Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Guarding Suzie (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by Nicole Flockton

  Ryan nodded. “I believe you and thank you. Do you think you’ll be able to recognize the guy again if you saw a picture of him?”

  “Without a doubt.”

  Ryan looked up at Italy who was already pulling his phone out of his pocket. “I’m texting the guys to come up here,” he said. “You call Tex and see if he can find something out about Suzie’s ex-husband.”

  Ryan reached into his own pocket and pulled out his cell. “On it.” He punched in Tex’s number.

  “Whaddya need, Joker?”

  He would’ve smiled at Tex’s no-nonsense approach if his heart wasn’t beating out of his chest with worry. “I need you to look into Suzie’s ex-husband. Her neighbor is clean, but he saw Suzie leave with a man. He says he could recognize him if he saw a picture.”

  “Right and you think this man Suzie left with was her ex?”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “On it. Give me five and I’ll have a picture for you to show the other guy. Sit tight, Joker. We’ll get your girl.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The binds around Suzie’s wrists and ankles were chaffing and she badly needed to go to the bathroom. The last thing she wanted to do was ask Peter for anything, but she was desperate. “I need to use the bathroom. Can you please untie me?”

  Peter, who was chewing on an apple while she sat with her stomach grumbling, looked up. “I don’t know if you deserve to be released. What if you run away?”

  Suzie bit down on the inside of her cheek to stop the smart retort she was bursting to release on him. The consequences of doing that could be catastrophic. Since their divorce he’d turned more violent, if what he did to her apartment was anything to go by. “Please, Peter, I promise not to run. Why would I? I’ve been miserable without you.” The lie felt revolting on her tongue, but at this stage she would say and do anything to keep her and their baby safe.

  “Doesn’t look like it.” He pointed his knife at her belly. “That says you’ve been having a good time.”

  “No, it was one night, and it was a mistake.” Another lie, the night, and subsequent ones, were the best times she’d ever had. She wanted more of those best times with him. The only way that was going to happen was if she got out of there alive. Problem was she had no idea how she was going to do it. She only hoped that somehow Ryan knew she was missing and was working on a plan to release her.

  She loved him, and she wanted to be able to tell him so. Wanted to squeeze his hand and yell at him as their daughter entered the world. Wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

  “Fine. I’ll release you but don’t try and do anything stupid while you’re in the bathroom. Like squeezing through the window to try and escape.”

  Suzie snorted, she couldn’t help it. The bathroom window was tiny and in her current pregnant state her ability to be able to fit through the small space was laughable. She couldn’t believe that he’d brought her to their very first apartment they lived in. Had no idea he actually still had a lease for the place. “I told you. I’m not going anywhere.” But she maybe she could find one of her old tube of lipsticks in the vanity. Maybe she could be able to write help on the window. It was a long shot, but she was desperate enough to try anything.

  How she controlled a shudder of revulsion when he touched as he released the ropes around her wrists and ankles was beyond her. Pins and needles tingled through her extremities as the blood flowed back into them. She breathed through it and when she felt confident that she could make to the bathroom without collapsing she stood and walked slowly to the room.

  The temptation to hide in the small room was huge, but the longer she lingered the more suspicious Peter would get. She completed her business and walked out, yelping when her wrist was grabbed.

  “If you’d taken any longer I was going to come and get you.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  He harrumphed and marched her down the hallway. While they’d been married he’d never frightened her as much as he was doing right now. At present, Peter was so unstable she had no idea what he was capable of doing. Suzie prayed he wouldn’t try and sleep with her. No way could she let that happen.

  Peter paused and turned back to look at her. His eyes narrowing. She went to bite her lower lip but stopped herself. She’d always done that when she’d been hiding something from him. It was too late, he’d seen the movement.

  “What did you do in the bathroom?” he demanded

  “N-nothing.”

  He stalked toward her and she prayed with everything she had.

  Please Ryan, work your magic and come save me. I need you… No, we need you.

  At Robot’s the group of men talked quietly waiting to hear back from Tex. Ryan paced around the space checking his phone every five seconds, which was completely stupid. The phone wasn’t on silent. The second Tex called or texted he’d know it.

  A hand clapped on his shoulder, he stopped and faced the owner. His jaw opened in surprise when he saw who was standing there. “Truck? What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in Texas.”

  “Ghost and I were still in town and Tex called us. Where here to help anyway we can.”

  Ryan looked past the big Delta Force man and spied his team lead, Ghost talking to Robot. Having these two guys helping would be brilliant. While he and Truck had been traipsing through the jungle, Truck had filled him in on the history of the team and how most of them had all found love. Ghost’s woman had been caught up in a hostage situation in Egypt. They’d saved her before she’d been raped.

  “I’m grateful to the both of you for being here.”

  Truck nodded and when Ryan walked over to the window to gaze out into the darkness, the Delta Force man stood quietly beside him. He appreciated that Truck didn’t try and make small talk.

  A few minutes later Ryan’s phone buzzed, he connected the call and hit speaker so everyone could hear. “What ya got for us, Tex?”

  “Okay, I’ve done a little digging and I’ve found where she is. You’re right, Joker, she’s with her ex, Peter Dulgrove.”

  Relief vied the with anger which swept through Ryan. Finally they had a solid lead. He hated to think of Suzie in the clutches of her ex again. “Do you know if she’s safe?”

  “Negative. There are no camera’s in the building.”

  “How do you know she’s there.”

  “Because he’s Tex,” Truck said, as if those three words were all that he needed to understand.

  “He found Erin. If he says he’s located Suzie, then it’s true.”

  Ryan let out a frustrated breath. “Sorry, brother, didn’t mean to offend you.

  “No offense taken. You’re under stress. I get that.”

  The group listened as Tex went through the steps he’d taken to located Suzie. “You guys are going to have to do this by the book, I’ve notified the authorities, and pulled a few strings to ensure you guys get the job. They’ve given you an hour from when I contact them to tell them you’re in position. If it’s not done in that time, then they’ll be sending in their own guys.”

  “We’ll get it done,” Ghost said, steel determination in his tone. “And we’ll do it better than they ever can.”

  “I have no doubt. I’m sending you all the details I have on the building schematics. Let me know when you’re in position.”

  “Will do,” responded Ryan. He disconnected the call and looked around at the assembled group. “Let’s plan.”

  Thirty minutes later they were in position. Ryan was teamed up with Truck again. He’d been surprised when the other man had said he would have his back. If any of his teammates were upset with the idea, they didn’t show it. And why would they, they weren’t kids. At the end of the day they were working together as a team and that was all that mattered.

  “Stairwell A, is secured.” Robot’s voice sounded in his ear.

  “Eyes on the elevator,” T-Rex confirmed.

  “You ready?” asked Truck.

  Ryan picked up the bag of foo
d. “Yep.”

  It had appeared fate was looking down on them when Tex called back two minutes after they’d hung up saying Peter had called for Chinese takeout. They had their in. They were already in place when the delivery man arrived. Tex had worked his magic and the guy had handed over the bag—no questions asked.

  “We’re on the move,” Truck said into the comms mic.

  A chorus of affirmatives answered, and Ryan walked into the building, holding back the need to race up the stairs to the sixth floor and barge into apartment 615C.

  The building was rundown. The foyer had peeling wallpaper and faded carpet. The type of residents in this building wasn’t the Martha Stewart type. They made their way over the elevator. Like the one in Suzie’s building it was old and creaked the whole way up to the sixth floor.

  Ryan was aware of Truck communicating with the rest of the team. His mind was focused only one thing—rescuing Suzie.

  They reached the front door of the apartment where Suzie was being held. Truck took up his position out of view but able to strike if necessary. At his nod, Ryan rapped his knuckles on the door.

  “Who is it?” A voice floated through the door.

  “I’ve got your order from Golden Tiger Chinese.”

  “Leave it by the door. Here.” The sound of something being pushed under the door had Ryan looking down—two one dollar bills were being shoved under the door. Wow, bigger tipper. But it presented a problem, they needed Peter to open the door.

  “Sorry, Sir, but I can’t do that. Golden Tiger’s delivery policy states food cannot be left by the door. It must be handed over to the client.”

  “That’s bullshit, just leave the fucking food and go away.”

  Okay, plan adjustment time. “Okay, Sir. Thank you for your business.”

  Ryan placed the food by the door and then started to walk down the hallway. Truck, understanding what he was doing, maintained his position. Peter would probably give it a few minutes before he opened the door and grabbed the food.

  Crouching down low, he double backed and until he was standing behind Truck. Sure enough, the door opened cautiously and when a hand reached out to grab the food, Truck moved. Two seconds later Peter was on the ground, face smooshed into the dirty hallway carpet.

  Ryan stepped over the man and rushed into the apartment. Over the comms he heard Truck alert the others he had Peter under control. He had no doubt the rest of his team would provide support if it was needed. All he wanted to do was find Suzie.

  “Suzie!” The small, dirty living area was empty.

  “Is she here?” Ryan turned to find Ghost and Robot standing a foot behind him.

  “I don’t know I only just walked in.”

  “If Tex said she’s here. She’ll be here,” stated Ghost.

  “Suzie?” he called again and held his breath, straining to hear anything to indicate his woman was in the apartment.

  “There,” said Ghost. “Do you hear it?”

  A muffled thump sounded toward the back of the apartment. “Yes, let’s go.”

  “Let me take the lead,” Ghost said. “We don’t know that he wasn’t working with someone else. This is too easy.”

  Ryan couldn’t deny the whole process had gone so easy. Truck and the rest of the team had subdued Peter. Just because it had gone off without a hitch didn’t mean it was a bad thing. Sometime missions worked out that way. “I’ve got your back, Ghost.”

  Together they made their way down the hallway, waiting for another thump to sound. They paused outside a door. A second later they heard a faint whimper.

  His heart skipped a beat at the sound.

  “Control yourself man,” Ghost whispered as he pulled out a glock he had in the back of his trousers, turning the safety off. “On the count of three.” He held up three fingers, lowering them one at a time.

  When the final digit dropped, Ryan readied himself for whatever was lurking behind the door. Ghost went in gun aimed straightforward, no sooner had he crossed over the threshold he called to Ryan. “Joker, in here now.”

  Trusting that Ghost would cover him if the need arose, Ryan marched through the opening, his heart dropping to his feet at what he saw. In the middle of the bed lay Suzie, eyes swollen shut, blood trickling from cuts above her eye and the corner of her mouth. “Fuck, Suzie.” He rushed over to her side, controlling his instinct to haul into his arms.

  “I’m gonna get Truck, don’t move her,” Ghost ordered.

  “Get Cowboy too, he’s the medic on our team,” Ryan countered as he carefully climbed on to the bed next to her. His fingers trembled as he brushed some hair away from her face. He leaned close to murmur in her ear. “I’m here, Roses. I’m never going to let you go, do you understand me. I’m so sorry I didn’t keep you safe, again. Please don’t leave me. I need you.” His voice broke on the final words.

  “Ryan.” His name a mere whisper on a breath.

  “Yeah, baby, it’s me.”

  “Baby.”

  Terror paralyzed him, Suzie had suffered a beating, her face all the evidence he needed. If the fucker of her ex-husband had harmed their unborn child, Ryan was going to make him pay.

  He ran his hands down her body, feeling the hard swell of their child. Ryan lightly pressed his hand on her belly, willing their child to answer the nudge he gave her with an answering kick. Only there wasn’t one. He wanted to try again but was too scared in case he hurt their daughter. He kept his hands on Suzie’s belly, waiting and willing for any sign their child was going to be all right.

  “Joker, let me check her out,” Truck’s quiet voice reached him.

  He looked up at Truck, tears blurring his scarred face. “She’s not kicking back.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  The edge of the plastic chair dug into the back of Ryan’s legs. He’d been sitting in it for five minutes after Robot told him to sit the fuck down. He’d been pacing around the waiting room of the hospital like a caged tiger ever since the doctor kicked him out of the emergency cubicle Suzie had been put in.

  “It’s going to be alright, Ryan. Suzie’s one tough lady and so is your baby. How could it be anything else. It’s part Navy SEAL.”

  Erin’s voice broke through his thoughts. He looked up and smiled, glad she was here. In fact, the whole team, including Ghost, Truck and Antonia, were all in the waiting room with him. A sense of deja vu had rippled through him. It wasn’t too long ago they were all here for Erin and Antonia, waiting on news. The day he met Suzie. The day his life changed. “I don’t think I ever thanked you for being there for Suzie when her place was broken into and for letting her stay with you while I was away.”

  Erin waved his words off. “It was nothing. She’s family and, after talking to Caroline, Wolf’s wife, we girls need to stick together when you boys are away.”

  He swallowed against the lump in his throat. Erin was right, they were family and proof of that was how, in times of trouble, they were all there for each other.

  “You are insufferable.” Antonia’s voice echoed around the room and Ryan looked up to see her glaring at Robot before walking out. After glaring at her departing back, few seconds later Robot followed.

  “What is going on with those two?” he asked Erin.

  “No idea, Antonia is still refusing to answer my questions.”

  Before he could comment a doctor walked through the door. He scanned the room, clearly used to the sight of muscled military men. “I’m looking for a Ryan Smith.”

  Ryan shot to his feet. “That’s me. How’s Suzie…and the baby? Are they okay?”

  “Ms. Waterson has suffered cuts and bruises on her face, fortunately she didn’t suffer any fractures to her face. However, she has two cracked ribs, so she will be in pain for a while. With regards to her pregnancy,” he paused, and Ryan’s heart stopped beating. He didn’t want to hear what the doctor had to say next. He felt, more than saw, his teammates congregate behind him, giving him their support. “All tests show that there are no vi
sible tears in the amniotic sac and the baby’s heartbeat is still strong. We will need to monitor her closely as there was a small amount of bleeding, but we don’t believe there will be any lasting effects. From the bruising on her arms and back it appears she did everything she could to protect her child.”

  Ryan had no doubt Suzie’s only thought was protecting thier daughter. His woman would do everything to ensure the safety of their child, just like he would do for them. The urgency he’d been keeping at bay flooded him. He had to see for himself that Suzie was okay. Had to hold her. Lay his hand over their daughter to reassure himself that all was right in his world. “Can I see her?”

  “We’re getting her transferred to a room. Once she’s settled I’ll get a nurse come to see you. Rest assured, Mr. Smith, Suzie is one of ours, she’ll get the best care possible.”

  The doctor acknowledged the group and strode out of the room. Ryan’s breath whooshed out of him and a million emotions swamped him. He registered the sound of someone crying. Only when a pair of arms slid around him, did it hit him—he was the one crying.

  “It’s okay, Joker, they’re both okay,” Erin murmured into his shoulder. He allowed himself a few moments to seek comfort from Erin, before pulling himself together and clearing his throat.

  “Thanks.”

  Robot came up. “I thought you should know that Peter has been charged with assault and kidnapping. The police will want to talk to Suzie about what she went through.”

  “They’ll just have to wait. She’s not going to be talking to anyone about this until the doctor clears her and there’s no risk the stress of remembering her ordeal will hurt her and our daughter.”

  “Understood. I’ll let them know.” He then canted his head toward the door. “Looks like your escort is here. Go see your girl.”

  Five minutes later Ryan was seated beside Suzie’s bed, her baby bump a welcome sight. He placed one of his hands over his daughter and held Suzie’s hand with his other. A little jolted lifted his hand resting on her belly.