Seek and Destroy (50 page)
Authors: Allie K. Adams
He'd never let her go. Ever. Ever again.
"Come on,
Assmunch,
" he heard Rich Neely say, no doubt to Surreal. They could have him. He found what he came here for.
Assmunch,
" he heard Rich Neely say, no doubt to Surreal. They could have him. He found what he came here for.
The commotion caught his attention. When Ron yelled for Rich to grab the gun, David spun around, making sure to push Charis behind him. Surreal had his gun back in his hand, cocked and pointed at David's chest.
With lightning fast reflexes, he threw his knife and lodged it into Surreal's neck. The man fell back, coughed a few times, and then fell silent. Rich knelt down and felt for a pulse.
"Yep. Congrats, dude. You killed him."
"Saves the taxpayers a hell of a lot of money," Ron added.
Charis shuddered and buried her face against him. "Can we just go home?"
He shielded her from the gruesome sight and led her out of the building. As they walked outside, he felt her take in an enormous breath.
Then she hauled off and punched him. Hard. Add that to the shot he'd already taken in the ribs, not to mention the few cracked ones he sustained during the crash, and he almost doubled over.
Her blue eyes flashed with anger. "What took you so long? I thought you were dead.
Dead
. Do you have any idea what was going through my mind?"
Dead
. Do you have any idea what was going through my mind?"
He had a pretty good idea.
"I
wanted
him to kill me. Actually wanted him to so I could be with you. He hurt me, David. Over and over. He beat me up. And just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, he strangled me. I couldn't breathe!"
wanted
him to kill me. Actually wanted him to so I could be with you. He hurt me, David. Over and over. He beat me up. And just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, he strangled me. I couldn't breathe!"
His insides pinched. He clenched his jaw. If he hadn't already killed the bastard, he'd go back and kill him now. It seemed too swift of a death for him. He didn't deserve it. He wanted him to suffer. Oh how he wanted him to suffer.
"Sweetheart-"
"Don't." She drew in a deep breath, let it out. "I need to get this out before the shock wears off. Now that you're here, I can tell you-"
"Charis-"
"Would you let me finish?"
"No. Not until I get this out. I love you, damn it. I love everything about you. Your strength. Your determination. You are, to me, everything I have ever wanted. Marry me."
She opened her mouth in a gasp, snapped it shut. Opened again. Then shut again. A slight squeak escaped her lips. Her voice jumped an entire octave as she asked, "Are you serious?"
He laughed. "I've never been more serious."
"But-" She swayed. "You said-"
"Are you arguing with me during a marriage proposal?"
Her eyes sparkled as she smiled up at him. "Take me home."
* * * *
Charis turned in front of the mirror to catch a glimpse at the back of the dress. "Is the zipper stuck?"
"No, you're too fat for the dress." Her little sister Kaylee stated matter-of-factly. She spun and glared at her.
"She's not fat," Bailey defended, also glaring at her twin. Leaning over, she rubbed Charis' swollen belly. "Don't listen to her, baby. She's just jealous."
The two youngest twins couldn't be more opposite. Bailey kept her dark hair long and wore little makeup to accent her pretty blue eyes. Kaylee, on the other hand, sported more of the Meg Ryan shag and wore too much dark makeup around her eyes, covering them up instead of emphasizing them.
"Jealous of what?" Kaylee threw her hands up and slumped down in a nearby chair, picked up a magazine and thumbed through it. "She's married to a guy who can't keep his hands off her." She nodded toward Charis' stomach. "Obviously."
"I think it's sweet." Bailey smiled and helped Charis attempt to squeeze into the dress. She was only in her fifth month, for crying out loud. According to the book,
What to Expect When Your Expecting,
she shouldn't be this big, yet.
What to Expect When Your Expecting,
she shouldn't be this big, yet.
Blowing her bangs out of her face, she accepted her fate. There was no way she'd squeeze back into this dress until after the baby. "Help me find something else to wear."
Bailey hurried into the walk-in closet in search of the perfect outfit for Chris and Charis' birthday bash. "I think I saw a jumper in here."
Oh no. Not the jumper. David bought that for her when she told him about the pregnancy. It looked like a tent. "No way."
"Come on," Bailey said as she stepped out of the closet, the jumper in her hands. "It's cute. Look, it has little baby doggies all over it."
"They're lambs." Charis rolled her eyes and grabbed the jumper.
"I'm with Charis," Kaylee jumped in, not looking up from her People Magazine. "It's hideous."
"You're not helping." Bailey threw her hands down.
"Can I come in?"
Charis almost dropped the dress when David walked into the bedroom. The love she felt for this man grew deeper and deeper every day. Warmth enveloped her as he centered his dancing brown eyes on her. In an instant, the rest of the world disappeared.
"Although I love the dress," he stated as he pulled her into his arms. He nuzzled against her neck, sending chills rushing across her skin. "I don't think you and the little ones will fit."
Little
ones
? As in plural? She twisted out of his arms. "What do you mean, little ones?"
ones
? As in plural? She twisted out of his arms. "What do you mean, little ones?"
He grinned from ear to ear. She could tell he barely contained his excitement. "It's true. The doctor just called with the news."
"But the ultrasound didn't detect two heartbeats." Twins? Her heart skipped.
Twins
? "How... I mean... Are you sure?"
Twins
? "How... I mean... Are you sure?"
He shrugged, favoring his good shoulder. "I don't see why you're so surprised. You're a twin." He looked at his sisters-in-law. "It kind of runs in the family."
"Oh, David." She practically jumped into his arms, kissing him soundly.
Bailey sighed.
"Oh
pah-lease
." Kaylee moaned.
pah-lease
." Kaylee moaned.
"Uh, ladies? I wonder if you wouldn't mind leaving me alone with my wife." He snuggled and nibbled. Nipped and nuzzled.
"Congratulations," Bailey sang and grabbed her sister's hand to pull her up out of the chair. Kaylee seemed put out by having to leave, but as she looked back over her shoulder, Charis caught the look of longing in her eyes. When Kaylee met her gaze, she quickly looked away.
Smiling, she brought her attention back to her husband. "Twins, huh? That would explain why nothing fits."
"I disagree. I think everything fits just fine." He pulled her close, kissing her deeply.
He was right. Everything fit perfectly.
SEEK AND DESTROY
The NASSD Counter-Terrorist Agency 2
THE END
WWW
.ALLIEKADAMS.COM
.ALLIEKADAMS.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Allie K. Adams lived in Western Washington for years before moving to Southwest Montana with her husband and two children. She loves the outdoors and can't get enough of the beauty Montana has to offer. People watching while sipping on a good Pinot Noir, Allie likes to ponder story ideas and bounce thoughts off anyone who will listen.
If you have any story suggestions, please feel free to send them to her. She loves to hear from readers.
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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