“Agreed. Apparently Nathan likes to be the head cheese too. So he dropped out of the program, became a cop, fudged some credentials and landed in Alaska. This case was just a happy accident for him. He took over as the spokesman, wanting the attention, craving it. The FBI and the U.S. Marshals want him to consider going back into the program. He has refused and the local authorities have his back. They say they’re keeping him and there’s nothing the Feds can do about it.”
She laughed. “Yeah, there’s a turf war brewing here between Feds and locals. The local law doesn’t like the federal agents much so it doesn’t surprise me that they’re standing up for Nathan.”
“I think they’re planning to use him for everything they can. Now that they know there’s still an active cell in Alaska they want them—all of them.”
“Really? Well, now that could get interesting.”
“Henri, what are you plotting?”
“Nothing at all,” she assured him. “I have my own things going on I don’t need a Russian neo-mafia war to add to it.”
He shook his head. “Thanks for the lift. Get the truck back for me.”
“I will. And Jet…I’m glad it worked out for the two of you.”
Jet could tell she was talking about more than just his bringing Akira down off that mountain. “Me too,” he said. “Me too. Now, I’m going to get her home. Her parents are desperate to see her.”
“Nice meeting you, Akira. I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”
Jet watched Akira smile politely and return the courteous response of it being nice to meet her too. When he got Akira onto the plane he talked with the pilot first and then took the seat across from Akira. He smiled as they started taking off. “She’s just a friend—always has been, always will be.”
She laughed. “You are too perceptive. She’s gorgeous.”
“She’s pretty,” he admitted. “But when it comes to a woman whose beauty takes my breath away that would be you. Your spirit, your heart, even your outer beauty—you have me completely, Akira. I’m completely yours.”
“Good, because I’m completely yours too.”
When the plane leveled off he unsnapped her seatbelt and pulled her into his arms. There is where she sat for the duration of the flight and together they slept as he held her in his arms.
Chapter Ten
The private car waiting for them at the airport had the dark tinted windows he knew they would need. Alex had told him the media circus was camped out in front of their house. They didn’t know that Akira was on the way home. The police hadn’t released that information in their press conference, but the media had been outside the gates to Aaron’s estate waiting to get a glimpse of him or a statement from him.
“I feel like I need more sleep,” she eased onto the back seat and scooted over for Jet to have a space. He laughed.
“You look like you need more sleep too.”
“Get out,” she pushed her hand against his shoulder playfully. “Maybe I should try to see if my mom left any lipstick or something in here. I don’t wear makeup, but I probably need something to take attention away from the bruises.”
“You look fine,” he pulled her closer to his body and wrapped his arm around her. “You’re beautiful, nothing will ever change that.”
“You’re beautiful too…pretty…cute,” she laughed. “Very handsome.”
“Thanks.”
“You have some bruises here,” she tipped her head back and kissed him on his cheek. He knew he had bruises. He expected as much because while one bastard held him down he took a world class beating from the other.
“Thanks to you I’ll live.”
She smiled at him. “Well, from what I remember you are probably more bruised than just here.” She brushed her finger over his cheek.
“Abs, ribs…you name it and it’s probably going to be bruised.” He held her just a little tighter. “He got a couple kicks into my thigh too.”
“Oh,” she sighed. “Later, I’ll have to kiss them all for you and make them better.”
“Promises,” he pushed stray strands of hair back from her face. She had ditched the scrunchie and had left her hair down and pulled back, but she still had a few curls that felt the need to fall in her face and cover those beautiful eyes.
“I mean every one of those promises too.”
“We’ll get to that,” he assured her. “After we’re married. I won’t take you before that.”
“But…wait, did you just say after we’re married?”
He nodded. “That is if you want me on a forever basis. I have to ask for your father’s permission first.”
“I want you,” she said quickly. “I want you forever and always. You don’t have to ask my dad.”
“Oh yes I do. I’m going to do this right. I’ve already asked you for permission and that’s the most important part, but I am going to be a man and talk with your father. I’ll let him know how much I love you, will always love you and will take care of you and protect you. I’ll state my case as to why I’m the best man for his only daughter.”
“And if he were to say no?”
“Then I’ll just have to work harder to prove it to him. And I’m sure after we’re married he would come around.”
She laughed. The sound of her laugh was like heaven to his ears. He loved her laugh, her voice, her honest innocence. He loved her. He had every intention of marrying this woman. There would never be anybody else for him. He wanted her father’s and her mother’s blessing, but he would marry her with or without it. This kind of love didn’t come around too often and he was a firm believer that when he found the right woman he wouldn’t let her go. Well, he had found the right woman. He had started to think he never would, but he had, and he wasn’t walking away from her or from the love they shared.
When they pulled through the gated estate and the driver pulled around back he gave Akira one more kiss. “You’re home.”
“So I am,” she smiled. “It feels really good to be here, to be safe, and I owe it all to you.”
“And to yourself too. You did really well back there, and you helped save my life too. Don’t forget that. Now, come on; your parents are waiting for you.” He pointed out the window. Her parents were already standing and waiting as if in shock, wondering if it was really them. He saw Alex was still there as well.
When the driver opened the door he got out and then extended his hand to Akira in order to help her out as well. When she turned around and saw her parents he could see the realization in her eyes, she may have known it before, but now she could truly feel how safe she was. She could truly process the reality of being home.
“Mom; Dad.” She ran to them and threw her arms around them. Jet stepped away from the car giving the driver room to continue around the circular drive. Aaron had designed his home in a unique fashion. One horse shoe drive in the front that had an off shoot to wrap around the back of the house and then reconnect at the other side of the front drive. It was like a double horseshoe with the house in the center of one and a water feature in the center of the other. The man had style, although he would imagine Sakura had a lot to do with the design given the Japanese inspired look out back.
“Oh, my poor baby.” Sakura took in Akira’s bruises and split lip. Jet could see the frown on Alex’s face too. None of them liked to have a constant reminder that the person they went to save had endured torture. Usually those people were just the package, but that didn’t mean that looking at a woman with bruises from torture didn’t leave a bitter taste in their mouth. When it turned out to be somebody they knew and loved then that bitter taste amplified and sparked sheer rage.
“I’m okay,” she hugged her mother once more. “I’m just a little bruised, but nothing’s broken.” She looked back to Jet and smiled. She extended her hand for him to come forward and so he did. When he reached her side she took his hand in her hand. “He saved my life, and yet he still has a hard time with me thanking him.”
Jet gave a gentle squeeze to her hand. “I told you, you don’t have to thank me.”
“I do,” Aaron said sternly. “You saved our girl. If there is ever anything, and I mean anything, that you need from me you call me. You can call me day or night, it doesn’t matter what time it is when you call.”
“Absolutely,” Sakura said. “If you need a kidney Aaron would gladly give you one.”
“That I would, provided I’m a match.”
Jet laughed. “Well I don’t think I’ll need anything that drastic,” he shook his head. “But I would like to ask for one thing, and I don’t want you to feel obligated to say yes.”
“Name it,” Aaron looked as if he were ready to pull out a checkbook or a cell phone to make whatever he needed happen.
“I’d like to ask for your blessing to marry Akira—both of your blessings.”
Alex looked as if he was shell shocked that Jet had asked while Akira’s parent’s had mixed facial expressions. He knew Alex knew how he felt about Akira even if he hadn’t admitted it to anybody—not even himself. Alex had a way of figuring this relationship stuff out when it came to everybody but himself. Alex knew how he felt, but he hadn’t seen the marriage word coming yet, and Jet could tell that from the expression on his face.
“It’s about time,” Sakura said.
“You knew?” Aaron looked at her in shock, which made Jet wonder just what Alex had told the man while he was off saving Akira. He would have to ask him about that later.
“I knew she was in love with him. She looks at him the way I look at you. She had that same spark in her eyes that I had the first time we met. A mother knows these things. But she wanted to pretend that nobody knew so I let her. I was hoping it would go well for her the way it has for us.”
“Mom,” she hugged her. “I should have known you knew.”
“You were very happy whenever he came around…a different kind of happy. It is why I kept inviting him for tea and dinner, and putting his name on the invite list for special events. I was unsure how many more we could invite you to, Jet, before one of you finally made a move.”
Jet laughed as did Aaron. “Well I will admit she made the first move. It just took me a while to get over my fear. But I promise both of you that I will love her. I will protect her. I will never hurt her.”
“We know that,” Sakura said. “You have my blessing. In fact, I have been planning a wedding…”
“Mom,” she moaned.
“I knew you would marry eventually.”
“You have my blessing too,” Aaron shook his hand. “I couldn’t imagine a better man for my daughter. When did you have in mind?”
“As soon as possible,” Jet said. “I would like the guys to be there. They’re not just my colleagues, they're my family too. And of course my mother and father; I would love for you all to meet them. They live in Colorado now, but I would very much want to have them at the wedding.”
Aaron nodded. “I’ll fly your family in and we can have it right here. This yard is big enough and beautiful enough to host a wedding.”
Akira and Jet nodded. “I think we can put a wedding together in three months.” Jet said and Alex agreed.
“I’ll help for sure. I’ll even take your cases so you can be here.”
“I’ll do you one better,” Sakura said. “I can have this wedding planned and ready to go in less than two months.”
“Mom, Jet may want a little time to adjust to his singleness leaving him.”
Jet laughed. “I’m already adjusted. I say let’s do it.”
“Perfect,” Sakura clapped her hands together and then took hold of Akira’s hand. “We will go get started planning.”
“Mom, I really want a hot shower and a warm bed.”
“Fine, then I will get started planning.” She said as she walked away with Akira. Jet noticed how Akira looked back to him and smiled.
“Ah, my wife is a bit of a…planner.”
“Good choice of words,” Alex laughed.
“Well saying she can be obsessive and a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to parties would only get me in trouble if she were in earshot.”
“I still heard that,” she yelled from the kitchen patio doors.
“Oh, God help me.” Aaron mumbled.
Jet and Alex laughed.
“Oh you just wait. Akira has a lot of me in her, but she has her mother locked inside her too. You just wait to see.” He chuckled. “Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you. I promise you won’t be sorry for welcoming me.”
“Oh I know that. You’re an honorable man. I think the two of you will be good for each other. Now, while Sakura is planning and Akira is getting some rest why don’t we sit out here and have a drink before you go get some rest? You look like hell, but I have to toast to this occasion.”
Jet and Alex took a seat at the table on the outside deck while Aaron went inside to grab the Bacardi.
“Congratulations, Jet. I’m glad you found her—that woman you were waiting for.”
“Thanks. You know you’re going to find yours too.”
Alex shrugged. “Maybe. But right now I’m just going to bask in the knowledge that you and Micah are going to be the married men in the group while I’m still single.”
“Preston’s single too.”
“Preston’s still married to Ariana and you know it. It’s not legal but that man’s heart never divorced her.”
“Yeah, I know. I wish he would let go of whatever stubborn pride he’s holding onto and go get his woman.”
“She’s living in Round Rock you know. He keeps tabs on her and still won’t go. But we’ll figure him out later. Right now let’s just enjoy your good news and your safe return.”
Jet nodded acknowledging Alex’s words. He would have time to sort out Preston’s predicament later. Right now he needed to focus on the fact that if things went according to plan he and Akira would be married in less than two months. Amazingly, the thought of being married so quickly didn’t scare him at all. That’s how he knew it was right; she was right; they were right. He loved her. He would always love her. And in less than two months she would be his wife and he would be her husband. Life just didn’t get any better than that.
Epilogue
Akira wrapped the pale blue and gold silk flower brocade robe around her naked body. Her mother had given it to her as a wedding present. She had it specially made on a rush order and shipped from Japan because as she had said, “the first night should be special which means your attire should be special as well.” She had specially ordered everything and when it arrived she had given it to her, beautifully wrapped and ready for her to pack away. Her father had gifted them the use of the plane and the second home he had purchased on Kauai a few years ago. Their honeymoon was waiting for them; all they had to do was show up.
She stepped out onto the patio and wrapped her arms around Jet’s naked torso, placing her open palms against his chest and her cheek against his back. “This is so perfect.”
“Yes it is.” He placed his hand over her hand and she snuggled just a little closer.
“I still can’t believe my mother put a wedding together in less than two months.”
“A wedding and the honeymoon,” he reminded her. “Your mother was a woman on a mission.”
She laughed. “But you did want to come here right?”
He turned from her embrace and once he faced her he pulled her back against his body and into his arms. “Do you remember what you said to me in Alaska? You said you wanted to go some place warm when it was all over. What better place than Hawaii. Warm, beautiful, paradise, and I’m here with the woman I love.” He placed a soft kiss on her lips. “You could have asked me to go to Antarctica and I would have gladly gone with you.”
She laughed. “Well good, because I did have a hand in planning you know.”
“I know. I saw you working hard with your mother while your father kept me busy. He asked me if I planned to quit the S
quadron.”
“I hope you told him no. That is your passion. You can’t quit.”
He smiled and she wondered why. “I did tell him no. I told him you and I could work it out and he agreed. I was hoping you felt the same way. I guess I should have talked to you about it before the wedding but I was afraid you might change your mind.”
“Jet,” she said as she shook her finger at him. “I love you. I knew what you did before I fell in love with you, before I said yes to marrying you; I would never ask you to give that up. If I couldn’t handle it I would have turned away before I fell so hard for you.”
On Thin Ice (Special Ops) Page 13
