Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Saving Lorelei (Kindle Worlds Novella)
Page 11
He stood, reaching for his phone as they entered the bathroom. They showered quick, and she dressed in a dark pants suit. His eyes didn’t stray from her as she pulled on her clothes.
“Like what you see?” she asked.
“Oh yeah. I’m thinking how nice it’ll be to strip that off you later.”
She stared at him, amazed he was still thinking about sex. Then she rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“What?” Liam asked. “You’re beautiful. Amazing. You’re like this beautiful, amazing woman who deserves so much more than I could ever offer.”
She turned on him, her anger rising. “Don’t say that. You are wonderful and amazing.”
He shook his head and his expression changed, his emotions were shuttered, hidden from her, and he was like that husk of a man with no light in his eyes. “Last night, I attacked when you touched me.”
She moved to him, touching his shoulder. His gaze lifted, and a small spark was lit somewhere inside him. The husk was filling with his soul again.
“But you didn’t hurt me. You figured it out and slowed,” she said evenly.
His gaze flicked over her body and his lips quivered. “You promise you’re not hurt?”
“I’m fine. Really, Liam, I’m okay.”
His eyes narrowed, and his lips thinned. “Okay, but I swear I never want to hurt you. If you’re scared, tell me.”
She placed her hand on the center of his chest, her gaze steady on him. She wanted him to understand she trusted him, loved him. The word shot through her and she sucked in a breath. Did she love him? Did she really love Liam?
“Is something wrong?”
The urge to hide her revelation washed over her, but she met his gaze and opened her mouth then closed it. He didn’t move, just waited with his gaze on her. Courage drove her forward.
“I care a lot about you. I want you here. I know that sounds a little crazy. I shouldn’t be telling you to bring things here, like a change of clothes, toothbrush, or any of your other things you need to get ready in the morning, but I want to wake up with you next to me.”
He cupped the side of her face. “I have a small place, it’s mine, but small. Your house is larger. I don’t want to assume—”
“I want you here.”
“Okay, so we both want to be together, is that right?”
“Yes.”
The smile on his lips, the warmth in his eyes, made her feel alive. She smiled back and closed the distance between them. When they parted, his gaze was still warm, his smile wide.
“You need to get to work and I need to get to the base. I’ll probably be late tonight.”
“I’ll make something for dinner.”
“Just don’t wait on me. It could be a very long day.”
How would living with this man be? Not that they were really living together, just sometimes he would spend the night. God, she was taking this way too fast, but she needed Liam. No man had ever been close enough for her to want to live with them. Liam was different. Having him in her bed had been comforting, but it was more than just the comfort, there was the sex. He turned her inside out, taking her higher than she’d ever been before. She wanted to get to know him, and maybe him spending a few nights a week over here would help with that process.
10
Deciding to move at least some of his stuff to Lorelei’s place was easy. She made him feel, which was exceptional. After his mom had died and he’d not had a home, he’d learned to stuff everything, keeping his feelings closed up, his words few, his life hidden, but Lorelei made him want to live in the open. He wanted to let her see inside his soul. Before Lorelei, he’d thought he was too damaged, but now he felt different about everything.
They fit well together. His job was crazy, but not once had she demanded to know more when he said he couldn’t tell her about his missions or what happened at work. He’d moved most of the clothes he liked over to her place and a few other things he needed to get ready in the morning.
When he’d decided to tell Ghost and the rest of the guys about Lorelei, he’d been so nervous his hands had been sweating and shaking. Beatle told him he was crazy, but Ghost pulled him aside and congratulated him. Having Ghost’s approval felt good. Maybe he shouldn’t think of Ghost as a father, he was his boss, his commanding officer, but he was so much more. He looked up to the man and was inspired by him.
“You know, it’s tough. You have to work at it. I love Rayne, she’s the best and though we have to work at our relationship, I wouldn’t give up my time with her for anything. It’s taken some getting used to on her part—you know, with the missions and stuff, but she’s an amazing woman.”
He nodded slowly then turned and met Ghost’s gaze. “Lorelei is an amazing woman.”
Ghost’s lips twitched up. “Good. Then do what you can to keep her.”
That night, he held Lorelei closer than usual. When she questioned him, he said he couldn’t bear to let her go.
The preliminary hearings for the men who’d survived robbing the bank had started. It was a sore spot for Lorelei. She didn’t want to think about the robbery, but she would have to give testimony along with some of the other people who’d been there. She was terrified, and though she didn’t say the words, he could see the worry all over her face and in her eyes. When he asked, she put up a brave front and told him she was fine, but he knew better.
The two men had pled not guilty. They’d been caught red-handed, but the jerks were going for trial. He didn’t like that the survivors would be put through another round of reliving the events from that day. For him, it had been normal, for people like Lorelei, the fear was still there. Lorelei had come through fairly well with little to no trauma, but sometimes he saw a haunted look in her eyes. He knew she hadn’t asked him to move in because of the robbery, but he sensed she felt safer with him there.
He was trying hard to talk more around her. There were times when she’d ask a question and he would shrug. She would roll her eyes and kiss his forehead, then cup his cheeks and tell him he needed to state his preference. But he didn’t really have any preference for some things because he’d never really been allowed to have one. Decisions like chicken tacos versus beef weren’t things he gave a second thought to. He’d learned to eat what people put in front of him. In the military, he had no choice. You ate food for fuel, that’s all. He got that she liked giving him choices, but he really needed to sit down and have a talk with her about how he didn’t care what they ate, as long as he got to eat with her.
They’d just finished a four-mile run and a light PT session with their hands zip-cuffed in front of them when he headed to his bag to check his phone. He saw one message from Lorelei. The trial started. I’ve been called as a witness. I’m up in an hour or so. My phone is in my car. Love you.
He stared at the words for a long while. She hadn’t said love you to his face, and this was the first time she’d sent a message telling him she loved him. Was it the trial, or were her sentiments true? He had to take her at her word. All the little cues had pointed to her loving him.
“You gonna marry that phone?” Beatle asked.
He glanced up and hit the power button, blanking the screen. Beatle’s question didn’t really warrant an answer so he just rolled his eyes and shook his head as he grabbed his towel. After stowing his clothes, he hit the shower, wondering if Lorelei would want to go out, or better, he should pick up something and they could stay at home where she could relax and talk. Unlike him, she could talk about her day. In the comfort of her home she could talk openly. They could stay in and allow her to work through her emotions about the trial.
“See you guys around,” Liam called out before he left the building. He decided on calling in an order when Lorelei texted that she’d finished testifying and was going back to work for a bit. He sent her a note, saying he would pick up food for them after he stopped by his place to pick up a few things. He was planning on leasing his place since he and Lorelei were getting alo
ng so well. He wanted to get the house ready over time instead of devoting one weekend to moving out and cleaning it.
One of his neighbors, Marie, stopped him and asked for help changing a lightbulb in her entryway. Marie was fairly old, and he knew she didn’t have anyone around to help her so he agreed. He had to dig her ladder out of her garage since he’d already moved his to Lorelei’s place. Then Marie started talking, asking him questions about where he’d been, what he was doing, and what his plans were for his house.
He felt his phone buzz and smiled. Lorelei was done at work. Marie kept talking, and he was half listening as he decided between Mexican food and Italian. Lorelei really liked baked ziti and there was a place not too far away that made an awesome ziti, and as a bonus, the restaurant usually was fast.
It took him another twenty minutes to break away from Marie. When he got to his truck, he pulled out his phone and called in the order. At the restaurant, he had to wait because they were busy. Though he’d texted Lorelei, he hadn’t heard back from her. Hopefully, she was drinking a big glass of wine or something stronger. Tonight, he would treat her to a massage. After getting the food he rushed out to his truck, ready to get this ball rolling.
11
Lorelei hated being in the courtroom with the assholes who’d robbed the bank. She felt dirty just looking at the guys. The note from Liam made her day. He would make dinner and she wouldn’t have to do anything.
Somehow, she’d driven home from the bank and didn’t remember a thing as her mind drifted. When she pulled into her driveway, she got out and clicked her car door locks before heading inside. She had the front door almost closed when it was pushed hard, slamming into her shoulder. The force caused her to stumble to the side and twist her ankle as the heel on one of her shoes gave way. She reached out, grabbing onto the wall as she sank to the floor, coming down hard.
Her eyes swept up and she recoiled, her arms moving fast to pull her away from the guys who’d shoved her door open. She screamed, but nothing came out. This was worse than the terrifying moments in the bank after the first shots had exploded in the building.
“You can’t get away from us. You killed my brother, and now, we’re going to kill you,” one of the guys said.
She sputtered as she scrambled to get away. “I didn’t kill anyone.”
“You were there,” the guy sneered at her, his lips turning down in a harsh frown.
She shook her head as she tried to escape. Trying to stand was a mistake. Pain shot up her leg as she placed weight on her foot. She couldn’t run. A fist slammed into her chest and she grunted as she fell and hit the floor. Fire exploded through her chest and down her spine. She gasped for air as her brain came close to blanking out.
Both men laughed as they stepped further into her house. One of the guys squatted beside her, his fingers grazing over her arm as lust darkened his eyes. “First, I’m gonna have some fun.”
Horror washed over her, and she slid to the side, trying to get away from him. It wasn’t any use, but that didn’t stop her hands from pulling her backwards as she searched for an escape. She’d forgotten about the other man until his boot-clad foot came down hard on her fingers. Agony filled her, and she fell back on her elbows as she cried out. The crunch of her bones made her stomach turn. Pain flashed hot, making her sweat. She pulled her hand up to her chest as she sucked in air.
Both men were laughing, their lecherous smiles loomed above. If she’d eaten, she knew she would throw up. The thought of either of these men touching her was so repulsive she couldn’t breathe. They would kill her and before they did, they’d make sure she hated herself first.
Where was her phone? Why hadn’t she ever installed a security system? Why had she agreed to testify at the trial? She should have said she couldn’t, that she knew nothing, but some sense of duty to protect the public had filled her. Now she would die because these men blamed her for their brother trying to rob a bank.
“I wanna see what she’s got in her jewelry box. You can have her first. I just want to do her ass,” the guy who’d smashed her fingers said before he stomped off.
The other man began unbuckling his belt as he stared at her. She wasn’t going to make this easy. She may have a few broken fingers, and her ankle may be toast, but she would find a way to fight this jerk.
12
Liam’s stomach rolled as heat washed over him. He wanted to throw up. Had he eaten something bad on base? The disgusting feeling filled him again. He almost stopped his truck, but he kept going, pushing through as he drove to Lorelei’s house. He’d wanted to treat his girlfriend, but now he’d be on her floor in the bathroom hugging the toilet.
He made it to her street and it was like he’d hit a brick wall. Air was sucked from his lungs when he saw a car that didn’t belong parked in front of her house. It was crazy that he was suspicious of a weird car, but that wasn’t the most distressing thing. The door to Lorelei’s house was open, setting off even more alarm bells. He wanted to jump out and rush in, but he parked his truck two houses over. He eased out, making as little noise as possible. Before he shut the door to his truck, he grabbed his Glock, making sure it was loaded. He also grabbed his thigh harness and slipped it on. He’d left it out because he wanted to adjust and clean the harness before bed tonight.
He moved slow and steady, paying attention to everything. The sick feeling was gone and now he wondered if it wasn’t sickness, but some connection he had with Lorelei that had set him off.
When he looked through the kitchen curtains, he saw nothing. He made his way slowly around to the front of the house, glancing in the windows. The locks he’d repaired were working against him. He could have silently slid into one of the windows in the kitchen and no one in the house would have known.
When he edged around the corner and glanced into the living room window, rage so hot it almost made him shout filled him. Going in angry wouldn’t do him any good. He settled, studying the situation. There were two guys, one of them big, the other smaller. They were looking at Lorelei like she was a piece of meat.
Think. Ghost’s voice filled his head. He wanted to rip these guys apart, but he needed to remain calm so he made no mistakes. He slowed down and watched for a moment as he studied the information in front of him.
He had to disable one of the men. His opportunity came when one guy left the room where Lorelei was. Liam moved quickly and efficiently. He entered the house by the front door that had been left open, making close to no noise. He slipped into the hall where the other guy had disappeared. Liam pushed down his rage and focused on the mission and snuck up on the jerk heading to Lorelei’s bedroom.
He didn’t have time to ask this idiot what he was doing. The man had to be on the floor, his lights out, so he could save Lorelei.
Liam moved like lightning, striking the man fast and efficiently. Though he didn’t care if the guy hit his head on the way down, he didn’t want to make any noise, so he grabbed the guy and lowered him to the floor. He had zip ties in the pocket of his holster since they’d been working with their hands bound today. He cinched the ties around the jerk’s wrists before heading to the living room.
The sound of Lorelei telling the guy to go to hell warmed his heart. She wasn’t giving up though her situation was desperate. He liked the fight she gave.
“You’re gonna regret hitting me, little girl. I’m gonna be rough on you. You’re gonna be sorry,” the guy drawled, his accent thick.
“Not as much as you’re going to regret touching me,” Lorelei spat back.
Liam moved into the room so neither Lorelei nor the asshole heard. He could tell by the way Lorelei was holding her hand that she was hurt. Her ankle looked puffy, but otherwise she looked okay. Her clothes hadn’t been tugged off or ripped, so though this guy was threatening to do something, he didn’t think the man had accomplished anything yet.
“Now, time to get rid of your pants,” the asshole said.
Liam reached for the man and grabbed the
collar of his shirt, yanking him back. He yelped like a stuck pig, which he was. Then Liam threw him to the floor and popped him on the side of his head with a balled fist. The man was out.
The sound of sirens hit him as he pulled out a zip strip. He secured this guy’s hands behind his back before he took the gun from his holster and ejected the clip, emptying the chamber, setting the whole thing on the table so the cops could see his piece and know he wasn’t armed.
Lorelei was crying, the sound breaking his heart. After he placed his gun and clip on the table, he dropped to the floor beside her and cupped her cheeks.
She moved fast, climbing on his lap as she screamed and sobbed. All the emotions she’d held in check as she kept it together, telling the asshole off, came out. He cradled her, keeping his own emotions under control as he pulled his phone out and sent a text to Ghost. About to get arrested or at least taken in. May need some help.
He sent Ghost his location then put his phone in his pocket and made sure his hands were visible. He’d left the door open when he’d come in and he prayed the cops didn’t come in with guns blazing. His phone buzzed, but he ignored it. Car doors slammed closed out front and he knew he needed to talk to the cops, but he didn’t want to let Lorelei go.
“Hey, the police are about to come in and they’re going to want me to go with them.” He kept his voice low, not wanting to upset her even more.
She shook her head. “No, don’t leave me.”
He kissed her forehead and tried to let her go but she clung to him with her good hand. Her fingers twisted in his shirt and he couldn’t leave her here with this asshole.
“Don’t leave me,” she cried out.
The crackle of a loudspeaker hit him before the cop’s voice sounded. “You need to come out with your hands up.” A few seconds passed, and the voice asked. “Are there any weapons?”