HotTango

by Sidney Bristol

  The other two were nameless bastards so far. Nicolas and a suspect with tightly curled, short-cropped hair were in each other’s faces. They weren’t yelling, but from their tense postures he doubted the conversation was of an amicable nature.

  “Alpha Team in position. What’s your twenty, Omega and Zed?”

  The line beeped almost immediately. “Zed reaching position now.”

  Seconds ticked by, but the third team didn’t radio in.

  “Omega, what’s your twenty?” Cole repeated.

  “Omega here. Our designated position is compromised. Setting up thirty yards back from agreed location.”

  Cole ground his teeth together and glanced around the pallets. The three men and Tanya were still engaged in what appeared to be a heated debate. He had a bad feeling about this.

  He ducked behind the pallets to use the radio. The rest of his team was arrayed behind him, guns at the ready. “We need to go in now. Something’s up.”

  “Zed is ready.”

  “Omega is ready.”

  There was no guarantee that this was the right decision. That if they waited the suspects out through the night they would give up. That they weren’t walking into a trap and everyone would die. But this was the choice their superiors had made. Every one of the men holding tactical positions in the warehouse knew what Cole had to lose if this didn’t go down well, and each had optioned into this mission, knowing it could be his last.

  No matter what happened tonight, if Cole survived, he knew he would never forget the sacrifice his team made for him. Or what he might be giving up.

  “This is Alpha. On my count we go in silent.” Cole sucked in a deep breath. “Five—four—”

  The officers behind him shuffled, bringing guns up into position.

  “Three—”

  Those with night vision mounted on their helmets flipped the viewfinders into place.

  “Two—”

  Cole’s world became the sliver of light falling on Tanya’s distressed face. It was the first time he’d seen her since that morning, and she was beautiful.

  “One. Go! We are hot. I have suspects in my view.”

  They descended like silent spiders, curling in on the suspects’ position.

  “Don’t forget why we’re doing this!” one suspect yelled.

  Cole saw the muscles contract in the suspect named Nicolas’ neck. Watched him turn, eyes searching the darkness for whatever disturbance he’d sensed.

  No! No! No!

  Cole’s stomach clenched. The darkness still swathed him as they moved, but there was no denying the moment that Nicolas’ gaze met his and recognized the threat.

  Nicolas’ eyes went wide and his jaw dropped.

  “We have been made,” Cole said over the radio.

  Instead of alerting the other two suspects, Nicolas grabbed the bad guy who’d been yelling at him by the vest and delivered an uppercut to the man’s jaw.

  “Nick, what are you doing?” Tanya cried.

  Cole and the leader of Omega were the first to break into the circle, guns leveled at the suspects.

  “Down on the ground,” Cole yelled.

  The remaining suspect not engaged in the fight grabbed Tanya around the shoulders and lifted a detonator switch high.

  “I have bombs!” he cried.

  Nicolas had the other suspect pinned to the ground. His attention seemed more on his fellow bad guy than the officers, but that meant neither could put up a fight against the police. Officers moved in around the two men, yanking them apart. There was a risk of detonating the bomb vests they wore, but only a little since according to Tanya the detonators were all taped. The real danger was staring Cole in the face.

  “Get back,” the suspect yelled.

  Tanya’s gaze went straight to Cole, and what he wouldn’t have given to take her in his arms then and there. But he couldn’t. Some asshole had her back to a bunch of bombs.

  Officers lined up to his left and right, guns aimed at their suspect. Voices whispered over his earpiece that others were moving into position to flank the remaining bad guy.

  “Come on, man. Put the trigger down and let her go. We can talk about this.” Cole’s voice didn’t reveal the adrenaline and anxiety coursing through him.

  “You shoot me, we’re all dead.” The terrorist had the purest bass voice Cole had ever heard.

  Tanya gave a slight shake of her head.

  No, don’t shoot?

  Or no, he hadn’t had time to remove the tape?

  The man could be bluffing.

  “We don’t want to hurt anyone. What’s your name?” Cole asked.

  “I want the release of Ali Saed.” He was a persistent asshole. His finger began working furiously at the side of the detonator.

  The tape was still on.

  “My name’s Cole. What’s yours?”

  “Back the fuck up.” He thrust the detonator forward, as if it could ward the officers away.

  Cole glanced at Tanya’s face, her gaze still on him.

  She mouthed what looked like, “Do it.”

  “Can’t get into position behind him. Path is blocked off,” an officer whispered in Cole’s ear.

  He shook his head slightly. He wasn’t about to shoot to kill.

  “Do it,” she mouthed again.

  “I want the release of Ali Saed,” the suspect repeated.

  “I heard you,” Cole managed to get out without snapping.

  Tanya’s body went limp. Her legs buckled and she slid down, almost out of the man’s grasp entirely, exposing his upper chest, shoulders and head.

  Cole didn’t think.

  He squeezed the trigger.

  Bang!

  The single gunshot echoed throughout the space and for a split second no one moved.

  The suspect’s body fell to the floor with a thud.

  Tanya pitched forward on her hands and knees, scrambling to get away.

  Officers rushed in, grabbing the body of the suspect, but Cole had eyes only for his wife.

  He rushed the few feet to Tanya and dropped to his knees. She dove into his arms, pressing her face against his protective vest.

  “Ohmygodohmygod,” she chanted through sobs.

  “Come on, babe. We have to get out of here, now.” He hauled them both to their feet and fell in line with the other hostages being escorted along the fastest route out of the building.

  The sense of relief washing over him was enough to take him to his knees all over again, but there was work still to be done.

  “I’ve got you, babe,” he muttered into her hair. She clung to him so tightly they had to turn sideways to pass through the more narrow sections.

  Outside, EMTs were running between hostages, ushering them to where the thousand-plus other civilians were being checked out and their statements taken. Cole followed them, eager to get Tanya to safety. Instead of continuing to the triage center the medics had set up, he steered them toward the staging area and command trailer.

  O’Neil was the first person Cole saw. Chances were the man had been waiting for him. He handed his captain the rifle he’d been using and turned to take his wife into his arms. She clung to him, pressing her face against his neck, a torrent of words spilling from her lips so fast he didn’t have a hope or a prayer of understanding her.

  “Babe.” He cupped her face.

  “I didn’t think I’d see you again.” Her voice was so small and her eyes full of tears.

  Cole hugged her tight, one last time before he was sequestered. Unlike TV, after he shot someone an investigation started and he couldn’t speak to anyone except for his lawyer, internal affairs and his commanding officer. Tonight it was the worst part of his job.

  “Oh babe, you knew I’d come for you.”

  “I knew you would. Even though you probably weren’t supposed to, I knew you’d be there.” Her laugh was watery, near hysterical, and he couldn’t blame her.

  “Westling…” O’Neil said.

  “I k
now. Just one more moment, sir.” Cole stroked Tanya’s hair and kissed her temple. “I have to go, babe.”

  “But—why?” She leaned back and stared at him.

  Cole squeezed her shoulders and gently pushed her back. It was difficult considering all he wanted to do was pull her into his lap and hold her for hours. “Officer-involved shooting. They have to separate me until we can walk through the scene with my lawyer and internal affairs. It’s procedure, I promise.”

  “Right now?” Tanya glanced at O’Neil and back at him.

  O’Neil stepped in and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I know tonight has been difficult. We’ll make this as fast as possible once the scene is cleared.”

  Cole did not envy O’Neil’s job at the moment. Confusion and anger so powerful flashed across Tanya’s face he was actually grateful to the other man for taking the heat like this. Tanya sucked in an unsteady breath and squeezed her eyes shut.

  “Okay. I don’t like this, but okay.” She turned her gaze on him. “I’m not going home without you, so hurry up, okay?”

  There was a Tanya to go home with. His wishes had come true.

  * * * * *

  Tanya walled into the foyer and stared at the closet. Her bag and gear were still at The Warehouse. She wouldn’t be able to get it for days while the scene was being processed. Usually she’d come home, roll her bag into the closet and take a shower. But tonight was far from normal.

  Cole’s footsteps thudded on the hardwood floor behind her. She could hear him punching buttons on the alarm system.

  It was those normal things that comforted her. She opened the closet and glanced inside to preserve the routine, but the gesture was empty. For some reason, now that the danger had passed she felt more vulnerable. As if there were boogeymen around every corner, waiting just for her.

  “Come here.” Cole took her hand and led her down the hall, through their room and into the bathroom. He turned on the shower and steam began filling the room, fogging the mirrors and easing her lungs.

  Cole returned to her. The way he looked at her said it all. He’d held himself together at the scene for the sake of his job, but her being in danger had shaken him deeply. Every look, each time he touched her was gentle, with reverence. Her husband was a strong man, but even he had a breaking point. She feared this was it.

  He grabbed the hem of her tank top, pulled it over her head and peeled her sports bra off, then slid her panties and shorts off in one move, going to his knees and taking the garments with him. She pulled his head against her stomach and held him there. He wrapped his arms around her thighs and bottom, just holding her.

  Tanya’s eyes pricked with tears she hadn’t yet shed.

  There were so many things to say. She needed to tell him how important he was to her. How much she loved him. Everything she’d never said or taken for granted, she needed to express. Now. And yet she couldn’t find the words. She only wanted to touch him. Hold him.

  After several long minutes Cole stood, seemingly a little more pulled together.

  Tanya grabbed a clip and twisted her hair up on top of her head. Cole held the glass door for her. A tremor went through her body and her knees weakened. She hadn’t been in that shipping container long, but the idea of another confined space didn’t appeal to her.

  Cole yanked his shirt off and tossed it in the hamper. “I’ll be right behind you.”

  She jerked her head toward him. Had it been that obvious?

  He nodded at the shower. “Go on.”

  Tanya stepped into the cubicle, the chilled tile against her feet contrasting with the spray of hot water. She felt more than heard Cole behind her. The pressure in the shower changed with the closing of the door. Her breath came in increasingly faster pants.

  “Sh.” Cole wrapped his arms around her, bringing her back flush to his chest.

  She leaned into him, letting him support her. In the past, following an officer-involved shooting, she’d been the one to offer him succor. Now he offered her his strength and experience.

  “Deep breaths, slow and easy,” he whispered at her temple.

  Tanya nodded and concentrated on her breathing, the feel of Cole’s arms around her and the comfort of her own shower.

  The last few hours had been the hardest. She was never very good at waiting. Officers had interviewed her while Cole was required to go through the scene with IA and his rep. It was procedure. And it sucked.

  Cole kissed her temple and down to her jaw. She shuddered and turned in his hold until she could wrap her arms around his neck, then pressed her face against his shoulder.

  “I was so scared,” she said. The hot water warmed her from the outside in.

  “I know. I was too.” He peppered light kisses across her brow and squeezed her closer.

  “All I could think about was that I was about to die and the last time I talked to you we were fighting.” The muscles around her ribs constricted at the same time she sucked in a deeper breath. She gasped and the tears began. She’d held them in the entire time they’d been at the scene, the whole way home, but not anymore. “I don’t want to fight with you,” she said between gasps.

  “I don’t want to fight either,” he said into her hair.

  She wiped at her face, but her tears mingled with the spray from the showerheads. “It was so stupid. I was mad at you for actually talking to me. I’m so sorry.”

  “Nothing to be sorry for. I should have talked to you sooner. Not let stuff build up.” He cupped her cheeks and kissed her lips, lingering for several moments. “Let’s get you washed up, hm?”

  Tanya nodded and let Cole lather her body with the frilly, fragrant body wash he’d bought her for some forgotten occasion. He ran his hands over her stomach, down her hips and back up to massage her breasts.

  His touch grounded her. Held her in the moment. In reality. Where they were alive and well.

  Nicolas would tell the officers everything.

  Trigger Happy—she didn’t know what his fate would be.

  And Silence was dead.

  She didn’t mourn them, though she sympathized with their decisions. Tanya knew she’d do anything for her husband. Maybe not kill others, but in that position she’d think about it long and hard before saying no. He’d never forgive her if she made any other choice, and she’d want the same thing.

  Cole turned off the shower and grabbed her robe from the hook outside the cubicle.

  “Here.” He held it out for her.

  “Thank you.”

  He wrapped a towel around his waist and ushered her into the bathroom. Her brain had gone to mush. Cole guided her to the bed and even put her in it. He left her swaddled in the familiar scent and feel of their bed while he plugged in their phones and pulled all the blinds down. The sun would be up and neither of them wanted to see it for many hours.

  Technically he would be off work for three days while his part in the shooting was under review and a psych test was administered. That meant three blessed days of no phone calls stealing him away in the middle of the night. Three days to figure out normal in the aftermath of change.

  It was a strange thing to be grateful for, but Tanya was.

  Cole slid into the bed with her, naked as the day he was born.

  That wasn’t a bad idea.

  Tanya wiggled out of her robe and tossed it onto the floor. She’d curse herself tomorrow for the damp carpet, but that was tomorrow. Cole was right there, gathering her up again and holding her close, as if he were just as afraid of her disappearing as she was of him.

  “I love you,” he whispered.

  “I love you too.” Tanya cupped his cheek and kissed him.

  Cole pressed her onto her back, the kiss growing rougher, more demanding. She cupped his head, wishing for hair to hold on to, but there wasn’t any.

  He grabbed her wrists and forced them up over her head. Straddling her waist, he fumbled with something in the dark. Velvet wrapped around her wrists, bindi
ng her to the headboard.

  The Bondage for Beginners Kit.

  Tanya tugged against the bonds and frowned. Now? Really?

  Cole braced himself with a hand bracketing each of her shoulders. He leaned down far enough his face filled her vision.

  “You will never pull a stunt like tonight ever again.” His voice was rough, as if it had been treated with sandpaper.

  “What—?”

  “The putting yourself in danger. The getting involved with the bad guys, don’t do that—ever—again.”

  “I don’t plan on it.” She yanked at the fabric, finding nothing amusing about this situation.

  Cole lowered even farther, pressing her into the mattress with his weight, his body covering hers from toe to head.

  “Cole, this isn’t funny.”

  “I’m not laughing. I almost lost you tonight. Don’t you know how much that scared me? How crazy I was that whole time? I’m nothing without you.”

  It wasn’t the words so much as the tremor that shook his voice that spoke to her. They’d been ripped apart, looking at a future without the other. A reality born out of Cole’s deepest fears.

  “Oh Cole.” She strained to lift her head, press kisses to his face. “We’re alive. We’re going to be okay.”

  “I know. But I want you to know that if you ever decide to pull a damn stunt like that, I’m tying you to this fucking bed for the rest of your life. I will not lose you, Tanya Westling.”

  She knew he was serious, but the commanding tone, the velvet bonds, knowing that she was the center of his world—it did something to her.

  “Promise?” Tanya bit her lip and arched her back, pressing her breasts against his chest.

  He snorted. “You are unbelievable.”

  “Hey, I’m completely serious.” She wiggled one leg out from under him. Or more accurately, he let her get one leg free, and she wrapped it around his hip.

  She could feel his cock growing hard against her abdomen. Whether he was seduced by her wanton gaze or he needed the affirmation of life just as she did, it didn’t matter. Cole took her lips, kissing her deeply, thrusting his tongue into her mouth, nipping and sucking her in turn, pouring into her all the tightly-bottled-up love and passion until her head spun with it.