by Jaime Lewis
His breath caught in his throat and his chest tightened. His eyes went straight to her stomach. He studied her carefully. If she was pregnant, shouldn’t she be showing by now? When she finally looked up with tears rolling down her cheeks, he saw the guilt on her face, and it caused his mind to spin with too many scenarios to a point he didn’t know what to think.
He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists at his sides, trying not to show his anger. “Do you want to elaborate more on that statement, Tenley? Because looking at you now, you sure as hell don’t look with child for someone who knew she was pregnant back in November.”
She flinched at his statement, causing her to cry harder. “You and I haven’t had sex in months, so tell me, did you decide I wasn’t enough and had a fling on the side? Then you got pregnant and were scared because you didn’t know whose baby it was so you broke things off with me? What happened to the baby, Tenley? Did you have an abortion?” He roared like a grizzly bear, ready to attack its victim.
Tenley was taken back by Potter’s hateful and harsh words directed at her. Potter had been her rock, the person who said he would always be there for her and would protect her. But what he didn’t realize was she had been protecting him all the while she had been suffering.
If he thought she was that fucked up to abort her baby, then he really didn’t know her at all. And that hurt more than him accusing her of cheating on him, which she’d never do. She knew what it felt like to be cheated on.
Getting some backbone, she poked her finger in his chest. “You self-righteous bastard. How dare you talk to me like that. You don’t know a goddamn thing. So don’t stand here and make accusations about things you don’t even know the truth to.” She screamed back at him.
He knew this back and forth bullshit was getting them nowhere. When she dropped her hand and turned to walk away, he reached out and grabbed her shoulder, turning her toward him. He had to know one thing.
“Just tell me this. Was the baby mine?”
She covered her mouth as a loud sob escaped. “Of course it was yours. I know what it feels like to have someone you thought cared about you cheat on you. I’d never do that to someone who meant the world to me. For you to even consider that I could have slept with another man when I was with you proves you didn’t know me as well as you thought you did.” She cried even harder, but the trained soldier in him didn’t give a shit right at this moment. He still needed answers.
“What happened to the baby, Tenley?” He wanted to shake her and demand her tell him.
Wiping the tears from her face, she met his eyes. “I miscarried and lost the baby before you got back from your deployment. I swear, Potter, I was planning on telling you when you got home. But—”
He interrupted her before she could finish. “That’s complete bullshit, and you know it! You chose not to tell me.” He roared with anger. He was losing his control and knew he needed to walk away from the situation and cool off before coming back to talk, but he couldn’t just leave it alone. He was hurt and felt deceived by the woman he thought he was in love with. And isn’t that some shit. He finally found someone he could open his heart to, and she fucking destroyed it.
“You kept the fact that you were pregnant with my baby from me. I had a right to know. That baby was as much mine as it was yours, Tenley. What the fuck were you thinking?” He shook his head at her in disgust then held his hands up. He was done. He needed to leave before he did something he would really regret. “You know what, I don’t even want to know anymore. What you did was so low. I never pictured you as a selfish person, and I’m a pretty good judge of character. But you had me fooled. You and I are done, Tenley. I know you’re friends with the team and Alex. I’ll tolerate your presence at team functions with friends, but other than that, I don’t want to see your face. Don’t call me, don’t text me—hell, don’t even fucking look at me. I’ve washed my hands of you.” He walked from the room with his heart battered, all while she was screaming and pleading with him to stop and listen because he didn’t understand. He didn’t stop. He kept walking until he was out the front door and out of her life.
As he walked to his truck, he pulled his cell phone from his pocket, not caring it was early, and sent a text to Ace telling him that he was going to take a few days of leave. They weren’t scheduled for any planned training or missions, so it shouldn’t be a problem.
He needed some time alone to help clear his mind. He got into his truck and slammed his hand down on the steering wheel. Fuck! He didn’t know if anything could help him get over this. The baby was his, but she hadn’t trusted him enough to tell him. There was nothing she could do or say to help him get over her deceitfulness.
◆◆◆
As soon as Tenley heard the door slam, she slumped to the floor and let out all of the emotions that she had been bottling up for the last two months and cried. She was so upset she found it difficult to breathe. She felt like her chest was just ripped open, and her heart removed by the man she loved. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to get over his words to her.
She knew Potter was gone. She heard his truck peel out. She cried harder. He was gone, and he wouldn’t hear her out. All he did was jump to conclusions. How could he even think she would cheat on him or even consider aborting a child?
She understood that keeping the details to herself put her in the wrong, but she had to. At the time, she felt it was for his own good because she feared that Chaz would make good on his threat.
The more she laid there, the more stupid she felt. He was a Navy SEAL for Christ’s sake. He took out bad guys for a living. Now, as she lay broken on the floor, she realized she had made a wrong decision in not speaking up. Why hadn’t she gone to him and told him the truth instead of running from the situation? If he couldn’t have dealt with it on his own, he had his team to use as a resource. But, now it was too late. He was gone, and by the words he left her with, he had no intention of ever coming back.
She heard her bedroom door open just before a pair of small, slender arms comforted her. Alex. She faintly heard Ace ask Alex if she was okay, but she was too much of a mess to hear what Alex said back before hearing his retreating footsteps.
They must have heard Potter when he left. Alex just sat with her while she cried. After what seemed like forever, Tenley sat herself up and wiped her face and eyes. She looked at Alex and felt terrible. Her best friend should be home, still celebrating her engagement. Not sitting here on her bedroom floor consoling her because she fucked up.
“That bad, huh?” Alex asked her giving her a soft smile.
Tenley hiccupped a sob. “He wouldn’t let me explain.”
“Explain what, ‘friend’? What’s been going on with you the last few weeks?” Alex asked so sweetly, and it killed Tenley inside that she couldn’t be forthcoming with her friend.
Tenley shook her head. “No offense, Alex, but I don’t want to talk about it anymore. What’s done is done. I fucked up, and Potter’s gone, and he is never coming back, and I’ll have to live with the consequences.” She stood up on weak legs and walked back into her closet.
She was done talking. What she needed to do now was get the hell away from this town for a while. Hopefully, her best friend would understand and not push the issue.
“Okay, but you know I’m here if you need to talk, even while you’re away. I’m worried about you.”
“Thanks, and I appreciate it, but I think my leaving is for the best. I’m just asking you to please let things be. Please don’t badger Potter over this. We both made some poor choices with our words and actions that I’m now quite positive we will both regret for the rest of our lives. At least I know I will.” She wiped another tear from her face.
Alex gave her a look like she wanted to argue, but she ended up nodding her head before helping her finish packing.
Tenley gave Alex a big hug. “I love you Alex. Hold onto to that man of yours and love him with everything you have, because in a blink of an eye it
could all be over with.”
Alex nodded her head. “Maybe things will work out when you get back. Four or so weeks is a long time for the two of you to think.”
Tenley’s thought was weeks to drown herself in work she loved and weeks to put the thoughts of Potter behind her. Only if it were that easy. She had a feeling that she would never be able to get over losing Potter.
Chapter Three
Three and a half weeks later - Tumaco, Colombia
Miguel Dias stood gazing out the window overlooking the large shipyard his exporting business utilized. Any other day he’d be overseeing shipments being loaded for export, but some information he just received had his mind occupied.
Knock…Knock…
“Come in.” He spoke with a thick accent.
“Hey boss, you wanted to see me?”
Miguel turned to face the door as Javier entered the room. Javier was a well-trusted employee and friend who handled personal matters that Miguel wanted to be kept confidential.
“Yes. Close the door and have a seat.” He gestured to one of the two leather wingback chairs in front of his desk.
Javier took a seat as instructed just as Miguel walked around the large mahogany desk and sat down near him.
Miguel was powerful and could be a dangerous man when warranted. As the leader of the Onyx organization, Miguel’s number one expectation of each of his employees was loyalty. No exceptions. The business he dealt in was cutthroat, and he couldn’t afford to have dishonest employees.
Miguel was born and raised in Colombia. A country known for criminal activity, which included his family’s business dealings on the black-market exchange. He had been ecstatic when he applied and was selected for a scholarship to attend college in the United States. After graduating college at the top of his class with a Business degree, he was hired as a Junior Vice President for a well-known shipping company on the East Coast. He was two years into his career when he received a call from home that his father was ill and requested his presence. When his father summoned someone, that person either went or paid the consequences. That was true for family members as well.
Upon arriving in Colombia, Miguel hadn’t realized his life as he’d known it would forever be changed. He never expected his father to hand him the reins to the family organization, making him one of the most influential people in Colombia. What he didn’t like was that he was placed in charge of an organization dealing in criminal activity. But, since the death of his father nine years ago, he had secretly been selling off the illegal portions of the business little by little.
The only man who knew about those sales was Javier. Miguel had suspected several from his leadership team were suspicious of him making deals off the books. He also had a hunch he had a rat or two running around his organization. There had been a few deals that had gone down recently without his knowledge. Even though they were small transactions, no business should be decided upon without his approval. Those types of issues he could handle quietly. Unlike the major problem he had right now.
Someone ordered a hit on an American Ambassador and his family, and whoever was behind it, was trying to frame him and his organization for it. He had a good idea that those who’d been working on the small side deals had played a part in the attempted assassination.
The good news was he was ninety-nine percent sure he knew who the rats were, and soon, those individuals would be revealed and dealt the consequence for deceiving him.
Miguel leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. “I have a job for you. There is a group of aid workers from the United States assisting with the Ecuador earthquake relief.” Javier nodded. “It is urgent that I speak to one of the nurses.”
Javier looked nervous. “Sir, I don’t mean to pry into your personal life, but are you ill?”
Miguel grinned. “No, I’m not ill. It is a private matter that I need to discuss with her, but I need you to pick her up and take her to my private estate just south of where she’s working. I’m going to take the yacht down and meet you there. I’ve had Andres watching her. Get in touch with him, and you can coordinate the pick-up. She is not to be harmed. Understood?” Miguel said with a stern warning.
“Yes, sir. May I ask, does this woman hold a special interest to you?”
He crossed his arms in front of his broad chest, leaned back in his chair and gave Javier a serious look. “Something like that. I’m hoping she can shed some light on a potential issue that is brewing back in the States. That issue may have a connection with things occurring around here in which certain folks think I know nothing about.”
Javier looked at him and sat forward in his chair. “What’s going on?” He asked.
“According to a close and well-trusted source, there is a businessman by the name of Chaz Westlock who is interested in expanding his business holdings. Somehow he got word that I could give him some direction and possibly assist him in securing the merchandise he is looking for.”
“Drugs?”
Miguel nodded his head. “You know I’m trying to get out from under that trade. But what has me intrigued is why a small businessman such as Mr. Westlock is looking to international distributors when there are plenty of dealers right in his own backyard.”
“Cocaine or Heroin?”
“Heroin.”
“You think this could be a set-up, and this guy is working for a bigger party. Someone who wants to bring you down?”
Miguel grinned at Javier. Javier was a smart man, and that was why Miguel trusted him fully. “Exactly my thought. I have my suspicions, but I need to confirm it, and when I do, I’ll eliminate all parties involved. But before I do, I am going to want a little something in return for my frustrations.”
“So, what does this nurse have to do with this situation?”
Miguel opened a file folder and glanced at the picture on top of the papers inside. “She is an ex-girlfriend of his, and I want to see if she can shed any light on the situation. You know, get her take on the guy. From what I’m told, he is a complete dick who throws his money around to get what he wants.”
“Have you had someone watching her as well?”
Miguel made a grimacing face. “Let’s just say I’ve had eyes on her here and there. She broke up with this guy last August and started dating someone else. Seemed very happy with the new guy, and suddenly after several weeks of no contact, this asshole Chaz comes back into the picture and starts harassing her. My source believes he roughed her up on one occasion.”
“What about the new boyfriend? Can’t he do something about this Chaz character?”
“Her boyfriend is military, and I have no doubt he could handle Chaz, but something is going on, making her pull away from the people who care about her, including the boyfriend, and I believe Mr. Westlock is the cause of it. I think he may be trying to use her as part of his scheme. Whatever that may be.”
“What’s her name?”
“Tenley,” Miguel took a deep, almost painful breath and exhaled. “Tenley Cortez.”
Javier’s mouth gaped open, and his eyebrows shot upward. Miguel gave Javier a stern look and reiterated his earlier comment. “Again, see to it that no harm comes to her.”
Javier ran his hand through his hair. “Understood completely. What happens to her after you get the information you’re looking for?”
“Then you’ll take her back to where she stays and drop her off. She’ll understand before she leaves that she and I never spoke.” Miguel handed the picture to Javier.
Javier stood and took the picture. He glanced down at it. “She’s beautiful.”
Miguel nodded his head in silent acknowledgment of Javier’s observation.
“I’ll head out now since it’s a few hours’ drive and meet up with Andres. I will give you a call when I have her and we’re en route to the estate.”
Miguel nodded his head and watched Javier leave through the door. Once he heard the door click, he looked back down at the papers inside the folder and star
ted studying them again. He hoped his plan would work and not backfire. All he could do now was sit back and wait to make a move. That fucker in Virginia Beach thought he was slick, but this type of scheme had Esteban’s name written all over it. He knew from his informant that Chaz Westlock was a small business guy who owned a nightclub and a couple of other small businesses, but obviously, he wasn’t smart enough to know who he was messing with.
What had him worried, was Tenley’s safety and her involvement in this. He had plenty of enemies all over the world; enemies who would love nothing more than to eliminate him and get their hands on his entire organization. Now he needed to validate what his gut was telling him and end this before any harm came to her, because more than likely, she had no clue she was going to be pulled into the middle of a very dangerous situation. He’d make sure she was looked after closely once she went back home. And if what his informant in Virginia told him was correct and the asshole had roughed her up and had been threatening her, he would be taking a trip to Virginia Beach a little sooner than initially planned. Nobody fucks with Miguel Dias and lives.
Chapter Four
San Lorenzo, Ecuador
“Okay, Alejandra. You’re all set, munchkin.” Tenley chirped to the little, brown-eyed girl as she secured the bandage around her leg.
“But my boo-boo still hurts, Ms. Tenley.”
Tenley couldn’t hold back the grin as the little girl stuck her bottom lip out and pouted, looking at the large white bandage covering half of her lower leg. The little girl had been behind Tenley’s smile the past two weeks. Before her presence, Tenley’s mind had been consumed with sad thoughts and reminders from home.
“I know, sweetie. That was a pretty nasty cut on your leg. It’s going to be sore for a few more days.” Tenley told her.
“Ms. Tenley? When will I get to see my mommy and daddy?”
Tenley swallowed the lump in her throat then looked at Shelia, one of the other volunteers. She gave Tenley a sad smile before turning her attention to the patient she was working on.