Justin

by Kris Michaels

  Joseph snorted in disgust. "Jared just couldn’t keep his mitts off my M72. Get her the fuck out of here. I've got Jacob's back now."

  Justin turned and offered his hand to Danielle. Blood still trickled from the gash the bastard had put in her temple.

  "You own a light, anti-armor weapon?" Danielle's voice wavered.

  A smirk crossed Joseph’s face. "She's a keeper. Now go!" He barked the command before he headed down the stairs.

  "Come on." They ran back to the rope. Justin pulled an extra set of gloves out of his vest and gave them to her. "Get down. I'll keep watch. When you're on land, I'll drop the weapon to you."

  "Got it." She pulled on the gloves and wrapped her split skirt around the thigh she was winding the rope around. Without a second glance, she stood on the wall and let herself drop. Justin thanked God they'd done the rappel off the building under construction. She continued down, slow and steady. He kept her in sight while making sure nobody else was on the wall. The weapon fire behind him was hot and heavy. One more explosion ripped through the night air. Dani reached the bottom and uncoiled. He unloaded the weapon, dropped the magazine first and then the rifle, knowing if he dropped it loaded, it could fire when it struck the ground. He wrapped the rope around him and dropped. Heat from the rope sliding through his hands tore at the skin on his palms, but he dropped as quickly as he could without losing control. When he reached the ground, the skin on the palms of his hand was gone. It was a small price to pay. Danielle held the gun and focused her aim on the top of the wall.

  Justin grabbed the weapon from her and nodded toward the deadfall tree. "Leap from the log to the rock in the middle to the ground on the other side. You'll need a running start. Use the log as a catapult and let your momentum carry you through the jump when you hit the rock."

  Danielle nodded and backed up to the wall. She studied the jump for several moments. A loud exchange of gunfire triggered her flight, and she took off, the gloves on her feet slapping the ground as she ran. He held his breath as she used the log to launch. Her skirt flew up and away from her legs as she stretched to reach the rock and sprang to the ground. She hit the bank and rolled forward through the dirt. Justin swung the rifle strap across his chest and situated the gun on his back so it wouldn't impede his run. He drew a deep breath and bolted. The log shifted as he punched up. He landed on the rock and literally threw himself forward. He landed half in and half out of the water. He scrambled forward to his feet.

  "Are you alright?" Danielle was beside him within seconds.

  "Wet, but fine. This way." He grabbed her hand and led her to through bushes and trees towards where they'd left the Jeeps.

  Behind them, the sounds of gunfire became sporadic. Justin moved through the underbrush carefully, trying to pick the flattest route. Even though Danielle wasn't complaining, her feet had to be sliced to shreds. A metal on metal noise from near where the Jeeps were parked reached them. He lifted a hand and dropped down, feeling her lower herself beside him. He turned, handed her the gun and whispered, "Stay here," before he moved forward through the brush, soundlessly making his way forward.

  In the moonlight, he could see a figure on the far side of the vehicles. Justin crouched waiting. A shuffle of underbrush behind him and a small hand on his shoulder startled the fuck out of him.

  "You don't listen." He pulled her into him and pushed the brush back down allowing her to see.

  "That's a woman," Danielle whispered to him. Justin whipped his head toward the vehicles. Fuck, a woman. He reached out and grabbed the stock of the Russian rifle. "Wait." Danielle hissed and pointed to Justin's left, toward the compound. A male figure pushed through the brush.

  "Well, that took fucking long enough. What the hell am I doing by the Jeeps? I thought I was going to see some action." Jade's pissed off voice rang clear and true through the night.

  "They aren't back yet?" Jared ripped off the question.

  "Do you think I'd still fucking be here if they were back? Lord above, did you fire your brains out of that damn rocket launcher?"

  Justin chuckled at the snark in Jade's voice, then stood up in the brush and helped Danielle to stand.

  "Jacob said he sent them over the wall, but Justin was laying down suppression fire so Alpha team could advance. Fuck, I need to go back. Someone could have..."

  "We're here," Justin said as he stepped through the last two feet of brambles and branches, pulling the larger ones away from Danielle as she followed.

  "Shit, dude. You've got some explaining to do. What the fuck happened in that compound?" Jared reached for him and pulled him into a hug.

  Justin instinctively slapped his back only to be reminded of the abused flesh on his palms. He was tackle hugged by Jade. "Damn it, Justin, can't you follow orders?"

  "Ah...no. Can you?"

  He pulled away from his sister and watched as her mouth opened and then closed several times. "Well, no, but I'm the one who breaks all the rules. Not you."

  "I beg to differ," Danielle spoke from beside him.

  "Oh, you got stories to tell about this bad boy?" Jade popped on the LED light on her tac vest and drew in a harsh hissed breath. "Damn it, you two are tore the fuck up. Dani, what the hell is on your feet?"

  "Umm...gloves, tape and a lot of blood." She stood with her ankles bowed, all weight transferred to the outsides of her feet.

  Fuck, Justin had no idea her feet were so bad. She hadn't complained, not once. He reached down and picked her up, cradling her next to his chest. "Why didn't you say something?" He moved toward the vehicles with Jade sprinting in front of him to open the back passenger door.

  "Like what? Please stop saving my life so I can cry about my boo-boos?" Dani scooted back into the seat he placed her on and pulled what was left of her tattered skirt over her lap.

  "I could have carried you on my back." Justin reached down to take off the tape on her feet.

  "What the hell, Justin? What the fuck happened to your hands?" Jade pointed a flashlight at his palms. The blood and stripped skin rivaled the damage Dani had done to her feet.

  "He rapid rappelled off a forty-foot wall without gloves. He gave his second pair to me." Danielle lifted her hands, the gloves were still on.

  "Well, damn. You're tougher than I gave you credit for, pretty boy." Jade slapped the flashlight onto the floorboard. "I'm going to get some water and the first aid kit to clean those wounds."

  Justin caught Jared's eye. "Why are you two here? And Joseph?"

  "It's a long story."

  Both of them spun at the sound of brush crunching. Justin grabbed the Russian rifle at the same time Jared lifted his M4. Jade was beside them in an instant, her own weapon raised and ready.

  "Don't shoot, it’s the cavalry."

  "The cavalry had horses, Drake. I don't have no fucking horse. I guess they have tanks and such now-a-days, and I sure as hell don’t have no tank." Dixon spouted off from somewhere behind Jacob and Joseph as they emerged from the foliage.

  "They were dragoon regiments before they were designated as cavalry and they didn't have horses then." Drake fired back.

  "Dude, you didn't say, 'Don't shoot, it's the dragoons,’ did you? No. You didn't." The twins went to the other vehicle and started loading their packs into the back.

  "Can the chit-chat. Let's get out of here. We have a plane to catch." Jacob's order sent his men into action. Hands on hips, he directed a steady look at Joseph. "I take it you, Jared, and Jade are flying home with us?"

  "That's the plan." Joseph leaned against the front end of the Jeep. He nodded towards Justin. "That boy has balls. He did well."

  Justin blinked in astonishment at his older brother. It wasn't often Joseph talked and even less often that he gave anyone a compliment. He dipped his head in acknowledgment.

  "I concur. He has stones the size of coconuts. Let's move this to the airfield. Doc can take a look at your injuries when we get airborne." Jacob slid into the driver’s seat. Justin ended up holding Dani in
his lap on the passenger side. Jared, Jade and Chief crowded into the back seat. Dixon, Drake, Doc, and Joseph bounced after them in the other vehicle. Once again, Jacob used his night vision goggles to navigate the almost-there road.

  Danielle snuggled against him, her face tucked against his neck. She held onto his vest as they jolted down the road. "When we get to the plane, I have a lot of questions."

  Justin hummed an agreement to her exhausted whisper and held her, relishing the feeling of having her in his arms again.

  Chapter 26

  Dani didn’t fight the exhaustion that pulled at her. She let it consume her and trusted in the man holding her to keep her safe. Jolting awake minutes or hours later, strong arms comforted her, and her lover's voice at her ear calmed her racing heart.

  "It's okay, we’re pulling up to the aircraft. I'll carry you on board."

  The vehicle emptied rapidly. Justin opened his door and carefully maneuvered them out. She would have objected, but exhaustion and whatever rush of adrenaline sustained her during the escape from the compound had drained away. Besides, her feet hurt. She held onto his neck as he climbed the ramp leading into the back of the military-style aircraft. The inside was the size of a small warehouse, and when the Jeeps were pulled in after them, she understood why.

  "Here you go." Justin sat her down in a seat made of nylon straps. He kneeled at her feet and cupped her chin, keeping eye contact with her. "As soon as Doc looks at your injuries and we get some water and food into you, I'll explain everything. But first, we'll be taking off. Let me tell you from experience, you need to be strapped in."

  She could see a hesitancy in him as he moved around her. It was foreign and unexpected. Dani caught his wrist as he used his fingertips to pull the harness over her shoulder. "Hey." He kept his head down for a moment before he lifted his eyes to hers. "What happened doesn't change anything. I'm not sure what is going on…why this happened to me, but none of this changes how I feel about you." She saw the moment her words registered. The light in his soul that had dimmed, flared, and he smiled that slow, sexy smile that had trapped so many women in the past. She lifted his hand and twisted his wrist bringing his raw palm up. She kissed a spot on his thumb that wasn't injured and whispered, "I love you."

  He leaned in, so their foreheads were pressed together. He lifted his damaged hands and ran his fingertips down the sides of her face. His touch elicited a full body shudder. He drew a shaking breath. She could sense the emotion that ran through him. He whispered just loud enough that she could hear him, "You saw the real me, and you smiled. No one has ever done that. You looked past the wealth and the status, and you found me." He moved a few inches away, he glanced right and left making sure they were alone. "No one knows me. I've kept everyone away. My family has no idea who I really am. I'm an illusion to them. But, you…” his voice thickened and he swallowed once, “…you saw me. How can I not be completely lost in my love for you?" A tear slipped from his eye, blazing a slow path through the dirt and blood on his face.

  Dani's heart swelled so big she felt like it was going to burst through her body. This sleek, debonair man who wore ten-thousand-dollar suits, and managed a multi-national company had laid his soul bare for her to see. She reached out and traced the tear with her finger. "Even if God were to take my eyes this minute, I would always see the man you are inside of the illusion." She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.

  The emotion that flowed through them was a physical reaction of two unique persons combining to find in each other the perfect fit. Love consumed them, bound them together and made them both stronger together than they’d been alone.

  "Yo, I kinda hate to break this up, but if you don't buckle up, your ass is going to be plastered against the back ramp." Jacob walked past as he spoke and slapped Justin on the shoulder.

  Justin dropped his head and shook it.

  "You've got an interesting family dynamic going on here." Danielle put her other arm through the harness and tried to figure out the buckling system.

  "Here, let me." Justin used his fingers to bring the clasps together. "My brothers are...unique."

  "More unique than Jade?" Danielle asked as he sat down beside her.

  "Ahh...well, unique in a completely opposite way. Jade's just batshit crazy."

  "Hey! I heard that!" Jade punched forward in her harness three seats down. Her hair flew forward at the movement. "I'm not crazy! Guardian has me tested! Once a year!"

  Danielle blinked at Justin's sister.

  The cabin was still for several seconds until laughter spilled into the hold of the aircraft. The engines roared, and the plane lurched forward sending her sideways into Justin who had just buckled his own harness. Dani tilted her head, laying it on Justin's shoulder. Her arm linked with his as the plane picked up speed. Goodness, she'd never flown in a transport plane before. The lurching and jarring as the aircraft raced down the runway was fifty times that of a passenger plane. She gritted her teeth and literally squealed as the aircraft shot up. Like, straight up! Not a moderate climb.

  "It will level out in a minute," Justin yelled over the engine noise.

  Dani grabbed his arm. "What is this? A rocket?" She yelled the question back to him. He grinned and winked. What kind of answer was that?

  The aircraft banked suddenly and within a minute, leveled off. The red light that had been casting a glow over the cargo space blinked out, and a pale-yellow light appeared. As one person, everyone unbuckled their harnesses and started moving. Dani didn't. There was no way she was taking the harness off. One rocket ride was enough for her, thank you very much.

  A blonde man with an eyepatch came across the bay. He carried a canvas backpack. "Hey, I'm Doctor Adam Cassidy. May I look at your injuries?" He knelt at her feet but didn't move to touch her.

  She glanced at Justin who winked at her. Danielle turned her attention back to the doctor. "I'm sure it’s just a bunch of small cuts."

  "I understand, but we don't know what cut you or if any of the lacerations need stitching. The foot takes all the weight of the body, and you don't want a wound to keep breaking open. Plus, you could've gotten dirt or foreign bodies embedded that could cause infection. When was your last tetanus shot?"

  "Ummm...maybe high school?" Dani pulled her bottom lip between her teeth when the doctor gently lifted her foot and sat the heel on his thigh.

  "Then, I'm going to recommend you let me give you that immunization, just to be safe. May I?" He nodded toward the gloved foot perched on his leg. She nodded and watched as he peeled the tape from around the wrist portion of the glove. He carefully cut the glove off the top of her foot. The material stuck to the sole of her foot. He pulled a small basin out of the backpack and opened a sealed bottle of water, pouring some into it before lowering her foot to soak. He repeated the process on the second foot and also placed it in the water. "We'll let that work to loosen the material for a couple minutes. You have quite a few scrapes and scratches." He motioned toward her arms and legs.

  "The branches were brutal." She sighed. The mere mention of the injuries seemed to remind her body that she hurt.

  "I don't want to be forward." He glanced up at Justin and motioned for him to squat down beside him. "I can see what appears to be a nasty rope burn on your thigh."

  Justin blinked and moved the largest piece of her skirt that still clung to the waistband. "Damn it."

  Danielle blinked at the comment. It wasn't like Justin to swear. She knew the rope had chaffed her skin, but she wasn't going to cry about it. She looked down and held the skirt to the top of her thighs, providing some semblance of privacy as she pulled the material away from her sore thigh.

  "This is nothing compared to his hands." Dani pushed the filthy wool back over her legs. With her feet in water and her clothes in tatters, she was starting to get cold.

  "I've asked Jade to set up an area over there for you to wash. You'll have to remain seated while you do it, so your feet don't get wet again. I want you t
o get as clean as possible. Then we'll attack those scrapes with some antibacterial cream."

  The doctor turned towards Justin. "Let me see them." His tone was nowhere near as kind as when he talked to Danielle. Justin flipped his hands over, and the doctor shook his head.

  "Alright. Sit your ass down." He pointed to the netted seat next to Dani. More sterile water was poured into another basin. He set it on Justin's lap and nodded at the plastic tray. Justin dunked his hands down and winced.

  "Since we have a minute, would you please tell me what happened?" She rolled her head toward Justin.

  He drew a deep breath and locked his stare with hers. "I couldn't reach you." He shrugged. "It wasn't like you, and I got worried. When Max told me that you’d missed two meetings without calling in, I freaked. I tried to get your father, but my call went to voicemail. By that time, I was at the airport, and I'd already called my brother."

  Danielle examined his three brothers across the bay who were huddled in conversation. "Which one?"

  Justin followed her glance. "None of them." She raised her eyebrows and turned back to him. "My brother Jason is the CEO of Guardian International. Jacob," he pointed to the man on the right wearing the arsenal of weaponry, "is in charge of international operations. Jared, the one in the middle, is the CEO of Domestic Operations and Joseph, the one on the left, well, I'm not sure what he does anymore, but I think he used to work with Jacob. Jade is now one of the people in charge of the Personal Security contingent Guardian has under Domestic Operations. My sister Jewell is in charge of the cybersecurity element. Her fiancé works for Guardian as well. Jasmine is the only one who no longer works for the company."

  Dani dropped her eyes and watched the doctor as he tended to her feet. There were several deep lacerations.

  He looked up. "Don't worry, it gets easier."

  "The cuts?" Danielle was confused as to how it would get easier, because what he was doing stung.

  He laughed and lifted her foot, examining the arch. "No, figuring out who is who and what they do."