Delta Salvation (Phantom Force, Book 1) (25 page)

Kai nodded.

“Go with them, Kai. I’ll be fine here. Leave scary dudes with us.” Alexa looked up at him.

Indecision warred in him.

“Go. You know if those two behemoths can’t keep me safe, I’m screwed.”

“They’ll guard her with their lives,” Rowan agreed.

“Don’t let them out of those restraints. And you,” Kai pointed at Alexa. “You can sit across from them, talk to them, but don’t under any circumstances release them until I get back.”

“Yes, sir.” She kissed him, uncaring who saw.

Before he did anything stupid, like throw her over his shoulder, Kai followed Rowan out the door. The other three men who’d come in with him stood at attention when they came out.

“Do you know what way they’re coming and how many are with them?”

After a minute, Rowan held up his hand and the three men slid out the door to the side. “There are about ten with them, but we have over a dozen surrounding their vehicle on all sides. I don’t think Tyler is with them though.”

“Son of a bitch.”

“So we keep them alive. I don’t want them riding up in here shooting the shit out of my place again. My guys are going to stop them a half a mile up the road and take them down, then bring them in. Don’t worry, it’ll be clean.”

It sounded strange to have Rowan refer to others as his guys.

“I’m going to go see if Sully has a lock on Tyler. The fucker can’t get away again.”

Sully stood at the entryway. “Just got an anonymous email. Tyler says better luck next time, and to watch our backs.”

Jaqui came in with her laptop in hand. “Smug bastard. I’ve got him. He’s in the cabin that you found Alexa last time. My guess is he thinks it’s a good place to lay low for a while.”

Kai looked at her. “You sure he’s there?”

She nodded. “I was able to trace the email back to that location.”

“I’ll send a couple trackers out there. Let’s focus on one set of crazy at a time.”

Kai stood by the door to the garage, anticipation for the men who’d hurt his woman made his trigger finger itch. Rowan’s hand on his arm kept him from racing out at the sound of the V8 engine entering the drive. “We need to be sure it’s not a trap with Tyler first. Then, don’t you think Commander Lee would want these guys?”

He hated when Rowan got all reasonable on him. Slinging the automatic behind him, he waited for the go ahead from the man beside him, even though it ate at him.

“All’s clear. Let’s go. There are only two of them. I guess one didn’t make it.”

“You such a big man, you had to send out a party to capture me. I will make trade. I know where Tyler is hiding. You give me girl.” The large man fought against the man holding him.

“What’s your name?” Kai strode toward them.

“Never you mind my name. I give you Jase Tyler. He’s the man you’ve been searching for. You have about two hours before he disappears again.”

“I get it you are not in charge. Cuff him and put him in the holding cell.” Kai dismissed the mouthy man.

The other man remained silent staring at Kai like a bug.

“Should I bring out a little girl in a frilly dress? Would that get you talking, or just excited?” Anger flared in his eyes.

“You have the Smirnov’s?” he roared, pulling away from the man holding him with surprising strength and rushing Kai.

The attack came as a surprise, but he held his ground as the man tried to tackle him. Bringing his arms up, he hammered them down onto the man he believed was Pascal’s back two times. When the arms shackling his waist released him, Kai forced the man to stand up, nailing him in the face with his fist, and then his stomach. Each time he thought to stop, he pictured Alexa and her bruised face and body, and another blow was rained down. He didn’t feel the hits the other man delivered, too focused on beating the life out of him.

As the heavy weight fell onto him, Kai stepped back and let him fall onto the stone ground, his leg lifted to give a hard kick. Only Rowan’s hand pulling him back stopped him.

“You are going to pay for this.” Pascal coughed.

Kai laughed. “Where you’re going you will pay even more. You’ll be Big Bubba’s bitch.”

He turned, aiming his anger at the mouthy man. The sound of metal scraping against concrete had him spinning, he grabbed the gun from his back and shot Pascal in the head. The gun falling useless from the man’s fingers as he lay in a pool of blood.

“Dayum, boy’s faster than you Ro,” one of the men with Rowan slapped Kai on the back.

“You gonna tell me about Tyler, or you want to meet the same fate as him.” Kai pointed at Pascal.

Basile raised his palms, then flipped them over giving them the bird.

“Always the hard way with these ones. Want me to take him in and work him over?” Rowan asked, cracking his knuckles.

Kai spared the dead man a last look. “Let’s do it. Has your guy reported in about the other?”

“We’re fast, but not that fast.”

Back inside, they tied the last man up, and then Kai looked to Rowan. “Where are the other guys that were with them?”

“My guys have them secured a distance from here. Don’t worry. No fatalities. Yet,” he growled.

Another ten minutes passed, and then they heard word that Tyler was at the cabin. Rowan’s guys were sure they could take him, but Kai didn’t want them to go in alone. Knowing Tyler he’d set up traps or explosions that would kill them all.

“I’m calling Commander Lee. I’m gonna need a cleanup on isle four.” Kai looked around the mess of Rowan’s yard through the open door.

Rowan’s men were instructed to watch and follow him if he left. Just as Tyler was pulling out of the garage, the entire house blew up. The men watching reported the man behind the wheel of the vehicle looked up as if he knew they were out there, and then shock crossed his features as the house exploded first, then the garage which rocked the vehicle.

“Well, holy shitnshynoma. Thank you jeezus that wasn’t at my place,” Rowan said as he watched the way the men were loaded up in military Humvees.

“At least you can go home without a scratch on you and your wife won’t be pissed at me.” Kai looked over at Alexa who was hugging her parents.

“You see, I was looking forward to a little tender loving care. Want to punch me?” Rowan raised his chin and pointed at his face.

“Hell no. I met your woman. She’d kick my ass.”

Rowan smiled with a look of love. “I’m a lucky bastard.”

“Go on home, and send the government a bill.”

They both snorted.

“You gonna put a ring on that?”

God, he broke out in a sweat thinking about it.

“Get out of here, you old man.”

Chapter Sixteen

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A
lexa watched the scene play out in front of her. Her parents were not wanted by any government, and although they did enter the country illegally, nobody was saying anything at the moment. She looked over her shoulder at Kai, wincing at his bruised knuckles and the blood on his once clean uniform.

She knew without being told that someone had died today, but until she had a moment alone with Kai, she wouldn’t ask. She trusted him to tell her what he could. With all the military personnel circling about, her worry was more about being separated from Alexander and Katalinia. She couldn’t call them mom and dad yet. Maybe never.

“Your young man is very handsome,” Katalinia whispered.

“He’s pretty great.” She agreed.

Alexander sniffed. “I don’t know that he is good enough for our baby.”

Rolling her eyes at that, she looked at the two people who gave her away for her own good. They had a lot to catch up on. Her life sucked, and from what they’d said theirs was no picnic, always running and scared. Up till two years ago they were not together either. However, they had money, and that was something she never had. What she knew for a fact was money didn’t buy you love, and although they wanted to give her everything they could now, she’d rather get to know them.

“We will stay here in America to get to know you better. If you will allow it?”

The tears in eyes so like her own had Alexa reaching out to Katalinia. “I’d really like that.”

“Then it is settled. You will live with us.”

Laughing, Alexa shook her head. “No, but we will take it one step at a time.”

When her parents were asked to come in for questioning, Kai assured her they were not in any trouble. Alexander asked for a phone, and had an attorney on the line within moments. She was shocked that they were able to make connections, but shouldn’t have been.

“Now, we must go and meet with our friend. Your friend, Mr. Shade said he would give us a lift into town where our friend is meeting us.”

“How is he getting here so fast?” Alexa asked.

“Always have a plan B and C, child.” Her mother tsked.

“See, I’m not the only one who does this.” Rowan brought his arm around Katalinia’s shoulder. “I always tell them. Have a plan B and C.”

As the vehicle carrying her parents away drove off she was left with Kai and his team. Darkness had fallen some time ago, yet she didn’t feel tired.

“Who’s hungry,” Coyle asked.

Three days later...

Tay stared at them from his hospital bed. Alexa was happy to see both men looking much better. The swelling had gone down, and the bruising not as vivid.

“Why is Jaqui with you? You replacing me, Cap?” Tay sat up on the side of the bed.

Kai looked between Tay and Jaqui. “Hell no. No offense, Jaq. Tay, you’re Phantom Force. What the hell’s crawled up your ass?”

“None taken. I’ll just wait outside,” Jaqui muttered.

“Oh, sure. Make me the bad guy,” Tay growled.

Jaqui turned, her laptop bag slapping her leg. “I am not making you anything. You’re an asshole. Period.”

Tay laughed. “Pretty sure that’s not what you called me last time we were together. God. Baby. A few other names, but asshole ain’t one of them.”

“I call all the men I fuck those names. That way I don’t call out the wrong name during sex. I’d hate to hurt you men’s poor little egos, especially at a delicate time like that. Sorry, did that just come out of my mouth.” She covered her mouth. “My bad.”

“You’re a fucking bitch.” He got up faster than Alexa would’ve thought possible.

“No, you are, Taylor Rouland. I’m the one who waited in that hotel room for two days. Two fucking days during my leave cause you promised you’d return. It’s no big deal,” she breathed. “It’s been a year and I’m over it. Just don’t expect me to be that same naïve little girl who believes everything that comes out of your mouth. I filled in for you. I don’t want you or your place on your team.” She looked over at Kai and the others. “It was great working with you. I’m shipping out tomorrow. Take care, Alexa.”

“What do you mean shipping out?” Tay growled.

Blonde hair braided down her back, hitting her ass swung around. “I’m active duty soldier. I only filled in until my squad was called up. We leave for Afghanistan tomorrow. Hoorah, boys.”

Alexa watched the petite SEAL leave with her back straight, but she saw the tears ready to fall.

“She’s too damn soft to go into a war zone. What the hell, man?” Tay asked.

“That woman is far from soft,” Commander Lee said. “She’s one of the best communications experts in the Navy. Why do you think I leant her to you when Rouland here got injured?”

“Find out who was helping Tyler?” Kai steered the conversation away from Tay and Jaqui. There was a storm brewing with them, and he didn’t want or need in the middle of it.

“It’s being handled. You boys get on home, and be ready when you’re needed.”

Alexa hid behind Kai, but she knew the Commander was aware of her presence.

“Come on. I’m taking the next week to devote to Alexa. You guys take it easy, and don’t call me.”

Alexa pinched his side. “Kayan Swift. Don’t say such outrageous things.”

“Hey, I’m just being polite. If they call while I’m having sexy time with you, I’ll be all mean and shit.”

The four men in the room laughed, but nodded.

She tossed up her hands. “Fine. Let’s go have sexy time. I think you have a lot to make up for.”

Kai bent and tossed her over his shoulder. “See you in a week, and not a day sooner.” Alexa smacked his ass. “Alright, you can come over in a couple days. I’ll call you and set it up. We’re using Rowan’s cabin, so there’ll be room. But,” he pointed at his team. “Only after I call you.”

“You’re not going to carry me through the hospital over your shoulder, are you?” Alexa asked.

He slapped her on her behind, making her giggle at the little tap. “Woman, I thought this was romantic? It was even in a movie about a military man and stuff.”

Alexa started laughing. “That was so not how it happened. But I love you anyway.”

He pulled her into his arms, cradling her to his chest. “Not as much as I love you, Alexa. God created you for me, you know that right? Had you not been born, my life wouldn’t be nearly as bright as it is with you in it.”

“Aw, isn’t that the sweetest thing in the world?” A nurse whispered.

“See, I told you it was romantic.” Kai strode through the halls of the hospital in his military fatigues holding Alexa, and she didn’t want to be anywhere else. Well, in bed with him, but that was coming. She smiled.

“You’re thinking about getting naked with me aren’t you,” he whispered at the elevator.

“Always.”

“Damn, I’m a lucky SEAL.”

“You’re my salvation is what you are.”

His head bent, and all words were silenced as they kissed and missed the elevator as it opened and shut.

The End

About Elle Boon

Elle Boon lives in Middle-Merica as she likes to say...with her husband, two kids, and a black lab who is more like a small pony. She’d never planned to be a writer, but when life threw her a curve, she swerved with it, since she’s athletically challenged. She’s known for saying “Bless Your Heart” and dropping lots of F-bombs, but she loves where this new journey has taken her.

She writes what she loves to read, and that is romance, whether it’s erotic or paranormal, as long as there is a happily ever after. Her biggest hope is that after readers have read one of her stories, they fall in love with her characters as much as she did. She loves creating new worlds and has more stories just waiting to be written. Elle believes in happily ever afters, and can guarantee you will always get one with her stories.