by Susan Stoker, Cristin Harber, Cora Seton, Lynn Raye Harris, Kaylea Cross, Katie Reus, Tessa Layne
“Ghost?” The word was shaky and rough, and came out more a croak than an actual word, but he heard her.
He put his hand on her shoulder and looked down at her as they continued moving into the building. “Hey, Princess. You’re awake.”
“Kinda.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, those sedatives we gave you along with the painkillers are pretty potent. You’re going to be fine.” He got right to it. “You’re at Darnell Army Medical Center at Fort Hood. You’re safe and back on American soil.”
“Texas?”
“Yeah. You’re back in Texas.”
“My stuff?”
“Stuff?”
“Yeah, at the hotel.”
Ghost chuckled. “Only a woman would think about her stuff after what you’ve been through. Your friend, Sarah, was going to see to it.”
“My brother?”
“I’ll make sure he knows you’re here.”
“Okay. Ghost?”
“Yeah?”
The gurney stopped in a small examining room and Rayne felt almost dizzy at the abrupt cessation of movement. She felt her eyes getting heavy again, and closed them. “Are you gonna be here when I wake up again?”
When he didn’t answer her right away, Rayne forced her eyes open. If this was going to be the last time she saw Ghost, she didn’t want to miss it.
“Yes. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”
She didn’t want to say it, but the word came out anyway. “Promise?”
“I promise, Princess.”
“Okay. Ghost?”
There was a smile in his voice this time. “Yeah?”
“Did you cut them off after all? I can’t feel them.”
Rayne didn’t see the harsh concerned look on Ghost’s face, as her eyelids had drooped closed.
“No, Rayne. We didn’t cut off your hands or feet. They’re still there, but they’re in bad shape. I swear I’ll never lie to you again. You’ll have some nasty scars.”
“Don’t care. Again? You lied before?”
Ghost put his hand on Rayne’s forehead and his voice softened. “Yeah, but that will be the last time. You want to know something, ask.” He thought Rayne might’ve been concerned about having scars, but he should’ve known she wouldn’t give a damn about that. He’d taken Wolf’s words to heart. He wanted Rayne. It wouldn’t be easy, but she was worth fighting for. He felt normal when he was with her, and that alone made him want to be a better person…for her. He’d not let her go without a fight.
“Okay.”
And that was that. Rayne was out. The doctor came in and immediately got to work taking off the makeshift bandages to see what he had to deal with. After making sure he knew what he was doing, Ghost went back out to the waiting room to find all six of his teammates there.
“Truck, will you go and keep an eye on Rayne? I have something I need to do.”
“Of course.”
“Keep me updated.”
Truck nodded and headed back the way Ghost had come. It wasn’t usual procedure for any of them to be in the room with a patient, but the colonel made a phone call to some high-ranking officer at the hospital, and they were given some latitude as a result.
“Anything we can help with?” Fletch asked.
Ghost shook his head. “No, but thanks. I’ll be back in a bit.”
His teammates nodded and Ghost left the hospital and headed for the officer barracks. Six months ago when he’d gotten back to Fort Hood, after the night that changed his life, he’d made it a point to look up Rayne’s brother. He was a first lieutenant and Ghost had been impressed. He’d graduated near the top of his West Point class, chose counterterrorism as his specialty, and had nothing but glowing OERs, Officer Evaluation Reports. He was shaping up to be a good leader. The kind who cared about the men under his command. He asked questions of the sergeants in his platoons and took their advice. Lieutenant Jackson was up for promotion and Ghost knew he’d make it with flying colors.
As it was eight in the evening, Ghost hoped the man would probably be in his room. He walked up the stairs to the third floor and knocked on the door.
Chase Jackson opened the door almost immediately. “Yes?”
Ghost was still wearing the same clothes he’d been in for forty-eight hours. He wasn’t at his best, and there was no indication of his rank or name anywhere on his vest. On missions, and even around Fort Hood, none of the Deltas wore any kind of identifying information on them for their own safety.
“My name is Captain Keane Bryson. May I come in for a moment?”
Chase looked confused, but stood aside anyway and gestured for Ghost to come inside.
Neither man said anything as Chase led Ghost into the small living room of the one-bedroom apartment. Ghost got right to the point.
“I’ve just returned from Egypt. Cairo, more exact.” Ghost watched Chase stiffen in front of him. Yeah, the man knew the significance of where he’d been.
“Your sister was one of the hostages in the coup.”
The lieutenant paled and swayed on his feet. For a second Ghost thought he was gonna face plant on the floor. His hand came out and he propped himself up against the doorjamb. He swallowed once, hard, then swore.
“Fucking shit. Is she… Are you casualty assistance?”
Ghost knew what he was asking. Casualty assistance officers were sent to the homes of relatives when someone was killed in action to inform them of what happened. No one wanted to open their doors to them. He quickly reassured the other man. “No. I’m part of the unit that was sent in to rescue hostages. We got her out. She was wounded, but is okay and here at Darnell Army Medical Center.”
Chase narrowed his eyes and tilted his head. He wasn’t an idiot. “And you’re here telling me this because…”
Ghost’s respect for the man increased. Ghost outranked Chase, and even without knowing he was a Delta Force soldier, he was astute enough to realize something else was going on. Maybe Rayne’s brother did know he was Delta. He was in counterterrorism; it wasn’t as if he didn’t know Special Forces soldiers were around—and if Ghost had been over in Egypt, it was likely Chase knew he was more than a simple captain. For someone like Chase, the fact that Ghost was here in his living room wearing all black, with no visible rank, was as much an admission of who he was than if he was wearing a badge that said “Delta Force Soldier.”
“Because she’s mine.” Ghost’s words were blunt and to the point. He held up a hand when Chase opened his mouth and quickly broke down his relationship with Rayne for her brother. “I met your sister about six months ago. We didn’t spend a lot of time together, but that’s done now. I’m going to do everything I can to make it work between us. I’m here because I wanted to talk to you first. She was hurt over there. She’s going to be okay, but she’s probably going to need to talk to someone about what happened.”
“What did happen?”
Ghost knew Chase would get back to the “she’s mine” statement, but he was glad to see he was more worried about his sister’s well-being at the moment than he was about Ghost’s arrogant statement. “She’s dehydrated and she’s lost some weight, and she was almost raped before I got to her.”
“Almost?”
“Almost.”
“Thank Christ. But she’s hurt?”
“They chained her to a bed, and she…struggled.”
A wry smile flitted over Chase’s countenance before he got serious again. “Yeah, she would.”
“That clip you gave her very well might have saved her life.”
Chase smiled a real smile that time and he nodded. “I’ll make sure she has a lifetime supply of them.”
“Her wrists and ankles are torn to shreds. She’s getting them stitched now. I know she’d want to see you when she wakes up.”
“I’ll head over there as soon as we’re done here. Now…what makes you think she wants to be with you?”
“You see the addition to her tattoo?”
Chase sta
rtled at that. “She added on to that monstrosity on her back?”
Ghost nodded. “Yeah. She added me.”
Chase eyed the hard-looking man in front of him. “She hasn’t been the same sister in the last few months.”
Ghost simply nodded. He hadn’t been the same since he’d left her in that hotel room in London either. So he knew exactly what Chase meant.
“Don’t hurt her. I know you outrank me and probably have more power than I could ever hope to have, but I swear to God, if you hurt her—”
“I can’t guarantee that I won’t, we’re both pretty stubborn, but she’s mine. I’ll kill to keep her safe. I’ll fight for her. I’m not giving her up.”
Chase didn’t respond right away, mulling over Ghost’s words. Finally, he held out his hand. “It’s good to meet you, Keane Bryson.”
He shook his hand. “Ghost. It’s Ghost.”
“Ghost then.”
“I’m headed back over to the hospital now.”
“I’m coming with you.”
Ghost knew he’d say that, so he simply nodded.
“Give me five to change and get ready.”
“I’ll be out front,” Ghost told Chase as he turned to the door.
“Ghost?”
Ghost turned back to Chase.
“Thanks for rescuing Rayne. And thanks for letting me know.”
Ghost nodded again and closed the door behind him. He wanted to get over to the hospital and be there for Rayne, but he’d needed to do this. Needed to be the one to let Chase know about his sister and needed him to know where he stood with her. Ghost knew it wouldn’t be smooth sailing, but he’d made the first step.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“Chase, for the love of God, I’m fine,” Rayne grumbled as her brother fluffed her pillows behind her back for the third time that day.
She’d woken up in a room at the hospital to see Ghost sleeping in a chair next to her bed. She’d watched him for a while, amazed he was actually there. He’d stayed, just as he said he would. Rayne drank him in as he slept, thinking he looked tired. He was dirty, his black boots and trousers covered in a fine layer of dust. His broad arms were crossed over his chest. The only thing that looked clean about him was his T-shirt. It was obviously new, the creases from where it’d been folded inside a package still evident.
She’d shifted in bed, trying to get comfortable, and Rayne had been amazed how one minute Ghost was asleep, and the next he was wide awake, his eyes finding her face seconds after stirring.
“Morning, Princess.”
The words had been unexpected, more so because she’d so longed to hear them that morning so long ago. She’d cleared her throat. “Morning.”
Ghost had stood up and arched, putting both hands in the small of his back as if working the kinks out. He’d leaned over and put one of his large, calloused hands on her forehead. She remembered he’d done that the day before as well. “How’re you feeling?”
“I’m good,” she’d said automatically.
Ghost had cocked his head and asked again. “How’re you really feeling?”
Rayne had sighed. “Slightly dizzy from too many drugs and not enough food, but I’m alive, not chained to a filthy bed, and not dealing with being raped over and over. I’m good.”
Ghost’s mouth had twitched, but he hadn’t responded to her snarky remark. “Up to a visitor?”
“Aren’t you a visitor?”
He did smile at that, and ignoring her comment, he’d said casually, “I’ll go get him.”
Before Rayne could ask who Ghost meant, or any of the other four hundred and fifty-seven questions rattling around in her brain, he was gone.
She’d shifted in the bed uncomfortably. She’d lifted her right arm only to see bandages covering her from her fingers to her elbow. She’d moved her legs under the blanket and could tell they were similarly bandaged. She had wanted to see the damage, now that she was lucid enough to understand what it might mean, but it’d have to wait. Her limbs were still attached, hopefully that meant she’d get to keep them.
The door to her room had opened and Rayne had looked over and bit her lip. For some reason, her brother was the last person she’d expected to walk through the door, but he was the one person she needed to see after everything she’d been through in the last week or so.
They’d hugged each other and Rayne had cried on his shoulder for at least ten minutes, not noticing when Ghost left the room, before Chase pulled back and tugged the chair that Ghost had been sitting in closer to the bed. He kept his hand on her bandaged forearm as they spoke.
Rayne learned that Samantha was flying in that morning and would be there in a few hours. She’d tried to insist she was fine, but Chase just shrugged and said Sam would be there regardless.
The morning had passed quickly. The doctor came in and examined her wounds before her sister arrived. Rayne had watched attentively as he’d pulled back the bandages, but had to look away after a quick glance. She wasn’t usually squeamish, but the oozing, pus-filled, infected wounds were more than her stomach could take at the moment.
The doctor informed her that she’d be staying at least another couple of nights, until the infection was under control. They were pouring heavy-duty antibiotics into her body through the IV. Once a few doses of those were given, they’d consider releasing her.
When Rayne went to protest, the doctor reminded her that if she didn’t get the proper care for her wounds, she actually could lose all four of her extremities. That was enough to scare her into agreeing to stay as long as the doctor deemed appropriate. She might have told Ghost and his partner to cut them off in the middle of her rescue, but that was the last thing she really wanted to happen.
Samantha had arrived later that morning and the three siblings had a long chat about what had happened to Rayne in Egypt and how she was doing. Chase even had Rayne agreeing to talk to one of the Army psychologists. She thought she was doing okay, but knew later she’d probably have more time to think about what had actually happened…and almost happened.
It was now late in the afternoon and Chase was driving Rayne crazy. She’d convinced Samantha she was fine, and since her sister had an audition the next day, she’d agreed to leave on the next plane out of Austin, as long as Rayne kept her up to date on everything that was going on.
“Seriously, Chase, I’m fine, stop hovering,” Rayne complained.
Chase sat in the chair and propped his elbows on the mattress beside her hip. Noticing her glancing at the door for the twentieth time that day, he said, “I’m sure he’ll be back.”
Rayne looked up at her brother in surprise. “Who?”
“Don’t act dumb, sis. You know who. Keane.”
“Keane?”
Chase blew out a breath in frustration. “Yeah, Keane. Ghost? The man who stated to me bold as brass that you were his woman?”
“His name is John, not Keane.”
Chase studied Rayne and could tell she was serious. “He told me his name was Keane Bryson.”
“And he told me it was John Benbrook.”
The two siblings looked at each other for a moment, neither saying anything. Chase clenched his teeth together and the muscle in his jaw ticked, as it did when he was pissed.
She thought back to Ghost’s words when she was brought in. He’d told her he’d never lie to her again.
Damn, she was pathetic. She tried to play it off.
“Whatever, it doesn’t matter. I wasn’t watching for him.”
“I don’t care if he is Delta, I’m going to kick his ass.”
“Delta? What’s that?” Rayne asked, completely confused now.
“Motherfucker,” Chase exclaimed, pushing his chair back. “I’ll be back tomorrow to see you, yeah?”
“Chase! What are you talking about? Why are you so pissed?”
Her brother leaned down and kissed Rayne on the cheek. “I’ll be back in the morning.”
Rayne watched in confusion as her
brother stormed out of the room, mumbling under his breath.
Chase made his way down to the waiting room, hoping to find Ghost to have a heart-to-heart with him. He hadn’t known all the facts when the man had come to his door the night before, letting him know about his sister, but now he had a better understanding of what might have happened between him and Rayne, and he wanted to kick his ass.
He didn’t know for sure the man was Delta Force, but it made sense. Everything he’d learned about how Rayne had been rescued and what she’d been through made him more and more sure she’d been rescued by a team of Special Forces soldiers; it wasn’t as if any old unit would be sent across the world to stealthily rescue American hostages, and the fact Ghost showed up at his door and admitted he’d been one of the soldiers who’d rescued his sister only hammered that fact home all the more.
The waiting room was empty, but Chase knew Ghost was around somewhere. He’d told Chase he’d give him and Samantha the day with Rayne, but that he’d be back by five to be with her in the evening. It was four forty-five.
Chase stormed outside and saw Ghost standing near the building, looking absently out into the parking lot.
Without hesitating, Chase walked right up to the other man and punched him in the face.
Ghost took the hit without a word, going back on one foot, but when Chase went to do it again, Ghost put up a hand.
“I’ll give you the first for free, but that’s all.”
“You son of a bitch. You took advantage of her.”
Ghost shook his head. “No, I didn’t. She knew going in what it was between us.”
“You arrogant prick. She’s not one of your barrack bunnies you fuck at every post.”
Ghost lost his temper. “Don’t you think I fucking know that? Jesus man, I haven’t been able to think about anything but her since the day we spent together. I haven’t wanted any other woman but her. Not. One.”
Chase looked at the man in front of him incredulously. Keane Bryson was someone who could get any woman with just the crook of his finger, and they both knew it. For him to admit that he hadn’t been with anyone since…well, Chase didn’t know how long, but since his sister, was huge.
