Bitterness swelled, contaminating her voice. She needed to blame someone for what was happening to Joey and Jacob became the available target. “We’re at the Wyoming cabin.” The silence at the other end of the line was frustrating, but two could play at that game so she remained silent.
“Why isn’t Joseph making this call?”
“There are actually several reasons, speaking from a strictly medical perspective. First, he was shot this morning. Although it is just a flesh wound, the path it traversed aggravated the damage that was done by the recent torture.”
“Excuse me? What the fuck did you just say?” Jacob’s voice boomed across the connection.
“Tortured. In my estimation due to the repair, remodeling and infection that has occurred, the trauma was inflicted within the last ten to fifteen days. And let’s add a cherry to the top of the unfathomable suffering he has endured, shall we? He stopped taking his pain meds cold turkey. So he is going through clinical opioid withdrawal without the aid of any mitigating medications to lessen the crash. At the moment, he is unconscious with a fever of 101.” Her throat closed up and she struggled to keep her tears at bay. “So I guess that’s why your brother is not making this call.”
“Tortured? My God, Ember, are you sure?”
“Oh, I’m sure. I’m an emergency medicine physician. I see trauma daily. I deal with car accidents, bullet wounds, knife wounds, burns, severe beatings, and abuse. But in all my years in the ER, I have never, repeat never, seen the extent of trauma your brother has endured. From the evidence on his torso, it appears as if someone succeeded in flaying the skin off ninety-percent of his back.”
The silence at the other end of the line was unbearable. “Did you hear me? Did you hear what I said?”
“I heard you. Is there anything I can do?” His voice broke as he asked the last question.
“Yeah, Jacob, you can keep him safe. No work until he’s healed. The world will just have to spin on its own. I’ll take care of him. We’ll send the information when he wakes up. But his body is going through a massive shock. He needs antibiotics, pain killers and a solid week of rest. He needs time to recover.”
“Em, I didn’t know. He didn’t say anything. It wasn’t in his reports.”
She sighed. It would be like Joey not to let anyone know. Regretting her tantrum, she swallowed her pride. “Okay Jacob. Hey, look…I’m sorry for assuming you knew. I’ve unloaded the truck and locked up the cabin. I’m going take care of his wounds, get him to hydrate some more and then go to sleep. I’ll have him call when he wakes up. We can upload the information then. If the cartel finds us tonight, they can have us.” How can I be so tired?
“Em, you’re safe for now. Joseph’s home is off the grid. Nobody will know you’re there. Hell, until last night I didn’t know where it was. I’ll get you help ASAP. Get some sleep and call when you can.”
“Goodnight, Jacob.”
She turned off the power to the phone and retrieved the bag from the drug store. With an effort, she roused Joey enough to take more Tylenol and forced him to drink most of the bottle of water. I wish I had something better to help you, Joey.
Em covered him with the comforter and turned off the light. Undressing quietly, she slid into bed next to him. Turning towards him, she snuggled close, giving him the warmth his body needed. Ember put her hand on his chest. His heartbeat felt strong and regular. Reassured, she fell asleep almost immediately.
*
The sun spilled into the cabin through the skylight in the bedroom too soon. Ember woke slowly and squinted, her eyes trying to focus. With a sudden realization of her surroundings, she looked to her left and smiled softly at the man sleeping beside her. Some of his color had returned. His breathing was even, deep and steady and his face was relaxed. She marveled at how the boy she knew had become such a magnificent man. His hair hung over his brow making him look seventeen again. The multitude of lesions on his shoulders and chest were livid, red and puckered. She could not imagine the pain he must have endured. Em fought the tears that threatened to spill. The injuries were so severe and yet, he came for her. He put aside the anguish, the pain, flown halfway across the country and then had driven all night just to make sure she was safe. No matter what he said or how he said it, he cared for her. That thought bolstered her spirits and allowed a small upward tug of her lips as she brushed the hair from his forehead.
She slipped out of bed and went into the bathroom to shower. Shampooing removed most of the black rinse out of her auburn hair. Wrapped only in a towel she tiptoed across the floor and out into the kitchen where her new clothes sat in shopping bags. She dressed quickly. Rifling through the cabinets, she found an unopened can of coffee and coffee maker. After a fifteen-minute search for a can opener, she found it mounted under the cabinet. Laughing at herself for missing the obvious, she started a full pot.
A picture window framed a meadow that spread out behind the cabin. The view of the Black Hills and the yellow and purple wild flowers scattered throughout the field was breathtaking. A gentle breeze blew the flowers and tall grasses. They swayed in time to nature’s own dance. She rinsed out a cup and filled it with coffee.
Now armed with the caffeine her body desperately needed, she peeked into the bedroom. Joseph’s steady breathing reassured her he was still asleep. Ember walked to the back door and left it open as she sat down on the edge of the porch and dangled her legs in the morning sun like a little girl.
Ember leaned against the pole and breathed in the warm air. Pine, sunshine, and freshness invaded to a cellular level. Finally, she relaxed from the drama of the last two days. Her only plans for the day were drinking at least one more pot of coffee and exploring the house.
She walked softly not wanting to make any noise to wake Joseph. A quick observation showed the “cabin” was a two-bedroom, three-bathroom home built with care and craftsmanship. Every room boasted a beautiful view of the hills and was furnished with sturdy furniture that fit the rustic feel of the house.
Making another carafe of coffee for herself, she walked back to the bedroom and peeked in the door. Joseph lay awake and stared at the ceiling. Ember walked in and sat down beside him. She gently pushed the hair off his forehead and smiled. “Hey, how are you feeling?”
He closed his eyes and swallowed. “Like I’ve been run over by a semi-truck…a couple of times.” He put his hand on her waist and opened his eyes again. His voice was soft, “Your hair is red again. God, how long have I been out?”
“It’s okay, you haven’t been out long.” Ember whispered as she lay down beside him and caressed his cheek. “The color was a temporary rinse. I shampooed most of it out this morning. You faded out on me last night at the gate. We managed to make it to the bed and then you were gone. It’s just as well. I am glad you weren’t conscious when I cleaned and redressed your wounds. It’s late afternoon now. You need to drink some water.”
He shook his head and reached over pulling her closer. “No. I couldn’t hold it down. I need to call Jacob and let him know we are safe.”
She chuckled. “You told me to do that last night. I called him. I think he wants you to call when you’re feeling better.”
Joseph closed his eyes and nodded. “Alright, but not right now.”
She lay still as his body relaxed again and he drifted back to sleep. Exhaustion was a symptom of opioid withdrawal and the sleep was good for his mending body. She waited until he was in deep REM sleep before she slid out of his grasp.
Her mind ticked off his physical progress. No fever, better color, no respiratory distress—all good signs that his stamina and conditioning were fighting to pull his body through.
She turned the corner into the kitchen and froze. A large man leaned against the counter in the kitchen drinking a cup of her coffee. Of American Indian descent, she thought. He looked menacing, but passive. Something in his casual repose fueled her courage. Ember picked up her coffee cup and walked to the pot. Pouring a cup, she turned. “Ar
e you here to kill us or help us?”
“If I wanted to kill you, you’d both be dead now. Jacob sent me.”
She took a drink of her coffee. “My name is Ember.”
The man nodded. “Yeah, I know. I’m Mike, but everyone calls me Chief. I have a cooler of food and some other groceries in the truck. Doc sent some medical supplies. He nodded toward the small package on the counter. Said you’d needed that.”
She opened the packet examined the sealed vials of medication. “Joey needs these antibiotics.”
Chief nodded and put the cup down. “You make good strong coffee.”
She smiled as she opened a syringe from the sealed pack. “No sense in drinking it if it tastes like tea.”
“You got that drive? I’ll send in the documents.”
Ember stared at him and shook her head. “Sorry ace, nice that you know names and appear to be a good guy, but until I get permission you don’t get squat.”
He looked at her and laughed. His entire personality transformed. “Okay, call Jacob and ask or go back into the bedroom and wake up Joseph. He can vouch for me.”
Ember looked at him and growled protectively. “There is no way in hell I’m going to wake him up.” She walked to the satellite phone and powered it up. Looking up at the huge man, she pushed the redial button. It rang twice before Jacob answered.
“Joseph?”
Ember responded, “No this is Ember. There’s a huge man standing in my kitchen drinking coffee and he said you sent him.”
“Yeah, I did Em, his name is Chief and he’s my friend. I trust him with my life. He’ll stay with you until Joseph is better.”
“A little heads-up would have been nice.”
“The satphone was off. Besides, after you told me about his injuries, I knew Joseph and you needed help. Chief can upload the documentation, and we can start to get some resolution to your situation. By the way, did you say your kitchen?”
Ember glanced at the big guy as he poured another cup of coffee. “I believe I did. Thank you for sending us help. I’ll have Joey call you when he wakes up.”
A low rumble resembling a laugh came through the phone. “Joey? Jesus, I haven’t heard that in a while. Thank you for taking care of him. If he had his way, he would have healed up and left the country without anyone knowing he was here. He’s…well, he’s protecting us by not bringing his world into ours. We know it, and what sucks is that you’ve spent more time with him in the last two days than I’ve had with him in the last ten years.”
Ember blinked back the tears that filled her eyes at the thought of the loneliness Joey must live with. “Yeah, he’s alluded to the fact he doesn’t do relationships—even with his family.” She cleared her throat and bounced back to her comfort zone again. “Look, I get that you didn’t know about the abuse. There is no way I can verbalize the extent of the trauma he has endured. Honestly? I’m surprised he wasn’t mainlining morphine.”
“Okay, please ask to him call me when he can. Chief will take care of your security until Joseph kicks him to the curb. Once we get the documents, we will start defusing the time bomb that Dale primed.”
Ember disconnected the phone and got the drive for Mike. She watched as he set up the computer and placed inline encryption devices on the system that would secure the data transfer. As the documents uploaded, they unpacked his truck and Ember gave Joey a dose of antibiotics before putting the groceries away.
She finished preparing dinner for herself and Mike and checked on Joseph throughout the evening. Over his protests, she force-fed him a few spoonfuls of broth and a bottle of water. When Mike headed out to check the access road for any activity, she went to bed. She slipped in between the sheets and moved next to him. Joseph reached out and pulled her closer. “God you feel so good.”
She chuckled and snuggled closer to him. “Go back to sleep, Joey. You’re not strong enough to do anything your mind might be imagining.”
“Mmm…don’t go anywhere. When I wake up in the morning, you’re going to see just how strong I am.”
“Hate to tell you this champ, but your body is going to be really sore for the next couple of days.” She traced his lips with her fingers.
His voice was soft and she could tell he was falling back to sleep. “Yeah? Been there done that…got the scars to prove it.”
She put a hand on his chest and kissed his lips softly. “I know, baby. I know.”
His breathing had evened out before she pulled her lips from his. She lifted her hand and brushed his hair from his forehead. She still loved him. Oh, not in the sweet innocent way she had when she was eighteen. No, he was the epitome of everything she wanted desperately to avoid. Drama, stress, anxiety, and fear. Yet, he was everything she needed. Strength, loyalty, kindness, and compassion.
Joseph King was a dichotomy rolled in danger and served with a huge side of sexual tension.
“I’m so screwed. How can you still mean so much to me?”
Chapter Nine
Ember smelled the amazing aroma of strong coffee long before she walked into the kitchen. God bless Mike for making coffee the right way and for getting up earlier than her to do it. She walked out onto the back porch with a steaming mug in hand. She stilled immediately when a doe and two fawns raised their heads from grazing in the meadow. Sitting down with a slow and quiet intent, she watched the gentle creatures dip their heads to eat, oblivious to her intrusion.
Mike’s voice from the kitchen carried in a low whisper, “They’re upwind. If they could smell us, they wouldn’t be in anywhere near here.”
Ember glanced over her shoulder and smiled. “They’re bigger than any deer I’ve ever seen. So beautiful.”
“They’re mule deer. See how large the ears are? They resemble the length of a mule’s ear, hence the name. They’re the largest breed in the States.”
He walked out slowly and leaned against a post as they watched the animals feed on the tall grass. Ember sighed and looked up at him. “I’m sorry to pull you out here, Mike. I am assuming you had other reasons for being way out here in no man’s land?”
He shrugged his shoulder. “I was in the area. Joseph and Jacob have pulled my butt out of the fire many times. It was the least I could do. The Kings are my family. I’d do anything for them.”
Wait. Hold on a minute. “I thought Joey worked alone.”
“He does. Normally.” The man drank his coffee obviously not going to expound on his answer.
“Would you care to elaborate? I don’t have a nifty security clearance, but I’ve figured out what he does.”
Chief took a draw of his coffee examining the bottom of the cup as if searching for the words to use. His shoulder lifted in another shrug. “About a year ago, a rescue mission we were on tanked. It was bad. Two of us were taken by hostiles. Jacob, Joseph and another brother stayed in country to mitigate the damage and recoup the losses. Losses…hell I was the loss. Me and a teammate, Doc. Jacob and Joseph were able to track the ones who took us. The bastards didn’t stand a chance once those two showed up.”
“He’s really good at what he does, isn’t he?” She didn’t try to hide the admiration in her voice.
“No ma’am, that’d be an obscene understatement. He’s the best there is. Period.”
“Are you married, Mike?”
He shook his head and laughed. “Whoa, whiplash on the conversation vector there. No, ma’am, I’m not. I don’t think it’s fair to ask a woman to take on my lifestyle unless she’s part of it, like Jacob’s wife.”
A small smile tugged at her cheek. “Really? Don’t you think that should be left up to the woman?”
“No, ma’am. I don’t. It would be incredibly selfish of me to ask any woman to put up with my life. Hell, physical training and involvement with the teams I train impact any down time I have. Plus I’m subject to immediate recall if the situation warrants. What would give me the right to ask someone I care about to put up with the loneliness and the danger? What kind of woman would
say yes?”
Ember stood and looked down at her empty coffee cup. “One like me would say yes in a heartbeat. One that understands there are no guarantees but is willing to take a risk on having a happiness that others desperately seek and rarely find. Yeah, I guess a woman like me.” She leaned against the railing and looked towards the meadow. “Women are so much stronger than you testosterone-filled alpha males give us credit for.”
She slid a glance his way and winked. “Take some unsolicited advice from a woman who knows just a tiny bit about your life. If you have someone, stop wasting what precious time you have on this earth by protecting her from your lifestyle. Tomorrow isn’t going to come for everyone. What happens if she walks out the door one day and never comes home because an accident takes her away from you? Would she know how you felt about her before she died? Trust me, Mike. You need to let her have the opportunity to enjoy you. And you? You better love her while you can. My mom once told me life isn’t about the millions of breaths you take. It’s about the individual moments that take your breath away.”
Ember turned to walk into the house but froze at the site of the gorgeous man standing in the doorway wearing nothing but low-slung jeans. Joseph. Evidently, yesterday’s re-bandaged wound dressings didn’t make it through the shower. His hair freshly combed and still wet shone jet black in the morning sun. He lifted his coffee cup in a mock salute. A slow smile spread over his face. Mike turned to follow Ember inside but when he saw Joseph, he too, stopped. Chief nodded acknowledging his friend and immediately turned, dropped off the porch and headed toward the front of the house.
Ember felt her face flame red as Joseph sauntered towards her. The mesh of livid wounds across his shoulders, chest and ribs couldn’t detract from the sexual magnetism he exuded.
He pulled her toward him gently and lowered his lips to her neck. “Having a good conversation with Chief?” he whispered.
He trailed light kisses along her neck sending rivulets of pleasure throughout her body. She melted into his arms, moving her head to the side giving him access to her neck and sighed. “Yes, he’s nice.”
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