SEALs of Honor: Markus (24 page)
T
he Anchorage police
station wasn’t what she expected. Yet the sand colored building was similar to others she’d seen, so she didn’t know why she was surprised. Markus held the door for her as they entered. The entire unit was here in some capacity. The prisoner had been handed over last night, but there were meetings scheduled today. After all, the brass wanted reports from both sides of the table.
“I thought you’d like to know that Jake is awake and trying to escape the hospital,” Markus said, startling a laugh from Bree. “And Boomer’s condition has been upgraded. It looks like he’ll be okay.”
“I’d rather be on the way home,” she muttered.
“Hmm. Have you called your father yet?”
“You know I haven’t,” she said. “I’ve been with you the whole time. Besides, I don’t have a phone.”
“You could consider coming and staying at my house instead.”
She froze mid-step then turned to stare at him. “As in I have a spare bedroom, and feel free to use it for a week or two while I figure out my job situation?” she asked cautiously.
“Considering you really don’t want to go back to your father’s…”
“Ah,” she said, disappointed.
She felt his glance, but they were being approached by a policewoman who smiled and led them into a decent size room with a large table. She hated the resemblance to what she imagined an interview room would look like. She hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Relax,” Markus murmured at her side. “You’re only answering a few questions.”
“I know,” she whispered. “But something about this atmosphere makes me feel guilty even though I haven’t done anything wrong to feel guilty about.”
“Not an issue.” He squeezed her fingers.
She stared down at his fingers laced between her own. “Thanks for seeing this through with me.”
“I have no plans to dump you on the side of the highway,” he said calmly. “And my offer of a place to stay–”
The door opened, cutting off his words.
Damn it.
She sighed. He squeezed her fingers again. She knew he understood. This and so many other things in her life. How had she gotten so lucky?
Two men sat down opposite them. The cops didn’t look as intimidating as she thought they would.
That didn’t make the process any faster though. By the time she was done, her voice was dry and she couldn’t dredge any more information out of her brain if she tried.
“That was very helpful. Now to find this missing man.”
“Particularly considering Barry has no siblings,” the taller of the two men said.
“I didn’t see him for very long,” she said apologetically.
“Not an issue. You’ve been a big help. We’ll bring in a sketch artist, grab as close a likeness as we can and we’ll run with that.”
She slumped in place as they walked out. Markus got up and stood behind her, gently massaging away the built up tension in her shoulders. “Sorry it’s so hard, Bree.”
“It’s not hard, it’s…” she stopped as she tried to find the right word, “draining.”
“Another hour and you’ll be done.” He leaned in and gave her a tender kiss. “You’re doing great.”
“No, I’m not.” She sighed. “I’m whining.”
The door opened to let another man in. He wore a baseball cap and shirt with lots of pockets. Each full of pens. She loved it. He had a large sketchbook in his hand.
“Okay, let’s get started.”
She glanced at the pad and back again. Surely this would be easier with her eyes closed.
It took a moment to get into the rhythm.
She sat with her back turned and tried to describe the man she’d seen. “He was clean shaven with a thick jaw and high cheekbones.” As she continued to sort through the description in her head, Markus squeezed her hand and stood up. He went to the door and walked out, calling out, “I’m going to get you a bottle of water.”
Of course he’d seen what she needed before she had.
She finally came to a stop and turned to look at the diagram. “Not even close.” She sighed and glanced at the artist’s face, wondering what to say to help the situation. Then looked back at the image.
Her mind once again went clickety click
click.
And she couldn’t breathe. Hell, she couldn’t do anything but stare in shock at the piss poor likeness on the page.
Maybe she should have told the asshole to look in the mirror when he drew the missing man. Because she was almost positive the artist was the man they were looking for. And wouldn’t that be a perfect cover for him? He had the police training to be the shooter dodging them the last few days. And Anchorage was close enough to come back and forth.
Why did this keep happening to her?
And where the hell was Markus when she needed him? She was a damn piss poor liar, and if there was ever a time she needed to do better in that department it was now. She swallowed hard, her mind working furiously searching for a way out.
The doorknob turned, but it was locked on the inside. She got up to open it, but the artist shot out an arm and pinned her to the chair.
“You recognized me, didn’t you?” He glared at her. “From the diner.”
She stared mutely at the bearded man she hadn’t initially recognized with his new facial hair. What could she say? She nodded.
“God damn it,” he said in a low hard voice.
“Let me go,” she whispered. “You don’t need me.”
“Hell no, you’re my ticket out of here.” He stood up, dragging her to her feet.
Oh please not.
He grabbed her around the neck as pounding started on the doorway.
“Bree?” Markus called through the door.
“Ye–” Her voice ended in a strangled exclamation as the artist tightened the choke hold on her neck.
“She can’t answer you,” he called out.
There was an ugly silence from the other side of the door.
“If you hurt her,” Markus snarled.
“I won’t if you let me get out of here,” the artist cried. “I want my freedom.”
“You’re not going to get it, you know,” Bree said calmly. “Those guys out there are going to pick you up and slam you into tomorrow.”
“No, you’re my insurance.”
“Hell no, I’m not. I’m no one’s insurance, I’m already dead. They don’t give a shit about me,” she said. “You lost your chance. You should have taken the big guy hostage. He’s worth something.”
“No way, he’s a fucking SEAL. He’d take me out before I made it to the doorway.” The artist snickered. “But he cares about you, and I’ll kill you dead right this fucking instant if they don’t let me out.”
“We’ll let you leave the station,” a strange official sounding voice called from the main offices. “Jeremy, don’t you hurt her.”
“I won’t have a choice if you don’t let me get away,” he answered harshly. “I’ve got a vehicle just outside. Let me get to it and give me twenty-four hours. You’ll never see me again.”
“Why would you want to leave anyway?” Bree couldn’t help asking. “They are just going to hunt you down. You and Barry. What is he, your cousin? Better to give it up now.”
“Like hell. My cousin is probably already back in California, hoping to stay clean of this mess. Like that’s going to happen. Greg wasn’t supposed to do anything to bring attention to the cabin until we were ready to go. And kidnapping was never on the menu. Barry always looks after himself before anyone else. Well if I’m going down, so is he. This was all his idea. I’m not spending my life behind bars for no one.”
“What have you done? You weren’t part of the kidnapping nor did you beat up Boomer.” Then she stopped, anger building inside. “But you might have shot Jake.” At the look on his face she said in outrage, “Why? And why let your pet firebug destroy everything? It was supposed to be just a robbery of the Wells Fargo banks. Not all this ugliness.”
At the name Wells Fargo, his gaze flattened to a dark deadliness that had her shaking inside.
“You don’t know nothing and I had no choice. I was trying to save the situation,” he snarled. “Now shut up.”
She quieted, her mind furiously churning away inside. Surely the cops had heard him and were already making arrangements to pick up Barry. Preferably now. He’d shot Jake and Markus then too. That wasn’t something the men outside would forgive. Hell, if she could she’d take the asshole down herself for that. The room was small with only one way in or out and no windows. She knew Markus would be having a fit. “Markus, it’s okay. He won’t hurt me.”
There was no answer but for a half growl.
“I’m feeling okay. Just really tired – just need a nap and soon.” Would he get the message? “Like I am seriously close to dropping.”
“I’m coming out now,” Jeremy called out. “If anyone tries to stop me, I’ll break her neck.”
“I’d really rather you didn’t,” she muttered, crying out as he yanked her toward the door, his arm secure around her neck. The only good thing was he didn’t have a weapon.
“Stay back,” Jeremy yelled, tightening his grip around her neck and reaching for the handle of the door. He pulled it open to find the entire station lined up in front of them. Bree smiled reassuringly at Markus, but he wasn’t studying her, he had a look of complete and utter boredom on his face.
“You could at least look like you care,” she gasped affronted.
Jeremy snorted. “Oh he cares, just look at his hands.”
Sure enough Markus’s fingers were splayed like claws, just waiting for the right time. She tried to twist to look back at the SEALs. “Any time would be good, guys.”
“Not happening.” Jeremy dragged her forward through the gauntlet.
“Bree?” Markus called.
“Yes,” she yelled back then choked as the grip on her neck tightened. Were they going to stop this madman?
“Drop.”
And she went completely limp. As in dead weight. As in too much for Jeremy to suddenly compensate for.
“Shit.” He tried to grab her but it was awkward. He tried to drag her, but that didn’t work. While she watched, he turned to assess the door, then dropped her and made a run for it.
Except he was suddenly airborne and flying to the far side of the room. She caught sight of Markus’s face as he scooped her up afterwards.
“Not so bored now, are you?” She threw her arms around his neck.
He buried his face against her hair. “I don’t think my life with you will ever be boring. You get into too much trouble.”
“I’m not trying to,” she cried. “I promise to be good from now on.”
He laughed. “Not likely. Personally, I don’t want you to change one bit.”
She peered up at him. “And in regards to that offer of a roof over my head…?”
“Only if it’s sharing my bed too.”
“Damn, why didn’t you say that first? It’s a definite yes…does the offer come with unlimited food and heat too because then I have to ask, can we leave now?”
“As soon as we get this mess cleared up, we’re heading home. You’re coming with us.”
She leaned back to look up at him. “Really?”
He nodded.
She glanced around at the group of men gathered around them. “Uh, did you mean that when you told the cops you’re keeping me?” she asked incredulously. “Even back then?”
Evan chuckled. “Absolutely. We always keep the women we want. In this case, Markus wants you. So we’re all onboard.”
“Uhm…”
“Unless you don’t want Markus,” Shadow said quietly from behind her. “It’s always the lady’s choice.”
She gasped as she looked around at them, stunned.
“Does that mean yes or no?” Markus asked in a hard voice.
She peered into those eyes and saw the vulnerability, the shell he’d be quick to put back into place.
“Yes!” And she threw her arms around his neck again. “But that means I’m keeping you, too. Forever.”
“I can live with that.” And in front of the cops, the now secured artist, and all the men in his unit, he lowered his head and kissed her.
The station erupted in cheers.
This concludes Book 7 of SEALs of Honor: Markus.
