She had forgotten that they’d fallen asleep with their bodies entwined, connected as one. She found the phone, ringing on the kitchen table. “Hello.” In any other situation she may not have answered, but she knew only Nick’s friends had this number and he needed his rest. She had fallen asleep earlier worrying that he had hurt himself. His wound was still healing. “Who is this?” The voice on the other end sounded agitated. It made her nervous. “I’m a friend of…” She hesitated. She thought Nick’s friends were the only ones who had this number, but what if she was wrong? “Of? Of who? Where’s Nick?” “I umm…Who is this?” “Is this AJ? Look, Nick told us about you. We need to make sure you guys are ready to go. We only get one shot at this, so we can’t screw it up.” She was kicking herself for even answering. The man on the phone could’ve very well been Nick’s friend, but she couldn’t ignore the possibility that he wasn’t. “I think you may have the wrong number, sir.” “Oh for Christ’s sake. Would you get Nick please?”

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“AJ?” Nick’s voice came from the back room. She unplugged the phone from its wall charger and walked down the hall. When she walked in she saw Nick sitting on the side of the bed, his feet planted firmly on the floor as he held his side. “Oh, Nick. Are you okay?” She hurried to sit in front of him, moving his hands to look at his stitches. A shiver shot up her spine when the back of his hand brushed against her breast. Somehow, she wasn’t sure how, she’d managed to forget she was completely naked. When her nipple hardened from his touch she became aware of how vulnerable she was to him. “I’m fine, sweetheart. Just a little sore.” He lifted her chin up with his thumb and forefinger before placing a kiss on her lips. She could taste herself still on his mouth from hours before. It caused an odd reaction to her. She’d never experienced a feeling of longing as she did with him. “You have to be more careful. You can’t overexert yourself. I don’t want…” “Umm…hello? Remember me?” A voice came from the phone, which was lying on the floor next to where she sat. Nick crinkled his brow and looked at her while reaching for the phone. “AJ, who’s on the phone?” He turned his attention to the person on the line. “Who is this?” he asked. “How are you doing, Nicky? You didn’t overexert yourself did you?” Nick listened to the person on the other end and gave her an exasperated look before looking at the time on the bedside clock. “Hold on, wiseass.” Nick covered the mouthpiece of the cellular. “Sweetheart, it’s my friend Adam. Get in the shower and start getting things ready to go. We only have about an hour before we have to get out of here.” He leaned in and kissed her. She had so many questions still, yet she knew none of the answers would matter. Nothing he said would change the fact she would go

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wherever he asked her. She would do whatever he told her. When she gave herself to him, she gave all of herself. She belonged to him. **** “How are you doing, Nicky? You didn’t overexert yourself did you?” “Shut the hell up. What’s up? Change of plans?” Nick wasn’t amused by his friend’s laughter on the other end. “Did I say something funny?” “No, sweetheart. I’m just worried about your wound.” “All right already. So you heard us talking. What’s going on?” “You have three hours until rendezvous time. Wanted to make sure you’re set. We need you stateside so we can figure out what the hell is going on.” “I think I already know.” He took a steadying breath. He felt like someone had taken a baseball bat to his side. He explained to Adam the story as he heard it from Liam. Going into detail, he went over the night with Tom on the boat. The details were minimal as everything had happened so fast, but he wanted Adam, Rex, and Jack to have as much a head start on gaining intel before they arrived stateside. Finishing his call, he went over lastminute instructions and told Adam to get as much information they could on Commander Broderick before they arrived. Apparently his old friend Rex was more well off than he knew. Not only had he arranged for the plane but someone would be at the bungalow shortly with some clothes for him and keys to something Adam referred to as an inconspicuous vehicle, something that wouldn’t raise the local’s eyebrows. He heard the shower shut off, and thoughts of being inside of AJ and falling asleep with her against him filled his head. He knew they didn’t have time for anything other than being focused on getting to the airstrip in time to catch their ride.

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He rose from the bed and went to the bathroom. Opening the door, he was met with a vision of pure delight. AJ was standing in the shower, dripping wet with her hair tangled and framing her face. The sight woke up more than his eyes. His cock hardened, and memories of her screams and trembles filled his mind. Shaking his head, he grinned at her and came toward her. He grabbed a towel off of the bar and held it out for her. She stepped out of the tub and walked into his open arms. He wrapped the terry cloth around her, embracing her. Her eyes looked at him as though she was searching for a sign of some kind. A clue of what he was thinking, he figured. He hated that she seemed so unsure at times. He dipped his head down and kissed her. It wasn’t a soft and gentle peck. It was a kiss of possession. One that said he was staking his claim. No matter how much he loved it, he forced himself to pull away. “Sweetheart, I need to shower. Can you get your things packed? Maybe make us a couple of sandwiches for the road?” “Yes. Of course. Are you okay? You didn’t hurt yourself when we…” Her eyes looked away, and her cheeks flushed. Damn she was pretty and so very sweet. “When we made love? No, sweetheart. I’m just fine. Now get going. We’re running low on time.” She nodded and headed from the room. He started the water and tried to ignore his need to go back to the bedroom, lie her down and do something to relieve the ache he was feeling. It perplexed him how easily the mere sight of AJ could send his body into a state of instant arousal. She was the exact opposite of every woman he’d ever been with, and clearly the exact thing he’d always wanted. He got in the shower and allowed the hot water to bounce off his skin. The heat helped cure his achy side and diminish some of the pain. Applying a liberal amount of shampoo, he thoroughly washed his hair and allowed the bubbles to trail down his body. The shampoo

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was clearly hers. It had a strong floral scent, and he could remember smelling it as he drifted off to sleep earlier. Making quick work of the rest of his body, he finished and turned off the shower. Toweling off, he quickly wrapped the towel around his waist and headed for the front door. The bell had just rung, and he’d forgotten to tell AJ someone was coming. He opened the door and found her standing on the other side. Fear was in her eyes. “A man is at the door. I didn’t answer it.” “I know. It’s okay. He’s here bringing me supplies and a vehicle. Finish up what you’re doing. We have to leave in about fifteen minutes if we’re going to have enough time.” He kissed her and headed for the door, not wanting the man to leave. Fifteen minutes later, Nick was dressed and AJ stood before him with a suitcase in hand. Again she managed to surprise him. Being a woman, he mistakenly assumed she would have several suitcases and bags to take on their journey. It was just one more contradiction to add to the growing list of all the ways that AJ was different from the average woman. “You all set?” She nodded her head but looked nervous again. A sight he was growing tired of seeing. He hated that she felt anything other than safe or happy with him. He hoped once all this was over and he was able to reclaim his life, he would be able to make sure that look never returned. That she never felt unsure or uneasy about their relationship again. “Come on then. Let’s get out of here.” They walked down the hall, and he waited with his hand on the small of her back while she stopped at the room where her father had passed. He said nothing while she stared into the room. She needed this moment of silence to say good-bye to the place where he took his last breath. Only when she started to move did he fall in place behind her.

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Once outside he loaded her bag into the trunk of the beaten-up old Chevrolet. The paint had rusted in most places, and only small traces of the once green and white two-tone paint job remained. Not that it mattered. All he wanted was to get off this damn island and back stateside with his former teammates so they could finally figure out what the hell they were going to do. He started the engine and reached a hand over to AJ. She placed her hand in his, and he pulled out on the dirt road. They were on their way and hopefully one step closer to the end of this nightmare. He only hoped they could get things settled before it was time to bury Liam. He wanted to be able to stand beside AJ and salute the man who saved his life and brought the woman he loved into his life.

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Chapter 26 Adam paced the area around the Escalade. He and Rex had arrived at the airstrip a half an hour early just in case the plane carrying Nick and AJ arrived sooner than expected. What he hadn’t anticipated was the plane being over twenty minutes late. “I don’t like this.” “Relax, man. They’ll be here.” Rex was trying to assure him, but he knew him well enough to see he was worried, too. They left Jack back at the hotel with the women on the off chance they had been tracked down. As much as he loved his wife and adored Tamara and Shelby, they were far from being prepared to defend themselves against a professional hit. “We should call and check on things back at—” Adam stopped in mid-sentence when he heard the sound of an engine in the distance. Both he and Rex looked around for the source. Finally over the small mountain they saw a Cessna coast into sight. “That them?” “Not sure. He said he’d give us a signal.” Rex went around to the driver’s side of the vehicle and turned on the headlights, flashing them three times. They waited a second and saw the plane dip its left wing two times. “It’s them.” Rex closed the door and stood at the front of the vehicle. A minute later and the small plane made a rough landing on the rocky ground. It slowed down to a stop a dozen yards away from the vehicle. When the engine stopped Rex and Adam made their way toward them.

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The door opened to the small cockpit, and Rex handed the stocky man a rolled up wad of cash while exchanging a few words. The door to the cabin opened, and for the first time in months Adam caught a glimpse of his friend, the one he thought he’d laid to rest just two days before. He waited while Nick helped the woman he now knew to be AJ out of the plane. Just by the way he held his hands at her waist Adam knew there was something different about this one. She may have helped save his life and care for him, but something told Adam that the connection between the two went much deeper than that. “You’re the best-looking dead man I’ve ever seen.” Rex met Nick and gave him a hug. “How the hell are you, brother?” Nick shrugged. “Had better stretches of R and R, that’s for sure.” He placed an arm around AJ. “This is AJ. My nurse and savior.” Adam couldn’t help but grin when the shy girl looked down after blushing. “Please to meet you, ma’am. I guess we owe you a debt of gratitude.” Rex extended a hand to her, which she accepted. Nick cocked his head at Adam. “Sorry about the e-mail, brother. I had to get your attention.” He shook his head. “Shut the hell up. Damn am I glad you’re all right.” He gave him a brotherly hug, patting his shoulder. “I’m sorry about Tom. He was a damn-fine man.” “Yeah. That he was.” “Look, let’s get back to the hotel and meet up with Jack and the girls. We’ve got strategy to discuss.” Rex motioned for the Escalade. Nick laughed. “What the hell is that?” “That, my friend, is our inconspicuous undercover mobile.” Adam winked at AJ, who looked as nervous as a mouse trying to get cheese off of a snap trap. “That is inconspicuous? What…they didn’t have one with sirens and flashing lights?”

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“Laugh all you want. No way in hell will anyone be looking for three retired Navy SEALs in this thing.” “Adam my brother, you always were crazy like a fox.” Rex laughed. “He’s just plain crazy. The women picked it out.” They all piled in the SUV. Adam watched in the rearview mirror as Nick tended to AJ like she was a crystal figurine. He helped her with her seatbelt and brushed some hair out of her face. Adam couldn’t help but smile. Nick always did have a way with the ladies, but it seemed this one had him wrapped around her little finger. How she managed to do it in the midst of all that was happening he had no idea, but one thing was for sure. If Nick Slater was hooked on a woman, she must be one hell of one. **** An hour later the four of them sat around the small table in the even tinier hotel room. Nick was thankful to be in the company of his brothers and even more thankful that they were all okay. When they got back to the room and he heard of their near-fatal attack after scattering his ashes, it sent a chill up his spine. The fear he saw in AJ’s eyes made his anxiety worse. He hated that look she would get and vowed to end this quickly so he could work on making sure he didn’t see it anymore. He listened as Jack went over all they’d learned since his short conversation with Adam. It seemed Commander Broderick was released from the Naval Consolidated Brig in Miramar a month ago. An astonishing five years earlier than his scheduled release date. The man apparently lived like a king when inside, not suffering much for the crime he committed. Almost ten years ago Commander Broderick was frustrated with his stagnate military career. Having served nearly five years at the level of commander, he was passed up time and again for promotion to the next rank of captain. He took a chance and authorized a mission

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using two SEALs, Rex and Jack, to go in hot with two men from the Army’s Nightstalker division to go behind enemy lines and take out a known terrorist in one of his safe houses. The intel he provided the men with was sketchy at best, but the four of them went in and did the best their training allowed. What none of them was prepared for was that their source had sold out to the highest bidder and tipped off the terrorist. The helo carrying the four of them was damaged when the propeller was shot, before they even got close to their intended target. The two Army Nightstalkers, Jenkins and Rollingsworth, were killed in the firefight that ensued following their landing. The cluster fuck of the mission would have been bad enough, but it went from bad to ten different shades of fucked up when Commander Broderick called off any search-and-rescue attempts, telling his superiors that the four of them went rogue and went in without authorization. For nearly eighteen hours Jack and Rex held off their attackers and tried to keep themselves and Jenkins alive, who was barely holding on due to his injuries. If it wasn’t for a lieutenant who overheard a call that Commander Broderick had with someone as he tried to cover his ass, Jack and Rex would’ve been left out there to die. Up until then all of their distress calls were ignored. When he and Adam finally arrived with Tom on the search-andrescue mission to get their collective asses out of there, Jenkins had expired and Rex and Jack were just about out of ammunition. They barely got out of there with their lives. The terrorists had doubled their man power in the time it took before they made it there. It would have been mere minutes before they were ambushed, and Rex and Jack would’ve been buried along with Jenkins and Rollingsworth. The mission was the reason behind Jack and Rex retiring early and the subsequent incarceration of the son of a bitch Broderick who played with their lives as if he was playing a game of Call of Duty and not dealing with actual people.

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Nick knew Commander Broderick always was an arrogant son of a bitch, and obviously spending years in the brig did nothing to his personality. Rather than have remorse for what he did, it seemed he spent his time—labeled by the senior officers at the Naval Consolidated Brig as good behavior—plotting revenge against the men who testified against him in the investigation following the rescue mission. They knew Commander Broderick came from money. His father having retired an admiral and also a frugal man who had invested wisely left his son a large amount of cash reserves. Obviously he chose to use his money to hire professional mercenaries to take out those he blamed for his failed career. For the first time in days his thoughts went back to that night a week ago when Tom sat before him. Drinking, sitting on the boat, and a moment later a hole in his forehead with blood trailing from it. Tom Drake was a damn good man, a good friend, and an outstanding SEAL. The idea that he was killed because he did his duty and never left a man behind caused a roiling in his gut. He wanted this son of a bitch Broderick alone in a room for one hour. If he thought losing his career was bad, Nick would show him just how fucked his life could truly be. There was no way in hell he was going to get away with this. If it was the last thing he did he would see to it that the former commander never saw the light of day again. He wished Alcatraz was still open. One of the old dungeon-like cells that were used for solitary confinement would be perfect for the son of a bitch. His thoughts went to AJ. He looked across the room and saw the three women talking to her, making her feel at ease. He was so glad to see her relaxed. This whole thing was a lot for anyone to take. She must have felt his eyes on her because she glanced up and met his gaze. A half smile crossed her face, and he winked at her. He was amazed at how well she was handling all this.

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The four of them were on their way out to meet up with a man who could provide them with some weapons without having to deal with the hassle of identification, licensing, or paper trails. It was sad that there were such people out there who could provide such options, but at the moment he was glad the option was there. As Jack, Rex, and Adam said good-bye to their wives he pulled AJ into the bathroom for a moment of privacy. “How you holding up, sweetheart?” “I’m okay. They’re all so nice. I can see why you’re friends.” Her sweet smile caused his heart to thump out of rhythm. He held her face in his hands and pulled her to him for a soft kiss. Dropping his forehead against hers, he whispered, “When this is all over we’re going to bury your father. Together.” A small tear trailed down her cheek, and he kissed it away. Hugging her and giving her another kiss, he told her to listen to the other three women and to not leave the room. He hated leaving her, but professional mercenaries were nothing to procrastinate about. If they were going to get this son of a bitch they needed to go in hot. The best defense always is a good offense.

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Chapter 27 AJ listened to Chelsea tell her about Nick and how she first met him at his mother’s recent funeral just months before. She knew all she or any of them were trying to do was distract her and calm her nerves, but the story just brought back to reality the fact that her father had probably arrived at the airport and she wasn’t even able to claim his body. The fear that they’d be holed up for so long that his body would go unclaimed and buried in an unmarked grave sickened her. She had been so willing to do whatever Nick said that she hadn’t stopped to think of her father. “AJ, are you okay?” Tamara asked. With her arms crossed, she rubbed her hands up and down each arm. A sudden chill rocketed through her. This wasn’t her. She didn’t hide from professional hit men and avoid her family obligations. She was always responsible and did the right thing. “I’m okay. Just a bit frazzled is all.” She assured her with a polite smile, but the truth was, when Nick got back she was going to have to talk with him. The thought that her father’s body may go unclaimed made her physically ill. It should have surprised her that she even felt she needed to discuss it with Nick. It was her father and her life. She only met Nick a week ago. Actually, meet was a bit of a stretch of the truth. Technically they only met after his fever broke and he started to gain his strength back. That was mere days ago. Her loyalty to Nick was obviously something she was unable to control, and the fact of the matter was she wasn’t sure she even wanted to.

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There was one thing that was nagging at her. One question that she knew if she asked Nick he would give her a reassuring answer whether it was the truth or not. It wasn’t that she thought he was dishonest, quite the contrary, in fact. She believed Nick to be very honorable. So honorable that he would probably lie to her just to keep her from worrying. She had to know though. It had been eating at her ever since he left with the other three men. She turned her attention to her three newest friends. “Are we going to get out of this? I mean…is it even possible? Nick is dead. At least officially. How can something this bad be fixed?” Whenever she was nervous, she used wild hand gestures. It proved to her and the others just how scared she was as she looked down at her shaking hands. “Oh, sweetie, come here and sit down.” Shelby put an arm around her and walked her over to the bed. Chelsea knelt down in front of her. “It’s okay to be scared. I understand.” “You do? But…you don’t look scared.” AJ looked at all three of them. “None of you do.” “I’ll take this one, girls.” Tamara sat on the bed and put her arm around AJ. AJ looked at the girls nervously. What on earth could they say that could explain their calm demeanor after being shot at and on the run, she wondered. “AJ, what you have to understand is that all three of us have been put in dangerous situations by some bad people. We were lucky enough to have these wonderful men, our husbands, in our life. Not once did they allow anyone to hurt us.” “My God, what happened to you guys?” It might have been a rude question to ask, but the question just sort of came out before she was able to stop herself. Tamara shook her head. “Those will be stories for another time. The important thing to remember is that Jack, Rex, Adam, and Nick

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aren’t just your average men. They were Navy SEALs. Highly trained and it’s ingrained in them to live by the motto that the only easy day was yesterday. We feel safe because we are safe. Not one of them would let anything happen to any of us.” “That’s all well and good, and I don’t doubt that they are just as noble as you claim, but they don’t know me. They have no reason to protect me or worry about me.” AJ was surprised when all the women started to laugh at her. Sure she wasn’t used to their world, but it hardly seemed fair to laugh at her. “What’s so funny?” she asked them, annoyed. Chelsea put a hand on her knee and composed herself. “Sweetie, don’t you know yet?” “Know what?” she asked. “We’ve seen the way Nick looks at you. We’ve all felt that look before. Whether he’s said it or not, in his mind you are his.” AJ shook her head. “I don’t think…” “None of us did. But we know the look. Short of you running out that door and never coming back, you are Nick’s, and one thing is for certain. Those men come as a package deal. You get one to fall in love with you, the others will follow suit.” In love with her? They were crazy! Nick Slater, Commander Nick Slater, could not be in love with her. He barely knew her. He was just grateful that she helped save him and care for him. That’s all it was. He felt a connection to her because of all he’d been through. “Are you finished?” Chelsea asked. “I’m sorry? Finished with what?” “Trying to convince yourself that there is no way Nick Slater has fallen for you.” “I–I wasn’t…” She sighed. What was she, telepathic? Chelsea gave her a soft smile. “We’ve all been there, AJ. Every single one of us. So when we say we understand.” All three of the women spoke at once. “We understand!”

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AJ couldn’t help but burst out into laughter at the way they all three spoke in unison. It was completely crazy to think he did love her, but the truth was she secretly hoped it to be true. She was crazy about Nick. He was the first man she’d made love to in years. She had all but given up on men ever since her ex-boyfriend had broken her heart. Never did she think she’d meet a man that was worth chancing her heart to again. Nick was though. Nick was worth that and so much more.

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Chapter 28 Nick was anxious to get back to AJ. He’d been away from her for nearly three hours, and it seemed like days. Just knowing that there was a hired killer out there with an itchy trigger finger waiting to take them out made him nervous enough. Not being able to see her and protect her should something happen did nothing to calm his normally steady nerves. The dirt road they were on was rocky and uneven. Small pieces of gravel were flying up from under the tires and hitting against the metal of the car. It was making sounds that reminded him of small automatic rifles echoing somewhere in the distance. He checked his watch for at least the tenth time and caught a glance from Jack. They had precious cargo stored away back at the hotel just like he did, but his precious cargo meant more to him than he thought anything ever would. Rex hung up the phone and turned in his seat. “It’s all set. Just talked to Shelby, and they’re en route. A driver is taking them to the house. They’ll meet us there, should be there within a half an hour.” “A driver?” Adam asked. “Would you relax? You think I’d arrange for anyone to pick them up if I wasn’t sure they were safe?” “Sorry. Just…I worry about Chelsea you know. It wasn’t that long ago I almost lost her to that bastard, Bianchi.” “I know man. I get it. Trust me. No way in hell would I do anything that would put any of our wives in danger.” Jack placed a hand on Rex’s shoulder from the seat beside Nick. “And we thank you for that, brother.”

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Nick breathed a small sigh of relief. If they were on the way to the small house in the hills that Rex had arranged for them all to stay at then she must be fine. Still, he wouldn’t be totally convinced of this until she was in his arms. He hated that he left her in that hotel room. “How much longer until we’re there?” he asked Adam. Adam shrugged. “Twenty, maybe thirty minutes tops.” He caught another glance from Jack and wondered why he kept getting that look. Jack Peyton was a good guy to have on your team on any day. They’d shared missions together, beers, even a few brawls, but the truth was outside of the teams he didn’t really know the man that well. Adam was the only one he was ever that close with. Well…Adam and Tom Drake. Damn he wished he could’ve done something, anything to change what happened. Broderick wouldn’t get away with it. Not as long as he drew breathe. One way or another that son of a bitch would pay for killing his brother and nearly taking out the rest of them. Adam went over a dip in the road too fast. Without warning, he felt his whole body slam into the side door. A slicing pain hit his side where his stitches still were. He huddled over and muttered an expletive to Mario Andretti behind the wheel. “Damn, Adam. You trying to kill our boy back here? Slow down.” Jack leaned over. “You all right, man?” Nick gave him a thumbs-up to keep himself from knocking Adam in the back of his head. He made a mental note to sit on the opposite side of the SUV. That door handle wasn’t nice to a recovering wound. If he was going to be driven around by speed demon up there, he better be sure to use his good side to cushion any blows. **** Adam’s navigational skills sucked in the Hollywood Hills. Nearly forty-five minutes later they pulled into the driveway of a house that looked to be built in the 1950s and abandoned shortly thereafter. The

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blue paint, which was probably a lot brighter some time ago, was now faded and peeling in more places than it remained. The windows were dark and looked dirty, but surprisingly none were broken. Lying inconspicuously on the ground by the front door was a sign that read “Condemned by City.” They pulled the SUV around to the back and parked it beneath the shadow of a large weeping willow tree. It was an odd place for the tree to be. So close to the house it was completely overgrown to the point that Adam had to literally drive through its drooping branches to park. Yet it was almost perfectly trimmed to keep from damaging the house. The thought amused him. The house was a shithole, and that was being generous. A good strong wind could probably even knock it over. They got out of the SUV and went around to the back, unloading the various weapons and gear they’d picked up from the man referred to as Mr. Johnson. Nick just shook his head at Rex when they met the man. He was dark skinned, his hair thick and wavy, and he had a thick accent, but he passed himself off as an American businessman just trying to help those honest working folks cut through a little red tape here and there wherever he could. If his life didn’t depend on getting the weapons from good old Mr. Johnson he would’ve kicked his ass and given him his version of patriotism and his opinion on those who break the laws, but instead he was forced to smile and nod at the low life. When this was all over, Mr. Johnson would be getting a visit from the fellows with the ATF. Nick rubbed his side, which still burned from the impact against the door handle, as he hoisted a large duffle bag of weapons over his opposite shoulder. Rex opened the door and ushered the three of them inside before closing it shut. The house was dark and silent. So much so that a team of crickets chirped loudly from one of the other rooms in what must have been an apparent argument of the insect kind. A pit churned in his stomach.

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The women should have been here by now. AJ should have been here waiting for him. “Where the hell are—” He snapped, but Rex quickly put up his hand to interrupt him and pointed toward the kitchen. Nick went in the kitchen. A stove that proved his theory that this house was built in the ’50s sat untouched, grimy and covered in dust. The sink, which looked to be formerly white, now sat with rust stains and scratches all over it. The refrigerator door was hanging on by a mere thread of what piece of metal in the remaining hinge that hadn’t rusted away yet. The whole place looked like it was abandoned due to a natural disaster. None of that mattered though. What did matter was that he was standing in a dark kitchen carrying around this heavy bag despite the burn in his side and still he saw no sign of the women or AJ. “Still don’t see them,” he said to Rex sarcastically. He liked Rex. He trusted Rex. If he didn’t see AJ materialize before him in the next sixty seconds though, he was going to deck Rex. The man always had been good at solving problems on and off the battle field, but the arrogant smirk he was giving Nick right now was getting on his last nerve. Obviously Rex knew where the women were, and he was in no mood and had absolutely zero patience for games. Rex cocked his head and motioned toward the end of the kitchen. “Why don’t you see what’s behind door number one before you get your panties in a twist?” Not amused with his humor, he walked past him and gave him a glare. He turned the handle and was stunned when it wouldn’t budge. He jiggled it a few times to each direction trying to jostle it free, but it wouldn’t budge. He turned to Rex. “What the hell? I’m getting tired of these fucking games. Where is AJ?” Jack let out a boisterous laugh and reached in his pocket. He took a twenty-dollar bill out of his wallet and handed it to Rex. “You

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weren’t kidding, he does have it bad. I shouldn’t pay you for coercing him, but it’s well worth it to watch ladies’ man Slater squirm.” “Gee, thanks, man. I mean it’s not like I’ve had a shit week or anything.” He cocked his brow at Adam. “When this is over I’m kicking both of their asses. You know this right?” “What are you telling me for? I had no part of this damn bet. They did the same shit to me when Chelsea came into my life.” He leaned a little closer to Nick and whispered. “But you do have it pretty bad, man.” “You guys are all assholes, and I’ll deal with you all later. Right now just tell me where AJ is, damn it!” Rex held up both is hands in a mocking “don’t shoot me” gesture. “All right, man. Don’t want you to start crying.” He motioned toward Jack. All the dramatics and laughing at his expense were getting on his last nerve, but still he watched curiously as Jack backed up a few steps and reached his hand far back in one of the kitchen drawers. Whatever he was feeling for must’ve taken a second to find, but a smirk told him that he finally did. A loud click sounded behind Nick at the same door that wouldn’t budge moments before. Rex gave him a nod, and he tried the handle again. This time it opened without any resistance. There was a dark stairway leading to the basement. He took the first few steps slowly, but the anxiety and worry over AJ had gotten the better of him. The next dozen stairs he ran down. The basement itself looked to be in no better shape than the upstairs. A crumbling concrete floor was flanked by cinder-block walls. The room was damp and cold with no windows. One thing did catch his eye across the room, and he didn’t wait for the others to make his way toward it. The old wooden door might have looked as though it fit in with the rest of the house to the casual observer or a vagrant who managed

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to break their way in, but despite its worn panels, he could tell it was actually a steel door painted to mimic wood grain. Obviously whatever Jack had done upstairs to unlock the basement door activated this door as well. He turned the handle and pushed it open not expecting it to be as heavy as it was. Instantly the dark basement was flooded with light coming from a small living room. The sound of running water came from a hallway to his right. He walked in the room and placed his duffle bag on the leather sofa directly across the room and was about to head down the hall when he heard her. “Nick. You’re here!” He turned to see AJ coming toward him. Before he could even respond she was wrapping her arms around him. Her head tucked under his chin as she snuggled into him. An overwhelming feeling of comfort filled him. Until she curled into him he had no idea how much he needed to hold her. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine. How are you?” Her small hand gently rubbed his wound as she asked him the question. Jesus, her voice still sounded just as angelic as the first time he’d heard it. “We’ve got a lasagna in the oven, and we’re going to make some garlic bread. Everything should be ready in about an hour, but if you’re tired you could always eat it in your room.” Tamara stood in the doorway to what was apparently a kitchen. Nick smiled at her. Jack’s wife was a smart woman. It was apparently obvious that he wanted to be alone with AJ, and being the kind woman that she was, she was giving him the excuse he needed to do just that. “Thank you, Tamara.” He turned to walk down the hallway, keeping his arm around AJ. Not before he gave each and every one of his brothers a look so they knew this was not the time to test his patience. The last thing he

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wanted was to be disturbed, and he could guarantee if anyone did he would knock him on his ass. AJ led him to a room at the end of a long hallway. The basement that held this secret residence seemed to be bigger than the house that hid it. There was a bed, a small bistro-like table with two chairs, and a door, which was open enough for him to tell it was a small bathroom. She closed the door and led him over to the bed to sit him down. Kneeling down on the floor in front of him she lifted his shirt and winced when she looked at his wound. Judging from her bunched brows he figured his assumptions were correct that he tore a stitch or two when his side slammed into the SUV’s door handle. Her delicate fingers were caressing his side and wreaking havoc on his senses. “AJ…come here.” She looked up at him, and he could swear the only thing missing was a halo. She was an angel, so beautiful. Taking her face in his hands, he pulled her up to him. When his lips touched hers and his tongue found refuge in her mouth he forgot the burning pain he felt in his side. Just a few hours of being without her and he would swear it had been years. He loved how her hands reached around his back and held him tightly. There was no way he was going to let her go, but feeling her hang on as though he might and that she was unwilling to let him get away made him feel ten feet tall and bulletproof. “Nick…” She whispered his name when his mouth trailed down to her neck. He didn’t answer her, his attention was too focused on the curve of her neck and sliding his mouth over every inch of her he could taste. He was already hardening and desperate to get their clothes off. “You have to…stop.” What? Stop? Breathless and confused, his kisses moved away from the small dip in her shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

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AJ got up off her knees and stood before him. “Nick, you’re hurt. You tore a stitch, and you bled a little. We need to get it cleaned up so you don’t get an infection.” “Later.” He pulled her toward him and lay down on the bed, taking her with him . No stitches or lack thereof was going to stop him from being with her, kissing her, touching her, or feeling her. Proving to him she was indeed an angel, she rolled to the side to keep from lying on his wound. No longer fighting him with ridiculous arguments of a torn stitch, she lifted a leg and hitched it over his hip. The small gesture was unusually aggressive for her and caused him to swell and grow even harder. This time he stopped her. “Get undressed, sweetheart.” He watched as she got up off the bed. Every movement she made was graceful, as though it was carefully rehearsed a dozen times before she enacted it. Her eyes, he saw the fire back in them. The flames were dancing wildly as she stood before him, unbuttoning her khaki shorts. Rising up to a sitting position, he reached out to her, his fingers brushing along the side of her hip as she let her shorts fall to the floor. A smile crossed his face when he saw her panties. Cotton just like the last pair he’d seen, but these were zebra striped and bore a shocking contrast to her tanned skin. He hooked two fingers in the waistband and pulled her to him. With his other hand he lifted her shirt and placed a kiss to her stomach. Her fingers combed through his hair and held him. For several minutes he placed kisses all over her belly. From hip to hip and stopping at the belly button each time, he couldn’t get enough of the feel of her skin under his lips. It was soft and felt so warm against him. Her slender fingers left his scalp and ran down his back. Bunching his shirt in her hands she pulled it up, lifting it over his head and breaking his concentration.

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She threw his shirt on the ground and placed her hands on his cheeks. “Nick…I just don’t understand how when I’m with you everything else disappears.” For a moment his heart stopped beating and he just looked at her. Damn if she wasn’t the most intoxicating woman he had ever known. It wasn’t just her beauty, it was her. Everything about her seemed to overpower him. He knew exactly what she meant. It was what she did to him. When the thump in his chest returned to a normal pace he smiled at her. “You finished getting undressed and I’ll show you just how much I can make the whole world vanish.”

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Chapter 29 AJ lifted her shirt the rest of the way, pulling it over her head. She couldn’t help but smile at the enticing way he was leering at her. The way he managed to get her to do whatever he said was just one of the many reasons she found herself hypnotized by Nick Slater. She dropped her shirt to the floor where it joined her shorts and Nick’s T-shirt. Reaching around behind her she unsnapped her bra and slowly slid the straps down her arms. Her nipples were already hard and tingling as though trying to send out a signal to him to suck on them like he once had. The mere memory of their first time together singed her from the inside out. “You’re so beautiful, AJ.” Whatever signal her body was trying to send, it worked. He pulled her that much closer to him, spreading his legs apart to invite her into his embrace as he covered her entire areola with his mouth. She arched her back and ran her fingers through his short hair. His suckling felt so good. The way he would alternate between that, a teasing lick, and a gentle nibble of his teeth made her wonder if he knew how the different sensations rocketed through her body. Her core heated with liquid desire whenever he touched her, but his mouth left her achy and completely helpless. As if on cue and reading her thoughts, his large hands pulled her panties down her thighs. Reaching around with one hand, he firmly grasped one of her ass cheeks, squeezing it before one of his fingers slid past her lips to reveal her wetness. No man had ever been able to elicit such a response from her body so quickly before. She was an

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aching puddle of need when it came to him, needs that she didn’t even know she had. She found herself wanting things that never much interested her before. In the past two days her mind had wandered to that last day in the beach bungalow when he made love to her and took her body to heights of pleasure it had never felt. Each memory and thought that raced through her mind always seemed to bring her back to an elemental craving and every time she thought of it she found herself excited at the prospect. She wanted to taste Nick. Not just his kiss but his essence. She wanted to know what it was like to have him fill her mouth as she opened herself to him. It was a surprise to both her mind and body. Boyfriends of the past had always wanted her to do it. She even gave in a time or two, but giving in was all it ever was. There was no desire. She didn’t enjoy it and certainly never found herself craving it. With Nick though…it was different. Her body jolted and she was shaken from her thoughts. Nick’s finger flicked across her clit and sent her body into a state of urgency. She was already so wet that the only sound in the room was the sloshing sound of his fingers playing with her pussy. As he explored her body, sliding them in and out and then applying pressure, it made a slurping sound not much different from when his mouth had been there just two days before. With her eyes closed, her back arched and hands in his hair the only senses she was really aware of was his touch, the sounds of the room and the images racing through her mind. “Oh…” Again he flicked his finger across her little nub, which he manipulated so easily. Her normally reserved behavior was no match for her body’s primal longings. She ground herself against his hand when she felt his other hand grasp her behind, squeezing and kneading her cheek.

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She was on fire, from her flushed cheeks to her aching breasts all the way down to her pussy. She could feel the proof of how much her body responded to him trickling out past her lips. Inside she could swear there was a fire racing just dying to break free and ignite sparks all over her body. She wanted…No she needed to feel him inside of her. His hard cock thrusting in her and filling her was the only thing that would cure the horrible empty feeling that was churning inside of her. “Nick, please…I need you.” She should have cared how desperate her whispered plea sounded, but she didn’t. It was no longer important to her that she was at his mercy. There was no denying it, and it was foolish to try. “Jesus…I know, sweetheart.” His words were muffled against her breasts, which he hadn’t stopped giving his undivided attention to. Everything he did, every touch, every kiss, every lick and suckle drove her insane. She felt like a woman who had been slipped the strongest form of aphrodisiac. Her thigh brushed against him, and she felt his thickness so full and hard. He must be dying, she thought. She was getting all the pleasure while he sat there in obvious need. She licked her lips when she envisioned pre-cum sitting on the tip of his head. Just the image, the idea of it, the fantasy that played through her head, was too much to bear. She couldn’t stand it anymore. “Nick, stop…I can’t take it anymore.” She ignored the surprised look on his face and pushed him down on the bed. “Damn it, you’re killing me. What’s wrong now?” He sounded frustrated, but she didn’t care. She was sure that no amount of sexual frustration he was feeling could come close to hers. Besides, she was also just as sure that neither one of them would be frustrated for that much longer. She hurriedly unsnapped his jeans and pulled down the zipper before pulling them down. He helped her by lifting his hips. She took

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his boxer briefs with the jeans, not wanting anything to keep her from what she wanted. When his cock sprang up from behind the fabric, she was stunned. She had seen him before, even with an erection, but never had she had it so close to her face and mouth. It was…beautiful. The long vein that ran along the underside was like an imaginary trail telling her to use her tongue to travel it, seeing where it took her. Her clit throbbed painfully now, and much to her delight she did see pre-cum dripping down the side of his cock, calling to her to lick it off. Suddenly impatient and without any remorse for her frantic actions, she pulled the jeans off of his last leg and threw them. In one fluid motion and not a moment too soon she was on the bed, straddling him, her body hunched over as one hand grasped his hardness and her mouth closed over his head. “Oh fuck…” Nick’s hands grabbed her head so forcefully she could feel him losing control. Obviously he wasn’t expecting her to do this, but the way he was holding her and massaging her head told her he was glad she did. She hadn’t been wrong about how good he would taste. There was something elemental about the musky flavor mixed with his pre-cum. It fed a part of her that she never knew was malnourished. Now as she explored him with her mouth, allowing her tongue to swirl around him while sucking him deep in her throat, she wondered how she had ever survived without having him inside her. Her core felt hollow and empty. The liquid heat that emanated from inside her made her ache that much more for him, but having him in her mouth, hard and rigid, wasn’t something she was willing to trade for or give up just yet. He was moaning and holding her head more aggressively. She loved hearing him lost in nothing but the sensation. It was what he did to her. She kept herself from giggling at the thought that turnabout was fair play. Pleasure was all she wanted to give him. She wanted

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him to ignore the outside world, if just for a short time, and disappear with her while she loved him with nothing more than her mouth. Stroking him, she slid her tongue down that long vein that invited such a wonderful journey. It didn’t disappoint either. Her tongue curled around him as it continued the exploration. He was thick, and she could already feel her mouth tiring at the stretching his girth provided, but she refused to stop. She wanted more, so much more of him. She wanted to be able to make him fall off the edge and lose control the way he did to her. She took the path back up to the head of his cock. Looking down at it, she loved how it was glistening from her mouth’s kisses and licks. Steeling her nerves and taking a calming breath, she relaxed every part of herself, allowing no fear or hesitation. She heard Nick say something, but she tuned even the sound of his voice out, blocking out anything and everything that may distract her. Relaxed and ready she opened her mouth wide, sliding her mouth down on top of him but not stopping. This time she ignored the intrusion she felt when he hit the back of her throat and took him farther and deeper than should have been possible. Closing her mouth tightly around him she continued on with the motion, up and down. After she had the hang of it, and effectively blocked out her gag reflex, she started to twist her mouth as she proceeded to keep on. Nick was saying something, she had no idea what. She didn’t care. The way his hands were wrapped in her hair, gently easing her along and the way his hips were thrusting and meeting her mouth told her that he wasn’t unhappy with what she was doing. As much as he clearly liked it, she was in heaven. She couldn’t remember a time she felt so completely overwhelmed by a man before. He woke every part of her body and soul. She could literally feel the heat coming from her. Her wetness was coating her inner thighs. Everything about him sent her into a hyperaware state of sexuality that she didn’t even know she was capable of. “AJ…damn it listen to me!”

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She heard him that time, but she couldn’t stop. The way her cheeks were starting to burn from being filled by him. The way her tongue glided along his veins and the other textures of his rigid state. The way he tasted. Everything she was doing was like giving her a high she was certain no one in the world could possibly understand. “Sweetheart, please…if you don’t stop I’m not going to be able to either.” Again she ignored him. She didn’t want him to stop. That was the opposite of what she wanted. She wanted all of him. She wanted to taste and swallow him. She wanted to be the reason he couldn’t hold back and spilled into her. “Oh fuck, I’m not going to be able to stop…I can’t.” If she wasn’t so fixated on what she was doing she might’ve stopped to smile triumphantly, but nothing could’ve slowed her pace right now. His hands tensed on her head, his fingers almost digging into her. His thrusts into her slowed, and when she slid down on top of him once more his hips shot up and he shouted something that was incomprehensible. When the first splash of his warm seed hit her tongue she was in heaven. She knew she wanted this, needed to take a part of him that came from something so intimate, but her appetite grew ravenous when she finally got that first taste. She braced herself with one of her arms and wrapped her other hand around him firmly. He spurted into her mouth violently as she continued to drink up his essence. Refusing to let any part of him go, she kept on, never releasing her mouth from him and continuing to slurp and suck every drop. Moments later he was done. She could hear his breathing was hitched and rapid. After placing a few kisses to his now semi-hard erection she began gently brushing her mouth all over his abdomen. She was under his spell, soaking up every part of his body. With touches and kisses she wanted to memorize everything about him.

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Abruptly she felt Nick’s hands reach under her arms and throw her down to his side. A second later he was hovering over her, his hand already touching her inner thigh and then finally his long fingers dipping inside her. She couldn’t help but whimper and bite her lower lip as her eyes closed. His touch was the only thing that could relieve her ache. “Look at me.” His voice was always deep and sexy, but now in this moment, he sounded different. His blue eyes were staring at her, pinning her in place. She couldn’t have moved from underneath him if she wanted to. He owned her. His leer claimed her and told her to do whatever he said. She licked her lips, still relishing the scent and the taste of him. His fingers worked her, moving around inside and pressing against pleasure points she didn’t even know she had. He did though. He seemed to know everything that made her feel good. With every time he slid them in and out of her the sucking sound echoing in the room reminded her of what she had just done, which only heightened her arousal. She was so close to falling over the edge into oblivion. Their eyes stayed on one another as he continued to tease her. That’s what he was doing, too, teasing her. She knew he was aware of it. Her clit was throbbing so painfully she widened her legs and moved her hips up and down, hoping to cause contact between her sensitized nub and one of his fingers as he slid them in and out over and over. “Jesus, do you have any idea how beautiful you are?” he asked. She closed her eyes at his question. His words washed over her and caused heat of a different kind to wrap around her heart. The way he spoke to her, the way he treated her made her feel so precious. “I can’t believe it’s even possible so soon after, but…” He shook his head. “I want you.” There was no time to question his intention. A second later she felt the enticing feel of his cock brush up against her pussy. He was

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no longer in a relaxed state. Instead he was hard and pushing past her lips in order to gain access to her sex. God, he was unbelievable. She had no idea how he was able to be ready again, so soon. Nor did she care. He was a gift in more ways than one. It wasn’t just her heart that he took possession of. It was her body. On some level he had figured out the key to unlock every part of her. She lifted her hips when he started to slide his head inside her entrance. The stretch he provided her gave her a burn which sent tingles of pleasure straight up to her womb. Despite the strain he put on her inner walls, she need more, needed to be completely filled by him. Nick hissed out air when her body took charge and forced him deeper inside her. For a moment he closed his eyes and dropped his head back. She could see his tense jaw muscles working as he appeared to be fighting words which struggled to break free. “Nick…” She bit her lower lip, unsure of what she was even going to say, just wanting to say his name as he took her. There was a hunger in his eyes, one that she could relate to. Unlike the tenderness he had shown her before, she relished in the sensation as he began driving into her without hesitation. There was no reason for subtleties. She was on fire, her pussy was wet with desire for him, and together they melded together perfectly. Her body shook with the mattress at his increasing thrusts. She dropped her head back for a moment and arched her back, but his hand brought her face back to stare at him. There was a tiny bead of sweat forming on his forehead, and she reached up to swipe at it with her thumb as she looked at him in a near trance, completely struck by what he was doing to her. Suddenly she was jolted back to the here and now. She felt a hot bolt of lightning shoot through her as his finger flicked across her clit. Friction.

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She needed more friction. Everything felt like that moment right before the roller coaster plummets hundreds of feet to the bottom. Her stomach did somersaults as the inside of her body was flaring with tiny embers. In her quest for more heat, more roughness, she ground her body into his. The greedy action didn’t just meet his thrusts, but enhanced it. She moaned when her plan worked. The one fierce graze of her turgid nub shot through her like a wildfire. She lifted her hips off the bed and found his finger again. The blaze spread. She rose her hips and found it again and again, each time shooting flames throughout her body. Without words she gave Nick a pleading look. He continued to leer at her, his eyes alive and storming with a force so strong it overwhelmed her. He took his thumb and rubbed it against her swollen and aching clit while continuing to pump his cock deep inside her. The pleasure shot through her body in one fell swoop. She grabbed onto her breasts, squeezing her nipples and arching her back as the first wave of heat shot up her spine. His thumb flicked, then rubbed, flicked, then rubbed, over and over again for several glorious seconds until she felt the fire inside her explode. She let out a guttural scream. Her entire body felt as if she was flying. Wetness spilled from her, coating his cock at the same time he bit out a curse. His hips shot into spasm as for the second time in mere minutes he lost himself in climax. For several moments their bodies pressed hard against one another’s as the sticky proof of their desire mixed between them, so much of it that it spilled out onto the sheets. She opened her eyes, not even realizing she had closed them, and saw stars. Literal stars. Tiny little white lights were shooting around the outside of her vision as she watched Nick stare at her. The room was spinning, and she felt like she had just spent too long spinning around in circles.

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Seconds or minutes passed before she felt her lightheadedness go away. Nick’s eyes were still locked on hers. She couldn’t find the words to ask what he was thinking. He looked so intense. She felt weak and overpowered by his eyes, which possessed her so easily. Her heart was so full and completely lost to him. It was as if he owned her, not just her body but her soul. She wanted to say something to him, make him understand what she was feeling, but no words would escape past the lump in her throat. She didn’t know how long they stayed like that, their eyes and bodies locked together with no sounds other than their breathing. Some time had passed when they heard a knock at the door. “Dinner’s ready. You two coming out to eat?” Jack asked from the other side of the door. “We’ll be out in a few minutes,” Nick answered. Footsteps disappeared in the distance, and Nick bent his head down and kissed her forehead. It was a tender gesture. One she hadn’t expected, but it intensified and confirmed what her heart was telling her. She was in love with him. Somehow in all the craziness that had happened, Nick Slater managed to knock down every wall she had built in a matter of days, and now she couldn’t imagine how she had ever lived without him. “Let’s get some dinner, sweetheart,” he whispered before pulling out of her and getting off the bed. She didn’t miss the way he winced when he pushed himself up. No matter how stubborn he was she was going to tend to his wound whether he liked it or not. “Then after dinner I am taking a look at that stitch that tore. You’re going to take a hot shower, and you will let me do whatever I need to do to make sure it doesn’t get infected or worse. Understood?” He smirked at her as he pulled on his jeans. “Is that an order, ma’am?”

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She couldn’t help but laugh. His smile was deadly to women, she was sure of that. His arrogant little smirk where he cocked up one side of his mouth was too damn sexy to resist. “I’m afraid so, Commander.” “I can think of far worse things than having a beautiful nursemaid tending to my wounds. So, I guess I’ll submit to your demands.” He winked. They finished dressing and were about to leave the room when he quickly closed it and crushed her against the door. His hands framed her face, and he kissed her. “You are amazing, AJ. I hate how I found you, but I can’t imagine not having you in my life, in my bed.” He kissed her again and reached for the door handle, ushering her into the hall before she could even form a response. Not that anything she said would come close to describing how she felt. She was his. However he wanted her, for as long as he wanted her, she would enjoy every minute of Nick Slater that life gave her.

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Chapter 30 They all sat around the living room eating their lasagna and going over their plan to draw out Broderick. The night proved to be a night of firsts on many levels. While this wasn’t an official U.S. Government operation, it was a mission just the same. Discussing the details of a mission wasn’t something he was used to doing with civilians, not to mention women civilians. He wasn’t a sexist pig, but he was a SEAL, after all. They didn’t operate with women. The fact of the matter was, though, these women had to be aware of every aspect of what was going on. If something were to go wrong they needed to be prepared and know what to do to protect themselves and get out of there. He felt a pang of remorse for Jack. He was the one who was the driving force behind making sure that son of a bitch paid for what he did. This fact alone made the revenge plot against them that much more personal. With him having a wife to worry about that would be enough for most men to deal with, but it was obvious his and Tamara’s thoughts were on JJ, their son. In war and in life there were no guarantees. It was important to have a contingency plan when missions didn’t end with them riding off on a unicorn to the land of rainbows. He didn’t miss the tension in the room when Rex explained to each of the women where they would go to pick up funds and the other things they would need to start their lives over. He forced himself to look away from AJ when he saw the shock in her face at the prospect that it was a possibility. While Tamara, Shelby, and Chelsea were upset at the thought of their husbands not making it out of this alive, they also seemed stronger

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and understanding of the importance to be prepared if that was an option. AJ was different though. This was all new to her, and it killed him to think how scared she must be. They discussed the arrangements over and over to make sure they all understood just how important it was. Tamara and Shelby seemed to be a rock for Chelsea, who seemed the most timid out of his three friends’ wives. He prayed that if something happened they would be there for AJ, too. All that remained of the lasagna was a few traces of sauce and ricotta cheese. The platter that held the garlic bread looked like it had been licked clean. Living on the run wasn’t good for their appetite. The sandwiches, burgers, and fries didn’t hold a candle to a nice home-cooked lasagna. He knew it was a frozen one, but his stomach didn’t know the difference. Looking around the room, he was impressed with the safe house Rex had arranged for them. He was surprised as hell though when Rex explained to them that it was on loner from an old teammate of theirs, Andrew Everest. After he left the teams he founded a private contracting company, Everest International. He considered leaving the teams before retirement a few times after having some attractive deals dangled in front of him by a couple of Everest’s recruiters. The girls all retired to their bedrooms while they continued to go over the plan to draw out the mercenaries hired to take them out, and hopefully Broderick, too. Nothing could be left to chance. Every detail had to be memorized until they could carry it out in their sleep. In the morning Rex would drive Adam to a rental car company to pick up the keys to an SUV they already reserved online, which was similar to the one they had before. He would then return to the hotel where they all stayed when they came to town to scatter his ashes. The thought still sent a chill up his spine that he sat here knowing just days earlier there was a military funeral complete with twenty-one guns in his honor. Adam would go straight to the front desk, not wanting to give whoever was watching a chance to catch him alone.

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He would check all of them out of their rooms and casually stroll back out to the SUV. Whoever was hired to take them out would have eyes in that hotel lobby. Meanwhile Rex would already be back at their ’50s condemned shack. Hopefully, Jack and he would already be ready with the trip wires and have the weapons locked and loaded, ready to go. If not, Rex could help them finish. The girls would be tucked safely in the basement, and Rex had assured all of them that bullets couldn’t penetrate the floorboards and that the room was soundproof. They had everything planned down to the last detail, but there was one thing that they couldn’t predict, and they had to leave it to chance. The hotel where Adam would be was a twenty minute drive. He was going to have to get out of there fast and watch his six at all times. None of their plan would work if he didn’t make it back here. He didn’t miss Chelsea’s worry when they discussed the plan for the first time. Adam assured her, even promised her there was no way anything could go wrong. Nick knew his good friend lied to his wife. Adam’s trip back from the hotel was the only part of the plan they were crossing their fingers on and hoping all the pieces fell into place. They considered drawing the hit men out in other locations, but everywhere else held the possibility of innocent bystanders getting caught in the cross fire. This safe house was hidden away. There were no neighbors for at least a mile down the road. Regardless of wanting to make sure they made it out of this alive, they wouldn’t risk civilians for their own safety. It was nearly midnight, and the four of them went over the details another dozen or so times. He felt confident they could do it with their eyes closed. There was nothing more to do but wait for the sun to rise and take action. They all said good night and went to their bedrooms to be with their wives. Everyone except him. He went to join AJ. She wasn’t his wife. He didn’t know what she was. So much had happened in such a short time. When this was all over he would go with her to bury her

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father. He would hold her while she cried and kiss her tears away. Then they would have to talk. If someone had told him two weeks ago he would be in love with someone he’d just met he would have laughed them off. He did love her. It was a fact he couldn’t ignore. He walked in the bedroom and quietly shut the door. The room was dark, and he saw her lying in the bed. He didn’t want to wake her, so he undressed and slid gently on the bed. He jumped when her hand reached over and touched his chest. “You’re awake.” “I waited for you. I couldn’t sleep.” Her voice was so angelic it still kicked him in the gut every time he heard it. “Why’s that? What’s wrong? Is it your dad?” “No. I mean…of course I thought about him and worry about claiming his body at the cargo facility so he can be transferred to the cemetery, but that’s not…” Her voice cracked, and he could hear her straining, trying not to cry. “Hey now…shh…come here.” He pulled her into his arms. “Tell me what’s wrong, sweetheart.” “Everything.” She started to cry but continued on. “You’re still recovering from being shot. I haven’t even looked at your stitches. You’re hurt…Nick, you’re hurt because someone wants you dead. Dead, Nick!” His heart literally hurt. Her voice was shaky, and between that and her tears he could tell she was terrified. “Listen to me, honey. I’m going to be okay. I’ve done missions twenty times more complicated than this with more obstacles in my way than what we’re contending with. We’re prepared. We’re luring them into a trap, not the other way around. I’ve got three of the best teammates I’ve ever worked with by my side. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is going to keep me from holding you like this tomorrow night.”

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He knew it was a promise he shouldn’t be making. Hell, he could get hit by a car, electrocuted by a toaster, or even shot by a mercenary at any moment. When his time was up and it was ready for the conductor to punch his big ticket in the sky, it was his time. He just didn’t want her lying awake all night worried. “I’m scared.” “I know, sweetie. I know.” He kissed her and squeezed her in a tight embrace. “Just lie in my arms. It will be okay. I just found you. You’re not getting rid of me so easily.” “Do you promise?” “I promise.” He lay awake listening to her breathing. It took her awhile to fall asleep, but when her heart stopped racing and steadied itself he knew she was finally resting soundly. He couldn’t force himself to sleep or even close his eyes. There was always a chance something could go wrong tomorrow. He wanted to enjoy the feel of her in his arms. He didn’t want to take a moment of it for granted. Placing a kiss to the top of her head he whispered so quietly he barely heard it himself. “I love you, AJ.”

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Chapter 31 AJ opened her eyes to a dark room. With no windows in the underground hideaway she had no idea what time it was. Nick wasn’t in bed with her. She reached over to his pillow, and the fabric felt cool. Had he left without even saying good-bye to her? A panic rose in her, and she bolted from the bed. A second later the door from the bathroom opened and out he walked with a towel around his waist. “Jesus, AJ, what’s wrong? You’re white as a sheet.” “I thought…” She crossed her arms to try to stop her hands from shaking. He let out a sigh. “You thought I left.” All she could do was nod in answer. She wasn’t ready for this. No matter how many times they explained the plan and went over the details last night, she wasn’t prepared. She didn’t want him to leave. She just found him. He’d already almost died twice, first from a bullet wound and then from an infection. “Come here.” Nick wrapped his arms around her. His embrace was so warming. His larger body towered over hers and surrounded her. This is when she felt the safest, like nothing could go wrong. “I’m sorry. I am.” She looked up at him, wondering if there was any way she could make him understand. “I’m just scared. I just lost my dad. I’m not ready to lose you yet.” He dropped his forehead against hers. “Yet, huh? You got a calendar date on how long it will be when you’ll finally be tired of me?”

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She gave him a half-hearted smile. “You know what I mean.” “I know. I also know that everything is going to be okay. We have to do this. It has to be settled once and for all. With Broderick being out now, he could come after us at any time. If we don’t take action we could be running and looking over our shoulder at every turn. This guy’s a bad dude. He didn’t bat an eyelash when he risked his own men’s lives all those years ago, yet he blames those he betrayed. We have to do this.” She listened to his words. She also knew everything he said was true. It was just the thought that something might happen to him that shook her to her core. “I know you do.” She curled herself back into his embrace, snuggling against his chest. “But if you get yourself hurt, I swear I’ll...” “Oh threatening me, huh? You’ll what?” “I’ll be heartbroken.” She blinked and felt a tear fall and land on his chest. “Hey now…no tears. I already told you last night that I was going to be fine. I’ve been doing this kind of thing for twenty years. This is a walk in the park.” A walk in the park. Sure. She knew he was trying to say all the right things to reassure her, but she couldn’t help but worry. Until this was over she wouldn’t feel safe. Not just for herself, but for him. **** An hour later they all said their good-byes. Shelby locked the door after the men headed up the stairs. Their instructions were to remain in that basement and not even think of leaving unless it was with one of them. If something went wrong, they were to trust no one. Only the four men. All four of them looked at one another, none of them sure of what to say. They were all worried in their own way. Tamara had her son to

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think about as well. In that moment no differences separated them. They were connected by his horrible situation they had been thrown into by a mad man who was seeking vengeance against those who he’d already wronged once. The world was turning insane. She just hoped and prayed that somewhere amidst the craziness of it all she would be able to find her happily ever after. What she wished for even more was that she got to have that dream with Nick.

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Chapter 32 Nick gave a firm tug on the translucent wire, making sure there was no slack. When he was confident it was snug he wrapped it around the bolt they’d screwed into the floor joist. Then he attached the remaining length to the trigger of the rifle. It was an old-style booby trap but one that had never failed him. Jack had already unlocked the front door and made it accessible for Adam to enter. If these mercenaries were as good as he remembered they wouldn’t come traipsing in the front door with guns blazing. They would use the back entrance to try and surprise their intended targets. Nick and Jack both had two flash bang explosives in their vests. The tiny bombs would trigger a loud popping sound along with a blinding light to anyone in their vicinity. The entire house was dark anyway, which would give them added effect. By the time Rex arrived they had already hidden several small hand guns around the various rooms should any of them become disarmed or run into any problems. The first rule in these types of situations was to be prepared for anything. Expecting the unexpected was something instilled in them in all of their training. The Navy SEAL motto, The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday was not a keen play on words but an actual fact. Today and tomorrow always brought new challenges, things they wouldn’t be able to anticipate. All they could do was prepare for every possibility and hope they were able to adapt and overcome. Jack finished loading the AK-47s they’d obtained from their friendly neighborhood gun runner, Mr. Johnson. While Nick and Rex

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checked and rechecked their Steyr 9mms to make sure they weren’t jamming up, Jack made a final check of the basement door. Between the four of them they had four AK-47s, five hand guns, four flash bangs, and a rifle. They were ready to defend themselves and take these guys down, but the girls weren’t trained for this. None of them said it aloud, but aside from saving their collective asses and putting that prick Broderick back in jail where he belonged, their main focus was protecting those women downstairs. They were good to go and everything was set. All they could do now was wait for Adam to lure the flies into the web. The ambush they’d prepared was their only chance to end this because if this didn’t work, that would mean the mercenaries hired to kill them succeeded. That simply wasn’t an option. **** When Adam arrived at the hotel he parked, ignoring the noparking sign. He kept his sunglasses on and made cursory glances around the lobby while he waited for the front-desk clerk to finish his paperwork. He did his best to hurry the process along, urging the clerk by saying he was in a hurry to catch a flight. In a matter of minutes he’d checked them out of all three rooms and had everything charged to his credit card. On the off chance he wasn’t being watched but his accounts were he wanted to leave a trail for the pricks to follow. Now on the road for the last ten minutes he continually checked his rearview and side mirrors for signs he was being followed. No one stood out to him when he was at the hotel. Everyone seemed to be focused on their own newspapers or conversations. When he returned to the SUV he saw nothing suspicious in the parking lot either. The fact that he could find no signs of being watched or followed didn’t sit well with him. He found it hard to believe that they weren’t lying in wait for him. These mercenary types only got their payment for

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services rendered after the job was done. He imagined the price on their head was pretty steep. It made too much sense for them to be waiting for him. So why didn’t he see anybody? There was always the possibility that he was out of practice. That his years off the teams had made his awareness skill rusty, but he dismissed that theory. The training he received wasn’t the kind you just forgot. What worried him was that maybe these guys were so good that even luring them to a trap would be tricky. He reached for the phone to check in with the others. Before he could dial the car behind him switched lanes, revealing an innocuous sedan with four men in it. They were all wearing long-sleeved black shirts and knit caps on their head, the same types that could be pulled quickly over someone’s face to disguise their identity. It reminded him of the ones they wore in the teams. He glanced at the thermostat on the dashboard. It was ninety-three degrees, and his short time outside told him there was no breeze. Not exactly the type of weather one would wear knit caps and longsleeved shirts in. Even he was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. He would be the only one not wearing a Kevlar vest and appropriate cargo pants to store ammunition. As it was he was the only one who wouldn’t be prepared for battle. He had a Steyr 9mm next to him on the seat, but if he was somehow ambushed and all four of them came at him with any sort of heavy artillery he was only one man and could only fire so many rounds before they’d be able to pelt him with bullets. This was of course a part of the plan he left out when he spoke with Chelsea. As it was she was worried enough. The last thing he wanted her to know was all the different ways that things could go wrong. Last night when they were in that room, all he could do was show her with his body that everything would be all right and he’d return to her. He was never good with words. Finding Chelsea had saved him, and every day was a struggle for him to be normal. He was rough around the edges and didn’t know how to be soft and gentle. It still

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amazed him she found the daily patience to deal with him and his moods. He knew he was damn lucky that she did. When words escaped him, he showed her in different ways. It may not be the perfect way, but it was his way and a way she accepted. His phone rang and deterred him from his thoughts. “Yeah?” “You got ’em?” Jack asked. “Affirmative. Looks to be four of them. They’re trailing me in a black sedan. They’re already suited up and ready to take us out. My guess is they’ve got a stockpile of weapons in the truck as well as ones at the ready. Not sure where they were, but I only just spotted them.” “Nick says the ones that came after him and Tom looked to be South American.” “Copy that. These are the guys then. Definitely South American, probably rebels who were recruited because of their skill.” “Their skill? What aren’t you saying?” he asked further. “These guys looked to be suited up for a mission. Mercenaries or not, these guys are trained. I know that. They’re not going in unprepared. They’re suited up and mission ready. Whoever Broderick hired, he paid top dollar to do it.” “We’ll be ready. Everything is set. What’s your ETA?” “Another ten minutes tops. You guys sure you’re ready? I don’t know why, but I have a bad feeling about this. These guys are professionals, went undetected by me at the hotel and for most of my drive. When I get there, we may barely have only a few seconds before all hell breaks loose.” “We’re ready, Adam. We got this. We’ve seen worse shit than four mercenaries on a kill mission,” Jack assured him. “Yeah. I know. I’ll be fine, just got to get my head straight. I was thinking about Chelsea. I promised her this would work.” It was strange that he was able to admit to Jack what he was feeling. He normally didn’t even admit those kinds of things to

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himself. Nothing he was saying was untrue. He made Chelsea a promise. Breaking that promise to her was not an option. “Then get your ass back here. Hightail your ass in this house and be ready with your Steyr. I’ll have an AK-47 waiting for you and ready to take aim with when you run in. We got this. No way in hell is that fuck Broderick going to win.” “Copy that, brother. See you in ten.” He ended the call and switched lanes to take the exit off the highway. “Stay in the basement, baby. Stay safe. It will all be over soon.” He spoke aloud even though no one was there to hear him. He looked at his wedding ring. It was gleaming at him in the sunlight, a reminder that he had so much to live for. Turning up the windy Hollywood Hills road, he knew he’d be at the house in less than five minutes. In a matter of minutes they’d either end a nightmare or his wife would be forced to face a new one. His death. Glancing at the men in the rearview mirror, he muttered, “Come and get me assholes.”

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Chapter 33 Nick was ducked down low behind the kitchen counter. His side burned from the position he was in. He hadn’t been exactly honest with AJ the night before. His side was killing him, and he felt the effects of a fever taking shape. He hadn’t exactly been kind to his recovering wound, and it was starting to fight back. When this was all over with he was going to have to hit the ER for a quick shot of penicillin and get checked out. He didn’t come this far to die from infection. Jack was hunkered down behind a chair in the living room, his head covered by an old and dirty afghan, while Rex was hiding in the closet just by the front door. There had been silence among them for the past two minutes. They knew at any moment Adam would return and it was time to do the tango takedown. He breathed in deep when a sharp shooting pain shot through his side. The sound of tires on gravel redirected his focus. Adam was back and it was go time. Adam flew through the front door and slammed it shut. Jack tossed him the AK-47 that was loaded and ready to go as Adam raced through the living room to take position on the other side of the wall that separated the kitchen from the living room. “We’ve got sixty seconds at the most. They’re coming in hot. They picked up their pace the last couple miles. Didn’t even try to hide the fact they were following me. They’re hungry for this.” Adam barely finished talking when the front door flew open. Nick didn’t hesitate. He took the flash bang out of his pocket and threw it by the front door. The others knew it was coming the second someone set foot inside the house so they all covered their eyes and

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turned away. The loud bang and blinding light did its job. The man who was foolish enough to come in first fell backward onto the front porch. Panicked voices shouted from outside in broken English. From the three men left standing and conscious it seemed mercenary number one thought glory would be his behind door number one and went in thinking he’d find his targets sitting on the couch watching a football game. After several shouts and the sound of car doors slamming the outside went silent. Number one was still unconscious on the porch, but he didn’t expect that to last long. Nor did he anticipate the guy would just wake up and give them warning. They had to be prepared for the possibility that he was playing possum. A small creak sounded from one of the back bedrooms. Jack had the clearest vantage point out of all them from where he sat. The hallway that led to those bedrooms was directly in his line of sight. He peeked around the top of the counter and couldn’t even see Jack, but a centimeter of the barrel of his AK poked through one of the afghan’s holes. A second sound came from the bathroom off the kitchen. If someone came out of that room Adam would be a sitting duck. He made eye contact with Adam to make sure he heard it, too. His nod told him that he was aware and ready to take aim. They all stayed in their positions, so quiet that he couldn’t even hear their breathing. He wiped his brow. No longer did he feel the onset of a fever. It was there. His hands were a bit unsteady, and he felt his clothes being soaked by his perspiration. This wasn’t the time to become weak and have a shaky trigger finger. Not when his brothers’ lives depended on it. He steeled his nerves and remembered all those years of training, everything he ever learned in BUD/S about mind over matter. Another stabbing pain shot through his side, and he grit his teeth against the pain of it.

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Another creek sounded from the back bedroom. Whoever it was, he was doing his best to be silent, but the old house proved to be too telling for such maneuvers. POP. POP. POP. Three bullets shot from Jack’s AK through the hole of the blanket he laid under. A loud thud followed a second later. He figured the men would be wearing Kevlar vests to protect themselves, but knowing Jack he hadn’t aimed for their chest. The other three would have to assume the guy was dead, but only Jack knew the answer. They couldn’t talk to one another and give away their locations. There were still three to contend with. Even though one of them was unconscious, he was still just as much a threat as the rest of them. Another blinding pain rocketed through his side. He repositioned himself, but it did nothing to alleviate it. Looking up, he prayed that God not fail him now. Not after all he’d been through. He needed strength to get through this. He couldn’t leave his brothers to fight alone while he passed out. Another sound came from the bathroom. This time it was distinguishable. Someone must have been trying to climb through the window without alerting them of their presence. He had to shake his head. It was disappointing that these guys underestimated them. Even though three of them were out, they were after all Navy SEALs, not exactly morons when it came to infiltration. The door handle turned. He was only a couple feet from the bathroom. He motioned to Adam to take cover. This was going to have to be his shot. He was in the best position, and if he waited for Adam to take it, it may be too late. The door opened an inch, but he saw no one. Then slowly it opened more. Finally he caught sight of the man’s leg. He must have been peeking from a different vantage point to the kitchen, but if there was one thing Nick knew about guns and bullets, they were no friends to the knee cap. He took his Steyr 9mm out of his vest and took aim.

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His hands were shaky. He bit back against the pain and fever and squeezed the trigger. Thank God, he thought to himself. His training won the battle with his physical state. A scream sounded from the man. He dropped his gun and went down on the floor as the door swung open. Adam gave him a look of concern. He obviously didn’t miss Nick’s relief that he actually made the shot. He motioned for him to get down, and he fired at the man. POP. POP. POP. POP. Adam fired four rounds and placed his gun back at the ready toward the front door but not before giving Nick the affirmative head nod that the guy was no longer a threat. Two were down, and two remained. Again they sat in silence. Several minutes passed with no sounds. Nick’s head was starting to pound. His fever was worse, his hands were more unsteady than steady, and he felt like his body was having an internal debate between whether or not to puke or pass out. He shook his head and blinked his eyes several times, willing the pain away so he could go on. They all held their positions. First minutes passed, but that quickly turned into an hour. None of them moved as they kept vigil. They knew the other one was still out there and no way in hell were they buying that the guy who lay lifeless on the front porch was not a threat. Every moment he laid there still brought them one minute closer to him jumping to attention and firing. He jerked his head toward Adam in surprise when he heard the familiar sound of gravel being spit up by tires. They both waited to see if it would pass. Instead, as they expected, it slowed to a stop. The one guy who remained had obviously called for reinforcements. Now they had a problem. They had no idea how many of them were out there. The odds were in their favor before, knowing who and what they were dealing with. Now this ambush that was set up for the enemy could very well turn against them. And fast.

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Another sharp pain shot in his side so fierce that he curled over in pain. He kept silent but wasn’t able to hide it from Adam this time. His brother gave him a look of more than worry. His whole body was starting to shake, not just his hands. Whatever his temperature was, his fever was raging now. His stomach roiled, and dry heaves hit him with full force. Damn it! This isn’t the time for this pussy shit! He chided himself silently. He was a goddamn Navy SEAL. What he needed to do was man the fuck up and complete his mission. His life, the lives of his brothers, depended on it. Suddenly shots rang out. He looked up to see Adam peering out from the wall he used as cover. Plaster was creating dust clouds around Adam’s head as he continued to return fire. Weak and shaking so bad his teeth were shattering, Nick pulled himself up and peeked up above the countertop. The one on the porch was now up and firing at Adam from the outside, taking cover around the long wall that flanked the living-room window. Jack saw the same opportunity he did. He shot up from his afghan camouflage and moved to the window. With the muzzle of his AK he pulled the curtains back. POP. POP. POP. The firing from the mercenary ceased. Jacked looked back toward Nick and gave him the affirmative nod, indicating that tango was down and not coming back. Nick’s condition must have been obvious to the naked eye, because even Jack gave him a look of worry. He jerked his head, telling him to get back in position. He didn’t want them worrying about him. They had more important things to worry about. POP. Nick watched as Jack went down. He’d barely moved from the window where he took down the one on the porch. His stillness was an obvious mistake. He was not only down. He was not moving. A trickle of blood came from his right side. Adam was about to go in the front room to get him when shots rang out. Plaster was flying all around the front living room. The entire room was filled with a white

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cloud. This time whoever was out there brought out the heavy artillery. They were spraying the house with bullets. He prayed that the room downstairs was truly sound and bulletproof. The image of AJ flashed before his mind until he heard Adam shout his name, shaking him from his thoughts. Adam was motioning for him to give him cover. He was going in to get Jack. Pushing up with all his strength, he placed the muzzle of his AK on the countertop. He sprayed bullets high. Adam stayed low to the ground as he went in to get Jack. He was checking his vitals when he got hit. He watched in horror as Adam’s body flew back and lay there lifeless. Nauseated and shaking so his vision was actually blurring from it, he knew he had to rein in every amount of willpower he had. Whatever strength remained, he had to press on. He could not die now. A loud crash sounded from the front room. He peered above his Formica shield and saw Rex. The closet door he was hidden behind was off its hinges, and he made way for the front porch. He watched in a somewhat dazed dream state as Rex began firing at will upon whoever was outside. He took cover behind the front-room wall once or twice, but the more he fired the less was coming back at him. Nick steeled himself against the nausea, pain, and fever. He braced himself to stand up. What the hell good was he if he couldn’t even stand long enough to fire his damn gun? Pushing up with everything that he had he brought himself to a standing position. The room spun, and the pounding in his head finally caught up and matched the pain in his side. His stomach churned, and he reached for the countertop, but it was too late. ****

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“You always were a pain in the ass, Metcalf. What the fuck was it with you two anyway? Whatever Peyton wanted you did. Were you two special friends or what?” Nick blinked his eyes several times, trying to right his vision. The voice that was shouting was one he didn’t recognize. The sound of gun shots no longer filled the air like they did before he’d passed out. “Fuck you!” That voice he recognized. It was Rex. Suddenly he remembered that Adam and Jack had been hit. He turned to get see if he could get up, and a stench filled his nostrils. Taking a better look in the dark room, he saw a puddle of vomit. His he presumed. WHAP. “You forget who’s in charge here, boy!” He winced at the sound of Rex being struck with what sounded like the barrel of a gun. Pushing against the floor, he tried to force himself into a sitting position. Never could he remember being this weak before. Actually his memory failed him. This was how he felt when he suffered from infection back at the beach bungalow. It was no use denying it. He was in bad shape, and his body was probably suffering from sepsis. “In charge? Shit, you haven’t been in charge since they 86ed your ass out of the navy. You’re a worthless piece of shit who has no idea what honor on and off the battlefield even means.” Commander Broderick. That’s who that other voice belonged to. He couldn’t believe the asshole actually came to do his dirty work. Nick listened to Rex antagonize him even though it sounded like Broderick was getting the better of him. “Should I be a weak and sorry piece of shit like you? You left the SEALs to look after your buddy after he couldn’t deal with the guilt of losing those two Nightstalkers on that mission.” “You mean the mission that never should have happened? You mean the fucking mission you sent us on and set us up?” Rex was shouting now.

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“Oh please, spare me your dramatics. You win some missions, you lose some. What’s the first thing they tell you when you make it through BUD/S? That many of you won’t make it to see your thirtieth birthday.” Broderick’s arrogance and flippant attitude over his teammates’ lives pissed Nick off. “Yeah when they’re killed in action. Not when they’re killed on a mission which takes place on ground we were never supposed to set foot on in the first place. Not on a mission that our commanding officer told us was an approved necessary action when in fact it was just a bullshit move made by someone trying to get promoted to rear admiral at the cost of people’s lives!” WHAP. WHAP. Nick gritted his teeth against the pain and pushed himself to a standing position when he heard the hard blow of metal hitting against bone and Rex spitting what he presumed was blood onto the floor. He held his jaw tightly closed for fear his teeth chattering would give him away. His movements were sluggish, and he felt as though the room was literally spinning. Blinking his eyes rapidly, he tried to control his vision. If he could just place himself a few feet away from Broderick and brace his weight against the wall, he could get a clean shot off. Rex caught sight of him and kept talking. He presumed so Broderick didn’t catch on to the fact that he was in the backdrop. Nick took aim with his Steyr. His hand was shaking violently. There was no way he could take the shot like this. One of three things would happen. He’d either hit Broderick, miss, or hit Rex. The last two were not an option. “You know what, Metcalf, I’m done with you. Fuck you and the horse you rode in on. You and your buddies ruined my career, and I had to do time because of your asses. So fuck you!”

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Nick watched as he leveled his gun at Rex, whose hands were tied to the back of the chair he was in. He was helpless, and this was his only chance to get him and all of them out of this. Steadying his arm with a firm grip by his other hand, holding it from underneath, he took aim. Please, God, don’t fail me now. He prayed to himself and the man upstairs as he focused his sights only on Broderick zeroing in. Then he squeezed the trigger. Time stood still. He waited for the asshole to turn and return fire, but everything started to happen, or rather not happen, in ultra slow motion. He looked at Rex, squinting his eyes trying to see if he’d hit him. Finally Broderick fell to the ground. His eyes were frozen, and a hole in his cheek told Nick he’d killed him instantly with a through and through. “Shit, man, where the fuck have you been? I thought he got you before I came out of the closet.” Nick ignored his question and stumbled to the front room. “Jesus, are you all right? You are hit, aren’t you? Untie me so I can get the medics.” He wanted to answer him, but he was using all the strength he had just to cut through the ropes. “Careful. That’s my arm, not the tape.” Nick’s head was pounding like the clash of the titans was actually taking place inside his brain. Nausea was filling his entire being, and he tried to contain it when he felt a slicing pain rocket through his side again. He wasn’t going to make it. The sepsis had taken over his body. After everything he’d survived in his life, in the past week, he was going fast. He fell to the floor, keeling over in pain. All he could think of was AJ. His vision was cloudy, and everything seemed to be happening around him like it was a dream. He heard a loud echo. It was Rex. He had the phone to his ear and was calling for help as he hovered over Jack and Adam, as he told the person on the other end that he had three critically wounded.

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Thank God. They were both alive. They had so much to live for. AJ. His sweet, beautiful, angelic Alyssa Jo. A week ago she’d come into his life. A week ago her father had saved him. Days ago he died. Days ago he fell in love with her. So much had happened in such a short time. God, he’d wanted a life with her. He felt his body giving into the infection as he started to drift off. Grabbing onto Rex’s pants leg, he struggled to get out the words through the pain. “Tell AJ…I…lo…”

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Chapter 34 AJ fidgeted in the chair she’d been sitting in the last several hours. Tamara and Shelby had tried to keep the conversation going, but she and Chelsea were not very interested in idle chat. It was obvious they meant well, but the waiting was driving her insane with worry. Despite the soundproof of the basement, they were able to make out faint sounds that they knew were gunfire. A loud clanking sound echoed in their small underground apartment, and all three women stood up and stared at the door across the room. AJ was filled with anxiety over what would happen once that door opened. Was Nick all right? Were they all all right? Was the nightmare finally over? So many questions raced through her head. The door opened, and Rex appeared. “It’s over. No time to explain, get upstairs, paramedics are on their way.” He disappeared as quickly as he’d blurted out the words. All of the women raced toward the stairs. AJ felt a twinge of fear that Nick hadn’t come down to let them out with him. In mere seconds they were all upstairs and running through the kitchen to get to the living room where Rex was. “Oh, God!” Tamara was the first to enter and was kneeling beside Jack. “Are you okay?” Chelsea was next to race to Adam’s side. “I’m here with you.” She took his hand in hers. Both men were awake but seemed to be weak. She didn’t see Nick anywhere and frantically looked around the room. There was a body of a man she didn’t recognize with a bullet wound to his face.

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Another man’s feet showed themselves by the front door, but nowhere did she see Nick. She turned when she heard Rex shouting at Shelby to run to the basement to get ice. She was horrified by what she saw. Nick lay there on the dirty sofa in the far corner of the room. His face was white as a sheet. Even though his eyes were closed and appeared to be unconscious he was shaking violently and sweating. “Nick!” She ran to him and touched his face, quickly pulling her hand away when she felt how hot he was. “What’s wrong with him?” She turned to Rex. “He’s burning up!” “Septic shock.” “Oh God.” She turned her attention back to Nick and kissed his forehead. Tears stung her eyes when the heat of his skin felt like fire on her lips. “How bad is it?” she asked, not entirely sure she could handle the answer. Even when his wound became infected at the bungalow he hadn’t looked this bad. “I’m not going to lie to you, AJ. He’s in bad shape. He wasn’t fit for running this operation with us. Had I known, he would’ve been in an ER, to hell with the consequences.” His last sentence knocked her in the gut. She should have insisted he let her tend to her wound or at least look at it. If she had, then maybe she would have known. If she had, then maybe she could have gotten him to the hospital. If she had…Damn it, AJ! What ifs didn’t do Nick a damn bit of good now. She chided herself silently. “He’ll be okay though.” She waited for Rex to assure her, but he just gave her a sympathetic stare. “He will be okay, right? Rex, please. Tell me he’s going to be okay!” Her words came out pleading with desperation. He placed his hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry, AJ. I don’t know if he is.” “No…” She looked back at Nick and held his hand. “He promised me.” She looked back up at Rex. “He did. He promised!”

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Shelby ran back in the room with a bucket full of ice and handed it to Rex. He dug his hand in the bucket and started taking two and three ice cubes at a time and placing them on various parts of Nick’s body. She prayed the effort would cool him. His fever seemed dangerously high. She kissed his hand and told him she was there. Over and over again she talked to him. Sirens sounded in the distance, but she refused to leave Nick’s side. Rex was shouting something at her, but she couldn’t take her attention off of Nick for a second. She’d let him down by not insisting he take better care of his wound. “AJ, listen!” Rex shouted from behind her. She turned to see all three of the women staring at him and attentive. “All right, listen… Here’s how this is going to go down. We have a shit load of dead bodies here and three critical. I’ve already called NCIS, but there’s a chance they won’t get here before the police do. They can and will detain all of us after they transport the three of them to the closest hospital.” “I’m not leaving, Nick,” she blurted out. “There is no time to argue about this, AJ. If the authorities say you’re staying, then you’re staying. As soon as NCIS gets here, we can get to the hospital. They’ll ride with us. We’ll technically be under their custody, but they won’t let us be detained here, not with these three being in surgery.” She tried not to worry at the thought of Nick being put under for surgery when he was already so weak, so she focused her attention back to what Rex was telling them. “The important thing to remember is,” Rex continued, “tell them anything they want to know. And I mean anything. That means local authorities or NCIS. We did nothing wrong, so whatever they want to know, give it to them. Is that clear?” All of them nodded just as the first two paramedics came in the door. “Jesus, what the hell happened here?” “No time. He’s the worst.” Rex pointed to Nick.

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The paramedics shooed her out of the way as Shelby put a comforting arm around her. Her heart skipped at least three beats when she heard one of them say his fever was 104.7 degrees. She knew how dangerous fevers could be when they reached that high. If the person survived his infection, brain damage was a real possibility. The second and third teams of paramedics showed up at the same time. All she could do was rub her arms over and over again. Despite the heat from outside she felt a chill. Tamara and Chelsea were talking to Jack and Adam, who were now being placed on gurneys. Both of them were awake, but according to the medics working on them, they’d lost a lot of blood and needed to get to surgery to remove the bullets and repair the damage. Several sirens were now filling the distant air. She knew it was the police, and she prayed the naval investigators Rex called would get their soon. The thought of Nick going off to the hospital without her sent a terror through her. She didn’t want to leave him. “Rex, are you sure you’re okay?” Shelby asked her husband, even though she hadn’t left her side. It was then for the first time since leaving the basement that she had finally gotten a good look at him. His face was badly bruised, and blood seemed to be dried from where it poured from his mouth, and a fresh trail still appeared to be trickling from a head wound. “I’m fine. The prick knocked me around a little, but Nick took him out before he had the chance to do any real damage.” Nick. God, she loved him. In the crazy way things had unfolded over the past week she fell in love with him and now…now she may never get the chance to tell him. Two officers came in the room with their weapons drawn. “Everybody get your hands up.” Rex lifted his hands and told the ladies to follow his lead. “Now get up against that wall.” Maybe it was just her, but to AJ these two cops looked scared out of their minds, like it was their first scene with dead bodies.

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“We’ll take it from here, boys. At ease, folks.” She turned to see Rex shaking hands with someone who wore a baseball cap with a navy insignia on it. She breathed a sigh of relief as she heard Rex explaining things to two investigators who’d arrived on the scene. The paramedics were placing Nick on a gurney. His IV was in, and they’d just finished giving him a round of penicillin. Both things were good for a man in his condition. She knew this, but the look on the medics’ faces wasn’t encouraging. “I’m going with him,” she informed them and waited while the two men treating him seemed to look to the naval investigators for confirmation that was all right. Once they nodded, no time was wasted as they made their way out to the ambulance. Tamara and Chelsea were close behind, hopping into the backs of the ambulances that held their husbands. She could see Rex and Shelby talking to the investigators as they drove away. It was then that she got her first look at the carnage that lay out on the once front lawn of the property. She saw four bodies, bodies that were covered in blood and two of them whose eyes were locked in the final moments of their life. “Your husband?” one of the paramedics asked her. She almost answered no when she realized if she answered truthfully they might not let her in his room or give her any information of his condition. “Yes.” “We’re going to do everything we can, ma’am. We’ll be at the hospital in five minutes. He’s hanging on. He’s stronger than most I’ve seen in his condition.” She wanted to thank him for his words of encouragement, but words escaped her. Instead she gave him a half smile and took Nick’s hand in hers. Kissing his palm softly she placed his hand on her cheek and allowed her tears to fall. Whispering, she reminded him, “You promised me. You swore to me you would be okay. Please, Nick…come back to me.”

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Chapter 35 AJ paced the waiting room anxiously. Despite the naval investigators allowing her to come to the hospital she’d only been allowed to spend a short time with Nick in the emergency room while the doctors and nurses scattered about him frantically attaching electrodes to his body, leading wires to large medical equipment that beeped in unison with one another, telling her he was alive. It felt like such a small victory when she knew how bad his infection had become. She’d overheard one of the nurses telling another that whoever was to supposed to be tending his wound had shirked his responsibility. AJ had cringed with unexplainable horror when the nurse further told the other that it was as if Nick’s caregiver should be ashamed of himself for nearly causing the death of a Navy SEAL. She knew they were right. He was a hero. Someone who volunteered to serve their country and spent years doing just that and her actions, or inactions, had nearly cost him his life. It had been two hours since she was pulled from the ER with the gut-wrenching guilt that overwhelmed her. She was watching a nurse inject his IV with medication when the investigators approached her, explaining they needed a few minutes of her time to fill in the blanks. A few minutes. She held in a bitter laugh that wanted to come out in frustration. They’d taken her to a small conference room on the opposite end of the hospital for that short talk. They sat her down and offered her a cup of coffee, but all she wanted was to get the questions over with so she could return to Nick. At first she’d been patient with their questions. Explaining to them in great deal, and with complete honesty as Rex had made her promise,

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she explained how she had first met, or rather come across, Nick Slater. She went on to explain the following days. Pain wracked her already frazzled nerves as she recalled the day her father’s body finally gave in and succumbed to the cancer. Once she finally had gone over everything with them she was relieved to have it out and anxious to get back to Nick, only they asked her to sit back down when she started to stand. Apparently, according to the shorter of the two men, she hadn’t sufficiently explained how she and her father had managed to convince the Department of Defense that one of their elite members of Naval Special Warfare was dead by simply placing his wallet in the pants of a man whose face had been shot beyond recognition. It seemed unbelievable to her, too, but she couldn’t speak for the Department of Defense anymore than she could speak to Nick’s condition, which at the time was driving her insane with worry. She’d begged them to allow her to leave to check on him, but they’d expressed the importance of going through all the details then. So she did. Again. And again. She went over the details so many times she was sure that she would be able to recite it in her sleep. Her patience began to wear thin, and her answers became shorter and more irritated with each passing minute. She cared little that they were the official investigators of the U.S. Navy. All she cared about was that Nick was barely hanging on somewhere and she wasn’t with him. After the third time they’d ask her to explain things from the beginning she stood up defiantly and placed her palm up to them, motioning for them to stop before they even tried to object. She gave them both a verbal tongue-lashing unlike any she had ever delivered before. She placed her hands on the table and stared at them and leveled a glare back and forth to each of them as she told them exactly what she thought of their incessant questioning when the man she loved was

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fighting for his life, after she’d just explained to them that her father died just days before, when it was their navy that allowed the son of a bitch who caused all of this out early for supposed good behavior. She threw her head back and laughed at them sarcastically as she explained the irony of that one. Halfway through her rant she gave the pushier of the two a steely glare as he started to interrupt her. Surprising both himself and her, he closed his mouth before finishing his sentence. Feeling powerful and in charge, she stood up tall and crossed her arms and looked down at them both and delivered what would be her final statement of the two hour interrogation. “Now, I’m going to go back to the ER and check on Nick. If you have a problem with that, that’s too goddamn bad because I don’t care. I care about one thing and only one thing. Being there for Nick. I’ve been by his side since the moment he washed up on his shore. No one has kept me from him, and I’ll be damned if you’re going to change that now.” With that she’d walked, no stormed, away from them with her head held high. Who the hell were they to tell her she couldn’t sit with him? She’d done absolutely nothing wrong. They could arrest her if she was breaking some stupid law, but she needed to be with Nick. There was no alternative. When she finally returned to the emergency room and found his bed empty and his name wiped off of the white board on the wall, her stomach sank. He couldn’t be… He was strong. He’d promised her. He… The internal argument played in her head until she felt a hand touch her shoulder. She swung her head around to see Shelby standing there. Understanding and compassion filled Shelby’s eyes as they looked back at her.

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“Nick…he’s…” She stopped herself from finishing the sentence that she’d almost said aloud, not wanting it to be real, as if saying it would make it so. “Fine. He’s fine, AJ,” Shelby assured her. The heavy weight that had lain on her heart just a minute before suddenly lifted off, relieving her chest and allowing air to move freely in and out of her lungs again. “Where is he then?” Rex came up behind his wife and answered the question for her. “They’ve given him some heavy doses of antibiotics, cleaned the wound, and given him something for the pain. He’s upstairs on three now in a room. Resting.” “He’s resting? Oh God. Did he wake up?” Shelby took her hand in hers. “For a moment, yes. You were the first thing he asked about when he did.” “I should have been here. I was there every time he woke up before.” “Relax.” Rex stopped her. “We told him where you were and that you were fine. That seemed to be all he needed to hear. He fell under the narcotic they gave him seconds afterward.” Relief washed over her. He was okay. He was getting the medicine he needed so he would stay that way. He was no longer in pain. Thank God, she silently gave gratitude for the knowledge that he would be okay. The feeling that made her feel so light and grateful left as soon as it arrived. Guilt overcame her. Jack. Adam. Oh, God. Tamara and Chelsea. She had been so heartsick over Nick she’d completely forgotten that two men had taken bullets. Their wives had sat by their side as she had Nick. How self-absorbed could she be, that she’d so callously forgotten of the worry and fear they were facing? “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I haven’t asked…”

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She closed her eyes for a moment and shook her head, angry with herself for forgetting that the two people standing before her to reassure her had two friends whose lives were just as precious to them as Nick’s, maybe more so, and all she could think of was herself. “Are they okay? Adam and Jack?” A silent prayer whispered inside her head. Please let them be all right. Please don’t let Chelsea lose her husband. Please, God, don’t let Tamara and their little boy lose Jack. Shelby sighed and turned toward Rex, not answering her and seeming to look to her husband for guidance. She watched curiously as the two of them almost spoke to one another with their eyes, no words needed to be exchanged for them to communicate. “Adam is out of surgery. His wound was a through and through and didn’t hit anything major. He’s in recovery, and they say he’s going to be fine.” Rex answered for his wife. Clearly he was the stronger of the two. It was no surprise, she thought. He seemed to tower over her, his size making him seem a giant next to the small frame of his wife. Worry etched both of their faces, and she was afraid to ask. Nick and she had talked the entire plane ride back to the states. He’d told her all about his family, teammates, Tom Drake—the one who had been killed—and his friends. She knew from the stories he’d told that Rex and Jack were like brothers. Not in the brotherhood of being in the teams together but actual brothers. They were best friends and had an unshakable bond. She held her stomach as it knotted in fear, hoping and praying that all this hadn’t caused the death of Jack, making his wife a widow, his child fatherless. Please, God, do not take him from his family. “And Jack?” She swallowed the nervous lump building in her throat, knowing full well any worry she had didn’t compare in the slightest to what they must be feeling. “He’s…”

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Rex stopped talking, his expression frozen as he looked beyond the hallway to something that caught his eye in the distance. She and Shelby both turned and looked in the direction where his eyes were locked. Tamara was coming near them, slowly, like she was exhausted. Her expression was haunting. Her once bright and vibrant eyes looked dull and pained. AJ knew Tamara and Shelby had been best friends for years, but it was Rex who walked toward her first. After a couple steps Tamara flung into his arms. Loud sobs filled the emergency room as onlookers curious to see what all the fuss was about peeked from behind curtains. “Tamara?” Shelby approached her best friend and husband but stopped when Rex held up a hand to stop her from coming closer. “Tam…sweetie, I need you to tell me what’s wrong.” AJ didn’t miss the calm tone of his voice. It was soothing, meant to comfort the sobbing woman in his arms, but the sheer horror in his eyes betrayed the obvious fear he felt. “The bullet…I can’t…” AJ’s heart ached for the woman who was crying so uncontrollably she could barely compose herself for longer than a couple of syllables. With every word she spoke it was as if some invisible force was literally shaking the gut-wrenching sobs from her body. “Shh…I know. I know…Jesus, do I know. But listen to me. I need you to tell me.” Wanting to make herself useful and return the same comfort Shelby had showed her, AJ put an arm around Shelby and held her close. They were not close. They’d barely just met. It was a gesture, nothing more, nothing less. A gesture that Shelby appreciated, or so it seemed, when she gave her a soft smile of thanks. It took Rex a few more gentle and calming words before Tamara composed herself enough to form her strangled words into sentences. Finally she was able to explain to him, to them all, that Jack’s wound was bad.

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He’d been struck in his right kidney. The vest he was wearing was anything but bulletproof. It was a cheap knock off at best, and the bullet sliced through the synthetic material with ease. He’d lost a lot of blood, dangerously too much. Even though he’d woken up for a short time before leaving the safe house to be transported to the hospital, he hadn’t stayed coherent long. In surgery they’d removed the bullet and his kidney. He had one good one remaining, and the irony of that statement hit her hard. She thought of her father and how the cancer raged through his body faster than radiation and chemotherapy treatments had been able to counteract, wishing that they could’ve been able to just take out the bad parts, the sick parts so that he could be here with her again. She focused her attention back to Tamara and the present, not wanting to dwell on the past and what ifs. According to what the surgeon had relayed, Tamara’s husband had crashed on the table. He sprung back to life when they gave him the paddles and didn’t give up after that. The rest of his surgery went routinely. Or as routinely has a bullet and kidney extraction could go. Jack would be all right, barring any unforeseen complications. His recovery time would be several weeks as his body adjusted to having a hole where a once-functioning organ was stashed away for safekeeping should he ever need a spare or to lend one to a friend. “So everyone is all right then?” AJ covered her mouth, surprised at herself for saying it aloud. She quickly tried to cover for her ridiculous statement, not even knowing if she’d meant it in the form of a reassuring question or statement. “What I mean is…” “What you mean is, is that it’s a miracle everyone made it out of this alive,” Shelby answered for her. AJ looked to her side and knew that Shelby sensed her unease. She smiled at the woman who seemed so much braver and stronger than she was.

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Did that come over time, she wondered? Did being around these men who were larger than life somehow instill into them a sense of bravado themselves? Did their relationships come with a user’s manual? A guide that told them how to act, how to behave and more importantly, how to endure the intensity that their lives held? “There you are. I’d wondered what happened to you.” A nurse approached AJ, obviously clueless of the seriousness of the moment. She was nearly scared for a moment. Her nerves became heightened, and fear clawed at her, wondering if something had gone wrong and Nick was in fact not resting. The nurse’s soft smile reassured her quickly. “Commander Slater is in Room 312. He’ll be out for a little while, but I didn’t want you to come back and see his empty room and worry.” The kind woman patted her hand and left as quickly as she’d appeared. Worry? Her? Talk about an understatement. She’d been out of her mind with panic and anxiety. She took a deep sigh and enjoyed the moment of peace knowing that she had no reason to fear. He was okay. Nick was going to be fine. She wanted, no needed, to be there when he woke up. The danger was now over, and she wondered if their connection would still be as strong. It hadn’t dawned on her until just then that their chemistry might’ve been sparked by the intensity of the situation they were in. She’d heard of things like that before but couldn’t remember what it was called. A new worry started to nag her at the idea things would be different now that the danger was gone. She knew her feelings had nothing to do with all they’d gone through. He was everything she’d ever wanted without ever knowing she wanted it. Would he feel the same? Would he still want her? Could he even…love her? The unanswered question hung in her mind precariously. There was only one way to find out. She finished speaking with the three of

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them and made her apologies before going off in search of Nick’s room. No matter what happened she would not be sorry. Nick Slater was the best thing that had ever happened to her. She got on the elevator and pressed the button to the third floor. The elevator doors closed, and for the first time in her life she found herself wanting, truly wanting someone. The love she felt for him was strong, overpowering, overwhelming, and all-consuming. It wasn’t planned, it wasn’t expected, but it was there. A smile flashed across her face as her mother’s voice danced in her head. It silently whispered to her, “Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, sweetheart.”

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Chapter 36 Nick opened his eyes to a blinding light that forced him to quickly close them. Slowly he reopened them. The light that once shocked his retinas now was much kinder to him. Looking around the room he saw all the telltale signs of a hospital room. The rhythmic sound of the machine next to his bed told him his vitals must be steady. Confusion set in as he tried to remember what put him here. A peaceful veil seemed to be surrounding him. He felt like he was floating, not so much in the air, but the way he would while lying on his back in the ocean, the gentle waves rocking him as he drifted along the sea. No more than a moment past before he felt a nervous feeling sink in the pit of his stomach. Something was wrong. Not physically. He had no pain, quite the contrary in fact. Yet something seemed to be missing. He closed his eyes while he tried to focus on the feeling of emptiness that was plaguing him. Suddenly and with fear he opened his eyes wide. AJ. Where in God’s name was she? Bits and pieces of tiny memories flashed through his mind all at once. Tom Drake. The ambush. The island. Her father. His death. The safe house. The set up. The fire fight. Oh Jesus. The machine next to him started beating rapidly as his blood pressure rose. No longer did it play a rhythmic tune of calm, but instead now sent a chaotic sound through the room. A moment later a female nurse who reminded him of the typical version of a grandmother who bakes cookies and gigantic Sunday dinners ran into

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the room. She showed first panic and then relief when she saw Nick was awake. “A…” Nick tried to talk. His voice was raspy, and his throat felt like the Sahara Desert. “Calm down there, Commander Slater. Let me get you some ice chips. You must be parched. Sit tight, I’ll be right back. Don’t go scaring me like that again.” The woman was about to leave his bedside when Nick reached out and grabbed her arm. “A…J.” He managed to get the words out despite now having a single droplet of saliva in his mouth. “Is that what has you all in a tizzy? She should be back soon.” She placed a reassuring hand on Nick’s arm and smiled at him. “You know she hasn’t left your side once. This was the first time.” Thank God. She is all right. “There, that’s much better,” she said, indicating how the rapid beating of the machine slowed to a balanced pace again. “I’ll be right back. You need those ice chips or you won’t be able to say a word to that sweet girl.” He watched the nurse as she walked out of his room. She had a kind face. One that you would suspect was always smiling. She wore a tight bun on top of her head, had glasses that sat on the tip of her nose, and soft eyes of compassion. He looked at her and couldn’t help but wonder if he was right about her and she had a dozen grandkids who she spoiled incessantly with sweets and goodies. Any thoughts of the sweet nurse left his mind right quick when he saw AJ in the doorway. “Nick…you’re awake.” She was beside him and taking his hand before she even finished. Taking his hand, she asked him if he was okay, was he hurt, did he have any pain. She riddled off so many questions and spoke so fast he couldn’t even get a word in to answer her.

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Damn she was cute. He watched her mouth as she spoke rapidly and remembered what her plump and gorgeous lips had felt like against his skin. “Shh…” He interrupted her. “Come closer.” His words came out in barely a whisper. She leaned in closer to him. “What’s wrong? Do I need to get the nurse? Is it pain?” “Closer.” He persisted and waited until she leaned farther down toward him. Perfect. Her mouth was finally close enough. He raised his head just enough to press his lips to hers. His breath had to taste like the aroma found in a septic tank. Being a selfish son of a bitch wasn’t normally one of his traits, but at the moment kissing her seemed tons more important than his breath. He felt her lips smile against his, and he opened his eyes. She was a beautiful woman, this was a fact, but being so close he saw something in her eyes that he didn’t like. That spark that always stared back at him so often was dull and fading. There was a faint hint of a dark circle under each eye, and she looked so tired. Lifting his tired and drug-riddled arm, he brushed the backside of his hand against her cheek. “You look so tired. You need your rest, sweetheart. I don’t want you running yourself ragged and getting sick.” He was surprised when she laughed at his statement, but not sorry. Seeing her laugh was like watching angels sing the most beautiful melodies. “What’s so funny?” he asked, not really caring what the answer was, just so glad to see the glint in her eye when her face lit up. “You. I’ve been worried sick about you and you wake up after giving me the biggest scare of my life and you tell me I need to get my rest.”

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The sweet and grandmotherly nurse came back in the room, interrupting them. “Well there she is. Hello, dear, you had this one here in quite a tizzy.” She handed a cup to AJ and reached for his wrist. Staring at her watch she was obviously testing his pulse the old-fashioned way as she stared at her watch. Apparently she didn’t trust the machines, which beeped in sequence with his heartbeat. “Those my ice chips?” She released his wrist and patted his hand while giving him a motherly smile. “Indeed they are, young man. Now, would you talk to this sweet child and tell her that you’re fine? The poor thing hasn’t left your side except to tend to her father, poor thing. She hasn’t even eaten or gotten a wink of sleep in the past twenty-four hours.” Nick looked at AJ with concern as the nurse left the room. “Sweetheart…oh Jesus. Your dad. Please tell me I didn’t miss his funeral.” “No…no. I had to sign for release of his body to the mortuary. Rex and Shelby took me. They’ve both been so very nice to me.” His brothers. He blinked his eyes and shook his head against the fog that lingered around him. He’d forgotten to even ask how everyone was, and pieces of his memory told him Jack and Adam had been shot. “How is everyone? Did we all…” He closed his eyes, praying the answer she gave would be a good one. “Is everyone all right?” AJ turned away from him and reached for the nearby chair. Pulling up to the bed, she sat and took his hand in hers. “Everyone is alive. Adam’s wound was minor and he will probably be released by tomorrow. Jack’s wound was more serious though. He lost one of his kidneys. He’s fine now, but they say he crashed on the table.” “Jesus.” Nick closed his eyes and silently thanked God for watching over them.

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The suspense was killing him, and he had to know more. “And Broderick? Did we get him?” She nodded and dropped her head down. “Yes. He’s dead.” He didn’t miss the crack of her voice when she said the words. She was upset, and the sniffle he just heard told him she was crying. “Hey...” Reaching over to her with his thumb and forefinger, he lifted her chin. “What’s the matter?” She let out an exaggerated laugh and wiped her away her tears as she shook her head. “Nothing. I just…” She took a deep breath. “I’m not used to this kind of stuff. I don’t stay in the basement of a safe house as a gun fight goes on above my head. And you were sick. God, Nick, you were so sick. Your wound. The wound I was supposed to take care of was infected. You almost died!” He watched as what must have been days of pent-up emotion rolled off of her shoulders and flowed. Tears flowed freely and he wished he could make them stop, but he had a feeling she needed to get all this out. “I’m so sorry, Nick. I’m not a doctor. Heck, I’m not even a nurse. I had no business trying to care for you like I even knew what I was doing. My dad told me what to do, and I thought I could handle it, but obviously I can’t. I failed. I wasn’t able to save my dad, and he’s gone. He’s gone, and I miss him so much.” She got up from the chair and walked over to the window. Quiet surrounded them, and he could tell from the gentle shakes of her shoulders that she was trying so hard not to cry. “Sweetheart, baby, you have to know that it is not your fault that my wound became infected. You pushed me to take a look at it and clean it. I ignored you. I was too focused on taking down Broderick for what he did to Tom. For what he was trying to do to all of us.” She said nothing. Her shoulders calmed, and he hoped it meant she was no longer crying, yet she remained silent. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when you had to tend to your father’s remains.”

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He hoped she knew just how much he meant that. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t make her go through any of that alone, but he did. A fact he would always regret. “It’s okay.” She turned back toward him now and showed him her red eyes, swollen and tired. “You needed to rest. You almost didn’t make it. The antibiotics did their job while the painkillers knocked you out. I was just glad you were finally getting the care you needed. I don’t know what I would’ve done if…” “Well, would you look who decided to wake up from his nap?” Rex walked in the room and gave AJ a wink. The casual gesture might’ve pissed Nick off if he hadn’t known Rex to wink at women as often as he took a breath. “How you feeling, brother? You still sucking up all the sympathy from this sweet gal? Man up, dude. You were shot, it’s not like you lost a limb.” He knew Rex was chiding him in the way he would if the situations were reversed. His words made him think of Jack, and he wondered if he was really as okay as AJ claimed. She was sweet and considerate and would sugarcoat the truth if it meant he would stay in this bed and take care of himself. “How’s Jack? Really?” Rex sat in the chair that AJ was in and scooted it back against the floor. Propping his feet up on the side of Nick’s bed, he shrugged. “You know him. He’s a tenacious son of a bitch. A missing kidney won’t stop him from being a pain in Tamara’s ass.” He laughed and cringed as tightness in his side reminded him that despite his pain medication he still had a hole in his side. The look on Rex’s face told him there was more to be told. “So, AJ tells me Broderick is dead. Did I deliver the kill shot? I remember aiming at him, but it all goes black after that.”

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Smirking, Rex answered him. “Yeah, man. You took him out. Took your ass long enough, too. He was about to fill my head with lead when you finally got off your ass.” Nick nodded and continued to listen as Rex informed him of the news of the past day. It seemed Broderick wasn’t very careful and left a paper trail through bank transactions and letters regarding his plot to take out all the survivors of that mission all those years ago. The bloodshed and casualties from the Gulf of Mexico to the Hollywood Hills went down officially as a covert operation performed by Department of Homeland Security with the cooperation of the United States Navy. Unofficially, however, the navy was twenty shades of pissed off that they were kept out of the loop and all of what happened went on under their nose and without their knowledge. Even more surprising was that his commanding officer apparently sent Rex with the message that when he was well he would be partaking in a round of golf with his superior, and drinking some beers. All in all it sounded like everything worked out. Except for Tom. His thoughts went to his old friend and brother who was killed all because years ago he did his job and never left a brother behind. “Well, I need to get back to Shelby. We’re going to tag team Tamara to join us in the cafeteria for some dinner. I’d ask you to go, AJ, but something tells me I couldn’t tear you away from this room even kicking and screaming.” “And you’d be right.” Nick couldn’t help but grin as she smiled at him, and he winked back. “Figured as much, darling. You take care of this old guy. The nurses tell me he can be a big baby.” Nick gave his buddy a nod as he left and closed the door. Then he turned his attention to AJ, who was still standing by the window. He patted the bed next to him, indicating for her to sit. She sat down and gave him one of her beautiful smiles. Even with her exhaustion and red eyes she was gorgeous. There was so much he

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wanted to say to her. Words were on the tip of his tongue that he never thought he would say to anyone. “You know I promised your dad I would take care of you. Always.” “That was sweet of you. I know in the end he worried about me. But you don’t…” “Stop, AJ.” He cut her off before she said something completely foolish that would knock down the courage he was trying to build up. “It wasn’t sweet. It was selfish. Liam was worried about you, yes. That part is true, but he was mostly worried because he saw the way I looked at you. He saw how I felt about you before I even knew what I was feeling.” Her eyes came to life. He saw the spark, which was dull, reignite and start to smolder. “You see, AJ. When I said I would take care of you always, it was a promise but also a wish.” He shook his head and started to laugh. “Unbelievable. If you would’ve told me two weeks ago I’d say these words to anyone, I’d tell you you were crazy.” “Say what, Nick?” He reached for her hand and grazed her pulse. It was racing. Was she as nervous as he was? Damn, should he be this nervous? He didn’t get this way around women, ever. AJ always had been different from every woman he’d known since the moment he laid eyes on her, though. That was a fact that surprised him several times in the past week. “I love you, AJ. I don’t know how it happened or when it did, but you have me.” Her eyes widened and stared back at him in apparent shock. He wanted to chide himself for making such a huge declaration so early, but after everything they’d been through he didn’t exactly want to wait to start his life. If he learned anything it’s that life is too damn short and can end when you least expect it.

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“Baby, you gotta say something. I’m kinda dying here.” She shook her head and opened her mouth, but no words came out. It pained him how frozen she looked, and for the first time he couldn’t read a thing in her smoldering eyes. It pissed him off that he felt so vulnerable. It wasn’t a feeling he was used to. “AJ, say something.” “You really love me? This…” She continued to shake her head and seemed to be searching for the right words. “This isn’t just an attraction because of all the intensity we went through together?” Damn. Talk about a kick in the gut. Just when he thought he couldn’t find her more beautiful, she proved him wrong. She was nervous that she was an outlet for his adrenaline. Smiling, he answered her. “Baby, our attraction is intense, but it has nothing to do with what we’ve been through. And yes, I love you, Alyssa Jo.” “Oh God.” She leaned over him and kissed his lips. “I love you, too. I thought I was crazy for falling so hard, so fast, but I can’t help it. I fell in love with you.” He cupped the back of her neck and pulled her down to him. They kissed, and it only took his body a moment to react to her. God help him, but she was better than any aphrodisiac he’d ever heard of. He had to laugh. “You must love me. My breath has to be putrid. Sorry, sweetheart.” She gave him a half smile and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, you’re going to have to work on a few things.” “Oh? And just what might those things be?” She got more comfortable on the bed and lay beside him. Careful not to jostle him, she rested her head on the pillow and sighed. “Well for starters. This whole bullet-wound thing has ridden its course. I’m going to need to ask that you avoiding getting shot from here on out because I apparently am the worst nurse in history.” Laughing, he brushed his thumb across her cheekbone. “Not the worst but definitely the prettiest. Regardless, I’m set to retire in a

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week, and something tells me they won’t be sending me on a mission in the next few days, so I think I can accommodate that. What else?” “Your breath…it’s really bad. And this is the second time in a week, so you’re going to have to keep mints and gum on you at all times.” Trying his damndest not to burst out and break a stitch, he smiled at her. “Hey now, why so harsh? Isn’t it your job as my nurse to provide me with a toothbrush and toothpaste?” Her face softened and became serious. “Anything. Oh, Nick, I will gladly give you anything. I’m so glad this is all over.” Pulling her closer, he rested her head against his shoulder. This was it. This was life. Before now he had been merely existing. Having AJ with him now, he was finally living. His life was just beginning. A smile crept up the corners of his mouth as he closed his eyes. He always was a lucky son of a bitch. Having found AJ was like hitting the lottery. Life was damn good.

THE END NICOLEMORGAN1.WEBS.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nicole Morgan was an avid reader who kept having one recurring problem. Ideas of stories kept popping into her head. Today, Nicole is an author of erotic romantic novels, which more often than not have a suspenseful backstory. Erotic romance mixed with a good oldfashioned whodunit. She tries to place strong emphasis on the characters’ emotions while also throwing in some spicy and hot love scenes. Her alpha male of choice will more often than not have a uniform of some kind. From military to police officers, she has a love for writing about those who protect and serve. While still trying to stay true to her style, she is finding her writing is evolving as she takes on new and uncharted territory for her. In the first months of this year she finally wrapped up her first ever full-length paranormal romance novel. There are many areas of erotica out there that she hasn’t had a chance to really delve into just yet, but she is anxiously looking forward to doing just that.

Also by Nicole Morgan Siren Classic: Sudden Devotion Siren Allure: Love Knows No Boundaries Siren Allure: Sweet Awakenings 1: Sweet Redemption Siren Allure: Sweet Awakenings 2: Sweet Salvation Siren Classic: Sweet Awakenings 3: Sweet Vengeance Siren Classic: Intimate Temptations 1: Intimate Persuasions Siren Allure: Intimate Temptations 2: Intimate Confessions

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com