On the Line (Special Ops) (13 page)

Chapter Eleven

N
atalia pleaded her
case to Lieutenant General David Paxton because the only hope her guys had was if she could get that plane in the air so it could be there to pick them up. She had been waiting for the call. She had even slept in the office waiting all day and all night for the call to come in. She didn’t want to see any of them get hurt or killed, but especially not Micah. That call was to let her know they would need the plane waiting and that Julian was the man who had to come get them. He knew where to go, Preston had said.

“My answer is still no,” Paxton snapped. “This is my call and I don’t care what his previous commander allowed he’s on my time now.”

“He is out of there in a week. It wouldn’t kill you to let him do this.”

“No it wouldn’t, but I still won’t do it. If he even tries to leave I’ll get him dishonorably discharged. He knows I can do it too.”

He hung up on her. She slammed the phone down. Julian had told her he had received a firm negative answer to his request for time off to leave and handle this business, but he had told her maybe the softness of her voice might soften the Lieutenant General’s heart. Clearly that hadn’t worked out so well. She really needed to get that plane in the air today, not tomorrow, not next week, but today.

She sat down at Jet’s desk, where she had been when she made the phone call that connected her with Paxton. “What do I do now?” She asked of no one in particular other than maybe herself. The guys were counting on her. She couldn’t let them down.

Natalia tapped the tip of her pencil on the ebony desk with the silver hardware. She kept thinking of what to do and how to get it done. Julian had said he could try to sneak out, but that he was being watched like a hawk. He wasn’t even sure he was able to go to the bathroom without somebody following him inside. She also knew he had worked too hard for his career to lose it just a week shy of official retirement. She knew he was angry that he wasn’t able to help. He loved these guys because they were all more like family than just friends, but his hands were tied, almost literally.

She sighed as she looked at the photos on Jet’s desk. Still tapping her pencil on his desk she worked her bottom lip between her teeth. “There has to be something,” she mumbled. She sat back in the chair and looked to the silver framed photo sitting on Jet’s desk. Akira and Jet looked so happy in that picture and it made her remember the wedding.

 
“Mr. Bowman,” she smiled. “Last hope,” she tossed the pencil on the desk, grabbed her handbag and keys and left the office. She made sure she had the presence of mind to turn off the lights and make sure everything was locked up. She left her blanket sprawled out on Jet’s couch because she had been asleep in there when she received the call. Now that she was wide awake and in a hurry she didn’t have time to tidy things up. It was just a blanket and she could sort out the disheveled appearance of the couch after she took care of business. Her first priority was reaching Aaron Bowman and getting his help.

She drove swiftly, watching out for all the speed trap areas that she knew about because she didn’t have time to deal with a cop and a ticket today. The roads were fairly empty with the route she took so she wasn’t putting anybody, other than herself, in danger and since she had no trouble handling a fast moving car she figured she would be fine.

Natalia pulled up at the estate and kept hitting the call button on the box for the gate until somebody answered. “We’re eating right now you’ll have to come back later,” Akira giggled.

“Kira it’s me, Natalia. It’s an emergency.”

“Oh my God. Is it Jet?”

“Kira!”

She heard the buzzer before the gate opened. Once it was open enough to clear the iron gates Natalia hit the gas pedal like she was on the raceway and headed straight for the front door. She had barley gotten out the car when Akira and Aaron were rapidly approaching her. Akira seemed to be running more than walking.

“Please tell me he’s okay?” She begged with tears in her voice.

“I need help. The guys need to get out of Egypt. The LG won’t let Julian go and I don’t know what else to do. Julian has to be able to go get them. They’re counting on me to get them transport out and they can’t stay there,” she pleaded with Aaron.

“Daddy,” Akira looked to him, pleading for his help.

“I have friends in high places. I’ll call in some favors. Julian was the man behind the helm when Jet rescued me and I know the man is worth his weight in gold. He will get there, and he won’t have a problem doing it—at least not on our end,” Aaron assured her. “Let me make a few phone calls.”

Natalia nodded.

“Come on in, honey.” Sakura wrapped her arms around both women and guided them toward the front door.

Natalia felt as if she had run a marathon her heart was racing so fast. She had been becoming increasingly worried as she drove toward the estate. The thoughts of what could happen, what would happen, if she couldn’t get help rapidly went through her mind. Her stomach was still churning from fear. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I feel sick.”

Sakura ushered her to a hall guest bathroom where Natalia proceeded to throw up until her stomach was content enough to settle down. When she came out of the bathroom Akira and Sakura were both waiting for her.

“I’ll get you some water, Natalia.” Akira gave her a warm smile.

“Does he know you are pregnant?” Sakura looked at her knowingly.

“Not yet,” Natalia said. “I didn’t even know myself. I had a light period the last couple months and I just had no idea. I started having a little nausea here and there. I didn’t think anything of it, but for some reason, when I went to the store to pick up something to keep at the office with me while I waited on the call I just bought a test and it was…well…positive. I haven’t seen a doctor yet. It could be a false positive.”

“It is not,” Sakura smiled. “I am sure of that look,” she patted her on her cheek. “You must take care of yourself for the sake of your baby.”

Natalia nodded. “When they get back, when Micah is holding me in his arms then I’ll tell him that the test was positive and maybe we can go see a doctor together and make sure I’m healthy enough for this baby.”

“You glow,” Sakura said. “You are healthy enough. Come, we will eat while we wait for Aaron to work what Kira calls his magic.” She smiled as she gently led her to the kitchen. “You must not stress though. Stress will be bad for you and the baby. Kira will stay with you to make sure you are not too stressed out. Won’t you, Kira?”

“Of course. Natalia is like a new best friend to me. I’ll be right by your side, Natalia.”

“You can help each other because Kira is stressed right now too. I can see her stress in her eyes. She is worried about Jet. Together the two of you can help each other remain calm,” Sakura assured them. When she left the kitchen for a few minutes Akira turned to Natalia and smiled at her.

“Congratulations, Natalia.”

“Thanks.”

“When you go to help get your man I am going with you.” She said so seriously that Natalia had to think about just what she had said when she frantically asked Aaron for his help.

Akira smiled. “You are much like me. We would do anything for our men. Mother thinks I should help you remain calm, and I am one thousand percent sure that you have every intention of boarding that plane.”

Natalia smiled. “You are one thousand percent correct. I want to be the first face Micah sees when he boards his chariot home. I need to see him, you know…I worry for him with every mission but right now it’s just so unstable over there that I worry for him more.”

Akira nodded. “I know what you mean. So, together, we’ll go get our men and bring them home.”

“Deal,” Natalia shook Akira’s extended hand as they swore to their mission of returning their friends and family members to safety.

The air was stifling and the threat behind them was still very much real, but that didn’t stop Preston from brooding over his ex-wife. He was a mess. He mentally chastised himself. He was a mess because of his inability to deal with his tumultuous feelings for her. He could handle war, rescue missions that could be the end game to his life, but he had a hard time figuring out what had happened, and where they could possibly go with each other. Every time he tried to sort things out and to see a future for them he kept coming back to the idea that maybe she just didn’t love him enough. Maybe she wouldn’t want him back in her life. The thoughts going through his mind were distracting him and distraction could get him and his team killed. He couldn’t afford that outcome.

 
“Preston?”

Preston looked over the petite bronzed woman in front of him. “Don’t,” he said. “Just stay out of it.” He turned so that all she had was a side view of him. He would have shown her his back, but even in his angered state he couldn’t be that rude to her.

“No,” she said and he could tell she was as defiant and strong as Ariana.

“Maybe you should focus on yourself instead of other people,” he snapped before turning toward her. He was ready to walk away, but she stood in his path. He could go around her. He was going to when she dangled a golden necklace in his face.

“She’s kept it for years. She asked me to hold it in between performances because while she thought it would stay tucked in her hip scarf it wasn’t working. I brought it with me because I know how precious it is to her. I think you should be the person to give it back to her. You have a second chance, Mr. Strauss. You both lost something special eighteen years ago and I know she regrets the loss. I know if she could go back in time she would want things to be different. Well neither of you can get those eighteen years back, but you have a second chance—what you do with it is up to you. My advice; don’t let your stubborn pride cost you the love of your life.” She slapped the necklace in his hand and walked away from him.

He wanted to be angry. He wanted to hate her and her words, but she was right. He had never stopped loving Ariana. He ached for her now just as much as he ached for her the day he met her. He loved her. He would always love her. He looked at her, standing off by herself, but not so far away that she put herself in danger. He watched the way the subtle wind moved her hair around her face. From the side view he had of her he could tell she was deep in thought. It was time, he told himself; it was time to reclaim his woman.

He marched toward her, determined not to wimp out. She looked up at him. “What?” She stammered, trying to take a step back. He wrapped one big hand around her arm and turned her until her back faced him. He draped the necklace around her neck.

“This belongs here,” he said as he fastened the clasp and then pulled her flush against his body and let his lips caress her neck. He looked down to her finger, where she still wore his ring. He turned her swiftly, took the ring off her right hand and repositioned it where it belonged on her left hand ring finger. “This belongs here,” he said as he looked into her eyes. “And this,” he placed his palm over her heart. “This belongs to me,” he nearly growled. “Your heart, your body, all of you…I want it all, Ariana. It’s mine. It always has been and I won’t let you take it back from me. I didn’t fight before, but I’m fighting now.” He crushed his mouth to hers, kissing her ferociously, claiming her completely. She whimpered as she leaned into him and allowed his conquest. When he pulled back from her she was breathless. Her eyes lazily drifted open.

“I’ll give you all of me, Preston; but only if you give me all of you in return. I want to matter to you. I want to mean something to you. I want more than just space in your bed. I want space in your heart.”