“He was killed in a car accident, right?”
“Yes, a freak accident—during a rainstorm, a tree fell on his car. That was ten years ago.” She shrugged away the painful memory. “From then on, I was on my own. I’d been working a target for a few weeks and was about to break into the safe during a party when I ran into Benito. All hell broke loose at the party—a rival had crashed it, and bullets started flying—and he got me out safely, but wouldn’t let me go. He didn’t believe me when I told him I was targeting the jewels kept in the safe and not the arms dealing intel he’d been after. He brought me to McDaniel, and you know the rest.”
Pulling her into his lap, Carter held her tightly. She’d been through a lot more than he’d been aware of, and now he understood why she’d hated him all these years. Damn, so much time they could have had if he’d chased after her and demanded to know what was wrong. But his ego had gotten in the way. He’d been so used to submissive and non-lifestyle women throwing themselves at him, he’d thought it was no big deal if Jordyn wasn’t one of them. He’d been so wrong and he realized she was the one he’d wanted all along. If she was the only woman for him for the rest of his life, he’d be deliriously ecstatic about that. Over the past few days, he’d fallen for her hard. Could he give up the lifestyle for her? He didn’t think so—it was second nature to him now. But could he find a happy medium they’d both be comfortable with? Maybe—if she was willing to give them a chance. But how the hell could they do that with Deimos sending them to opposite sides of the globe for weeks or months at a time? Shit.
“So, who are you calling to back us up in Colombia?” she asked, bringing them both back to the present. Clearly, she’d understood his end of the conversation with McDaniel.
“Trident, for anyone Ian can spare on top of this detail, and Steel, which I’m not looking forward to.”
She lifted her head so she could look him in the eyes. “Why?”
“Mic and the boys had a bad op down there, and I’m not sure how she’s going to take me asking her to return.”
“She’s tough . . . and loyal to you. I think she’d do anything for you, just like you’d do anything for her.”
Carter stared at her, searching her face, trying to figure out what she was feeling. “Are you jealous of Mic?”
“A little bit,” she admitted. “You have a deep, longtime friendship with her that I could have had with you if I hadn’t jumped to conclusions. But she assured me it never went further than that, and she’s very much in love with Chris.”
Kissing her gently on the lips, he rubbed his hand up and down her back. “I may have a deep friendship with her, but what I have with you . . . what I want to have with you, is so much more, Jordy. Even when I was on that op with Mic years ago, pretending to be lovers, it was you I wanted in my bed. I should have chased you back then . . . fought for you, but I didn’t, and that’s all on me. But if you give me a chance, I’d like to try and make up for lost time.”
“It’s not on you at all. I was the one who ran. Before I even knew about you being a Dom. I-I was scared about how you made me feel that night and I ran because I didn’t know what to do with those feelings. I’d never felt that way before.”
His lips brushed against hers again and he whispered, “What way, love? Tell me.”
She blushed. “Like—like I didn’t want to let you go. I was scared it was a one-night thing for you and I was reading too much into it.”
“Huh. Ironically, that’s how I felt when I woke up alone, and my bruised ego wouldn’t let me go chasing after you. So much. . .” Another kiss. “. . .so much time we’ve lost. Can we start again, Jordy? Let’s be open and honest with each other, and we’ll see if this is something special between us. Because I think it is.”
* * *
Jordyn followed Carter down the hallway toward the elevator. The rest of the trip had been spent discussing all the employees of Deimos—both agents and support teams. They had Brody Evans and Nathan Cook at Trident going through everyone’s financials, looking for discrepancies. Carter had also called Mic and then Ian, asking them to hightail it to Colombia and set the groundwork for going after Diaz. They had to take him alive until they found out who the mole was—then all bets were off.
Apparently, Mic hadn’t been thrilled with going back to the South American country, however she’d gone off on Carter when he’d suggested she stay behind and just send her team. Jordyn had heard her screaming at him over the satellite phone despite the noise of the aircraft. She was pretty sure the woman had invented a few new curse words in addition to suggesting he do the anatomically impossible. Both teams planned on being wheels up within a few hours of his call, and Jordyn and Carter would meet up with them tomorrow in Colombia.
After they’d landed in Montana, they were met by the six members of the Trident Security Omega Team, who’d been waiting for them at the airport with two vans. McCabe and Mancini had been the only two she recognized and they’d given her warm smiles, which she’d returned before Carter introduced her to the rest of the men.
Upon their arrival at the hospital, they’d entered through a rear security entrance with the blindfolded prisoner. The head of the transplant team, Dr. Howard Regal, had met them and escorted them to a private suite where Osbourne would spend his hospital stay. While none of them thought the bastard deserved a luxurious room, it was large and comfortable enough for his guards, and the hospital staff coming and going would be minimal. The TV had been disconnected from cable so he couldn’t watch the local channels, but to keep him occupied, a Blue-ray had been hooked up and a dozen movies were available for him to choose from. When he was released two days after the surgery, the safe house the team would hole him up in was actually a rental cabin.
The Omega team was currently introducing themselves to the head of hospital security before following Carter and Jordyn to the transplant ward, while Jake and his team would stay on Osbourne. From what Carter had told her, this hospital had had its fair share of clandestine patients and surgeries in the past, so security was used to armed guards doing their best to stay out of the way of the doctors and nurses while doing their jobs.
As Carter hit the button for the elevator, Jordyn studied him. She hadn’t answered him on the plane about starting over and giving whatever was between them a chance, and he’d been okay with that, asking her to think it over. Since then, it had been all she’d been able to think about, well, that and how good it had been to be wrapped up in his arms.
Her feelings toward him confused her. She’d been on her own for so long, with no real friends, only acquaintances, and definitely no boyfriends—just a few flings that never went past a three-day weekend. Jordyn didn’t know how to have a relationship, at least not a healthy one. While she’d come to love her Uncle Iggy, he’d been more of a mentor than a father-figure or friend. Her heart-to-heart with Mic had been as close to a girl’s night out she’d ever had that hadn’t been part of a charade connected to an assignment. All she knew about marriage was she didn’t want to end up like her mother. She’d sworn never to give her heart to any man because there was no way to know if he’d turn abusive like her father.
The ride up to the fourth floor was quick, and when the doors opened, Carter seemed to know exactly where he was going. He’d probably been here years before when Justin had received his mother’s kidney. Just outside a set of doors leading to the transplant ward, he entered a waiting room.
A tall brunette with soft, brown eyes jumped from a chair and ran to him with her arms open. “T.! I’m so glad you’re here.”
Carter embraced his foster sister and held her tightly as a man also approached and extended his hand. Without letting go of Vicki, Carter shook the proffered hand. “Joe, it’s good to see you.”
“Same here. Wish it was for a different reason, though.” Joe Underwood stood about five foot eleven, which was about two inches taller than Vicki. A brown crew cut, sharp, hazel eyes, and a toned physique screamed former or cur
rent military. He appeared to be in his midthirties, maybe the same age as his wife.
“Me, too.” Releasing Vicki, Carter reached back and grasped Jordyn’s hand, pulling her forward. “Jordyn, this is my sister, Vicki Underwood, and her husband, Joe.” He gestured from them to her. “This is Jordyn Alvarez, my coworker and . . . um . . . friend? I guess.”
Jordyn let out a small snort at his hesitation because apparently, like her, he had no idea what they were to each other. Their eight-year relationship had existed on so many levels that it was even confusing to her. First, he’d been her mentor, followed by coworker, friend, and then lover. A few days later, she’d hated him—had wanted to castrate him. As for right now, they were coworkers again, and she wasn’t uncomfortable calling him a friend. Where it got sticky, though, was they were somewhere on the border between lovers and being in love with each other. She wasn’t sure if she was in love with him, and definitely had no idea how he felt about her. So what the hell else could they call each other? Smiling at the other couple who seemed confused at his last words, Jordyn extended her hand to Vicki and then Joe. “It’s nice to meet you, and I wish it was under better circumstances as well.”
“How’s Justin doing?” Carter asked the couple.
Vicki glanced at her husband for support, and Joe answered for her. “He’s stable again, now, but it was a rough night. Where’s . . . uh . . .”
“In a room on another floor surrounded by a team I trust. Listen, ah . . . Vicki, Osbourne wants . . . shit . . . he’s demanding to meet Justin before he’ll go through with it.” The woman gasped and paled. Joe put his arm around her waist to steady her as Carter continued. “It’s only for five minutes. I’ll be in the room the entire time and I threatened him with extreme bodily harm if he even suggests he’s Justin’s father.”
Jordyn was as shocked as the others. She knew that small concession was killing him, but if that’s what it took to get Osbourne’s kidney, Carter would make it happen.
He cupped Vicki’s cheek. “I know this is hard, sweetheart, but I promise, Justin will think this is a stranger who happens to have the right blood type and is doing the right thing. Nothing more. Just think about it before you say no.”
Before she could answer, the Omega team walked in. Vicki’s eyes widened at the sight of them—the six men were quite an intimidating bunch. Carter cleared his throat. “And this is the other thing I needed to talk to you about.” He took a deep breath and blew it out, his gaze fast on Joe’s. “It looks like I have a target on my back.”
Underwood’s jaw clenched. “Worse than normal?”
“Yeah. Even though I’ve always made sure no one could connect me to you, it’s not good for me to be here—but it had to be done. First thing in the morning, I’m going OCONUS and leaving a team on you both and Justin. Osbourne’s being watched by another team. I’ll check in with you every chance I get. As much as I want to be here for the surgery, it’s best I’m not. In the meantime, team, this is Vicki and Joe Underwood. Joe is the sheriff of Ravalli County, just south of here.” He pointed at the teammates as he introduced them. “This here is Tristan McCabe, Darius Knight, Logan Reese, Val Mancini, Kip Morrison, and Cain Foster. I trust them completely because they know I’ll kill them if anything happens to any of you.”
As the team leader, a title he shared with McCabe, former Secret Service agent Foster, stepped forward with a grin that was intended to put Vicki at ease, and shook Joe’s hand. “He’s said that about nine times since we met him at the airport an hour ago. But don’t worry, it’ll never come down to that. You and your son will be safe at all times. From what I hear, I’m better off having Carter owe me than vice versa.”
Vicki smiled at the man, the initial shock of everything was starting to ebb. “Thank you. And yes, it is better to have him owe you. Unfortunately, I speak from experience.”
And damn, if that didn’t have the big, bad spy blushing a tad. He bent down and gave Vicki a kiss on the cheek. “I told you a long time ago, we’re even. Now, can I go in to see Justin? Foster will talk to the head nurse and introduce his team. Two of them will be outside of Justin’s room at all times, and one will go in whenever a staff member has to be in there for any reason. Two more will be with Vicki. Joe, I know you can handle yourself, just watch your six. Foster will set up the rest of the rotations with you later.”
His brother-in-law nodded, then turned to Vicki. “I don’t want to rush you, little one, but if Carter’s got to leave in the morning, you have to make a decision about Osbourne. The last thing I want to do is let the bastard anywhere near Justin, but this will go a lot smoother if he’s not under duress.”
Vicki swallowed hard, and tears filled her eyes but didn’t fall. “I know. Will you go with them?”
“If you want me to. We’ll take one of Justin’s guards, too, to make sure Carter and I don’t kill the guy before we get what we need. All right?” His half smile said that had been a teasing, but true, statement.
“Okay. Five minutes and not a second more.”
Carter held up three fingers on his right hand. “Scout’s honor.”
An unladylike snort escaped Vicki. “You were never a scout. Now, while you’re taking care of that, I don’t want to be anywhere near him. Jordyn, would you like to join me for a cup of coffee in the cafeteria?”
Her mouth dropped open as she looked back and forth between the foster siblings. She hadn’t expected the invite, but if that’s what she could do to help, then what the hell? It would be interesting to chat with the woman who knew Carter the best. “Um, sure.”
Foster addressed his team. “Mancini and Reese, you’re on the ladies. McCabe, do you and Morrison want to take the first shift with Justin? Knight and I will go check out the hotel with Donovan or whoever from his team.”
“Sounds good,” Tristan responded, then nodded at Carter. “I’ll cover your six in the room when it’s time.”
“Thanks.”
Jordyn eyed Carter. He really was holding on by a thread over this five-minute meeting, but with McCabe, Joe, and him in the room, Osbourne would have to be crazy to say anything out of line. At least, she hoped that was the case.
A few minutes later, Jordyn and Vicki strolled into the cafeteria, with Mancini in front of them and Reese pulling up in the rear. While neither of the women were hungry, they made themselves coffee and then found a table away from everyone. Their guards posted themselves nearby, but far enough away to give them some privacy.
“So,” Vicki said with a smile after taking a sip of her coffee. “What exactly does ‘coworkers and . . . um . . . friend’ with a question mark mean?”
Chapter 18
Caught off guard, Jordyn chuckled. In that instant, she truly relaxed with Carter’s sister. “Straight to Double Jeopardy, huh?”
“Yup, but you don’t have to answer in the form of a question. In fact, I’d rather you didn’t. Carter’s never brought another woman here before, so that, and the way he introduced you, of course, has me curious. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but I could use something to get my mind off of everything else.”
For someone who didn’t do girlie chats, Jordyn was about to have her second one in three days. “I honestly don’t know what we are.”
“You like him, I can tell. And he definitely likes you. So what’s the problem?”
Rolling her eyes, Jordyn settled back in her chair. “I’m confused, that’s the problem.” She took a deep, cleansing breath and forged ahead—if anyone knew the man, it was Vicki. “You see, years ago, Carter trained me. Despite a rocky beginning, we became friends, and one night it went further than that. I got scared of my feelings for him and ran the next morning. Then something happened to change everything.” It wasn’t her place to let his sister know he was a Dom. “I’ve spent the last seven years or so hating him, apparently because of something I’d misinterpreted.”
She was surprised when Vicki nodded her head in understanding. “You found out h
e was a Dom, didn’t you? And not knowing anything about the lifestyle, you kind of freaked?”
Jordyn’s jaw dropped. “How did you know?”
Smiling, Vicki brought her hand to the gold, choker necklace she wore. “Because that was my reaction when I found out.” She tilted her head. “Did Carter tell you about Justin . . . about how he was conceived?”
“Yes, and I’m so sorry you went through that.”
“For years, I hated Osbourne. I’d thought it was odd the US Marshals put me in the Witness Protection Program after I’d testified against him, but the way they’d explained it to me, I believed them when they said it was for my safety.” She shrugged. “I was fifteen; what did I know? I didn’t have any family, and as a foster kid who’d bounced around, my friends were few, so I was happy to get far away from California. I was able to keep my first name, but I had a new last name. A childless couple, Brendon and Barbara Rush, took me in here in Montana—they were also in the program so they taught me everything I needed to know about my new identity. They were great. They helped take care of Justin while I got my GED and went to college. I was comfortable with my new life. Then Barbara passed away from cancer three weeks after she was diagnosed. Brendon had a heart attack a few months later.”
A sad smile spread across Vicki’s face. “I wasn’t surprised when he died so quickly after her. They were one of those couples who were so in love they couldn’t live without each other. That was two years after I found out Carter was still alive and all about the deal he’d made with the government. At first I was mad at him for signing over his life for me, but if he hadn’t told them to take care of me, I honestly don’t know what would have happened to Justin and me.
Absolving His Sins: Trident Security Book 7 Page 18
