K-9 Defense

by Elizabeth Heiter

  “Kensie!” Her name ripped from his mouth as the truck did a dangerously sharp turn onto the street across from him. It would be gone long before he could get back to his truck and follow.

  Panic and dread and loss filled him instantly, completely. They overwhelmed him, made his vision go dark like it had that day he’d learned about his brothers in the hospital. He slumped down into a crouch. His leg nearly gave out on him, but he managed to catch himself, resting his head on his knees, trying to get air into his suddenly uncooperative windpipe.

  Beside him, Rebel let out a sharp bark and jabbed her head under his armpit. She nudged him with her nose over and over, grounding him, slowly settling the ringing in his ears.

  And then he heard it. Kensie. A muffled shout of his name.

  Was he hallucinating? He glanced at Rebel, who jerked to attention, straining forward without moving her feet.

  It hadn’t been Kensie in the truck. His hands shook so hard he could barely push himself back to a standing position, but he gritted his teeth and tried to get it together. Because from the sound of her voice, Kensie was in trouble.

  He ran between the towering storage units, glancing back and forth, checking for threats far less effectively than he’d been trained. But Kensie’s voice had come from the far side of the units; he was almost positive.

  Rebel raced at his side, capable of outrunning him, but a loyal partner even now that they were both retired. She understood the Marines’ code as well as he did; she’d never leave him.

  “Good girl,” he told her, pushing his leg even harder. Tiny knives danced up his thigh and he gritted his teeth, desperate to get to Kensie. Up ahead, he heard scuffling sounds, but nothing else.

  Finally, the storage units ended and he shot out into a dark, dingy parking lot he hadn’t even known was back here. At the far end of it was a dumpster. And Kensie, being dragged toward it by Danny Weston.

  He had one arm manacled around her waist. The other hand was over her mouth, with his thumb jammed under her chin. Probably to keep her from screaming again. Or maybe she’d bitten him. He hoped she’d bitten him.

  “Weston!” Colter barked, putting every ounce of command he could into it.

  The man started, his gaze jolting upward as Colter ran straight at him, Rebel still at his side.

  Right before they reached him, Danny swung Kensie violently sideways. She flew out of his grasp, slamming into the dumpster with a sickening, metallic thud.

  “Kensie!” He stared at her, desperate to see movement, seeking out blood.

  Before he could determine if she was okay, Danny was rushing him, ducking his head low and coming at him like a linebacker.

  But Colter had been a Marine. He darted left, flicking his hand at Rebel in a silent command to go right.

  She obeyed and Danny didn’t adjust in time, flying between them. Colter spun, wincing at the trembling in his knee, but still ready to pound Danny into the ground.

  But the jerk was faster than Colter had expected, already facing him, already realizing his weakness. Before Colter could react, Danny kicked out hard with a steel-toed boot, slamming into Colter’s damaged leg, right above the knee.

  Colter hit the pavement hard, face-first. Pain erupted in his head and thigh, and a million spots of light danced in front of his eyes until he thought he might throw up.

  But Kensie was still in danger if he passed out, so Colter mustered up everything he had and flipped to his back.

  Just in time to see that Danny had grabbed a pipe and was swinging it toward his head.

  Chapter Eleven

  The growl that emerged from Rebel’s mouth in that moment was unlike anything Colter had ever heard.

  Danny froze, pipe in midair, and then shifted, swinging that deadly metal at Rebel.

  Colter knew he’d never get to his feet fast enough to stop it. There was only one option and it was going to hurt like crazy. He swung his bad leg as hard as he could into Danny’s knees, knocking the man sideways.

  Pain jolted up his leg to his head, then raced back down, until he couldn’t tell what was damaged and what wasn’t. But Danny toppled to his knees, dropping the pipe.

  Then Rebel leaped on him, knocking him the rest of the way down. She wasn’t an attack dog, but she was strong and Colter knew she’d do anything to protect him.

  But he wasn’t going to let her get hurt for him. Not again.

  Colter wasn’t sure he could stand, so he rolled sideways toward Danny, slamming a fist into the man’s groin. He didn’t like to fight dirty, but Rebel’s life was at stake. So was Kensie’s.

  Danny yelped and curled inward, making Rebel jump off him. But it wasn’t enough. And Colter wasn’t going to win this battle from the ground. He needed to get up.

  Danny was recovering faster than Colter, already rolling to his side and getting leverage to push to his feet. If Danny stood first, it was game over.

  So Colter clamped his jaw against the pain and put his palms to pavement. With everything he had, he pushed upward, shoving himself to his feet.

  It still wasn’t going to be enough. Through eyes watering from pain, he could see Danny readying himself to deliver a knockout punch, fueled by rage and embarrassment and a dark soul.

  His gaze jumped over to Kensie at the same time Colter’s did. Somehow, while they’d been on the ground, she’d risen and crept up on them.

  Time seemed to move in slow motion as Danny’s eyes widened and he tried to swivel toward Kensie. But he was too slow.

  Her punch was well aimed, despite the slight wobble as she pivoted toward him. It didn’t take Danny down, but it knocked him back several steps and he shook his head, clearly seeing stars.

  Colter didn’t hesitate. He didn’t know how long he could stand, but he had one last push in him. And it didn’t matter if he collapsed as long as he took Danny down hard with him. He raced at Danny, ducking his head like Danny had done initially. But Colter made contact, slamming into him hard enough to make Danny buckle and send them both back to the pavement.

  Danny landed beneath him, head smacking the concrete with an echoing bang. His eyes blinked open and closed and his arms drooped. Then his eyes popped open again and he shoved at Colter. But his strength was diminished enough that Colter had no trouble holding him down.

  Then sirens were screaming toward him. Soon, someone was lifting him to his feet and rolling Danny over, slapping on handcuffs as Kensie talked a mile a minute to another officer.

  Colter recognized both officers, and by how quickly they’d realized Danny was the aggressor, he figured they’d recognized him, too. He nodded his thanks as one of them explained, “We got a call from a store owner about a woman yelling for help.”

  The officer let go of his arm and Colter’s whole right side seemed to collapse. He would have fallen if Kensie hadn’t darted over to support him, slipping her smaller body beneath his shoulder. Still, the force of his knee giving out almost took them both down.

  Colter fought it, shifting as much weight as he could onto his left leg. His right one screamed in agony and even without having to bear weight, it shook uncontrollably.

  “You okay? You need an ambulance?” the officer asked as his partner dragged Danny away.

  Danny screamed obscenities and threats the entire way to being shoved into the back of the police cruiser. The officer who’d helped him up didn’t even glance his partner’s way, apparently assuming she had it under control as he continued to stare at Colter with concern.

  “I’m all right,” Colter said, as Rebel let out a dissenting whine.

  “You need to go to the hospital,” Kensie insisted.

  “I know my injury. It just needs rest.” Colter hoped he was right. “But what about you? You hit that dumpster hard. You were unconscious. I want a doctor to look at you.”

  “I’m fine.” Kensie sighed, fro
wning down at his leg.

  “Ambulance is right around the corner,” the officer said. “We’ll have them look at both of you and the paramedics can decide.”

  “But—” Kensie started.

  “Let’s go,” the officer said, his tone brooking no argument.

  Rebel barked her agreement.

  * * *

  DRIVING COLTER’S TRUCK made her nervous. It was a big, hulking beast, capable of handling the steep drive up to his cabin, but taking up more of the road than she was used to managing.

  The man next to her made Kensie nervous, too. He looked like he belonged on a Marine recruitment poster, with his well-defined muscles and intense blue eyes. He’d gritted his teeth while the medic poked and examined his leg and suggested he get an X-ray to make sure all the metal holding his thigh together was still intact. Then he’d calmly shaken his head and limped to the truck.

  But he’d been in no shape to drive and they both knew it. So Kensie had gotten behind the wheel, after being cleared by the medic as having no obvious signs of concussion. Still, since she’d been briefly unconscious, they’d warned her to go to the hospital herself if she experienced any dizziness, vomiting or confusion.

  Right now there was definite confusion, but it had nothing to do with Danny Weston throwing her against that disgusting dumpster. She risked another glance at Colter out of the corner of her eye. He looked terrible, his face so pale that she knew he was in a lot of pain. But he hadn’t complained once. And she wasn’t sure how to help him without hurting his pride.

  Rebel looked just as worried as Kensie parked Colter’s truck outside his cabin. She’d barely stepped out of the vehicle before the dog leaped over the front seat and climbed out after her. Rebel ran around to the passenger side faster than Kensie, but Colter had already gotten his door open and was trying to swivel himself out of the truck without bending his leg.

  Kensie wedged herself in the door opening, sliding her arm behind his back and bracing herself for his weight. “Lean on me.”

  “I’ve got it,” he said, sounding more frustrated than harsh.

  “Yeah, I know, but this will be easier,” she said, trying to sound cheerful. But she couldn’t quite manage it. Residual fear still clung to her from her encounter with Danny. Fear about what could have happened to her. Fear about what had almost happened to Rebel and Colter.

  His eyes narrowed on her, as if he could read her thoughts, and then he did lean on her just a little as he hauled himself out of the truck. The step down to the ground was shaky and Kensie did her best to absorb the impact, but she could still tell he was hurting.

  It took them several minutes to make the short trek to the cabin door, with Rebel running circles around them most of the way.

  “Rebel, chill,” Colter finally said, a smile cracking through as she plopped down on her butt.

  “She loves you,” Kensie said as he fumbled with the key and got the door open.

  “Yeah, well, I love her, too,” Colter replied, bracing himself on the doorjamb to take some of his weight off her. “We saw three years of combat together. We train as partners and that’s what she is. I’d take a bullet for her and she almost took one for me.”

  Kensie glanced back at Rebel, who was waiting patiently for Colter to make it through the doorway before she followed. “You saved her today.”

  “She saved me in Afghanistan,” he answered simply, pulling away from her a little to peel his coat off and drop it on the floor.

  “You saved me today, too.” Her text had never gone through, but he’d come for her anyway, taking on Danny despite his own injuries.

  Colter glanced at her briefly before continuing a slow walk toward his recliner. “We saved each other.”

  His words were filled with so many emotions. Honesty and admiration, yes, but also embarrassment. Probably because he hadn’t been able to take Danny down on his own. But it wasn’t a fair fight when Colter had a damaged leg.

  She knew saying that would only fuel Colter’s resentment and frustration at his situation. Instead, she stayed silent, helping him lower himself into his recliner.

  Once seated, he sighed and rested his head back against the chair, closing his eyes. It gave her the chance to stare at him, at the very faint lines on his forehead, the thick blond-tinged eyebrows, down over a strong nose to strong, full lips. Lips she’d tasted more than once. Lips she wanted to taste again right now.

  His eyes flicked open. There was heat in his gaze, but amusement in the tilt of his lips. “You mind shutting the door, Kensie? It’s cold in here.”

  She hurried toward the door, feeling a flush shoot up her face. Although what reason did she have to be embarrassed? They’d already kissed twice. He knew she was attracted to him. She faltered as she pushed the heavy cabin door shut. But did he know that what he’d done had drawn her to him even more?

  He deserved to know that. He deserved to know that while he was sitting there, obviously feeling like a failure for not taking down Danny Weston all alone, in her mind, doing it despite his injury made Colter more heroic.

  “What are you thinking?” Colter asked softly, making her realize she’d been standing there too long without turning back. “If you think you’re up for it, you can head back to your hotel. I don’t mind if you take my truck.”

  “That’s not...” She turned to face him, clutching her hands together. To make sure he knew she had no intention of leaving, she tossed her coat and yanked off her boots. “I know, being a Marine, you’re used to being able to take on any threat all by yourself.”

  “Not really.” He cut her off, looking uncomfortable. “Marines work in units. I mean, yeah, I was an MP and a K-9 handler, which is a little different. But I still had a partner.” He glanced at Rebel, whose tail swung back and forth as she glanced between them.

  “I don’t know what you’re thinking right now,” she continued, even though she was pretty sure she did know. It was in the slump of his shoulders, the downturn of his lips, the way he’d hung his head as he’d told the officers what happened. He felt like less of a man.

  Well, screw that. She walked slowly toward him, forcing herself to keep eye contact even though the strength of his gaze made her too warm inside. Made it hard to concentrate on her words.

  But she tried, because she owed him that much after what he’d done for her. And not just in that parking lot, but every moment since she’d met him. “Having an injury doesn’t make you less.”

  He blew out a loud breath through his nose, like he disagreed, but she didn’t give him time to cut her off.

  “You could have used that as an excuse. Not just today, but for everything I’ve asked you to do. But you haven’t.” She kept approaching, her tone gaining conviction with every word, because it was all true. “You acted anyway. You put yourself in harm’s way to help me and Rebel.” Her voice broke as she reached the side of his chair and took his hand. “You’re the most incredible man I’ve ever met.”

  She hadn’t realized she thought it until the words came out, but they were true. No one had ever put so much on the line for her, and she barely knew him. What must he be like when it was someone he loved?

  He stared back at her, the expression on his face shifting from disbelief and self-disgust to contemplation to something soft and raw that made her legs feel weak. Then his fingers were sliding through hers, his touch making nerves all over her body fire to life.

  On Colter’s other side, Rebel let out a short bark, startling her and breaking the spell. But as soon as she turned her smiling gaze back to Colter, the feeling returned. Because he was still staring up at her with an intensity that said her words had penetrated. Maybe she’d even made him believe them.

  She slid her palm over the scruff coming in on Colter’s cheek, then leaned in. It was an awkward angle, but when his lips grazed hers, it didn’t matter. Happiness filled her, ins
tant and so powerful that it overwhelmed everything else. She pushed forward, pressing her mouth more tightly to his, and almost fell into his lap.

  She caught herself on the recliner arm just in time. “Sorry,” she breathed.

  “Come here,” he whispered back, tugging her toward him.

  Carefully, she pivoted her body over the chair, so she was straddling him without putting any weight on him. Her knees were on either side of him, her butt arched awkwardly in the air, but it didn’t matter, because now her hands could slip around his neck.

  He stared at her a long moment, all of that intensity directed solely at her making her squirm. Then he cupped her face with his big palm, drawing her closer until her lips settled on his again. He kissed her softly at first, the merest grazing of his lips and tongue against hers that left her whole body aching for more. When she couldn’t take another moment of the slow torture, she fisted a hand in the front of his shirt and picked up the tempo until her head started spinning.

  Colter’s kisses grew deeper, more demanding, until everything else in the world ceased to exist. Slowly, she became aware of his hands slipping underneath the back of her shirt, his long fingers caressing their way up her back. She’d been content with just kissing him; knowing the way his leg was, he wasn’t up for more. But suddenly she craved the feel of his skin against hers.

  Her hands shook as they felt their way down impressive pecs and a muscled torso. Then she grabbed a fistful of his T-shirt and pulled upward. He leaned forward and helped her pull it over his head.

  She’d planned to peel off her own shirt next, but got distracted by the expanse of bare skin in front of her. Drinking the sight in, her gaze stalled on his left biceps. Script circled his arm and as she traced the words, the muscles there leapt under her fingertips. “Semper Fi,” she read aloud, her voice husky.

  “Latin,” he told her, his beautiful blue eyes fixed on hers even as his hands returned to their trek over her rib cage. “The Marines’ motto. It means always faithful.”

  Loyalty. A smile trembled on Kensie’s lips as her body responded to his touch, arching forward. Of course. A man like Colter lived by those words. He was loyal to Rebel, loyal to the memory of his lost brothers, even loyal to the promise he’d made her.