by Peyton Banks
It was a scene he’d never forget.
He ran a shaky hand along his face before continuing.
“We were acting as an escort. We’d done this drill a hundred times before, only this time we were entering a zone that was hot.”
It was to have been a simple task.
Drive the food in and take it to the main shelter where the locals would divide it up amongst those who were residing in the makeshift town.
“Something went wrong.” Candi’s voice broke through the silence.
Dallas nodded. “Very wrong. We made it to the shelter, and that’s when all hell broke loose. The Taliban had intercepted our orders and were there hiding. It had been a trap.”
The room was silent as the memories rushed back to him.
“I don’t like the looks of this,” Lieutenant Sam Hudak murmured. He pulled his weapon up and looked out the Humvee’s window.
“None of it is screaming ‘welcome’,” Dallas snapped. The hot desert air was not the same as back home. The dark sky did nothing but make him miss being back on the good ol’ US of A soil.
What Dallas wouldn’t do to be able to sit on his porch with a cold beer and just watch the neighborhood.
There wouldn’t be any of that now.
He was in the middle of the wretched desert.
He and his squadron had their orders.
Escort the supplies to the small town of Zahra.
They were entering a dangerous zone. This small, newly developed town was the direct result of the Taliban destroying towns and cities.
These people were survivors but wouldn’t be for long if they didn’t help get food and supplies to them.
They were a few days away from starving.
“We’re here,” David announced from the driver’s seat. He drove the vehicle up to a crudely constructed building. The little caravan behind them stopped.
“Eyes open, stay sharp,” Dallas announced.
Confirmations that his orders were received echoed in his ear through the tiny communicator placed there. His team was spread out in the supplies truck, and twin Humvees were behind.
Dallas flipped his safety off his semiautomatic weapon and pushed open his door.
Sam, his longtime friend, had served with Dallas for as long as he had been in the Marines. They had grown close over the years. Together they led their team. Dallas had received orders from his commander.
The Taliban were set on genocide, and the US was stepping in.
Hence, their mission.
Stepping out of the truck, Dallas swept his gaze over the area. A few of the locals lingered. The hairs on the back of his neck rose. Dallas turned, holding his weapon comfortable in his hands. A few more people stood near the building across the street.
“Let’s make this quick, boys,” Dallas said.
“Getting a creepy feeling,” Ross Alder, one of Dallas’s team members, announced through the communicators. He had ridden with the truck that had the clean water and other supplies the locals needed.
“We have orders. Deliver supplies and get out,” Dallas reminded them. The sounds of doors slamming filled the air. “Can’t get no easier than that.”
This type of job was a cakewalk for him and his crew. They were skilled Marines who were used to infiltrating hot zones and fighting their way in and out of situations. These were the best men Dallas could have asked for.
This was his team.
He was responsible for them.
He turned and watched a man walking from the building with his white robes on that gathered at his ankles. His skin was brown and weathered.
This must be their contact.
“Where are we to unload?” Seth’s voice came over the com.
Movement out the corner of Dallas’s eye caught his attention.
Sam was right.
Something was off.
Dallas focused back on the man.
He released a curse.
The man pulled a semiautomatic rifle from his robe.
“Gun!” Dallas roared.
The man yelled out expletives in Pashto, the language of the locals.
“Put your weapon down!” Sam hollered.
David, Dallas, and Sam had their weapons trained on the man, but he ignored the warning and took off toward them with his gun pointed in their direction.
Dallas raised his weapon and aimed true but was met with the sound of gunfire. The man’s body jerked before falling to the ground. Dallas turned, finding David had fired his weapon. Dallas took notice of the movement coming from another direction and released a curse.
“We got a fucking problem. Three o’clock,” he barked.
More men came out of the buildings with their guns trained on Dallas and his men. His squad drew close to their vehicles, returning fire.
It was an ambush.
Dallas aimed his weapon and began picking off men who had been advancing on him.
A whistling sound filtered through the air.
“Missile!” a voice screamed.
Dallas caught sight of it heading straight to the supply truck. He turned and ran, pumping his arms as fast as he could, ignoring the bullets hitting the ground around him. Sam and David were by his side as they headed toward the buildings across the street.
Boom!
His body was thrown against the brick building. The heat of the blaze met him from where they were. His gaze roamed the area, finding bodies littering the area from the men who had been shooting at them.
This wasn’t good. Their three vehicles were out of commission.
His men regrouped in the alleyway between the two buildings. The small town wouldn’t have many places to hide.
“Keep moving,” he ordered.
Ross, Tim, and Randy nodded, rushing past him. They ran down the alley with Dallas picking up the rear. He was certain Sam would be leading from the front.
They had studied the area, and without a doubt, they had all memorized it.
Thankfully, they had the cover of night to help.
“Captain, what the fuck is going on?” Tim’s voice broke through the communicator.
“I have no clue,” Dallas muttered.
They slowed, aiming their guns.
“We need to call in for an air lift,” Sam said. “They can be here within ten minutes.”
“Hold,” Dallas ordered.
They had kept to the shadows and soon they would be on the edge of the small town and running out of buildings to hide against.
“There’s a safe house we can hole up in, two buildings over.”
They broke away from the shadows, and in a steady formation, headed toward the building Dallas directed them to.
His training kicked in just as he was sure all of theirs had.
Years of being put in a dangerous situation was another walk in the park for them.
Pulling up the rear, Dallas turned and saw a shadowed little boy.
He bit back a curse and paused.
What the fuck was a child doing out here at this time of night? That ambush meant their mission had been compromised and there would be more of them.
“Kid, get out of here,” he ordered. He hoped his hard tone of his voice would urge the child to scatter.
He must be losing his edge, because the boy just stared at him.
A presence appeared behind him.
Randy.
The man was like a ghost.
It was quite disturbing how quiet the man could move.
“What the fuck,” Randy muttered.
“Where are your parents?” Dallas took a few steps toward the child. If he had to grab him to get him somewhere safe, he would. Children shouldn’t be in this type of environment. They should be off playing and not having any cares in the world.
The kid shouted in Pashto and pointed in their direction.
“Fuck!”
Dallas and Randy both turned and took off down the alley where the rest of the team had disappeared.
B
ullets ricocheted off the building.
“Left!” Dallas shouted.
Randy spun left once they broke from the alley. The building was a small hideout where they could hole up and wait for the chopper. It had an exit point on the roof that would allow them to catch a ride out of this hellhole.
The continued sound of bullets didn’t decrease.
“Get to the building,” Dallas shouted, dashing behind a broken-down car in the street.
The building was a hundred feet away. He’d take care of the insurgents while he was sure Sam and the others had radioed in for help.
Randy headed for the building.
Dallas aimed his weapon and fired.
The first man’s body jerked before falling to the ground.
Dallas’s rapid fire took care of the second and third who ran around the corner from where he and Randy had just exited.
His heart leaped when two men ran from the alley, firing.
Dallas ducked and turned, seeing Sam at the door with his gun firing.
Dallas rose to look at the enemy closing in and let free a curse.
“Get out!” he shouted to Sam, recognizing the weapon one man carried.
A fucking shoulder rocket launcher.
Time stood still.
Even in the dark, his eyes connected with his friend.
Helpless, Dallas watched the building explode into flames.
10
Candi hurried around her bedroom gathering clothes to take with her. She didn’t know how much she’d need or how long she’d be gone.
Her heart ached for Dallas. He’d lost not only his best friend, but his brothers.
There had been so much pain in his voice while he’d spoken. Tears had poured down her cheeks when he’d got to the part where the building had blown up with his team inside.
“We need to go,” Dallas said from the doorway, breaking into her thoughts.
She turned and met his steady gaze. “Almost done. I’m not sure what I’ll need.”
She glanced around the room and saw a keepsake from her childhood. It hadn’t been the best one. Her father had left when she’d been eight years old, leaving her mother to raise her alone.
Walking over to her dresser, she picked up her faithful stuffed bear her father had won for her at a fair. Jokingly, they had named it Larry. A wistful smile came to her lips as she gazed upon the old bear. Whenever she held the soft creature, memories of the time she’d spent with her dad came to the forefront. Why he’d left, her mother had never told her.
Larry was a constant in her life, and she always took it with her wherever she went.
Even when her life was in pieces, Larry was there to comfort her.
It was the only piece of her father she had left.
“Just the basics. We’re not going on vacation.” He eyed the toy in her hands.
“I know, but still. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone so I want to make sure I have at least the basics. And Larry has to come.” She walked back to the bed and placed Larry inside her bag.
“Larry?” Dallas’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“I’ll have to officially introduce you to him.” She smiled. Her gaze landed on the alarm clock on the nightstand by her bed, and she let out a groan. “You sure we have to leave now? We can leave in the morning after breakfast.”
Dallas shook his head and strolled into the room toward her. Her heart rate increased as he drew near. It was something about the way he looked at her that had her squeezing her legs shut.
“It’s better if we go now, under the cover of night. We’ll go to my house, which isn’t far from here.” He reached out a hand and cupped here face.
She leaned into his touch, loving the way he was so protective of her.
“And I promise, I’ll make you breakfast.”
“You cook?” Her eyebrow shot up high.
“I’m insulted you would think I can’t cook. I didn’t get to be this size by eating takeout.” He gave her one of his rare perfect smiles while patting his rock-hard abdomen.
Her gaze fell to his stomach, and her core clenched.
“Okay,” she grumbled. She gave one last longing look to her bed. She quickly finished packing and zipped up her suitcase.
Dallas grabbed it and exited the room. Candi looked around her bedroom before turning. “I’m ready when you are,” she announced, walking into the living room.
They locked up her apartment and headed toward Dallas’s truck. This time, she stood back as he opened the door for her and assisted her into the vehicle.
He tossed her a wink then shut the door.
She blew out a deep breath. Her gaze followed him in the mirror, watching him place her suitcase in the back of the truck.
Dallas was one dangerous man.
And she was falling for him.
She didn’t even have to think twice about it.
Without a doubt, Candi knew that he had burrowed his way into her heart.
Dallas climbed into the truck and shut his door. She breathed in his scent. It was one that she could only describe as Dallas. She didn’t know what cologne it was, but she needed to find out. If she could, she’d buy it in bulk.
They rode in a comfortable silence. Candi watched the scenery pass by. The city of Las Vegas was a sight to see at night. The truck coasted to a stop at a red light. Candi took in a few suspicious people lingering on the corner before turning to Dallas.
In the dark cab, she studied his features and couldn’t help but wonder how she’d got so lucky to have him on her side.
It felt damn good to have someone in her corner.
Someone who wouldn’t hurt her.
A man willing to protect her.
“Dallas,” she breathed. She needed to get something off her chest, and now seemed like the best time to do it.
He returned her stare with a small smile. “What is it, Candi?”
“Thank you. For everything. I’ve never had anyone—”
“You don’t have to thank me.” He took her hand in his and brought it up to his lips, placing a kiss along her skin.
“But I want—”
“Candi.”
She paused at the sound of her name on his lips. He held her gaze, and her heart race decreased. A sigh escaped her watching him lay another kiss on the back of her hand.
“Dallas,” she whispered his name, the beginning of arousal taking her.
“Tell me what you need, Candi. It’s yours.”
A whimper slipped from her. Candi couldn’t take her eyes off Dallas if she tried. His hand slid along her neck and held her in place. Her lips parted while she watched him lean closer.
It was official.
Candi was head over heels in love with Dallas.
Dallas paused, their lips merely centimeters from each other.
His gaze flickered to the rearview mirror. He pulled back with a curse. It was then the screeching sound of tires squealed behind them.
Dallas slammed his foot on the gas and jerked the car off around the corner. Candi watched a large SUV blow past them.
Had Dallas not moved the truck in time, it would have slammed right into the back of them.
Candi sat back in shock.
The impact could have killed them.
“Hold on,” Dallas growled.
The engine of his vehicle roared to life. Candi dug her hands into her seat. Her heart raced while she watched the scenery fly past.
Dallas expertly maneuvered through the neighborhood. Luckily enough, with it being in the middle of the night, there weren’t many cars out on the road.
“What is going on?” Her hands trembled with fear. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer. Her gaze moved to the rearview mirror on her side of the truck.
Headlights appeared behind them and were growing larger.
Fast.
“I’m guessing that had something to do with your pal, Moody.”
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Dallas blew
out deep breath and relaxed his hands slightly. It wouldn’t do him or Candi any good if he ripped the damn thing off.
If he hadn’t looked up when he had, there’d be no telling if they’d still be alive.
The fucking vehicle would have torn into his truck and surely killed him and Candi.
He bit back a curse.
Now wasn’t the time to lose his cool.
He needed to keep a level head and get them to safety.
“Someone’s behind us.” Candi’s voice shook slightly.
“I see them.” His gaze flickered to the rearview mirror.
He was certain this was Moody’s men. He knew he should have had Candi grab her bags and leave sooner.
Letting his dick do the thinking could be the reason they were in this predicament.
Memories of Candi’s naked form underneath his, her soft breasts, her cries of passion, and the feel of her warm cocoon wrapping around his cock had him shifting in his seat.
It had been worth it.
If given the chance, he’d do it all over again.
There were a few other positions he could think of taking her.
This was not the time to be thinking of sex.
“Hold on,” he ordered.
Candi gripped the oh shit handle with one hand as he took a sharp left. The street he’d turned onto was a two-lane road that led away from the main streets and into an area of old warehouses and factories.
Dallas was quite familiar with the location, having patrolled it long enough to have it memorized.
“Shouldn’t we be going to the police?” Candi asked, her voice ending on a squeak.
“I am the police,” he growled.
He made a sharp right and cut off his lights. It was a short alleyway that would lead to the back of a brick factory. The structure was hollow. He slowed down and pulled into the loading deck.
The moon was high and provided just enough light to help guide him inside.
He’d walked through this building about six months before on a vagrancy call. The large windows had been broken out long ago. He drove to a dark corner and parked.