Mercy: Second Chance Military Romance

by Abbi Hemp

  “You can tell her that later. Right now, we need to go rescue her. I don’t know much about this Larry guy, but from what her father told me, he’s bad news.”

  “Let me make a few calls. Hang tight, and you can come along with us.”

  Fuck! I thought, worrying about her safety more than I’d worried about anything before in my life.

  “Fine,” I said as I sat down on an armchair to wait.

  * * *

  Two hours later, I stood on the road next to a SWAT vehicle with Keller to my left. Dozens of agents were milling about, awaiting orders to move in.

  “Are you going to negotiate? What if he shoots her when you’re going in?”

  “Let me do my job,” he said, turning to me. “I’m going to get her out of there alive.”

  I nodded. He walked over to a group of men.

  “Gather around, people.”

  They crowded around him.

  “We have two of our own on the inside, one hostile and one a hostage. Heidi needs us at the top of our game today.”

  As he talked, I stepped back and motioned for Keifer to follow me.

  “What’s up?” he asked quietly when we were out of earshot.

  “I know they’re the DEA and trained professionals, but I can’t have anything happen to her. You understand?”

  “I’m here for you, boss.”

  “And remind me to give you a raise, bonus, and your own company or something.”

  “That’s not necessary,” he said in a cavalier tone.

  “You’re a good man, Keifer.”

  “I know you love her.”

  “I do. So much.”

  “I’ve always wanted that kind of love for myself.” He put his hand on my arm and squeezed it. “I’m alone in this world, but I’m ready to give my life to save her today.”

  “We don’t need any crazy heroics from you two,” Keller said.

  I turned and saw he had finished his speech.

  “We’re here to help,” I said. “Both of us are trained to shoot.”

  “But you’re not trained to mount a rescue operation nor are you part of my department. I’m going to ask you once to stay back and keep out of the way. Let us professionals do our job.”

  My blood boiled in my veins, but I kept my mouth shut and nodded.

  “Perfect,” he said. “I’m calling the press so they can capture this rescue for the nightly news. This story is going to go national. I can feel it.”

  “Just make sure she’s not hurt,” I said.

  “I’ll do my best, but I can’t promise.”

  “You need to do better.”

  “Are you threatening me?”

  I stepped forward, our chests actually touching.

  “It’s okay, boss,” Keifer said, patting me on the back. “Let them do their job.”

  “Listen to your man,” Keller said then turned and walked away.

  “If it goes south, I’ll go in and see if I can help.”

  “We’ll both go in,” I said. “Fuck this shit!”

  Keifer frowned, feeling my pain. I walked over to the end of the driveway and watched as an armored personnel carrier rolled up toward the house with three heavily armed men with body armor walked behind it. Keller, standing a few feet away from me, raised a megaphone.

  “This is the DEA. You are surrounded. Come out with your hands up.”

  Is this guy for real? I thought, shaking my head. This isn’t going to go well.

  Before the vehicle made it to the house set back from the street, the door opened. I heard Heidi scream and dash across the lawn toward us.

  “Fuck!” I said, turning to see what had happened to Keifer.

  I saw him behind the wheel of the SUV. He slammed on the gas, peeling off toward the house before I could jump in.

  “What the hell is he doing?” Keller yelled.

  “I have no idea,” I said then took off running after him.

  “Get back here,” he yelled.

  As I ran, I pulled the handgun out of my pants and turned off the safety. The SUV stopped short of the house after a dozen or more shots rang out. Heidi dropped to the ground.

  I ran forward at full pace, ready to kill someone if they had hurt her. Ron and some other guy shot indiscriminately out the window as I approached.

  She got to her knees when I reached her.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, bending down.

  My heart beat fast as adrenaline took over.

  “I’m fine,” she said.

  Another hail of gunfire rang out. I moved in front of her, determined to protect her at all costs.

  The DEA agents were hidden behind the armored vehicle, not really doing anything.

  I glanced over at the SUV and made eye contact with Keifer. He nodded his head. The vehicle rushed toward the house and crashed into it.

  As the agents swarmed ahead, I helped Heidi to her feet. We ran back to the street.

  “Fucking Keifer,” I said as we both tried to catch our breath.

  “I can’t believe he did that.”

  “I can. He’s a good man.”

  “What the hell were you thinking?” Keller demanded.

  Heidi walked over and decked him on the side of the head. He hit the ground.

  “You’re fired!” he shouted.

  “I told you I quit already,” she said.

  I grinned as she walked back over.

  Twenty minutes later, the situation ended. Keifer had been shot twice in the arm, but his actions enabled the federal agents to take Ron and Larry into custody. I kept my arm around Heidi, keeping her close in the chaos of the aftermath.

  “Let’s go check on Dad,” I said.

  “When am I going to meet your parents?”

  “I don’t talk to them much anymore.”

  “What? Are you serious? After today, we’re both going to see them.”

  “Anything for you,” I said, meaning each word.

  We walked to the black, stretch Escalade where Keifer sat behind the steering wheel.

  “Where to, boss?” he asked after we got in and shut the doors.

  “Take us to the hospital,” I said, trying to sound strong.

  Heidi leaned against me as we quietly rode to the hospital.

  * * *

  At the hospital, we found out he was okay and in stable condition. Cousin Larry had beat him good to find out where he kept his notes on the weed hidden, but he hadn’t cracked, at least not mentally. Physically, it would take him a few months to heal completely.

  “I’m sorry for the trouble,” he said to Heidi.

  “Don’t be crazy,” she said, leaning over his bed. “I’m glad you’re alive. You should have just given him the secret. Nothing is worth losing your life.”

  I stepped up and put my hand on her back, rubbing it gently.

  “What about that Ron guy? Is he going to be bothering you still?”

  “No, Dad. He’s dead.”

  “We should let him rest,” I said. “We can come back tomorrow to visit him.”

  “You better. We need to talk about the Cannabis Cup Finals. I really want to win.”

  “We’re both going to win,” I said.

  He closed his eyes. I removed my hand from her back and stepped away. She came over and took my hand in hers, squeezing it tight.

  “He didn’t do anything to you, did he?” I asked as we walked down the hall.

  “No, but it came close. Thanks for coming to get me.”

  “I’d move the heavens and earth for you, Heidi. I love you.”

  She squeezed my hand.

  “I love you too.”

  FORTY

  Brent

  Cannabis Cup for the Win

  Two months later, the Cannabis Cup Finals arrived. I stood backstage with Heidi and Sam, whom I considered a father. She squeezed my hand as they opened the envelope to announce the winner.

  “This year’s top marijuana strain is…” The man on stage pulled a sheet of paper from
the envelope. “Red Heaven created by Brent Stone.”

  Cheers rose up from the audience as I walked onto the stage, one hand with a clenched fist raised in the air. The crowd went wild, standing and clapping.

  I stopped behind the podium and waited a second for them to calm down.

  “Thank you,” I said, my voice amplified throughout the assembly hall. “Today is a special day because our new strains of marijuana are more powerful than ever before.”

  “Fuck yeah!” someone yelled from the back.

  I grinned then continued.

  “None of this would be possible without one person, the man who is responsible for Red Heaven, Mr. Sammy Hill, aka Green Thumb. Why don’t we bring him out on stage?”

  I turned and motioned for him to walk out. He did, his face full of pride. When he reached me, I grabbed his hand and lifted his arm into the air like he was a champion.

  As the audience gave another standing ovation, I leaned over and whispered into his ear, “This is all you.”

  “Thank you,” he said, voice trembling. “This has been my dream for so long.”

  “I’m not done,” I shouted then waved for Heidi to come out.

  Her eyes got so big and round as she pointed at her chest while looking to the left and right.

  “Yes, you,” I said.

  She walked out on stage. In front of the audience and the rest of the world, I got down on one knee in front of her. I smiled as she put her hand over her open mouth in shock.

  After pulling out the ring, I took her hand in mine.

  “Heidi, you mean the world to me. Would you do the honor of being my wife?”

  “Yes,” she cried, leaning down to hug me.

  Even more applause rose from the crowd as I stood. We wrapped our arms around each other and kissed. Her soft, wet lips touched mine as the audience continued to cheer.

  She pulled away and said, “I love you so much.”

  “Not half as much as I love you.”

  As we walked off the stage, joy bounced around my body like a puppy whose owner had just returned after an extended absence. With Heidi by my side, we would be able to accomplish anything.

  FORTY-ONE

  Heidi

  Honeymoon

  We decided on Greece for our honeymoon. After the reception, we hopped on his brand new private jet. Winning the Cannabis Cup finals had put him on the map. Everyone wanted his high-grade marijuana.

  I sat on the balcony of our villa at the top of a hill. Below, white-washed buildings took up all available space down the Mediterranean Sea. The blue water looked marvelous from up so high.

  “Hey,” Brent said, putting his hand on my bare back. “You’re topless.”

  “We’re in Europe now,” I said with a smile. “Do you mind?”

  “Not at all. I’m the happiest man in the world right now.”

  “Yeah? Don’t you have room to be a little bit happier?”

  “I don’t know. What did you have in mind?” he asked.

  “Put a baby inside me.”

  I stared at his face, looking for any sign of emotion. His expression switched to joy almost immediately.

  “Let’s go inside,” he said.

  “No. Right here. No one can see us. And the sky is so clear and blue, and I love you.”

  He put his arms around my waist and bent his head to kiss me. I always felt safe when he held me tightly, but after the wedding something had changed for the better. The feelings were even more intense.

  As we kissed, out tongues swimming together in our mouths, I reached into the waist of his shorts and wrapped my fingers around his flaccid cock. It got harder as I stroked it with my hand.

  His kisses moved to my neck then my breasts. My breaths came faster as he nibbled at one nipple then the other, getting me wet between the legs. He reached up and under my long, flowing skirt.

  I moaned as his fingers rubbed against my bare pussy lips.

  * * *

  Later that evening, as we sat on the patio and looked up at the brilliant night sky, I fell even deeper in love with him. He made everything seem possible.

  “What are you think about?” he asked.

  “What to name our new baby.”

  He chuckled.

  “You’re sure it happened tonight?”

  “Oh, I’m sure. A woman knows,” I lied.

  “Uh huh. Well, is our first child a boy or girl?”

  “I have no idea,” I said then reached over and squeezed his hand.

  “I don’t care one way or the other as long as it’s a boy.”

  “I’m not sure I could stand having two men in the house.”

  “We can get a bigger house,” he said without hesitation.

  “You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”

  “As long as you keep asking the right questions.”

  Both of us fell quiet and stared down at the scene below. We were at that perfect point in our relationship where sitting together in silence meant everything.

  We had the entire world as our playground, and I intended on experiencing as much of it as humanly possible while raising our child to do even better than us.

  “I love you more than there are stars in the sky,” he said out of nowhere.

  “You’ve become quite the poet. Are you getting soft on me?”

  He turned to me and flexed his muscles. I giggled.

  “That look soft to you?”

  “Oh my, sir. What huge muscles you have.”

  “All the better to love you with.”

  We made love twice a day for the rest of the week. I thought we would slow down and grow apart after our honeymoon ended, but we managed to fall ever more in love, strengthening our relationship.

  I wouldn’t change a single thing.

  FORTY-TWO

  Brent

  Birth

  Roughly nine months after our honeymoon, I witnessed the most amazing thing in my entire life. Another human being – a beautiful baby boy – came into the world. In that moment, I knew my life would never be the same, but I didn’t care. Tears streamed down Heidi’s face as she held our son.

  “We need a name,” I said.

  “I still don’t know.”

  “Let’s name him Samuel. After your father.”

  She smiled while rocking the precious newborn back and forth in her arms.

  “That’s perfect,” she said. “Samuel Brent Stone.”

  “You really want to give him my name?”

  “I want him to always know how special you both are to me.”

  * * *

  Three days after the birth, I brought Heidi and Samuel home. Since hiring other people to run my company, I’d learned to appreciate the good things in life like friends and simple conversation. At the same time, it made me proud to be able to provide them with a stable home.

  “Welcome home!” the staff said in unison as we walked through the front door.

  Little Samuel cried, but Heidi smiled as she comforted him. Wrapped up in a blanket like a cocoon, he appeared content with his lot in life.

  “His room is all ready,” Keifer said.

  “Thank you.” Heidi turned to me. “Let’s take him upstairs. I need to rest.”

  I reached out my arms.

  “Want me to hold him?”

  “I don’t think I’m going to ever let him go.”

  As we walked up the central staircase, I put my hand on the small of her back. Step by step, we climbed to the second floor to truly begin the next stage of our life. After everything we’d been through together, I looked forward to many years of peace, safety, and the joys of family for the financially independent

  THE END

  FORTY-THREE

  Heidi

  DELETED SCENE

  NOTE: My editor and I fought about this one, but we decided to take this scene out of the final version of the novel. I wanted to include it here in the chance that some readers might enjoy this chapter. Thanks. –

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nbsp; I walked out of his master bathroom wearing a black, sheer night gown. He looked up from the bed where he sat, naked and waiting. We had made love before, but I wanted to see just how kinky he would get.

  “Hey, baby,” I said in a sexy voice.

  “Hey yourself.”

  “I was thinking…”

  Should I ask him? Can I say it out loud?

  “Thinking about what? We don’t have to do it.”

  “No, no, I want to. It’s just…”

  I stopped at the edge of the bed, unable to take my eyes off his sculpted body.

  “Go on,” he said.

  “How kinky are you?”

  His eyes widened in surprise. A smile slid over his face.

  “Kinky, I guess. Why? What do you want to try?”

  “I’m into anal,” I said quietly. “If it’s too gross…”

  “Not at all,” he said, sitting up. “Wait. Do you mean giving or receiving anal?”

  “Both?” I asked, unsure myself.

  His grin did not fade away, which I took as a good sign.

  “Do you have any lube?”

  “The good stuff,” he said. “Hold on. I’ll get it.”

  He hopped out of bed and crossed the room. A moment later, he returned with an expensive bottle of premium and natural lube.

  “This will work,” I said, taking it from him. “Stand right here.”

  I got down on my knees in front of him, glancing up at his perfectly proportioned face.

  “Let’s see if I can get you hard,” I teased.

  After I put some of the lube on my palm, I rubbed my hands together, warming it up.

  “You’re about to get the best blowjob of your life.”

  I stroked his cock with one hand while looking up into his eyes as he stared down at me.

  “That feels good, doesn’t it?”