I step back into the bedroom, more than a bit shocked. “Ryker, do they have you over a barrel? Do you have to go on this mission or they’ll do something to you?”
He just stares at me then blinks once, slowly. I can see they are using something to make him go on this mission. Taking his hand, I pull him back to the bed.
I’ve been so upset with this whole thing, I’ve hardly been intimate with him at all. He’s been in training for hours every single day. And one weekend they kept them at the training facility for two nights. When he came back home, he was kind of stiff-necked.
I run my hands up his arms after I climb onto his lap as he sits on the bed. “Make love to me.” Moving my hands over his shoulders, I send them on a path to check the back of his neck. When he reaches up, taking my hands in his to stop me, I know he must have some type of implant back there I’m not supposed to find.
“Baby, you don’t know how good it is to hear you say that.” His lips brush mine, sending sparks through me. “It’s been so damn long since you’ve let me touch you.”
“I’m not going to fight you about this anymore.” I know now that he’s pretty much at the mercy of the men who’ve set this whole thing up. I’m not about to put any more pressure on him about it. I’m going to stop them, though. I’m not sure how I’m going to do it but I am going to stop it.
He moves me off his lap and onto the bed. Unbuttoning my pajama shirt, he moves it off me as he looks at my breasts. His hands move over them then he leans over and takes one into his mouth. When he makes a gentle suck, it hurts like hell. I hold back a yelp and grit my teeth.
Trying to send him on to better places, I reach out and grab the bottom of his T-shirt and pull it off, over his head, making him leave my tender breasts alone.
He smiles as he pulls my pajama bottoms off then gets rid of his too. My pink satin panties are all that’s left between us and he grins at me as he rips them off me. I shudder with the action. It’s been three months since he and I have done a thing.
“You’ve lost weight, Gia.” He runs his hand over my flat stomach then over my hip bones which are jutting out. “You must eat.”
“I will. I promise.” I bite my lip as I’ve let things go as I’ve done little else, other than worry about him leaving.
Slowly, he moves his hands up my sides as he moves to cover my body with his. His lips meet mine and he gives me his sweet kiss. Desire rips through me and an instant need for him fills me.
His kiss grows intense in no time and our bodies grind together as they fight to get to the good stuff. I move my legs all over his then spread them wide for him. When he eases his hard cock into me, I groan with how good it feels and so does he. “Gia, my God.”
“Ryker,” I moan his name and run my nails over his back.
He moves in a slow rhythm, making my body heat and shiver at the same time. His lips press against my neck then he bites it with a softness that sends another set of chills over my body.
Every touch, every movement, further cements the idea in my mind that I have to do something to stop the mission he’s seemed to be so down to go on.
Arching up to him, I spur him on until he’s raging with an animal-like need for me. My hands move all over him, rubbing, clawing, raking. Then I move one of them in a circular pattern while the other moves up to the back of his neck.
I only get the smallest touch before he takes my hand and holds it down. But I felt something. A tiny bump, but he’s trying his best to hide it. I know it’s some kind of a device to track him or maybe even run him.
There’s no reason to ask him a thing about it. I know now that he can’t tell me or anyone else a thing. I begin to feel tremendous guilt over how I’ve treated him.
When I haven’t been cold and distant, I’ve been bitchy and vindictive. A thing I’m ashamed of myself for now. I should’ve known there had to be extenuating circumstances for him going.
“Gia, baby, I love you so much,” he whispers in my ear then bites my earlobe.
“Ryker, I’m so sorry.” Tears flow like rivers as remorse tortures me. I have to do something to help him!
All the money in the world isn’t helping him to do what he really wants. It seems maybe my mind, the thing he always saw as my best attribute, is about the only thing that can save him from this thing.
The waves of pleasure rumble through me and I’m shouting his name over and over with each surge. With a groan, he joins me, letting our bodies reconnect in the way they love to but I’ve denied them.
“Ryker, I love you.”
“I love you, Gia.”
Now I have to figure out what I have to do to save him.
RYKER
“You tell me how in the hell we’re supposed to do this thing,” I shout at the man in charge of our team, Captain Smithfield.
He looks at me with a frown so deep, his wrinkles have wrinkles. “Crawford, you know this mission is important to mankind. You were all in, up until a couple of weeks ago.”
“After the implant was placed in us, I lost faith in this whole thing. I’ve felt weird since that moment. I’ve felt unlike myself. I want it removed. I want out of this. I think there’s a lot of lying that’s happening and I think we’ve been chosen to man this mission based on the fact the six of us are the top people who’ve made the discoveries that are needed to make life on Mars a reality. Get rid of us, get rid of the idea of going there.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” His heels click as he turns away from me. “What’s gotten into you?”
“The implant, possibly. I’ve had nightmares and thought things I’ve never thought about before. Things that scare me. I’ve also had thoughts about why all the governments want this stopped. I came up with a plausible reason too. Money.”
“There’s more than you six who pay taxes, Crawford. I think you’re being paranoid.” He takes a seat behind his large oak desk and takes out a pad of paper. “I’m sending you to the shrink. You need to be reevaluated.”
“Send me to the clinic to have this thing removed. I won’t be going on that mission. And I’m about to make sure it doesn’t happen at all. You seem to think we’re all idiots. I’m not talking about only our tax dollars, I’m talking about everyone who leaves this planet. This corrupt planet.”
He sighs and points at the chair in front of his desk. “Crawford, you’re a smart man. All of you are. What none of you understand is the fact that I own you all. You signed a contract and I’m holding you to it.”
“That’s a contract that will ensure our deaths. Not only will you be able to get rid of us but all other missions will be stopped as the planet will be deemed too dangerous.” I lean up and glare at him. “Do I need to go public with this?”
“With what, your conspiracy theory?” He laughs, infuriating me.
“With the truth, Smithfield. The truth about how you have us all made into highly trained assassins now. You took six men. All of us smarter than your average person and all of us with one wish. To see Mars and live there. Now, you tell me what the world would think about what you’ve done with us. Why make us into killing machines?”
“You saw the pictures of what you’ll be up against. If we were to show the common people what’s there, in their universe, there’d be chaos the likes this world has never seen before. Would you want that, Crawford?”
“There are only six of us and those things are huge. How can you expect us to take them all out?”
“With the specialized weapons, we’ve made. You know that. It’s almost like the last few months have ceased to exist in your head. Perhaps the implant is messing up. Maybe the clinic is where you need to go. This isn’t like you. Not one bit. You’ve always been my best man for this mission. You were full of passion for it, in the beginning.”
Shaking my head, I say, “That was because I thought it was real then. I don’t anymore. I think it’s a setup to get rid of us and the whole Mars program.”
“Look, the disc
overies you’re combined industries have made can help more than people who want to live on Mars. They can help people here too. Yet, none of you want to share your discoveries with anyone here. Why is that?”
“Why is it you’re just now asking this question? It cements exactly what I’ve been thinking. You get rid of us, the owners and CEO’s of the top six space exploration companies, then what?” I hold up my hand to stop him from answering the question. “I’ll tell you what. Then the governments come in and take over our companies that we’ve worked so hard for. They take our technologies and use them. Making the government’s money that should belong to us and our shareholders.”
“Wow, you really have an active imagination,” he says as he writes something on the pad of paper. “Let me make a call to get you into the clinic right away. I’m afraid major paranoia is setting in. That implant needs to be replaced. I’m not letting you out of the contract you signed. If I have to keep you here for the next three days, until the shuttle leaves, then I will.”
Sitting back, I cross my arms over my chest and smile at him. “You do that and my wife will tear this place apart to find me.”
“I’m supposed to be afraid of a little woman?” he asks with a laugh.
“You should. She’s kind of a pit bull when it comes to me.” I can see he’s not taking me seriously.
I know he can keep me here. I can’t even leave this office without him opening the door, using his retina. But I can count on Gia to find me. She knows I’m here after all.
A knock at the door, has me looking back at it and he hits a button under his desk then leans over. A green light moves over his eye then the door opens. Two men in camouflage uniforms come in and I see where we’re headed with this.
“These men will escort you to the clinic where a new implant will be inserted and the old one will be removed. I hope to see you back to your normal self soon, Crawford. Either way, you’re going on the mission.”
I look at the mindless goons and ask them, “Do either of you think it’s right to send a man to outer space without his consent? And with possible mental issues, as the captain thinks I’m having?” Neither looks at me, both look straight ahead. I look at Smithfield and smile. “And you’re going to tell my wife what exactly?”
“That we’re quarantining you all until the shuttle leaves. For health reasons.”
None of the other men are in the facility at this time. So, I have my doubts about him being able to get them to come in and submit to being held here for their last few days on Earth with their loved ones.
“You do that.” I turn around and walk out of his office, flanked by the men who will make sure I get to the clinic.
No one has any idea that Gia and Damien have a past. She will call him when she gets this news, I’m sure. Then we’ll see what happens.
I never thought I’d be happy about her having a past with that man but things seem to always happen for a reason!
GIA
“So, what you’re telling me is that I can’t see my husband before he goes on a mission he might not come back from?” I ask the man who’s called me to tell me Ryker and the rest of the team will be kept at the facility until the shuttle leaves.
“There will be a brief chance to talk to him when they leave this facility to get on the shuttle. This is for their health, Mrs. Crawford.”
“And why did this suddenly occur?”
“Our doctors decided this. You can come to the lift-off in three days at nine in the morning. See you then.” He hangs up and I’m left shaking as I hold my phone in one hand and the pregnancy test I just took in the other.
I drop the phone and look to find out what the results are. Positive!
And I can’t even tell the baby’s father the good news!
Picking my cell back up, I call the only other man I know who’s on the team with Ryker. “Hi,” Damien answers his cell. “It’s good to hear from you, Gia. I’m glad you’ve called.”
“Um, okay.” I hesitate as I’m not sure what the hell to say. “Damien, how come I can talk to you but not my husband?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I just got a call from Captain Smithfield that said all of you are being kept at the facility for the next three days until the shuttle leaves. For health reasons. So, why are you able to have your phone but Ryker’s not?”
Confusion is threaded through his deep voice, “What are you talking about?”
“I think something’s wrong, Damien.”
“I’ll go up there and find out what’s going on,” he says. “I’ll get back to you soon.”
“Wait! What if they keep you too?” I ask him as I’m starting to get really worried about this whole thing. Even more, than I already was.
“I don’t see how they could do that. I wanted to ask you something, though. Do you suppose it would be too much to ask you to watch out for Svetlana and Friedrich while I’m gone? And could you make sure they make it onto the Russian shuttle when it leaves?”
“Uh, really?” I ask him as that kind of is too much to ask of me.
“Yes,” he says with a soft tone. “It’s hard for me to leave here without them. Unfortunately, it’s necessary for everyone’s safety.”
“Damien, what’s the deal with Mars? What is it that you six are supposed to go and do what will ensure the safety of all others who will come after you?”
“I’m not at…”
I interrupt him, “…Liberty to discuss that. Yeah, I know. I just thought for a moment that you might want to let me in on it. I know you all have had some type of an implant placed at the back of your neck.”
“I don’t know where you’d get a silly idea like that, Gia.” I hear another ringing sound in the background. “Can you hold on a minute? I’m getting another call.”
“I can.”
I can hear him as he answers the other phone. “Markov here. And why is that, sir? I am currently on my private cell phone with her right now. She’s wondering why I’m not being kept at the facility, Captain Smithfield. When did you decide to do that? Is he okay now? I see. Yes, I can go in. Can you give me a little while to tell some people what I’m doing? A half hour. Yes, sir.”
“Damien?”
“Gia, I have to go. I’m sorry about this. I really am. See if you can’t find it in your heart to do what I’ve asked about my family. You’re the only one who knows who they are to me. Try to get them to me on Mars.”
“Damien, something’s not right. What’s happened to Ryker? What have they done to him?”
“I think you know I can’t discuss that with you. He’s alright. Just know that. I have thirty minutes to get to the facility. I have to get going. Please do as I’ve asked you to.” He ends the call, leaving me hanging.
With another phone call, I make my way to grab my purse and head out to the facility that’s taken over my husband. “Hi, I’m going to need your help with a situation. Are you still dating that news reporter?”
“Yes, why?” my colleague from work, Brittney, tells me.
“Can you grab him and meet me at 405 East Callahan Street? I’m going to need the media’s help to get to the bottom of this mission Ryker’s been asked to go on. It seems he’s been forced to go and now he’s being kept at the facility under false pretenses.”
“Oh, Lord!” she says with shock. “I’ll get him and meet you there.”
Ending the call, I get into my car and start it then I stop and think about how much time Ryker’s been spending locked in his office and how his office is always locked now. Getting out of the car, I head back inside to get into his home office to see if he’s been hiding anything from me.
Of course, I find the door locked, so I go get a knife out of the kitchen and run it between the door frame and the lock, jimmying it open. Taking the knife with me, I find the top drawer of his desk locked too and I stab at it until I get it open too. A file is in it and little else.
Pulling it out, I open it and find a picture of
something that looks out of this world. A huge creature with giant teeth and sharp claws, the likes of which I’ve never seen before. And there are dozens more of them in the background. I pull it out and see a page behind it that reads, ‘objective, get rid of these creatures before population begins.’
So, that’s what they’re sending them to do. Kill these things, so others can go there.
Not my man, not him!
Part 9 - The Differences
RYKER
Pain radiates down my spine as the doctor pushes a needle into the spot next to the implant on the back of my neck to numb it, so it can be removed. The two men, who escorted me to the clinic, are standing just outside the door of the small examination room they brought me to. My mind is a flurry of ideas about how the hell to get out of this place in one piece.
“There’s a small amount of redness around the implant,” he says as the numbing medicine begins to work. I can feel him pushing it but it doesn’t hurt. “Have you been trying to take this out yourself?”
I keep my answer short. “No.” But I have been trying to get it out. It’s impossible to get at it on my own. A thing I’m sure that was thought of when they decided where to place these things on us, in the first place.
“This is an important device for you to have, Mr. Crawford. You have to be careful with this area. Captain Smithfield has written on this report that yours seems to be malfunctioning. Giving you paranoid thoughts. Can you explain to me what kinds of thoughts you’ve been having?”
Hesitating, as I think about what to say, I finally ask him, “How long have you been a part of this organization?”
“Not long,” he says as he goes over to pick up a tray of surgical tools. A sharp scalpel catches my eye as the overhead light catches the silver object, making it gleam. “A bit over a year. When the team was formed.”
“I thought the pictures from Mars with the creatures just got back to NASA four months ago.” I watch him pick up the sharp scalpel and grit my teeth as I know he’s about to slice my neck open.
Rockstar Untamed: A Single Dad Virgin Romance Page 123
