“But does Ax know about us?”
“No. But he will shortly. When I get back to the HQ after lunch, I intend to tell him.”
“I don’t think he’ll take it well.”
“Probably not, but he’ll get over it,” Kell murmured. He held her worried-looking green gaze. “And he won’t throw you to the dogs, Leah. He’ll protect you. Even though he’s going to raise hell with me and give me this parent-child talk about officers not consorting with enlisted men, he’ll do right by me and you. He’ll have our six.”
Leah wasn’t so sure. “Are you sure you won’t get in trouble, Kell?” She knew of other mismatched relationships in the military, had seen an officer lose rank and an enlisted woman court-martialed and kicked out of the Army.
“Nah, don’t worry about it, Sugar. You just keep getting well.” He looked at her arm. The bandage was off and he could see the red line indicating where the original gash had occurred. “You getting a flight surgeon to check you out?”
“Markley’s calling Hayden to see if he’ll cut loose a flight surgeon to fly out here to examine me.”
“Think it will happen?”
Leah frowned. “I don’t know.” She moved the cup slowly around in her hands, studying it. “I just don’t want to get cornered by him again, Kell.”
He heard real concern in her voice, saw it in her face. “Keep me posted on that, okay?”
“Why?”
He straightened and rolled his shoulders. “Because, if you are forced to fly into Bagram, I’ll make sure I’m going with you.”
Relief plunged through her. “Really?” She saw Kell’s eyes narrow and felt the energy shift around him. That protective embrace was once more in place around her.
“I’m not leaving you alone with that bastard.” Never again. Not ever.
“I could use the moral support.” Leah knew she’d get called into his office behind closed doors. Just knowing that Kell was nearby was good enough for her.
“You’ll always have my support.” Kell cut her a serious look. “I have your back, Leah.”
“Well,” she muttered, “let’s just cross our fingers Hayden approves the flight surgeon coming here.”
*
KELL KNOCKED ON the master chief’s door and stuck his head in. Ax looked up and gestured for him to enter.
“What’s up?”
Kell closed the door. “I need a few minutes of your time.”
“Sit down.”
Kell sat and said, “A lot of shit went down with that crash.”
“I’m waiting for your report on it.”
“These are things that aren’t going into my report,” Kell warned him. And as quickly as he could, he filled in his master chief on Major Grant Hayden.
“So, where’s all this leading?” Ax demanded, scowling.
“First,” Kell said, his voice flat and hard, “Grant is not only a sexual predator, but he was also abusive toward Leah, as well.”
Ax stared at him for a moment of stunned silence. “Dammit, Kell, what the hell have you gotten yourself into?”
He had anticipated this reaction. Kell knew Ax’s hot buttons and he’d just pressed one of them. “I haven’t gotten myself into anything I didn’t want to get myself into,” he told him calmly, holding the master chief’s frustrated stare.
“She’s an officer, dammit!”
Kell took his growl in stride. “I knew that from the beginning.”
“Shit!” Ax got up, running his thick fingers through his hair, glaring down at him. “This isn’t good and you know it.”
“I’ll be careful, Ax.”
He shook his head, muttered some more curses and sat down. “Her ex-husband is Major Grant.”
“Yes. That’s the point in all of this. Grant’s accused her of being at the controls of that bird when it crashed.”
“We’re sending that flight recorder to him. That should clear her.”
“I don’t trust him, Ax.” He told the master chief how Hayden manipulated Leah to get to her father. When he was done painting the ugly picture he added, “Now, Grant wants early colonel’s leaves and he’s trying to pressure her into saying something positive about him to her father.”
Rubbing his jaw, Ax studied him darkly in the growing silence. “That’s why Grant came here, planting seeds.”
“Yes.”
“Asshole.”
Kell knew Ax, as master chief, didn’t like anyone screwing with his kingdom as the head of the platoon. Especially someone from another military branch trying to maneuver him for their own political purposes. He sat without saying anything. Ax was a strategist and he knew how military politics worked inside and out.
“You know,” Ax growled, “that if Grant even suspects something between you and her, all bets are off. He’ll use it to put the screws to her, big-time. Maybe even get her court-martialed and you along with her. Dammit all, Kell.”
“I’m aware,” he told Ax.
“Then,” Ax muttered more to himself than to Kell, “I need to pull in a favor from that woman Intel officer, Lieutenant Sinclaire, down at Bagram SEAL HQ. I’ll have her check out the flight recorder first. I’ll send Clutch over there with it. Then—” and Ax looked across his desk at Kell “—she’ll make a copy of it, and only after that is done will I have him take the original to Grant.”
“Do you think Grant would try to deep-six that flight recorder?”
Snorting, Ax gave him a deadly look. “I met the bastard once. He’s a snake oil salesman. Didn’t like him on sight and was really pissed off with him after our little conversation. He’s not to be trusted.”
“Why can’t I deliver that flight recorder to him instead of Clutch?” Kell wanted a bead on Grant.
“Are you nuts?”
“He won’t know I’m connected with Leah.”
Ax cursed softly. “Your ass is staying right here. I’ll send Clutch down. He’s good at this sort of intrigue.”
“Light fingers,” Kell agreed.
“I’ll clue Clutch in on a need-to-know basis.”
Nodding, Kell said, “It sounds like a good plan.”
“I’ll get Clutch to find out if the radio calls that are always recorded at TOC in Bagram are available. That’s another way to avoid a crisis here for Chief Mackenzie. Even if Grant thinks he can wipe that recorder clean, we’ll still have the original radio calls on TOC record. That can clear her, as well.”
Kell felt some relief. “Good, because she needs to be protected.”
Ax shook his head. “So do you.”
Kell grinned a little and stood up. “I’m still alive and breathing pretty well, Ax.” Master chiefs took care of their men. They were like old broody, protective hens about their platoon charges and would rearrange the world to get their SEALs out of harm’s way. Master chiefs knew the military universe better than anyone. “Thanks, Ax.”
Ax glowered at him. “This is really serious between you and her?”
“Very.”
“Jesus, Kell, you’re killing me. You’ve got to be damned careful and so does she. This is a small base! We have maybe eighty women at the most around here. They’re easy to spot and they’re constantly watched by nearly a thousand horny males.”
“I won’t bring any problems to your doorstep,” Kell promised him somberly.
“You’d better not. If Commander Lanoux hears about this, he’s going to go ballistic.”
Kell reached for the doorknob. “Black ops, Ax. Black ops.”
Snorting, he said, “Is there anything else you’re not telling me that isn’t going to be in your report?”
“No, that’s it.”
“Thank God, that’s enough. Dismissed.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
KELL TOOK LEAH out back, to the barn and corral at the rear of the SEAL HQ. The barn and paddock area looked out across the flattened hilltop.
It was Kell’s first chance to be alone with her, removed from prying eyes. They sat on a bale of hay in
the barn, the door open to allow a breeze. There were the three horses, the same ones they’d rode in on plus the packhorse, contentedly munching hay in a small nearby paddock.
Leah sat next to him, no doubt feeling raw. Kell put his arm around her, and she sighed, resting her brow against the column of his neck.
“How are you feeling?” he asked her. It felt good to have Leah in his arms once again—and in private. The only way anyone could see them was if they made the effort to walk around the end of the SEAL building. And that wasn’t going to happen unless it was another SEAL wandering out this way. He’d asked Clutch to stand guard near the end of the building so they would not be interrupted.
“Like hell,” Leah murmured, inhaling Kell’s scent, lifting her hand and sliding it across his chest. “Scared to death.” She cast him a look. “There’s a new female pilot that I just met earlier today at the squadron office. Her name is Lieutenant Harper Corliss. She’s very pretty, very nice, but something awful happened to her.”
She rubbed her brow, the words rushing out of her. “I met Harper, gave her some papers to fill out and then took off for a briefing meeting. Later that day, Clutch brought Harper back to my office. He’d found her crying. Clutch became concerned, stayed and asked her what happened.” She closed her eyes, dragged in a deep breath and whispered, “Hayden lured Harper into his back room right after she’d checked into the squadron at Bagram. He had a bed in there, Kell. He threw Harper onto it and tried to rape her.”
Instantly, Kell straightened, staring at her.
Holding up her hand, Leah rushed on, “Harper fought back and got away. The next day, she found herself ordered to Bravo. Hayden got rid of her. But, God, she’s got bruise marks all over her shoulders and neck, Kell. I immediately took her over to the dispensary. I had them take photos of her injuries, and had the physician on duty fill out a report.” Grimly, she said, “And Harper wants to press charges against Hayden.”
Stunned, Kell sat there, seeing the ravages of anger and fear in Leah’s eyes as she nervously moved her hands up and down her thighs. “What are you going to do about this?”
“I’m not only backing Harper on her charges, but I’m going to ask the JAG assigned to this case to talk to me, also.” She stared up into Kell’s shadowy face. “I’m coming clean, Kell. I’m throwing my weight into this ring and I’m going after Hayden. I didn’t do it before because I was so young, scared and beaten down by him, but I’m doing it now. Because of me not going to the police when I was younger, he’s continued to be a predator.”
Kell nodded and pressed a kiss to her hair. “You’re doing a brave thing, Leah.” He sighed. “Your whole career is on the line now.”
“Tell me about it.” Leah sat up and faced him. “But if Harper has the titanium ovaries to move forward with this, I need to do it, too, Kell.”
He moved his fingers through her loose hair, wanting to touch her, knowing his contact was calming to her. Leah’s green eyes were fraught with fear and anger. “Sometimes, we’re called on to stand up and be counted, Sugar. This may be your time.”
“I didn’t realize Hayden was doing it to other women, Kell.” Her voice broke. “That son of a bitch! If—if I’d just told the hospital doctor, the police, what he was doing to me when I was married to him, maybe it would have stopped him right then.” She hid her face in her hands and mumbled, “I’ve screwed up so damned badly, Kell. Because I was scared of losing my rank, getting kicked out of the Army if I testified against Hayden, I allowed him to turn around and do the same thing to God knows how many other women.” Tears streaked down her face as Leah pulled her hands away and gave him a miserable glance. “I’ve failed myself. I’ve failed these other women.”
“Hey,” he cajoled her, kissing her temple, enfolding her into his arms, “don’t go there.” He felt Leah sob once, struggling to hold it together. She buried her face against his shoulder. Moving his hand across her hair, Kell felt her anguish. And he wanted so damned badly to personally take on Hayden Grant.
Leah finally pulled away. “I’m not going to do anyone any good if I sit around crying,” she muttered fiercely, wiping her cheeks dry. She absorbed his quiet strength, his arm around her waist.
“Tears are always a good thing,” Kell drawled, giving her a tender look. “Never bad. Gets the poison out of a person’s system.”
“Tomorrow is going to be a bitch of a day,” Leah whispered. “The JAG will take everyone’s statements.”
“Will Grant know he’s being implicated?”
“No, not yet. The JAG has to decide first if there’s a case against him, which I know there is.”
“What part are you going to play in this?” Kell asked.
“I’m going to come clean with the JAG and tell her everything. It will show her a pattern of abuse that Hayden kept up for years with me when we were married, which he’s now carried forward. He has to be stopped and held accountable once and for all. And it’s up to me, for the most part, to stop him, because my testimony will be the most damaging to him. I also had rape kits and photos taken of my injuries Hayden gave me. I never went to the police with them, but I kept them as proof. All of that information is going to the JAG. It’s proof that Hayden has a pattern of abuse.”
“You are two very brave women,” he murmured, kissing her wrinkled brow. “And you have us standing with you. You know that?”
Leah nodded, twisting her fingers together. “Yes, and I’m forever grateful. I don’t know if Harper is, but I am.” She looked up into his hard, weather-beaten face. His gray eyes were so clear looking and she felt the serenity he afforded her. “Will this hurt your career? Clutch’s career?”
“Doesn’t matter, Sugar. There are times in everyone’s life when they have to stand up and be counted.”
“C-could you be disciplined?”
“Doubtful,” he said. “Ax is pissed off to the hilt. And I’m sure he’s going to the CO of our Seal Team Three with this, Captain Johnson. He knows how to circle the wagons. And SEALs are probably the most protective group in the black ops community when it comes to one of our women being threatened.” He squeezed Leah a little, to reinforce her and give her support. “Any father who’s a SEAL, who has a daughter, is going to react to this situation just like Ax has.”
“That’s good to know.” Leah gave him a sad look. “I miss you so much, Kell. We get back here, and my whole world blows up in my face. I had that time with you and you helped me…and now, it’s come full circle. I never had the strength to stand up to Hayden before. And I thought I’d just keep it all buried, all the abuse, the anger, the pain…”
“We’ll get through this together, Leah.”
His words were a balm over the guilt and anger eating away at her. “Why didn’t I have the strength then, Kell? Why?” Her voice broke as she searched his eyes.
He held her tightly. “Listen, you came out of a twisted family situation to begin with. You had no mother to guide or support you. You had a ghost of a father in your life who never really cared for you. He never took the time to teach you things you needed to know about life, about men and about relationships. There’s no going back to change any of that, Leah. What you have to know is that you’re older now, you’ve matured, and you didn’t try to deep-six Harper’s assault. Instead, you stepped up to the plate and you’re doing the right thing for the right reasons, even if it means hurting or ending your career.”
Kell eased her away and gazed into her teary eyes that held so much anguish in their green depths. “You’ve been given a second chance to get that son of a bitch removed from the Army, get his ass thrown into prison, and it makes the world a safer place for all women. You have to know in your heart that you’re making a better choice this time around, Leah. Don’t you?”
She nodded. “Yes, I see how this is playing out now. And you’re right, I’ve grown and matured.” Nuzzling against his neck, Leah whispered, “Thank you for saying what I was thinking. And thank you for being here for m
e, for believing in and supporting me…”
Kell wanted to tell her he loved her. But it was far too soon. He placed his finger beneath her chin. “I care very much for you, Leah. And that’s what is going to get us through this.”
He leaned down, taking her lips gently, tasting the salt of spent tears, feeling her warmth and response. She turned fully toward him, sliding her arms across his shoulders, her warmth sending sheets of heat down through his body. Her breath was moist against his cheek and she strained against him, as if to melt into his body, heart and soul. Kell would continue to dream of Leah becoming a part of his life and, someday, telling her that he had fallen in love with her.
Easing from her wet lips, wanting to do so much more but knowing it was the wrong place and time, Kell emphasized his support. “I have your six, Sugar. You just need to do what’s right for yourself and everyone else who is involved.” He kissed her brow, her temple, then skimmed his mouth against hers. “And it’s okay to be scared as hell. You just don’t let the fear stop you from doing the right thing.”
Leah closed her eyes, needing Kell’s strong mouth upon hers. She slid her hand across his bearded cheek and held him tightly against her. “Yes,” she whispered against his mouth. “It’s past time to stop Hayden. I’ve been given a second chance. The first time, I was too scared to turn him in. This time, I’m still just as scared, but I know it’s the right thing to do, no matter what he might do to my career.”
Kell held her painful gaze and caressed her cheek. “Life always gives us second chances like this one. It’s going to be tough, but you’ve got a backbone of steel and you’ll gut through it. And I’ll be standing right beside you all the way.”
“Just having you makes all the difference,” Leah admitted.
“No one gets through life alone. No one,” he said.
“I wish…I wish we were back in that cave.” Leah studied him, thinking how handsome he was, how courageous and how much she loved him. She’d not spoken those words to Kell because they needed more time together. Looking into his stormy gray eyes, Leah knew he would be there for her. But this was her fight, not his. She was willing to fight this time, and it wasn’t just because of Kell’s support. It was because she’d seen the damage done to Harper. Hayden had done that and more to her. Leah would be haunted by Hayden’s attack upon the young lieutenant for years to come if she didn’t stop him right now.
Running Fire Page 24
