by Aliyah Burke
“Don’t say anything.”
His words were low and harsh, no sign of the kind lover he’d been all the earlier hours of the night.
She nodded.
“Grab a shirt and pants, and a weapon. Stay low and no lights.”
“What the fuck is going on?”
“My guess, they found us.”
She couldn’t say that was pleasing information but it was bound to happen. Daylight would have been better for her, or hell not at all.
Geri began to slip from the bed when he halted her with a grip on her chin.
“What?”
“Listen to orders, if I give you one, don’t hesitate. Listen.”
His tone was detached and she knew he was back in the military.
“Roger that,” she replied before she rolled away from him before she did something like kiss him.
Staying low, she found her shirt, well his, and pulled it on then tried to remember where she lost her pants. Just as her hand closed around them, the first shots rang out.
Glass shattered and she winced as the canisters hit the ground. This was going to suck. She didn’t know what they’d thrown, but she guessed it would either tear gas or smoke. The first sting told her it was tear gas.
Breathing as shallow as possible, she wriggled into her jeans and gasped, “Lars, heir.”
He came to her side, pressing close. She had to get him out of here. And herself.
She hadn’t any clue where Simon was. Responding gunfire filled the air and she hoped it was him. replaying the layout of the room, she turned her and Lars around. Then she sent him out. More glass crashed as her dog broke through out the window. She began pulling herself up to slither out when she shook her head.
How could I think to leave him to deal with this alone? I brought it to his door.
He had weapons in his truck. This time, she went out the window with purpose, wincing when she landed on the shards from Lars’ escape. Her eyes streamed from the tear gas and she remembered how much it sucked going through OC training in the Army. While she still couldn’t see well, the gunfire prompted her to keep moving.
She ignored it and ran for the truck, doing her best to keep to the shadows and out of the way of the streaming bullets. Well aware the dome light in his truck would come on if she opened the door, she climbed in through the back where the window had been shot out already. God, she owed him a new window as well as cabin repairs.
And she would make it all up to him and more, if they could just get out of this alive. She sighed in relief as she closed her fingers around the rifle beneath the front seat. In the back on her way out, she found some other handguns and dropped the bag outside the back, slithering out after it.
Lars appeared at her side and she handed him the bag strap. “Take,” she ordered him in German.
She inched closer to the cabin and put the rifle up to her shoulder. It wasn’t easy to see through the streaming tears, but she held it against her and waited to make sure it wasn’t Simon. Then she fired and the man dropped. That swung the attention toward her and she scrambled left away from the bullets that were in her direction.
Flood lights pierced the area, cutting through the tear gas that flew out of the windows. A man on a megaphone screeched and she froze, looking up at the man standing over her in tactical gear.
She downed Lars with a word and he listened while it was obvious he wasn’t happy about her order. Things got confusing after that. Her blurred vision and burning eyes weren’t helping anything.
Later as she sat on the back of a truck while they washed her eyes out, she tightened her fingers in Lars’ collar, needing the reassurance of him being there beside her. She’d not seen Simon since she rolled out of bed and even that was more of a mental reminder as the room had been dark. Now the sun had risen up over the mountains and she gave a small smile to Hank as he pushed his way through toward her.
She could easily see what his wife saw in him. broad shoulders, muscles and good looks. He paused before her, arms crossed over his chest. His limp was almost nonexistent.
“How are you?” he asked, slanting a look over to Lars. “Both of you.”
“I think he’s better than me. I sent him out through the window and the medic checked him over, since I can’t see worth a damn.”
“I need to see what I can do here.”
“Was it a meth lab?”
“Two of the guys here are known dealers, yes, but they’re not making it on a large scale to sell, they’re using it to make bombs.”
She held up her hands. “I don’t want to know anymore. Nope, not at all.”
Hank touched her hand, ever so briefly. “Okay.”
“Hank?”
“Yes?”
“He’d be a good fit.” She squinted up at the former Navy SEAL.
He arched an eyebrow. “You think so?”
“Ex special forces, don’t know which branch, didn’t ask. But I’ve spent enough time around your kind to recognize it.”
“I’ll talk to him.”
“Thank you.”
Man, she longed to rub her eyes but she knew it would only make the burning sensation all the worse. She lowered her head to rest her chin on her knee.
When the man in front of her moved, she angled her head up again. Even though her eyes were blurry her body knew exactly who stood there. Simon.
She reached out for him, grateful when he took her hand.
“Are you okay?”
He smoothed his hand along her face. “I’m fine, a few scratches. How are you?”
“I’ll be okay.” The lie fell from her lips. “Just waiting for my eyes to clear up so I can drive.”
“Right.”
She squeezed his hand. “Tell me something.”
“What’s that?”
A new wave of tears blurred her eyes, these from knowing she was going to be losing this man who’d risked his life for hers. her feelings for him didn’t make any sense but there they were.
“What’s your last name?”
He gave a brief laugh that didn’t actually have all that much amusement in it. Simon brushed his thumb over her lips.
“Simon Frederick.”
Geri slipped a hand along the nape of his neck, guiding him to meet her mouth. She dragged her tongue along his lips before slipping between them. At the brief touch of his tongue she withdrew and ended the kiss.
“Good bye, Simon Frederick and thank you for everything.”
Two men came over and began talking to him. Eventually his hand fell away from her and she allowed the tears to fall, telling herself it was from the tear gas and not because he was walking away from her forever.
Epilogue
Simon exhaled slowly as he stepped out of the taxi before the small rambler. Without paying much attention, he paid the driver and hoisted his backpack to one shoulder, winced and moved it to the other one. This was the arm he’d gotten shot in during the issue at his cabin.
Issue.
He snorted. The entire thing had been shot up, but he shook his head and took a deep breath. Now wasn’t the time to think about that. It had been six weeks since she’d gone out of his life. Six weeks of hell on earth for him.
“You need me to wait for you, son?”
He shot the driver a look before shaking his head and walked away, heading for the door and the occupant behind it.
On her porch, he reached out and pressed the doorbell. A few moments passed before the door opened. He blinked a few times, not recognizing the woman there. She gave him a smile. Her brunette hair tumbled around her heart shaped face. A lime green shirt hung off one tanned shoulder, the fringe on it reminding him of something a hippie would wear. Below that, neon yellow spandex pants conformed to lean runner’s legs.
“May I help you?” She ran her gaze up him blatantly and without the slightest bit of shame.
“I’m looking for Geri.”
“She’s out back, come on in.”
He wanted to demand she ask f
or some sort of identification before she just opened the door and waved him in. But his need to see Geri overrode anything of the sort.
Trailing her through the orderly house, he wiped his hands off on his pants legs as they neared the porch.
“Geri!”
“Christ, Brittany, I’m not across town, you don’t need to yell.”
“Sorry, some hot ass guy showed up here for you.” Sorry or not, her voice didn’t tone down.
Beyond the brunette, he spied Lars and another dog playing out in the yard. Looked like a sled dog but he wasn’t sure what type it was. Past them, Geri.
Heart in his throat, he stepped out onto the wood deck. She looked up at him the exact moment he opened his mouth to say something to her. Geri’s mouth moved but no sound came out. But she said his name, he read her lips.
Bag on the porch, he cleared the steps and strode to her. Simon didn’t hesitate, just yanked her close and kissed her. Poured everything in him into that very kiss. All the words he wasn’t able to say back at the cabin. All the feelings she evoked in him, everything. It all came out in that very kiss.
God he’d missed her.
“I don’t think I’m needed for this. Come on boys.” Brittany took the dogs and left them alone.
He stared into her hazel eyes and pushed some blonde strands from her face. “Hi.”
She licked her lips and touched his jaw, fingers skimming along the scar. “Hey.”
They moved to the swing and sat, he held her tight to his side, unwilling to have space between them.
“What are you doing here?”
“Why didn’t you come back?”
“I sent you a check.” She looked over at him, emotions overflowing in her gaze. “Kept your shirt, but I sent you a check.”
“I didn’t want a check. I wanted you.”
“You never said.” Her amber eyes deepened as she stared at him.
“I never said a lot of things I should have that night we had in the cabin.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “Christ, Geri. I don’t know where this can go, or what happens now but I want a chance. I’ve been miserable these past few weeks. I miss you beside me, feeling your presence in the cabin, hell I even miss your mutt.”
She smacked him even as a smile crossed her features. “He’s not a mutt.”
Geri pulled away and straddled him so they were nose to nose. Peppering his face with tiny kisses she nodded. “I missed you too, Simon. God help me, I missed you too.”
“Can I stay so we can figure this out?”
“At least come inside so you don’t give the neighbors a show,” Brittany called out.
“Go away, Britt.”
“No, I want to know how and where you met this hunk.”
“He nearly ran me over.”
“Don’t be so dramatic. Christ you could just say at the supermarket or in the mountains.”
Simon grinned. “She doesn’t know the truth?”
“And she won’t. Come inside. We should get reacquainted.”
Heat surged through him. with another kiss, he got up and carried her inside, heading straight for her bedroom, as she gave directions, ignoring her friend who was there. Setting her down, he kicked the door shut behind them, closing out everything but the two of them.
“Talk?”
“Later,” Geri said, whipping her shirt off and tossing it aside.
Yeah, he could work with that.
About the Author:
Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached here. She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. You can follow her on her Amazon Author page, Book Bub author page, or at Goodreads.
She is married to a career military man. They are owned by four Borzoi. She spends her days sharing time between work, writing, and dog training.
I hope you enjoyed reading, Autumn Frost. If you could help others to find and enjoy this book as well, I would appreciate that act of kindness. You can do this by recommending it to your friends and/or reader’s groups. Also by reviewing it to let others know you liked it—and why—on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other places.
Thank you so much for your support!!
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Additional books by Aliyah Burke:
Sensual Romance Publishing
If You Dare
Holiday Surprise: Unwrapped
His Purrfect Mate
Raw Exposure
A Knight’s Vow
Lion of Midnight
Megalodon Team
Kincade’s Rose
Harrier’s Healer
Connelly’s Flame
Greeley’s Spyce
Vittano’s Willow
Dimitri’s Moon
O’Shea’s Love
Chayton’s Tempest
Haikon
A Love for Lera
Rakes & Rogues
What the Earl Desires
Her Reluctant Viscount
Her Pirate Rogue
Cottonwood Falls
Relentless
Fracture
Ravish
Spark
Savor
Intensity
Inferno
Snake’s Salvation
Operation Ball N’ Chain (Cottonwood Falls short in Labor of Love anthology)
Born to Fly
Landing in Love
You Save Me
Wild As The Wind
Zulu Spectre
Hearth, Holly, & Honor (3 in 1)
It Could Happen Again
Tungsten Protective Services
Down Range
All In (Kindleworlds Hot SEALs/Tungsten Protective Services crossover novella)
Twisted E-Publsihing
Under the Mask
Graham Family
Justice Is Always Ready
And We’ve Come Full Circle
Denim & Spurs
With This Ring
Dream Lover
You Don’t Know Jack
Maddox Family
The Detective’s Lover
Quad Series
A Little Taste of Home
Too Dangerous To Love
Someday My Prince Good Ol’ Boy Will Come – Releasing 27 Sep 17
Black Queen – Releasing 11 Oct 17
Totally Bound
Preconception
Seducing Damian
Through the Fire
Serial
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 1
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 2
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 3
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 4
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 5
Astral Guardians
Chasing the Storm
Highlands at Dawn
Fields of Thunder
Branded by Frost
Driven by Night
Moon of Fire
Interludes
Temporary Home
Alone with You
Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore
In Aeternum
Casanova in Training
Harbour of Refuge
Protected by Shadows
Polar Opposites
Code of Honour
A Marriage of Convenience
The Lieutenant’s Ex-Wife
A Man Like No Other
When Stars Collide
Theta Corps
Retaliation
Contrition – Oct 17
Vindication – Dec 17
The Edge
Called Home to The Edge
Straying to The Edge
Returning to The Edge
Cuffed at The Edge
Entangled
Code Name: Papa
Kindleworld
Delay of Game (Game of Love Kindleworld series)
The Wedding Snafu (Four Weddings & A Fiasco Kindleworld series)
Watching You (Lone Star Burn Kindleworld series)
Icy Dare (Dare to Love Kindleworld series)
Daring the Hard Man (Dare to Love Kindleworld series
All In (Hot SEALs/Tungsten Protective Services Kindleworld series crossover)
Fire Devil (Dallas Fire & Rescue Kindleworld series)
Embers of Lust (Dallas Fire & Rescue Kindleworld series)
His Rysk to Take (Omega Team Kindleworld series)
The Billionaire’s Code (Billionaire Universe Kindleworld series)
His Pryze to Claim (Omega Team Kindleworld series) coming 20 Sep 17
Standalone
Dutch & Lobo (in In the Trenches collection)
On the High Seas (in What White Boyz Desire collection)
Love Under the Endless African Sky
Co-written with Taige Crenshaw
Unbreakable Bonds
Kemet Uncovered:
Talios
Devi
Linc
Saffron
Taber
Ashia
Co-written with McKenna Jeffries
McKingley:
All the Wright Moves
The Best Thing Yet
Risky Pleasures
Pure Harmony
Irresistible Forces
Seductions Dance
About the Brotherhood Protectors series by Elle James
Men and women in the military belong to an elite brotherhood. From the moment they enter the armed forces, they learn the value of protecting each other in order to defend the values and people of their great nation. These values hold fast even as SEALs, Delta Forces, and Army Rangers transition from active duty to life as a civilian. Brotherhood Protectors is the brainchild of retired SEAL Hank Patterson who saw it as a way to harness the energy, integrity and desire to protect of those separating from active duty. Based in Montana against the backdrop of the Crazy Mountains, this elite organization is made of the best of the best. Some of these fighting men were born and raised on ranches, cowboys at heart, ready and willing to tackle their assignments. Others might be new to ranching, wrangling and dealing with livestock. But all are ready and willing to protect others, using the skills they learned in the military. In the mountains and on the ranges of Montana, these fighting men meet their matches and fall victim to love they cannot resist. Who will be next to take on the challenge of joining Brotherhood Protectors?
