Knowing the exact angle the bullet grazed his arm, he ran the quick calculation to pinpoint exactly where to shoot and render the man incapacitated, but not kill him. Not until he told him where he’d taken Charis.
One shot off. One scream from the pathetic shitdick. The distinct clank as the gun hit the cement floor, followed by the thud of his body. David hurried over, worried he’d been off in his calculations and actually killed the bastard.
Nope. The son of a bitch was still breathing. Hissing against the pain from his broken ribs, David lowered down and leaned over Surreal.
“Hi there, Dickwad.” He rested the barrel of his gun on Surreal’s forehead. “Where is she?”
“Fuck off,” Surreal spit as he spoke. Shaking, he attempted to reach for his gun.
“I don’t think so.” David kicked it away. “Where is she?”
Silence. Surreal narrowed his eyes. “She’s dead.”
The pain constricted David’s airways. No. She couldn’t be dead. Sick to his stomach, he pushed the gun into the bastard’s skin, ignoring the slight shake in his hand. “You’re lying.”
“Kill me and you’ll never know.”
He’d never wanted to kill a man more than he wanted to kill this one. But he had to take the emotion out of the equation. “Tell me now or I’ll take my chances.”
“You won’t,” he challenged. “You can’t. I know protocol. You’ve disarmed me. You’ve obviously detained me. You must now take me back to HQ and question me.”
“He’s right,” Weber sounded in his ear. “Bring him in. You know the rules.”
Fuck the rules. David tore the earpiece out and threw it. He did the same with his lip mic. Standing, he kept the gun fixed on Surreal’s big ugly forehead. “Last chance.”
“If you kill me, you’ll be thrown out of your precious TREX. May even be sent to prison. Is she worth giving up the rest of your life?”
Hell yes, she was.
He caught the sound of a slight hum in his ear. He knew that sound. He was in love with that sound. His lungs filled with the sweetness of his discovery. She was alive. Stealing a glance in the direction of the sound, he spotted her figure in the shadows.
His blood stilled. A rush of blinding fury engulfed him when he saw her face. The bastard had beaten the hell out of her. He had her taped to the chair so tightly her pretty fingers and toes were purple.
He wouldn’t let this asshole off so easy. Tossing the gun aside, David jumped him and connected fists to face. Fists to whatever he could.
“You like beating up women, you sorry son of a fuck? How does it feel? Huh? How. Does. It. Feel?” He emphasized each of his words with a bone-crunching blow to Surreal’s nose. His cheek. His chin.
Someone pulled him off. “It’s over, man. It’s done.”
Damn Neely brothers. They stood on either side of him, holding him back. Exhausted, the adrenaline finally spent, he pushed out of their grasps and hurried over to Charis.
He knelt beside her and whipped out a knife. Careful not to cut her—she had enough without his help—he freed her from the bindings.
She sobbed uncontrollably as he slowly peeled the duct tape away from her pretty mouth. “Oh, David! You’re alive. Thank God you’re alive.” She collapsed into his arms, trembling.
“Ah, Angel.” He buried his face into her hair. Jesus, he’d never been so scared. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t get here sooner. I’m so sorry, baby.” Emotions burned his eyes. And, for the first time in a lifetime, he didn’t care. A hard, painful and love-filled sob tore through him. “I’m so sorry.”
“You came,” she cried, her body convulsing. He felt every one of them with her. Stroking her hair, holding her close, nothing else mattered.
He’d never let her go. Ever. Ever again.
“Come on, Assmunch,” Rich Neely said to Surreal. They could have him. David found what he came here for.
The commotion caught his attention. When Ron yelled for Rich to grab the gun, David spun around, making sure to push Charis behind him. Surreal had a gun in his hand, cocked and pointed at David’s heart.
With lightning fast reflexes, he threw his knife and lodged it into Surreal’s chest. The man stumbled back, coughed a few times, and then fell silent. Rich knelt and felt for a pulse.
“Yep. Congrats, dude. You killed him.”
“Saves the taxpayers a hell of a lot of money,” Ron added.
Charis shuddered and buried her face against him. “Can we just go home?”
He removed his shirt, leaving him in a tank, and pulled it over Charis’s head to cover her up. If he hadn’t already killed Surreal, he would have snapped his neck after seeing what the psycho dressed her in.
He shielded her from the sight of the body and led her out of the building. As they walked outside, she drew in an enormous breath. He breathed with her. Then she hauled off and punched him. Hard. Add that to all his other injuries he sustained during the crash, and he almost doubled over.
“What the hell was that for?”
Her blue eyes darkened with anger. “What took you so long? I thought you were dead. Dead. Do you have any idea what was going through my mind?”
He had a pretty good idea. “Sweetheart—”
“Don’t.” She drew in a deep breath, let it out. “I need to get this out before the shock wears off. Now that you’re here, I can tell you—”
“Charis—”
“Would you let me finish?”
“No. Not until I get this out. I love you, damn it. I love everything about you. Your strength. Your determination. You’re my greatest find. Marry me.”
She opened her mouth in a gasp and then snapped it shut. Opened again. Then shut again. A slight squeak escaped her lips. Her voice jumped an entire octave as she asked, “Are you serious?”
He laughed. “I’ve never been more serious.”
“But—” She swayed. “You said—”
“Are you seriously arguing with me during a marriage proposal?” He smiled when she did. “Marry me, damn it.”
Her eyes sparkled as she grinned at him. “You told me never to go against a direct order again.”
* * * *
Charis turned in front of the mirror to catch a glimpse at the back of the dress. “Is the zipper stuck?”
“No, you’re too fat for the dress.” Her little sister Kaylee stated matter-of-factly. She spun and glared at her.
“She’s not fat,” Bailey defended, also glaring at her twin. Leaning over, she rubbed Charis’s swollen belly. “Don’t listen to her, baby. She’s just jealous.”
The two youngest twins couldn’t be more opposite. Bailey kept her dark hair long and wore little makeup to accent her pretty blue eyes. Kaylee, on the other hand, sported a Meg Ryan shag and wore too much dark makeup around her eyes, covering them instead of emphasizing them.
“Jealous of what?” Kaylee threw her hands up and slumped down in a nearby chair, picked up a magazine and thumbed through it. “She’s married to a guy who can’t keep his hands off her.” She nodded toward Charis’s stomach. “Obviously.”
“I think it’s sweet.” Bailey smiled and helped Charis attempt to squeeze into the dress. She was only in her fifth month, for crying out loud. According to all the books, she shouldn’t be this big, yet.
Blowing her bangs out of her face, she accepted her fate. There was no way she’d squeeze back into this dress until after the baby. “Help me find something else to wear.”
Bailey hurried into the walk-in closet in search of the perfect outfit for Chris and Charis’s birthday bash. “I think I saw a jumper in here.”
Oh no. Not the jumper. David bought that for her when she told him about the pregnancy. It was as big as a tent. “No way.”
“Come on,” Bailey said as she stepped out of the closet, the jumper in her hands. “It’s cute. Look, it has little baby doggies all over it.”
“They’re lambs.” Charis rolled her eyes and grabbed the jumper.
“I�
��m with Charis,” Kaylee jumped in, not looking up from her magazine. “It’s hideous.”
“You’re not helping.” Bailey threw her hands down.
“Can I come in?”
Charis almost dropped the dress when David walked into the bedroom. The love she felt for this man grew deeper and deeper every day. Warmth enveloped her as he centered his dancing brown eyes on her. In an instant, the rest of the world disappeared.
“Although I love the dress,” he stated as he pulled her into his arms. He nuzzled against her neck, sending chills rushing across her skin. “I don’t think you and the little ones will fit.”
Little ones? As in plural? She twisted out of his arms. “What do you mean, little ones?”
He grinned so wide his back teeth showed. “The doctor just called with the news.”
“But the ultrasound didn’t detect two heartbeats.” Twins? Her heart skipped. Twins? “How... I mean... Are you sure?”
He shrugged, favoring his good shoulder. “I don’t see why you’re so surprised. You’re a twin.” He looked at his sisters-in-law. “It kind of runs in the family.”
“Oh, David.” She practically jumped into his arms, kissing him soundly.
Bailey sighed.
“Oh pah-lease.” Kaylee moaned.
“Uh, ladies? I wonder if you wouldn’t mind leaving me alone with my wife.” He snuggled and nibbled. Nipped and nuzzled.
“Congratulations,” Bailey sang and grabbed Kaylee’s hand to pull her up out of the chair. The other twin seemed put-out by having to leave, but as she looked back over her shoulder, Charis caught the look of longing in her eyes. When Kaylee met her gaze, she quickly looked away.
Smiling, she brought her attention back to her husband. “Twins, huh? That would explain why nothing fits.”
“I disagree. I think everything fits just fine.” He pulled her close, kissing her deeply.
He was right. Everything fit perfectly.
THE END
SEEK AND DESTROY
www.alliekadams.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Allie K. Adams is the bestselling author of several award-winning stories. An active member of the search and rescue, as well as previously served as a reserve deputy, Allie has firsthand experience in most of the dangers she writes about. Known for her highly erotic, deeply intense suspense romances, she can be found most days in front of her computer, saving the world one sizzling romance. She grew up in Seattle and now currently lives in southwest Montana with her husband, two kids, and two fluff ball dogs.
She loves to hear from readers and encourages them to reach out to her through her website at www.alliekadams.com.
Also by Allie K. Adams
THE TREX ADVENTURES — Romantic Suspense
First Response (TREX Brief)
Rescue Me
At Any Cost
No Way Out (TREX Brief – Special Edition)
Seek and Destroy
On the Brink (TREX Brief) (coming soon)
Out of Time (coming soon)
Under the Covers (TREXtreme) (coming soon)
THE CAMPUS PLAYERS — Sassy New Adult
Grooming the Player
Hiring the Player
Gaming the Player (coming soon)
Playing the Player (coming soon)
MONTANA JOHN’S — Small Town Contemporary Romance
Under New Management
Happy Hour (coming soon)
Grand Opening (coming soon)
THE ELEMENTS — Paranormal Young/New Adult
Episode 1 (title pending) (coming soon)
Episode 2 (title pending) (coming soon)
Writing as Eve Adams
Riding Series 1: Riding Double
Riding Series 2: Riding Lessons [Tasty Treats, Volume 1]
Riding Series 3: Riding Cowboys
Covert Lovers 1: Under the Covers [Rereleasing as part of the TREX series in late 2014]
Covert Lovers 2: Between the Covers
Gideon’s Ring 1: Trio
Gideon’s Ring 2: Temptation
Songs Remember When 1: Suspicious Minds
Brides of Bachelor Bay 3: Patience is Their Virtue
Brides of Bachelor Bay 5: The Banished Bride
Available online at all major retailers
Seek and Destroy (TREX, #5) Page 32