Valor poked at the scorched pale green bag. It looked like a pillow case, but he’d heard it crunch when he’d stepped on it. He opened it and dug around inside carefully, lifting out a photo and a couple of medals. Valor examined the items, then peered down into the pillow case. There were a few more medals inside, but nothing else.
“Acker brought that out of the target’s house,” Morrison said.
“We’ll be sure to bring it back, too,” Valor said, respectfully placing the photo and medals back inside the pillow case, then removing the broken glass from the frame and tossing it aside. Valor placed the pillow case on top of Acker’s body bag before lifting him and carrying him back to the basket. He placed him on top of the pilot’s body. Then he turned his attention to Benson still inside the charred remains of the helicopter.
He spent the better part of ten minutes trying to separate Benson from the charred helicopter. Finally satisfied that he’d completed the job, he struggled to get Benson’s body to fit inside the bag properly and be able to zip it.
“I’ll help,” Morrison said, limping over to hold one side of the zippered edge close to the other so Valor could force it closed around the contorted, burned body, frozen in position.
“Thank you,” Valor said.
The man shook his head. “Thank you for coming for us.” Then he went back to his tree and sat down, leaning back against it.
It wasn’t much longer before they heard the sounds of Lethal and the team returning. As they came into sight, Lethal glanced around and realized Valor had done most of what still needed to be done himself. “Everybody ready? Everything secured?” Lethal asked.
“Yeah. Nothing much to salvage to bring back. The fire took care of that. I’ve prepared the rest for travel,” Valor said. “Morrison wants to try to walk out.”
Lethal glanced around the site, then over at the bags. “Which one is Acker?”
“He’s in the middle,” Valor said. “There’s a pillowcase with him. It’s got a photo and some military medals in it.”
Lethal walked over and knelt down beside the body bags stacked up on the rescue basket. He respectfully moved Benson’s body from the top and lifted Acker’s, setting it aside so he could look in the pillow case.
“Morrison says Acker brought it out of their target’s house,” Valor explained.
Lethal thought about what Two had said about Nina being from Louisiana, and Roscoe about it being an unsanctioned mission. He had a feeling this had something to do with Nina. Lethal stuffed the top of the pillow case into his waistband so his hands would be free, then moved to kneel beside Acker. He opened the body bag and moved the sides of the bag away from Acker’s head and face. Lethal looked down onto the face of the man who’d freed him and his males. He thought about the way he’d seen Nina smile when with this man. He thought about the way the man had looked at Nina.
Lethal reached out and pulled a small twig from Acker’s hair. “I’ll watch over her. She’ll smile again — I give you my word. She’s had enough pain. She’ll remember you and she’ll smile.” Lethal realized he had an audience and looked around at his team and Morrison already on his feet and leaning on Valor as they all watched him.
“You ready?” he snapped, irritated at being watched as he said his goodbyes.
“Ready Freddie,” Feral answered.
Lethal closed the body bag with Acker inside and gathered it in his arms. He turned to face everyone waiting on him so they could all start the short trek to the air boat that awaited them. He watched as Scorn and Steel each grabbed an end of the rescue basket, preparing to hike out. Lethal looked down at the body bag in his arms. “I’ve got Acker,” he said, “ya’ll go ahead.” He waited while Valor, with Morrison leaning on him for support and Feral on his other side to offer assistance, followed Steel and Scorn. He stood to the side and waited until he was the last one, then he brought up the rear with Acker in his arms. Not one male turned and looked back at the swamp and the crash that had claimed the life of several good men.
Chapter 43
Once again aboard the helicopter and everyone secured and having received first aid to the best of their ability, Lethal placed the call he dreaded. The phone only rang once before it was picked up. “Yeah!” Roscoe said.
“Three dead, five survivors,” Lethal said, his voice void of emotion.
“Who are the casualties?” Roscoe answered, placing the call on speaker.
“Pilot, Benson, and Acker,” Lethal said.
“Fuck,” Roscoe said.
“How long before you land, son?” General Ferriday asked.
“Sixty-five minutes,” Lethal answered.
“We’ll be waiting,” General Ferriday answered.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Nina was up, showered, and sitting at the kitchen table when the soft knock sounded on her front door. She’d been awake for hours. Something had shaken her from a deep sleep, and she’d had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach ever since. She’d dressed and had been sitting in the same place repeating the first prayer she’d prayed since she’d waited for Lethal to come back to her years ago. It was a simple prayer, almost the exact same one she’d prayed then. “Please come home, please come home, please come home. I can’t do this alone.”
At the sound of the knock the tears of worry she’d been fighting filled her eyes. Acker would have just walked in their home. If someone was knocking this early, something was wrong. Nina took a deep breath and swiped the tears from her eyes before walking over to the front door. She didn’t look through the peephole, she just unlocked the door and opened it.
“Hi, Nina,” Roscoe said, his expression full of pity.
Nina let her gaze travel over Roscoe, General Ferriday, Brutal, and Law. They all looked at her like they expected her to break. She knew. They didn’t have to say anything, she knew. And she held it all together until she glimpsed Two standing off to the right. His shoulders were slumped and when he raised his eyes to hers, there were unshed tears in them.
Nina began to tremble and despite her best efforts she crumpled to the ground, sobs escaping her as the tears took over and she lost control of her emotions.
Roscoe went to the ground with her, trying to get her in his arms, but she fought him, not wanting his or anyone else’s intervention.
Then without warning, Two was in front of her. He sat in front of her on the cement right in front of her door, and whispered to her so quietly only she and those that were Variant and standing right there could hear. “It’s good to cry,” he whispered. “It lets all the angry out. Nothing’s going to make it better, but I’m going to sit right here, and I’m going to keep everybody away, except the ones you tell me can be near, and I’m going to let you do whatever you need to. But don’t do it for too long, because Acker would be upset to know that you didn’t get happy for him. That was what mattered most to him, your happy.”
“Nina, let me get you inside, honey,” Roscoe said, reaching for her again.
Nina shook her head and something inside her reminded her of Two sheltering all those suffering, terrified females back in the cell block they’d all shared together. She was suffering, and she was terrified. She leaned forward and raised her face to look at Two. He reached out for her and pulled her into his body, then gathered her up and stood. He started to walk into her home, but her body became rigid. “When is he coming home?” she got out between sobs.
“About an hour,” Roscoe answered.
She relaxed and Two carried her into her house and took a seat on the sofa with Nina in his arms. Roscoe, Law and Brutal entered as well and closed the door behind them. They sat quietly and waited for Lethal and his team to arrive with Acker. Each avoided the other’s eyes as they all thought about how unfair it was. This female had suffered enough.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, Two got to his feet with Nina still in his arms and walked toward the door with the rest of them following him. “Going to meet your man, now. They’re bring
ing him back.”
Nina nodded but said nothing.
Brutal was the last to walk out of her house and pulled the door closed behind himself. As he closed the door, he realized that others had gathered. He met the eyes of the squad leader of the female assassins that had recently been brought into Alliance. As cold as she was, there was even pity in her eyes.
Two walked less than halfway toward the helipad with Nina in his arms, before she indicated she wanted to be put down.
“I want to walk. I have to do this with strength and dignity. I’ve not fallen apart yet, and I can’t let it happen now,” she told Two.
“Nina, you haven’t lost your man before. This is different. Cry if you want to cry. Let me and the rest of your friends take care of you.”
Nina nodded rapidly while still trying to hold back tears. “Yes, I have. I lost him. And I faced it head on, just like I will this time,” she said with her lip still trembling.
“Okay. But I’ll be right at your side the whole time,” Two said.
“Me, too,” Roscoe said. “I’ll give you anything you want to make you happy, Nina. You’re not alone.”
“Me, too,” Brutal added.
“We all will,” Law confirmed.
Nina looked at each of them before nodding her understanding and then turning and walking under her own power toward the helipad. She did not realize that almost half of Alliance followed her there. Nina stood there, her back straight, her chin held high, her heart shattered as she waited for a male she’d once entrusted with her life to return the man that had made her life worth living, to her.
As the helicopter came into range, the familiar beat of the propellers could be heard before it could be seen. Nina’s chest heaved as she fought the sobs and tears. Two looked down at her and lifted a huge hand patting her on the back gently. “We’re here,” he said.
Nina chewed on her lip and nodded.
Once the helicopter landed, the doors on both sides opened and Lethal's team began helping the survivors out. Other Alliance members, including Brutal and Law rushed to help. Then Scorn and Feral brought out the rescue basket with two body bags on it. They met her eyes as they moved toward the crowd waiting for them. But Nina didn’t give them a second glance. She’d already seen Lethal. He was rounding the back of the helicopter and had locked eyes on her. He was striding straight for her, and cradled in his arms, like he was holding a precious treasure, was another body bag. Nina knew without a doubt, he carried her Glenn home to her.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
The flight back to Alliance was a somber one as they each knew what awaited them. Not only would every squad that Acker and his team rescued be waiting to pay their respects to the fallen soldier and his men, but Nina would, too. And try as he might, Lethal could think of nothing he’d ever done, save being ripped away from her, that had ever caused him such anxiety.
As they approached Alliance, they could already see people gathered near the helipads, waiting for their arrival. “Furthest pad out,” Lethal said to Smitty who nodded and maneuvered the helicopter onto the pad furthest away from the crowd.
“Nina’s there,” Valor said, looking out of his side of the helicopter.
“I saw her,” Lethal answered. “I’ve got Acker. Can you assist the others?” he asked.
“We got it,” Scorn answered.
Lethal waited until everyone had exited the helicopter, and Scorn and Feral had taken Benson and their pilot away before he exited. He was not taking Acker to the morgue in the medical clinic like Scorn and Feral were doing the others. He was bringing Acker home to his woman. She could tell him what she wanted done next.
Lethal stepped round the back of the helicopter with Acker in his arms. He held the bag that Acker rested in as gently as he possibly could. The moment he found Nina in the crowd, he locked eyes with her, and every step he took was directly toward her.
He saw the emotion and the raw pain on her face, and he saw her struggle to hold it together. His heart hurt for this female that represented so much to him. It didn’t matter that she mourned another male. All that mattered was that she was hurting, and that he was able to bring her man home to her.
When he got within a few steps of her, she walked the rest of the way toward him, her eyes searching his.
Lethal lied then. The only lie he’d ever told her, the only one he ever would tell her, and he’d personally kill anyone who ever contradicted him. “He didn’t suffer. It all happened so fast, he probably knew they were going down, then it was over. He didn’t suffer.”
Nina stared Lethal in the eyes. “Promise,” she said.
“I do, Nina.”
“I need to see him,” she said.
Lethal shook his head forcefully. “No. You do not.”
“Yes, I do,” she insisted.
“There was fire after they crashed, Nina. You don’t want to see. But Findley says that he was gone when they pulled him out. He didn’t experience the fire.”
Valor was walking with Morrison, and glanced back at Lethal when he heard Lethal’s words. Lethal shot him a look and Valor nodded, letting him know he’d take care of making sure Findley said the same thing if Nina asked him.
Nina stood there, her hand on the body bag that contained the man who’d helped her return from the brink of hell. He’d loved her unconditionally, even with all her flaws. She didn’t try to wipe away the tears that streamed down her face anymore. She looked up at Lethal again. “I need to see him,” she said, nodding her head for emphasis.
Lethal looked up toward the crowd, about half of which remained. “Not here,” he said.
Nina looked behind her. “Home,” she said.
Lethal didn’t argue, but he looked at her, obviously waiting for her to offer a better option.
“Nina?” a female voice said.
Nina recognized the voice as belonging to Jackie, the nurse that had been so good to her when she’d first arrived.
“The room you and Acker stayed in when you first arrived is unoccupied. What about there?” Jackie asked.
At the sound of Acker’s name Nina’s face skewed up and she began to cry again.
“Come on,” Lethal said. “Strong front for all the people watching you. Be as strong as Acker and I both know you are.”
Nina nodded, and when Lethal took a step to move past where they were standing, she turned and walked with him, her hand on the bag that contained Acker’s remains.
Those that had remained stood aside and made a path for Lethal and Nina to walk through them. Two took up position to her right, so that she was being escorted by Lethal and Two. Roscoe, General Ferriday, Law, and Brutal, along with many others that Nina had befriended fell into step behind them.
Lethal shortened his steps so that Nina wouldn’t have to struggle to keep up with him, and together, they took Acker to the first place she and Acker had bonded. Lethal still didn’t think Nina needed to see Acker, but if she insisted, he wasn’t going to stop her. Acker was hers, and if she needed that closure, Lethal was going to get it for her.
As they approached the medical clinic, Jackie ran ahead and opened the doors and led the way to the stairs that led to the second floor. She hurried to the end of the hallway where the room that Nina and Acker shared sat. Then she opened the door and flipped on the lights, getting out of the way for Lethal, Nina, and Two to enter.
Most of those walking with them had stayed behind either outside the clinic, or in the lobby. Only the few that had come to her home to tell her about Acker had followed them up to the private room.
Lethal froze in the middle of the room. He looked down at the bag holding Acker’s remains, still in his arms. He looked over at Nina. “If you insist on seeing Acker, you’re going to wait outside with Two while we get him ready.”
“I don’t need you to get him ready,” Nina said, on the verge of losing control.
“Yes, you do. This is not negotiable, Nina. You go outside and wait for a few minutes, or you just say goo
dbye at his funeral,” Lethal snapped in his best Alpha voice.
Nina glared up at Lethal, and Lethal glared right back.
“He’s just trying to make it easier on you, Nina. Come outside with me,” Two urged.
“You have no control over me. I can stay right here and you will show me Glenn!” Nina insisted.
Lethal shrugged. “You’re right, I don’t. But if you have nightmares for the rest of your life, I don’t want you thinking I should have done something differently. I care what happens to you, and if you insist on seeing him for yourself, you’re going to do it my way,” he said, still staring her down.
“It’s that bad?” she asked in a shaky voice.
“Go outside in the hallway, Nina,” Lethal insisted, this time with a softer tone in his voice.
Two reached out for her shoulders and gently turned her toward the door. Once she was outside the door, Jackie rushed over to it and threw the lock on it so Nina couldn’t come back in until they were ready.
Together, she and Lethal removed Acker from the body bag, and used what little supplies they had in the room to clean him up as best they could. They wiped away blood, and Jackie even ran her fingers through his hair to make him seem a little less traumatized. They placed bandages over some of the more severe burns on one side of his face and neck. Then they placed him in the bed with the blanket pulled up to his chin and his head resting on the pillow, his arms at his side beneath the blanket.
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