by Casey Hagen
When he climbed in, he secured his own earpiece in his left ear and fired up the engine. “Do me a favor in there… keep yourself alive. No crazy hero shit.” He flexed his fingers on the steering wheel, an unfamiliar tinge of fear settling inside him.
He’d been on the battlefield. He’d seen friends, fellow soldiers, their bodies mangled in death. He’d applied pressure to wounds and lied to men dying in his arms about how they would be okay, how help was coming.
And yet, all the death he’d seen, none of it compared to the thought of someone hurting Josie. The image of a bullet tearing through her—no.
Just no.
“I’m worried about you, too,” she said quietly.
“Yeah,” he said and cleared his throat, taking her hand.
They sat in silence, a hush falling over the team as a whole, and listened as Dylan, Evan, and Slyder arrived at the scene and moved into place.
At the ten-minute mark, Cole rolled out of the parking lot and headed for Eric’s street.
“Status check,” Dylan said.
“I’m a go,” Slyder confirmed.
“I’m a go,” Evan said after him.
“We’re set. Cole?” Dylan asked.
“I’m three minutes out,” he said, letting go of Josie’s hand to navigate the narrow side streets.
“Josie?” Dylan asked.
“I’m ready,” she said, her voice confident. She sat up straighter, her eyes taking in their surroundings as the adrenaline rolled off her.
She was a leader and could be led, which tended to be a rare quality in a person, especially someone who’d just met her team.
It took weeks for the military to break a soldier down to be led. And years of building them back up to lead.
Chameleon-like, she adapted to the situation and checked her ego to get the job done.
He’d misjudged her, but he saw her now.
All of her.
And he wasn’t letting her go.
Chapter 9
Josie headed across the street as Cole followed close behind to keep an eye on her, but also keeping up with the pretense that he was just there to be the muscle.
With the sound of the guys’ reassurance that they had an eye on them, she let the nerves fall away and relied on her instinct and experience to guide her.
She had this.
She never dabbled in what ifs. Her nerves took a hit a day or two before an operation like this, even if she were going solo, but by game time, calm settled over her, her senses sharpened, and she worked the problem.
She didn’t bother to glance around her before sliding open the rusted doors, the sound of scraping in the track making the birds flee the nearby oak tree in the corner of the lot.
Flipping open the panel to the digital lock, she punched in the code, and pulled open the door.
“I always feel like I’m crawling into a submarine when I climb down here,” she said.
“A solid comparison. Don’t remind me,” he said with a rough laugh.
“Not your thing I take it?” she asked, surprised at his reluctance since he had been a SEAL and all.
“There are a lot of things I’ve gladly given up since I left the military. The things I like, I kept,” he said with a shrug.
The lights flickered to life, and their eyes met. This was where they were when things changed between them, and the look in his eyes told her that he was thinking the same thing.
“Like your friends out there?” she asked.
“Yeah, and a few others,” he said. “Do me a favor and hand me one of those printers over there.”
She glanced over her shoulder at the line of computer equipment along the wall. “Why?”
“So when they arrive, it looks like we’re emptying the place out. The printers aren’t important so they’re the safest bet to take topside.”
“To take topside? Interesting choice of word. Flashback to submarine nightmares?” Josie asked with a laugh as she unhooked the printer and handed it over.
“Something like that,” he said, tucking the device under his arm and heading up the ladder.
“You know, I didn’t get that vibe from you the night you found me in here collecting Eric’s stuff,” she pointed out.
“The first thing I saw was those tight jeans spread over that round ass sticking up in the air. I was distracted,” he said.
Josie heard a laugh over the earpiece followed by Evan’s jovial voice, “Hearing this.”
“We’ve got company. Silver sedan. This is their second pass in front of the lot,” Dylan said.
“Well, then I should give them something to look at,” Cole said, setting the printer on the shed floor and hoisting himself the rest of the way out and carrying the equipment to a spot just outside the door.
Josie watched from the bottom of the ladder, spotting the moment he crossed into the line of sun when the shadows flickered above, and hating how exposed he was. “Don’t linger up there,” she said quietly.
“Yeah, a moving target never was my favorite part of this shit,” he said as he popped back into view and gestured at her to move aside.
He started down the ladder and hopped down the last three rungs. “Got another?”
“You sure?” she asked, hesitating on her way over to the next printer.
“Yeah. Keeping it real.”
“Okay,” she said, handing it over.
“We’ve got incoming. One is headed for the shed. The other is around the back, close to Dylan,” Slyder said.
Josie watched him head back out, but his feet froze halfway.
“I’ll take that,” a voice she recognized from the other day said.
“Hey, man, I’m just helping a girl out,” Cole said.
“Well, isn’t that nice of you. Get back inside. We’re going to have a little chat,” the guy said.
Cole made his way down the ladder and took a couple steps back, his hands in the air.
A guy with dark hair and a scar over his eyebrow made his way into the bunker, a handgun aimed right at the center of Cole’s chest.
His hard glare bobbed between Cole and Josie before landing back on her, his leer from head to toe revealing just what kind of man he was and what he’d do in order to get the job done.
Her body tensed up as revulsion took over.
“Well, isn’t this cozy,” he said as he adjusted his suit jacket and straightened his tie. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to need to take those computers off your hands.”
Cole kept his arms in the air. “Hey, that’s fine with me. They’ve been nothing but trouble.”
The man took a couple steps toward Josie and tilted his head. His gaze narrowed on Cole, and then her. “Does that go for you, too?”
“Sure,” she said with a shrug. “The last thing I need is anyone else coming around to tear up my place. The sooner I never see those computers again, the better.”
“So cooperative,” he said with a smooth, melodic voice. “I like that in my women.”
The muscle in Cole’s jaw twitched as he grit his teeth, but said nothing.
“I hope you don’t mind, um, what’s your name?” he said, snapping his fingers at Cole.
“Will,” Cole said.
“Will, yes, I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to have to ask you to carry these parts up to my partner. But don’t worry, I’ll be right here keeping your friend company.”
Josie swallowed the bile that rose into her throat.
The man wrapped his free hand around her biceps, but kept his focus on Cole. “I can see you’re warring with what you should do. I assure you, I don’t want to linger long so while I might find this pretty little thing worthy of my attentions, I don’t have time to work her over properly. A pity.” His knuckle roamed back and forth over the edge of her breast.
“Keep it cool, man,” Slyder said through their earpieces. “I’ve been there, and it sucks. Just do what he says. We’re closing in on them.”
“Just get it
With one last look that promised retribution, Cole unhooked the computers one piece at a time and propelled himself up the ladder with each. He took on a lethal edge, his almost palpable anger filling the air of the bunker, threatening to suffocate them with the power of it.
He started up with the last piece, their chance at getting the guys slipping away. She couldn’t let that happen.
For Eric.
And for her and Cole.
She worked her hand to the bench behind her, while she prayed the sound of Cole’s angry voice meshing with the guy above would be a distraction. Pretending to clutch the edge of the table, she walked her fingers toward her waistband where she’d tucked her gun.
The hand around her biceps snaked out behind her and grabbed her fingers so tight, her rings bent with the force.
Just short of breaking her fingers, he yanked her arm. “Don’t even try it. You think I don’t know who you are? You think I don’t know that you have a gun behind you?” he spat the words at her, pulling her body up against his, his gaze dropping to the tops of her breasts.
Her weapon dislodged and clattered to the counter behind her.
Out of reach.
“Maybe just a taste,” he whispered, his mouth hovering over hers, the scent of stale cigarettes and old coffee making her stomach lurch.
The minute his lips made contact with the swell of her left breast, she shot her elbow up under his jaw, the sound of his teeth gnashing and cracking right before the howl of agony.
“Go, go, go,” Dylan called out to the team.
She brought up her left knee and slammed her heel down on the toe of his shoe, making him double over. The arm holding the gun dropped to his side, but he didn’t lose his grip.
She jumped away, heading for the ladder, but he reached for her, snatched her wrist, and spun her toward him.
“You poisonous bitch,” he said, blood and saliva spitting with each word. He lifted the barrel of his gun, ready to aim it right at her.
The sound of gunshots overhead drew his attention.
It was now or never. She reached for his wrist, dug her thumbnail into the palm of his hand, and slashed at his palm with the sharp edge knowing it was not enough to cut him, but maybe scratch him enough to get him to loosen his grip.
His gaze darted to her hold and with his attention on the pain she’d inflicted, she swung at his cheek with the back of her hand, making his head snap back and his gun fall to the floor.
The sound of feet pounding down the ladder reached her ears, but fury won out. She pounced on him, shoving a knee in his chest, grabbed him by the hair, and banged his head into the floor…once, twice, three times, until strong arms reached around her and scooped her off of him.
She flailed her arms, swinging out, wanting one last shot at the vile bastard.
“Whoa! Easy, Josie. You got him,” Cole whispered in her ear while standing her on her feet. “It’s okay, now. It’s done,” he assured her.
“Yeah, almost,” she said, and with one swift movement, she put every last bit of energy she still had into one solid kick straight to his balls.
He curled up, grabbing what was left of his sac, rolled to his side, and vomited all over the floor.
Slyder whistled.
“Holy shit,” Evan whispered. “That hurt to watch.”
Josie spun and wrapped her arms around his neck. His warmth seeped into her as he rocked her, and chased the shadows away.
The sound of sirens filled the air as they worked their way outside. Police swarmed the area again, guns drawn this time.
Cole helped her up the ladder and led her out of the shed, his arm around her. Officers swooped in, shuffling them away from the area as they moved in.
Within minutes, they’d cuffed both of the men and sat them on the wet grass. The guy she had fought dry-heaved into the grass while his partner moaned in pain, his arm soaked in blood from where he’d been shot in the shoulder.
“Where is she? Where’s my daughter?” her father demanded as he pushed his way through his officers.
“I’m fine, Dad. I’m right here,” Josie said as she stood on the sidelines waiting for the inevitable questions that were sure to follow.
Her father’s jaw dropped at the sight of her. “My God, girl, are you alright?” he asked, reaching for her but stopping just shy of touching her.
“I’m fine,” she said, unable to meet his eyes. She didn’t want to see the judgment there. She didn’t want him to know what the guy had done to make her feel weak and vulnerable.
Something that happened all too often to women to make them cower in fear.
Her dad reached out a hand to Cole. “I owe you for keeping my girl safe.”
“Your girl kept herself safe. I didn’t do much of anything. I’m pretty sure the guy over there who’s puking into the grass is going to need ongoing medical treatment after what she did to him,” Cole said with a laugh.
“Really?” her father said with a look of wonder on his face. “Well, I’ll be. That’s good. That’s real good,” he said, clasping his belt, hitching his pants, and rocking on his heels.
She smiled up at Cole and her father. It took Cole pointing it out, but it was a start.
It took an hour to answer questions and check in with triage on the ambulance before Cole was finally able to take Josie home.
The smile that had brightened her face and her reddened cheeks had slipped away, leaving her pale and withdrawn.
He needed to find out what happened in that bunker.
Dylan agreed to take over the formalities of keeping in touch with the police as to the identities of the men and who they worked for so Cole could focus on Josie.
At this point, it was just following the clues. Nothing more. Dylan could report to Ret what happened and maybe they could work out a deal so Eric could put his energy to good use working for the government.
But that all would wait.
Josie couldn’t.
The longer she remained silent, the more worried he became.
He pulled into his spot and circled around his car to open her door. Taking her hand, he walked her in and locked the door behind them, shutting out the rest of the world.
“Come on. You could use a hot shower. I’ll get us some food while you get cleaned up,” he said as he guided her into his bathroom and the shower with six shower heads.
“Thank you,” she whispered as she hugged herself.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“Yeah, a little bit,” she said as she rubbed her arms up and down.
He turned on the heater built into the wall and the heat lamp overhead. After pulling out a couple of thick, soft towels, he grabbed a hoodie of his and sweats. She’d have to roll the pants up a good foot, but she’d be warm.
“Take your time,” he said as he turned to the door.
“Cole?”
He turned to find her lips tilted up in a hint of a smile. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He slipped out the door and headed for the kitchen.
He meant to dive right into cooking, but in the silence of the room, no longer needing to focus on Josie, he lost it.
He paced the length of the kitchen, his hands curled into fists, as the helplessness washed over him.
He needed a heavy bag.
A pool where he could exhaust his entire body with laps.
Rigorous, lust-fueled sex with no holds barred.
“Not going there,” he muttered. There’s no way he’d touch her now, not in that way.
Not without knowing how she’d been touched in that bunker. Every last instinct he possessed told him that the guy had violated her. Sure, her clothes were intact, but no matter how small the act, it had gotten into her head as if she had been stripped, beaten, and raped.
His phone buzzed, and he heaved a sigh. He clicked the button and put it to his ear. “Hello?”
“How’s she holding up,” Slyder asked.
“I’ve never seen her like this,” Cole confided.
“She’s going to be okay. That’s one tough chick. Her adrenaline was ramped up to a thousand. It’s normal to crash after.”
“It’s not just a crash. She seems smaller somehow. Curled into herself. Shit, I’m not making sense,” Cole said as he pounded his fist on the granite counter top.
“He put his hands on her. I don’t think he got far, but there’s no mistaking the signs.”
“What do I do?” Cole asked.
“You take your cues from her. This isn’t the time for Cole knows best. She’ll tell you what she needs and make sure you give it to her,” Slyder said.
“What did Nebraska need? You know, after?”
“A pint of Ben & Jerry’s and a Monty Python movie while we wore togas,” Slyder said with a laugh.
“She’s a cool chick. You’re a lucky guy,” Cole said, the anger slowly seeping out of him like a slow leak in an air mattress.
“So are you. We’ll keep you on the emails as information comes in, but for now, take care of your girl,” Slyder said.
“Thanks.”
“Anytime.” He laid his phone down, braced himself on the counter, and let his head drop.
“Who’s Nebraska?” Josie said from behind him.
At the sound of her voice, he whirled on her. “I thought you’d be a bit.”
She stood before him in his hoodie, and nothing else. Her curvy legs peeked from under his sweatshirt, but he forced himself to keep his gaze on her.
She tucked her hands in her pockets. “I’m good now. So, who is she?”
“Nebraska Nightraven was one of our clients. She’s engaged to Slyder now.”
“The actress?” Josie said, her eyes wide.
“The one and only,” he said.
“Something happened to her,” Josie murmured, her cheeks pinking up and her wet hair curling around her face.
“It did.”
“Can you tell me about it?” Josie asked, walking toward him.
“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” Cole said.
“Cole, I’m not going to break. I’m just curious,” she said as she slid onto the bar stool. She rested her chin in her hands and waited him out.
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