“Not a problem.”
“Is there anyone else at the hospital with you?”
“Yes. My mom and my stepdad are here.” Clint smiled. It was good Jack had the emotional support.
“Expect a call later tonight or tomorrow morning first thing.”
“Okay.”
“And Jack?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you for saving Beth’s life.”
Clint set down the phone and went in to check on Lydia. She was sleeping deeply. She was going to kill him in the morning, she would say she should have been told immediately. But to what purpose? She could sleep and face this situation with more strength in the morning. She was going to skin him alive in the morning.
****
It was so much worse than he ever imagined. He would have embraced her anger, but her fear and anguish were ripping him apart.
“Did you see her?” Lydia didn’t even realize she was crying. She was staring at the blank computer screen where Beth’s ravaged face had just been. Jack smuggled his phone into the hospital room to do a skype call, but Beth had barely been aware of Lydia’s voice.
“I saw her baby.”
“Would you hold me?” She was already seated next to him on the sofa, his arm around her shoulders, but it obviously wasn’t registering.
“Always.” He picked her up and cradled her in his arms. Sobs started in earnest.
“She could have died. My baby sister could have died.”
“But she didn’t.” Lydia just cried harder. Clint was at a loss, so he just started to rock her. Finally she hiccupped and shuddered. She tried to get off his lap.
“What do you need?”
“Kleenex.” He settled her on the couch and brought the roll of paper towels to her.
“We can’t go to her, can we?” Clint sat down and arranged her so she was snuggled close again.
“No baby we can’t.”
“Jack said they’re worried about paralysis.” She pushed her face against the crook of his neck and he hugged her tighter. He didn’t say anything.
“Partial paralysis. They already know she can move her arms and legs honey. They’re talking about maybe having to use a walker.” Her nails dug into his back.
“Let’s not borrow trouble. As soon as she’s really conscious they’ll know. Jack will call us.”
“I’m so glad Jack didn’t tell Mama and Papa. They’re too fragile right now. After we know what the prognosis is, then they can be told.”
“That’s why he asked you. We both thought you would know best.”
“When will this be over?”
“Soon baby. Soon.” Clint held her while she stared at the blank computer screen until she fell into a restless sleep.
****
Lydia stared out the sliding glass door at the steady stream of rain. She’d left the warm bed and an even warmer Clint. He’d crawled in much later than she did, so he should sleep through until morning. God, she loved that man. Clint Archer.
She watched the rain splatter on the wood of the balcony, she could see the individual raindrops. Lydia remembered being wrapped close in Clint’s arms in the jungle and seeing raindrops on the leaves. She’d been so sick and in so much pain, but that was when she truly started falling in love.
For five days, Clint carried her in his arms, and even with all of the pain and fear, she felt cherished. She breathed hot air on the glass, and then drew a heart in the fogged glass. The man had her heart.
Just two more weeks and her father would testify. Mason said they might be able to get one of Guzman’s men to talk. She’d hear about Beth’s condition tomorrow. No wonder she was up in the middle of the night. Right now it just seemed like everything was on a precipice. It was a night for dreams. She would really get to meet Clint’s family. They would get to build a life together.
She winced thinking such happy thoughts when Beth’s condition was so dire. She rested her forehead against the cold glass.
“Hey beautiful, couldn’t sleep?” Clint’s arms wrapped around her waist. She leaned back against him.
“Now I’m feeling a little bit of déjà vu. Didn’t we just do this?”
“Yeah we did. Where’s my cocoa?” He kissed the side of her face and she smiled.
“It’s all catching up with me. I was actually thinking some good thoughts and then I felt guilty.”
“Beth?”
“Yes.” She nuzzled her head against his chin.
“At three p.m. our time we’ll know her prognosis.” He rubbed her arms in comfort.
“I’m going to go crazy until then.” He turned her around so he could tip her chin up and place a soft kiss on her lips. He looked deep in her eyes.
“I know what we could do to pass the time.” Lydia kept a smile on her face. She didn’t want to make love, and was hurt he thought she would.
“I think it’s time for a marathon game of League of Legends,” he continued.
Life sparkled. The man was perfect.
“Get the computers booted up. I know you know my password. I’ll go start some hot chocolate.” He let her go and went to the computers.
“I want Mountain Dew and some Doritos.”
“You are such a teenage boy.” She giggled as she went to the kitchen.
****
Mason called an hour before they were supposed to hear from Jack.
“I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news.”
“I want the good news first,” Clint said as he looked at his Lieutenant on the video call. Mason looked dead on his feet. Drake was beside him. Both of them looked like they hadn’t had slept for days.
“One of Guzman’s men rolled.”
“That’s great!” Lydia exclaimed. Clint had his arm around her as they sat on the couch watching the computer screen. He knew the bad news was going to undo the good news.
“Yep. It looks like a pretty straight line. Guzman’s drug trade has been suffering as the US Border patrol picked up. It turns out one of Guzman’s legitimate businesses was in the US and was a big contributor the Congressman’s re-election campaign and s why he was voting against the increase in Border Patrol funding. The DEA agents knew this because Guzman was also using one of the DEA agents your Dad is testifying against to provide fun-money.”
“I don’t get it, why not just set up an account and wire transfers.” Lydia asked.
“The congressman was worried those could get traced. Also, he wanted some fun cocaine to go with the fun money.”
“Jesus. He’s just all kinds of wrong,” Clint bit out. “So this sounds like great news. We have this idiot’s testimony against the DEA agent, the Congressman and against Guzman. Plus you stopped four months of supply with that bust. It sounds like great fucking news to me. What’s the bad news?”
“We found eight young women with the drug bust. Five Hispanic, three from Asia. They were all set to be going to the US as well. Nobody will tell us dick about them. Looks like Guzman started a new business endeavor.”
“Human trafficking?” Lydia was aghast.
“It was bad, Lydia.” Drake answered. “When we questioned the girls, we found out that there were many more they’d been separated from. That’s why you’ve been seeing all that information on the net about Guzman selling his drug product so much faster than normal. He needed it to start up this new business.” Drake looked sick.
“The bastard!”
“That’s probably why he needed the Congressman to loosen up the border, not so much for the drugs, but for the slave trade,” Clint said.
“Don’t call them slaves,” Drake spit out.
“I’m sorry man,” Clint apologized.
“One of the girls told us something we’re following up on. It sounds like Berto is liking to get up and personal with the only certain specific Hispanic girls as they’re brought in. Give us another couple of days.”
“If you get Berto there’s a real possibility he’ll give you his father. Berto is a spoiled
piece of trash who would do anything to save his own skin,” Lydia told Drake and Mason.
“Are you sure Lydia? He would turn in his own father?” Mason asked, giving her a considering look.
“There used to be another Guzman brother. Alfonso Jr. was Berto’s older brother. He died under suspicious circumstances. Rumor has it Berto had him killed so he could move up in the family business. So yeah, I definitely think he would turn on Daddy Dearest if it would benefit him.”
“Got it. Okay, I need to work with some of my overseas contacts about the human trafficking angle. This just makes me sick.”
Lydia re-evaluated her original estimation of Drake and Mason’s condition. Maybe they weren’t tired from having been up for a long time, maybe their hearts were tired.
The men broke the connection, and then it was time for their call with Jack. He got on the computer screen and he had a huge grin on his face. Just like that, the previous conversation was forgotten.
“She’s going to make a total recovery.”
“When can I talk to her?”
“Maybe tonight. Probably tomorrow. Lydia, she’s going to be fine!” Jack looked every bit as worn out as Drake and Mason had. He had a couple of days of beard growth, his short hair hadn’t seen a comb in days. There were dark circles under his eyes, but his smile lit up the screen. It suddenly occurred to Lydia this man was a lot more attached to her sister than a mere bodyguard.
“I will never be able to thank you enough for saving her life, Jack.”
“I’m just thankful she’s okay,” he said fervently.
“After I talk to her, I’ll call my parents.”
“Good, I was going to ask you if you could. I figured it would be best if the news could come from you.” Jack yawned.
“We’ll let you go. It looks like you could use some shut eye, man. I’m with Lydia, I can’t thank you enough for your quick thinking.” Jack looked uncomfortable with the praise from his fellow SEAL.
“Thanks, Clint. You’re right, I need to get some rest. I’ll call you back as soon as she can take a call.”
As soon as Jack disconnected, Lydia threw her arms around Clint’s neck. She didn’t say a word, she just pressed as close as she could, and she was panting.
He burrowed his hand under her hair and pulled her back slightly so he could see her face.
“Baby, are you okay?” She was flushed, her gaze took him a moment to read. Finally he saw passion and greed.
“I need you.”
“Whatever you want, I’m here.”
****
It had all been too much. Everything just piled on top of one another for the last twenty-four hours. Lydia felt like she’d been caught up in a tornado, her emotions spun out of control. Even now that things seemed to be good, she couldn’t settle. She was coming out of her skin. She needed.
She felt a little bad. She wasn’t looking at Clint like the man she loved, she was looking at him as a man she wanted to ravish, to fuck. Those shoulders, that face. His eyes glittered, there was a flush on his high cheekbones. She looked downwards and saw his erection pushing against his jeans. Thank God! He was wanted her too.
She knelt down.
“Baby no.”
“Yes,” she snarled at him, and wondered if she looked frantic or fierce. She unbuttoned his jeans, then thought left her head as she looked at the beauty of his cock. She needed. He stripped off his jeans.
“Your shirt, I need to see all of you. Now!” He yanked it over his head and she stared at his naked beauty. She then looked down at erect flesh and wrapped her hand around him. He barely gave her time to stroke and lick, before he lifted her up to the couch.
“You’re in a mood Lydia.”
She pushed at his chest. “I can’t explain it. It’s like every one of my nerve endings are on the outside. I’m overwhelmed and the only thing I know that will make it better is having you inside me. Fast. Hard. Deep.” He shuddered.
“Now you’ve done it.” His hand went to her blouse and yanked. Buttons pinged across the room. Something settled inside her. She shrugged, helping him to get her out of the shirt. They both worked on the bra, and it was tossed aside too. Her jeans and panties followed.
Clint grabbed for his jeans and found a condom, as she bit his shoulder hard to reprimand him for taking so long.
“Sorry,” he groaned as he sheathed himself. He started to slide his hand down her torso. She knew he was going to make sure she was aroused enough to take him.
“Fuck me now,” she growled at him, her face a tight mask of need.
“Never. I will always take care of you.” He brushed his fingers gently against her. She knew she was wild, wet and wanton. She wrapped both legs around his hips and surged upwards.
He plunged deep and she gave a wail of satisfaction. Perfection. But…
“Are you okay, Clint?”
“Are you kidding? Shut up and kiss me. I’m in heaven.”
No, she was in heaven, and she had a warrior angel of old, giving her a guided tour.
****
“Wake up, Baby.”
“Don’t wanna.” Lydia burrowed deeper into the pillow that smelled like Clint.
“It’s important.”
“Then I really don’ wanna.” She sounded petulant, but she didn’t care. She peeked at the clock on the nightstand it was three in the morning. He was being all whispery soft and kind. It might be ‘important’, but it wasn’t urgent. She wanted a few more moments in bed before she had to face reality.
He brushed back her hair and kissed her neck. Then he licked. Then he blew.
She sat up. “That’s cold,” she said as she pushed at him.
“Got you moving, though.” She grabbed his pillow, and pulled it to her breast, and stared at him.
“So what’s so important?”
“The team will be here soon.”
“Not Mason,” she wailed. “It’s Sophia’s birthday tomorrow.”
“Don’t worry, baby, he’s joining us via Skype.” She rubbed her chin into the top of the pillow.
“Okay, when will they be here?”
“They were down in the lobby. They’re probably cooling their heels outside our door as we speak.”
“Go let them in.”
“Don’t be walking around just wearing a blanket. Real clothes this time.”
“Who knew you’d be such a prude.” She watched as he left. Lydia wondered why Drake and Darius were here. She wanted a few more minutes of not knowing. Was that too much to ask for?
All three men were standing around the seating area. Darius and Drake were tense, they had obviously been waiting for her.
“What’s up?” She looked over at Clint and he shrugged. He held out his hand and she went to him.
“Let’s get Mason on the video,” Drake suggested. Darius was already starting the call. Drake wouldn’t look her in the eye.
“Drake, what’s up?” She insisted.
“One time, Lydia, I just want this said one time. If we’re wrong, we’ll never mention it again, you have my word.” She got a really bad feeling as Drake looked down at her, his eyes soft with sympathy.
“Hi Guys,” Mason said from the computer screen.
“Lieutenant, you’re scaring my best girl. Let’s cut to the chase.”
“We got some information on Berto. Well, on all the Guzman’s.” Mason looked directly at her. His eyes were piercing and sympathetic. Damn, she was scared.
“Is it my parents?”
“Your family is fine for now. We’re trying to put some of the puzzle pieces together. After your Dad started working for the accounting firm, did you ever meet Guzman or his sons?”
“No!”
“Think Lydia, you were pretty young when he went to work for him.”
Lydia leaned over the table where the computer was placed, so she could get into Mason’s face. “Mason, I’ve been tracking this asshole for almost two years now, I’d remember him or his spawns.”
&
nbsp; “Okay, we didn’t think so. Do you think Beth has?”
“No.”
Mason just looked at her. All of the other men in the room were silent.
“I said ‘no’.”
“Baby, how would you know if Beth had or hadn’t met them?” Clint asked.
“She would have told me.”
“Lydia, did your dad ever take Beth to his office?” This time it was Darius asking. Lydia plopped down on the couch.
“I don’t understand, why would it matter if she had met them? It would have been a long time ago. What’s this all about?”
“It matters because Berto is fucking nuts. That’s why.” Drake just sounded defeated. He wasn’t yelling, he wasn’t sounding outraged. Now she was really scared.
“Please, won’t one of you tell me what is going on? Is Beth in some sort of danger? I mean besides the obvious of having to hide from killers?” Clint sat down next to her on the couch, and turned the laptop so it was facing the two of them. Darius and Drake sat on either side of them. It was a tight squeeze, but they all managed to fit, so Mason could see them.
“Please Mason, talk to me. Don’t make me wait.” Drake patted her hand, as if to tell her it would be all right.
“He’s not trying to drag this out. He needed you to answer those questions, honey.”
“Lydia,” Mason began, “we got our information on Berto’s obsession with the certain types of women. Remember when we told you that he only wanted to interact with a specific type of Hispanic woman?”
“Cut the euphemisms Mason. I remember perfectly. Of the Hispanic and Asian women he planned to sell, he would rape the Hispanic women, but only certain ones. Yeah, got that the first time. It still makes me sick to think about it.” Lydia tried to keep her shit together but it was getting tougher.
“Lydia, one of the guys who started talking said something pretty interesting. He said Berto was the one who was going to come witness your family’s murder at the shack. He told everyone Beth wasn’t to be harmed, and she would be leaving with him.”
“But he doesn’t know Beth. It doesn’t make any sense. But I thank God for it. Her life would have been spared.” She clapped her hand over her mouth. Her eyes widened in horror. Beth wouldn’t have been spared. What unimaginable things would have happened to her?
Her Loyal Seal Page 16