“God woman, you’re killing me. I want to take you in that house and make love to you until we can’t walk.” That was putting it mildly. He wanted to chain her to his bed and never let her go.
She blushed, but instead of ducking her head, she raised up on her tippy toes. “What are you waiting for?”
He searched and couldn’t come up with a single reason. Except the reason he was here in the first place. Arturo.
As much as he wanted to take her home right this minute, he couldn’t. He had to focus on the mission. And find a way to break the news. Amy had one giant ton of crap dumped on her today and he was about to drop the next brick.
“I need to tell you something.”
She smiled and did that tickle thing on the back of his neck that drove him crazy. “Talk? How about kiss?”
He grabbed her hand and pulled it between them, watching with resignation as her smile faded. “What?”
Worry gripped him, his back tightened. God, he didn’t want to do this to her. Not now. But he had a mission to complete and a little heartbroken boy sitting in his truck. “I am so proud of you. You’re so strong.”
She snorted. “Yeah, that’s why I was puking my guts up a few minutes ago.”
“Yeah, well you’re human. But you’re standing on your own two feet. Comforting me for Christ sake.” What kind of man did that make him?
Her gaze softened. “You needed me.”
“Damn right I needed you. I will always need you.” The truth hammered home. She was his heart, his future, his existence. “God, you’re sexy.”
She laughed outright then, the sound music to his ears. “Yeah, no makeup. My new clothes ruined. You’re crazy.”
“Crazy for you.”
Her laughter doubled and he couldn’t suppress his own grin in response. “Does that pick-up line really work for you?”
“Not yet, but I’m hoping.”
Her laughter faded, but a small smile lingered on her lips. Lips he’d kissed and wanted to again. If he had to give her cheesy pick-up lines for the rest of his life, he would. The image of them together, forever, popped in his mind. He would be her husband. Chloe’s father. Their family.
A family that might grow by one sooner than she expected. Ranger took a deep breath and expelled. As much as he loved the sparkle in her eyes, he had to tell her the truth.
“I have to leave for a couple of days.” He held her to him, wanting to savor every minute.
“I’m not new to this game. I get it.”
“That’s not all.” Shit. Why now? Why the boy?
She pulled back and stared up at him. “You’re starting to scare me. What is it?”
“We’ve been doing surveillance on the Lobellos. My teammate had watch last night.” Ranger paused, finding it harder and harder to break the bad news. “He saw a little boy escape the compound. He helped rescue him.”
Amy sucked in a breath, her pulse pattering at the base of her neck. “Is he okay?”
Ranger nodded. “He wasn’t wounded. But we don’t know what happened to his father.”
“Who is it? Can I help?”
Ranger took her hand and led her to the truck. She would have to see the boy unharmed to believe it. He grabbed the door handle and pulled the door open. Arturo huddled in the front seat, his knees tucked to his chest, his head down. Dirt smudges and bruises still dotted his arms.
Amy’s fingers tightened in his grip. Arturo lifted his head, his big brown eyes red from crying. He saw Amy and, with a cry, launched from the truck and wrapped around her. Ranger stepped back in time to avoid being kicked.
“Arturo?” Amy said. Artie started crying in earnest and she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him to her.
“He said the Lobellos came to his house and took him. Bo is searching for Pedro right now, but we don’t know anything yet.” Ranger rubbed a hand over his head, exhausted mentally. He’d never been able to stand seeing children hurt or scared. Not after his childhood. Now he was up close and personal with a boy whose father might not be missing, but murdered.
And the only other person on this planet who could care for him was the woman he loved. He had a brief worry about taking on two kids - but squashed it. He would, and he would do it with pride. But a part of him still held out hope that Pedro was alive.
“Are you hurt? Let me look at you.” Amy tried to pull Artie from her, but the boy doubled down on his cling effort.
“I’ve already checked him over, and tended to the few scrapes. He’s okay,” Ranger reassured her.
“Thank you,” she mouthed and cupped her hand to the back of Arturo’s head, tucking him into the curve of her neck.
Ranger shifted, unsure what to do. Give him a gun and he could take it apart, clean it and reassemble in under a minute. But kids…he might as well try to figure out wallpaper and curtains. His phone buzzed in his back pocket, saving him from too much contemplation. Ranger snapped it open and lifted it to his ear, walking a few feet away to give Amy and Arturo some privacy. “What?”
“Where are you?” Bo Lawson’s unmistakable no-bullshit voice came through the phone.
“I’m at Evie’s. Amy is here. Just gave her the boy.” Ranger peeked over his shoulder to see her rocking side to side, trying to comfort Arturo. Her stance, her grip, her expression pure fierce protectiveness. Just like he expected.
Some unfamiliar ache started in his chest. His mother had never held him like that, her own flesh and blood. She hadn’t been allowed to. His father was jealous of everyone and everything that took attention away from him, even his children. Ranger turned back from the sight, too many painful memories attached. Memories he’d long thought buried.
“I need you here ASAP,” Bo said, pulling him back to the present. “I’m at Pedro’s.”
Bo hung up before Ranger could speak, giving his command without a doubt it would be followed. Ranger suppressed a curse and shoved his phone in his pocket. He wasn’t through here. He needed more time.
Ranger strode back to Amy, steeling himself. “I need to talk to you. In private.”
She nodded. “Let me take him in to Evie and I’ll be right back.”
Amy walked to the house, talking the whole time. “How about some ice cream and a soda? I bet that will make you feel a little better?” Her words faded and she disappeared in the house, reappearing a few minutes later. Alone.
It had taken her less than half a second to go total momma-bear-protective over the boy. If Pedro turned up dead, she’d take Arturo as her own, Ranger had no doubt.
She came back outside, glancing over her shoulder every couple of feet. Despite the worry and exhaustion painting her face, Ranger reacted to her like she’d walked out in lingerie. No matter what she wore or how she did her hair, she was the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen.
“Is he okay?” Ranger said.
“For now. We’ve got about five minutes before the ice cream disappears and Chloe wakes up. Who was that on the phone?”
Ranger couldn’t stand the shadows of fatigue lining her eyes, but he had every bit of faith she could shoulder the burden. “Bo. He’s at Pedro’s. I don’t know anything yet, but I will call as soon as I have some info, okay?”
Tears brimmed in her eyes and Ranger cursed, hating the pain he caused, and pulling her back into his arms where she belonged.
“Can this day get any worse?” Her voice was muffled against his shirt.
“I don’t know, but I will do everything in my power to find his father.” Ranger clenched his jaw, mentally going through the list of items he would need for the upcoming mission. Now he not only had to complete the Op on the Lobellos, but find and rescue Pedro.
“I know you will. Please be careful. I don’t know if I can handle it if something happens to you, too.” Amy stared up at him, her tear stained cheeks ripping him apart.
“I can’t promise you I won’t get hurt. You know the risks involved in my job.” Ranger wanted to lie and tell her everything would b
e butterflies and rainbows, but she deserved better. He got down eye level with her. “But I can promise I will fight to get back to you. I will fight with every single breath in my body.”
Damn, if she wasn’t the sexiest woman on the planet. His every instinct screamed for him to carry her inside and love her. Comfort her. Never leave her. But that wasn’t his job. And he wasn’t alone. His team depended on him. They were a unit. They moved as one. And right now, his unit was waiting on him to move in on the Lobellos.
“I shouldn’t be gone for more than a couple of days. And hopefully, when I get back, you and Arturo will never have to worry about the Lobellos again.” Even if he had to take them all out himself.
“I’ll be okay. Please be careful.” Amy lifted up and pressed her lips to his. Desire exploded at that brief touch and Ranger held her to him, deepening the kiss in a desperate need to imprint on her his possession. She belonged to him now.
And he belonged to her.
Ranger pulled back, catching his breath. “Promise me you will stay here until I get back.”
She was breathing just as hard as him, her hard nipples pressing into his chest, evidence that she wanted him as much. “I will. Don’t worry.”
Ranger placed one more kiss to her lips. Her nose. Her forehead. Inhaling her scent. “I will be back soon.”
25
Chapter 25
“Jesus Christ.” Ranger stopped inside Pedro’s front door. The small white ranch style farmhouse looked innocent enough. A porch stretched across the front, the bright blue front door friendly and inviting. Everything about the house seemed welcoming, everything but the giant pool of blood staining the living room carpet.
“Yeah, I’ve got my team on the way over to start the forensics. Hopefully, they can get what we need before the DEA and ATF show up.” Bo, in his tan Sheriff uniform, minus the hat, stood off to the right, snapping pictures with his phone.
The sheer amount of blood spelled death. Shit. Ranger had hoped to bring good news to Amy, but no way Pedro, or any living being, could lose that much blood and walk out of here. “Where’s the body?”
What must have been a coffee table lay in bits and pieces on the living room floor. Pictures hung at odd angles. A lamp lay on its side. Blood spray dotted the couch. Arturo’s toys mixed in with the destruction.
“Haven’t found it yet, but there is a drag pattern towards the kitchen. I’m thinking they dragged him out back. Possibly took him with them.”
Ranger circled left, towards the kitchen door and Bo followed. The blood smear started a few feet from the kitchen and continued all the way to the back door. The kitchen table and chairs were in perfect condition. It was obvious the fight had taken place in the living room. “Any tracks?”
“Look out back.” Bo handed Ranger a handkerchief to open the kitchen door. Ranger moved with caution, careful not to disturb the crime scene. Bloody footprints appeared halfway across the small concrete patio leading into the back yard.
“Someone walked out,” Ranger said.
“Yeah, but the question is, who? Did they carry him out? Just walk through the blood, throw him in a truck and drive off?” Bo stood in the doorway, his large frame equal to Ranger’s, filling up the door.
“Could have been they left Pedro for dead, but he managed to get out. Or it could be one of the gang members.” Fucking shit day. No way Pedro survived this attack. Every instinct in Ranger told him the man was dead, it was just a matter of finding the body. His death would tear Amy apart. And what would happen to Arturo? He had no idea what the deportation laws were or if they even applied, but he did know without a doubt Amy would fight tooth and nail for the boy, and he’d be right there beside her.
The steel reflection in Bo’s grey eyes mirrored Ranger’s. There was minimal likelihood of a poor immigrant farmer getting the jump on a trained bloodthirsty murderer. “When forensics’ gets here we’ll run samples, check the DNA.”
Ranger had already spent more time than he had to spare. He had to get to headquarters, report and gear up. “I need you to set a man on Evie’s house. Keep watch on the girls until we complete the mission.” There was no doubt the Lobellos would come for Arturo. No one left the gang. Especially a witness to their crimes.
“Already on it.” Bo Lawson was an ex-Chloene, been in multiple deployments and done some serious combat time, but unlike Ranger, he’d gotten out. Elected to move to Mercy and run for sheriff. In part, Ranger was glad. The man was a badass not many would fuck with and he didn’t take shit from anyone. The bad part was he didn’t back down from Ranger or TF-S either. “I’ve got my K-9 unit coming to track in the woods out back and Haskell is headed to Evie’s.”
“You sent freaking Haskell?” The old man fancied himself as a John Wayne, but had to be well into his seventies. “You think he can protect them?”
Bo stared him down, muscles bunching underneath his uniform. “I’m not funded by the federal government. I have to work with what I have.” His voice was harsh, daring Ranger to counter him. “So if you want a damn guard on your women, he’s all I’ve got. My other option is a trainee fresh out of the police academy, would you rather I send him?”
Ranger clamped his teeth together, barely holding back a retort. If he had one extra man to spare he would, but all of TF-S was needed for tonight’s op. “Shit.”
“Haskell it is. When I finish up here, I’ll head over there myself, but that’s the best I can offer.”
Ranger wanted to punch something. Hard. Like the sheriff’s jaw, but he held tight. The man was an ass, but he knew what he was doing. If anything happened to Amy…No. Nothing would happen to her because he was going to kill the fucking leaders of the Mexican gang. He would take every single one of them down if that’s what it took. And then they would never have to worry about the Lobellos again.
And maybe then, when people stopped trying to kill him and kidnap her, they would have a chance at starting a normal life together.
“Fine. But if anything happens to her or Evie on your watch I’ll put a bullet in your head.” Ranger harnessed the anger, the frustration. He would need it.
“If I let something happen to them, I’ll put the bullet there myself.” Rumor had it that Bo had come close to suicide once before. A lone wolf terrorist had discovered his identity, found Bo’s wife and child, and killed them. Bo had been overseas on a mission at the time and unable to protect his family.
Ranger felt a small pang of guilt for him. Now that he had Amy and Chloe, now that he had someone to come home to, he couldn’t imagine his life without them.
He needed to make sure he removed all threats from them. And he would start tonight. Captain Gray had called in ATF and ICE to coordinate the takedown. But stage one of the attack was all still TF-Scorpion. And Ranger would be the first one through that door. He had a bullet saved especially for Santos.
26
Chapter 26
Amy tucked the sheet around Arturo’s shoulders, the full size bed making him appear even smaller. More vulnerable. The past hour of crying without a break had worn them both out. An occasional hiccup still shook him every few seconds, but sleep had claimed him for the night, and she prayed he would be safe in the cocoon of sweet dreams. Innocent dreams. Dreams a young boy should have.
Not the nightmare of losing his father.
Amy bent forward, guilt gripping her stomach and pulling her down. All this time she’d only thought of herself and her misery, when Arturo had been suffering. Hurting.
And she hadn’t even realized he was missing.
How could she be so selfish? Why hadn’t she gone to check on them after her breakin?
Stupid selfish girl. Of course the Lobellos would go after Pedro. Wasn’t he the reason they’d showed up in the first place? From what Pedro said, they’d been the ones to transport him and Arturo from Mexico. Now they wanted more. Amy and Chloe were just collateral damage to their destruction. She’d taken in the father and son. She’d given them a home. A jo
b. And then she’d abandoned them at the first sign of trouble.
Her own tears slipped free and she dropped her head to her hands, resting her elbows on her knees, needing the support to stay sitting upright and not curl into a ball on the floor. She caught the first sob, forcing herself to be quiet and not wake Arturo. The second sob hit, then the third. Wave after relentless wave crashed over her, the emotions forcing themselves from her body.
Why was she being punished?
She deserved it. Her conscious whispered the ugly truth. What kind of wife sent her husband off to war with a fight? Even if he was cheating, she hadn’t known at the time. So what did that make her? Selfish.
Selfish. Selfish. Selfish. She should have kept up the house and yard without complaint. She should have done so many things. And now what did she have? A post-mortem broken marriage. A daughter without a father. And possibly Arturo, who she hadn’t even thought about in the last twenty four hours.
“What are you doing? Come here.” Evie stood before her, arms crossed over her chest. She must have snuck in while Amy was distracted with her abject misery.
Amy shook her head and buried her face in her hands, uncontrollable sobs wracking her frame. She felt Evie pull her from the bed beside Arturo. Was dimly aware of leaving the bedroom and entering the kitchen. Away from the sleeping boy, her emotions ripped free of the frayed rope barely holding them in check.
“Talk to me.” Evie pulled Amy into a hug.
“I…I…I didn’t even…think about him.” She grabbed onto her friend and held tight, needing her support.
“Who?”
“Arturo. Pedro. I didn’t even check. What kind of a person am I?”
“Um, the kind who’d barely saved herself and her baby from an attack? Or the kind who’d found out her dead husband was a cheating dirt bag. Take your pick. You’re human. No one expects you to carry the burden for everyone.” Evie set Amy from her, pushing her down into a chair at the table and grabbed a tissue from the counter.
Amy took it, wiped her face, blew her nose and started crying again. Her ability to hold it all in, her control, had disappeared. “No. I should have known, I should have checked on him.”
Resurrection River: Men of Mercy, Book 2 Page 15
