Mark didn’t say anything to Joshua, just stared him down. “So someone from the U.S. government broke into my ex-girlfriend’s apartment and stole her laptop. Why?”
“She was seen meeting with Richard Henning right before the man was shot and killed. There was an agent who had been tailing Henning for a while and he saw Ms. Sanchez enter the Hotel Catalina Café with the former Congressman.”
Joshua was pissed. “She was interviewing Henning for a news story. Did this agent also see her try to save Henning’s life, sir? Did he see her get down on her hands and knees and try to stop Henning from bleeding out while other pedestrians ran away from the scene,” Joshua replied. His jaw and fists were clenched, his blood was pounding in his head, and he wanted to lash out.
“Look, Laurent. I can tell that you’re upset. I can also tell that this girl means something to you. I didn’t order someone to enter her apartment and take her laptop. That type of command comes in well above my pay grade. Regardless, the FBI assures me that they had a warrant. Undoubtedly, they got the warrant with very thin probable cause. However, none of that changes the fact that she is in trouble. We’re dealing with some serious shit right now, so your gal pal’s feelings are the least of my fucking concerns. She has some sources that gave her classified information that she needs to identify.”
“Don’t we have more pressing things to do than to harass a U.S. citizen who happens to be a news reporter? Victoria is just trying to report a story to the American people. She doesn’t have any criminal connections, for God’s sake.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yes,” Joshua said without any hesitation. “And I’m also sure that whoever her sources are, she’s not going to rat them out.”
Mark blew out a frustrated breath. “Look I need you to have your head on straight tomorrow when we go wheels up. Are you going to be able to do that?”
“Yes sir, of course. I’ll be able to execute my job just as I’ve been trained to do. But do I have a reason to worry about Victoria’s safety or incarceration?”
Mark was silent for a moment before replying, “Look I’ll see what I can do. She’s pissed some people off, but I’ll talk to Ryland to try to get him to back down. He’ll only agree to that if she puts on hold whatever story she’s working on until we give the okay.”
“I’m not sure that she’ll agree to that, sir.”
“You better make sure that she does. National security is at stake. And if she doesn’t hold her story, there won’t be anything that I nor you can do to keep her out of jail,” Mark said.
“Do I need to call a lawyer for her on her behalf?”
Mark stared at him before saying, “No, just let me handle it.”
Chapter Sixteen
J
oshua hadn’t uttered a single syllable to Victoria after they left the base together. She could tell that he was angry by his jerky, controlled movements and clenched jaw.
Most likely he was angry with her for putting him in this unenviable situation that he was now in with his bosses.
It was well after six o’clock in the evening before Victoria and Joshua made it back to his home. As soon as they entered, he started packing his bag to fly out early in the morning.
“Are you in trouble?” Victoria leaned against the doorway to his master bedroom. Joshua stopped folding his clothes to turn around and look at her.
“No,” he said. He then he turned back around to what he was doing before she interrupted him.
“Do I need to find a lawyer to represent me? I mean, they just let me go without an explanation—after threatening to throw me in prison.” During the middle of the questioning, CO Mark Dewitt had left the interrogation room abruptly. One of the remaining FBI agents in the room had just sat across from her, shooting dark looks in her direction. The FBI director, Ryland, had continued his barrage of threats. When Mark Dewitt had reentered the room some time later, the whole vibe of the situation changed. After conferencing in the hall, the men sent in a Masters at Arms to dismiss her.
“No. You don’t need to get a lawyer. Like I said in the car, everything is taken care of,” he paused before continuing, “But for national security concerns, you need to hold your story about the DEA investigation into the Henning Cooper Company for a few days.” Joshua glanced back down and continued to fold his clothes, packing them neatly in the military issued duffle bag he was taking with him. He had always been so incredibly neat. Everything had to be in its precise place—though in the course of their relationship he had learned to tolerate Victoria’s unorganized tendencies.
“Joshua, please,” Victoria said, twisting a long strand of her hair in her fingers, biting her lower lip nervously.
“Please what Vicki?” Joshua blew out a deep breath. “What do you want from me?”
“I want you to talk to me. I didn’t mean for you to get into any trouble today.”
“I already told you, everything is fine.”
He still wasn’t looking at her, so Victoria walked over to his bed. She sat down right beside the open suitcase that he was filling up.
“Joshua, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for dragging you into this with me,” she said looking at him. She was sure that her eyes were pleading with him at this point—for what, she didn’t know. Finally, Joshua’s eyes met hers.
“Yeah, well, don’t be. There’s nothing for you to be sorry about.”
“When do you have to leave tomorrow?”
“Early.”
“Joshua, just be careful, okay. Tomorrow, I mean.”
“Yeah sure.”
Victoria didn’t know what else to do. What else could she say to him? To make him understand how she felt. Well, maybe she could start with the truth. “Joshua, I never meant to hurt you before. I …” she trailed off and Joshua looked down into her eyes from where he stood at the foot of the bed, holding her gaze.
Victoria started again, “I gave you that ultimatum a year ago because I loved you.”
Joshua just gave a bitter laugh at that pronouncement, “Yeah that sure sounds like love Vicki.”
“It’s true. I did love you. Very much. But … God. I don’t know, I was just—I was just scared.”
“Scared of what?” Joshua stood there looking down at her.
“I didn’t want to get a knock on my door someday from Will or Malcolm telling me that you had been killed. That you weren’t coming back home to me,” she finally answered, tears pooling in her eyes.
He was silent, but he kept staring at her so she pressed on. “It was a stupid thing to do. But you don’t know what it’s like. To sit and wait for months, wondering if you’re still alive. Wondering if I’m ever going to see you again. I just couldn’t take it anymore.”
“Why didn’t you tell me all of this before? You do know that I’m not a mind reader right?” he asked her. At this point, he’d stopped packing his suitcase and she had his complete and undivided attention.
“I don’t know. I thought … I thought that you would pick me, I guess. Obviously, I was wrong,” Victoria laughed lightly, running a hand through her long dark hair, using another hand to wipe away the tears that were falling freely from her eyes.
“Shit Tory, if you had asked me anything else … I would have done whatever I had to do to make it happen. But to leave the Navy? It’s my career. I can’t. I love it. I loved you too, you know.”
Victoria looked down at her hands, nervously flexing her fingers on her lap. It wasn’t in her DNA to humble herself. She was used to deflecting and avoiding talking about her feelings. At least when it came to those deep emotions. “I really messed up things between us. Your clothes … I’m so sorry,” she whispered, shaking her head miserably.
“Yeah, you know I wasn’t completely innocent either Vicki. I could have tried to understand your feelings more. We could both stand a few lessons on communication,” he said softly. He cleared his throat before saying, “About before, you know earlier today before we left to go to the
base. About what I said—I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, well I think that you did mean it.”
“No, I didn’t. I was frustrated with you, and I wanted to hurt you. And I’m very sorry for that. I think you’re beautiful. I always have.” Joshua then reached out his right hand, and brought her right hand up to his lips to give it a kiss.
When Victoria didn’t look up at him he reached out his other hand, cupped her chin and tipped her head upwards to look at him. She stared at him—she couldn’t help but stare as he looked down at her, locking his eyes to hers. She wanted him to kiss her. She wanted him.
****
Joshua wanted her. He had longed for this woman sitting right in front of him for the past year. She wanted him too, right now. He could see it in her eyes. But he wanted to hear her say it aloud. He needed to hear her say it aloud.
“Do you want me?” he asked in a low voice. He didn’t take his eyes off her, and she was staring right back at him.
“Yes.” Victoria didn’t hesitate for a second.
“Take off your clothes,” Joshua ordered Victoria, pulling her to her feet. He removed his duffle bag from the bed and placed it down on the floor to clear up space on the bed.
“What?” Victoria said, taking a few hesitant steps back from him and the bed. She looked a bit unsure about herself. Joshua had never used his current tone of voice with her in the bedroom. Contrary to his outward appearance, he’d always been soft and gentle with her. But not tonight.
“I said, take off your clothes,” Joshua ordered again. He backed Victoria up against the wall and pulled off his shirt. He never took his eyes off her. “Do you trust me?” he asked her when she saw that she hadn’t yet moved from where she was standing.
She remained silent and Joshua looked at her and finished removing his camouflage BDUs. A few seconds later, he stood before her in only his boxers. He smiled to himself at her reaction. Victoria’s gaze completely filled with lust. She swallowed hard and looked down at his boxers. He was already clearly aroused. She was very excited herself. He could tell by the way that she slowly wet her plump, bottom lip with her tongue.
Victoria was a beautiful woman, she always had been. Always would be. Joshua knew that she was sensitive about her weight, but he really couldn’t understand why because she was gorgeous. He was still kicking himself for the putdown he threw her way earlier. It only served to feed into her insecurities.
Joshua stepped forward, closer to her and stretched a hand out to cup her right cheek. He leaned down and kissed her on her cheek before saying, “I’m not going to ask you again Vicki. If you don’t want to have to go to the store tomorrow to replace a blouse and a skirt, I suggest that you do as I asked.”
With her hands slightly shaking, Victoria slowly began to undress for him. He watched with lust-filled eyes as Victoria took off first her pink blouse and then unbuttoned and stepped out of her skirt.
She had stripped down to her bra and panties for him, but then she looked away. She was shy all of a sudden. Her gaze rested on his bed, then at the floor, at anywhere but him. Victoria nervously covered her chest and midsection with her arms.
“Vicki.”
She refused to look at him. “Can we turn off the lights, please?”
Joshua shook his head, laughing her question away. “Absolutely not. Don’t be silly. Vicki look at me.”
“Vicki,” he repeated, waiting for her to look up at him. When she didn’t he stepped even closer toward her and cupped the sides of her face with both hands, gently turning her head to face him. “Vicki, you’re absolutely beautiful.”
Joshua then leaned forward and kissed her. Gentle at first, but then hard and fast. He pressed his lower body against hers, and slowly rocked into her. He heard soft moans coming from her throat. He couldn’t blame her. It felt too good.
“Mmm oh God,” she gasped while he continued to kiss her. Then he backed off without warning. She was standing there against the wall, panting, barely able to catch her breath. Joshua dropped to his knees and started removing her high heels, one at a time. Victoria was tall for a woman at 5’10”, and she was almost able to meet his eyes with the four-inch heels that she was currently wearing.
When he finished removing her shoes he slowly stood, trailing his right hand up from her right ankle to her thigh and then up to her breasts. Joshua had always been a breast man and he had loved her generous breasts. Looking back into her eyes he said, “Now take off your bra and panties.”
She reached behind her back and unclasped her bra. It fell soundlessly to the carpeted floor below. She hurriedly pulled her panties down and let it drop down to the floor with Joshua staring into her eyes. Joshua watched as her eyes glaze over with the same lust that was mirrored in his eyes. He lowered his head, took her right breast into his mouth, and sucked.
“Mmm,” she moaned. He practically nursed on her nipple. He grasped her ass and moved to her other breast. It was too much. He wanted her, now. Joshua felt her pull away from him and then watched her reach out to pull his boxers down his legs. His erection sprang free. He stood there transfixed when she dropped to her knees and did want he’d dreamed about for the past year—took him into her mouth.
“Oh yeah … yeah that’s it … oh, baby,” he groaned. His hands were tangled in her long brown hair. Joshua held onto her hair tightly as Victoria completely soul sucked him. She licked, squeezed, and touched Joshua until his legs were shaking. Until he was about to explode.
“Wait, baby, stop. Oh God, babe stop,” Joshua said, hastily pulling away from her. “If you don’t stop this is going to end a lot earlier than I had planned,” Joshua gasped out.
Victoria looked up at him from her position on the floor with wide eyes. He reached out a hand to help her up on her feet. Holding her right hand, he guided her to the edge of his bed and placed his hands on her shoulders, gently pushing her down.
He could see her clearly now with the light from the lamp on the nightstand. He held her gaze as he lowered himself down to the floor. His hand rubbing across her thigh before using both of his hands to push her legs apart.
Victoria tried to sit up to see what he was doing, but he placed one strong hand on her stomach and held her down.
She didn’t have to wait for long. He kissed her up her legs until he reached her thighs and then … Oh yeah. Joshua had always enjoyed this part of lovemaking. Some men had a real problem with going down on a woman. But Joshua loved it. And by the sounds that Victoria was making from the back of her throat she was really enjoying herself too.
“Ahh oh God, aaahh Josh, please,” Victoria all but screamed. Joshua licked and he sucked her clitoris and then placed two fingers inside of her, slowly pumping in and out while still licking her. By this point, Victoria’s juices were flowing freely, and her hands were clutching the bed sheets. God she tasted delicious.
“Josh oh please, please,” Victoria panted, her voice coming out in ragged gasps. She was on the very edge of her self control—right there at the precipice. And then she closed her eyelids and let out a scream.
By the time she left the heavens to come back down to planet earth, Joshua was on the bed beside her, on top of her. He’d already managed to put on a condom. He was holding his body weight up off her with both hands. He kissed her softly, sweetly.
“I love you Joshua,” she whispered. Joshua smiled down at her and then reached down between them and shifted until … He was inside her. He started slowly and then, knowing exactly what she wanted … what she craved, moving hard and fast. And then they both moved together until they shattered in each other’s arms.
Chapter Seventeen
D
imitriv Arshavin was starting to become a really big pain in Malook’s ass. Yesterday, the fancy Russian businessman had ordered him—actually ordered him—to provide the details of the product being shipped out and deadlines for when the shipment would be made.
If Dimitriv hadn’t been friends with Saverin and
if Malook hadn’t needed the extra strong-arm presence that Dimitriv’s crew provided in the region—not to mention the perfect fall organization in case the facility was raided before the smallpox was successfully transported—he would have killed the man himself.
As it was, Malook was now on a plane to Sokol a day ahead of schedule and would arrive in the region in a few hours. He was arriving early because he wanted to make sure that everything went off without a hitch. Despite the aggravation that his new association was causing him, it was well worth it.
Malook had assured Dimitriv on the phone while he had been en route to the Quetta International Airport in Pakistan that the additional heroin packages would be arriving into Russia via multiple couriers on Sunday. Dimitriv was eager to get the product shipped out and hitting the U.S. drug markets before Spring was over.
For Malook, the heroin shipment was only a means to an end. His foremost concern was that the smallpox virus was properly altered and ready for transfer and release. Adil and Tarasov had both been on site for the past week and were still in the process of weaponizing all the samples and preparing them for shipment.
Within a week’s time, the virus would arrive in the United States. And then chaos would surely ensue. The U.S. government would be so concerned with stopping the spread of the virus that they would not even see the second attack coming. The second attack would be swift and even more deadly than the release of the smallpox virus. It would be perfect.
Chapter Eighteen
V
ictoria missed Joshua already. He had left the bungalow at around three a.m. yesterday morning and she knew that she probably wouldn’t hear from him again for days, if not weeks. She wasn’t sure where he was deploying to, but she knew that it was an overseas mission.
Before he left, she’d promised him that she’d hold the story that she was currently writing about the federal drug investigation into Richard Henning’s company. And she intended to keep that promise to him.
Pushed to the Edge (SEAL Team 14) Page 19
