He stepped away and within seconds he was out the door. She pulled the shade closed on the window. After locking the door she stood there in a stupor. She couldn’t remember the last time fatigue had wrestled her into submission like this. Time to dig out her old sweats and find some sleep.
Chapter 7
A knock on the door, soft but insistent, awakened Mally. Groggy, she sat up with a groan. Light from the apartment living room trailed in the bedroom door from a lamp she’d left on.
“Who is it?” she called out.
The knocking came again, and her foggy brain remembered that she was in the bedroom and far enough from the suite door no one would probably hear her. She turned on the bedside light and blinked in the extra glare. The bedside clock read seven o’clock in the evening. She snatched her gun off the bedside table and held it down along her right thigh. She entered the living room.
More knocking, and this time she heard Adam’s muffled voice. “Mally? Are you okay?”
Equal parts apprehension and excitement made her reach for the door and open it. “I’m fine.”
He’d changed into sweat pants and a t-shirt and stood with arms crossed over his chest. “You sure?”
She eyeballed him a moment before saying, “Let’s eat. All I’ve had is a protein bar.”
“There’s leftover chicken and salad in the fridge.”
She kept her gun in hand. “Chicken and salad sounds good.”
He ambled over to the kitchen, and she sat on a bar stool. Let him serve her. It was his kitchen. She placed her Glock on the counter.
He paused while taking dishes out of a cabinet. His gaze landed on her weapon. “Still feeling unsafe?”
Yes, damn it. “Yes.”
Rather than say anything more on it, he methodically took out utensils, napkins, and delved into the fridge to get the chicken and salad. She watched him cut up the rotisserie chicken and add it to the salad, and when he offered her a selection of dressings, she chose low fat ranch. She grabbed water to drink and before she knew it they sat side by side at the kitchen counter. Silence enveloped them for quite some time as they finished their salads.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I can’t believe how tired I still am.”
“You sick?”
Mally perked up a little. She couldn’t give him the impression she was vulnerable. “No.”
“Maybe we should have you see a doctor.”
Mally shrugged. “I’m fine. There’s no need for medical attention.”
“Probably coming down from the adrenaline of earlier today. It’s not every day you have to fight off men trying to break into your house. Give yourself some time to recover.”
She thought of her home with all its expensive equipment, art, furnishings and cache of weapons. “Because I’m not a soldier?”
“You’re doing a great job holding up. This isn’t an easy situation for anyone.”
“This?”
“The apocalypse.”
She took their dishes to the dishwasher and loaded them inside. “I don’t think of it like that. I can’t.”
His gaze fell on her, heavy and curious. “What else is it, if not an apocalypse?”
The phone on the kitchen counter buzzed. She started in surprise, and he snatched up the cordless.
“Becker.” His gaze turned slightly annoyed. “Hey, Ian. What?” He sighed. “Okay, right.” He hung up and slid off the bar stool. “Another meeting in the war room. Son-of-a-bitch.”
“What is it?”
“The General’s daughter needs an escort up from Bangor.”
“It’s that bad between there and here? It’s only fifty miles.”
He made a face. “Fifty miles of hell. Come on, let’s go.”
Surprise held her immobile on the stool. “You want me to go with you?”
“Ian says the General wants me to bring you.”
She headed downstairs with Adam, wondering if the General had decided he needed to kick her to the curb. Never a dull moment. The compound here was secure, and she liked that. But she needed to get her security system fixed.
“Do you think the General will want you to help his daughter?” She asked as they crossed the foyer and down the hall leading to the war room.
“Good possibility.”
That’s when she remembered she hadn’t brought her weapon with her, and a tingle of apprehension touched her.
When Adam opened one side of the wood double doors, nausea churned in her stomach. The General sounded like a formidable man, and she’d already dealt with heavy-duty testosterone more than once today. Still, the idea that the General might send Adam out into the world right now into a dangerous situation made her skin prickle.
Adam gestured for her to enter, and she slipped inside. She took in the windowless room. On one wall was a huge flat-screen television with news reports flashing over it. Sitting at a large oblong table was Ian, Mark, and a smaller-statured man with broad shoulders, steel gray hair and a roughhewn face. He must be the General, and his frown was as awesome as the laser intensity of his dark eyes. All of them wore casual clothes with no rank or insignia of any kind. Of course. They weren’t in the military anymore, even though they’d come into Mally’s compound like a special forces unit ready to kick ass. All the men stood when she entered, even the General.
He used a remote to click off the television, rounded the table and approached her. “Miss Andretti, I’m Alexander Graham.”
She shook his hand, and his grip was firm but not too hard. “Pleased to meet you…Mr. Graham? Or do you prefer General?”
He cracked a smile. “Please, just Alexander. We don’t stand on formalities, and it isn’t General since I’m retired.”
Since Adam still called him General, she doubted the men thought of him so casually.
“I’m surprised you invited me to this meeting,” she said, preferring to cut to the chase.
His eyebrows rose just a moment, registering perhaps surprise at her straightforward statement. “I understand.” He gestured to a chair next to his. “Please have a seat.”
She sat in the cushioned tan leather chair and tried to relax, but she was strung tight. Adam took the chair at the opposite end of the oblong from the General. That’s right. General. I couldn’t think of him as Alexander. Mild mannered or not.
The General cleared his throat. “I just received a cell call from my daughter.”
“Cellular service?” Mark swiveled his chair toward the General. “That’s lucky.”
The General sniffed. “That’s one of the reasons the call was short. We got cut off after about five minutes. She told me she’s at her condo and things are starting to go to hell where she’s at.” He shifted in his chair and leaned his arms on the table. “She…” He swallowed hard. “She’s not trained to handle this sort of situation. I asked her to move here three months ago when all of this started. She refused, and now she’s paying the consequences for her foolish stubbornness.”
Wow. That sounds a bit cold. Okay, she could give the General slack. She’d already heard dozens of stories of people blowing off direct mandatory evacuation orders and many of them got dead really quickly. Maybe his daughter was foolish. Just as she didn’t know much about Adam, she knew virtually nothing about the so-called Alexander Graham or his daughter. Maybe the General’s daughter was a full-fledged bubble head.
The older man’s lips thinned. “She’s smart as hell, capable and strong. But we know what is happening out there isn’t good and it isn’t safe.”
That shoots my theory in the ass. If her father acknowledged that she was capable, smart and strong, perhaps it was plain parental concern that drove the man. Isn’t good and isn’t safe were obviously understatements. When he paused, she half expected one of the other men to speak. They remained stoic and silent, but Ian cleared his throat and his eyes flickered with some emotion. It disappeared as quickly as she noticed it. Interesting. Wonder what that’s about?
> The General swiveled his chair toward Adam. “Becker, I need you to go to Bangor and retrieve my daughter.”
Surprised, Mally glanced at Adam. Adam’s mouth tightened a second before displeasure showed on the rest of his face. “I respectfully decline, sir.”
The chill in the room was almost palpable as the General responded. “That’s an order.”
“Sir, as much as I respect your military career and I value my job, this isn’t the military. We’ve been hired to protect people in this city, and we’re stretched thin as it is. We’re still on tap to help tomorrow and for who knows how long if there are more riots,” Adam said.
“There will be,” Mark said.
The General’s eyes turned equally icy as his gaze darted to Mally’s face and then back to Adam. “Yet it’s all right for you to commandeer equipment and personnel to trek across town and rescue a woman who isn’t a client. Who was perfectly safe in a compound not unlike this one. You don’t get to pick and choose your assignments, Becker. If you won’t take orders, you go freelance on your own. It’s your choice.”
The man’s words were so clipped and solid Mally didn’t see how Adam could refuse.
Adam said, “She wasn’t safe and secure. Her security system was breached.”
The General drew in a deep breath, his gaze still hard. “I know.”
“We have to make split-second decisions in the field all the time,” Adam said. “She was in danger. I couldn’t forgive myself if I saw a woman being harmed or knew a woman was in danger and I didn’t try to do something about it. You know me. I’d like to think it’s one of the reasons you hired me.”
Mally wondered if Adam’s stubborn stance would earn him a swift kick out the door, and she almost held her breath.
After a long, somewhat tense silence the General said, “All right. You make a good point. I did hire you for your skills and integrity. And this is a case where a woman is in danger right now and needs your help.”
Got you there, Adam. Mally wondered how Adam would answer.
Before Adam could answer, Ian held up his hand. “Sir, I’ll do it. I’ll get Penny.”
The General froze in place, surprise evident on his face. “Why?”
Ian answered without hesitation. “You know me, sir. I like a good adventure.”
Adventure, eh? These hard-driven men had talent for underplaying. The deadpan answer Ian had given, without a hint of humor, took Mally off guard. Maybe Ian was a glutton for punishment. Then she thought about his former occupation. Special Air Service. He probably thrived on a hail of bullets for breakfast.
The General finally said, “Very well, MacDaniel. You’ll leave immediately. She doesn’t know you’re coming because I didn’t get a chance to tell her before the line went dead. Make sure you take enough firepower.”
“That bad a situation, sir?” Ian asked.
“She told me that armed civilians are wandering her area. It’s a gated community, so the National Guard and regular military units aren’t taking charge within the closed area. She said she’s safe for now, but who knows how long that will last.” For a second his eyes looked moist. “She’s all I’ve got, MacDaniel. If anything happens to her I’ll hold you personally responsible. Get outta here.”
Ian stood, his bearing all military. “Sir.” He nodded at the other men. “See you on the flip side.”
After the Scot left, the General’s attention landed on the remaining two men in the room. “You two will do regular duties tomorrow. Miss Andretti, I’m afraid it’ll be boring around here for you.”
She held up one hand. “Oh, no. I brought my writing with me.”
He leaned back in his chair, some of the tension leaving his craggy face. “What do you write?”
“Romance.”
He didn’t look surprised or intrigued. “I see. Anything I’d know?”
She couldn’t help but smile. “Not unless you read romance, Mr. Graham.”
He returned her smile this time. “Right. Well, even though I didn’t sanction your entry into our world here, you’re welcome. I don’t throw people out into the cold once I’ve taken them in.”
“I appreciate that.” She threw in, “But I have one other favor to ask. I hear that Mark is great at fixing security systems and I’d like to hire him to fix the one at my house. I’ll pay for his time, of course.”
Mark smiled. “I’m happy to take a look. I’ll need to go over the system and hopefully scrounge up the parts. Or it might be a computer problem. Either way, I can probably fix it.”
The General nodded. “All right. It’s a paying job, and at least then you’ll be safe. I’m afraid it’ll have to go on the backburner until at least tomorrow night or the next day since the men have other contract work to do.”
Pleased, Mally said, “Thank you.”
The General turned a cooler gaze on Adam. “I ought to kick you out on your ass for the insubordination. Unfortunately, I’m short on good men. We’ll talk later about why you’ve gotten so damned cocky. Pick up your orders at the usual time tomorrow. That will be all.”
Adam and Mark stood and so did Mally, but the General said, “Miss Andretti, may I speak with you privately a moment?”
Unease stirred inside Mally as she sat back down. “Of course.”
Adam threw her an inscrutable look as he left with Mark and closed the door.
She didn’t waste any time in asking, “Why did I sit through that meeting? It seems like it was all Sentry Security business.”
“It was. I wanted you to see what you’re getting yourself into.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Look, Miss Andretti, I don’t want you to take this the wrong, but you’re a distraction to my men.”
Anger replaced curiosity. “Why is that?”
“Because you’re a woman. More than that, you’re obviously a major influence on Becker. He’s got an exemplary military record. That sterling reputation is one reason why I hired him. As an enlisted man he received numerous awards and commendations including a Bronze Star for extraordinary actions to save other’s lives in combat when the helicopter he was in went down. He won’t even acknowledge the damned thing. He says it’s because none of the other men in his pararescue team received the medal.” The General shrugged. “The man is modest as hell. Since he’s been working with me he hasn’t made one wrong step. As soon as he started talking to you on that damned ham radio his attitude went to hell.”
All this information threw her. “How so?”
“He’s mouthing off at me like I don’t sign his paychecks.”
“I don’t know him that well, Mr. Graham. What his motivations are for defying you…I can’t guess.” She really couldn’t, but he looked at Mally like she was lying. “As for me, I didn’t want him to help me. I was fine in the compound.” She paused for a second. “Okay, I wasn’t fine. The bunker would hold, but I don’t know how long those men would’ve been out there. They might have decided to camp for days.” She sighed. “My father designed that place to withstand an assault from more than a few men with guns. They weren’t getting into the bunker, but I’m glad now that your men came to help me. I think it was a brave thing to do, even if it was a little reckless.” Feeling extraordinarily bold, she continued with, “I don’t think he was thinking with his Johnson.”
The General’s eyes widened, indignation clear. “Did he tell you I said that?”
Mally smiled. “No, I was listening.”
The General laughed, the sound genuine and hearty. “Well, you’re definitely a surprise, Miss Andretti. I didn’t know what to expect from you.”
“That’s good. I hate being boring and predictable.”
An interested look formed on his face, as if curiosity was winning him over in her favor. “I’m sorry you had to hear me say that to Becker. It was crude.”
“Not to worry. Bad language and straight talk doesn’t bother me.”
A half second later she got an idea both ridiculous
and yet so oddly thrilling. She didn’t hold back. “Mr. Graham, I don’t feel right living here and taking up space without paying rent. I can pay you room and board and also help with Sentry Security business.”
“I won’t take your money.”
“Well, then I’ll work for the room and board. I have significant weapons training. Let me go out with the men tomorrow and assist with patrols if that’s what is required. I can help.”
His mouth flopped open. “What? No.”
“I’m capable. I’m stronger than I look.”
“What about your writing? Isn’t that your job?”
She almost snorted. “I’ll get to it. In fact, I’ll probably stay up late tonight and write.”
He frowned, and she readied herself for an argument against a woman in combat. This might not be a war zone, but in many ways it had become as dangerous. She saw him wavering and decided he needed more to push him over.
“Mr. Graham, you obviously appreciate a strong woman. It sounds like your daughter is that kind of person.”
A misty look came to his eyes, and he looked down at the table. “She is. She is. I’d go after her myself but…I don’t trust me to get her out alive. I’m too old for that kind of situation. That’s why I wanted to send Becker. I trust him to do the job.”
“You don’t trust Ian?”
“I trust all three of these men with my life. It’s just that…” Instead of finishing, he cleared his throat. “Never mind. I’ve taken enough of your time.”
They rose at the same time, and she started for the door. With her hand on the doorknob, she looked back. “You never said if I could go out with the men tomorrow.”
He nodded. “All right. You have my permission. We’ll give you temporary credentials with the company. Be ready at o’ eight hundred.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
Mally left, part of her trembling inside from a sudden excitement she’d never felt before. The other part of her wondered if she’d just made the biggest, most foolish mistake of her life.
* * * *
Unable to settle into writing that night or to sleep, she decided in the wee hours of the night to head to the exercise room downstairs and walk the treadmill. She hadn’t seen Adam after the meeting with the General and had no intention of seeking him out.
Ashfall Page 6