by K. Langston
Published by K. Langston
Copyright © 2017 K. Langston
Kindle Edition
Cover Design: Kari March
Editing: Wild Rose Editing
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication and use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
For mature audiences only (18 and older).
Dedicated to Pop.
United States Army Sergeant and Fire Captain,
Kenneth W. Martin
A true American hero.
You will never be forgotten.
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Epigraph
Prologue
Chapter One: Selena
Chapter Two: Justin
Chapter Three: Selena
Chapter Four: Justin
Chapter Five: Selena
Chapter Six: Justin
Chapter Seven: Selena
Chapter Eight: Justin
Chapter Nine: Selena
Chapter Ten: Justin
Chapter Eleven: Selena
Chapter Twelve: Justin
Chapter Thirteen: Selena
Chapter Fourteen: Justin
Chapter Fifteen: Selena
Chapter Sixteen: Justin
Chapter Seventeen: Selena
Chapter Eighteen: Justin
Chapter Nineteen: Selena
Chapter Twenty: Justin
Chapter Twenty-One: Selena
Chapter Twenty-Two: Selena
Chapter Twenty-Three: Justin
Chapter Twenty-Four: Selena
Chapter Twenty-Five: Justin
Chapter Twenty-Six: Justin
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Selena
Epilogue: Selena
Sneak Peek of The Lieutenant’s Possession
About the Author
Author’s Note
Brothers in Blue Series
A true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength,
but the strength of his heart.
–Hercules
The first time I laid eyes on her, I knew I would never be the same.
She’s too innocent.
Too lost.
Too broken.
But I want her anyway.
I want her heart, body, and soul.
And once she’s mine, I’ll never let her go.
What will become of me?
The daughter of a killer. A drug lord. My name is not only covered in blood but now so are my hands. But I don’t regret killing my father. He deserved to die for murdering my mother and taking away the only real family I ever had. For all the pain he’s caused others.
For all the hell he put me through.
I’d plotted his death many times but never thought I could actually go through with it. I wasn’t born with the heart of a killer, so I never knew if, given the opportunity, I would be brave enough to take it.
Shockingly enough, when it came time to fight or die, I chose to fight.
I hesitated at first, fear threatening to consume me at the thought of taking his life, of actually escaping the hell he locked me away in for so long. But my future flashed before me in a halo of hope, offering up everything I’d ever dreamed of and the one thing I craved the most.
Freedom.
So, I grabbed onto it and never looked back.
Now I’m sitting in a hospital room, staring at the very man who helped give me that freedom. I had hoped that when Bodie came to rescue his sister that he would show mercy and take me with him as well. I knew it might be my last chance to escape. But instead, my savior came in a different form. And he is truly a sight to behold. When I saw Justin for the first time down in that musty basement, I’d found it nearly impossible to breathe. The shade of his blue eyes were unlike any color I’d ever seen, or maybe it wasn’t the color that was so arresting but what I saw blazing behind them.
A fierce heart and a noble soul.
He stirs, his eyes fluttering open, and he frantically looks around the room, as if he’s searching for something—or rather someone—then his eyes focus on me, sitting quietly in the dark corner. His lips curl into a relieved smile.
With unsteady feet, I stand and walk to him. “Hi,” I greet quietly, fidgeting with my hands in front of me. “How are you feeling?”
He reaches for one of my shaking hands, pulling me closer. I take two steps forward, the front of my thighs touching his hospital bed.
“Like I’ve been shot.”
Guilt swarms my chest. “I’m so sorry, Justin, I never meant for—”
“Don’t.” His hand squeezes mine. “I’d do it all over again if it meant getting you out of there. How are you?”
Unable to stand, I perch myself on the chair sitting next to his bed.
“I’m okay. I’m just afraid.”
Lifting his hand from mine, he tucks it beneath my chin, bringing my eyes to his. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
“Easy for you to say. You have a home to go to. I do not. I know nothing of the outside world. What’s going to happen to me, Justin? I have no education, no skills. What am I to do for money or shelter?”
Covering my face with my hands, I can’t hold back my tears and fears any longer.
His hand curls around my neck, bringing my face closer to his, sharp eyes boring into mine. “I made a promise to you down in that basement, Selena. I swore to protect you, and I aim to keep that promise. Understand?”
“You do not owe me anything. I have inconvenienced you enough. You were nearly killed because of me.”
“And I would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant getting you out of there alive.” His words wash over me in a tidal wave of truth, the conviction in his tone driving home every word. “I want you to come stay with me for a while.”
I shake my head. “No, I can’t ask that of you. You’ve done so much already. I’ll figure something out.”
“I know you’re not asking. And I’m not telling you what you have to do, but listen to me when I say, that’s where you need to be right now. Until you’re able to get on your feet and until this whole thing settles down, that’s where I can keep you safe.”
Exhaling a long, deep breath, I realize I can breathe a little easier. For the first time in my life, fear is no longer my friend. My chest feels lighter, my shoulders straighter. It’s an incredible feeling. A feeling I never want to let go of.
A feeling I want to hold on to forever.
A knock sounds at the door and Justin quickly releases my hand, clearing his throat.
“Come in,” he bellows.
Two men dressed in suits enter the room, and my heart sinks when they flash their badges. Growing up with my father, I was taught two things, never betray his trust and never trust the police.
“Sergeant Cunningham. Miss Del Marco, my name is Agent Morales. I would like to speak to you about the statement you gave our initial agents.”
Morales takes a seat in the chair next to me.
“Thank you for your time, Miss Del Ma
rco. I know the last twenty-four hours have been difficult for you.”
“Please, call me Selena or Miss Allen but do not call me Del Marco.”
“Very well, Miss Allen. You told one of our agents you were kidnapped from your mother at the age of ten,” Agent Morales says.
“Yes.”
“Do you remember where you were taken from?”
“It was a small town outside of Des Moines called Porter.”
The agent makes a note on his notepad.
My chest burns with curiosity and fear. “Can you please tell me what’s going on?”
His eyes lift from his tiny notepad back to mine. “We believe your father was not only into smuggling drugs but may also have had his hand in human trafficking. After speaking with one of the victims, who claimed she was being prepared for sale, we have uncovered some evidence that could potentially lead us to the main seller,” Morales says. “Were you aware of this?”
“No, when it came to my father’s dealings he wasn’t open with me about them. I kept my head down and did what I was told.” My hands tremble, fear squeezing the muscles in my throat.
Agent Morales nods then stands. “I appreciate your time, Miss Allen. Is there a way we can get in touch with you, in case we have more questions?”
“She’s staying with me,” Justin states sternly.
The agent nods.
He reaches out to shake Justin’s hand then pulls a card from his wallet. “I have all of your information. I’ll be in touch when I know more.”
The men leave the room. Only then am I able to breathe a sigh of relief.
Justin’s brows furrow with concern. “You all right?”
Am I?
I’m here. I’m alive. That’s the most I can ask for at this point.
“I don’t know. Being here now, free from him, it all seems so unreal. I have to wonder if I’ll ever overcome the last nine years. I don’t know how I ever made it through some of those dark days. But here I am. Free. Free from him and that life. All because of you.”
His eyes hold mine for three solid heartbeats before they move to my lips. An unfamiliar urge ripples through my body. My breasts grow heavy, and I swallow hard trying to catch my breath before licking my dry lips in response to the sudden thirst. Miraculously, I summon the words I am searching for.
“Thank you for saving me.”
It’s all I have to offer and it hardly seems like enough for what he’s done for me.
“Come here.”
The soft, gentle command has me rising to my feet, moving toward him. I don’t know what it is about this man that draws me to him but it’s as if he has a direct line to my heart.
His hand reaches for mine, guiding me the rest of the way to perch on the edge of the bed, and my heart flutters to life inside of my chest, the wings expanding so much I find it hard to breathe.
I take the opportunity to drink him in.
The strong set of his jaw.
His fierce blue eyes.
Eyes that are intensely locked on mine.
I find myself melting beneath his gaze, an upheaval of emotions that can be neither defined or defied.
“You’re safe now.”
The weight of those three words weave themselves into my soul, penetrating the walls I put in place long ago. He leans in close, pulling me in for a hug, wrapping his free arm around my waist to hold me close.
Tight.
Like he never wants to let go. I find safety in his warm embrace. Comfort and shelter from the storm that has been chasing me for far too long.
My shoulder hurts like hell but it’s worth the throbbing pain to finally hold her this close. I’ve been dying to do it since I found her in that filthy basement. I can’t explain it. The way she makes me feel inside.
Something has shifted.
Something that wasn’t there before.
I’d been born with an instinct to protect but I’d never had a feeling quite like this. The irrefutable need to not only protect this beautiful, lost creature but claiming her seems almost as peril. It’s what had me leaping in front of that bullet to save her. It’s what has me desperate to hold her right now. Because if I look at those supple lips for another fucking minute, I’m going to possess them in a way that already scares the shit out of me.
Selena pulls away to meet my gaze once more. “Oh, I’m sorry, did I hurt you?” she asks, dragging her fingers beneath her wet eyes.
“I’m good,” I tell her and she smiles shyly.
That tug in my chest grows stronger, my cock twitching with the curl of her lips. The greedy bastard hasn’t let up either. Not since she was bent over me in a pool of my own blood, begging for me to hang on. She thought I was dying, I thought I’d died and gone straight to heaven. Now she’s sitting here in front of me, looking broken and lost and the only thing I can think of is burying myself so deep inside of her nothing bad can ever touch her again.
“The nurse brought me some clean clothes earlier. Would it be okay if I took a shower?”
“Yeah, do whatever you need to do. I’m not going anywhere.”
She giggles and the sound trickles down my spine in a wave of heat. “I won’t be long,” she reassures me. “Do you need anything before I go?”
I shake my head and, almost reluctantly, she eases from the bed. She retrieves the small plastic bag on the couch then walks into the bathroom, shutting the door quietly behind her. When I hear the water switch on, I sink down farther into the bed, exhaling loudly.
Closing my eyes, I do my best not to think about Selena naked in the shower or the fact that she’ll be staying with me at the ranch. A knock sounds before Reid pokes his head inside.
“Hey, I was hoping you would be awake. How’re you feeling?”
“Sore as fuck.”
He walks closer to the bed, taking a seat next to me, looking tired and haggard.
“How’s Cassidy?”
He blows out a long breath, relaxing back in the chair. “She’s going to be okay. They’ll release her in a few days. Bodie came by to talk to her.”
Bodie is Cassidy’s brother and Reid’s former best friend. They thought he was murdered six years ago but turns out he’d been hiding out in Mexico, working for the DEA and infiltrating Del Marco’s cartel.
“How’d that go?”
“I’m still pissed but I gotta find a way to make peace with this shit, for Cassidy at least.”
“You’ll find a way.”
“When are they letting you out?”
“Sometime in the morning,” I answer.
“You call Mom and Dad?”
“Not yet. I’ll wait until I get home. If I call now she’ll be on the first flight out here.”
He nods. “She’ll be pissed when she finds out later.”
“I’ll deal with it. I got other shit to worry about. I’m taking her back to Pop’s with me.”
“You think that’s a good idea?” he asks, eyeing me.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Well, for starters, she’s the drug lord’s stolen daughter.”
“Dead drug lord.”
“You really want to get technical right now? Not to mention, she’s only nineteen.”
“What does her age have to do with it?”
“Nothing. Listen, I just think you need to take a step back and look at this. You really have no idea the trauma she has been through and how much help she will need. Hell, you need all the help you can get right now, too. I just think you should tread carefully.”
“You think I don’t know that?” I snap, my patience wearing thin.
I see his point but I don’t care either. She needs help, and I want to be the one to give it to her.
Reid stands up. “I’m just looking out for you, brother. Let me know when they release you.”
I nod then he turns to leave.
Once the door shuts, the bathroom door opens. “Is everything okay?” she asks. Her dark hair hangs loosely around h
er shoulders, damp from the shower.
“Yeah, why?”
“I thought I heard someone in here and you sounded upset.”
“Reid stopped by, brother shit.”
She nods.
“I always wanted a brother or a sister,” she says sadly, sitting down in the chair next to me. “Is he your only sibling?”
I shake my head. “Hardly, I have five brothers and a pain in the ass sister.”
Selena beams, her smile making the room brighter. “I would love to hear about them.” She tucks her feet into the chair next to me, leaning in closer.
Goddamn, that voice, soft and sweet, her sexy Spanish accent curling around every word. Her eyes are locked firmly on mine, and I suck back a shot of air, clenching the sheet covering me. I know I should listen to my brother. I should be careful with her, not only because of what she’s been through but because she’s so young and vulnerable, and far too pure for the likes of me, but I can’t let her go.
And something in my chest tells me I never will.
Justin’s grandfather is exactly how he described. Head and beard full of salt and pepper hair, stubborn, smart, and cusses like a sailor. I can tell right away how much he loves his grandson. As soon as he sees him at the airport, he wraps his arms around him so tight it causes Justin to grunt.
“Easy, Pop. I was shot, remember?”
“Yeah, but you ain’t dead and that pain is worth the reminder to not get shot again.”
Justin grunts for a second time and it makes me smile.
“And who’s this lovely young lady you’ve brought home with you?”
“Pop, this is Selena.”
“Pleasure to meet ya, darlin’, Frank Martin.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Martin.”
“Please, call me Frank or Pop.”
“All right, Frank.” I don’t feel quite comfortable yet calling him Pop.
He smiles, taking the backpack from my hands that Justin bought for me this morning to put what I own inside. Which isn’t much. I’d taken nothing from my father’s home when I left except for the only photo I had of my mother that had been safely tucked between the pages of a Bible I read daily.
I tried to leave the memories of that horrible place behind too but it seems they were intent to follow me into my dreams. I woke up twice last night, shaking and sweating, thinking it was all a dream and I was back in that awful place again. Thankfully, Justin had been in a deep sleep due to the pain medication they were giving him so I didn’t disturb him. I’d lain awake and watched him sleep for hours, mesmerized by the peaceful look on his face. The way his long lashes fanned his cheeks. The rise and fall of his chest.