Ashfall (8 page)

Adventure, eh? These hard-driven men had talent for underplaying. The deadpan answer Ian had given, without a hint of humor, took Mally off guard. Maybe Ian was a glutton for punishment. Then she thought about his former occupation. Special Air Service. He probably thrived on a hail of bullets for breakfast.

The General finally said, “Very well, MacDaniel. You’ll leave immediately. She doesn’t know you’re coming because I didn’t get a chance to tell her before the line went dead. Make sure you take enough firepower.”

“That bad a situation, sir?” Ian asked.

“She told me that armed civilians are wandering her area. It’s a gated community, so the National Guard and regular military units aren’t taking charge within the closed area. She said she’s safe for now, but who knows how long that will last.” For a second his eyes looked moist. “She’s all I’ve got, MacDaniel. If anything happens to her I’ll hold you personally responsible. Get outta here.”

Ian stood, his bearing all military. “Sir.” He nodded at the other men. “See you on the flip side.”

After the Scot left, the General’s attention landed on the remaining two men in the room. “You two will do regular duties tomorrow. Miss Andretti, I’m afraid it’ll be boring around here for you.”

She held up one hand. “Oh, no. I brought my writing with me.”

He leaned back in his chair, some of the tension leaving his craggy face. “What do you write?”

“Romance.”

He didn’t look surprised or intrigued. “I see. Anything I’d know?”

She couldn’t help but smile. “Not unless you read romance, Mr. Graham.”

He returned her smile this time. “Right. Well, even though I didn’t sanction your entry into our world here, you’re welcome. I don’t throw people out into the cold once I’ve taken them in.”

“I appreciate that.” She threw in, “But I have one other favor to ask. I hear that Mark is great at fixing security systems and I’d like to hire him to fix the one at my house. I’ll pay for his time, of course.”

Mark smiled. “I’m happy to take a look. I’ll need to go over the system and hopefully scrounge up the parts. Or it might be a computer problem. Either way, I can probably fix it.”

The General nodded. “All right. It’s a paying job, and at least then you’ll be safe. I’m afraid it’ll have to go on the backburner until at least tomorrow night or the next day since the men have other contract work to do.”

Pleased, Mally said, “Thank you.”

The General turned a cooler gaze on Adam. “I ought to kick you out on your ass for the insubordination. Unfortunately, I’m short on good men. We’ll talk later about why you’ve gotten so damned cocky. Pick up your orders at the usual time tomorrow. That will be all.”

Adam and Mark stood and so did Mally, but the General said, “Miss Andretti, may I speak with you privately a moment?”

Unease stirred inside Mally as she sat back down. “Of course.”

Adam threw her an inscrutable look as he left with Mark and closed the door.

She didn’t waste any time in asking, “Why did I sit through that meeting? It seems like it was all Sentry Security business.”

“It was. I wanted you to see what you’re getting yourself into.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Look, Miss Andretti, I don’t want you to take this the wrong, but you’re a distraction to my men.”

Anger replaced curiosity. “Why is that?”

“Because you’re a woman. More than that, you’re obviously a major influence on Becker. He’s got an exemplary military record. That sterling reputation is one reason why I hired him. As an enlisted man he received numerous awards and commendations including a Bronze Star for extraordinary actions to save other’s lives in combat when the helicopter he was in went down. He won’t even acknowledge the damned thing. He says it’s because none of the other men in his pararescue team received the medal.” The General shrugged. “The man is modest as hell. Since he’s been working with me he hasn’t made one wrong step. As soon as he started talking to you on that damned ham radio his attitude went to hell.”

All this information threw her. “How so?”

“He’s mouthing off at me like I don’t sign his paychecks.”

“I don’t know him that well, Mr. Graham. What his motivations are for defying you…I can’t guess.” She really couldn’t, but he looked at Mally like she was lying. “As for me, I didn’t want him to help me. I was fine in the compound.” She paused for a second. “Okay, I wasn’t fine. The bunker would hold, but I don’t know how long those men would’ve been out there. They might have decided to camp for days.” She sighed. “My father designed that place to withstand an assault from more than a few men with guns. They weren’t getting into the bunker, but I’m glad now that your men came to help me. I think it was a brave thing to do, even if it was a little reckless.” Feeling extraordinarily bold, she continued with, “I don’t think he was thinking with his Johnson.”

The General’s eyes widened, indignation clear. “Did he tell you I said that?”

Mally smiled. “No, I was listening.”

The General laughed, the sound genuine and hearty. “Well, you’re definitely a surprise, Miss Andretti. I didn’t know what to expect from you.”

“That’s good. I hate being boring and predictable.”

An interested look formed on his face, as if curiosity was winning him over in her favor. “I’m sorry you had to hear me say that to Becker. It was crude.”

“Not to worry. Bad language and straight talk doesn’t bother me.”

A half second later she got an idea both ridiculous and yet so oddly thrilling. She didn’t hold back. “Mr. Graham, I don’t feel right living here and taking up space without paying rent. I can pay you room and board and also help with Sentry Security business.”

“I won’t take your money.”

“Well, then I’ll work for the room and board. I have significant weapons training. Let me go out with the men tomorrow and assist with patrols if that’s what is required. I can help.”

His mouth flopped open. “What? No.”

“I’m capable. I’m stronger than I look.”

“What about your writing? Isn’t that your job?”

She almost snorted. “I’ll get to it. In fact, I’ll probably stay up late tonight and write.”

He frowned, and she readied herself for an argument against a woman in combat. This might not be a war zone, but in many ways it had become as dangerous. She saw him wavering and decided he needed more to push him over.

“Mr. Graham, you obviously appreciate a strong woman. It sounds like your daughter is that kind of person.”

A misty look came to his eyes, and he looked down at the table. “She is. She is. I’d go after her myself but…I don’t trust me to get her out alive. I’m too old for that kind of situation. That’s why I wanted to send Becker. I trust him to do the job.”

“You don’t trust Ian?”

“I trust all three of these men with my life. It’s just that…” Instead of finishing, he cleared his throat. “Never mind. I’ve taken enough of your time.”

They rose at the same time, and she started for the door. With her hand on the doorknob, she looked back. “You never said if I could go out with the men tomorrow.”

He nodded. “All right. You have my permission. We’ll give you temporary credentials with the company. Be ready at o’ eight hundred.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

Mally left, part of her trembling inside from a sudden excitement she’d never felt before. The other part of her wondered if she’d just made the biggest, most foolish mistake of her life.

* * * *

Unable to settle into writing that night or to sleep, she decided in the wee hours of the night to head to the exercise room downstairs and walk the treadmill. She hadn’t seen Adam after the meeting with the General and had no intention of seeking him out.

Mally slipped on jogging shorts and a sports bra. She drew her hair in a ponytail, grabbed a bottle of water, and headed downstairs. The downstairs area was minimally lit by various night lights so she wouldn’t trip on the way. Light streamed under the door of the exercise room.
Great.
Who was up this hour besides her? She looked in the small window in the middle of the door and saw Adam coming her way. He noticed her but didn’t smile. In fact, his expression was grim. Her heart automatically sped up. The damn man gave her palpitations, and she hated that. She didn’t want to feel this out of control around him, much less any other man.

Mally took a deep breath.
Into the breach, girl.
She opened the door and went inside. His hair was a little damp looking, and a bit of sweat dotted his forehead. A white t-shirt with the words Air Force emblazoned in bold blue letters covered his broad chest. Powerful biceps and forearms, trim waist and long, strong legs completed the package. God, the man was built. Not body builder overcooked. Just strong, ripped, and for some reason so amazingly intriguing she couldn’t seem to catch her breath. And she hadn’t started exercising yet.

He stopped a few feet away. “Hey.”

“Hey. What keeps you up?”

“Wondering if Ian is in one piece. He was supposed to radio in or call as soon as he reached Penny’s house. No word from him.”

Her gut tightened. “Fifty miles isn’t that far. It’s been a few hours already. They should be back here if everything went all right.”

“Yeah.”

She chewed on her lip. “Why did you refuse the General’s orders?”

He moved closer. “I don’t want to leave you alone here.”

“I wouldn’t be alone.”

“You’d be without me.”

The man was beyond exasperating. “Who proclaimed you my designated protector?”

Once more he moved forward, and the closer he came the more excitement danced in her body. She couldn’t seem to control it. Shouldn’t she be thoroughly disgusted with his overprotectiveness? He was the first man she’d ever known other than her father who wanted to keep her safe. With Adam it felt more like a warm blanket than the smothering her father had attempted. Still, she was wary.

He gripped the towel around his neck with both hands. His gaze took her in, wandering over the sports bra and down her waist and to her legs. His attention was a slow, hot blaze. Her nipples tightened, and she thanked the thick material of the bra for shielding her.

“Doesn’t matter,” he said. “Ian jumped in.”

“Why did he?”

“He’s got some sort of history with the General’s daughter.”

“History? As in romantic involvement?”

“He won’t talk about it.”

“Does her father know?”

“I doubt it, or he probably would have given the assignment to Mark.”

Mally said, “Well, he did allude to something, but wouldn’t say.”

“Hmm. Could be why Ian jumped at the opportunity to see her.” He lowered his voice, and the tone was a silky soft rumble. “Why did the General talk with you after I left?”

She drew in a steady breath, ready for fireworks. “He said he wanted me to see what I was getting into being here.”

“And? Does it make you want to leave?”

“Not exactly. It did give me an idea, though.”

“What?”

“I’m going out with you tomorrow. I told the General about my weapons training. My father prepared me.”

His eyes turned darker with displeasure, his mouth twisting in exasperation. “No. That’s a crazy idea.”

“Think what you want. It doesn’t matter.”

“You’re not combat trained.”

“You don’t know what kind of training I’ve had.”

“Just because you know how to fire a few weapons doesn’t mean you’re qualified even for a temporary hire.” He scrubbed at his hair, his mouth twisting in disgust.

“It’s either this or I go back to my compound. Maybe I never should’ve left in the first place.”

He snorted softly. “You don’t believe that. Besides, we’re going back tomorrow night to your house and hopefully get things squared away for you.”

True. At least here she had help, she had security the compound couldn’t offer.
Sure, Mally. Keep telling yourself that. What the compound doesn’t have is Adam.
Still, she wasn’t prepared to admit that thought out loud.

She didn’t have time to speak before he said, “Damn, The General has lost his mind. Private contractors like us come from police and military background. Some other specially qualified individuals like CIA and FBI. Not writers.”

Insulted, she said, “I know. An elite club. But beggars can’t be choosers, can they? Your team is down a man with Ian gone. You need help.”

“Doesn’t matter. It’s crap that you’re going with us.”

Her testiness equaled his in a heartbeat. “Too bad. I hate to be immature about this, but you aren’t the boss of me.”

“Damn it, Mally—”

“The General gave me permission. He’s giving me temporary employment papers.”

She started to walk past him toward the treadmill, but before she could he stepped forward and blocked her way. Bare inches separated them. She refused to retreat, holding her space and his gaze unflinchingly. A burn built between them, and his frustration was palpable. She could feel it in her veins, in her entire body. A twisted excitement mixed inside her along with consternation.

“A man my size…” He pushed even nearer until she backed up a step and was literally against a wall. “A man
less
than my size, could break you in half. I’m six-three. How tall are you?”

Defiant, she stood up straighter. “Five-seven.”

He nodded. “You’re slim and strong. You stay in shape. I can see that.” Once more his gaze did a full sweep downwards from her face and breasts to her waist and below. “You’re stubborn as hell and smart as hell. I get that. But like I said, you don’t have a police or military background. I’m not sexist. If you had that training I’d say go for it…join up with us on patrol tomorrow. But you don’t.” He leaned one hand against the wall and then the other until Mally was caged. “Fuck, who am I kidding? I wouldn’t like it a damn bit even if you were completely qualified, but at least I’d know you could handle whatever came up. It will be dangerous out there for you and me.”

“Because you’ll be distracted worrying about me.”

“Yes.”

“I’m assuming Mark will be with us.”

“Probably.”

“Then you’ll have plenty of backup. You won’t be worried about just me helping.”