The cab came to a neck-snapping halt in front of his condo, and he jumped out. Lumin stood in the entryway nervously watching her surroundings. His heart rolled over and sat on its haunches seeing her. Lumin’s straight blonde hair coursed over her shoulders and rested against a divine body. Checking the area as he approached her, he noted all was clear. She spotted him, but didn’t move. Fishing for his keys, he stopped within touching distance and stared into the blue eyes that had wandered into his dreams for months since he’d seen her last.
“I didn’t know who else to call,” she said as if in apology, her forehead rippling.
“You called the right guy. Come on. Let’s get inside.”
Tony cracked the door to his first floor condo and stalled to be certain the space was as he left it.
“Something wrong?” she asked, standing close enough to feel her aura chafing his.
He reached for her bag and slipped it from her shoulder. “Coast is clear. Make yourself at home.”
Lumin followed him in and he turned up the AC. The July heat in San Diego could melt you into a puddle. A text bleeped its intention and he knew it was Mace.
Got her?
Roger that.
On our way.
Negative, I’ll handle this.
Wife’s orders.
Beads of sweat gathered on Lumin’s forehead, and her cheeks flushed. He led her to his leather couch. “You feeling okay?”
She nodded and sat down.
“I’ll get us something to drink and you can tell me what’s going on.”
“Just water, thanks.”
Tony cracked the fridge. “I’ve got beer.”
“I don’t drink alcohol.”
“’Kay,” he said, throwing a few cubes in a glass and filling it. He sat down beside her and snapped the top from a beer for himself. “You’re safe here. Relax.” Encouragement didn’t help, evaluating her straight back, hands tightly folded, and the tense air wavering around her. He wanted to calm her down. Her fear bothered him. “From the start, Lumin. Tell me all of it.”
Lumin swiveled to look at him. The buzzing in his head when her gaze fell on him made it a little hard to hear. He shot back a healthy swallow of beer, and took a steadying breath.
“I—”
A knock on his front door stopped her. “Stay here.” He waited until a second knock fell. Small fingers, he surmised. “Hello?”
“Tony, I saw you come home,” a woman’s voice floated through the door.
He opened it to see Marcie standing there in a see-through dress. He’d spent one hot night tearing up the sheets with her, and got a bad case of “run for the hills” when she moved in upstairs. “Hey, Mars, yeah, listen, I’ve got company.”
“Oh.” Her gaze stroked across him with disappointment. “I was just about to start dinner and thought…”
“Sorry, babe. My company’s staying with me. Rain check, okay?”
“I suppose,” she said, trying to peek around his shoulder.
“Talk later.” He gave her a friendly smile before closing the door. His stomach clenched when he saw Lumin wasn’t where he’d left her. Okay, SEAL, get a grip. “Lumin?” The patio door was open, and the curtains fluttered aside revealing his guest standing like a beautiful Greek statue adorning the postage stamp-sized space.
“I should go,” she said, when he stepped onto the patio to join her. “I’ll contact the CDC and tell them what I know. I should have done that before involving you. I wasn’t thinking straight.”
He offered her a raised brow. She was trying hard to not show her fear, but he could feel it as if it was rooted deep inside him. “You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.” Wasn’t that the truth. Since December the team had been busy with workups, but he’d thought about her many times. At least five times he’d picked up the phone, but never finished dialing. He gently gripped her hand, and she let him lead her back inside. “Maybe you should lie down for a while.” She refused with a slow shake of her head. When he had her settled, he said, “How did you get involved in this?” The nervous flit of her gaze put him on edge.
“I don’t normally mix it up with tourists. They’re only in Vegas for a few days, but my friend Star is always on me to take time off from studying.”
“Studying what?” he asked.
“In September I start the third year of my law degree.”
That surprised him. “You’re an aerialist, aren’t you?”
“I am now. My parents are performers, and they taught my brother and I everything they know.”
“Where are they?”
“Europe. On tour. My brother has a family. I didn’t want to take the chance I’d lead any trouble to him.”
“Makes sense.”
“Star convinced me to go out, but she didn’t tell me she’d set up a blind date. Dr. Carmichael was introduced to me as a scientist. He seemed uptight, but decent enough. We took him and his friend out on the town.”
Tony’s mind romped ahead at SEAL speed, wondering how she’d ended up in a hotel room with him, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear it. “Did he say where he was from?”
“Lebanon.”
Tony took another swallow of his beer, nodding as he settled the bottle on his knee. “What happened next?”
“Star ditched me, and I was left to babysit. Halfway through the night he started hammering back the drinks. I suggested he return to his hotel. Dr. Carmichael could barely stand, so I helped him. When we got to his hotel, he threw up, and he did it all over me the first time. Instead of calling the hotel doctor, I stayed with him. I washed out my clothes and hung them to dry while I tried to keep him cool with compresses. He started talking about a plague. I thought it was drunken babble or delirium at first.
He began to beg for forgiveness, explaining he hadn’t known what the bacteria would be used for. He’d been contracted to work with the Bubonic Plague, but alter it. Weaponize it, is the term he used. He thought he’d been hired by the U.S. military, but he found out it was a private backer. When he attempted to walk away, they locked him in a lab and threatened him.”
“Did he mention names?”
“Just Dr. Clifford Bjornson. I think he was Carmichael’s partner.” Lumin shook her head and stared at Tony with a reflective expression. “I stayed with him because he begged me to. I fell asleep, and when I woke up…”
“He was dead.”
She nodded.
“Have you told anyone else?”
“No, just you.”
“Did he tell you where the lab was located?”
“Out in the Nevada desert. He didn’t mention a town just that it was in the middle of nowhere.”
Lumin stood up and began to pace the room. Tony’s gaze tracked her lithe movements and graceful, long strides in her hip-hugging shorts. He was reminded of the first time he’d seen her hot-footing it across the lobby of the Grand Palms Casino in Las Vegas. Something had begun to race inside him then, and the key was still in the ignition.
“Have you eaten?” She continued to pace, preoccupied with her thoughts. “Chinese or Italian?” he tried again.
“What?” She stopped and stared at him.
His lips curved into a grin. “I asked whether you want me to order Chinese or Italian?”
“I’m not really hungry, Tony.”
“Come here for a second.” She kept her distance. “Lumin, you are not infected. Please, come here.” She sighed and slowly approached him. He gently twined his fingers in hers and drew her down. Their knees brushed, and the touch sent a supercharged jolt through him. “You need to eat and rest.” He stood up and adjusted the pillow, then pressed her shoulders to lay back. “Do me a favor and close your eyes.”
“Tony, I can’t sleep. My mind is running in circles.”
“Just for a second.” Her dainty, soft fingers gripped his calloused ones. Seeing her again was a little surreal. Holding her hand sent his blood galloping through his veins, but it wasn’t lust, more like
an incessant need to get closer.
Their time together had been brief, but it had a lasting impact. There were plenty of women to keep him busy in Coronado. Sometimes he didn’t even remember the girls he’d screwed when they’d catch him in a coffee shop and say hello, but he remembered Lumin, and he’d never touched her. Not even a kiss.
She watched him with a cautious gaze as he lifted her hand and encased it with both of his. “SEALs learn how to fall asleep quickly. Many times we can only catch a few winks before we have to start moving again. Clear your mind.” He smiled down at her. “Close your eyes.” He waited until she did. “You’re safe, Lumin. You’re safe with me.”
While he ordered a Chinese dinner for two, he darted a look at her. Her pale lips were parted a little, her breasts rose and fell in a shallow rhythm, and he knew she’d fallen asleep. Before he knocked, Tony met the delivery guy at the door. He grabbed, tipped, and closed the door. He set the food out and hovered at the back of the couch, reasoning in his mind that he was programmed to help people. Yet, it didn’t explain why he wanted to simply stand and gaze at her sleeping form. High cheekbones, soft, inviting skin; everything about her challenged him to possess her. She reminded him of looking out across a blanket of newly fallen snow, absolutely pristine. If he touched her, he’d tarnish her. His desire begged to run full ahead and leave its mark. Good sense reminded him she’d sought him out for his protection, not to be mauled by a womanizing jackass.
He’d pulled her act at the Grand Palms up on YouTube. She amazed him as she balanced on the thin beam suspended high above the stage. Brave and agile, with an elfin beauty, she had the audience holding their breath. Like a lovesick fan, he played it at least fifty times. Even though he’d chickened out of calling her, the internet offered a small fix from a distance, but why the hell hadn’t he called her?
“Are you just going to stare at me all night?”
He blinked and stepped back a little embarrassed. “Dinner’s ready.”
With a sweep of her long, tanned legs she strode to the table and settled down. The woman wore a pair of shorts like no one else.
“Smells good. I guess I am hungry.”
She filled her plate, but pushed aside the chunks of chicken and beef.
“You’re a vegetarian.”
After slowly chewing a mouthful, she said, “You notice everything, don’t you?”
He shrugged and loaded his plate. He was starving, but the hunger wasn’t for food. “Depends on the subject.”
She lowered her fork before it reached her mouth. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I told you. I owed you one.”
“Not that. I didn’t ask you how the little girl you were trying to find is doing.”
He smiled. “She’s doing great.”
She mirrored his expression. “Good.”
Tony remembered tracking Lumin into the nightclub in Vegas. “That guy that manhandled you in the bar, what happened to him?”
Lumin narrowed her eyes. “He was my show manager, but he was fired the next night. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”
He shrugged innocently. When Steven Porter flew them back to Coronado in his helicopter after rescuing Squirt, Tony described the guy, and what he’d done to Lumin in the bar. He had a feeling Mr. Porter wouldn’t like it much.
“Gordon was getting a little hard to bear, to be honest. I’m pretty sure he was high half of the time, and when he was, he got aggressive.”
The thought of anyone touching Lumin gnawed at his belly.
“You said you were at Mace and Nina’s wedding when I called.”
“Yeah, one of those love at first sight things.”
Lumin tilted her head and surveyed him. “And you? Am I going to make some girl angry for dragging you into this? I won’t be here long. She doesn’t have to be concerned.”
He shook his head. “No, I…”
The door blew open and Lumin shot to her feet, her chair toppling over. He rolled his eyes seeing the herd of people stampeding into the condo. The loud chatter that accompanied them made him chuckle. Lumin’s eyes were everywhere as the crowd put themselves front and center. “Lumin, this is Alpha Squad. Squad, this is Lumin Edenridge.”
Gabbs crawled into his lap and slung an arm around his shoulder. “Hi, I’m Gabriella. Mom calls me Gabbs, and Uncle Tony calls me Squirt.”
Lumin laughed. Her cheeks blushed as she righted the chair. “So, you’re Squirt, huh?”
Gabbs nodded her head vigorously. “I’m hungry, Uncle Tony.”
“You’re always hungry, Squirt.” He handed her his fork and she dug in.
“Lumin, it’s nice to see you again. I never got the chance to thank you,” Nina said, walking up to her.
“Your daughter is beautiful.”
“Thank you, and you remember Mace?”
“Hi, Mace.”
He gave her a two-finger salute. “Sorry, bud. The wife said we had to pack up our gear and follow you. We owe Lumin too.”
Lumin’s brow tightened. “You cut your honeymoon short? That’s not right.”
Nina placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s kinda like the Musketeers. All for one and one for all.”
Lumin gazed at the rest of the crowd and Nina made the introductions. Master Chief Mason Briggs, who they called Fox, and his wife, Kate, had two beautiful girls, both redheads; Caleb, whose team name was Stitch, and his family; Clay, their electronics guy, and his wife; and finally, Nathan Young and Ed Saxton, who came solo to the wedding.
“Where’s the Admiral and Captain Cobbs?” Tony asked.
“Right here, Tinman.”
Admiral Austen strode through the doorway with his son, Adam, in his arms and Kayla at his side, followed by Cobbs, Marg, and Kelsey. Kelsey quickly pushed her way through the adults and scrambled up on Tony’s lap, nudging herself next to Squirt. He laughed and reached for another fork. “Suppose you’re hungry too.”
“Do you have dessert, Uncle Tony?”
“No, but we’ll get some.”
Kayla and Marg pressed their way through the crowd and shook Lumin’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Lumin. I’m Kayla Austen.”
Lumin looked more than overwhelmed, but at least she wasn’t scared anymore. “There’s a lot of you,” she said.
“We kinda run in a pack.” Kayla smiled at her. “This is my husband, Thane.”
Lumin raised her blue inquisitive eyes to stare up at him. “Hello,” She paused then added, “Sir.”
Ghost didn’t waste a second. “Lumin, we need to know—”
“Thane,” Kayla snapped. “Stand down and let her eat dinner first. I’ll order more to feed the troops, Tony.” She slung a diaper bag over Ghost’s shoulder. “And your son needs a change.”
The Admiral tossed an uncomfortable gaze at his wife. “Of course.” He cleared his throat. “Nice to meet you, Lumin. Thane Austen.” He stretched his massive hand out and shook Lumin’s.
Tony suppressed a chuckle. The Admiral was so pussy-whipped since he’d married Kayla. That sure as hell would never happen to him. As his gaze fell on Lumin, she leaned over and brushed Adam’s little hand, and he gave her a big smile. Tony knew what the kid was feeling. She warmed him from the inside out too.
Ed, the newest member of the team, edged closer, laying a heated look on Lumin.
“Edward Saxton, ma’am,” he said, introducing himself.
Anybody in the room could recognize the cocky smile and hungry look on Ed’s face, but when Lumin reached out her hand she seemed enamored. A quick quirk of Ed’s brow and the intensity of his stare caused an odd electric sensation in Tony’s stomach.
“Grab a plate, Cracker,” he said, using his team name and drawing Ed’s gaze away from Lumin.
“Thanks, T-man, don’t mind sharing dinner with such a beautiful guest.”
Lumin blushed and glanced away. She blushed? What the fuck? No way in hell was Cracker making a move on her. Over his dead body!
Chapter Two
Lumin ate quietly while Tony’s squad surrounded her, battling for airtime and never ceasing their banter. They talked and joked like a big family over an evening meal. The camaraderie between them was palpable. She didn’t know much about the Navy life, but it was evident the Admiral and Captain Cobbs radiated a sense of everything being in control, and she relaxed a little.
Kayla appeared stoic and hauntingly beautiful. Lumin didn’t miss the way the muscular monster of an admiral looked at his wife and son. It reminded her of the way Steven Porter looked at Moira with a deep, enduring love. The Admiral and Kayla’s son, Adam, was a tiny version of his father with blond locks and enormous pale blue eyes.
“How old is your son?” she asked Kayla.
The Admiral piped up as Kayla’s lips parted. “Ten months.” The pride ebbing from the Admiral when he held his son’s hands as Adam balanced on his chubby feet taking wobbly steps between his parents was the same as Steven Porter with the twins.
“He looks so much like you,” Lumin said.
“He certainly has his father’s vocal cords and appetite,” Kayla added.
The Admiral raised a brow at his wife and let go of his son’s hands so he could take a few independent steps to his mom.
The only side of Nina she’d seen was when Gabbs had been taken hostage, but now she was a fiery, funny redhead who teased her husband Mace, any chance she got. Mason Briggs reminded her of a mountain man—gruff and grassroots. She liked it when they called him Fox. It was a little confusing because they called each other by a number of names, mixing up team names with first and last names, she tried to remember who was who.
They called Caleb Stitch, but she didn’t know why. Maybe he knitted. He had a taut, lean form, and a serious expression, but when he looked at his wife and cradled his infant in his arms, the man was as sweet as they came.
Nathan kept trying to catch her eye, and she avoided contact because he made her uncomfortable. It didn’t take much to see he was one of those confirmed bachelors who wanted a good, no-strings-attached time. Tony had called him Tadpole.
“What part of the country do you come from, dahling?” Ed Saxton asked her.
Code Name: Luminous Page 2