by KaLyn Cooper
At the thought of his mother, Alex collapsed a little inside. He’d been back in town for weeks and hadn’t been over to see her. Had she known Katlin was sick, she would’ve been at the safe house every day, cooking up a storm for everyone. Because he wasn’t sure if Jack had put surveillance on his mother, he hadn’t told her. Now that Katlin was safe inside Guardian, he’d better call her.
Grinning, he dialed her number. He’d kill two birds with one stone. She would come over immediately, and most likely bring supper.
17
Katlin woke up feeling refreshed for the third day in a row. Automatically, she reached across the smooth sheets searching for Alex. He wasn’t there. The sheets were cold but that wasn’t a surprise, especially when she glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was nearly nine in the morning. Most likely, he’d been up before six, taking his men for a run before breakfast, then working out in the gym for another hour.
Lately, she’d wake up when she heard Alex in the shower. Before the explosion, what she now secretly thought of as BTE, she would have joined him for the morning routine, especially enjoying the shower together. Now, he crawled into bed long after she’d fallen asleep and was gone before she awoke.
Last night, she had a nightmare and he’d held her until she fell back asleep. She wished he’d do that every night. Just hold her.
He didn’t know she was scared to her soul. She was living by the creed; fake it till you make it.
Names. She hated it when there were more than three people in the room that she didn’t know. Sometimes, she forgot who they were a minute after being introduced. BTE she’d always been good with names, she was sure of it.
She’d felt like such an idiot when Bailey came to visit. They had trained together at the Joint All Female Special Operations School. She’d been on the mission when the IED had taken Bailey’s leg. They’d been through so much together, but when her friend knocked on the penthouse door, Katlin couldn’t remember her name. She knew they were friends, recognized her face, but couldn’t for the life of her think of the name. Thank God her friend was a psychologist for the Veterans Administration and had worked with several TBI and PTSD veterans. She’d brought cards and they’d played gin rummy for almost two hours before Katlin was so tired she was practically falling asleep at the table.
It had taken her three more days before she remembered Marine Brigadier General Ava Standish’s name. Even though she’d called the woman Aunt Ava all of her life, Katlin needed those days to put the pieces together. The amazing woman had been her father’s friend since they’d been midshipmen at the Naval Academy. She’d been Katlin’s babysitter, her Uncle Tom’s on-and-off girlfriend, all while having an outstanding career as a Marine. Most recently, she’d been instrumental in creating JAFSOS and recommending Katlin for the program.
After a great deal of consideration and self-debate, Katlin decided that telling General Standish about all the things that Jack had done to her was the right thing to do. Although General Lyon was aware of the most recent events, Katlin thought a military woman’s perspective might be better than a man’s.
Although she wasn’t sure of the current relationship status between Ava and her Uncle Tom, she needed him as well. In his position as deputy director of the CIA, he could give her insight as to what could be done with Jack from a governmental employee position.
When Katlin had started writing down things that Jack had done in the past, per General Lyon’s instructions, she discovered an entire folder cleverly buried on her computer. Reading through it had been an education in sexual harassment. She’d clearly remembered most of the incidences, and the number of times she’d used Jack’s indiscretions against him. Every day she could recall more memories.
She was thrilled when she called her Uncle Tom and Ava was with him.
Katlin smoothed down her pencil skirt in front of the cheval mirror in the bedroom. She thought it might be nice to dress up for her company…and Alex. For the past several weeks, all she’d worn was a hospital gown, yoga pants, and the towel on her way to the bed before she crawled in naked. Instead of her normal ponytail, Katlin had curled her long blond hair and swiped on a little makeup so she didn’t look quite so pale.
The other oven buzzer went off at the same time she heard voices in the hall. Alex opened the front door, holding a bouquet of yellow roses already arranged in a crystal vase. The three of them were chatting like old friends do.
When Katlin opened the oven, the entire apartment filled with Italian spices.
“Oh my God. That smells delicious.” Ava stepped next to her. “Can I help with something?”
“Thank you, no. I’m just going to let this sit and cool a minute.”
Since neither woman was in uniform, they hugged.
Then her Uncle Tom hugged her. “I’m glad you remembered how to cook. My freezer is almost empty of your meals.” He held her tight in his arms. “I thought there for a while we’d lost you. That Jack-ass wouldn’t tell me who’d been killed or that you’d been rescued.”
When he released her, Katlin stood, processing his words. Her team still hadn’t been able to call her, but each had texted letting her know they were looking forward to the day she’d return. They were working well with Black Swan Team Two, so that meant that no one on her team had been killed.
“Who died?”
Silence filled the kitchen.
Ava and Tom both looked at Alex, who immediately rushed to her side and threw his arm around her waist. “I’m sorry, Kat, I didn’t even think about telling you. Jonathan didn’t make it.”
All eyes were pinned on her waiting for a reaction.
Although she could put a face to his name, she examined her feelings toward the man. She hadn’t liked him. “I’m sorry he was killed but the world has one less arrogant and misogynistic asshole.” She turned toward Alex. “Why don’t you get our guests some drinks while I plate these appetizers?”
“You certainly tell it like it is.” Her uncle dropped a kiss on top of her head before he meandered into the living room toward the wet bar.
Oh, fuck. Had she said something wrong?
She grabbed Alex’s arm and asked quietly, “Should I have lied?”
“No, babe. Jonathan was everything you called him, and probably more.” His lips brushed over hers. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. I tried.” She wasn’t sure why she was nervous. Everyone here was family. Better yet, she’d remembered their names.
Minutes later, Katlin sat down on the couch beside Alex. Everyone had a small plate of hors d’oeuvres in their lap. While she drank water, the two men sipped scotch and Ava seemed to enjoy the white wine.
“These are absolutely delicious, dear.” Ava sat her plate on the glass and chrome coffee table. “You didn’t call us here to sample your latest Italian finger food. What can we do to help you?”
Katlin let out a deep breath. That’s exactly what she needed the woman to say. Opening her laptop, she started down her list of Jack’s harassments. She glanced up a few times to be sure that Ava and her Uncle Tom were still following. The average person wouldn’t have caught their anger, but since she’d known them all of her life, she could read them. Their professions had taught them to hide their emotions, but each had small physical indicators.
She didn’t need a list for the last one.
“As you both know, I was considered AWOL for nearly a week. Thankfully, General Lyon changed my status after I was able to call him. I was not kidnapped.” She emphasized the word not. She reached for Alex’s hand at the same time he extended it. “The Ladies of Black Swan sneaked in to see me before they left for training. Jack had forbidden them to do so, but they did it anyway…and I thank the good Lord every day now that Nita looked at my file.”
Katlin tried to swallow over the large lump in her throat but couldn’t seem to moisten it enough so she picked up her water and took a large drink.
“It’s okay, Kat.” Alex bounced thei
r joined hands on his thigh. “I’m right here beside you. You’re safe.”
She sucked in a ragged breath. “Nita discovered that they had been pumping pre-pregnancy steroids into my body so they...” Her voice cracked. “Jack had fertilized my missing eggs and they were going to implant the embryos into my uterus the next morning.” Katlin was so proud of herself that she’d made it through the explanation without crying. She didn’t need any more useless tears. Finally, her soul-wrenching pain for the children she couldn’t have because he’d ruined those eggs, had transformed into unadulterated anger.
“What the fuck!” Her Uncle Tom flew out of his chair and started pacing in front of them.
“Jack…your eggs…the ones that went missing years ago?” Ava shuddered. “You got her the hell out of there, right?”
“It wasn’t me. I was on the West Coast. But it was my men.” Alex said with pride. “And Daniel.”
Uncle Tom stopped in his tracks. “They didn’t kidnap you, they rescued you.”
Katlin smiled. “They most certainly did.”
“You need to have him arrested.” Ava leaned forward.
“That’s why I told the two of you. What legal recourse do I have?” Katlin took another long drink of her water. “General Lyon knows what happened, but as he pointed out, Jack isn’t military so he isn’t subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Even though I’m active duty and TDY to Homeland, the UCMJ doesn’t protect me from him.”
“Goddamnit, he’s right.” Ava pulled out her phone. “But there’s definitely a history of sexual harassment and the attempted rape three years ago.”
“The attempted rape charge would just be your word against his. He’d get a slap on the wrist at most.” Her uncle started pacing again. “The IVF, I’m not sure he can be touched on that, either. I should just go kill the fucker myself.”
“You’ll have to get behind me. The line to kill Jack Ashworth is longer than you might think.” Alex was right. So many men wanted to kill Jack on Katlin’s behalf.
Little did they know, if she ever got the chance, she’d take him out, and as far as the world would know, the man would just disappear. She had planned Jack’s death countless times in numerous ways. All of them involved hours of torture, most to his genitals. But then she considered the ick factor of seeing, or worse, touching, his junk and decided against any of those methods.
Lady Hawk was the most lethal woman in the world. She had eliminated dozens of men and Jack Ashworth would be just one more dirtbag that needed disposing of. She was making her way back to her BTE strength. Her hatred for Jack was enough to push her physically and mentally. She would be Lady Hawk once again.
At that moment, Ava acted more like an aunt than a general, moving to Katlin’s side and hugging her. The men were incensed that Jack would try to do something so vile to their Katlin, but Ava understood the violation on a feminine level. Very few people knew that the highest-ranking woman in the United States Marine Corps had been raped as a new lieutenant. The captain had been killed in action before he could be brought to justice.
“Certainly, he could be charged for stealing the eggs.” Ava put her arm around Katlin.
Her Uncle Tom shook his head. “It would have to be proven that Jack stole the eggs. Or, if someone else stole them and Jack purchased them, that would also have to be proven. It would be federal if it crossed state lines, but again, that requires proof. I’m not sure what laws he broke when he attempted the IVF.”
“I hate it when you’re right.” Ava gave her uncle a small smile. She gestured toward the computer. “All we have here are allegations.”
“The whole frozen egg and sperm situation is so new I couldn’t even find where it had been tested in a court.” Alex squeezed her hand as he looked at Katlin. She had no idea he’d already looked into the legalities of what Jack had done to her.
She mouthed the words thank you. Alex’s eyes said everything a second before he leaned in and brushed his lips over hers.
Her uncle’s phone beeped three times. He instantly pulled it out of his pocket and checked the message. “Fuck. I’m sorry, little one, but I have to leave immediately.” He glanced at Ava. “Sweetheart, it’s going to be a late night.” Turning to Alex, he asked, “One of your men take Ava back to Quantico for me?”
“Of course.” Alex immediately reached for the house phone on the end table. “I need a car to take General Standish to Quantico.”
“Please email me that list.” Her Uncle Tom moved her way, so Katlin stood to hug him goodbye. “I have a few attorney friends, that with your permission, I’d like to get their opinion.”
“Of course. Anything that will help me see Jack Ashworth get what’s coming to him.”
Standing, Ava asked, “Would you mind sending me a copy as well? I’m not sure how I can help, but maybe I can get you transferred away from Homeland Security.”
When the four of them headed toward the door, Damnit appeared at her side and followed them into the elevator down to the garage level where they were met by a Guardian driver for Ava. With only a nod from Alex, he got into a company SUV.
Their goodbyes were quick because everyone understood her Uncle Tom was needed elsewhere.
Alex threw his arm around Katlin as they headed back to the elevator. “You look tired.”
“I am. Probably more emotionally exhausted than physically,” she admitted. “I’ll clean up then head to bed.” She leaned over and kissed him as the elevator opened on the top floor. “It’s early. If you need to go back to work, don’t let me stop you.”
He pulled her tighter into him as they stepped out of the elevator. “I’ll help you clean up then I’ll tuck you into bed.”
18
Damnit nudged Katlin's hand.
When she sat up in bed, she realized how fast she was breathing. She had a nightmare about Jack raping her. In her nightmare, he’d tied her to a bed and was about to slide into her open sex when Damnit had awakened her. She looked down and realized she’d been rubbing her wrists as though they had been bound.
Her heart was pounding. She was supposed to remain as calm as possible so she used the breathing techniques they’d been taught to help control adrenaline. When she sat up on the edge of the bed and flipped back the sheets, a note from the night table fluttered to the floor.
Damnit has already been out. Breakfast is in the fridge. The coffeepot is waiting for you. Alex
As Katlin read the note for the second time, it dawned on her that Alex had never said he loved her since she’d awakened from the coma. Was it possible he didn’t love her anymore? Was he taking care of her out of guilt or some sense of responsibility? They weren’t married so the through sickness and health clause didn’t apply. She started to wonder how often he’d said I love you BTE. She couldn’t remember.
The yellow roses he’d brought her the other night when Aunt Ava and Uncle Tom were there tickled in the back of her mind. The color…they were special.
She got out of bed and padded to the foyer where she’d set them on the side table next to the silver tray that contained her keys. Placing her keys there had been automatic. She’d reached for her weapons as well before she realized she wasn’t carrying any on her body. They belonged on the same table.
Leaning in, she inhaled the sweet smell of the roses which were now opening wide. She closed her eyes to savor the scent. The rush of memories that overtook her almost knocked her backward.
Popping her eyes open to stabilize herself at the same time she reached out for the narrow table, her body seemed to fill with love. Then, and now. Katlin could picture the yellow roses that had been delivered by mistake for her sixteenth birthday. Alex had ordered red ones but they’d all been sold out for Mother’s Day the weekend before. Since that moment, she’d always preferred yellow roses.
She needed to thank Alex.
As she reached for the doorknob, Damnit’s cold nose poked her butt cheek. Looking down at her naked body, she rolled her eyes.
She’d always slept naked and felt as comfortable nude as she did wearing clothes. “You’re right, big boy.” She scratched the dog’s ears. “Clothes would be a good idea. So would a shower.” But when her stomach growled she diverted to the kitchen, grabbing a cup of coffee and the plate of fruit and cheese she found prepared for her in the fridge. Taking everything with her, she headed to the bathroom. She could thank Alex after she was dressed.
Wrapped in nothing but a towel, Katlin stared at the uniforms, coordinated suits, clubbing dresses, and formal attire on her side of the huge walk-in closet. She glanced toward the dresser in the bedroom. Although a morning nap sounded nice, at her checkup yesterday with Dr. Tobias, he told her that she could start working out. She was not to push herself and to keep her heart rate under one hundred. For her, a light workout was one hundred and sixty beats per minute. When in training, she always maintained two hundred for at least thirty minutes.
Changing into workout clothes, she took the stairs down to the company gym. She’d start with stretches, a slow jog on the treadmill, then lift a few weights. That would be a light workout.
Winded by the time she got to the gym level, Katlin was embarrassed walking in already sweaty. Unrolling one of the yoga mats, she got her breathing back under control while stretching. She cut her usual routine short, wanting to curl up like a kindergartner for a short nap on the padded mat. She might’ve done it if there hadn’t been several men pumping iron and sparring in the room.
She checked her smart fitness watch. Her heart rate was already at one-twenty. She also had several emails and considered reading them on her phone as an excuse to stay seated.
She had to get better.
The only way to improve was to get moving.
She stood, wiped down her mat, and put it away. With all the determination she could muster, she programmed the treadmill. Damnit followed, sitting down next to the machine. It took her almost ten minutes to find her pace and adjust her breathing. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been fast walking, but Damnit started to whine.
