“Let go of me!” she screams.
Kas lets out a pained groan when her teeth sink into his arm. “It’s me, Raina, I’m not going to hurt you, darlin’,” he assures her, his strength easily overpowering hers as he pins her gently against the bed.
Chase runs to the room when he hears Raina’s cry, and Kas calls to him to turn on the lights. When the room is flooded with florescence, Kas eases his grip on her arms, “See, it’s me, baby, no one is going to hurt you anymore,” he promises, the stout truth in his words relieving the last of her residual discombobulated fears.
A strangled cry escapes her quivering lips, and Kas hauls her into his arms, holding her for several minutes and blinking back tears of his own from the overwhelming emotions attacking him as he holds the woman he loves more than life itself. Her body is trembling and her knuckles are white from the unrelenting grip of Kas’ shirt tightly fisted in her hands as she hangs onto him.
“Let it out, baby,” Kas whispers, his heart breaking at how she’s trying so hard not to cry, to not to let him know just how terrifying her ordeal really was.
Her cries are quiet, her slight body softly shaking as he holds her protectively in his arms. “I won’t let him hurt you ever again,” he adamantly swears. Parker’s blood will be on his hands but not on his conscious if the plan doesn’t send the trafficker away for life. Reluctantly, Kas gently pulls away, needing to get the medicine in her.
“You’re bleeding,” Raina whispers, “I’m sorry.”
Kas wipes the blood away from his busted nose. “It’s okay, Rain, I scared you. Besides, now I know what to expect if I really piss you off,” he teases, trying to remove the worry from her beautiful eyes. “Take these, darlin’,” he tells her, handing her the pills and a glass of water. “How do you feel?”
“Not too bad,” she lies.
He lets the fabrication go. “You have a fever, I need to see how high it is. Do you think you can hold the thermometer in your mouth?” he asks, his anger quickly flaming again when he gently inspects her badly bruised jaw.
She nods.
Chase hands Kas the thermometer and winces when he sees the flash of pain in Raina’s eyes as she closes her mouth around it.
Kas gently strokes her cheek with his thumb while they wait, noticing how her body is shivering despite how hot her skin is. Michael knocks on the frame of the door before entering. “Hey, Rain, how you holding up?” he asks when Kas removes the thermometer.
Raina doesn’t have time to respond. Kas places his hand on her forehead again, panic darkening his entire face. “Call Dr. Reed,” he commands Chase.
Michael takes the thermometer from Kas, “Damn,” he spits out, his eyes shooting to Raina, while he feels her forehead himself.
“Tell him she’s burning up, Chase. Her fever’s 105.”
Chase relays the information and Kas sees him nodding before hanging up. “He’s on his way. He said it could take a little time before the pills reduce the fever, and he mentioned to keep most of the covers off her.”
Kas hangs his head, his jaw clenching, knowing she’s cold, in pain, and sick. He squeezes Raina’s hand, “I’m so sorry, baby girl.”
Brent steps into the room, being sure to keep a respectable distance this time, “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Let the doctor in when he gets here, then get some sleep. Make sure everyone gets some sleep, I need you guys to be at the top of your game later.”
Kas asks Michael to get him some cold washcloths.
“Kas, please get some sleep,” Raina tells him when he cradles her in his arms, “you’ve been up for almost two days.”
“There’s no way I’m letting you feel like this without me right here, holding you.”
Raina’s too tired to argue and is asleep again within minutes. Kas lowers her covers but continues to hold her tightly while she sleeps. Kissing the top of her head, he closes his eyes as a tear rolls down his cheek. “I’m so sorry I didn’t protect you,” he whispers, pure agony blazing in his eyes when he opens them again.
The sight of Raina’s beaten, shaking body wrapped protectively in Kas’ arms is a needed torture for Brent. Brent hears the raw pain in Kas’ voice, sees his tear filled gaze fixated on his wife and the heartbreaking love in them is astounding. Brent can see how agonizing it is for Kas to watch Raina’s painful discomfort. Any doubts left in Brent about who Raina should be with die. This moment is all the proof he needs to know that Pierce will always take care of her. “Dr. Reed is here,” he states quietly, stepping aside so the doctor can enter.
Michael places a comforting hand on Brent’s shoulder. Not meeting his gaze, Brent walks outside, needing time alone. The winter air is punishing and Brent bitterly muses at the appropriateness of that as he takes a walk, trying to clear his head.
Cliff checks on his son and Raina again before leaving them with the doctor. Leaning against the door, his weary gaze finds Chase’s, “Thank you for being here for them when I should’ve been.”
“You couldn’t have known any of this would have happened. Your job requires you to travel. Besides, you’ve always been there for Kas, even when you were countries away, Kas has always known that. He respects you,” Chase reassures him, “he loves you.” Laughing, Chase shakes his head, “You’re the only man who can get through that thick, stubborn head of his. That in itself should show you how much you mean to him.”
“Don’t let my son’s wise cracks against psychology fool you, he listens to you and that ’psychobabble’ a hell of a lot more than you realize,” Cliff returns, patting Chase on the shoulder before joining the rest of the extended team for some much needed sleep.
Dr. Reed leaves when Raina’s fever begins to drop, telling Kas to call him if needed again. Thanking the doctor, Kas walks him to the door, then immediately goes to the kitchen, scouring each cabinet until the finds what he’s looking for. A few minutes later, he carries the tray of soup and crackers into the bedroom where Raina is sitting up, leaning against the headboard.
A grateful smile and sentimental emotions meet Kas as he places the cream of chicken soup in front of Raina. “Thank you,” she manages, overwhelmed with him remembering that she told him her mother made this for her when she was sick. She wishes her mother could’ve met Kas. There’s no doubt in her mind that she would wholeheartedly approve.
When the soup’s gone, Kas removes the tray from the bed and slides underneath the covers next to Raina, “Sleep, darlin’.”
Snuggling close to him, she searches his dark eyes, “Make love to me.”
Kas knows her statement is actually a plea. The truth she can’t hide in her eyes shows what she will never say; she needs him to erase her real nightmare. He does just that. Locking the bedroom door, he takes his time making love to her sweetly, gently, pouring every ounce of his love into her, desperate to give Raina all that is good in him. Afterwards, he holds her as she drifts into peaceful sleep. Gazing down at his wife, he smiles at how she believes his touch healed her when the truth is, it’s her touch that has saved him.
Four short hours later, Kas is making the last of the calls, finalizing the plan. He throws himself into scrutinizing his strategy, making sure it’s as flawless as possible. Stripping his borrowed flannel shirt off, his tired muscles bulge as he leans against the table. Austin gives him a questioning look, nodding at the mark on his arm.
A proud smile spreads across his face, “Raina bit me.”
Unable to suppress his laughter, Austin jests, “I didn’t know you two were into the kinky stuff. I’ve always heard that it’s the quiet, good girls you have to watch out for.”
Laughing feels cathartically good after the suffocating tension. “Get your head out of the gutter and back to your job,” Kas cracks, returning to his own tedious work.
Raina stirs when a soft knock on the door awakens her, “Come in.”
Brent opens the door, hesitating only a second before walking straight towards her. The look in her eyes kills him. The uncertainty and sorrow burns brightly as she slowly slides away from him as he takes a seat on the bed next to her.
Looking at her, Brent’s slow smile is heart-wrenching, “I wish I was seeing you under different circumstances. I’m sorry you were hurt again.”
“I’ll be fine,” Raina whispers, not sure of what to say or do. Glancing at the door, part of her wants to tell him to leave, but there’s another part of her that misses his friendship, and the way it ended has left too much unresolved, “I’m sorry I hit you.”
His smile widens but is still as heartbreaking as before, “I had it coming. I’m sorry I kissed you. Well, no, actually I’m not, but I am sorry if it caused you any problems.”
Memories of the day Kas left her ripples through her entire being, the overwhelming pain returning briefly, and Raina looks away. She wishes she could turn back time and erase what happened with Brent, but she can’t. It’s too late, pieces can’t be glued back together from something like this. The friendship is gone, nothing can change that now. As much as Brent’s friendship means to her, Kas means so much more. Looking back at Brent, she knows this is their final good-bye. He takes her hand, and she pulls away, softly shaking her head. His pained expression causes her to have to blink back tears.
“I’m not trying anything with you, Rain. I would never do anything to hurt you, I just needed to feel you one last time.”
Any feelings she ever had for Brent were strictly platonic. Her voice is low as she tells him, “If I ever led you to believe I felt something—”
Brent holds his hand up, stopping her, easing the uncertainty brimming her beautiful eyes, “Not once did you ever do anything to make me believe you wanted anyone other than Kas. You didn’t do anything wrong, I did. And for that, I am sorry.”
Her eyes are repenting, “You shouldn’t be in here.”
“I know. I’m leaving.” Dropping his head, Brent’s shoulders tense, and his blue eyes are a dark storm when he looks at her again, “Good-bye’s are never easy. They’re damn near impossible when it’s you I’m having to say good-bye to.”
Raina wants to comfort him but knows it will only hurt him more.
“You take care of yourself, Raina. I wish you all the happiness in the world, you deserve it,” he tells her, his voice thick with emotion as he stands.
“You deserve to be happy, too, Brent, and you will be.”
His gaze dims, but he smiles despite his disbelief. Taking one last look, Brent turns and walks out of the door, out of her life.
Raina leans her head against the headboard, staring at the ceiling. Too many emotions are swirling through her, too much has happened, and she’s having difficulty processing all of it. Getting the feeling that she isn’t alone, she glances towards the door to find Kas leaning against the door frame, his head down, his eyes tilted, searching hers. His hands are shoved into his jeans pockets as he makes no move towards her. Panic joins the emotional war inside of her. Opening her mouth to try to explain, she is suddenly speechless.
“Rain, it’s okay. I knew he was in here. Do you honestly think that I don’t know who’s near you at all times right now?”
“I didn’t—I just-” Raina stumbles over her words, the unbearable pain she felt from the day her world fell apart hits her hard, and tears pour down her cheeks. “I’m sorry,” she whispers, although she’s not sure what she’s sorry for.
“Hey, baby, shhh, don’t cry,” Kas states quickly, rushing to her. “I trust you, Rain. You didn’t do anything for you to need to apologize. Please, don’t cry.” Kissing her tears away, he pulls her close to him. Grief stabs him with the knowledge that after everything she has just been through, it’s still him that can hurt her the most. That power she gives him is a sacred blessing and a hellish curse.
“I trust you, Rain, please believe me,” he begs. Gently wiping away her tears with his thumbs, he presses his forehead to hers, unable to bare seeing her pain any longer, “I need to hear that you believe me.”
Raina’s grip tightens, pulling Kas closer as she pushes herself into him. Nodding her head, she sinks into his strength and warmth, “I believe you.”
No further words are exchanged for a long time. Kas just holds her until she falls back to sleep. Kissing her forehead, which is thankfully back to its normal temperature, he quietly slips off the bed and back to work for the next two hours.
The hour has been set, when that minute turns, they will go in. They will all go in. Laptops are ready while they wait for the last of the lead agents from around the world to join them. Once everyone is accounted for on the live feed, Kas goes over every detail, giving orders, answering questions, solving issues, until the details are sufficiently ingrained in everyone’s mind. “These men will not hesitate to kill you. Take no chances, shoot to kill if you have to, just get the girls out safely, and take every living handler into custody,” Kas emphasizes, finishing the intercontinental conference.
The call to Dexter is the last call Kas makes before they are ready to infiltrate their assigned subgroups and rain down hell on every trafficker affiliated with the Ghost, “Derrick’s bringing Parker in now. He’s already thoroughly searched him after he was taken into custody at the private airport strip just outside of Boston. Derrick will inform the agents watching him to make sure that no devices are to be near him at any time. Parker will be regretting the bombing very soon. His denial of being able to contact a lawyer for his act of terrorism will not go over well, so keep an eye on the agents, Dex. I don’t want any of them in the room alone with Parker. The information recovered shows that, although Parker may not have been the one to commit the acts of murder, he’s quite capable of it. Torturing seems to be more his style. There are reasons his men don’t give him up, those files alone should get him several consecutive sentences. The bombing will give him life. His trafficking acts against women and children should be considered terrorism as well,” Kas angrily states.
“The law’s not perfect, Pierce. The world sure as hell isn’t,” Dexter states softly. His voice returns to its booming authoritative tone, “You tell your teams to stay smart and keep their eyes open. Parker’s men will not go down without a fight.”
“Already covered, sir.”
“Pierce.”
“Yeah, Dex.”
“Take down every last one of those bastards!”
“Yes, sir,” Kas states, a dry smile curves his tightly pressed lips as he closes the phone.
“Get ready,” he commands, addressing the agents ready to deliver a long overdue wrath, “We leave in fifteen.”
“I’m
not
going
, Kas,” the determination is evident in Raina’s voice as she crosses her arms defiantly across her chest and raises her chin.
Kas stares at his beautiful, impossibly stubborn wife, and love fills his every pore. He wants to take her in his arms, strip her down, and make love to her all over again, forgetting everything that is happening for awhile, but he can’t. He has to get her somewhere he knows she will be safe once he leaves. He opens his mouth to start to argue but wisely closes it, knowing that arguing will get him nowhere. Pulling her close to him, he kisses her forehead, “Darlin’, I’m sorry,” he whispers, then abruptly hauls her up and over his shoulder, heading directly to his dad’s borrowed vehicle.
“Put me down, Kas!”
Kas ignores her loud protests and continues to carry her towards his father.
“I said, put me down, now!” Raina shrieks and starts to twist and turn in his grasp.
“Settle down, Raina,” he warns, grabbing her legs tighter as she struggles against him.
She does just the opposite, squirming relentlessly as he holds her firmly in place, never letting her go, even as they reach Cliff. He tightens his grip around her legs even more with his left arm as he opens the door, plunking her down on the seat, directly on her currently high-strung butt.
“We did it your way, now we’re doing it mine,” Kas’ words are full of love, but also full of finality, a combination that Raina hates and loves; the ambivalence of it all makes her head spin. Never had she been turned on by authority, not until she met Kas. She chalks it up to her knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that his authority will never be backed by pain. She opens her mouth to protest, but his severe warning glare makes her quickly shut it. A hot sensation shoots through her lower belly, and she squirms again, but this time from need. Half of her is furious by his manhandling, especially in front of all the agents, but the other half wants to rip his clothes off right there. More than half of her wants to do the latter if she’s really honest with herself.
“You can hate me all you want right now, darlin’, but I need you far away from here when we go in. We’ve got Parker, but if any of his men find out that you’re still alive before we get to them, their reach is too dangerous.” Kas stops, dropping his head while his fingers press angrily against the frame above the open door. Slowly, he raises his head, the earlier dominance replaced by such an intense fear it causes Raina to place her hands on his cheeks as he whispers, “I have to know you’re safe.”
Any anger she felt evaporates. Pressing her forehead to his, she caresses the sides of his face with her fingers, and she can feel how tightly his jaw is set beneath her palms. “Okay, I’ll leave,” Raina relents.
His look tells her that she had no choice in the matter, but it made her feel better to voice her consent anyway. “Kas?”
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“I know I say this every time, and I mean it every time, but please,
please
stay safe.”
Kas gives her his cocky grin, and all his fear is gone, wiped away with her leaving with his dad, “Always, baby.”
Raina doesn’t have to wait for him to take her in his arms. He lifts her to him, holding her tightly against his chest as he buries his face in her hair, kissing her neck, “I love you so much, darlin’!”
“I love you, too.” She presses her lips together, refusing to cry. She will be strong for him, at least until he can’t see her anymore.
Kas nods at his dad, a heavy, unspoken conversation passes between the two before he closes the door. Raina’s eyes never leave his as she presses the tips of her fingers against the window, holding back the tears, refusing to let them fall, as Cliff drives away. She prays for his safety, for all of their safety. Cliff places his hand reassuringly on Raina’s knee, and she turns to him, giving him as much of a reassuring smile that she can manage, knowing the peril they are entering into. They know that Parker has been taken, but his men don’t, and when the agents invade his home, all hell will break loose. Parker’s men are just as trained and skilled, but unlike Kas’ men, they won’t think twice about taking a life. They will be out for blood, for self-preservation. She, more than most, knows just how fiercely a person’s primal instinct kicks in, fueling the will to fight, to survive.
Kas walks back to his team, giving Chase a pointed look, “Are you going to make some wisecrack about my overbearing ass again?”
Chase purses his lips and shakes his head, “Nope, I happen to totally agree with your ass right now. If you hadn’t of done that, I would have.” Chase’s gaze falls. “Kas, I’m—” he stops, for once at a complete loss of words.
Kas grabs his shoulder and gives him a hard nudge, “Parker did this, Chase. Now, let’s go take the bastard down.”