He wasn’t a young man. He had a grown son who wanted nothing to do with him and a job that had already destroyed the one other relationship he’d had in his life. The Special Forces hadn’t changed in the past ten years. He’d still be gone on missions with no contact with the outside world – a situation that wasn’t exactly conducive to building the budding bond between him and Marley.
Except he’d been toying with the idea of retiring after he killed Mankel.
He’d put in over twenty years and sacrificed everything in his personal life for the military. Maybe it was time for him to slow down, back off and learn to relax a little. If only he knew how to relax. He tried to picture a normal life but the only images popping in his mind were of hallmark commercials and he’d seen enough warfare in his life to know that shit was made up.
Hell, he’d seen enough damage with his first wife and son to know that. Just thinking about going through any kind of personal hell like that again made him cringe. He’d abandoned Barb and his son and look where that had gotten him. A dead wife and a son who pretended like Mack didn’t exist.
He’d failed at his most important mission.
So he’d given up on personal relationships of any kind – dogs, cats, people. He’d consciously put that world behind him and focused on the only thing he was good at – killing assholes around the world who wanted to terrorize his country.
Despite knowing all of this, Marley made him want to try again. When he’d stood on that cliff this morning, he had been able to picture a future with her, kid and all. The thought should terrify him. He’d screwed up with his son in a completely irreparable way, what the hell would he do with a little girl?
What if he talked too harshly to her and made her cry? Mack snorted at the thought, if her daughter was anything like Marley she’d tell him to get bent. And he would love it.
Instead of leading the way, which would mean giving Marley his back, he threaded his fingers through hers and pulled her along with him, wanting to keep this connection between them. Needing to feel her soft skin.
At this rate he’d be proposing before sundown. Barbara had always said he couldn’t live without someone taking care of him. Mack stumbled, caught off guard by the thought. To his surprise, he didn’t feel the sucker punch of pain and guilt that usually accompanied thoughts of Barbara.
“Tell me about your daughter,” he said, squeezing Marley’s hand.
“Maddie?”
“Maddie and Marley? They go together.” Mack pushed aside a long leaf the size of his entire body so that Marley could step around it.
“Her official name is Madison, but Maddie fits her personality. I’m partial, but she’s perfect.”
There was a note of sadness mixed in with Marley’s voice. “I’m going to get you back to her. I promise.”
“I know you will.”
They continued their trek in silence for the next thirty minutes or so, fighting vegetation that was so thick in places Mack had to take the knife from Marley to cut their way through. Strange animals he’d never seen or heard of watched them from the trees and bushes. He spied a tiny river in the distance that they’d have to cross en route to his team. Mack had water purification tablets, and he planned to refill their supply. Maybe he could even catch a fish.
His earlier estimate to arrive before nightfall had been based on his ability to travel fast and alone.
From Marley’s stubborn jaw set, she wouldn’t admit when she was too exhausted to keep going, so he’d have to force her to stop. Her courage and strength amazed him. Most women would be in hysterics now, blubbering and sobbing or screaming every time the bushes moved next to them. She kept her chin up, knife in hand, ready for an attack. She wasn’t a hindrance after all. No, Marley Mitchell was an asset.
“Mack, thank you.”
She kept walking, her eyes straight ahead, her soft hand in his.
“For what?”
“For saving me back there, in the cave, if you hadn’t been there, that guy would have—” her voice cracked.
The rage from earlier returned instantly, that red haze clouding his vision again. If he had arrived even a minute later…He should’ve known better than to leave her alone. Damn, he wanted to go back and kill that bastard again.
“Mack?”
He realized he had never answered her. Idiot. Mack cleared his throat and said, “You’re welcome.”
They plodded along in silence again, only this time it held an awkwardness, not an easy peace, prompting Mack to try to fill the gap. “So tell me more about Maddie. How old is she? What does she like to do?”
Marley emitted a loving glow when she started talking about her daughter. A mother’s love was so deep and true, so beautiful in and of itself.
“She’s nine now; she’s really gotten into soccer and jujitsu and she plays the guitar. So she keeps my parents pretty busy while I’m gone. They take her to her lessons and practices after school.”
“Wow, she has a full plate.”
“Yeah, if I thought for one second it was too much I’d make her quit, but Maddie thrives on all of them. She loves to play soccer, it’s a workout for energy and her best friends are on the team. The jujitsu she’s not so crazy about, but I believe she needs to know how to defend herself, so she tries hard at it and she’s getting better.”
Mack found himself curious. “Did your parents make you take jujitsu growing up?”
Marley snorted and wiped her arm across her forehead. “My dad taught us self-defense.”
Mack wiped his own forehead off. It wasn’t unbearably hot, but the ninety percent humidity in the air resulted in a constant sheen of moisture on their skin and clothes. “And what did your dad do?”
“He was a colonel in the Marines.”
Mack stopped short, taking Marley, whose hand he was still holding, to an abrupt stop. “Your dad was the Colonel Mitchell?”
A slight frown formed on Marley’s lips. “I’m not sure if he is the Colonel Mitchell, though he would probably like that. He’s the only Colonel Mitchell I’ve ever known. Why?”
“The man was a legend. He personally led his troops in multiple battles. We used to call him Madman Mitchell. Nobody messed with him.”
He was one hardass, son-of-a-bitch. Mack had seen him ream his soldiers’ asses after a screw up, leaving them with their heads hanging and their tails between their legs. Some thought he was too harsh, but Mack thought he was damn effective. He was a man who commanded respect everywhere he went, a man who fought hard for his men and for what was right no matter the cost to his personal career. He was a man Mack would follow into battle blindfolded.
“Sounds like you’ve met him then. Please don’t tell me you served together.” Heat stained her cheeks when she said that.
What would it matter to her whether or not Mack had served with her father? “No, he’d been in for a while before I joined.”
“Good.”
“Why is it good? I did work under him briefly. He was over my grade when I was just a captain.”
Her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red and she avoided his gaze. “How much longer do you think it will be before we meet your men?”
“Stop avoiding the question.” Mack tugged her closer, trying to see inside her mind.
“I’m not avoiding the question, I just don’t want to be stuck out here for another night. We should keep walking.” Marley made to pull him along, but Mack held firm.
“Why would you care whether or not I served with your dad? Are you ashamed of me?” Had he misread her? What the hell had he done to make her ashamed of him? Was she regretting their time together in the cave after all?
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I’m not ashamed of you. I know my dad would love you. You have all the qualities he admires.”
Mack felt his chest puff out with relief and pride. Any man Colonel Mitchell admired was a good soldier.
Marley continued, “You’re intelligent, deadly fast, and strong.”
>
Mack’s chest puffed out even more.
“And stubborn enough to argue with that tree over there.”
His pride deflated under the last blow to his ego. He wasn’t stubborn. He was steadfast—he got the job done no matter what. He was just about ready to tell her that when he caught the laughter twinkling in her eyes.
“Mack, your head looked like it was ready to float off your shoulders, I had to pull you back down to the earth.”
Mack turned around and yanked her close, wrapping an arm around her waist and anchoring her to him. Marley gasped and swallowed a sweet moan as he plunged his tongue inside her mouth, getting lost for a moment in her sweet taste and yielding body. When she squeezed his biceps and dug her nails into his skin, he knew she was putty in his hands. Mack broke the kiss and set her back, grinning at the look of dazed confusion on her face. “Let’s say you could add sex god to that list.”
Chapter 19
The sun started shifting lower in the sky by the time Marley and Mack reached the narrow river line, surrounded by droopy trees with limbs that stretched far out over the murky water. After tracking down the shore for about ten minutes, her boots sinking into the wet mud along the bank, they found a small clearing where the ground was covered in spongy moss and packed earth. The site was only about ten feet by ten feet, nestled between two giant trees with fat roots sticking up out of the ground, forming a sort of shelter. The spot provided natural protection with the roots forming a wall at their backs and the river at their front.
Marley went straight to the nearest root and plopped down, her feet throbbing, her legs aching and her tired muscles screaming at the abuse. Thanks to daily training, she was in excellent shape by any standards, but the lack of sustenance, the rugged terrain, and the long trek had exhausted her. Whether Mack might think her weak or not was now a moot point.
Mack stepped to the edge of the water, carefully scanning to the right and the left, something he seemed to do every second. The man was aware of everything. Their surroundings. The animals and few locals they’d come close to. More than anything, though, he was aware of her. Every time her foot got stuck in sludge, every time she slowed down or tripped over a knotted weed, Mack had been there instantly. His attention was both disturbing and delightful. “Does it look like we’re getting closer to our destination?”
“Closer, yes. Close enough to make it before sunset? No. We’re going to have to find a way across the river, and then there will be another couple of hours of walking after that. We need to make camp for the night, find something to eat so we’re strong enough to finish the journey tomorrow. Even after we meet up with the crew, we’ll still have a long walk out. We’ll need our strength.” Mack crossed his arms over his chest. His shirt was torn in a few spots and dirty, there was sweat streaming down his chest, and she knew from having followed him all day there was also sweat on his back.
But he still looked sexy as hell.
Marley glanced down at her own worn and ripped clothing. She looked like she’d been rode hard and put up soaking wet. Shit.
She got to her feet and crossed to the water’s edge, kneeling to splash some water on her face, attempting to scrub the dried blood and dirt away. She sat there for a moment, allowing the wrinkles in the water to smooth out so she could see her reflection. She’d never been really worried about makeup or hair too much—she’d been too busy being a mom and a pilot for that kind of frivolity.
However, with Mack standing so close, she suddenly started worrying about her knotted hair and swollen cheek. If they were stopping for another night she didn’t intend to waste it alone, but she wanted to at least make some attempt to freshen her face and hair before attempting to seduce Mack. What she wouldn’t give for a bottle of shampoo.
“I wouldn’t get too close to the water, wouldn’t want to wind up being somebody’s dinner, you know?” Mack said.
Marley jumped to her feet, searching for a crocodile or a giant python, only to see smooth unbroken water. “Dammit, Mack, the way you said that I was expecting to come face-to-face with a crocodile.”
He chuckled and tugged her close, sneaking an arm around her waist. Her skin immediately went hypersensitive and she slapped his chest, trying to push him away and pat down her wild hair at the same time.
He didn’t give her a chance, he buried his face in the hollow of her neck and inhaled deeply as if savoring the way she smelled – which couldn’t be good after the last twenty-four hours. “I don’t intend to let anyone eat you but me.”
Heat instantly flooded her thighs and her resistance melted. This man made her lose her senses. If he were planning a repeat performance of last night, she’d be happy being dessert. “Aren’t you tired?”
Mack leaned back and arched a brow. “Do I look like I’m tired?”
She followed his gaze down to the more than obvious tenting in his pants. She felt her eyes grow wide. “Really?”
Mack pressed himself against her, growling deep in his throat. “Don’t worry, I’m not a monster. I intend to feed you first.”
He nipped at her neck and then her earlobe, drawing a sharp gasped response. “Thank God, I thought you were withholding food for sex.”
“Oh no, honey, I’ll get you some supper, but I intend to have you for dessert.”
Her heart thundered in her ears as she stood there and reveled in the way his lips felt on her skin. Mack clearly wasn’t worried about how she looked, so she wouldn’t be either. She intended to savor him all night. Unfortunately, her stomach had other plans. It let out a loud growl and Mack chuckled again. “Definitely food first. Why don’t you stay here and rest? I’ll scout around nearby and see if I can’t scavenge up some grub.”
“Sounds wonderful, but I’ll come with you. I can help.” She tilted her head to the side as he gave her neck another nip, leaving an open invitation for him to continue.
“Rest now.” Mack pressed a hard kiss to her lips. “Here’s some water purification tablets. Rehydrate and relax. I don’t plan on letting you sleep much tonight.” He disappeared into the trees. As soon as he was out of sight, his presence became undetectable. He walked so silently, like he was used to sneaking up on people. She shuddered at the realization that stealth was exactly why he’d learned to move like that.
With a sigh, Marley went back to her root and sat down. She jabbed the tip of the knife into the wood next to her and allowed herself a moment of pure self-pity. She tried to keep up a brave front, but her feet were on fire. As gently as she could, she unlaced her boots and pulled them off, revealing her wet socks beneath. Almost scared of what she might find, she peeled the material back. Bright red blisters greeted her, along with toes and heels pruned up from being wet all day. The rest of her was nearly as waterlogged. She needed to dry off.
Marley eyed the water’s edge. If she kept an eye out for predators, she might be able to get a quick semi-bath to get some of the sweat and grime off her body before Mack returned. Still sitting, Marley unzipped the top part of her flight suit and shrugged it off, letting the material fall and bunch around her waist. She inspected the bandage, seeing dirt but no blood. Better to leave it in place, especially since it was the only thing protecting the wound on her arm from the elements. Besides, the cut didn’t even hurt anymore.
She thought about untying her ripped shirt, taking it off, and using it as a washcloth. She could always put the flight suit back on to cover herself, but the air was too humid. The shirt would never dry again before morning. Four angry red lines marked her chest where her attacker had ripped her shirt, mauling her skin in the process. Chills covered her body and the shadows around her seemed to stretch from the trees, reaching for her. Marley wrapped her arms around herself, wishing Mack would hurry up and return.
His presence was a buffer not only from the dangers lurking around, but also the bad memories lurking inside.
He’d steadfastly protected her and poked and prodded. And yet he sensed when she needed gentleness, too. Ins
tead of trying to act all brave and manly, he looked at her like she was the only woman in the world, like he would die to protect her. He was the ultimate warrior. Brave and battle-hardened, scarred by his past . . . and yet, whether he was willing to admit it or not, he was just as lonely as she was. For the first time since the plane crash, Marley felt a small tinge of gratitude to her copilot. If he hadn’t betrayed her, she wouldn’t have gotten to know Mack. She might not have realized everything that was missing from her life.
And this might be their last night alone together.
Something vibrated against her calf. Marley grabbed her knife and braced her arm in the air, prepared to strike whatever creature had decided to crawl on her leg, but there was nothing there. Another buzz, and she let go of the knife, which clattered to the ground. She fumbled with the Velcro on the cargo pocket near her calf, jerking it open in a clumsy move with numb fingers, and yanked out her cell phone. Oh my God, it worked.
It was a text message. She quickly opened it and a colorful photo splashed across the screen. It was a picture of Maddie with her mother playing in the backyard of her parents’ house. Maddie was her life. Tears stung the backs of her eyes and Marley gently touched the screen with her fingers.
Her phone buzzed again and a message popped up from Ramsey, her treacherous co-pilot. Deliver the men to me by tomorrow at sunset or I’ll kill her.
A set of coordinates flashed on the screen.
Marley’s entire body went down. He’d kill her? Was he there with Maddie now? Or had he sent someone else after her—the person who’d taken the picture. Oh, my God. Her body thundered to life, her tears drying instantly. Maddie.
Ramsey, the fucking bastard. She wanted to rip his throat out; she wanted to take her knife and stab it into his chest. But she was stuck in a jungle with no way to warn anybody.
Her phone worked—oh, my God.
Marley nearly dropped it, as she struggled to get a phone call out. She held the phone up high in the air, shooting to her feet instantly, walking to the edge of the water, searching for any ray of a signal. Nothing. Not even one bar. She swiftly scanned the message again—she found nothing new, just that one sickening sentence. A sentence that had the power to end her daughter’s life.
Men of Mercy: The Complete Story Page 161