by Janie Crouch
A Paris-Brest with an orange cream rather than traditional praline cream might make for a perfect summer treat. Lighter. More citrusy. Then butterscotch for winter for a more robust flavor . . .
“Hey, Firefly, where’d you go?” A finger trailed up and down her cheek. “It’s going to be okay. We’re going to get you out of here. Just hang on for a few more minutes, sweetheart, all right?”
His words brought her back. She focused on his voice. On his warmth. “Is Aiden really your name?”
His lips pressed against her forehead again. “Yes.” His arms tightened around her. “Here we go.”
Not two seconds later, a commotion went up in the other room. Aiden’s team was making their move. Ignoring the pain, she brought her arms around Aiden’s head. Scientifically, she knew her arms wouldn’t do much to save him if bullets began spraying into the room, but she would damn well try just in case.
But bullets never came. As a matter of fact, besides the initial yells from Randy and his friends, there wasn’t much commotion at all. Probably less than a minute after Aiden gripped her tightly, he was releasing her.
“Roger that,” he spoke into his headset once again, then turned to her. “It’s over. We’re going to stay here for a few more minutes to make completely sure the house is secure, but it’s over.”
She wanted to protest as he moved away from her, but she stopped herself. His job was done. He had kept her safe. She should be thankful.
He turned his small flashlight on and set it on the ground, providing them with a little light. He scooted back on his heels and took off his Kevlar vest. A moment later he pulled his long-sleeved shirt off, leaving him in only a black T-shirt.
“Here,” he held the shirt out to her, “you can wear this.”
She clutched the shirt to her chest, tears filling her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered.
His hand cupped her cheek, and she leaned into it. “From now on, only the people you choose to give the exceptional privilege to, get to see you naked.”
A shuddery breath escaped her before she could stop it. He understood. He helped her get the shirt over her head when she couldn’t manage herself. Then he smiled at her as he rolled up the sleeves to her wrists.
“Put a belt on this and you might start a new fashion trend.”
“SWAT chic.” She gave him a smile even though she knew it was shaky. “We might be onto something. It’ll be all the rage.”
For the first time since all the pain at the truck, Violet felt like she might actually come out of this incident whole.
Chapter 9
Her smile was so shaky it was all Aiden could do not to pull her into his arms.
But Violet may not ever want a man to hold her in his arms again. A rage, hot and burning, fired through his system. What had happened here may be something she battled for the rest of her life. Hell, how could it not be?
She was clinging to the shirt now that it was on her body. He should’ve given it to her earlier. It might not have been the most tactically sound plan, but she had needed the emotional protection maybe even more than the physical protection.
It hadn’t crossed his mind that the thought of being naked in front of her brother and other people who didn’t mean her harm would be just as traumatic as what she’d endured already. It wasn’t until her breathing had changed, and her entire body had gone slack that he’d realized the problem. For a second he’d thought she had passed out, but he’d quickly realized she was in the same state she’d been at the auction when he’d first found her—disassociation, her mind pushed beyond what it could handle and protecting itself internally.
If the team hadn’t announced it was breaching that very second, he would’ve given her his shirt right then.
But she’d come back from wherever her mind had gone and then had the courage to make jokes about it with him. He didn’t know much about Violet Collingwood, but he was pretty sure she was one of the most amazing people on the planet. He hadn’t missed the fact that her arms had come around to protect his head when the team had breached.
What person who had been through what she had over the last week had the presence of mind and selflessness to do something like that? Again, someone amazing.
Gavin’s voice came through the communication device in his ear. “Control, this is Redwood. Eagle and I are down in the basement. We’ve got six women here, and they’re all high as a fucking kite.”
Aiden wasn’t surprised to hear the women Gavin and Finn had found were high. Making them desperate for the next fix was the easiest way for pimps and traffickers to keep their victims in line. He was surprised they hadn’t tried it on Violet. Or maybe they had.
“Did anyone give you drugs?” he asked her. “Randy or anyone else you came in contact with?”
“Drugs? No, I don’t think so. Not unless they were in the food.”
“No, they wouldn’t have put crack or heroin in the food.”
Her face scrunched up. “Why would they give me crack or heroin?”
“Some of my team just found the other women Randy has been parading around. They’re all hooked on whatever he’s been giving them. They probably never fought him, right?”
Understanding dawned in her eyes. “The prize,” she whispered. “Randy kept threatening not to give them their prize if they didn’t do what he wanted.”
“Yeah, well the ‘prize’ was probably low-quality heroin.”
“I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t help me. I thought it was because they didn’t speak English and were scared of him.”
“I’m sure that’s true, too.”
She grabbed his arm. “You’ll help them, right? You won’t leave them behind.”
“Nobody’s getting left behind.” Not this time, damn it. “We’re not working here in an official law-enforcement capacity—you can thank your brother for that—but the cops should be arriving any moment now.”
“Control, this is Cyclone.” Zac. “Ghost and I have all five tangos secured out front. No difficulties. No injuries.”
“Except all the shit they’re talking is hurting my delicate psyche,” Dorian—call sign Ghost—said in jest, although there was probably a lot of truth to the statement.
“Control, this is Kendrick. I’m done with my sweep of the rest of the house and the back. It’s all clear. Also, I’m wondering when I can get some sort of cool nickname.”
“I think Jackass is available,” Finn said.
“This is control, I’m going off coms. Sheriff Nelson is en route,” Gabe said.
Aiden knew where Gabe was going. Here. He wanted to see his sister.
She was looking at him. “Can you take me out of this room? Is it safe? I don’t think I can bear to be in here any longer.”
He was going to tell her that Gabe was coming, that he’d be here in under a minute.
“Please,” she whispered.
He’d be damned if he would make her beg for anything, much less the one thing he’d wanted to do since the moment he’d set foot in this house.
He scooped her up in his arms again, pulling her closer when she forced her traumatized shoulders through the pain of wrapping an arm around his neck and tucked her face into his throat. He made sure the shirt was pulled down enough to adequately cover her.
She didn’t look around as he took her through the living room and out the front door. They were only a few steps out the door when Gabriel came rushing up.
The man did not like that Violet was lying so easily in Aiden’s arms. Aiden raised an eyebrow. Gabe damn well better not get into it right now. That definitely wasn’t what Violet needed. Gabe took a breath, then reached for Violet, touching her but wisely not trying to pull her from Aiden’s arm if she wasn’t ready.
“Hey, monkey,” he murmured, stroking her hair.
Violet pulled her face out of Aiden’s neck. “Gabe?”
“I’m here. You’re safe. It’s all going to be okay.”
“Gabe.” Her voice was
much stronger this time, though she winced as she reached for her brother.
It killed him to let her go, but Aiden didn’t try to keep her in his arms. He wasn’t surprised she wanted her brother. He handed her to Gabe.
“She was tied up, so she’s stiff. Plus our concerns about the Taser were correct. But there shouldn’t be any permanent damage.”
Gabe crushed her to his chest. “You’re alive. You’re okay. Thank God.”
Aiden backed away to give them privacy as Violet began to cry into her brother’s shoulder. He was sure it wouldn’t be the last time she cried over what had happened to her.
Nearby, Dorian, Zac, and Kendrick had five men on their knees with their fingers linked behind their heads. All five of them were talking at once, none of them listening to what the others were saying.
All protesting their innocence. When the wail of sirens became noticeable, they all began talking faster.
Zac walked over to Aiden. “Is Violet okay? Physically, I mean?” Zac knew firsthand what it was like to watch someone you cared about live through trauma.
Aiden shrugged. “Physically, she’ll be fine. She’s weak right now, but she’ll recover—”
Randy caught sight of Aiden and began screaming. “You! Son of a bitch. I should’ve known you had something to do with this. You were so obsessed with her. Fifty dollars for a kiss? This is entrapment.”
Aiden crossed to him. “I’m not a cop, asshole. But you know what? You’re damned lucky they’re going to be here in under a minute, or I’d be showing you exactly what it feels like to be tasered multiple times.”
“Bitch fucking broke my nose,” he sneered.
Aiden would gladly hold the man now and let her beat him bloody if she wanted. “Good. I wish she’d gotten in a couple more good blows.”
Randy’s eyes narrowed, his voice dropping. “You should’ve heard her cry, Teague. She begged me to stop as I shocked her over and over. And do you know what it was all about? Your damn jacket. She didn’t want to give it up.” His smile was slimy.
He reached over and grabbed Randy by the collar of his shirt. “What?”
“That’s right. All sorts of pain just for your jacket. Guess she thought it was important. Or maybe she just has a crush on you. Spineless bitch never fought once except for that damn jacket.” He threw his head back and laughed.
Aiden got in one punch to the jaw and was going in for the second when Dorian and Zac grabbed him and dragged him back.
“Cops are coming, Shamrock,” Zac said in his ear. “And you won’t be happy with yourself later if you beat the shit out of an unarmed man.”
“The way he beat the shit out of an unarmed woman? I think I’ll be just fine with myself. I won’t hit him again.” Aiden shook them off, but he had himself under control. He turned to Randy. “But you best pray we don’t ever meet again, asshole.”
A few seconds later a police car came barreling down the road toward the isolated house. It belonged to Sheriff Nelson, but because he was sheriff of Teton County, he would have no jurisdiction here. Aiden took a few steps back from Randy, mostly to make sure he didn’t change his mind and get in a few more punches. A couple to the kidney ought to do enough internal damage to make sure Randy didn’t hurt anyone for a long time.
“What the hell is going on here, Mackay?” Sheriff Nelson asked as he slammed the car door.
“Damnedest thing, Sheriff.” Zac smiled. “We were all out on a training hike when we heard what sounded like some women calling for help from inside this house. When we took a closer look, we found some women locked in a basement. Also, we found Gabriel Collingwood’s sister, Violet.”
The sheriff rolled his eyes and shook his head. This wasn’t the first time Linear Tactical employees had happened to be at the heart of stopping trouble. “That is, in fact, the damnedest thing I’ve ever heard. Amazing how you boys just happened to be here at the right time. Fremont County PD and ambulance are on their way behind me. Should be here in five minutes.”
“I think we’re going to need more than one ambulance, Sheriff,” Aiden said. “There are six women. All look like long-term trafficking victims who have been dosed heavily with drugs. Violet needs to be checked out also, although I don’t think drugs are involved with her.”
Randy would need an ambulance too if he decided to run his mouth any more. Thankfully, Gabe and Violet were sitting on the step near the front door, Gabe hovering protectively over his sister. She wouldn’t have heard what Randy said.
Why had she fought for the jacket? Had she figured out there was a tracking device and thought that was where it was hidden? Why hadn’t he told her the tracker was on her body? The thought of her going through so much pain for no reason ate at him.
“Anybody else hurt? Any questions the locals are going to have?” Sheriff Nelson asked. “I’d rather know up front.”
“Nope,” Zac said. “Randy and his friends here were the only tangos in the house and didn’t give up much of a fight. We’re not sure wh—”
The rifle shot rang out from a distance at the same time Randy fell straight forward onto his face. From the crater where the back of his head used to be, there could be no doubt the man was dead.
Time slowed for Aiden as the Linear team did what they’d trained together for years to do: evaluate, fight, and survive. Every single one of them, including Kendrick, drew their secondary weapons and dove for cover.
Aiden looked over to make sure Violet was all right just as Gabriel moved her inside. Good.
The druggies were crying, one guy covered with Randy’s blood. Kendrick and Sheriff Nelson were pulling them behind the sheriff’s car.
They waited for a second shot—or more—to come from the woods surrounding them, but there was nothing.
Gavin came back on the coms. “What the hell is happening out there, you guys? Gabe just dragged Violet back into the house.”
“We’ve got a shooter in the woods,” Zac said.
Aiden wished he had binoculars with him, or even better, night-vision goggles.
“Are we under attack?” Finn asked.
Zac looked over at Dorian, then Aiden to get their opinions. Dorian shook his head and Aiden did the same. This wasn’t an attack on them. This was someone making sure Randy didn’t talk once he was arrested.
“Negative. Looks like someone was taking out Randy Villarreal. There’s been no other shots fired.”
“I’m going to go after the shooter,” Dorian said. “If we’re not the target, then you don’t need me. I might be able to track him.”
If anybody could, it was Dorian.
Zac nodded. “Be careful.”
Dorian was already fading into the night.
“Sheriff, you okay?” Aiden called out.
“What the hell was that?” the older man asked.
“If I had to guess, that was Stellman tying up a loose end. It’s what he does.”
The big question now was whether he considered Violet to be one. Because if he did, she would never be safe.
Chapter 10
Three Weeks Later
Almost every Saturday morning, Linear Tactical held open sparring. It was actually Dorian’s brainchild. The guy had come across some teenagers in Reddington City getting into trouble, a sort of gang without a cause. They’d been stupid enough to take on Dorian, mistaking his soft-spoken demeanor for weakness.
They hadn’t been the first ones to do that, but they were perhaps the youngest. Dorian had beaten the crap out of all of them and dragged them to Linear the next weekend just to give them an outlet for their aggression.
Sparring Saturday had grown from there. Two years later, most of those original kids Dorian had dealt with were in college. It was a whole new group who showed up now. There were still a lot of angsty teenagers who needed an outlet for aggression, but now a lot of adults too.
All the Linear Tactical guys participated in Sparring Saturday whenever they were available. It was an excellent community builder
, not only because it was free, but also because it gave anybody who wanted the opportunity a chance to whale on the resident Special Forces guys. They’d had people drive in from clear across the state for an opportunity to get into the ring with one of them. And as long as those people—almost always men—understood that the fight was going to be clean and fair and conducted with proper headgear, Linear welcomed the competition.
Aiden and his Green Beret brothers didn’t lose their sparring matches often—they trained too regularly with each other for that to happen—but when they did, they took it gracefully. It was just as important to teach the kids in the audience the concept of good sportsmanship as it was the fighting moves themselves.
Normally, Aiden loved Sparring Saturday. He always did his best to egg on any visitors who were looking for a fight. He and Zac tended to get picked the most by strangers since they weren’t as big or muscular as Dorian and Finn. Therefore, strangers assumed, they must be easier to beat.
It generally didn’t take long to disabuse them of that misconception. But today Aiden’s head just wasn’t in the game. Hell, his head hadn’t been in the game since he’d handed Violet over to her brother the night they’d gotten her out of that house.
He’d spent untold hours over the past three weeks working with law enforcement to try and bring down anyone he could from the human auction. Sheriff Nelson had immediately realized bigger guns were needed. Aiden had spent a day with the FBI in Idaho Falls before they’d brought in a special task force he’d never heard of called Omega Sector.
It had been a pain in the ass to drive the ninety minutes there a dozen times in the past three weeks, but Aiden was glad he’d done it. The people at Omega Sector knew what they were doing. He’d been assigned to work with an agent named Brandon Han, who might possibly be the smartest person Aiden had ever met. Brandon, along with his team, was determined to bring down these traffickers, as well as Stellman.