by Jan Graham
“Wow, you certainly know how to tell a woman you love her, Marcus Delany.” Beth sniffed and wiped at her face. “And you’re already my everything.”
Beth flung herself into his arms, hoping she hadn’t jolted him into serious pain. He didn’t pull away, so she assumed he was okay, especially when he closed his arms around her and held her tight.
* * * *
“He’s ready, Boss,” Hex stated. “Do you—”
“No,” Marcus snapped.
If one more person asked him did he need a hand, he’d beat them to death with the cane he grabbed as he hoisted himself out of the chair. The pain clawed at him daily, varying in intensity. Little beads of sweat trickled over his brow as he walked, no, shuffled his way to the interrogation room.
He felt useless. Something he hoped abated soon. The physical therapy was a daily annoyance and a pain in the butt. Literally. He had to do it though unless he wanted to live with a permanent limp.
His men had done all the groundwork in tracking down the sleaze who’d rigged Nik’s car to blow. Now it was crunch time, and Marcus refused to miss out on the interrogation he hoped would lead them closer to finding Oshimara for the Japanese authorities. The payday when they found him would be substantial. The vengeance his team would wreak on the man worth more than the payout they receive. No one attempting to kill one of Marcus’ misfits got away with it, and Nik remained vulnerable if Oshimara was alive.
His lips quirked as he entered the room. The man before him had a black eye, swollen cheek, and a bloody nose. He nursed his arm by the elbow, his fingers sitting awkwardly against his chest. Marcus hoped Hex had broken them. The man deserved to feel pain.
“This cane and limp are courtesy of you, so is the considerable pain I’m in.” Marcus pulled the gun from its holster under his jacket and rested it in his hand against the table as he eased himself into the chair across from their cuffed visitor. “So, to avoid becoming fish food, I suggest you start talking.”
The guy’s gaze rested on the gun briefly before it returned to Marcus. If Kenny, the explosions specialist that Hex had tricked into a meeting about a job, had any sense, he’d spill his guts right now. Pain eradicated tolerance, and after the long walk downstairs, his pain level was off the Richter scale. He should have popped the meds his doctor gave him before seeing the guy, but shit happens.
“I told that other dude. I don’t know a Mr. Oshi-whatever.” Kenny sounded believable as he glanced toward Hex. “An accountant I do regular work for hired me, gave me the note for the windscreen, and instructed it was a priority job. I’ve given your guy his name and deets. I’m sorry you got injured, man, the bomb wasn’t meant for you. Now, will you stop pointing that gun my way and let me go?”
If only life was that easy for the criminal element in the community. Marcus had no intention of letting him go. The information provided would decide the outcome of their prisoner’s life or death.
“No.” Marcus stood with all the finesse of a newborn giraffe and pointed the gun at Kenny’s head. As he steadied himself, he grinned as Kenny grimaced and shrank back in the chair. “What else do you have to say because I know there’s more.”
“Nothing, I swear,” Kenny yelled as Hex grabbed him by the hair and yanked him forward, allowing Marcus to slip the gun into their bomber’s mouth. The last time they’d pulled this maneuver, the guy they’d been interrogating had crapped himself. No smell emanated from Kenny at this point although he was attempting to speak around the barrel. The clicking of the guy's teeth against the gun sounding like a frantic Morse code.
“It appears our new friend does have more to say, Boss,” Hex chuckled.
Marcus removed his weapon from Kenny’s mouth, glaring down at him.
“Speak.”
“I… I g... get work from h... him, the accountant and a lawyer friend of his at times. They love to give me all the info about what they’re doing and why. Not that I want it, but I listen, insurance you know. The accountant said a client of theirs needed help after an arrest. They needed to eradicate the prime witness. No witness, no case or so he said,” Kenny jabbered. “I can give you the lawyers name too. And the guy that’s in jail. Just don’t kill me, please don’t kill me.”
Marcus needed out of here. Holstering his gun, he fixed Kenny with an angry glare. He would have preferred this to have taken them a step closer to Oshimara, but that didn’t appear to be the case. In fact, the Japanese crime lord didn’t appear to be involved at all. The information was pointing to one man, and that meant Marcus couldn’t take his own vengeance on those involved, he’d have to hand them over to Christian and hope the justice system dished out a severe punishment for all involved.
“Give me the names,” Marcus stated calmly. “If it all checks out, then you’ve secured your life.”
When Kenny spilled on the names, Marcus wasn’t surprised. Nigel fucking Charlton. The man was an idiot. Taking Nik out didn’t make anything go away for him. He was in prison for the duration, the evidence against him damning. It didn’t surprise him Charlton’s lawyer was crooked, but his accountant as well? The guy knew how to surround himself with players, and not very competent ones, at that.
“So Oshimara wasn’t involved at all, it was all Charlton’s idea,” Marcus addressed his team.
“So, the bomber gets handed over to the crime squad at police HQ. I believe you might be going soft now you’ve found love boss,” Ash stated.
Marcus wanted to wipe the smirk off Ashley Reynolds face, but he couldn’t get out of his chair to do it. The pain meds had kicked in, and he’d finally found a comfortable position to sit in. He wasn’t moving for anyone.
“I’m not any softer than you are, Ash,” he replied. Ash had also found love, so if Marcus was soft, what did that make Ash? “Christian’s expecting us to deliver Kenny to him within the hour. He’ll do the formal interview and arrest Nigel’s partners in crime and add attempted murder charges to Charlton’s ever-growing list of offenses.
“And we’re positive Oshimara wasn’t involved,” Hex chimed in.
“Not on this attempt. But we still need to find him. The mission from the Japanese government is a retrieval and delivery. At this point in time, we find him, hand him over and say thanks for the yen.”
At least that was how Marcus hoped it turned out. The fact remained though, if he suspected Nik was in any danger from Mr. O remaining alive, the authorities in Japan would receive an apology note to accompany the body of their most wanted criminal.
Epilogue
Three months later
Laying back in bed with Beth in his arms was everything he’d ever wanted. Not that he would have admitted that a year or even a month ago. They’d made love, long, slow, and terribly erotic. His hip ached from the activity, but as the doctor reminded him, regular exercise would strengthen the damaged muscles and aid in healing. What better exercise than pounding the woman you loved and making her scream your name?
“What are you thinking about?” she asked as he glanced down at Beth, her freshly fucked beauty taking his breath away.
At one time, he hated that question, but after his recent emotional resurgence, he loved her asking it. Although she might not like the answer he was about to give.
“I appreciate the sentiment of the artwork you commissioned, but does it have to hang on the bedroom wall?” Marcus asked as he stared at the piece which hung on the opposing wall to the bedhead.
Not sure how she’d managed it, but Beth had acquired the shrapnel they’d removed from his butt, hip, and thigh and gotten a friend to turn it into a piece of art. The painting had a Dali-esque appearance. The surrealist piece featured a torso shredding into elongated lengths with the metal fragments flying out from between. The colors were earthy except where the metal met flesh and sprays of bright red and orange hues splashed across the canvas. It certainly was a poignant reminder of mortality.
“I think it’s the perfect place for it. Every day you get to wake up, see it,
and be reminded you aren’t ten-foot-tall and bulletproof,” Beth smiled cheekily. “I’m putting my foot down. It stays where it is.”
“I’d rather wake up and look at you,” Marcus replied softly, stroking her hair as they both stared ahead at the painting. “So long as it’s not a reminder to you that I can be a pain in the butt, I can live with it.”
Beth laughed, and Marcus realized he was chuckling along with her. He was changing, slowly, but still, he felt the difference in his demeanor every day since he’d let go of the limiting beliefs from his past. Everyone deserved to find love and have a significant other in their lives who made them better men or women. Beth was the best thing to ever happen to him, his life now fuller and more complete than he’d ever imagined it could be.
She’d been right all along. No one could control life’s outcomes, the past few months confirmed that. Despite the best-laid plans, and his were the best, outside forces and unexpected situations still arose. They were both surrounded by danger and just needed to live with that fact. Giving up the work they did wasn’t an option. Not now, at least. They’d both agreed to scale things back in relation to their participation in fieldwork. Neither would take on the elevated risk endeavors that formed part of the job. Once he’d fully recovered, they would reassess the situation and take it from there.
“We should get out of bed and start to get ready for today’s big adventure,” Beth sighed her unwillingness to comply with her own suggestion. “My parents hate me running late for a visit.”
Marcus closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Meeting the parents. When was the last time he’d done that? It was too long ago to even think about.
“Do I need to remind you how terrifying this is for me?” Marcus stated.
After lengthy discussions with Beth, they’d finally decided to let her parents know about the work they did and introduce Marcus to them. Complete honesty with Beth’s family was their new motto for a few reasons, the most important being Marcus knew how much Beth agonized over her family situation. He didn’t want her to go on living a lie and running the risk of losing a family she loved like so many of his crew before her.
Just as importantly, Marcus knew that if the worst happened and he was taken out of the game, Beth would need the support only her real family could give. If anything happened to him, he wanted Beth surrounded by love. The team would always be there for her, but that wouldn’t compare to the family who raised her holding her tight.
“I understand your nerves, but trust me, they’ll love you, and they’ll be fine with what we do, once the shock and possible hysteria subside. Dad’s a bit of a protective bear, but Mum’s a sucker for a noble cause, and that’s us to a tee. We help fight evil. She might even think we’re superheroes.”
Marcus laughed out loud, and not just his usual singular sound of amusement.
“I’m not wearing tights with my underpants over the top, so get that thought out of your head right now,” he stated firmly. “And I do trust you, the day’s plan is a sound one.”
He’d left the arrangements to Beth. She’d convinced her parents a belated birthday party would be a great idea as a get together after all they’d been through with her father and how busy she’d been with work. Her mother went for it, arranging a party with family and friends. Of course, some of those friends were Marcus’ associates and fringe dwellers: Steve Jax, Ash and Zane Reynold and their woman, Mercedes, sister to two of the other guests, Christian Shore and his brother, Daniel, along with the infamous Angel Wylde-Shore. Angel was Steve’s sister and the woman who’d inspired Adrian to change his life. Marcus had never met her but was more than interested in talking to her today.
Marcus and Beth planned to arrive early, and after introductions for him, intended to tell her parents they were now living together as a couple and very much in love before exposing the truth of what Beth had been involved in for the last four years, and the mercenary work they both would continue doing for the foreseeable future. He hoped her parents were as understanding and accepting as Beth assured him they were, or the day could end in an emotional disaster for his girl.
Neither of them made any attempt to leave the comfort of bed or each other’s arms. Beth remained draped over him, running her fingers over his pecs, Marcus playing with the soft strands of her hair. They’d have to emerge from under the covers soon, but for now, he remained satisfied to be exactly where he was.
“So, what’s our next mission?” Beth asked as she snuggled in even harder against his body, confirming her contentment to stay resting against him.
“We’re meeting your parents, that’s mission enough for now,” he joked.
Beth slapped his chest gently and laughed, her smile lighting up her gorgeous eyes and his life. He couldn’t believe his good fortune. She’d waited patiently for him to realize he needed and wanted her as much as she did him, to change his stubborn ways and come to his senses about love. Beth never faltered in her belief they were made for each other. He admired her for that and would be forever grateful to have her by his side and in his bed.
“After that, daddy. What’s the plan?” she asked earnestly. “The parents will probably ask, so I need to know.”
“We don’t have one,” he replied. “Unless you include rest, recovery, and spending long hours in each other’s arms a mission.”
Beth and he needed time to consolidate their relationship, to formally move Beth into his home, and for her to make it her own. Work would always be there, but for the time being, it could sit in the background. They needed to track down Oshimara, and the current jobs with Stirling and Adrian would continue, but none of the team would be doing anything to exertive for a few months, well, except for a couple of his men.
“What about the others, do they get relieved of duty as well?” Beth grinned.
“Hell no, in fact, Hex and Red are on a mission as we speak,” Marcus grinned as Beth raised a questioning eyebrow. “They’re on their way to Cairo to find a woman called Sylvie.”
THE END
Her Captured Heart - Preview
Chapter One
Only a few hours into the flight home Clay received the order to return to Sydney. The fact he didn’t know why they were doing an about-face didn’t perturb him. His military training had prepared him for the job he’d held for the last six years. Receive an order. Follow it.
His boss, Marcus Delany, was as formidable as any commander he’d served under in the Royal Australian Air Force, RAAF for short. He gave a command and expected compliance without question. Well, questioning did occasionally happen but generally it was a trust the boss had it right kind of deal. Clay was cool with that, although sometimes, like today, he would have preferred the decision come before they were nearly halfway home to Bali.
Clay and his constant companion, Adrian Belvoir, had more frequent flyer points under their belts than he cared to think about. Shame he couldn’t claim them for a holiday. All the points gathered were in his boss’s private jet and given the idyllic location where he and Adrian resided—a beachside fortress on the outskirts of Denpasar—Clay lived a holiday lifestyle twenty-four-seven. So, what was the point really.
He had no family to speak of, never had, having grown up in foster homes since the tender age of six. Unlike some, the foster care system worked well for him. Each family kind and caring, although numerous over the years. Still, he had family now—other members of the mercenary unit Marcus ran. Of course, Adrian was also friend and father figure to him, it had occurred over time as they’d gotten to know each other. Adrian had mellowed over the years he’d known him. No longer the angry ex crime boss, he’d settled comfortably into this bizarre form of witness protection. Clay would protect the man with his life and had nearly had to in the beginning. Nowadays, life was sweeter, more relaxed. Adrian’s new identity and the fact his enemies were either incarcerated or dead made Clay’s job so much easier. Although, he did miss the adrenalin charged action of the first few years as babysitter.
“Something wrong?” Adrian asked as Clay returned to the luxury cabin of the jet after assisting the pilot to implement the change of course.
He could fly the aircraft himself, but Marcus insisted on a pilot so Clay’s attention remained on Adrian at all times.
“We’ve been called back. More details to follow on arrival.” Clay replied.
Adrian nodded, taking another sip of the single malt from his tumbler.
“What’s our eta?”
“Six. Weather and landing allocations permitted,” Clay responded taking up position in the leather recliner next to Adrian. If he was lucky he’d be able to grab some snooze time before they landed because, once they hit the ground, he had no idea when he’d sleep again. The latest mission was taking down a sex trafficking ring on two continents. Australia and Asia. If they were going back, then Clay assumed Marcus required him to work some aspect of that mission. It’d make a pleasant change from the nanny role he’d grown accustomed to.
When he reopened his eyes it was to see the lights of the runway as they landed. He’d done more than nap during their return to Sydney. As the curious saying went, he’d ‘slept like a log’.
“Take Adrian and the luggage to the chopper, Joe,” Marcus stated. “I need a private word with Clay.”
Marcus looked worried but sounded as in control as ever while giving the pilot his directive.
The helicopter sitting ready on the pad not far from the hanger they’d pulled up near had registered in Clay’s peripheral vision but he didn’t dream it would be for them. When Adrian was in Sydney, Marcus always kept him close. Secluded away in the four-story private mansion and work headquarters in Vaucluse that Marcus called home. Another flight, albeit a short one given the chopper, didn’t make sense. It also indicated his first assumption about inclusion in the current mission was incorrect.
