by Gower, Hazel
The shots fired at us missed, and I was grateful for the bad guys being bad shots. I wondered why we weren’t firing back? When we reached the barn, I caught Dylan’s attention. “Why aren’t we firing back?”
Eric snapped, “We don’t know where my daughter is being held. We can’t see who’s shooting at us. If we fire back, we could hit her, idiot.” If I didn’t already know that Divinity’s father hated me, the look he gave me before signaling his men closer told me. I’d always thought I was a manly man, but damn, Eric made me feel like a giant pussy. “When we can see who our targets are, then we will fire back.”
I watched as two men from our team sprinted out in the open towards the veranda of the huge old Queenslander house. It was then four men came out, two from a column and the other from the front door and a window to shoot at the figures. Eric and two others of the team eased out and shot back at the now visible targets. When the four were taken out, Eric and the team all moved forward. I followed close behind, anxious to rush forward and get to Divinity, but I knew we still needed to stay cautious. The two men who’d been more target practice to draw out the bad guys were through the front door before us. I noticed that even though both had been wounded badly enough to leave a blood trail, they moved like cats, swiftly, easily and not showing they were hurt. My respect for these men skyrocketed. I knew the Army trained their men well, but what I was seeing was amazing. Two more men came out of nowhere and before they could fire at us, Eric and Dylan dispatched them without even firing their own weapons.
Entering the house, the smell that hit me had me reeling back. Chemicals. Holy shit! This house was a drug cooking house.
“Watch your fire. Smell the air,” I snarled at Eric. He caught my gaze and nodded. Then, as we entered the hall gave us the signal to spread out and search the rooms.
I don’t know what it was, but something drew me to the back of the house, and as I turned the corner I froze at the sight before me. Divinity was slowly making her way down a dark hallway. She held a gun pointed directly at a man who held one back at her. Divinity was in a bad way. Even in the dark lighting I could see she was covered in blood and it even dripped from her head. Her face was one big black bruise and she hunched over like she couldn’t stand straight. The man opposite her didn’t look in much better shape than her.
Not wanting to startle the man and have him shoot her, I didn’t even hesitate. I raised the gun, aimed for his head, and took my shot. I didn’t move as I watched his whole-body crumble to the ground. Divinity’s gaze shot to mine and the gun followed. When I got my first real look at her I cried out, ‘Oh Divinity. I’m so sorry.” Her face was worse than I first saw, and her neck had two hand prints on it. She shook and I could see she was barely holding on.
“Ryder,” she croaked out.
I ran to her and gathered her to me cupping her face and gently pressing soft kisses on her. “Divinity. I am so sorry. This is all my fault. Oh, my little vixen, what have they done to you? I’ll make sure every fucking one who was involved in this is dead.” I brushed carefully at her swelling face and the massive lump on her forehead that was still gushing blood. Tearing my shirt, I held it up to stop the bleeding.
She didn’t respond and I slowly moved her out of the hall and to all the men in a large lounge room filled with packages of drugs. Drugs from the case I’d been working on. I knew then she’d been taken because of me.
Even with her father and all the men around us Divinity hadn’t moved from my embrace. She remained still. Shock. I hoped that’s why she wasn’t touching me or moving. I worried that because she was taken, hurt, and I didn’t protect her that no matter what I did she wouldn’t have me, soulmate or not. Now knowing this was all my fault I doubted for the first time in my life if I deserved this perfect woman. I was going to have to suck it up and do something very un-alpha-like. Beg. “I’m sorry you were taken. Please forgive me. I can’t live without you. You’re my world. I will do anything for you to forgive me. I’ll make sure it never happens again. You were so brave though. I’m so damn proud of you. You’re amazing and I’ll forever tell you that if you forgive me. Please. Please, tell me you’re still mine.”
I was so wrapped up in my begging that when Divinity suddenly wrapped her arms around me and sank against me sobbing, I almost collapsed in relief. I was sure she would push me away and go to her father, or even one of the other men in the group, and keep ignoring me. “You were right. Being with you is dangerous. I should have called the bodyguards before I even left the base.” She babbled, her voice raspy and hoarse. “But, but, when I saw the cop car I thought, they were with you, but, it just, nothing was right. I found out they had me watched. I thought I had them convinced that we weren’t together, but X. He told the guy to kill me. I killed the guy. I had to. Oh, God, the bastards ruined my favorite Calvin Klein jeans and look!” She stepped back pointing to the holes in her jeans and at the blood that covered her shirt. “Gucci. It took me months to pay off my credit card after I bought this top. I didn’t hurt the dead guy or the one you killed enough.” She burst into tears again and her speech became unable to understand.
I watched in shock as one of Eric’s men dragged a man in, with the wood sticking out of his neck. He was covered in blood and as they turned him I saw he was covered his bruises and I tried not to shudder. My soulmate was lethal. I was bloody well happy she could defend herself, though. I gazed at the men around us and didn’t miss the look of pride on Eric’s face as he looked at the guy now on the floor. The more I thought, though, the more I was in awe of Divinity. She had been attacked and kidnapped and was going to be killed, and she killed the huge man before he could her. She was entitled right now to go on about her clothes.
Glancing at Eric though, and the smirk that covered his face as he looked around the room and then at his daughter in my embrace I had a moment of worry. Maybe the curse, er gift, the gypsies gave my family was going haywire. There was no way I could get a father-in-law like the one I was looking at now. He made the caveman alpha inside me look like an act and I worried for a second about my self-confidence and the hit my manliness was going to take. As Divinity sighed and snuggled against me, I held her closer. She looked up and captured my gaze, and I shook all that off. She was just what I needed. She was perfect for me. I wasn’t in a job like the others of my family, I was in danger a lot more being a detective. I needed a woman who could protect herself. Who had a backbone and didn’t cower from a fight? I needed a father-in-law who wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, like now.
Divinity started shaking. She was in shock. She kept babbling and sulking about her clothes. I knew how much she loved her fashion and I was sure she was focusing on that than what she’d done and what had happened as a coping method.
Leaning down I cradled her in my arms, slowly stood, and walked towards the door, eager to get out of this house.
Once the fresh breeze hit me, I walked off the porch and to the driveway where there was no carnage. I squeezed her tighter to me and kissed her forehead. She burrowed into me and the guilt I felt at bringing this all doubled as she whispered, “I’m so close to loving you. This carrying and rescuing me has brought me a lot closer.” She sighed, which came out more like a gasp for air and closed her eyes.
In the distance, I could faintly hear the sirens. They’d been called well before we arrived. This area was an hour and a half from a town, and four, nearly five, from where we lived.
Divinity gasped again and her eyes snapped opened. “My adrenaline is gone now I think. I hurt.” She moaned for a moment before she stilled.
My heart stopped beating. I couldn’t move for a split second. My whole world focused on the being that was in my embrace. With shaking movements, I leaned down and listened for her breathing and almost collapsed in relief when I felt her warm, but labored breathing. She was fighting, I could hear it with each pull into her lungs, but she was alive. Not wanting to move even an inch in case it caused her further discomfort or af
fected her more, I darted my gaze up, searching for help, and was relieved when looked into Eric’s eyes. Eyes just like the ones I’d awoken to for the last few weeks. I cried, “Help. Please. She’s barely breathing.”
ERIC STAYED, AND THE OTHER men left in the helicopter before I even realized, as my sole focus was on Divinity. They were gone well before the police and ambulance arrived. Eric used basic medical training he knew to help Divinity, by wrapping her ribs in ripped cloths and cleaning her head wound and dressing it, he also taped fingers that looked broken and tidied up cuts that were scattered over her. While he worked on his daughter, Eric made sure I knew the story we were to tell the authorities, leaving out the extra men and saying we were dropped in by helicopter and it left. We got an anonymous tip where to go to get Divinity. The gun I’d used belonged to one of my securities so it was registered, but I would explain I took it to use to get Divinity back.
By the time the ambulance and police arrived I knew what I was supposed to say and do. It was odd, being on the other side of the law and being questioned. It helped that I was a detective, so I knew procedure and what would happen. The drug lab was a huge find and I was sure it would make any punishment I would receive light.
I didn’t leave Divinity, even when threatened with forceful removal by the police on duty. I flung all the power I had around. I used my badge and even my last name to get what I wanted and to stay with Divinity.
I don’t remember the ride to the hospital. I barely remember moving until nurses pried my fingers from hers and dragged me away from her, repeating over and over that she needed surgery and I had to leave. They sat me down in the family waiting room and I stared at the doors for hours waiting for information on Divinity.
I don’t know how long I sat staring at the doors before two people dressed in scrubs came to me. The taller of the two, a man in his late fifties, stepped forward. “Are you family to Miss Stamon?”
I stood and announced, “I’m her fiancée.”
“Her father,” I heard at the same time.
The man looked from myself, to Eric, and then nodded. “I’m Dr. Bradford. We stopped a brain bleed, but there is a lot of swelling. It’s something we will need to keep an eye on. We have her in an induced coma hoping that will help. We are taking her to get her other injuries dealt with now, but there are a couple of quick questions we need to ask before we proceed.” He glanced at Eric. “Is your daughter allergic to anything?”
I looked at Eric to see him shake his head. “No. She’s never had a reaction to anything.”
“Good. Good. Is there any chance she could be pregnant?”
“No,” Eric snapped.
At the same time, I said, “Yes.” I didn’t even bother to look at Eric. I could feel the anger radiating from him. “She wouldn’t be far along, but yes, there is a possibility.”
Dr. Bradford gave a curt tilt of his chin. “Okay. I’ll order the test from the lab. If she is pregnant, the baby should be safe, but we won’t do any more x-rays and I’ll write this on her chart.” He raised a brow at me. “Would you like to know when we get the blood tests back?”
“Sure.” I didn’t really care about anything right now besides Divinity getting better
“Yes,” snarled Eric.
The doctor turned to him. “I’m sorry sir, but that information is private.”
His growl was loud before Eric stomped off. I didn’t take my gaze off Dr. Bradford though. “When can I see her?”
“Her head injuries were our priority when she came in. We now will be focusing on her ribs, legs and fingers. I will make sure you are informed, but I don’t see you being let in to be with her until they have her injuries sorted out. She was in rough shape. It will take time to get to all her injuries. We will get you with her as soon as we’ve done everything we can.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, unsure what else I could say.
The doctor’s hand came down on my arm. “I’d tell you to go home, get a shower, food, and some rest, but I can tell neither you, nor her father will leave. Just remember you’ll be no good to Miss Stamon if you aren’t well yourself.”
“Thanks. I’ll be fine once I’ve seen her and know she’s going to be okay.”
“I’ll make sure they keep updating you. If you have any family for support I suggest you call them as it’s going to be a long night.”
I nodded and watched as Dr. Bradford and the nurse walked back behind the doors before I turned and received a right hook to my face.
“So not only do you get my daughter kidnapped, you fucking knocked her up?”
Shaking off the black dots that clouded my vision, I struggled to straighten and then glared at Eric. “She may not be pregnant, but I sure hope so. I want your daughter. She’s mine.”
“What the hell do you mean she’s yours? Look what fucking happened to her from being seen with you,” Eric yelled.
“I had bodyguards on her. I didn’t think she w—”
“That’s the fucking thing. You didn’t bloody well think. She is not something for you rich pricks to use as property. She’s her own person and definitely not yours. I won’t allow it. She’s too good for the likes of you. This is all because of you!” He lunged for me, but this time Arron come out of nowhere and held him back.
“Dad. No. You’ll get kicked out of here. Stop! I saw someone run to get help. Oakley and Andrew went to stop them.”
I darted my gaze around the waiting room and saw my head of security and friend Chad, and Joel, one of the security that sat in the salon most days with Divinity, my mother and father, and my brother Tyson, who stood slightly behind me. I had no idea when they’d arrived, but I was grateful.
I glared back at Divinity’s father. “I knew the moment I laid eyes on Divinity, she was mine and I may not be good enough for her, but I love her. I love her with every fiber of my being and if I could swap places with her right now I would.” I raked my fingers through my short hair. “She would have had her bodyguards with her if she hadn’t been worried about you and what you’d say about us being together. She wanted to settle Arron back in with you before she left. She always thinks of everyone else first before she worries about herself. So don’t start the blame game.”
“Ha, if you were a real man you would have kept my daughter with you.” Eric crossed his arms over his chest.
I gave a hollow laugh. “Your stubborn daughter does what she likes. Have you even noticed that her mountain of shoes and clothes aren’t in her room? I moved my woman into our house, but she packed suitcases and snuck out to stay with you to settle you in after your time away.” I was getting sick and tired of Eric treating me the way he was. The situation we were in wasn’t a good one, but he hadn’t given me a chance at getting to know him. He’d belittled and growled at me, and now when we should’ve been learning more about each other, we were attacking each other. I sighed, frustrated. “Look I don’t want to fight or argue with you. I love your daughter and whether you like it or not you will be my father-in-law. For Divinity’s sake can we get on? Or at least have a truce until she’s better?” I held my hand out for a shake.
Eric shrugged out of Arron’s hold and slowly shook my hand. “Peace. Until Divinity is better.”
My eyes felt like they were glued shut and it seemed to take forever to get them open. The first thing I saw when I pried them apart was bright lights. It took a while for my eyes to focus and for me to realize I was staring at the ceiling. I took a moment to assess my body as memories flooded me of the last things I remembered. I hurt, but surprisingly, not as bad as I thought I would. I had a nice buzz flowing through me and as I carefully turned my head I saw a drip and what looked like fluids. Turning my gaze down, I saw a dark head resting on the bed and noticed pressure on my hand that had no needles attached to it.
Ryder. I knew those tats, and as I became more awake his manly smell was wafting to me. It was comforting and I squeezed his hand. “Ryder.” I croaked out. My voice was rough and sounded like
I smoked two packs of cigarettes a day. Slowly, I squirmed on the bed to test my range of movement and cleared my throat, only to groan at the dryness, but tried again. “Ryder.”
This time his head snapped up and his dark green eyes flashed before they caught mine. “Divinity. Oh God. You’re awake. Let me get the nurse.”
I shook my head but it didn’t move much. “No. Water,” I croaked.
He stood and a second later a straw came to my lips. “Sip slowly.”
I did as he said and swished the water around before I swallowed. “How long have I been out?” I asked as soon as I’d had enough water that I didn’t feel like something had died in my mouth.
I didn’t miss the grimace before he covered it with tight thin lips and sad eyes. “A little over a week. They’ve had you in a coma to help with the swelling you had in your brain. They brought you out last night and this morning is the first time you’ve been awake.” He looked me over and I didn’t miss the flash of relief in his gaze. “I pressed the nurse button. One should be here any minute and hopefully she’ll get a doctor to explain everything.” He squeezed my hand and I clutched his because right now he was my lifeline.
“So, my dad? Arron? Where are they?” I darted my gaze around the room.
“They’ve been here. Your dad swap shifts with me. When he’s here I shower, eat and catch up on what’s going on.”
“What is going on? What’s happened?” I was eager to fund out what happened after I passed out. Was I in trouble for killing a man? Had they found X among the men they’d killed? Did they know who X was?
“I’m on leave pending an investigation, but don’t worry. The house was a wealth of information and has helped the investigation with leaps and bounds.” He brushed my hair from my face. “I don’t care about work or anything else but you right now.”