My hands are gripping his forearms and his are on my hips. He lets out a rumble from his chest and lowers his head to look at the floor, avoiding my eyes.
“Ben…I’m not sure that will ever be possible,” I hate saying those words. Tears are building rapidly behind my eyes but I keep them at bay. I really want it all with him. But I’ve made so many enemies that we would be targets and on the run for eternity. That’s not a future I want for Ben.
He deserves better than that.
He deserves better than me.
“I know, baby, it’s just wishful thinking. As long as you don’t leave me like you did last time for fifteen months I’m happy. Just don’t run again. Please.”
“I won’t run from you again. No matter what happens.” I hope.
We stand banded together by more than just our bodies. Ours is an unbreakable bond, an understanding that the both of us share a common thread tying us together.
“I need a shower and we need nourishment for…” I clear my throat, “later.”
Ben inhales a huge breath through his nose and lets it slowly through his mouth. I feel his body totally relax as he releases me.
“You’re right.” He looks me up and down while his hand fists his hair, “Go have a shower and clear your mind. I’ll see what I can make us to eat.”
I take myself into my bedroom and turn the shower on hot in the bathroom. I strip and slip in. Automatically, the tension of all the bullshit swirling around me starts to ease.
I’m trying to piece together the forces working against us.
The FBI has Katsu, for now.
The St. Cloud PD has a mole – Grace.
The St. Cloud PD has a dirty cop – I don’t know who.
Claire is being held hostage.
Tyler’s told me to leave “before…”. Did he know about the raid?
I feel like I’m in the middle of a giant puzzle and there’re pieces I can’t seem to find or see. Missing pieces.
I turn the water off and my head’s in no better a place than it was before I started. I can’t put it all together and an incomplete picture just swims around in my head. This makes the situation even more dangerous because I’ll be going into it without being properly aware of, or equipped, for the hazards that may be present. If it were just me, I wouldn’t worry too much, but I have to protect Ben.
Drying myself off, I can smell something enticing coming from my usually deserted kitchen. I dress quickly in boy shorts and a tank top. It’s cold outside, but the heating’s been on in the cabin for a while and it’s quite warm in here.
I find Ben in the kitchen hovering over my cook top with his back to me. His grey t-shirt hangs loosely over his frame and his jeans are now too loose, riding low on his hips and ass. He’s lost too much weight. Worry will do that, worry about me initially, but now worry about his sister.
Ben turns with a wooden spoon in his hand that has some red sauce on the end of it, he catches a glimpse of me and startles.
“Jesus, Anna, you scared the shit out of me. You’re so damn quiet.” His tongue darts out to taste what he’s cooking and suddenly it’s gotten even hotter in the kitchen. I turn away and head to the fridge to get water.
“What’s on offer tonight, Chef Pearson?” I can’t help but have sexual thoughts fill my mind. Mmm, Ben’s tongue.
“Well, there wasn’t much to work with, so spaghetti it is.” He brings the spoon over to me and there’s still sauce on the end of it, he holds it out to me to try. I open my mouth and let him guide the spoon before my lips seal around the end. He pulls it out and I lick my lips as the taste crackles inside my mouth.
“Seriously, Ben, did I even have the ingredients in my kitchen to make this?”
He smiles and lets out a chuckle. “Baby girl, you must really suck at cooking, because that sauce is basic.”
He returns to the stove top and finishes off dinner while I get two bowls out, ready for our meal. My stomach’s rumbling because it’s been over 24 hours since I’ve eaten anything.
Ben brings the now-full bowls over and sits next to me, the conversation’s ceased and Ben’s eyes keep darting to the screen that shows his sister.
Once dinner’s finished, Ben takes our bowls and cleans the kitchen, loading everything dirty in the dishwasher. He returns to the seat next to me and takes a huge breath in. No words have been spoken for forty-eight minutes. His elbows are now on the table with his hands supporting his face.
Ben breathes deeply through his nose, I can tell he’s trying to control and calm his body. I rub my hand on his shoulder blade in an attempt to settle him. His stressed, tight muscles begin to relax under my touch. I give him two more minutes before I start to speak.
I pull up the blue prints to the factory where Claire’s being held on my laptop, letting the image of Claire disappear from the screen.
“Okay, I have a plan.”
Anna
“Tell me what to do.” Ben shifts in his seat and stares at me and the blueprint.
“First, this isn’t going to happen until tomorrow. It’s late now, and Katsu will be in FBI custody for a while still. Agent’s monitoring the FBI for his release. We need to sleep tonight because by 4:00 a.m. we need to be gone.” I stop to look at the clock on the laptop, “It’s 7:42 p.m. now, so we don’t have long to pull this plan together.” Ben nods, but doesn’t interrupt.
“See here?” I open another window to bring up an aerial shot of the factory. I point to the south side. “This is how I’m going in. She’s here,” I say pointing to the area she’s held in.
“I’ll set my rifle up seven hundred yards away, here,” I tell him, pointing to a spot on the aerial map. “I’ll take out all the guards outside there. You’ll need to be with me because before we get to set up, we’ll need eyes around the entire building. I’ll have Agent keep eyes on the inside, but the aerial shots from NASA have a 6.5 minute delay, which makes them useless to us. We’ll set up eyes here, here and here.” I point to crucial areas of the building as Ben watches me.
“You’ll need to stay focused and keep me informed on the guards’ locations. I’ll take out as many as I can, but this has to be lightning-fast because they’ll try to call for backup. Once I’ve removed the threat, you’ll stay with the surveillance and I’ll make my way inside to get Claire.” I see Ben stiffen and his eyes dart to me. He starts shaking his head and he opens his mouth to say something. “Before you say a word, Ben, think carefully. I can take them out before you’d even see them. Do you want to risk getting all of us killed or do you want the best chance at getting Claire out of there safely?”
Ben gets up and starts pacing, ripping at his hair. He’s definitely nervous and angry. “I need to be the one to get her, Anna.”
“No, I’ll get her out.” I hope alive.
“She needs to see me.” His plea is making my stomach knot, but I know he isn’t the right person for this job.
“No.” I really don’t want to say the next part, but I can’t have him risk his life or mine any more than we already are.
I slip my mask on for the delivery of my next sentence. He needs to believe me. I grit my teeth and instead of calming my body, I raise my blood pressure, essentially making my body shake. Fury rolls off me in waves, my face is flushed and my eyes narrow to slits.
I step up to Ben, punch him in the jaw, and he stumbles back, a look of confusion and shock evident in his normally beautiful features. His lip is split and already swelling, while a small trickle of blood starts dripping down his chin. I don’t alter my menacing stance. I cross my arms over my chest and don’t allow the few inches he has on me to intimidate me.
“If you, for one fucking minute, think I’m going to let you walk in there and fuck this up then we pull the plug now. I’m not endangering your life, Claire’s, or mine.” I jab my finger in his chest and clench my jaw angrily. Ben’s breathing hitches and sadness automatically replaces the shock.
His shoulders slump, his normally 6 foot 2
inches frame slouches down to make him look like a frightened little boy. He just nods his head.
“Tell me you understand,” I spit the words out with anger, trying to push Ben over the edge he’s already teetering on. He nods ever so slightly. “I need to hear you say it, Ben.” My words are filled with venom. I need to push him so he understands I won’t allow him to put us in danger by trying to play hero.
I’m the only one who’s capable of bringing those men at the factory to their deaths.
“I understand….15. This is what you do. You can get to her quickly. I just want to be useful to you and to Claire.”
“You will be, by doing what I tell you.”
“Okay.” Ben exhales loudly. “I’ll do what you say.”
I calm my body and let the mask drop. I close my eyes and breathe.
Breathe, Anna.
My body relaxes and when I open my eyes, Ben’s not near me. I walk into the bedroom and find him lying down. He’s stripped out of his clothes and is in his boxers. He’s lying on his back with one arm behind his head and the comforter has been pushed down the bed. He lays his other arm out and I instantly know he wants me to curl up around him.
I can’t say no to the closeness or the feel of Ben’s body next to mine. I walk over and coil up in his arms. He moves the other arm from behind his head and molds his body around mine. We don’t speak again that night.
No words are needed.
The intimacy we share goes beyond any words.
The immense devotion we feel for each other sends tremors through both our bodies. Heat radiating, hearts palpitating, tears falling freely, caresses exchanging and loving kisses stolen.
In Ben’s arms, my mind is starting to shift.
I can’t be alone anymore.
I don’t want to do this.
I want out.
I want a life with Ben.
Anna
Beep
Beep
Beep
Beep
It’s time to get Claire back.
Ben and I don’t hesitate in getting up. It’s pitch black outside, the wind’s rattling at the windows, and I can feel the imminent danger we’re all in.
We dress in silence and I watch as Ben adorns black clothing. I do the same, with black pants and a black fitted sweater, tucking it into my pants. I wear my black military boots and find another black ski mask for Ben. Mine’s already with the gear I wear on these types of missions.
Ben leaves to go to the kitchen.
I sit on my bed with my legs crossed. I close my eyes and start taking deep breaths in through my nose and out through my mouth. I relax my body, I calm my pulse. I center myself. A chill runs over my back and goose bumps rise all the way up my arms. I can hear every sound within a half-mile radius. A bat flies over my cabin. Ben clears his throat. The leaves of the elm trees rustle as they sway in the breeze.
I make my mind up right now.
When Claire’s back and those men have met their maker, I’m out.
I open my eyes and take one more deep breath before I get up from my bed. I walk out to Ben and find him in the kitchen, with his back to me, making coffee. My footsteps quiet, I softly walk over to him and embrace him from behind. He stiffens, but immediately relaxes his stance. Ben places his hands on top of mine, turns his head so he can see me over his shoulder.
“I love you, baby girl.” I can tell he’s worried about today just by his demeanor.
“Ben, I have something I need to tell you.”
He turns around while my arms are still firmly in place around his body, but now I’m facing him. He looks down at me and kisses my forehead. “What is it, beautiful?” His lips find their way back onto my forehead and stay there.
“When we get Claire back, I’ve something else I need to take care of but…” My heart’s beating out of my chest. I’m so nervous to tell him I’m getting out. I don’t know how he’ll react.
He tightens his grip on me.
“Whatever it is, we can work through it together.” God I love this man.
“Um, I’m um…ahhhh, what I’m trying to say is…” Breathe, Anna. “I’m getting out, Ben. I can’t do this any longer. I can’t be apart from you anymore. I want it all with you.” I hold my breath because I don’t know what Ben’s going to say. He doesn’t react, his arms are still around me and the only obvious sign he’s heard what I said is his breathing has quickened.
“Really?” a small voice leaves Ben’s throat. “Baby, please tell me this is real?”
I nod my head, not wanting to make eye contact, but he pushes me away from him and bends his knees to look into my eyes.
“Don’t hide away from me. This is the best news I’ve had in a long time, Anna.” His eyes are full of love for me. His lips find mine and he holds me so tight I don’t think he ever wants to let go. “I’ll help you do what you need to, with Claire and whoever else you need to take care of. I want it all with you too, baby.”
I simply nod.
“Okay. We need to get started, Ben.” We have a task at hand and we can’t stand around here much longer. Ben lets go and he finishes making our coffees; I go into the safe room and start bringing out our equipment.
My Barrett .50 caliber rifle partially disassembled.
My two babies.
Hand grenades.
Surveillance equipment.
“Go into the safe room and choose whichever weapons you want,” I tell Ben as he walks over and hands me my coffee. He eyes my rifle and my Glocks.
“You’re lethal with that.” He shakes his head as he runs a finger over the Barrett’s scope, paying utmost respect to the cold metal.
“I’m lethal without it, too.” I snicker toward him as I’m checking the ammunition. Ben’s eyes snap up to meet mine and I greet him with a deviant smile.
“We never did get to talk about your training. Just how deadly are you?” He turns his body to face mine and is waiting for an answer.
“Very.” I won’t tell him about my training because it’ll result in nightmares. His.
“Could you kill me without a weapon?”
“Yes.” I chuckle at his question.
“Quickly?”
“Yes. And slowly.” Again I laugh and I shake my head at him. He goes to say something else but I stop him. “Go and pick your weapon, Ben.” I stop the conversation about my training from progressing.
He understands and turns to head into the safe room. He comes out a few minutes later with two Glocks and a few extra clips of ammunition.
I pack up all the weapons and strap on extra ammunition for my babies. In my cargo pants pockets I have two hand grenades. Ben stands and watches me organize myself and all the equipment we’ll be taking.
In the duffle bag I have my rifle, a lot of ammunition for it, wireless cameras I’ve paired to my laptop already, water, and a first aid kit. I’m not sure how badly injured Claire will be, so I’ll bring it in case Ben needs to administer any first aid while we’re there.
I make my call to Agent.
“15.”
“I need Doctor and Cleaner on standby at the building where the woman’s being held.”
“Already done, 15. They’re ten minutes away and I’m still monitoring the FBI. Vang’s still in custody and it appears he’ll be there for several more days. You have a clear path to the building. There are four guards and the woman. I have no further information regarding the building. The girl at the other location has been rescued and Doctor was there to examine her. She’s been taken care of as you instructed. The three men are in custody and it appears will remain there until their hearing. No one’s come to bail them out. Do you want me to arrange bail for them, 15?”
“No, not yet. Let me get the woman out and I’ll get you to post bail when I can set myself up where they’re being held.”
“The paperwork you had me create for the men at the meeting table is ready, when you give me the go ahead I’ll send it to the FBI and CIA. All of them will
be charged with embezzlement and fraud. It’ll make enough of a racket to take them all down and send a message to the other Yakuza. When we’re through with them, the entire operation will be shut down and they will all be on the top of FBI and CIA lists for a very long time. They won’t resume their business here again.”
“Good. Send the information just after Katsu’s released. It all points to him right?”
“Yeah, the Yakuza are going to think he handed them over for a lesser sentence. He’ll either go into hiding, or they’ll kill him.”
“I’ll get to him before the Yakuza do.” I smile.
“Is there anything else, 15?”
“Keep me updated. I’m going to get the woman.” And with that last sentence Agent disconnects the call.
“Ben,” I call out because I can’t see him anywhere. “Ben!” I shout out this time.
He comes in from the bedroom.
“Sorry, bathroom.” He grins.
“Here’s your Bluetooth and your phone. Keep it on you and for the love of God make sure it’s on silent. We will need to keep a communication channel open between us; you do not disconnect the call. You stay and monitor the laptop and I’ll go get Claire. Are you clear on these instructions?”
“Crystal,” he says as he nods.
“You know the plan; we went over it last night. Once we’re there, you remain stealth unless you need to tell me something. You can’t raise your voice above a whisper.” I’m triple checking my babies as I holster them, and mentally cataloging the grenades and ammunition I have on me.
“I know what to do…” He stops, but wants to say more. “I know what to do, 15.” Ben gives me all the power, just by acknowledging my professional name.
“Good, keep your emotions out of it and we will be fine.”
We leave the cabin and head into the garage. I head over to the Ford Expedition King Ranch EL, and open the rear gate with the fob. Ben follows behind me, but his eyes are on the sleek gold and red Ducati Superbike perched nicely on the other side of the triple garage.
The HiT Series Page 40