Delta Recon (SEAL Team Phantom Series, Book 2) (7 page)

“Sure thing. We’ll run down to the coffee shop. I could use some liquid gold right about now.” He bent and placed a chaste kiss on Jaqui’s forehead. “Go easy on him. We menfolk tend to be idiots when it comes to matters of the heart.”

Coyle patted her leg. “Not me. I’m smarter than the average guy. See you in a bit. Give him hell.”

Tay flipped him the bird.

“I, for one, happen to be a total ladies man. I know just what they want, and how to give it to them,” Dallas said wickedly.

Kai punched him in the arm “Which is why you’re single. Let’s go before I throw up in my mouth.”

The three of them continued to argue as they walked out. Tension mounted as the door shut and she waited for Tay to say something.

“I’m sorry for so much, Jaqui.” He came closer, voice dropping.

A lump formed in her throat. “Thank you for saying that.”

He paced away, hands behind his back. “You see, when I realized how innocent you were, I freaked. My plan wasn’t to settle down just yet.” He looked at her over his shoulder. “Then this pint sized, gorgeous woman with hair down to her ass, blew me away from the first moment I saw her. At first I thought we could date. You know be casual. Again, you knocked me off my axis.”

Unsure what he wanted her to say, she sat, pleating the blanket between her fingers.

“You got a text while you were sleeping. I wasn’t snooping or anything, but worried it was important, so I went to retrieve your phone, and the message was lit up.” He met her stare before continuing. “Seeing your friend’s words about getting an invite to the wedding, it scared me.”

She knew what he was talking about and could imagine the shock he probably felt at seeing the text. Hell, any guy would have felt the same. Maybe. “You do realize she was joking. I didn’t expect you to propose just because we’d had sex.” It had been much more than that for her.

He crossed the room in three angry strides. “Don’t pretend like it was just sex. You and I both know it was much more. I felt it, you felt it so don’t deny it or us. I’d kiss you right now and show you, but I don’t want to hurt you. Damn it. I should have stayed.” He closed his eyes as if in pain.

“Even if you had...you know stayed, this would have happened. I mean we don’t know what would or wouldn’t have. Don’t blame yourself for what that monster did to me. I’ll heal and be back on my feet in no time.” She tried to inflict as much confidence in her tone as possible.

One big palm lifted, then touched her cheek. The feather light touch made her breath catch. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. “I’d do anything to take the pain away if I could.”

“I’m just glad it’s over.” A tightening in his muscled forearm had her opening her eyes to look up at him. “What is it?”

Tay shook his head. “It’s nothing for you to worry about.”

When he would have moved his hand away, she grabbed it. “If this has anything to do with Medellin, then I do. I’ve seen old pictures of him, and I can tell y’all right now, he has had some cosmetic changes. That man is pure evil. He showed no emotion as he hit me. When he ordered his men to do things, his tone was completely devoid of emotion. But, his eyes held what I’d call anticipation. Like he enjoyed what they were going to do.”

“You realize he got away? Even now he could have men or women in this hospital, right? Until he’s either caught or dead you won’t be safe,” he growled.

She shrugged, the motion pulled at aches in her body. “What am I supposed to do, Tay? Go into hiding? Commander Lee hasn’t mentioned anything to me about what happens next. All I know is my injuries aren’t life threatening, and I’m pretty sure I’m being released today or tomorrow. It’s not like I can’t protect myself.” Well, in normal circumstances she could. She hadn’t been prepared to be kidnapped in the middle of a crowd and neither had the rest of the team. Security in numbers clearly wasn’t true in all situations.

“Sure you can. I mean look at you.” He waved his hand over her prone form. “Can you even make a fist?”

Jaqui raised her right hand and lifted her middle finger. “Oh yeah, big guy. Listen, all this will take time, but not forever. In a few days, most of it will be nothing more than a memory.” A freaking nightmare, but he didn’t need to know that.

“Sure, cupcake, and I’m the tooth fairy if you believe that shit you’re spouting.”

She grinned, then winced. “I can totally see you in a pink tutu with a sparkly wand. I’d ask you to sprinkle some glitter on me to make me look less garish.”

He came back over to the bed, lowering the railing to sit next to her hip. Bending down so his face was in front of hers, he brushed his lips over every bruise and cut on her, starting on her forehead and working down to her chin. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Even with all this, you are gorgeous. I’d give my left arm to have prevented you from any injury. If I could take back the things I’ve said and done, I’d do it. Everything except that day in the hotel with you, right up to me leaving. I’m a dumbass. That can’t be denied,” he laughed. “Let me make it up to you by taking care of you while you recover. We can start fresh. Like dating, since we sort of skipped that.”

It was hard for her to think with him sitting so close. They’d gone out for a couple months back before that night, but he must not have considered that dating. His clear blue eyes promised things she wanted to believe. The gentle touch of his kisses had her leaning into his warmth. “What about your mission? The Phantom Team? Aren’t you guys still supposed to be searching for Medellin?”

Tay’s thumb brushed over her bottom lip. Her tongue peeked out, tasting him. “My mission is to protect you. Our team’s mission is to protect each other.”

She opened her mouth to ask more, but a knock on the door stopped her. She expected Tay to get up and act like the aloof SEAL. He surprised her again as he sat, uncaring who entered and saw him.

Commander Lee strode in. His larger than life presence intimidating as always. Tay stood and saluted. “Sir,” he said.

“Rouland, glad to see your team all made it out of Columbia. Wallace, girl, you sure do know how to get into the thick of things.” Shrewd gray eyes assessed her.

“Yes, sir, Commander Lee. I’ve been debriefed and given my official statement. I should be ready for active duty in a couple weeks.”

The Commander shook his head. “As of right now, you are on medical leave. The Phantom Team are officially assigned to you. This is a serious situation that we are not taking lightly.”

He went on to explain her travel plans. Not once giving her a chance to speak, which was good. Jaqui didn’t look at Tay during the entire ten minutes the Commander was issuing his orders, knowing he would not like to have had his life rearranged because of her. Yes, he’d said he wanted to take care of her, but to have his choices taken away had to chafe.

“Any questions?” Commander Lee looked at her, then Tay.

“No, Commander Lee. Thank you for coming yourself.”

Commander Lee waved his hand. “I was in Washington on official business. I’ve already spoken to your leader out in the hall, and believe he has everything in hand in regards to the travel. I’ll just leave it at that. Before you ask, we’ve already sent another team after Medellin, but that doesn’t mean you need to relax your guard. Our intel says he’s in the Middle East, but that doesn’t mean crap today.”

Tay nodded, while she felt like her world was spinning out of control.

“Alright, I must go.” He checked his watch, then after a few more words left.

“I’m sorry, Tay. I didn’t mean to upset you and the guys’ lives like this.” Knowing how much the SEALs enjoyed their missions, she hated to be the cause of them being stuck on land.

A laugh burst from Tay. “Are you kidding? Alexa will probably buy you flowers or something since having Kai home on a mission will be a change of pace. Besides, do you not remember what I was saying before the Commander had come in?” He sat back down carefully.

She sighed. “I promise not to be a pain in the ass.”

He picked up her braid. “You could never be that.”

“You have no clue. I’m considered a real bear in the mornings if I don’t get my coffee. I mean, do not talk to me until after the first cup. I also take forever in the shower, so be prepared to wait your turn.”

Heat lit his eyes. “Not if we share one.”

Her stomach flipped at the thought. “Taylor Rouland, I do declare, you are a naughty boy.”

“You’ve no clue, baby.”

****

I
f he could’ve kissed Commander Lee for giving him the perfect excuse to spend twenty-four seven with Jaqui he would’ve. Of course, having the rest of the team there wasn’t in his original plans, but with the threat of not just Medellin, but the cartel looming over Jaqui, he welcomed the extra security.

He saw the arousal his words brought light her bruised and battered face, and wished he could act on it, vowing he’d make it up to Jaqui soon. “When you are well enough, I’ll show you just how much fun it can be to share a shower with me. I have this fantasy about washing your hair.”

“I seriously think you are crazy. It takes forever to wash and get all the shampoo out, not to mention conditioning all this. I was thinking while I was...in the room they held me in, that I should just cut it all off,” she whispered.

Tipping her chin up with his finger, he held her stare. “I love your hair. I’d spend hours if that’s what it took. However, it you wanted to cut it, because that is what
you
want, I would totally understand. But don’t let that bastard dictate what you do. Don’t give him any more power.”

Her lip trembled. “I was so scared.”

Careful of her bruises, and the IVs, he gathered her into his arms. For the first time in over a year, he felt like he’d finally come home. Sitting in a hospital, holding Jaqui Wallace, he finally felt complete.

Another knock on the door interrupted them. He didn’t want to pull away. With reluctance he eased her back down, wiped the tears from beneath her eyes, then stood back up. “Enter,” he barked.

“Damn, boy. Why you growling like I kicked your puppy?” Dallas asked, coming in with a cup of coffee in each hand. He took one look at Jaqui, then his head jerked over to Tay. “What the hell happened?”

“We are her official team of guards,” Tay said, he glared at Dallas.

“Cool. Here, brought you a coffee.” Dallas held out his arm.

Tay looked over to see what Jaqui thought, but she was looking at the door and the rest of the guys filing in. God love her, she had no clue they would all take a bullet for her.

Kai filled them in on the travel plans for the next day, unless the doctor doesn’t release Jaqui. “I’ve spoken to Alexa. She’s excited to see you again, so I hope you are up for a little female company when we get home.”

Jaqui looked to him before answering. “I’d like to see her, too.”

“Good to hear. I’m afraid she’s a bit of a bulldozer. If you’d have said anything else, she’d have orchestrated a get together.” His eyes lit up with admiration that Tay understood. The woman who’d captured the big SEAL’s heart had been through hell and back, yet she still had a heart of gold. Having been in the foster care system her entire life until she’d aged out, Alexa had thought her parents had been killed. It wasn’t until a crazy ex-boyfriend, had almost beaten her to death that she hit the system as alive, waking up a network of international spies who had been looking for her, and her parents. Luckily for her, or unluckily, when she went on the run after the near death experience, she’d been kidnapped. Kai and the rest of their team were the ones who’d saved her, and the rest as they say was history. Now, Alexa and her parents were reunited and she had made it her mission to find all the men their own women.

“I think she and I will get along just fine,” she assured Kai.

“Alright, we need to get a couple rooms for the night. Tay, you staying here or what?” Kai didn’t sound surprised, which Tay should’ve known the other man knew how he felt.

“If they’ll let me, yeah.”

Coyle barked out a laugh. “Pretty sure they won’t be able to stop your ass. Besides, you’re on official duty and shit.”

Dallas raised his hand. “I volunteer to speak to the nurse on duty.”

Tay looked at the men, his brothers, and waited.

Coyle’s hands moved in a motion that let him know the woman was clearly stacked. Shaking his head, he turned to Jaqui. “You okay with this?” he whispered.

Her cheeks were red, but she nodded.

Dallas walked out of the room, presumably to ask, or flirt with the nurse about getting Tay a bed. For all Tay cared, he’d sleep standing up for the next twenty-four hours.

“Is there still going to be a guard outside the door?” He asked Kai.

“Yeah. Until she’s discharged there will be one posted.” Kai stood at the end of the bed. I’ve read your statement. Is there anything you didn’t include, or something that you’ve remembered since then?”

Tay went to stand next to the bed, his hand automatically reaching for hers.

She shook her head. “No. Like I said in my statement. I woke up in a room with concrete walls. There was a drain in the middle. I only left the one time when they decided to take me to see Medellin. I guess I was too smelly for his taste. While I was showering, with my clothes on, we heard the gunshots. My jailer left me in there, but didn’t lock the door. I hid until I didn’t hear anymore, then made my way back.” They listened as she explained how she found the guard dead outside the door to Medellin’s office and made a mental note of the man’s name, then her escape through the rainforest. Her hand releasing his to wipe on the blanket.

He had to grip the railing and noticed his knuckles had turned white from where he’d clenched them. In his mind he could imagine the horror she’d experienced. How she must have felt thinking at any minute they could come in and do anything they wanted to her. The images in his mind had him shaking. One pale, slim hand with IV’s taped to it rested on top of his, making him unclench his.

“You need to stop that or you’re going to bend the metal.” Her tone was teasing, yet he didn’t feel like smiling. When they’d arrived at the cinder block building, he had no clue what they’d find. The thought of being too late had made sweat and nausea roll over him in waves. As they’d entered the compound and walked over bodies, his gaze swept from side to side looking for blonde hair, and hoping not to find her, yet wishing she was there.