by Tory Baker
“You helped me out not too long ago with Cam. I’ll be on standby. Have fun, boys,” and he clicks off the line. I check to make sure my gun is ready as we pull in on the north side of the warehouse.
“You sure you’re okay?” Drake asks as I go to climb out.
“Yeah, you going to be okay here?” I respond, and he nods.
“Let’s go, princesses. We have a lady to rescue,” Bridger says.
“Someone should duct tape his mouth shut,” Travis grunts as the three of us make our way to the door, silent on our feet. Bridger clears the entrance then allows Travis in. I’m bringing up the rear, watching him get in place the entire time.
I can hear Eric’s piss-ant self, talking to Taylor, and it takes everything I have not to gut him like a stuck pig.
Our coms are in our ears, one of the things we did when we got ready on our way over. Travis is in place, so this is when I make my appearance known. I walk on steady feet the entire time. If anything happens to anyone, it’s going to be to Eric or to me, but with Travis and Bridger having my back, I feel like we have this under control.
“Eric,” I holler, getting his attention from the bound and gagged Taylor. He has her under a light and her arms and legs are tied to a chair. Tear stains mar her cheeks, fueling my anger for the fear and pain he’s caused her. When Eric realizes it’s me coming farther into the room, his face goes as white as a sheet.
“Slade, don’t come any closer or I’ll shoot her. If I can’t have her, then no one else will either.”
It pains me to not look at Taylor, but I need Eric’s attention on me for Travis to do his job. “I won’t, but why don’t you put your gun down and talk man to man?” I suggest.
“No, I know there are men all around. I bet we’re surrounded.” He does a full circle, waving his gun. I dive to Taylor, holding her head so she doesn’t knock it on the concrete floor. I hear the bullet whizzing through the air and the grunt of someone falling down. “Are you okay?” I ask Taylor as I gently pull the duct tape off her mouth.
“I am now. Who shot Eric? Why the hell did he take me? Where’s Leo?” She has a bruise forming on her forehead, her arms are scraped up as well as her knees.
“Travis took family leave. Apparently Eric had some sick infatuation with you. Leo’s in the hospital, but last we heard, he’ll make a full recovery. Which is where you’re going as soon as we can get you out of here,” I tell her as I unbind her wrists and ankles.
“I love you, Slade.” She tightens her arms around my neck, holding on tight. “I had no doubt you’d find me, none at all.” She kisses my jaw, and as much as I want to take her mouth, I need to get her the fuck out of here.
“Go, I’ll take care of the cops then meet you at the hospital. Travis already found the bullet and dug it out of the wall, so he’ll be going with you. Eric and I will be having a nice little discussion when the cops come rolling in,” Bridger suggests.
“Thanks, man. I owe you. You want me to see if Kellie will pick you up?”
“I got it covered. I texted her a bit ago. She’s picking up a truck and heading here now,” he says with a shrug.
I pick Taylor up, wrapping her in my arms and carry her outside to where Drake and Travis are already waiting.
“She’s got a nice goose egg on her forehead and a few scrapes. I’d feel better if she got checked out at the hospital,” I state as I slide in the back with Taylor in my arms.
“Travis Adam Daniels, what were you thinking coming home and not telling me?” she chastises from the backseat even though she’s groggy.
“What is up with her using middle names. Not to mention, how the hell did you get mine?” I ask her.
“Why don’t you ask Travis?” she pouts.
“Figures,” I grouse.
“I didn’t have much time. I still don’t. Wheels are back up in twenty-four hours. It’s best that we get the story straight that Bridger is telling the cops, so when they come and question you, we’re all on the same page,” Travis states, but he’s detached. Taylor hasn’t seen this side of him, and I know for a fact he never wanted her to see this side, but when you’re a trained sniper for the Navy Seals, you do what you have to. We get our story nailed down, and I can see Travis’ anger simmering on the edge, something I know I’ll have to deal with soon.
Eighteen
Taylor
“I can’t believe you brought me to the emergency room. I’m okay, Slade.” My body was trembling when we got here, which I’m sure was me coming down from the adrenaline rush, but Slade wasn’t having any of it.
“Do it to appease me, at least?” He rubs his hand down his face. Slade barged his way back in here with me, not even giving me a chance to plead my case. I take another look at him. The stress from today has aged him ten years in a matter of minutes.
“All right.” I nod my head in consent. I wonder where Travis went. The look on his face was like nothing I had ever seen.
“Is Travis okay?” My voice is weak. I’m not sure if it’s because I think he’s upset with us, or if it’s because he had to come home to help take care of a threat and lose time from his platoon.
“Yeah, Trouble, he’s okay. He just needs to calm down. Hell, I feel every bit of my thirty-two years right about now.” Slade comes to stand beside me while I’m lying in a hospital bed.
“I’m sorry, Slade. I’m so sorry you guys had to go through all of this.” Tears are gliding down my cheeks.
“Oh, Taylor, none of that. You did exactly what you should have, calling and texting. It helped Easton locate you sooner than if you hadn’t. If anyone should be sorry, it should be me.” His hip finds the edge of the bed, and feeling the heat radiating off of him gives me the calmness I need in this storm that has been our life today.
“Okay.”
Slade dries my tears that were running down my cheeks. He kisses me lightly. I’m seeking more when a throat clears, letting us know someone’s in the room with us.
“I swear if that is Travis, I’m hiding under the covers,” I whisper to Slade, not opening my eyes until I know who is in my room.
“You can open your eyes. It’s the doctor,” he says with a laugh. I open my eyes and watch as he gets off the bed and stands at his full height. Slade is a sight to behold. The way he stands says he’s ready for battle, but it also lets me know I’m safe with him. What happened today wasn’t anyone’s fault besides Eric’s. His five o’clock shadow is on full display, dark circles under his eyes mar his beautiful tanned skin, and his jaw ticks. The doctor looks me up and down, appraising my scrapes and the nice bruise on my forehead I’m sure is forming there.
“Hello, Miss. Daniels. I’m Doctor Pioneer. How are you feeling?” He offers his hand to shake, and I extend my hand to his, all the while hearing a growl coming from the man standing protectively at my right.
“Slade,” I murmur under my breath. “I’m good, ready to get home and in my own bed. No offense.”
“None taken, not a whole lot of people like being here. I’ll just look at your eyes and check you out, but from what the nurse said, you have no signs or symptoms of a concussion. That being said, I’d still like you to be watched throughout the night, just in case anything arises,” he states, looking at Slade.
“Not a problem.” Slade’s voice is stoic, and I have a feeling he is going to take watching over me to the utmost extreme.
Doctor Pioneer checks my eyes, ears, and throat before looking over the scrapes that the nurse already put a salve on, then says, “Everything looks good to me. I’ll have the nurse bring in your discharge papers.”
“Thank you,” Slade says before I can get out my thanks. Instead, I nod. The doctor takes one last look at the both of us before making his exit.
“Growl much?” I raise my eyebrows at Slade.
“He was doing more than looking with his eyes, Trouble.”
I roll my eyes at that comment alone. “How’s Leo? Can we go upstairs and see how everyone is doing?” I slide my
legs over the edge of the bed, standing. I’m tired of sitting on my ass.
“Last I heard, he’s out of surgery. The first thing he asked was how you were doing. Fucker, he scared the shit out of us all. I think I may need to put him on desk duty for the time being, though—something he’ll fight us all on tooth and nail.” Slade fists his hair at the base of his neck. I stand and step right into his arms, snaking my arms around his middle. This time it’s me giving him the comfort he so clearly needs.
“Hey, we’re all okay. Everyone’s quick thinking helped everyone. We’ll go check on them all, and then I’m sure I’ll have to answer to the police still too. After that though, I really want a shower and our bed.” I look into his eyes. This time he gives me what I want, and his mouth meets mine. The chaste kiss earlier barely held me over. Slade gives in, not backing down. Instead his mouth is owning mine, much like his body, heart, and soul already owns me.
When we pull apart, we’re both breathless, and some of the spark has returned to his eyes. It makes me fall in love with him all over again.
“I love you, Slade.” I’ll probably tell him this every hour of every day until I can get over the thought of not hearing it back when I wasn’t sure what was going on.
“I love you, Taylor. Get those thoughts out of your mind. I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you. We have the rest of our lives to plan out—marriage, babies, growing old together. I want it all with you by my side.”
“You’re going to make me cry, then I’ll really look like a mess. I want that Slade, and I can’t wait to see what else comes our way in this life together,” I reply. The nurse coming in halts our conversation. I sign all the documents; she hands me a prescription for the salve they put on my cuts and scrapes, then leaves as fast as she came.
“Ready to go see the gang?” Slade asks.
“Yeah, maybe I’ll get to see Travis while we’re up there. I hate that he only gets to be here for a day,” I say with hopefulness.
“He’ll be back home before you know it.” He guides me out of the room toward the elevator that will lead us to Leo’s floor. When the elevator door opens, Travis steps out. He sees the hold Slade has on my waist and his eyes narrow.
“Well, this isn’t awkward at all,” I blow out. “If you two are going to fight, go somewhere else. I’ve had enough violence for one day.” I disentangle from Slade, letting them both know I won’t stand for it.
“Taylor,” Travis grunts out.
I roll my eyes. “I don’t want to hear it. If you hurt him, I’ll never forgive you. Slade, I love you. Please remember you two were friends at one point in time. Travis, you’re my brother, but I’m a woman, not a child that you need to shield everything from anymore.” With that final statement, I punch the elevator button and the doors close, leaving them standing there with their mouths hanging wide open.
Nineteen
Slade
“Did that just fucking happen?” I ask out loud, not to Travis in particular, for my ears mainly. We start walking to the exit so as not to cause a scene inside the hospital.
“Yep, I should kick your ass. Hell, I still may. You could have at least told me what was going on before I got home and had to see that shit for myself or hear about it from that dipshit, Bridger.” Travis is pissed. If I’m being honest, he has every right to be.
“You’re right. As much as it pains me to say it, we should have.” I push open the exit door and we step out into a small parking lot. “What Taylor and I both wanted was for you to stay focused while you were over there and not to worry about anything stateside. Believe me, as soon as you were home and safe, we were going to tell you,” I tell him. My stance is relaxed, but I’m not an idiot. I know what’s coming.
“That’s mighty high and mighty of y’all, thinking I can’t handle shit while I’m in the thick of things.” His hands are clenched.
“I’m giving you one chance to hit me, because, if I had a sister, I’d be in your same situation and do the same thing. But any more than that, I’m hitting back.” We took our conversation outside of the hospital and around the corner. Both of us knowing what the other expects. If the situation were reversed, my actions would mirror his.
No sooner than I say that, Bridger comes around the corner. “Oh, goodie. I’m here before the fun begins.”
“Shut up,” Travis and I say at the same time, neither of us wanting to hear his shit.
“What makes you think you’re good enough for my sister?” Travis barks out.
“I don’t think I am, but I’ll tell you one thing. I’ll make damn sure I give her everything I have to give and then some,” I reply.
We’re at a standstill, not saying a word, just two stubborn men. One Seal brother to another, each with good and bad qualities.
Travis’s gaze goes to Bridger. “Hey, I’m just here to watch. I’m sure Taylor would love to know you two are acting like heathens.” He shakes his head.
“Don’t start. I have plenty of dirt on you wanting a certain blonde-haired woman in our office,” I grunt.
“What the fuck ever. Get this over with so I can take you two idiots back to Taylor and take that certain blonde-haired woman home.” Bridger makes his way off, looking at home beside the brick building, leaning on it like he’s waiting for entry into a movie.
I brace myself, knowing what’s coming. “One hit, Travis.” I wait for him to get his one lick, but when he hits me in the jaw it’s harder than I anticipated. The knee to my stomach, though? That was a pussy ass move and has me hitting him in the jaw back.
Travis goes to knee me in the stomach again, but I’ve already grabbed him by the collar. I get a lick of my own in against his jaw before Bridger barks, “Enough! Travis, go take a walk.” The normally easygoing, calm one is pissed off; that’s something I don’t see all that often.
I hold my tongue, not saying a damn thing. Bridger is right, but I have one more thing to say before he takes a walk to calm the hell down. “I’m asking Taylor to marry me soon. I hope we’ll have your blessing, but I’m telling you now, even if we don’t, I’m still making her mine.”
Travis turns around, glares at me, shakes his head, and then leaves. I can’t read the look on his face. He doesn’t look upset; it’s a look of he’s not going back upstairs, but instead is walking down the street.
“Do me a favor, please?” I ask Bridger.
“Sure.” He nods.
“Take him where he intends to go while you take Kellie home. I don’t need a frogman going off half-cocked before he’s due back on base tomorrow.” I shake my head in disbelief.
“Not a problem. I’ll walk with you back upstairs and grab Kellie, then go find the dumb ass. He knew you liked Taylor a long time ago. I think shit is getting to him. He’s ready to finish his tour out. At least, that’s what I got from what he said before you walked into the office today.” He shrugs his shoulders.
Maybe there’s more going on with Travis than Taylor and I know about. “Let’s hope he gets a handle on things then. If not, I’ll man up and talk to him,” I admit. If Taylor finds out something is wrong, she’ll want to go off and find him, but I can’t have that. Not tonight at least.
Twenty
Taylor
“I can’t believe that jerk wouldn’t even answer my phone call. Who does he think he is? He comes home for what, twenty-four hours and then just disappears? If that were me, he’d have the fucking National Guard out looking for me.” I’m exasperated. My hands are waving in the air and this time it’s me that’s pacing when it’s usually Slade.
“Calm down, baby. Bridger picked him up and took him to the hotel. Let him cool off, and we’ll go see him tomorrow before he heads back to base. He got it out. Shit my stomach is feeling the brunt of it.” Slade didn’t mention that Travis got him in the stomach, I only saw the bruise forming on his jawline.
“What do you mean your stomach? I’m going to throat punch my brother.” I stop my pacing, go to Slade, and lift up his shirt unti
l he helps me peel it off of him. What I see mortifies me.
“I’m okay, Taylor.” He’s the one reassuring me, when really, I should be doing that to him. His stomach is already turning different shades of blue and purple, marring his beautiful skin.
“I’m really going to hurt my brother. All of this because we found each other when my world was imploding. Selfish jerk,” I grumble while lightly touching his skin.
“Taylor, he’s fine. He got it out. He’s safe and probably passed out asleep in his hotel room. Travis will be hurting tomorrow though, he’ll probably be knocking on our door bright and early, so let’s get a shower and call it a night. I know you’re tired because I’m fucking whooped, Trouble.” He kicks off his shoes, unbuckles his belt and drops his pants, giving me the surprise of my life. My man went commando today.
“You left the house like that?” I question.
“As if you don’t have anything underneath your clothes that isn’t sinful as hell. I see the packages that come to the door, Taylor. You’re not fooling me. What I want to know though, is what exactly is wrapped around your sinful body today?” He stands before me naked, stroking his length while I’m stuck in a daze.
“What do you mean I’m not fooling you? How many packages do you know about?”
“Babe, our home has security cameras in every corner of the house on the outside. How haven’t you seen them?” I guess that answers my question. I’m shocked I’ve been so oblivious.
“I’ve been busy, okay.” I cock my hip out, placing my hand on it.
“Get undressed. I want to see what you’re wearing for me tonight,” he groans. I carefully take my hair down, shaking it out of its bun from earlier today, slowly unbutton each button on my blouse before untucking it from my skirt. Our eyes collide, and he licks that lower lip of his. When my shirt falls to the floor, I kick off my heels, groaning in happiness as my feet clench in the soft carpet beneath me.