by Louise Dawn
“Eleven—including Arabic, Portuguese, Urdu, Russian, Swahili, Somali and Hausa.” He noted her goose bumps as he paused to suck the curve of her bosom, so he repeated the action with an added tongue swirl.
She sighed. “Because of the Dutch, I’m sure you have a handle on the Afrikaans language?”
Max settled back into the pillow. “It’s fairly similar to Dutch. I also learn differently. Teachers at school thought I may be slightly autistic. Turns out I process things non-conformably. I didn’t fit in with the other kids—even with my siblings—my white-picket-fence family battled to connect with me.”
Abby rolled over and stroked his chest as she listened.
“I was an active child like my brothers but wasn’t socially normal, preferring to isolate myself. I finally figured out the act of normalcy in my teenage years and made new friends. Much to my mother’s horror, I was a little rebel except it was all an act; I just learned how to hide the freak in me.”
“Don’t ever call yourself that,” Abby said.
“I don’t mind the term now, back then it was a different story. Joining the military was my way of proving I was a typical badass. Funnily enough, my skills were highly sought after in Special Forces units and still remain extremely useful for my career.”
“Do you miss your family when you’re away for such long periods?”
“Sometimes, but they lead a different life. Their world consists of livestock, Sunday lunches and church…and having tribes of babies. I can’t always connect. The best part of my job is exploring new cultures, traveling across continents, whereas they’ve settled into a different rhythm, a clan of homebodies I have little in common with. But I love and would die for every one of them, even if I’m still the weirdo of the bunch.”
Abby stroked his jaw. “I know that travel bug well, it bit me in the ass as a teenager. Maybe it’s meant to be. Two exotic nerds colliding and getting their freak on.”
“Hey.” Max laughed. “Who’s calling who a nerd. Don’t lump me in the same category as you, Miss artsy fartsy Nike wannabee.”
“Oh. Now I’m the only nerd in this bed. Scoot your hunky butt over, I have a shower to get to.”
“If you wanted more bathroom action, Miss Evans, you just had to ask. Lead the way, sweet cheeks.”
That tender moment—Abby grinning as they stumbled across the room—nearly stopped his hardened heart. Max wanted to snatch up this foreign practice and make it routine, but Donnie’s text message scratched up those rose-tinted glasses.
We have a problem. Be here in five.
◊ ◊ ◊
The somber mood in the room put Max on edge as he walked through the door. “What’s happened?”
“Nothing good, boss. We’re done here.”
“What are you talking about? SITREP.”
“Khalid isn’t coming to Johannesburg. He has his hands full back in East Africa. There’s been a split in his Somalian cell. His second in command, Roman Petrovich, went on the run with some of Khalid’s faction. Khalid is hunting them down.”
This created major complications.
“You have confirmation?” Max said.
“An informant delivered video footage of the fallout between the two groups. Shit went down at an Al-Shabaab training facility, in the Bakool region.”
“Do we have positive identification on Roman and Khalid in the video?”
“It’s shaky and grainy. A side view of Roman firing on Khalid’s soldiers and a shadowed image of Khalid taking cover behind a structure.”
“I’ll need to see it.”
“Affirmative. I spoke to HQ. Our analysts believe this shake-up will tie Khalid up for at least the next twelve months as he loses control of his small empire. Rumors are that Khalid has retreated deeper into Al-Shabaab territory. Locating his son will be put on his back burner until he’s regained control. We’ll be reassigned, most likely heading to Nairobi after the debriefing.”
The Sandpiper had, yet again, slipped through their grasp. It would be months before they got a handle on his shadowy whereabouts. Abby and Gabe were back in limbo, at the whims of the US Government and could end up anywhere.
Johnny threw down the file. “Son of bitch is as slippery as a slope filled with good intentions.”
“We go over the new intel with a fine-tooth comb. Grab a coffee and let’s do this.”
The prospect of telling Abby made Max feel ill. She deserved a normal life, not one with years on the run.
◊ ◊ ◊
All the men were gone, and they’d never left her alone before. Slater initially replaced Max on guard duty, and then thirty minutes later, a grim-faced Slater walked out the door. It felt all wrong.
Sitting nervously at the breakfast counter and playing with her yogurt wasn’t doing Abby much good. Relying on others to plan her fate didn’t sit well. The sudden isolation was also getting to her. How had she gotten so used to having the big men around? Was she safe?
Feeling vulnerable, Abby checked that the doors and windows were secure and wandered back to the sitting room. For the first time in forever, she switched the television on. The background noise felt comforting. She soon lost interest, was staring vaguely at the wall when Max turned the key in her door. The three other men filed in behind. Judging from the looks on their faces, Abby wouldn’t like what they had to say.
“I told the team about us,” Max said.
And that wasn’t what she was expecting.
“I told them I’m not leaving your side. Until you’re safe, I’ll go where you go.”
Slater stepped to the side. “You’re family, Abby. We’re here for you every step of the way.”
That sounded dire.
“What’s going on. What’s changed?”
“Khalid won’t be looking for Gabriel.”
“What are you talking about?”
Max spoke up. “The Sandpiper’s network is falling apart, there’s dissension in the ranks. Khalid Al Juhani is in Somalia. Around sixty of his soldiers are dead. Killed in a shootout at a training range. It’s estimated that half of his three hundred fighters have joined up with Roman Petrovich, a high-ranking member of his cell.”
Donnie leaned against the wall. “Khalid is fighting for survival so finding Gabriel is his last priority.”
“What you’re telling me is—”
“We’re wrapping up the mission. We’ll be heading out in a couple of days, back to East Africa.”
This wouldn’t ever be over. Cowering underground was always going to be their life. Her son would never be free of his father, Abby was back to fighting this all on her own. Only when Max lifted her up did Abby realize she’d sunk to the rug.
“I’m right here, baby.”
“No, you’re not. You have a job to do.”
Max tried to lower her into an armchair. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Abby shoved him away. “You don’t have a choice. Would you give up your career to go into hiding with me?”
“If I have to. You’re my responsibility. You and Gabe.”
“That’s such crap, your entire life has been about your job. You haven’t even met Gabe, the son of the man you despise most in this world. The son of the man who killed your friend.”
“Don’t do this,” Max ground out.
Bitterness came rushing out. “You’ll despise him. He has his father’s eyes, and his hair. All thick and curly.”
“I’ve seen Gabe’s photos, I know what he looks like,” Max said carefully.
“Why do that to yourself? Saddle yourself with a scarred woman and her Al Juhani son.” Right at that moment Abby despised herself. Max looked ready to throttle her. “Don’t look at me like that. You know what I am.”
“How dare you color yourself with that crock of shit. All of us standing in this room know who you are and don’t need to build you up by kissing ass. You’re a strong woman and a damn good mother, however it’s clear what you think of me, I’m obviously a waste of your ti
me.”
“I never freaking said that! What are you talking about?”
“You think that little of me that I don’t have the capacity to love an innocent boy. That I won’t treat him like he’s my own?”
“I don’t know what to think. I don’t know what normal is, this whole being with someone forever and building a white picket fence. It’s moving so quickly, I need a minute here!”
“Yes, ma’am, and you’ve got it.” Max turned to walk out.
“I won’t ruin your life over this, you’ve worked too hard to get to where you’re at. I’m a destroyer of lives.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. My life is better with you in it—sadly you don’t feel the same way.” Then he was gone.
Slater walked past and swatted her on the arm. “That was fascinating. All that was missing was popcorn. Now I need to use the head.”
Abby threw herself into the armchair.
John headed to the kitchen. “This calls for cookies, what have you got stashed away?”
“Go away. Leave me to wallow in misery.”
Cabinets squeaked open. “I’m hoping for chocolate chip.”
He was always hoping for chocolate chip. The darn man had eaten her out of house and home.
Abby groaned and rolled to her feet. “Well, you’re looking in the wrong place. There’s a cookie tin on the counter. If you’re going to raid the kitchen, make yourself useful and make me a hot chocolate.”
John mumbled something between bites. Besides feeding the beast living in his stomach, Abby knew what he was doing. John was distracting her with sugar, and it worked. God bless the man.
◊ ◊ ◊
The following afternoon, Abby stepped back from the painting, pleased with her progress. So what if she’d been moping for the past twenty-four hours. At least she had an outlet for the heartache. The canvas was the best cure for despondency. Slapping paint onto a white surface was uniquely satisfying, giving her time to think.
Shame pecked at her conscience when she thought back to the harsh words spoken in her epic moment of panic. An apology was needed. Could you buy a man flowers? That might not go down so well in the alpha dojo across the street. Doubtful that they even owned a vase.
Pride kept her anchored to the easel. Maybe she’d paint a little longer. Abby dabbed the brush into a pale-yellow mix and applied a highlight to the elephant’s hide.
“That’s unbelievable.”
The paintbrush jerked, and the paint dab went wild.
“Don’t sneak up on me like some kind of shifty ninja,” Abby said, cleaning up the mess.
“I’m naturally shifty, get used to it.” Max stepped into the room, admiring her work. “Your talent blows me away, that elephant looks like it could charge right at you.” He moved closer to examine the delicate brushstrokes.
“He’s a beauty. Pity I won’t be able to finish him before my life explodes.”
“Your life won’t explode. I’m there to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“You still want to be in the same room as me after I said all those awful things? I thought you’d stay away for the rest of the assignment.”
Max eyeballed the detailed hide of the elephant. “You won’t get rid of me that easily.”
“I was so mean. What I said was horribly unfair and it’s not how I see you.” Abby waited for a response while Max still stared at the large painting.
Finally, he looked at her. “Give me your hand.”
“My hand?”
“I want to show you something.”
Abby pulled the dirty apron off and followed Max out to the street. He tugged her towards their apartment.
Abby slowed her stride. “Am I allowed to go in there? Don’t you have classified things lying about?”
“It was the big cleanup today, so restricted materials have been sealed or destroyed. All that’s left is the surveillance station, which we’re utilizing until we leave. We do have some laptops and an iPad lying about if you want to steal one and get one over on me.”
“I’ve gotten one over on you before…with an apple of a different variety.”
Max chuckled. “The team will never let me live that down.”
Once inside, Donnie gave her a passing wave from his computer. Max pulled her into one of the bedrooms.
A stuffed green frog sat in the middle of the bed. Correction, it engulfed the entire bed.
“Is that what I think it is?”
“Yep.”
“How on earth—”
“Gotta love online shopping. There’s a place in Johannesburg that makes giant, stuffed—oomf.”
Max suddenly had an arm full of woman. Abby clung to him like a monkey, planting a giant smacker on his lips.
“Do you think Gabe will like it?” Max managed to get out between kisses.
“Are you kidding me? He’ll adore it. Thank you, thank you, thank you. When did you order it?”
“After our movie night.”
Abby pulled his head down for another long kiss. His tongue mated deliciously with hers. He pulled her closer, his erect cock nudging against her stomach. She reached down and stroked it through his cargo pants.
Max groaned. “This is the best thank-you I’ve ever received. Hands down.”
“That’s the best gift I’ve ever been given,” Abby countered with another stroke of her thumb.
“Interesting. I think I have myself a low-maintenance woman.”
“I’m your woman?”
“As long as you’ll have me.” Max took his time pillaging her mouth before muttering. “As much as I’m enjoying your incredible hand fondling me, we’d better slow it down. The Hardy Boys are probably lurking around every corner.”
Abby gave his heated member one last stroke before stepping back. “Where does this leave us, Gabe and I?”
“It leaves you both with me. It just takes planning.”
“Ever heard that saying, ‘The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry’?”
“Well, you’re not a timid mouse, and I’m a tier one man.”
“Tier one?”
“It’s a military term. I’ve run over our options and there are two viable scenarios.”
“Well, that’s two more than I have,” Abby said. “I cannot leave Gabe where he is and Noleen needs to get on with her life. She may be his Godmother, but she’s done way more than she should ever be expected to. What’s the first scenario?”
“We all fly to Cape Town, secure Gabe and then probably head to Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti for the debriefing before heading Stateside. I’ll take three months’ worth of vacation time—”
“Hold it. Three months, are you insane?”
“I have accrued vacation, a load of PTO days I’ve never used.”
“What about your team or your next mission?” Abby asked.
“MIT has procedures in place for an individual team member who needs to take leave. Another team leader would stand in.” Max wandered over to the window, staring at nothing in particular. “I’d use the time off to set up a safe house with rotating security teams. Once I’ve secured the both of you, I’d head back to Africa to hunt Khalid and make it a priority to put him out of commission.”
Abby sat on the bed and pulled the giant frog into her lap. “Rotating security teams. You mean like bodyguards?”
“That’s exactly right. They’d be men I know or have personally vetted.”
“That sounds ridiculously expensive, especially if it takes time to eliminate the threat. How could we afford that?’
Max looked sheepish. “Remember when I said my family owns a ranch? Well, the ranch is more like a large farm, it’s actually a number of large farms in Colorado.”
“How large are we talking?” Abby asked warily.
“Spanning over 120,000 acres of land. One of the largest cattle ranches in the US. My family employs 70 people. Their total worth is more than $1.1 billion.”
Abby stared at him as if he’d grown two h
eads.
Max continued, “I’ve never been involved in the business, but my dad insisted on giving me 15,000 acres. Selling just a third of that would secure a safe house with all the trimmings and no limits on security measures.”
“You’re not selling your land for us.”
Max leaned forward and stroked her neck. “It’s my land, and I can do with it what I want. I’ve never had much use for fancy trappings. Using the money to protect us is the easiest decision I’ve ever made.”
“I come with baggage. I’m a single mother on the run from one of the most dangerous men on the planet. How can you want this?”
“I’ve never been afraid of unbeatable odds. If I were afraid, I wouldn’t be doing this job. Stop underestimating your value and start fighting for us. Fight with me by your side.”
“What is the other plan? Scenario two?” Abby asked instead.
“You’re a stubborn wench.” Max kissed her palm. “I’m not a fan of this option, but it’s your decision. We collect Gabe, have the debriefing. You’ll be presented with the option to be placed in WITSEC—Witness Protection. You’ll disappear into the system. I’ll continue tracking Khalid with every tool at my disposal. Once he’s eliminated, I’ll return to the States to find you.”
Abby paused in stroking the frog’s tummy. “How on earth would you find us?”
“I have a high-level connection in WITSEC,” Max said.
“Why don’t you like this plan?”
“Because your safety will be out of my control and I’d be trusting strangers with your life. WITSEC has been compromised in the past. It’s rare but it happens. Anyone can be bought. Families threatened. By the time I found out, it would be too late.”
“I trust our lives with you. Let’s go with the first option.” Gabe’s safety came first. Abby refused to examine the second reason—spending more time with Max. She stood up and placed the frog back on the bed.
Max pulled her in for a tight hug. The safest place she’d ever known was in his arms. Forgetting the terror, Abby tucked her head into his neck.
“That’s not even the biggest challenge we have,” Max muttered into her hair.
“What’s the biggest challenge?” Abby asked, snuggling in.