9 Ways to Fall in Love

by Caroline Clemmons

  A man stepped out of an old Oldsmobile and walked toward them. A group of men followed. Her bandaged hands, holding out the gun she’d taken from one of the guards, Kate braced her feet.

  She couldn’t identify them as Oscar’s men, but she’d been away years. He could have hired new people.

  Silently Kate inched closer, and stood slightly behind and between Brody and the padre. To her surprise, Brody put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her against him. She looked into his smiling face and lowered the gun.

  “My name is Manuel, and this is Jorge, Lupe, José, Juan, Mario, and Paso. We have so little to offer, Señor Brody, but we want to help. This is my brother’s car. The only one in our village. Three of us have pistols, but very few bullets. We use them mostly for coyotes and snakes.”

  “That’s okay. We’re going to need all the help we can get.”

  Mario spoke. “Señior, we will do all in our power to rid this place of Chavez. He has ruined our lives.”

  “The car will be useful. And I have a few guns in my bag, but not nearly enough. Hopefully we’ll get more.”

  The man named Juan stepped closer. “What is the plan?”

  “I’m going to La Hacienda and demand Oscar Chavez release the man he’s holding.”

  Manuel looked to Juan then back at Brody. “But what if he refuses?”

  “Then we go to war.”

  Jorge shrugged. “We have so little to fight with.”

  The padre spoke. “Manny went to the nearby villages and asked for help.” Father Ayaaya ruffled Manny’s hair. “He told them a man needed their help to fight Señior Chavez.”

  “More will come,” Manny said proudly. “They promised.”

  “Yes.” Manuel looked around. “But how many will betray us and tell Chavez we are coming?”

  “It’s best he knows anyway,” Brody answered.

  “But then he will set a trap,” the padre said.

  Brody grinned. “That’s what I’m counting on.”

  “Okay, we are all with you,” the newly formed band of comrades shouted.

  The padre and other men dispersed, and Brody gazed at Kate. He pulled her into the shadows of Salina’s casita. “Listen, I’m sorry I got you into this. Stay here in the village. Jake won’t be late.”

  She put the gun in her pocket and then folded her arms. “I’m not going home until Oscar is dead,” she said. “If I don’t go with you, then I go alone.”

  Brody put his hands on his slender hips. “That’s foolish talk.”

  “As foolish as you kidnapping me?”

  “Godammit. I never meant for you to get hurt.”

  “But I did. Now I want my own revenge.”

  He gently lifted her wrists and looked at her bandaged hands. “Can you even hold a weapon?”

  She pulled from his grasp, took out her gun, and squeezed the handle grip. “You bet your ass I can.”

  He smiled, reached down, and brushed his lips against hers. “I love it when you talk dirty.” Still he wondered how effective she’d be against the enemy with blistered hands.

  Kate blinked several times before realizing Brody was kissing her. Then her emotions thought it was the Fourth of July. Firecrackers went off, and bottle rockets sent her over the edge of reality.

  Before she could react, he wrapped her in his strong arms and pressed his mouth against hers for the second time, avoiding the worst bruise on her lip. Kate’s thoughts swirled like sky rockets, and her body trembled. He tasted of heat, danger, and sex. When his tongue edged its way into her mouth, Kate reacted by sucking, and allowed it free roaming privileges.

  Lord, she’d never been kissed like this. Never completely lifted out of the biosphere and raised to such a level of desire.

  She wanted him, flat and simple. It went miles beyond sex, all the way to forever.

  One of them moaned, but it didn’t matter. Wanting more, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body to his. His interest pressed hard against her stomach.

  She tilted her head as his tongue gently stroked her bruised bottom lip, and her heart skipped a beat. Taut and hard, her nipples pushed against her clothing’s rough material, escalating her craving. A need deep in her belly grew into a voracious yearning, awaking her heart’s secret. One she’d carefully kept hidden from the world.

  In the entire universe, only the two of them existed. Only they mattered, and only this man could set her free.

  Long before she wanted him to, Brody broke off the kiss. He hugged her tight against his chest. “When this is over we’re going to spend a lot of alone time together.”

  She rested her head against his neck and chuckled before putting the gun back in her pocket. “Let’s hope we have the opportunity before you start making plans.”

  “That gives me more incentive to try harder.”

  ***

  Dallas, Texas

  With a fierce scowl deep enough to make a rabid dog run, Frank snatched up the paper cup of coffee and took a sip.

  Zoe inwardly smiled. Frank Hamilton would bite his tongue off before admitting he enjoyed his Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks. The drink was much too prissy for a man of his stature and reputation.

  Every morning she picked up coffee on the way to the office. Frank had his usual while she settled for a Skinny Latte. Some of the other flavors looked delicious, but she never indulged. With a good fifteen pounds to lose, she didn’t believe in drinking calories.

  Today was different, however Brody Hawke, one of Falcon Securities’ agents, had gone rogue. That called for an emergency afternoon coffee break.

  Every morning before the office officially opened, Zoe sat in her usual chair in front of Frank’s desk. She waited for him to discuss what he had on his mind, his plans for the day, things she’d have to rearrange on his calendar, and what every Falcon agent’s assignment was.

  Meetings this time of day rarely happened.

  This late in the afternoon, her day was usually over and she would be preparing to go home for the night. But today, Frank needed to vent since Brody hadn’t taken his calls. That meant she stayed until she knew Frank had calmed down and it was okay to leave him alone.

  “I’ve been expecting to hear from Vince sometime today. Hopefully he’s found out more about Chavez.”

  “I can’t understand what Brody’s thinking,” Zoe commented.

  “He’s not. That’s why my guess is he’s ass deep in trouble.”

  She smiled and said, “And yet he always lands on his feet.”

  Zoe never argued with Frank. She simply provided him a sounding board and advice when he asked. It bothered her when he worried about one of his agents. And in their business, there was always room for worry.

  “Yeah.” Frank pinched the bridge of his nose and then tipped his cup.

  “I’m keeping him surrounded with positive energy and wrapped in a white light. He’ll be fine.”

  Frank put his cup down and leaned back in his chair. “Do you honestly buy into all that mumbo jumbo?”

  Zoe blinked, not believing her ears. How, after all she’d been through, could he think such a thing? “Of course, I do. You of all people know where I’d be without the help of being positive.”

  “Zoe, sweetheart, you’re where you are because you’ve worked your ass off, stayed clean, and mingled with the right people.”

  “But I didn’t know how to do that until I attended that seminar you sent me to. I would still be working the streets and shooting heroin...if I was still alive” She tugged at the hem of her skirt. “It took a lot of influence to change my life. I had to believe it before I could live it.”

  Frank chuckled. “You’ve done that, Zoe.” He took a drink. “You’re a living, breathing billboard for turning one’s life around.”

  “I’m glad I took that first step. But I couldn’t have done that without you.”

  Frank brushed her compliment away with a wave of his hand. “I owed your father that much.”

  Th
ey both grew silent. Frank and her father had been with the CIA together and grown to be friends. When her mother died, Zoe had become a little spaced out. The next thing she knew she had a pimp and track marks up and down her arms.

  When Frank located her and brought her the news her father had been killed in Iraq, Zoe was shattered. Her heart ached for not being there when her father needed her most. Even to this day she wondered how she’d allowed herself to spiral so out of control.

  That day as Frank turned to leave, she’d whispered, “Help me.”

  Apparently, that’s all he’d needed to hear.

  Within hours her pimp had been arrested and she was in rehab with Frank or one of the Falcon agents at her side around the clock. They washed her face, cleaned up her puke, and rocked her for hours.

  Never once did she see a hint of judgment or condemnation in their tender looks. Only compassion and acceptance.

  After she finished her stint in rehab, Frank handed her a ticket to attend a weekend seminar featuring a world-renowned life coach. When she returned, Frank offered her a job, and she’d been devoted to Falcon Securities and the agents ever since.

  Without her work family, Zoe probably would have ended up in a back alley dumpster somewhere on the south side of town.

  “I’m simply grateful I’m where I belong. Good things happen to people who do the right thing.”

  Frank gave her that can’t-fool-me smile that made Zoe chuckle.

  In his early fifties, Frank had a head full of mostly silver hair, yet he could still catch a woman’s eye. His light blue eyes and strong jaw gave him a much younger look. And look women did...a lot. The guy had more dates than most of his agents. In his arsenal of weapons, Frank had a look that could raise a person’s sprits to the moon or slash one’s hopes to dirt.

  His intensity and devotion to America never left his demeanor. Single with no children, Frank lived and breathed his job and would lay his life on the line for any agent he employed.

  The door opened, and Tony Archuletta walked into the office carrying his own cup of coffee. “Hello, Zoe.”

  Zoe mentally referred to Tony as Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsomely Dressed. One could easily say agent 007 had nothing on that guy. The man literally oozed sexy masculinity. She loved all the agents from afar. But she could never seriously love a man in their line of work. No sir, she’d take a nice boring teacher or tax accountant any day of the week.

  “So what do you know?”

  “Brody kidnapped a CIA agent. Then Jake flew them over the border to Mexico. He’s due to pick them up at 2100 hours tonight.”

  Tony dropped into the chair next to Zoe.

  “Brody went after Chavez?” Frank asked.

  “No,” Zoe corrected. “Brody went after A.J.”

  Frank stood and paced, his hands behind his back. “I knew he was getting frustrated because I couldn’t get anywhere with my connections.” Frank paused and looked out the large window in his office overlooking the Dallas skyline. “I can’t say I’m surprised. Are you?”

  Tony shook his head. “Zoe’s right. Brody won’t leave anyone behind. And he and A.J. were in the same outfit. Blood runs deep.”

  “I’d better get Colanglo on the phone and let him know his agent is probably okay. I’ll see if he’s willing to hold off doing anything until we see how this all pans out.”

  “Good thing the Director of the CIA is your friend and that you’ve been tight for a long time. Let’s hope your influence holds.” Tony sipped his coffee

  “It will.” Zoe said. “Brody is only doing what he thinks is right.”

  “He’s doing exactly what I told him not to do.”

  “I’m not sure,” Tony said. “But I heard a few rumblings that could mean trouble.”

  That didn’t sound good.

  Frank moved to his desk and leaned down. “What?”

  “A confidential informant named Carlos with the CIA met me yesterday about some info he’d picked off the streets. According to the CI, it appears Brody might have been given bad information to intentionally draw him to La Hacienda.”

  “So how’d the CIA agent get involved?” Zoe asked.

  “It’s Kate Stone.”

  “I remember her,” she said. “Didn’t you help get her and her team out of Iraq?”

  “Yes, we did. Still, something isn’t right.”

  “I agree,” Tony said. “I called Jake in. Maybe he’ll give us more to go on.”

  “He’s going to get a boot up his ass, is what he’s going to get. Brody, I might just hang.”

  Zoe stood to go to her desk. Just outside Frank’s office she turned and said, “Brody is a good man doing a good deed.”

  “I hope you’re right, Zoe. If not, maybe you’ll take his place.”

  She smiled. “I just hope he’s alive, and Miss Stone and A.J. comeback safely.”

  She closed the door and smiled at the sound of Frank banging his fist on his desk.

  While Falcon Securities was a wonderful place to work, she constantly worried about her hunky agents and so did Frank. He had been going crazy trying to get A.J. released. She looked out at the bluest sky she’d ever seen and sent up a prayer for all the agents. She prayed they would remain safe and good things would come their way.

  With a sigh, Zoe sat behind her desk and pulled up her secure screen. This no doubt, would be a very long night.

  Chapter 11

  Brody drove the old junker into the sweltering desert and sand dunes. While Kate, he, and six others had piled into the car and headed in the direction of La Hacienda, Brody counted on someone tipping Chavez to their arrival.

  The heat from the sun scorched Brody’s left arm braced on the open window ledge. Blazing wind blew like a blast furnace in a steel mill.

  They were as visible as the nearby mountain range. Their exposure sent annoyance surging thorough Brody’s body and kept him alert to a possible attack.

  With no place to hide, they stood a good chance of being ambushed long before reaching their destination. But Brody had to risk getting to the south side of the compound, where a smaller village sat closer to La Hacienda.

  Rumor had it a man from the nearby rural community worked for Chavez. That informant also said the man hated his boss. Brody wanted that person on their side. No one knew better than him that hating and a willingness to betray, and possibly kill, created a whole different attitude. They didn’t need someone not fully committed to bringing down Chavez’s reign.

  He hoped the car would stand up under the blistering heat as it cut a wide path in the sand. It surprised the hell out of him that the eighty-nine Olds had lasted this long. In all honesty, it belonged in a junk yard, but he couldn’t be choosey. These were the only wheels within miles that didn’t belong to Chavez.

  Off to the right, Brody saw two vehicles approaching fast. He slammed on the brakes, and the car spun sideways before coming to a halt. “Get out and take cover.”

  All eight were armed. Four with nothing more than peashooters, but a carefully placed bullet could take out a giant.

  In no time the Jeep with four men charged them. The rear end fishtailed and the wheels flinging sand skyward. A man behind the 50mm pulled back the charging handle and, from twenty yards away, the gun came to life. Bullets sprayed wilder than water gushing from a broken pipe. Brody stood, took aim, and fired. The shooter slumped over the weapon. Kate took out the driver, and the Jeep careened to the right. The two lone men jumped out of the vehicle firing their weapons. Brody didn’t know whose bullet found the mark, but both men dropped. Silence resonated in the bleak desert with the quietness of a funeral procession.

  Brody stepped from behind cover, his weapon leading the way. The two men beside the armored car and the two shot earlier were dead.

  Brody turned toward the members of his posse. “We got ‘em.”

  Shouts went up, and Kate stood grinning as they celebrated their first real victory against Chavez. Brody’s chest swelled with pride, knowing they
had taken out the threat of four guns. He laughed aloud. They’d also gained more weapons. The confiscated Jeep would come in handy, too, but he coveted the 50mm.

  “Okay, Manuel, you drive the Olds. Kate and I are in the Jeep. Manny, come with us and man the gun.”

  Manny’s eyes widened, and he lifted his shoulders. Even though he walked with a limp, pride flushed his face, and his steps were sure and purposeful.

  Kate stepped in and closed the door while Manny latched onto the gun faster than a newborn to a teat. Brody came up behind him. “This is the trigger, and that’s all you need to know.”

  With that said, he slipped into the driver’s seat, and they took off for the other village. In no time Brody saw a group of huts. When they pulled into the center of the little town, no one came out. Fear kept them inside probably because he drove the drug lord’s Jeep.

  Soon the other car arrived, and the residents spilled into the courtyard. “I am so glad you made it, Alberto,” a pregnant woman cried out as she ran into the man’s arms.

  “We are all fine. We killed four of Chavez’s men. They can no longer control our lives.”

  A cheer rose from the crowd. Kate stepped next to Brody. “You’re going to tell them this is a very small victory, aren’t you?”

  “Not just yet.” Brody waved his hand. “Let them enjoy it while they can.”

  Brody and Kate walked over to Alberto. “We need to move these vehicles out of sight.”

  “There is a place on the other side of the village, near a dry creek bed. I will show you.”

  Brody and Alberto hid the vehicles and walked back into the village carrying Brody’s bag and the weapons they’d taken off the dead men.

  No bigger than the village they’d come from, the only thing this community was missing was a church. Same ragged clothes hung out to dry. Same scrawny chickens pecked at the dirt near mangy dogs.

  He noticed Kate kept a 9mm tucked into the pocket of the dark green pants she must’ve taken from her guards. The material was so thin and worn that fabric clung to her sweet ass like paper on a kitchen wall. It surprised Brody to realize he didn’t want other men seeing that much of Kate. Where the hell had that thought come from?