by Susan Stoker
Of all the people he’d rescued throughout his career, he’d never felt this way toward anyone. Of course, it could be adrenaline from almost being caught, but somehow he didn’t think so.
Piper moved her head away from his shoulder and looked up at him. She licked her lips and mouthed, Are they gone?
Ace nodded, then lowered his head so his lips were right at her ear. “But we need to stay put for a bit longer, just in case.”
She nodded against him and returned her head to his shoulder. He felt her hands curl around the vest he was wearing and hold on as if she’d float away if he wasn’t there for her to grasp onto. He lowered his head so he was once more speaking right in her ear, and using the same toneless whisper he’d used before, said, “You did good, Piper. You didn’t panic and did exactly what I asked.”
She shivered in his arms in reply, and Ace immediately got concerned. The temperature had to be in the upper eighties at least, and was extremely humid. If she was cold, something was wrong. “Are you all right? You’re shivering.”
“Nerves,” she whispered. “I’m okay.”
He palmed her head and held her to him even tighter. “Yes, you are. You’re okay. Just breathe, Piper.”
“I can’t do this,” she said after a minute.
“You can,” Ace countered. “You are.”
She shook her head. “I’m going to get everyone killed. I just know it. If I had coughed, or sneezed, that guy would’ve found us.”
“But you didn’t, and he didn’t. And even if he did, I would’ve made sure he didn’t hurt you.”
Her head dropped back once more, and she stared up at him for a long moment. “I don’t want to be the reason you have to take someone’s life.”
“Any life I take won’t be because of you,” Ace told her adamantly. “It’ll be because the other person did something stupid, like try to hurt me or those under my protection.”
She didn’t immediately reply. Then she said, “Kalee would be so much better at this than me. She loved to hike. Loved being outdoors. She was friendlier than me, more open. And kids always loved her. Even the teenagers.”
Ace frowned and moved his hand until his thumb could caress the side of her face. “You’re doing amazingly well, Piper. And believe me, I don’t tell everyone we rescue that. You haven’t freaked out. Haven’t complained about your manicure being ruined—and yes, there was one woman who actually did that. And those girls can’t take their eyes off you. You’re everything to them.”
“I think Kemala hates me,” Piper admitted.
Ace shook his head. “I’m no teenage girl expert, but I think she’s just wary. More so than the younger ones. But she knows you’ve got her best interests at heart.”
“Does she?” Piper asked, more to herself than to him. “We were forced into that crawlspace together by extenuating circumstances. Then they had to come with us in order to be safe. They have no idea where they’re going or what will happen to them. And neither do I. My only thought was to get them out of there, not what was going to happen to them next.”
Ace didn’t really have a response to that. She was right. After a pause, he asked, “What is your heart telling you to do?”
She stared up at him, and he saw tears form in her eyes and spill over, falling into the hair at her temples. “I want them to be safe. I want them to grow up knowing without a doubt that someone loves them unconditionally. I want them to marry the men they love, and not be forced into a marriage too young simply to make space in the orphanage for another kid. I want them to go to school and become whatever it is their hearts desire. But I don’t know if that’s possible for them—and it sucks. I feel as if I’m bringing them into the city and will be just one more person who’s let them down. Who’s abandoned them.”
Ace knew they needed to get up and find the others. They needed to put as much distance as possible between themselves and this hotspot on the mountain, and get into the city where things were much more stable. But he couldn’t end this conversation, not yet. “So, again…what is your heart telling you to do?” he repeated.
Piper moved until her head was once again resting on his shoulder and her face was against his neck. He felt, more than heard the words she spoke.
“I want to keep them.”
He knew that was what she was thinking. It showed in the way she looked at Rani. How she smiled at Sinta when she did something protective toward the other girls. And in the way she stressed about Kemala’s behavior.
Ace had no idea if keeping them was possible. It would take a lot of strings being pulled, and he had to wonder if this was a kneejerk reaction because she was still freaked out about what had happened at the orphanage, and the news that she’d lost her best friend. Once they got to the capital and were truly safe, she might change her mind.
He lay there with her for another few minutes, listening for sounds of the rebel group coming back or another that might make its way up the trail, but he heard nothing but birds singing in the trees over their heads and their own breathing.
Easing back from Piper, Ace asked, “You ready to go find the others?”
She took a deep breath and nodded.
Smiling, Ace used his thumb to try to wipe away the evidence of her tears. All he ended up doing was smearing more dirt on her face, but at least the children wouldn’t be able to tell that she’d been crying. The guys would most likely know by her red eyes, but he wasn’t going to bring it up to her. She was self-conscious enough as it was.
Scooting back out of the sort-of hole they’d made behind the tree, Ace stood and held out his hand. Piper took it, and as they started back toward the trail, neither let go. Holding her hand felt nice. Natural. Which was crazy, but Ace didn’t examine it. He thought briefly of how Rocco had felt toward Caite the moment he’d first met her, and how upset he’d been when they’d all thought they were going to die in that cellar in Bahrain. Despite their dire situation at the time, he’d actually been upset not by the possibility of death—but at the idea that Caite would think he’d stood her up.
Ace had known even then that Caite was different. That she would change Rocco’s world. And she had.
And Gumby had been the same way with Sidney. From the first moment he saw her brawling with that asshole dog fighter, and had stopped to help, he’d known.
Ace had a similar feeling that Piper would become a vital part of his life.
Being extra cautious, now that he knew the rebels also used this trail, Ace led the way back to where they’d last seen the others. There was no sign of them.
“Where are they? Do you think the rebels found them?”
“Don’t panic,” Ace told her. “They’re around. We’ll keep going and we’ll catch up with them at the next meet-up point if we have to.”
“What meet-up point?” Piper asked.
“We always decide on where we’re going to take our next break before we start out from the last one. I’ve got the coordinates, and we’ll just head there.”
“I bet the girls are scared,” Piper said quietly.
“They’re okay with the rest of the guys,” Ace replied, trying to soothe her.
“I know. I just…it feels weird not to have them with me. I’ve only known them for a few days, but…” Her voice trailed off.
“But you’ve been with them twenty-four seven the whole time,” Ace finished for her. “And it’s completely normal. You’ll see them soon. I’d say we’re about an hour from where we planned to meet up. But I bet we’ll run into them before then.”
“Really? You’re not just saying that?”
“Really. I’ll do my best not to lie to you, Piper. I know this is stressful, but just relax and try not to feel as if you’re holding us up or letting us down. You aren’t.”
“I’ll try.”
“Good.” Ace continued down the trail, his left hand still in hers, leaving his right free to grab his weapon if necessary. “Now—tell me about yourself.”
She c
huckled softly. “Wow, talk about a loaded question. But I guess it’s not like we don’t have the time, right?”
“Right.” Ace did want to know everything about the woman next to him, but he also wanted to keep her mind off where they were and what they were doing.
He was also concerned because she hadn’t eaten nearly enough to satisfy him back at the village, but he wasn’t going to force her. She’d drank her share of the water, and he had to be content with that…for now.
“Well, my dad left my mom when she I was a baby, and when I was five, she was killed in a robbery at the gas station down the street from our house. My maternal grandparents raised me.”
Ace looked at her in surprise. “Holy crap. I’m sorry.”
Piper shrugged. “It’s okay. I don’t really remember my mom all that much. Apparently she was a good woman who was working two jobs to try to make enough to move out of the crappy neighborhood we lived in. My grandparents are also decent people, but they weren’t exactly expecting to have to raise their daughter’s child. I love them, but we aren’t super close. How about you? Are you close with your parents?”
Ace felt bad for her, but it was obvious she wasn’t suffering from growing up with her grandparents. “I was, yes.”
“Was?”
“They died in a car accident about three years ago.”
“Oh, shit, I’m so sorry,” Piper said. “I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
“It’s okay. They were great. Completely in love, and they did their best to embarrass me with their public displays of affection whenever we went anywhere. They were heading home from a night out with friends and were hit head on by a drunk driver. I was told they were killed instantly, so I’m thankful for that at least.”
“Well, that sucks,” Piper said. “Was the person who hit them charged?”
“Yup. Vehicular manslaughter. He’d been driving on a suspended license because he’d been caught drinking and driving three times before that night.”
“Asshole,” Piper exclaimed.
Ace couldn’t help it. He chuckled.
“I can’t believe you’re laughing,” she commented, but smiled as she said it.
“I don’t have any siblings, which sucks, because I always wanted them. I was kinda lonely growing up, and when I was put on the team with the others, I saw what I’d been missing.”
“So you and the other guys are close?”
“Very. I’d do anything for them. Anything. Just as I know they’d do the same for me. They’ve got my back, and I have theirs. I’d love to see that same sense of loyalty in my children someday. I know not all siblings get along, but I can’t think of anything better than knowing there’s someone out there who’ll always have your back. Think about it…a brother or sister is someone you’ll know longer than any other person in your life.”
Piper nodded. “I never really thought about it like that, but you’re right. And yeah, I always wished for a sibling too. Kalee was as close to me as a sister, and it hurts knowing we’ll never get to do the things we always talked about…being in each other’s weddings, raising our kids together…things like that.”
Ace squeezed her hand in sympathy.
They were both silent for a while as they walked, until Piper said, “I know wanting to adopt Rani, Sinta, and Kemala is crazy. Children weren’t even on my radar when I left for this trip. And I would never take them away from everything they’ve ever known, from their homeland, without their consent. Part of me feels like I should do what I can to find them a place to settle in Dili. This is their home.”
“Their home was back at the orphanage. It’s gone. Everything they’ve known is gone,” Ace countered gently. “But I think you’re probably smart to wait on any decisions until we can make some inquiries in Dili. There must be orphanages there too, and who knows, maybe moving to the city will be the best thing for them.”
“Yeah, that’s what I keep telling myself. It has to be safer there. I mean, the rebels are mostly up here in the mountains, right?”
“Right,” Ace reassured her.
“So…maybe this is all it was meant to be. Me keeping them safe until we can get to Dili. I’m sure there are more people who want to adopt in the city. And maybe even from overseas.”
Ace wasn’t so sure about that part. From the little he’d seen on their way in, life was tough in the city. Poverty was rampant, and he wasn’t sure there were too many families going out of their way to adopt children. But he wasn’t going to say anything that would sway Piper’s mind one way or the other right now. She had to make the decision about the children without being pressured in any way.
“So…” Piper said after she took a big breath. “Ace, huh? I’m sure there’s a story behind that.”
Ace knew she was trying to change the subject to take her mind off the things that were worrying her, and he was all for that. “Yeah. Out of the guys on the team, I was the best at throwing knives.” He shrugged. “One day, we were goofing around and drunk off our asses and throwing knifes at a target, and I was startled by something just when I was throwing. My aim went wonky.”
Piper’s eyes were huge in her face as she stared at him. “Oh my God. Did you hit anyone?”
Ace chuckled. “Nope. But there were some guys playing cards nearby, and my knife bounced off the target and ricocheted toward their table, spearing the ace of spades that one guy was holding up, just about to put it down. Rocco, being a smartass, said, ‘Way to go, Ace.’ And there you have it.”
The smile on Piper’s face was beautiful, and Ace much preferred it to her crying or being pushed to her breaking point. “Well, it fits you.”
“Better than Beckett?” he joked.
Piper tilted her head and actually seemed to be taking his question seriously. “Yeah. What’s your last name?”
“Morgan.”
“Ace Morgan. I like it.”
He smiled at her. Then a sound behind them had him switching from laid-back man getting to know a woman to badass soldier in a heartbeat. He’d pushed Piper behind him and off the trail before she knew what was going on.
He held his finger to his lips once more, and she nodded.
They stood stock still as Ace tried to figure out who was coming up on them. Sixty seconds later, he relaxed and motioned for Piper to follow him back to the trail. She did so without question, which made him reach for her hand once more.
Ace lifted his head and made a sound that was a cross between a whistle and the call of a bird, and within seconds, the sound was returned by whoever was coming down the trail. Moments later, Rex and Gumby appeared with Sinta and Rani.
Gasping in surprise and relief, Piper hurried toward them.
The two children threw their arms around Piper’s waist and they hugged each other tightly.
“Everything okay?” Rex asked Ace as he approached.
“Yeah. One of the rebels decided to take a piss two feet from where we were hiding, but he didn’t even see us. You guys?”
“Good. Those kids are pretty damn amazing. It’s almost sad how quiet they can get though. It’s as if they’re used to hiding out and being absolutely silent,” Gumby said with a shake of his head.
“Where are the others?” Ace asked.
“Haven’t run across them yet. I’m sure they’re probably ahead of us though. They can move faster since Kemala’s older,” Rex said.
“That’s what I thought too,” Ace agreed. “Figured we’d see them at the meeting point.”
“For three people who were thrown into a stressful situation together only a few days ago, they sure are close,” Rex observed quietly as he watched the reunion between Piper and the girls.
Ace nodded. “Yeah. But we know as well as anyone that extreme situations seem to bring people closer, rather than tear them apart.”
Piper walked up to their group, holding hands with both little girls.
“We should keep going,” Rex decided.
Piper smiled. “Th
ank you for looking after them. I appreciate it.”
“Of course,” Gumby said. “We’re going to get all of us off this mountain safe and sound. You can count on that.”
Piper nodded. “Well, thank you again.”
Rani dropped Piper’s hand and walked up to Ace and held up her arms.
Pleasantly surprised by the little girl’s request, he shifted his weapon around so it rested against his back and leaned over to pick her up, nestling her in his arms.
“She seems quite comfortable there,” Piper observed with a smile.
“So she is,” Ace said. “You ready to go?” he asked Rani.
The little girl nodded and ran her hand down his beard.
“I don’t think she’s seen many men up close and personal. And none with a beard like yours,” Piper observed.
In response, Ace leaned into Rani and shook his head back and forth, rubbing his beard against her neck and face.
Rani giggled—and Ace stilled. The sound was soft and carefree…and he’d never heard anything more beautiful in his life. This child, who had been through the worst kind of hell, and who’d just met him that morning, not only trusted him to carry her, but giggled when he teased her.
Sinta, obviously feeling left out, came over and plastered herself to his leg. She looked up at him while hugging his waist.
He glanced up, and his eyes met Piper’s. He saw the same affection toward the girls he was feeling reflected in her gaze.
Crazy as it seemed, Ace was falling fast—not only for the woman in front of him, but the girls too.
Gumby reached down and lifted Sinta into his arms and rubbed his own beard against her neck, making her giggle as well. “Come on, let’s catch up to the others, huh?” he said.
“Kemala,” Sinta said happily, then pointed down the trail.
“Yeah, let’s go find Kemala,” Gumby agreed.
Rex took point, Gumby following with his precious burden. Piper followed him closely and Ace took up the rear. As they walked down the trail, he couldn’t help but focus his stare on Piper as she hiked in front of him.
What in the world was happening to him? What was it about Piper that struck such a chord?