by Elle Boon
“So, this is goodbye then?” She inhaled deeply and took a step back.
He could see the hope in her eyes that his answer would be no. Hell, maybe that was his own hope reflected back at him. His throat clogged up, unable to form words, he nodded once. His teeth ached from gritting them to keep from begging her to wait for him. No, her father wouldn’t allow them to find any peace or happy ever after together. It was better to let her go now before either of them got in too deep.
She didn’t say goodbye, which he could tell cost her, the same pain sliced through him. Instead, she turned on her wedges and walked away. Jase shut the door, unable to watch her walk out of his life. In that moment, he wished with all his being that Admiral Mark Frazee would go straight to hell. After five minutes passed, he made his way to the bedroom and packed his stuff, knowing he couldn’t be in the same town as Brooke and not see her, not go crazy with wanting to be with her.
Once he had his things in his duffle, he walked out the door. “There you go, admiral. Go fuck yourself,” he muttered as he took the steps two at a time down to his truck. His hometown was no longer going to be a place of solace. He’d made a huge error when falling for the admiral’s daughter, thinking he was good enough for her. Jase hardened his resolve as he drove away, knowing his heart was forever going to be left with a blonde haired beauty with hazel eyes.
*****
Jase scrubbed his hand over his face, wishing he could forget the pain in Brooke’s eyes. Pain that he’d caused, especially with everything he knew now. Her father had been playing a deadly game at the time and didn’t want Jase anywhere around where he would overhear something he shouldn’t. “Bastard was a traitor.” Jase pinched the bridge of his nose and looked in the mirror. With the prosthetics on, he hardly recognized himself. He tugged until the pieces of fake skin came off, looking through the console he pulled out a wet wipe and cleansed the glue from his face.
A year after walking away, he’d been in the middle of Kuwait when his team met up with another. Jase still couldn’t believe the proof that had landed in his hands from the team leader just before the man had died. He fingered the leather cuff on his wrist, a constant reminder of their sacrifice, the titan symbol burned into both sides reminded him of where he’d come from and those who lost their lives that night, including him.
To have been close to exposing Frazee as the man behind the other teams’ slaughter, only to be blamed himself was like a shot through the heart. His own team thought it was he who’d turned on them. A mirthless laugh escaped as he thought of Kai and the rest of his team. Of course, they believed the evidence stacked against him. The men who’d created it were good and had the technology to create unmistakable proof. The only thing they didn’t have was a confession from Jase, and they never would. The golden ticket came in the form of a breakout of prison scheme, along with a chance to prove his innocence with help from the government. “Fucker had to go and get killed before I could get my redemption, jackhole.” Jase stared out the windshield, watching as the lights went out at the apartment above the salon and day spa. “I wonder what mommy dearest thinks of you waiting on customers?” The few times he’d met Nancy Frazee the woman had given him the cold shoulder. The woman didn’t like to rub elbows with those below her in status and made it clear to all those in their town.
He settled down to rest his eyes. Tomorrow, he’d watch and see who would approach Brooke. Somehow, he’d have to figure out a way into her parents’ house and knew it wouldn’t be by trying to be nice to the woman he still cared for since by all accounts he was dead, and she wasn’t going to trust just anyone. Mark Frazee may be dead, but the man wasn’t working alone, and until he knew she wasn’t a target, watching over her would be his job. His phone buzzed in his pocket. As he glanced at the encrypted message, he grimaced. “I swear to fucking all that’s holy, I will smash your head in,” he swore as an image of Brooke at the funeral came across the phone from an unknown number.
Jase forwarded the image to his tech guy, the one who’d gotten him out of a federal maximum security prison as if he was just taking a stroll around the park. Yeah, Erik was a genius, but he was also a crazy shit who scared most people on his good days.
His phone lit up with an incoming call. “What’s up, Erik?”
Erik grunted. “You watching that pretty little blonde like a lost puppy?”
Jase switched the phone to his other hand so he could look around the dark neighborhood. “You got cameras on me?” An image of the big, tatted up, battle scarred man, sleuthing around the dark putting up hidden cameras, made him laugh.
“Man, I told you. If there’s video surveillance anywhere in the vicinity, I can tap into it.” Satisfaction rolled through the air.
“Yeah and what did I tell you. You can tap wires, I can tap ass.” Jase tried to find where Erik was watching from.
Erik’s deep chuckle had him glaring at the phone. “Sure, and I’m Prince Charming. Hell, you’re probably the next thing to a born-again virgin. If women can say they’ve regrown a hymen, what can men who ain’t had no action in a few years claim?”
He raised his middle finger in the air, even though Erik couldn’t see him. “Fuck off and fuck off again, Erik. I had more action in my thirty plus years of life than you’ll ever see in your entire life.”
“You keep telling yourself that. Alrighty, on to more important things. It seems the elder Frazee mama has gotten rid of most of the stuff in the house in the past few days, except the admiral’s office. Now, here’s the interesting part. It looks as if his old buddy is spending an awful lot of time there consoling the widow, if you know what I mean,” Erik growled the last. Neither of them cared for cheaters.
“See if you can find out if they were an item before his death. Be careful, I don’t trust him.”
He could picture Erik glaring daggers at him through the line. “You didn’t just question my abilities. Do I say to you ‘Oh, Ty, be careful out there, those men are so big and bad?’ No, so don’t question my abilities.”
Jase laughed as Erik’s voice pitched to the level of Erik’s version of a woman then back to normal at the end. “I apologize. Now go do your thing and let me get some rest.”
“Watch your six, man. You went to prison and lost everything over that woman there.”
“No, I went to prison and lost everything because her father was a fucking traitor who pinned it on me. This goes a lot higher and deeper than him. I aim to find out just how high and get my name back.” He rubbed the cuff again.
“Hooyah, brother. Remember, failure isn’t an option. It’s the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” Erik Branson’s deep timber settled his raging emotions. The SEALs familiar saying had him smiling as the other man tacked on the additional bit at the end.
“You’re a smart man. One day, you’ll make someone a fine husband.” Jase jerked his head up to the upper floor of Brooke’s apartment as a light came on.
“Don’t even joke about that shit. Listen, your girl’s moving around, and there’s movement behind her place. Looks like a couple shadows in the shape of men.” Erik’s teasing tone had been replaced with the one Jase recognized as all business.
Sliding out of his vehicle silent as a ghost, he made sure he had his weapons in place before switching on his communications device to his ear. “Where are they now?”
“One is looking upward as if he’s thinking of scaling the brick wall. She has two entries and exit points. The one in the front and one in the back. Her back door looks to be solid and has a gate in front of it that’s proving to be an issue for them. Shit! They’re moving to the side of the building between the alleyway. I don’t have camera access there.”
Jase cursed quietly as he headed for the building. “Did they both go that way or split up?” His need to protect Brooke had him sweating.
“Looks like they went together, but I have no visual,” Erik cursed.
He mentally went through scenarios on what were his op
tions. “I’m going in the front and getting to Brooke first. Have everything I’ll need for them ready in two hours. I’ll check back with you when we’re settled in one of the safe houses.”
“Already on it. I think they’re either working to get to her floor via the side or are already on their way up. When I scouted the area earlier, there wasn’t an easy access there. They’d have to have climbing tools, which I didn’t see on them.”
He wasn’t taking chances. The men clearly thought she had something they wanted, or they were going to use her for their own purposes. He’d be damned before he allowed one hair on her head to be harmed. “You got access to the front?” He paused at the security lock to the salon entrance.
A few beeps later and the red light turned green. “Not too secure,” he muttered.
“Actually, it was pretty good. I’m just better.” The sound of tapping let him know Erik was working away at his computers. “There’s another door leading to the stairs inside. I’m assuming that’s the way up to her apartment. Shit! It looks like she’s got a keycode entry but also a physical one. When’s the last time you did a little B&E?”
Jase didn’t answer him as he crept through the salon to the back entrance that led to the apartment upstairs. Even though she had a separation from her home and clients, he still didn’t like the fact she was exposed. Hell, a truly determined criminal wouldn’t be deterred by a few locks. “I can’t believe her father allowed her to live here,” he growled as he reached the back.
“She’s a twenty-four year old woman. Pretty sure the days of her father telling her where she could live ended a long time ago.” Erik’s tone sounded distracted.
He didn’t bother correcting his friend. If the admiral had any say in the matter, Brooke would live where he allowed and do what he said for the rest of her life. However, now that the old man is dead, she no doubt would be making up her own mind. He had to wonder what she planned to do. The woman he’d met and fallen for had been young but headstrong to a point. Not many twenty-one year old men or women lived at home if they didn’t have to, and from what he knew, she’d had the means to move out at the time. He shook off the memories of the past, focusing on the deadbolt.
Pulling a small kit out of the inner pocket of his jacket, he took his time as he worked the picks into the lock. “Are the alarms disengaged?” he asked.
A grunt was his answer as the lock slid open. When no blaring noise sounded he pulled the door shut behind him, locking it in case the men somehow found their way inside. No reason to make it easy for them.
“Movement by the front. I only see one man, though.”
Jase could picture Erik with his long hair unkempt as he sat in front of several computers. His body was as big as a tank, but he could work magic on a keyboard. Most would look at him and assume he was one thing, with his tattoos and muscular build, but the man was one of the smartest individuals Jase had ever known. Heck, even up against Taylor Rouland, the computer expert from SEAL Team Phantom, Erik could probably teach him a thing or two. The thought of his old team, the men who believed he was a traitor, brought a slight ache to his chest. Once he found who was selling out their government, setting things right with his team would be a priority. The constant cloak and dagger was a fine line to walk, and he was getting tired. When the CIA pulled him into the mission, having nothing to lose, it was a no-brainer. Facing a life in USDB at Fort Leavenworth for crimes he hadn’t committed, Jase couldn’t sign on the dotted line fast enough. His only stipulation had been his team, Kai and the rest of his friends were not to be brought in. No way in hell was he going to sacrifice his life if they weren’t safe.
The sound of a woman’s voice singing a lullaby had him slowing his steps. He cocked his head to the side, listening for any other noise.
“She must be watching the kid for her friends,” Erik said.
Jase had already figured that out, thank you very fucking much. He refigured his plans on getting her and the kid out safely. First, get them to a safe spot in the apartment then eliminate the immediate threat. As he approached the room with the light trickling out where the singing was coming from, he made no sound, but his body was responding to hearing the woman who’d starred in his dreams, singsong voice. Telling his unruly dick to ignore something it had wanted for the past three years was like telling a moth to stay away from a flame. Impossible. Shit, being celibate for the last three years had been easy until he was within touching distance of the woman who held his soul.
He eased around the door frame, needing to check out the rest of the apartment before he faced the one he let go. The living room opened up to the kitchen, with a small eating nook tucked into the corner. The only thing that separated the rooms into different spaces was a large counter that had barstools for extra seating as well. He checked out the hall bathroom, noticing kids’ toys and accessories neatly stacked on the shelves with the glow from a nightlight. Across the hall was another bedroom. His curiosity had him pushing the door open slightly, the creak the old door made had him stilling his movements. A quick look inside the space showed him it was the master bedroom, done up in soft peaches and baby blue. The very feminine room made his lips twitch. No way was a dude spending too much time in the ultra girlie room. He traced his eyes over the large bed in the center of the room. Picturing Brooke laying there had him moving toward the bathroom before his imagination went nuts and he ended up going over and sniffing the bed, or some other stalker ass shit.
“Looks like our guy out front is playing look out. Have you heard or seen movement inside, well, other than the lovely singing?” Erik’s amused tone had Jase narrowing his eyes. He didn’t like the thought of the other man hearing Brooke. Damn, he was losing his ever-loving mind.
Knowing he was somewhat safe and that he could still hear Brooke, he glanced around the master bedroom and then went to the window overlooking the side. “Nothing so far.” From where he stood, the vantage point gave him a view of the wrong side of the building. Which meant the guy could possibly be scaling the wall leading to the room across the hall. “I’m going for Brooke and the kid. If he’s making his way up, it’ll be on the opposite side.” The large closet would work for a place to stash them.
Jase opened the door, coming to a hard stop at the image of Brooke holding a gun aimed at his midsection. He raised his hands, wondering where the kid was. “Hello, Brooke.”
She gasped. “Jase?”
He tilted his head to the side, looked behind her as he pictured the guy making his way into the room. Her head turned to see what he was looking at, giving him the opportunity to move forward. In seconds, he had her shoved against the wall, her arm with the gun raised above her head while he pinned her body with his. “I’m not here to hurt you, but there’s someone outside who is. I need you to trust me,” he whispered close to her ear.
“I’m supposed to trust a man who betrayed his country?” she bit out, struggling against him.
The familiar anger burned in his veins at the accusation. “That’s a discussion for another time. Right now, I need you to believe me that you’re in danger. There are two men trying to break in, and they sure as fuck wouldn’t be holding you against the wall talking to you.”
“Oh, and you’re different because you happened to already break in. And, let’s not forget, you’re holding me, quite firmly I might add, against a wall. I’d say you’re not much better than those so called men,” she spat, wriggling against him. “Really,” she gasped as her pelvis came into contact with his.
Jase shrugged. “Sorry, it’s a natural reaction whenever I’m around you…oh for fuck’s sake, stop it. I’m not going to hurt you. Listen, time is ticking, and if you left the kid in that room alone, he could be in harms way as we stand here arguing.” He nodded his head toward the room with light spilling out.
Chapter Four
Brooke froze as the ring of truth fell from Jase Tyler’s lips. “Oh, god! Jack. Let me go,” she demanded.
“Give me the g
un.” Jase stared down at her.
She wanted to tell him to go fuck himself, but her baby’s life was more important than hating on Jase. “Take it and move away.”
The ease with which he did so made her eyes burn with unshed tears, but she battled them back, refusing to allow him to see her hurt.
“Let me make sure it’s safe,” he ordered.
She rolled her eyes as he released her, watching him tuck her Ruger into the back of his black cargo pants. While he turned to step toward Jack’s room, she ducked under his arm, rushing into the room first. Her son would be afraid if Jase’s hulking form appeared first, especially with him dressed in all black, like he was some special ops soldier or something. Her heart beat frantically as she knelt on the colorful rug where Jack was playing with blocks. He looked up, smiling happily as he saw her. “Mama, who’s that?” he asked pointing at Jase.
“Come here, big boy.” She scooped him into her arms, turning to face Jase with their son against her chest. She waited for recognition to hit him.
“He’s yours?”
She watched the Adam’s apple in his throat bob as he swallowed. God, the thought of this first meeting had run through her mind a million times, but never had it been when some crazed men were supposedly trying to break in. The need to fill the silence had her opening her mouth then closing it as he raised his hand. “I need you to take your son into your closet and stay there until I eliminate the threat.”