Delta Salvation (Phantom Force, Book 1) (10 page)

“Coyle and Oz are safe. I’ve sent them a message about what went down. They’ll rendezvous when the heat cools. They’re keeping their eyes on the others.” Tay’s words were barely above a whisper.

The short trip down was made in silence, save for the tapping of Tay’s fingers on the keyboard of the computer. Pulling into the small gas station, he scanned the area for anything that looked out of place. Rowan leaned on the side of a large pickup dressed in a pair of cargo pants and a ribbed tank top, leaving his huge arms bare. At six foot three, the man was an impressive figure to be sure. The tiny woman standing next to him was a surprise that Kai didn’t think he’d ever see. A SEAL, especially Rowan, bringing a female on a mission was a shock. He had to remind himself that the other man was no longer part of the team officially.

As they rolled to a stop, he saw both stand straighter, their heads lift and look around. Kai trusted Rowan, but still drove around, making sure he didn’t get any bad feelings. If his neck started to itch, friend or no, he was making tracks.

Alexa jerked up when he came to a stop, her gaze scanning the station. Fear clear in her entire body language. He wanted to reach over and reassure her, but Rowan and his woman were waiting.

“Stay inside until I give the all clear,” he said a little more gruffly than he liked.

Rounding the vehicle, he clasped hands with Rowan, then hugged Lyric, knowing it would make the other man growl.

“Stop feeling up my mate.” Rowan’s growl wasn’t filled with true warning, but Kai released Lyric just the same.

He looked at the big truck and whistled. “You letting me have your baby, huh?”

A very animalistic growl came out of his old team member’s throat. “No, I’m letting you borrow my rig. You fuck it up and you buy me a new one.”

Kai nodded toward the Hummer. “Not sure if that’s tagged, or what, but you can drive it while I hole up in your cabin.”

Rowan nodded. “Kellen and his guys will make sure it’s clean. Besides, I can guarantee nothing will get past the Iron Wolves.”

Lyric patted his arm. “Let’s get this show on the road. I don’t like standing out here in the open like this.”

Both Rowan and Lyric lifted their heads, and Kai got the distinct impression they were doing more than looking around. He waved for Alexa and Tay to move, watching Lyric’s eyes flash for a moment. Yeah, they needed to move out.

“Load up. Tay, you take shotgun, Alexa in the middle.”

He could see his orders made her pause in her confident strides, but she continued to the big pickup. Before Tay could help her into the front, Kai was there, giving her the boost into the tall cab. Again, he ignored the arch of one of Tay’s blond brows.

“I packed a couple changes of clothes for your lady friend. I figured if y’all were anything like Rowan, you didn’t think about small things, like a girl’s need for clean panties. Oh, and they are new. As big guy here, doesn’t think I have a reason to wear them, even though I buy them all the damn time.” Lyric’s face lit up with obvious love for her mate.

****

A
lexa swore her face was redder than a ripe tomato. “Thank you. I didn’t even think about that.”

“My name is Lyric, and trust me, us girls need to stick together.”

She wasn’t sure about that. Didn’t have much luck in making or keeping friends, but the expression on the beautiful woman’s face staring at her through the open door, made her think she could depend on Lyric. “Thank you for lending me your clothes. I’ll make sure they get back to you.”

Lyric waved her hand. “No need. Those are just some I don’t wear anymore, except for the underwear, which I’m clearly not going to be wearing anytime soon.”

Rowan grabbed Lyric and pulled her back to his chest. “I don’t hear any complaints from you, darlin.”

A shiver stole down her spine at the deep drawl from the large man. She could see the love the couple didn’t try to hide zinging between them, and felt a stab of jealousy. All her life she wanted to be loved. Alexa gave a mental slap before reminding herself she was lucky to be alive.

“I do appreciate all you’ve done for me. All of you.” Her eyes watered.

“Let’s roll.” Kai jumped into the driver’s seat, making further conversation impossible.

Sandwiched between the two men with the heat of their bodies warming her, she felt as if all the air in the vehicle was being sucked out of her lungs. “Please roll the windows down,” she gasped.

Kai’s head turned toward her. “What’s the matter?”

She pressed her hand to her throat, the tightness made it almost impossible to suck oxygen in.

“Shit, she’s having a panic attack.” Tay’s voice sounded far off.

A hand on the back of her neck, and then pressure pushing her head between her legs was the last thing she expected.

“Breathe, baby. Everything’s gonna be alright. I’ve got you.”

His soothing voice and reassuring words almost made her laugh. Having her head between her knees while sitting between two gorgeous men, would be comical if she could get a deep enough breath in. Kai’s big palm began massaging her back. She knew it was his, but didn’t know how. Slowly, the ability to take air in and out became easier. God, she hated to show any weakness.

“Now I’m singing Bob Marley’s song in my head.” A giggle escaped her.

“I love that song. Of course, I promised the team we’d all vacation on a beach in Jamaica one day.”

Tay snorted. “He improvised and had us all drinking pina coladas with umbrellas in a destination we can’t tell you.”

“Oh, really. I can’t see you big bad SEALs drinking fru fru drinks like that.” Alexa realized she was talking while still leaning over, and tried to sit up. Kai’s hand pressed, then was gone. The thought he hated moving away from touching her was erased, when she looked at the stony visage of the man driving them.

“How far until we get to your friends place?” The side road they’d turned onto led them away from the city, deeper into what looked like the Black Hills.

“It’ll be a bit. Why don’t you rest your head on the back of the seat and get some sleep.” Kai didn’t take his eyes off the road.

She shook her head. “I couldn’t even if I tried. Besides, this is gorgeous. I will probably never get a chance to road trip through this part of the country again.” Hell, she wasn’t sure if she’d live long enough to drive out of the location they were driving into. Yes, Kai and his team swore to protect her, but they were up against a man who seemed to be two steps ahead of them.

“Aw, luv, you’ll get a chance to do anything you want. When this is over, I will make sure you can.” Kai patted her thigh.

Alexa knew she shouldn’t, but she needed to feel a connection. Her hand landed on top of his, holding him to her. Even with the other man in the vehicle, sitting right next to her, she entwined her fingers with his. To give Tay credit, he never looked up from the laptop he seemed to have connected to him.

If she could build a dream man, Kai Swift would be pretty damn near what she’d have chosen. He was gorgeous. Well built. But what she really loved about him was he didn’t seem to realize he kept reassuring her in little ways, making sure she was comfortable. Seeing to her safety was part of his job, but he went above and beyond that. He didn’t have to allow her to hold his hand, or rub her back when she was freaking out. She’d seen military shows and the detachment they were taught to display.

Kai was doing none of those things. Oh, she could tell he wasn’t sure about what he was doing, but when he turned his hand around on her thigh, her heart nearly stopped.

The cabin they pulled up to was an amazing structure. The large A-frame home was two stories with floor to ceiling windows. A deck wrapped around three sides, but what amazed her was the fact it looked as though the front was pointed outward like a boat’s bow, only all glass. She wondered how safe the home was, and if Kai was freaking out as well.

“Stay here with Tay while I make sure it’s secure.” Kai pulled his hand out from hers and exited before she could utter a response.

“He’s usually a man of few words.” Tay’s fingers stilled.

“Um, okay.” Staring at the front of the home, the anticipation for what she wasn’t sure raced through her.

“You don’t understand the significance of what I’m telling you, but you will.”

Lights flared from the dark home.

“Knowing Rowan, this place is a fortress. I’d say we are gonna be as safe here as anywhere.” Tay tucked the laptop away in a backpack.

“Rowan used to be a member of your squad? Was he hurt and left?”

“He was a member of our Team,” he corrected her.

She waited for him to say more, thinking he’d explain, but as the silence stretched, it became clear he wasn’t going to elaborate and she gave up. “Should you go check on him?” Waving toward the front of the vehicle, she screamed when the door next to her opened.

“Damn, you got a set of lungs on you.” Kai’s dark eyes twinkled.

Realizing she was plastered against Tay’s side, she moved away from the blond man. “Why the heck didn’t you knock on the window? Jesus, where did you come from?” She’d been watching out the front and hadn’t seen him.

“Why didn’t you lock the door when I left?” He quirked a brow.

Honestly, she hadn’t thought of it. Going forward, Alexa promised herself she would lock, and double lock every door.

“Come on. Looks like Ro made sure everything is top notch.” He held his hand out, making it clear he expected Alexa to go out his side.

Both men reached into the back and pulled out a few bags, but when she offered to help they gave her a droll stare. Being big bad SEALs meant they did all the heavy lifting. She’d have to show them her appreciation with some cooking.

“There are four bedrooms. Two on the main floor and two on the upper level. Alexa and I will take the two upstairs, while Tay will take one of the ones downstairs.”

Tay nodded. “Sounds solid. I’m assuming Rowan left instructions in regards to his security, but I’m going to get into the mainframe and restructure it to meet my specs. I’ll let him know when we leave. I can guarantee it’ll be better than when we got here.”

Alexa ignored the men and stared at the splendor of her surroundings. They’d entered through the front door, where she received her first sight of the grandest home. Staring at the fifty plus foot ceiling with a stone fireplace on one side, with an open floor plan that let her see all the way into the kitchen area, had her mouth hanging open.

“Damn, this place is a retreat, not his home?” She ran her hand over the butter soft leather furniture, stared at the other gorgeous pieces Alexa knew cost more than she’d make in ten years of working.

Kai shrugged. “In our line of work you learn to invest well. Come on, I’ll show you to your room, and then we’ll whip up some chow.”

Breathe in and out and don’t touch anything you might break, she mumbled to herself, following Kai up the stairs made of the same wood as the home. Almost too stunned at the prospect of staying there, Alexa peered into the room he indicated. God, did they not make anything that wasn’t overly large and expensive out here?

“Do I have time for a quick shower?” She waited for Kai to hand her the bag of stuff Lyric had given her, then walk away. While they stood there, time seemed to stand still.

He took a deep breath, bringing their chests closer. “Make it fast.” He stepped past her, his confidant stride made her own legs wish for one iota of the same.

“Will do,” she said staying by the door.

Kai placed the bag on the bed. “I’ll see you downstairs.”

She sucked in her tummy as he went out the door. It took her a few seconds to realize she was ogling his fine ass. At the top of the stairs, he glanced over his shoulder and winked. Alexa hustled into the room, slamming the door on his smirking face. Her only saving grace was he couldn’t see how red her face surely was.

She tossed off her clothes on the way to the bathroom, expecting to find more wood like the rest of the house. What she encountered was straight out of Better Homes and Gardens. Remembering her promise to hurry, she opted for the shower when all she wanted was to hop in the tub made for three or four.

Chapter Six

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A
lexa dressed in her borrowed clothes, happy they fit, and grateful for the new underwear. The sound of men’s voices could be heard from below, their banter made her smile. Again, she wished she’d had real friends. With resolve, she shook her hands out like a prize fighter entering the ring and skipped down the stairs. Scents of something heavenly hit her as soon as she entered the first floor.

“Sorry, I took too long. I planned to make you both dinner.”

“Tay is a great cook. Besides, he lost at rock, paper, scissors.” Kai leaned against the counter with a bottle of water in his hand.

“Wow, I’d have liked to have seen that. This smells great.” She watched Tay flip burgers on the stove. “Can I make a salad or anything?”

Both men looked at her like she’d grown two heads. “My apologies ma’am, but we don’t have the fixings for that. You can whip up some instant mashed potatoes if you’d like.”

Her mouth threatened to drop open, but she controlled it. “I can do that.”

After dinner she insisted on loading the dishwasher, while Tay did what they called a ‘perimeter check’. She understood the need for such actions, but hated both men were willing to put their lives on the line for her.

“What’s put that look on your face?” Kai’s deep voice made her jump.

She chewed on her lip. “You guys do this sort of thing all the time, right?”

Kai nodded. “Although not in such nice accommodations. Or with such a gorgeous woman to protect.”

Damn, did he have to say things like that to make her resemble a tomato? “How does this work? Can I go outside or am I stuck inside? I mean I don’t want to be a bother, and I’m fine doing what you tell me.”

The big man coughed, making her grab a bottle of water out of the fridge. “Here. Are you okay?”

Taking the bottle from her, Kai downed the drink before he responded. “Yeah, I swallowed down the wrong pipe.”

His big brown eyes sparkled.