Monk (K19 Security Solutions Book 7)

by Heather Slade

  “Fuck off, Striker.” Monk turned around and went back inside, hoping Striker would take the hint and leave.

  EVIDENTLY, he had, because the next people he saw, two hours later, were Tackle and Halo.

  He’d known both Landry “Tackle” Sorenson and Knox “Halo” Clarkson since their CIA days. Which, for the two of them, wasn’t that long ago. Both men had suffered broken bones and head injuries when the plane crashed, but none as severe as Onyx’s.

  When they were getting ready to leave after being there over an hour, Monk offered to walk them out.

  “I’m sure you’ve already briefed Doc about this, but what went down that day?”

  Tackle rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. “It was a major Charlie Foxtrot, Monk.”

  Halo nodded. “I don’t know what went on in the cockpit before that, but when we were almost to Aruba, all hell broke loose.” He closed his eyes, and when he opened them, Monk wished he hadn’t asked either of them to relive such a traumatic event.

  “We heard a shot fired and stormed the front of the plane. It all happened so fast. Onyx had taken a direct hit and Corazón was turning her gun our way when I fired,” Halo told him.

  Close range for both shots. The one that hit Onyx and the one that hit Corazón. It’s a fucking miracle the man was still alive. Not only had he survived a plane crash, he’d taken a direct hit too.

  “By that time, the plane was already taking a dive. I didn’t think there was any way we’d live through it,” Tackle told him.

  “I’ll tell you what, every day since we’ve been home, I’ve told as many people as I can that I love them. Even my aunts and uncles, who probably think I’ve lost my mind,” said Halo. “I don’t care. The other thing is, life is too fucking short to not have someone you love by your side. I know that isn’t easy to find, but when I do, I’m gonna make damn sure I don’t waste any time.”

  Tackle nodded. “I feel the same way. Any time I find myself thinking I’ll put something off until the next day, I stop and do whatever it is right then. I came too damn close to not having any more next days.”

  He’d asked, they hadn’t offered, but it felt as though every word they were saying was meant specifically for Monk to hear, and it ripped him up.

  He loved Saylor, there was no doubt in his mind. He wanted to spend his life with her and her two beautiful girls, but he couldn’t ask them to let him. What kind of life would it be with him gone all the time? The girls needed someone who was home every night, who could tuck them into bed, help with their homework, and make their mama smile. Even if he could bring himself to ask to be a permanent part of their lives, how in the hell would that work? What would he do, ask them to move to Washington, DC?

  He shook his head at his own thoughts. Until Onyx could walk out of this hospital by his side, Monk wasn’t going anywhere.

  25

  “Do you want me to go with?” Razor asked as Saylor was putting on her jacket.

  She put her hand on her brother’s cheek. “No, but I appreciate the offer.”

  “At least let me drive you. The weather’s shit.”

  “There’s no way I’m taking you away from Ava and Sam on Christmas, Razor.”

  “We already celebrated. Now we’re just hanging out.”

  She shook her head. “I doubt your wife would see it that way. Christmas dinner hasn’t been served yet.”

  “Okay, but remember I offered.” Razor opened the front door.

  “What’s that supposed to mean.”

  He pointed to the SUV sitting in the driveway as a man she didn’t recognize climbing out to open her door. “Your ride, Sis.”

  “I’m perfectly—”

  “Let me do this so I don’t worry and ruin Christmas dinner.”

  “You’re so full of shit.” Saylor stood on her tiptoes and kissed Razor’s cheek. “But I love you anyway.”

  “Tell Monk we all said hi.”

  She would if she saw him. She still wasn’t sure she would. And even if she did, maybe it wouldn’t be for long. After all, she still hadn’t heard from him and today was Christmas.

  Saylor had to try, though. At least to tell him how she felt and that whenever he was ready, she’d be waiting for him. Even if it took forever. The vow Saylor made to never fall in love again was back in place. This time, though, she knew she’d never fall in love again after Monk.

  With the lack of traffic, it only took the driver forty-five minutes to get her to the hospital. As they pulled up to the front entrance, she almost told him she’d changed her mind and asked him to take her back to Maryland, but when she looked up, she could see Monk walking toward the door.

  “Thanks,” she shouted, jumping out and half-running, half-walking inside. She pulled her phone out.

  Look up, she wrote and hit send on the text.

  “Hi,” she said as they walked toward each other.

  “Saylor.”

  “Merry Christmas, Monk.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “My mom, the girls, and I are spending Christmas in Annapolis again this year. How’s Onyx?”

  “No change.”

  “I’m sorry, Monk. I was praying for a Christmas miracle.”

  She watched as he took his one glove off and put both in his pocket. She looked into his eyes when he took another step forward. He gripped her nape with one hand, wrapped his other arm around her waist, and kissed her. If there was anything she would’ve asked for as a Christmas gift, this was it—a kiss from Monk.

  He pulled back and looked in her eyes. “I’m sorry—”

  She put her fingertips on his lips. “Don’t. Where were you going?”

  “Dinner.”

  She tucked her arm in his. “Good. I’m hungry.”

  “It’s cold,” he said as they left the hospital.

  “I’m okay to walk.” She snuggled against him, praying she wasn’t dreaming. How many times had she dreamed they were together again? Countless.

  “This is nice,” she said when they exited the elevator in his building and he opened the door to his loft.

  She walked around, looking in the opened doors. “It’s big.”

  Saylor turned around when she didn’t hear him respond and saw he was looking inside the refrigerator. She walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist. “When did you last eat?” she asked.

  “Lunch. You said you were hungry.”

  “I can wait.”

  Monk closed the refrigerator door and led her into the master bedroom.

  Saylor watched him undress, like she always did. He unbuttoned his white dress shirt, revealing so much that she didn’t know where to look first.

  “Is this new?” she asked, running her fingertip over the black beads intricately wound with leather.

  “It is.”

  “For Onyx?”

  Monk nodded.

  As he eased the shirt off his arms and shoulders, Saylor unfastened the heavy copper buckle on his jeans.

  He grasped her small wrist in his big hand. “Wait, Saylor. We need to talk.”

  “Okay,” she said, backing up to sit on the end of the bed.

  He knelt in front of her, taking each of her hands in his, turning them over, and kissing her palms. “There are some things I need to say to you, Saylor.” He looked into her eyes. “I need you to let me finish. Even if you think you don’t want to hear it, you have to promise to let me finish.”

  Her eyes filled with tears, and she nodded.

  “First, I’m sorry. I should’ve called you, and I have no excuse for not doing so. I’ll tell you this, though, I think about you every day. As I sit in that hospital and watch machines keep a very dear friend of mine alive, I think about you. This might surprise you, as it did me, but I spend most of my day talking to Onyx.”

  “Out loud?” she asked, smiling.

  “Yes, out loud.” Monk leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose. “I tell him stories about you and me and the girls, and some
times I just talk to him about how I feel about you. Most importantly, though, is that no matter where I am or what I’m doing, you’re there with me. When I sit in a restaurant alone, I close my eyes and imagine you’re sitting across from me. When I leave the hospital at night, I get off the elevator and imagine what it would be like to find you there, waiting for me.”

  “Like tonight,” she murmured.

  “I was sure I was dreaming.” He put his hands on the bottom of her sweater and pulled it over her head. He tossed it on the floor and then reached around to unfasten her bra. He slowly slid it off her arms and took a deep breath when her breasts were exposed.

  “I dream of having my mouth on you,” he said before his lips encased her nipple. “God, I want you.” He rested his head on her lap. “But I have so much more to say.”

  She wove her fingers in his hair that had gotten so long.

  He sat back on his haunches and looked into her eyes. “Your brother gave me a message.”

  Saylor opened her mouth to speak, but he reached up and put his fingertips on her mouth. She lowered her gaze.

  “Look into my eyes, Saylor.”

  She couldn’t bring herself to do as he asked. Was she ready for this?

  “Look at me.”

  She couldn’t stop herself when he used the demanding tone of voice.

  “I love you.”

  She closed her eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and then opened them. “I love you, Monk.”

  They both ignored the sound of a ringing cell phone that came from the other room, until the tone changed.

  “That’s the hospital,” said Monk, standing. “I’m sorry, but I have to get it.”

  —:—

  “Perrin,” he answered.

  “Mr. Perrin, Mr. Yáñez’s family asked us to contact you.”

  Monk held his breath. It was Christmas. Had Onyx really given up his fight for life on the holiest of holidays?

  “Mr. Yáñez is awake, sir. They wanted us to let you know right away.”

  Monk’s eyes opened wider. “Please repeat what you just said.”

  “Mr. Yáñez is awake. He’s also communicative. This is a direct quote, sir. He said, ‘Where is that bastard, Monk, who’s been talking my ears off.’”

  He reached around Saylor, standing next to him, and pulled her body close to his.

  “Sir, the family asked if you would come back to the hospital?”

  His eyes met Saylor’s, and she nodded.

  “I’ll be right there.” He ended the call but didn’t move. “Is this real?” he murmured.

  Saylor pinched his side. “Did you feel that?”

  “Do it again. Harder.”

  She smiled.

  “Yeah, I felt it.”

  “It’s real, Monk. It’s a Christmas miracle.”

  “Onyx’s family has asked that I come back to the hospital. I know it’s late. I hate to leave—”

  “I’m going with you.”

  “Right. Okay.” Monk looked around the apartment. What did he need to do before they left? How long might they be gone? “You haven’t eaten.”

  “That’s what hospital cafeterias are for. Although right now, I’m too excited to eat.”

  He raised an eyebrow, and Saylor swatted his stomach.

  “Excited that Onyx is awake.”

  He was smiling. In fact, he was smiling so much his face was beginning to ache. How long had it been since he really smiled? Sometimes he laughed when he told Onyx one of his stories, but the laughter ended quickly when he stopped and prayed that one day soon, his friend would laugh with him.

  “They said he asked for me.”

  “Of course he did. Let’s go see him.”

  Monk cupped her cheek with his palm. “Thank you, baby, for understanding.”

  SAYLOR TOLD him she’d wait outside the ICU, but Monk dragged her with him.

  “He’s heard more about you in the last few weeks than anything or anyone else.”

  “I don’t want to be intrusive.”

  Monk refused to let go of her hand. Their visit would be brief anyway. Not only had the man just come out of a coma, his entire family was in town. The ICU only allowed two visitors at a time. He’d go in, talk to his friend for a few minutes, and then they’d head back to his loft.

  When they exited the elevator and the door opened, Onyx’s mother ran to him before he could step out.

  “Es un milagro,” she exclaimed, tears running down her cheeks. “My son, he asks for you,” she said in a thick Hispanic accent. When the elevator doors closed with him still standing in the threshold, Onyx’s mother let go of him, and he stepped around her.

  “This is Saylor,” he said, taking her hand.

  “Sí, you’ve spoken of her often.” She gave him a shove. “Go now.”

  Monk walked past Onyx’s brothers and sisters, nodding at each of them as he went. They all looked so happy.

  When he eased the door open to the room where he’d spent countless hours, Onyx opened his eyes.

  “What, did you go back to sleep?”

  His friend smiled. “Being awake is exhausting.” Onyx looked past him. “Is that Saylor with you?”

  Monk put his hand on the small of her back.

  “It’s so good to see you,” she said, walking closer to his bed. “Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas, and it’s good to be seen.” He reached out his hand to her. “He’s talked about you non-stop,” he said, motioning to Monk.

  “Yeah?”

  “He told me to hurry and wake the fuck up so he could go home.”

  “Nice,” murmured Monk.

  “Tell her it isn’t true,” said Onyx.

  “She knows it is.”

  Onyx motioned for Monk to get closer, and when he did, he grasped his hand. “You kept me alive, son.”

  “You did that all on your own. And, by the way, I’m older than you are.”

  Onyx smiled. “In age maybe, but certainly not in wisdom.”

  Monk smiled back, and his eyes filled with tears. He’d prayed endlessly for this—to hear his friend’s voice giving him shit like he always did.

  “We should go. Let some of your family get back in here.”

  Onyx refused to loosen his grasp on Monk’s hand. “You are my family. You’re my brother. Even if you are a pain in the ass.”

  “I’ll be back in the morning.”

  Onyx shook his head. “Take the day off, son. You’ve earned it.”

  Monk shook his head as well.

  “I’ll instruct the nurses not to let you in.”

  “They won’t listen. They like me.”

  Onyx smiled. “Give me an hour, and they’ll like me better.”

  No doubt, thought Monk. Onyx never had any trouble charming the ladies. He took a deep breath. Soon they’d have to talk about one lady in particular—Sofia “Corazón” Descanso—and what the hell happened in the hours that led up to the plane crash. There’d be time for that, though.

  “Keep him in bed all day tomorrow,” Onyx said to Saylor, winking.

  “It would be my pleasure,” she answered, winking back.

  Monk shook his head and gave Onyx’s hand one more squeeze. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “I have a feeling I’ll be here a while.”

  “As will I.”

  26

  Monk waited until the next morning to call Doc and tell him the news. While they talked, Saylor called Razor and filled him in.

  “Words can’t describe my relief, Sis.”

  “I get it, Raze. I really do. You should come down and see him.”

  “Can he have visitors?”

  Monk ended his call, so Saylor asked him.

  “I would think so. Doc and Merrigan are flying in later today.”

  “On what plane?” Razor asked, laughing. “I think all the K19 planes are on the East Coast.” Her brother cleared his throat. “You got a minute alone?” he asked her.

  “Of course.” Saylor w
ent into the other room.

  “We’re going to need a co-pilot on the way back.”

  “Yeah?”

  “You up for it?”

  “Wait. What? Me? Are you serious?”

  “Why are you whispering?”

  Honestly, she couldn’t say. For some reason, she still hadn’t told Monk about getting her pilot’s license, and she had no idea why she hadn’t.

  “When?” she asked instead of answering Razor’s question.

  “We were talking about tomorrow, but with Onyx coming around, we’ll probably stay a few more days.”

  If they were still leaving tomorrow, she would’ve been torn. She wasn’t ready to leave Monk yet, even to take K19 up on their offer to let her be in the cockpit on the transcontinental flight.

  To think, her first gig as a commercial pilot would be to transport not only K19 team members back to the West Coast, but her mom and girls too. It was almost too much to wrap her head around.

  “Everything okay?” Monk asked when she came back inside.

  “Yes, fine.”

  “Saylor?”

  She looked up at him.

  “Are you sure everything’s fine?”

  “Yes. Of course.” She walked over and put her arms around his waist. “Onyx is awake. What could be better?”

  —:—

  Monk had every intention of doing exactly as Onyx told him last night and keep Saylor in bed all day long. They’d gotten up to eat and so he could call Doc and let him know the good news. Their plan had always been to get right back under the sheets and continue ravaging each other’s bodies. Something was wrong though, and whatever it was, Saylor was unwilling to share it with him.

  He hated secrets, but maybe for now, it was best to hold back whatever it is she didn’t want to talk about.

  “AS MUCH AS I hate to say this, I need to leave tomorrow,” she said three days later.

  Monk had been expecting it. The girls would have to get back for school, and the rest of the crew that was based on the West Coast needed to return to their lives. He wished he could go with them, but he was committed to staying here to help Onyx with his recovery and rehabilitation.

  “You don’t have to do this, son,” Onyx had said to him the night before when he and Saylor were leaving for the night.