by Vonnie Davis
He couldn’t take it another minute. Scooping her in his arms, he held her close and she melted against him. Two jagged halves of a whole reconnected. “I never expected to see you again. Damn, my life’s been empty without you.” He buried his face against her neck and breathed in her essence. “My woman. Mine and Quinn’s.”
A sob escaped Ivy as her arms surrounded his shoulders holding him to her. “I can’t believe I’m finally seeing you again. If only I’d known all it would take to get you back was getting shot, I’d have painted myself as a target years ago.” She hiccupped another sob and pulled away, swiping tears from her face.
He prepared her arm for an injection. “This will take the edge off the pain. And by the way, no target painting.”
“I didn’t know you were a medic.”
“I’m not. I was Commander of SEAL Team Five, so I had to know some of everything. Now to get you outta here.” He gave her a quick kiss before scooping her over his shoulder. She grunted in pain over the movement. “Sorry, I know it hurts. But I need to get you to a safe place. See you get better medical care.”
Before ZQ stepped out of the window, he patted her ass. “You need to know, Ivy Rosemoor, I’ve never stopped loving you. No one has been able to take your place in my heart.” He grabbed the rope, wrapped his feet around it and repelled down, much faster than he’d climbed up.
“Do you ignore everyone you love? Thanks, but no thanks.” He chuckled at her sassiness. She may be submissive in the bedroom, but she was always a spitfire the rest of the time. Keeping up with her had been a challenge and a helluva lot of fun.
He ran toward the back yard. JJ stepped out of a hiding place of shrubbery. Nance was at his side. ZQ turned toward JJ. “You pick-up Dust. Nance will run the sidewalks beside you if you order her to. I need to keep Ivy as close to me as I can. I’m not ready to turn her over to you just yet. Contact the team.” ZQ helped her to stand so he could run, carrying her in his arms. His bike was parked three houses down the narrow alley.
She punched his shoulder; her effort so weak he barely felt it. “Why did you abandon me?”
He explained as he ran. “Mission to Afghanistan. Wounded in a firefight and had my cell shot to hell. So I couldn’t reach you. Months later, got my foot shot off. Spent weeks in two hospitals and rehab, learning to walk with a prosthesis. To prove I was battle-ready, I had to go through BUD/S again. By the time I was free to hunt you down, more than a year had passed and I couldn’t find you.”
He threw aside the brush concealing his bike and leaned her against it. He straddled the seat and helped her on behind him.
“Quinn…Zane…ZQ…Quasimodo…whatever the hell your name is, I’ve heard criminals come up with better stories. You expect me to believe all that while you were just running, carrying me? Tell me, did the dog eat your homework?” Her head titled to the side. Damn, he’d bet she’d be fierce as fuck in court.
“Ask Quinn. He’s seen my prosthesis.”
“Just how have you met my son?” At her quizzical look, he explained. “Grey and I are old friends. He asked for my help in finding you, not knowing we had a history. And I had no clue who Ivy was until I saw the photos.” He started the bike. “Wrap your arms around my waist and hold on. And Quinn is our son.” He sped off in the direction of the rendezvous point.
He should have expected her attitude. Hell, he was so glad to see her again, he welcomed it. A Dominant/submissive’s relationship was built on communication, honesty and trust. They’d both skipped over the honesty part, especially him. Even as their relationship progressed to love, he’d kept so much about himself a secret. Then war destroyed their only way of contacting each other, leaving their lives totally screwed.
His cell vibrated. At a traffic signal, he stood and pulled it from his pants pocket. “Being followed. Change to plan C.” Plan C was a different meeting spot—the roof of a large hotel. He’d have to say goodbye to her now. There’d be no time if other aircraft were in pursuit.
ZQ took off, making a U-turn. Horns honked. Drivers cursed and flagged him the universal Have-A-Nice-Day sign. “Change of plans,” he yelled over his shoulder at Ivy. “Our helo is being followed. I’m staying behind to take out the leadership of the cartel. Otherwise, they’ll just come after you again. You and little Quinn will never be safe. I have to guarantee you have a secure future.”
“So, you’re going to leave me again?” She punched his shoulder with a fist. “Who did I fall in love with? The ghost of a phantom macho SEAL?”
She had a right to be pissed. Poor thing was in pain, scared and full of resentment over his disappearance from her life, especially when she turned up pregnant. He parked across the street from the hotel. “I’ll wrap my arm around you. Do your best to walk normally into the hotel. We’re taking the elevator.”
A quick glance up the street and he spied JJ’s bike so he assumed they were already inside, maybe even on the roof. He reached back with a hand and pulled off his bloody t-shirt. Being shirtless here was no big thing.
“You expect me to walk normal with a bullet in my leg? My skirt is soaked with blood. I know how bad my face looks.”
“Keep your head down. We’ll move quickly before people have a chance to notice or care.” With his arm wrapped around her waist, he practically carried her through traffic to the hotel’s double glass doors. Off in the distance he could just make out the sound of the approaching Black Hawk.
The hotel concierge asked what was wrong with the woman. Why all the blood on her skirt?
ZQ replied in Spanish that she’d fallen and injured her leg.” He shrugged at the hotel employee. “Too much liquor.”
Once in the elevator, he swept her into his arms and pressed the button for the top floor. He kissed her deeply, his tongue reacquainting itself with hers. “I love you, baby. I love my son. JJ, my medic, will take care of you. By tomorrow, you’ll be with Quinn.”
The elevator doors screeched open and JJ leaned against a door near the end of the hall. Nance alert at his side. ZQ ran toward them, carrying her, and kept up as his friend led the way up steps to the roof. Dust was in sniper mode, making occasional movements from one side of the roof to the other.
“Don’t leave me.” Ivy’s arms tightened around his neck. “We have so much to work out. I know I’m grumpy, but I’m in pain and hungry. And I can’t believe you’re here.” She kissed his neck several times. “We need time together. Stay with me. Stay. ‘Ne Me Quitte Pas.’” She used part of the French lyrics he’d so often sung to her.
Christ, baby, I wish I could. I want to spend the next few days just staring at you.
“JJ and any of the other guys will tell you how to reach me. I’ll come for you once I make sure all danger to the two people I love is eliminated. I promise. I love you.”
The helicopter landed and ZQ handed her over to JJ. “Take care of her, brother. You know what she means to me.”
JJ wasted no time hopping into the helo. Nance and Dust followed.
To ZQ’s surprise, Grey jumped out, a backpack strapped on and carrying a duffle bag of what appeared to be filled with some heavy shit. What the hell? “Get back on that chopper.”
“Ain’t happening.” Grey waved Steelhead on and the bird lifted less than two minutes after landing. ZQ stood, watching the aircraft containing his heart shrink into the orange and gold shimmering ribbons of the setting sun.
The whoomp, whoomp, whoomp of an approaching helicopter jarred him into the urgency of the moment. “Grey, I had no clue you were part of RescuesRus.”
“Kiss my ass. As half-owner of the Omega Team, the title you just tossed fits. So, like it or not, sailor boy, I can be of use to you.” He opened his bag and removed sections of an RPG launcher.
ZQ grabbed those remaining and assembled his. Both ducked into blind spots. As a smaller helo flew by, they fired and with direct hits, blew it out of the air. Flames and falling metal descended on the roof and streets below.
“Ain’t this fun?
Christ, Athena’s gonna be pissed I stayed.” Grey laughed as he dismantled the launcher and shoved it into the bag. “I love my job.” He tossed ZQ a blue striped tank top and a pair of jeans torn at the knees. Grey changed out of his tan t-shirt into a purple one. “We need to modify our look.” Chucking his cargo pants, he pulled on black jeans. He rolled up the clothes he’d taken off and passed ZQ some clunky junk chains. “Necklaces for your candy ass. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
CHAPTER NINE
Being taken away from ZQ was like having her heart extracted with icy prongs. For all her grumbling, Ivy had needed and adored every short minute in his strong arms. She focused her gaze on him as JJ hopped into the helicopter, its whirling blades blowing her hair around. As she was gently placed on padded bedding, she craned her neck to keep her love in sight.
A curtain was pulled to conceal patient and medic from the rest of the crew. The helicopter rose, then banked to the right before increasing in altitude. She was leaving behind the man she’d always loved. No, she would not cry. Enough tears over her SEAL giant had been shed over the years. How many times would her heart be broken? He should be here with her.
Would the drug cartel really be a continual threat to her and her son? She’d handled enough cases to know how vengeful they were; she had to admit ZQ was right. Gratitude for his selfless act warmed her heart. Not much, but enough to show her he still cared. And, heaven help her, so did she.
JJ snapped on latex gloves and opened various bags. “Nance, take care of Ivy for ZQ.” A powerful German shepherd rested his chin on her shoulder. Woebegone brown eyes stared at her. The dog licked her chin helping to put her more at ease.
“Any other injuries I need to know about?” JJ’s voice was low. “Ashley, the woman I love, was raped repeatedly by ISIS in Syria. Were you hurt that way?” His eyes were gentle.
Sharing wouldn’t be easy, but necessary. “I wasn’t raped. But…but they stuck their fingers inside me. Dir…dirty fingers. I tried to wash as best as I could afterward.”
“Ashley insisted I bring some vaginal germicidal ointment along.” She tensed at the thought of his touching her. The man was a stranger. He handed her a glove. “Put this on. I’ll open the tube and hand it to you and look the other way while you squeeze the contents on yourself and try to finger some inside. Okay? Ashley’s taught me to be very considerate of women’s feelings about their bodies. I won’t watch.”
He did as he promised while she took care of herself. “You must love her very much.”
“She’s been through hell. When we’d rescued her, she’d retreated so far into herself, she couldn’t speak or look at any of us. Emotional healing has taken a long time. She’s just now allowing me to kiss her. If I want her—and I damn well do—I have to be patient and wait for her to make a move when she’s ready.”
“When were you in Syria?” She removed the glove and put it in the bag he’d provided.
“As best as I can figure, a year or more after you had Quinn. Any other injuries?” His gloved fingers lightly passed over her bruised face. “I can’t exactly strip you down here. ZQ would kill me. He’s been in fifty kinds of knots since he found out it was you who’d been abducted.”
“Well, imagine my shock when I came to and saw him leaning over me.” Her heart was still running in circles and jumping over hurdles. Why did the man have to look so good? He was still a muscular warrior with a deep, rumbly voice that made her hormones want to slide and slither over every inch of him.
“Injuries, Ivy? You haven’t answered.” JJ touched her back after pulling up her tank top and she gasped. “Christ, you look like you’ve been beaten by rubber hoses. You’ve got dried blood back here. Hell, your back is almost totally black and blue.”
“I was, for hours.” She held up her wrist. “I hope the swelling here doesn’t mean it’s broken.”
“Believe me, when the boss gets done with them, they’ll be dead women beating motherfuckers. Tell me where it hurts.” JJ moved her wrist around and massaged it.
“More tender to the touch than any bad pain.”
“That’s good. I’ll just wrap it so you can’t move it for a day or so. Any allergies? Health issues?” He kept moving, assembling an IV drip, and preparing a hypodermic needle.”
“No. None.”
He cleaned her hand with a sterile wipe. “A little prick.” A minute later she was hooked to an IV drip. “I’m going to put you under now so I can remove the bullet.” He injected medicine into her drip. Nance licked her arm. “The canine nurse will see to your emotional needs. She’s helped me mend a lot of SEALs. That’s why we all love her so much. Speaking of love, you know ZQ loves—”
When she came to, Nance barked once. JJ pulled back the curtain and scooted into her area. He checked the bandage on her thigh. “You’re doing good, Ivy. I got the bullet out. No major damage. Rest some more. We’ll be stopping at an airport to refuel and take a restroom break in about two hours. I’ll stop the morphine drip. Here,” he handed her two pills and a bottle of water. “Take these, but don’t chug the water. You’ll get sick to your stomach.”
She nodded and woke when the helicopter landed. JJ had the curtain open and patted her arm. “Do you think you can walk with my help to the restroom? The exercise will do you good. I’ll lift you out of the bird.”
Her bladder begged for mercy. “I’ll try. You might have to catch me, if I fall.”
“You won’t fall. Your bullet wound was an easy fix. I’ve done a lot of those.” He unhooked her IV and asked Titan, whoever he was, to grab her when he handed her out. “I’ll be back as soon as I make a piss run.”
“Make it quick, man. My bladder’s on high alert.” Titan was a huge guy with curly red hair. He extended his arms to take her from JJ so he could hop out of the bird. “You’ve had a rough time. You doing okay?”
“I think so. I’m free from those horrible men, thanks to all of you.”
He blushed. “We were only following ZQ’s orders. Gotta say I’m crazy about your kid, ma’am. He loved running his fingers through my curls. Told me I felt like a Fwench Poodle.” He shook with laughter.
Ivy leaned against him and laughed right along, feeling the happiest she had in days— human kindness, the language of home, and safety. Things that meant so much to her right now. “That’s my boy. So, you’ve all met him?”
“Oh yeah. ZQ couldn’t wait to show him off. He’s apeshit over Quinn.” He smiled shyly. “We all are.” He carried her toward the airport. “I can see why ZQ said he was willing to die for you. You’re a beautiful woman, bruises and all.”
What did he mean by Quinn…er…ZQ being willing to die for her? How would they ever have a chance to work things out if he kept running off to fight some enemy?
JJ ran out of the restroom and Titan passed her off to him. “There’s a store inside the airport. Let’s see if they have any shoes you can wear. I don’t want you going barefoot.” He carried her through the aisles until they saw a bin of sandals. “What size?”
“Eight.” An employee seeing her plight, came over to help find a pair. He tore off the tags and buckled them on her feet, his gaze zipping from her bloody clothes to her bruised face.
She directed JJ to the small clothing section. “Put me down, so I can choose for myself.” She grabbed a packet of panties, three pair of shorts and four tank tops. Next, she snatched a hairbrush, deodorant, toothbrush and paste.
Ivy found a box of diaper wipes and, figuring it would be the closest thing she’d get to a bath, she tucked them under her arm. At the register, she grabbed six chocolate bars, two boxes of cookies and a bag of Cheetoes while pointing to a cold bottle of Coke as she began to devour a Snickers in front of the amused cashier. JJ laughed as he paid the bill. Then he carried her to the restroom so she could relieve herself.
As soon as he carried her back on board the helo, JJ took over the pilot’s seat. Dust sat in the co-pilot’s chair.
A man who introduced himsel
f as Steelhead—and where did they come up with these names?—gave her more medicine and water to down the pills. “Next stop, Black Eagle Ranch,” JJ announced as the helicopter rose.
“I’m sure there will be a little boy waiting to crush you to death with hugs. I expect my wife Gina will be there too. Gina’s a physical therapist. She’ll probably work with you to speed your recovery and walking.”
She ripped open another candy bar. God, she was so hungry. “Would you mind closing the drape so I can get out of these bloody clothes? I don’t want Quinn seeing me like this.”
“Okay, but take your time. You don’t want to tear any stitches. Open the drape whenever you want. If you want. But sleep. You lost a lot of blood.”
Before long, she was on such a sugar high, she scooted from behind the curtain and joined the guys. Nance came trotting over when she saw the two packages of cookies Ivy held. “Can I give her one?”
“Not the Oreos. Chocolates give her the shits. She can have two of the other kind though. Pass the Oreos this way.” Titan’s red eyebrows waggled.
Before long, they were all talking, showing her their artificial limbs and scars, telling her how the ranch had become a home to them. “Wait until you meet ZQ’s mom. Her name’s June, but everyone calls her Junebug,” Steelhead said. “She’s a pistol.”
“Where did you get the name Steelhead?”
“Because his mind is like a steel trap. Bastard doesn’t forget anything. I’m Dust, in case you didn’t catch ZQ’s rushed introductions. Name’s short for Dustin.”
She talked around the Oreo she’d just stuffed into her mouth. “Gee, I feel like I ought to have a nickname.”
JJ pivoted slightly in his pilot’s seat. “If ZQ has his way, it’ll be IQ. You know, short for Ivy Quinlin.”
Ivy snorted. “IQ works because mine has to be higher than his.”
The men laughed and told her she better not mention that fact to the boss.
“Hey, if the man can’t take the heat, he can stay out of the bedroom.” Her hand slapped her mouth. “I did not say that. Must be the drugs talking.” That quickly the feeling of belonging to this gang of warriors enveloped her. She imagined she was one of them. “Thank you all for coming to save me. If I said it before, I’ll say it again. Thanks. You guys are the best.”