Multiple footsteps could be heard going from room to room, which meant more than one man had gotten inside. Suddenly the lights came back on. “Stay down,” Bane ordered her as he moved to get up from the floor.
“Not on your life.” The moment she eased up with Bane, who had his gun drawn, two men entered the room with their guns drawn, as well. Bane shoved her behind him.
“Miss Newsome? Are you okay?” one of the men asked. Both were dressed in camouflage. One appeared to be well over six feet and the other was five-nine or so.
“I’m fine,” she said, poking her head from around Bane to size up the two men. Both looked to be in their forties, with guns aimed right at Bane. He in turn had his gun aimed right at them.
“Then, tell your friend to put his gun down,” the shorter of the two men said.
“Why can’t the two of you put yours down?” Crystal retorted. She tried to block from her mind the sudden thought that this was how things had played out in the dream she’d had a few nights ago.
“We can’t. Like we told you, Homeland Security has reason to believe he’s dangerous.”
As far as Crystal was concerned, that wasn’t an understatement. She could feel the anger radiating off Bane. “Who are you?” she asked the one doing all the talking.
“We’re with Homeland Security,” the taller man said.
“I want names.”
She could tell from his expression that he was getting annoyed with her. “I’m Gene Sharrod, head of the CLT division, and this is Ron Blackmon, head of DMP.”
“You’re both heads of your divisions. I’m impressed. Why would the top brass personally come for me?”
“The people after you want you for insalubrious reasons. Reasons that could be a threat to our national security.”
“I got the note.”
“Yes, and we believe you did the right thing by disappearing like it told you to. But now we’re here to handle things and keep you safe.”
Crystal lifted her chin. “How did you know what the note said?” She could tell from the look on the man’s face that he realized he’d just made a slip.
“Let’s cut the BS.” Bane spoke up in an angry voice. “Bottom line is she isn’t going anywhere.”
“You aren’t in any position to say anything about it, Mr. Outlaw,” the shorter of the two men said with a sneer. “In case you haven’t noticed, there are two guns aimed at you so I suggest you drop yours.”
“And I suggest the two of you drop yours,” Bane responded tersely, looking from one man to the other.
The taller man had the audacity to snicker. “Do you honestly think you can take the both of us down, Outlaw?”
A cocky smile touched Bane’s lips. “I know I can. And the name isn’t Outlaw. Cash Outlaw is my cousin. I’m Brisbane Westmoreland. Navy SEAL. SE348907. And just so you know, I’m a master sniper. So be forewarned. I can blow both your heads off without splattering any blood on that sofa.”
The shorter man seemed taken aback by what Bane had said, but Crystal could tell by the look that appeared in the taller man’s eyes that he thought Bane was bluffing.
“Trust me,” she said. “He’s telling the truth.”
The taller man’s eyes darkened in anger. “We’re not leaving here without you.”
“Wanna bet?” Bane snarled. “My wife isn’t going anywhere with either of you.”
“Wife?” Sharrod asked, shocked.
“Yes, his wife,” Crystal confirmed, holding up the finger of her left hand, where her diamond ring shone brilliantly.
“I’m tired of talking,” Bane said. “Put your damn guns down now.”
Blackmon narrowed his gaze at Bane. “Like Sharrod said. You’re in no position to give orders.”
Suddenly shots rang out and before Crystal could blink, Bane had shot the guns right out of both men’s hands. “I am now,” Bane said easily.
The two men bowed over, howling in pain. One of them, Crystal wasn’t sure which one, claimed one of his fingers had gotten shot off. Then they heard the mourning dove coo just seconds before Walker, Bailey and Garth stormed into the room with their own guns drawn.
“You guys okay?” Bailey asked, rushing over to them, while Walker and Garth went over to the two men, who were wailing at the top of their lungs, sounding worse than babies. “Sloan and Maverick are outside taking care of the men who came with these two.”
“You’re going to regret this, Outlaw...Westmoreland, or whatever your name is,” Blackmon snarled. “Homeland Security is going to nail your ass. This is treason. You are betraying your country.”
“No, I think the two of you are betraying yours,” Oakwood said, charging in. “Gene Sharrod and Ron Blackmon, you are both under arrest. Get them out of here,” he told his men as they rushed forward.
“We need medical treatment,” Blackmon screamed, holding his bloodied hand when agents came to grab him.
Bane frowned. “Better be glad it was just your hands and not your damn heads like I threatened to blow off. So stop whining.”
After Oakwood and his agents had taken both men out the door, Bane turned to Crystal and frowned. “I told you to stay down.”
She reached up to caress the angry lines around his jaw. “I know, but you forgot what you also said.”
“What?”
“That we were in this together.”
And then she leaned up to place a chaste kiss on his lips, but he evidently had other ideas and pulled her into his arms and deepened the kiss. She wrapped her arms around him and returned the kiss, not caring that they had an audience.
When one of the men cleared his throat, they broke off the kiss and Bane whispered against her moist lips, “Come on, Mrs. Westmoreland. Let’s go home.”
Twenty-One
A week later
Crystal hadn’t meant to awaken Bane. But when he shifted in bed and slowly opened sleepy eyes that were filled with a heavy dose of desire, she saw he was now wide-awake.
She knew of no other man who could wake up ready to make love after going to bed the night before the same way. But then, hadn’t he warned her that as far as the intensity of their lovemaking was concerned, this was just the beginning?
“Good morning,” he said in that deep, husky voice that she loved hearing.
She smiled. “And good morning to you, too, Bane.”
And as far as she was concerned, it was a good morning, especially after that phone call they had received yesterday. According to Oakwood, Sharrod had caved in under pressure and told them everything, including the location where those other two chemists were being held. By now the two men had been reunited with their families.
She glanced around the cabin. Their cabin. Bane had built it years ago for her as their secret lovers’ hideaway. Now it was her home. Originally it had just one large room with a bathroom, but last year Bane had instructed Riley to hire someone to add a kitchen nook and a sitting area and to enlarge the bathroom. His sister Gemma, who was an interior decorator, had put her signature on it both before and after the renovations. There was an iron bed in the bedroom with colorful curtains that matched the bedspread.
The sitting room was the perfect size, just large enough for a sofa, a chair and a table. And she loved the fireplace that provided such great heat on those really cold days and nights. There was also a flat-screen television on the wall. Bane told her that he had begun spending his days and nights here whenever he came home. For that reason, he had installed internet services and didn’t have to worry about missing calls due to his phone being out of range. Now he could send and receive phone calls just fine.
Already plans had been made to build the house that would become their permanent home. It wouldn’t be far from here on Bane’s Ponderosa, the name of the spread he had inherited. They w
ould start looking at house plans next week. The one thing they did know was that whatever house they built would have to be large enough for all the kids they planned to have one day.
She had gotten around to reading all his cards and letters, and if she could have loved him even more than she already did, she would have. He had poured out his heart, his soul and his agony of a life without her in it. She needed no further proof that she was loved deeply by the man who was meant to be hers always, just as she was meant to be his.
Yesterday she and Bane had visited her parents’ property. Property that was now hers. The place was deserted and badly in need of repairs. However, they’d decided not to make any decisions about what they would do with it for now.
In a way the five years of separation had done what it was meant to do. It had helped them grow into better people. She definitely saw a change in Bane. He could still be a badass when he needed to be, but there was a calmness about him, a discipline, self-control and purpose that hadn’t always been there before. He’d always loved her and his family. And now he loved his country with just as much passion.
And his family was wonderful. She was enjoying getting to know the ladies his brothers and cousins had married. She had always been a loner, and for the first time in her life she was feeling part of the family.
Because Crystal had lost a lot of her things in the fire, Pam had organized a welcome-home party for her and Bane where she had received a lot of gift cards. It just so happened they were all from the ladies’ favorite places to shop.
And then there was the Westmoreland family tradition. Every other Friday night, the Westmorelands got together at Dillon’s place. The women would do the cooking and the men would arrive hungry. Afterward, the men took part in a poker game and the women did whatever they pleased. Usually they planned a shopping expedition. Tonight would be Crystal’s first Westmoreland Family Chow Down, and she was looking forward to it.
Bane shifted his position in bed and Crystal was instantly aware of the erection poking against her backside. Instinctively, she scooted back to bring her body closer to his. All that desire bottled up inside him was beginning to affect her, as well. “What happens when you get tired of me?”
“I won’t. You’re in my blood, baby. And in my soul. And especially here,” he said, taking her hand and placing it on his chest, right against his heart.
His words touched her deeply. And it didn’t help matters that he was staring down at her, seducing her with those gorgeous hazel eyes. “Oh, Bane.” At that moment she wanted him. “Make love to me.”
“It will be my pleasure.”
* * *
Later that evening Crystal sat beside Bane at the dinner table at Dillon’s home, surrounded by Bane’s brothers, cousins and their spouses. And then there were the children. A lot of children. Beautiful children who were the joy of their parents’ lives. Seeing them, spending time with them, made her anxious to have a child of her own. A baby. Bane’s baby.
Dillon had made a toast earlier to her and Bane, officially welcoming her to the family and telling them how proud he and the family were of them, and their strong and unwavering commitment to each other. He also gave them his blessings, just as he’d known his parents would have done, for a long and happy marriage. His words had almost brought tears to her eyes because she felt she was truly a part of this family. The Westmoreland family.
A short while later, when dinner was over and the women were clearing off the table as the men geared up for a card game, Bane’s cell phone rang. “It’s my CO,” he said, quickly pulling his phone out of his jeans pocket. “Excuse me while I take this.”
She felt a hard lump in her throat. She knew Bane was on military leave until March. Had something come up where his CO was calling the team together for an assignment? It was three weeks before Christmas. Besides that, it was their first week together without all the drama. Crystal wasn’t sure how she would handle it if he had to suddenly leave.
You will handle it the same way any SEAL wife would, an inner voice said. You will love him, support him and be there with open arms when he returns. She was suddenly filled with an inner peace, prepared for whatever came next.
“What is it, Bane?” Dillon asked.
Crystal, like everyone else, turned to gaze at Bane when he returned to the dining room. There was a shocked look on his face. Although it had been Dillon who asked the question, Bane met Crystal’s gaze and held it.
“That was my CO. He wanted to let me know he got a call from the Pentagon tonight that Coop is alive and is being held prisoner somewhere in Syria.”
“Your friend Coop?” Crystal asked, getting up out of her seat and crossing the room to Bane.
“Yes. And the CO is getting our team together to go in and get Coop, and any other hostages they’re holding, out of there.”
She nodded. “When will you be leaving?” she asked softly.
He placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m not. The CO just wanted me to know. He’s aware of our situation and what we went through last week. He’s letting me know he’s exempting me from this mission if that’s what I want.”
Crystal studied Bane’s features. And not caring if they had an audience listening to their every word, she said, “But that’s not what you really want, is it?”
He rubbed his hand down his face. “Doesn’t matter. It’s three weeks before Christmas. There’s no telling when I might return. I might not make it back until after the holidays, and I wanted to spend every single day with you.”
“And I with you. But you must go,” she said, not believing she was actually encouraging him to do so. “Coop is your best friend.”
“And you are my wife.”
A smile touched her lips. “I’m also the wife of a SEAL. So things like this are to be expected. I know it and I accept it. I will be fine until you get home, and if you don’t make it back by Christmas, I won’t be alone. For the first time, Bane, thanks to you I have a family,” she said, glancing around the room. “I have a big family.”
“Yes, you do,” Dillon said, joining the conversation. “And whenever Bane has to go out on covert operations we will be here for you.”
“Thanks, Dillon.” Crystal returned her gaze to Bane. “So go, Bane, and be the dedicated and fierce SEAL that you are. The one you were trained to be. Be careful and do everything in your power to bring Coop home.”
Bane stared at her for a long moment before he reached out and pulled her to him and held her close. And then he leaned down and kissed her with all the love she actually felt. The love she knew was there and had always been there between them. Suddenly she was swept off her feet and into big, strong arms.
“Bane!”
Holding her tight, he headed for the door. “We’re going home,” Bane said over his shoulder as his whole family watched them. “Crystal and I bid you all a good night.”
Twenty-Two
Christmas Eve
“And you’re sure you don’t want to spend the night at our place, Crystal? You’re more than welcome.”
Crystal smiled at her brother-in-law when he brought the car to a stop in front of the cabin. “Thanks, Dillon, but I’ll be okay.”
“I promised Bane I would look out for you.”
“And you have. I really do appreciate the invitation, but I’m fine.”
She knew she would be a lot better if Bane called, but neither she nor his brothers and cousins had heard from him since he’d left three weeks ago. He had told them that no one knew how long this operation would take. She just hoped he was safe and all was going well.
In the meantime she had tried staying busy. Bane had wanted her to look at house plans while he was gone, and she had helped Pam at her acting school in town. Jason’s wife, Bella, had invited her for tea several times, and there had been a number of shoppin
g trips with the Westmoreland ladies. There had been the annual Westmoreland charity ball. It was her first time attending one and she wished Bane could have been there with her. But it had been good seeing the Outlaws again.
And she had been summoned to the nation’s capital last week. Dillon, Canyon and their wives had gone with her. She’d had to give a statement about Sharrod and Blackmon. No one had asked about Bane’s whereabouts and she figured they knew it was classified information.
The director of Homeland Security had told her of the value of her research and that someone would be contacting her soon. They wanted her, along with the other two biochemists, to come work for the government to perfect their research while she completed her PhD. She promised she would give it some thought but refused to make any decisions until Bane returned.
“I used to worry about Bane whenever I figured he was out on one of those operations,” Dillon said softly to her as he unbuckled his seat belt. “But then I figured it didn’t pay to worry. Besides, we’re talking about Bane, the one person who can take care of himself. If we should be worried about anyone, it’s those who have to come up against him.”
Crystal smiled, knowing that was true. She had seen how Bane had handled Sharrod and Blackmon. He had been confident, cool and effective, even when it had seemed the odds had been stacked against him.
“Bane will be okay, Crystal,” Dillon said when she didn’t respond to what he’d said.
She nodded and absently touched the locket she still wore around her neck. “I hope so, Dillon.”
“Don’t just hope. Believe.”
Her smile spread. “Okay, I believe.”
“Good.”
He got out of the car and came around to open the door for her. “You will be joining us for Christmas breakfast in the morning and then later a special Westmoreland Holiday Chow Down tomorrow night, right?”
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