Authors: Aliyah Burke
Dimitri cast a glance to Harrier who’d moved up beside him.
The cornflower-blue eyes of the team leader met his as he did a silent countdown.
Three. Two. One.
BAM!
They burst in through the door. The room was filled with muz-zle flashed. A siren began to wail.
“Get your asses outta there! They’re swarming!” Maverick growled.
“Is he here?” Harrier demanded.
“I don’t see him. This man is a close second but it’s not him,”
Dimitri said, dropping the dead man back to the floor. Gunfire from the hall spurred them into action. Dimitri entered the hall in time to see Hondo toss the boy over one shoulder and shoot two approaching men.
“Down the corridor and go left,” Maverick ordered. “It’s clear.”
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They moved quickly.
“Blow the ammo,” Harrier said.
Dimitri reached into his pocket and grabbed the detonator. Flipping up the cover, he pressed the button. Large tremors rocked the entire area.
“Haul ass, guys! That brought in everyone,” Cade reported.
“We’re coming out,” Dimitri hollered over the continuing explosions as he saw their exit in sight. The unmistakable sound of an M-60
filled the air. Cade. As Dimitri crested the small trench, he squeezed the trigger. Two men fell and more took their place. The smell of gun smoke and gasoline clogged his nose. Harrier jumped up beside him and together they fought their way through. A noise over his shoulder made Dimitri turn to see a man jerk to the ground, a single hole in his forehead. Dimitri knew Maverick had done it. Before he turned again, Dimitri saw Hondo put the boy down and cut him loose.
Good luck, kid
, he thought as the boy crawled into a tiny hiding spot. They pressed on toward their extraction point.
“I’ll be damned,” Maverick muttered. “Al Riyad is getting into that jeep.”
“Confirm, Al Riyad,” Harrier commanded.
“Confirm target, Al Riyad.” Maverick’s deep voice flowed effortlessly through the ear pieces they wore.
“Do what you do, Maverick.”
“Roger that.” A moment later, Maverick said, “It’s done. Let’s go home. I’ll meet you at the extraction point.”
As flames engulfed the compound in the Pamir Mountain range, the eight members of Seal Team Seventeen rejoined forces and slipped away into the night. Three witnesses were left alive who’d actually seen them but they would never speak of it.
Dimitri was silent as they evacuated. He knew while the mission technically had been a success; overall, it wasn’t. Though they preferred to execute missions with as little fanfare as possible, that huge stockpile of Russian and Chinese weapons had needed to be destroyed.
Landi laughed as sweet tea spewed out of Kacy’s nose. The look of exasperation on her friend’s face only increased the laughter that slipped out.
“Bitch,” Kacy snapped playfully.
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“I’m just sayin’…”
Kacy rolled her eyes and threw a handful of ice cubes at her.
Landi glanced at Kacy and did her best to stop her mirth. It just wasn’t happening.
Since the men were gone on a mission, Landi decided it was time for a visit; and when she’d knocked on Kacy’s front door, her friend had answered, squealed with joy, and then promptly burst into tears. Koali Zimmermann was pregnant, very moody, and had a very powerful case of morning sickness.
Instead of getting a hotel room, Landi had decided to stay with Kacy for the week in the spare room and help out in any way she could.
Today was Sunday and they were enjoying an early light lunch in the backyard.
Landi dodged more projectiles. “You shouldn’t be wasting water. You know you’ve got a drought situation here.”
Kacy flipped her off before throwing more ice at her, which Landi easily avoided, laughing again. “Good thing you’re able to make your living as an electrician instead of a pitcher, because you suck!”
“Tell me again why I want you here?” Kacy griped.
Landi blew her a kiss. “Because I cook and clean for you. Rub your back, do your laundry, and so on.”
Kacy smiled. “Ahh, that’s right. But I want to know about you and Dimitri. You’ve avoided talking about him for the week you’ve been here, but now I want to know. Come on, girl, dish!”
A warm feeling settled over her at the mere mention of his name. Landi fought back a smile, knowing full well, Kacy was waiting for it. “What’s to tell?” she hedged. “We’re trying the dating thing, but I’m still a little bit leery.”
“Hmm, guess I should be nice to him again, then.”
“What do you mean?” Landi frowned. “You haven’t been nice to him?” Protectiveness overcame her.
Kacy shrugged without the slightest bit of remorse. “You’re my friend and he hurt you. Why the hell would I be nice to him?”
Landi stared at her in shock. “Because he works with your husband.”
“I’ve been your friend much longer.” Kacy shrugged again. “Besides, I was always
polite
to him; just now I can be nice.”
Landi shook her head. “And people say I’m the bitch.”
Kacy took a drink of her tea. “Well, you are. Taught me everything I know.”
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“Right,” Landi scoffed. Inside she smiled, Kacy
was
a true friend.
“I do love you, ya know.”
“I know.” She raised a brow. “Just like I know you’re trying to avoid telling me all about that hot Greek man of yours.”
“Kacy!” Landi gasped.
“Hey! Dimitri
is
hot! I’m not blind!” She winked. “Fill me in.”
Dimitri appeared before Landi’s mind’s eye. His golden eyes caressed her body like his hands did when they were together. She shivered despite the warmth of the day. Snapping fingers brought her back to the present and she focused on Kacy who waited for her gaze with an expectant one of her own.
“Focus, Landi. I want to know about him, not have you go off down memory lane.”
She blushed and ducked her head. “He’s amazing, Kacy. I yell at myself for having ignored him after that day. If I hadn’t let my pride get in the way…”
Kacy ate some of her Cobb salad. “What happened between y’all?” she asked as she stabbed another forkful.
“The day his brother Khristos died we were going to be married.
But he never showed.” Landi saw the shock on Kacy’s face. “I understand why now; but at the time, I was just jilted.”
“I can’t believe it.”
“I had a hard time—”
“No,” Kacy interrupted. “I can’t believe you never told me you had planned on marrying, much less you had planned on marrying Dimitri! Something that huge and you kept it from me?!”
The amount of pain in her friend’s voice amazed Landi. “I didn’t tell anyone, Kacy. And once it never happened, I was ashamed.”
“Isn’t that what friends are for, Ilanderae? To help you through the rough times?”
“Yes,” she muttered. “I’m sorry I kept it from you.”
Kacy stared at her before she winked and smiled. “So, how good is he in bed?”
“Kacy!”
“What? Come on, we can exchange stories.” Kacy fluttered her lashes at her playfully.
“You’re crazy! You do know that, right?”
“I know.” Kacy glanced down at her watch and said, “We should get going.”
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“Right.” Landi stood, taking the dishes in; and by the time she was ready, Kacy was waiting for her by the interior garage door. With a grin, Landi waggled her fingers. “Hand over them keys, woman!”
Kacy stared at her blankly. She blinked a few times but didn’t move or say a word. Her gaze cut from Landi and back to her vintage Camaro.
With a snort, Landi grabbed them from her. “Yeesh, I’m not a bad driver! Come on! Besides, with you needing to puke all the time, you can just hang your head out the window this way.”
“Fine, but if there is one scratch on it…” Kacy warned.
“Please, you’ll just go to Dez and have her fix it.” Landi climbed in behind the wheel and adjusted the seat. “You and your damn legs,”
she muttered in good humor.
Landi drove them up to Norfolk to the USS
Wisconsin
. The women enjoyed the day touring the battleship. Hours later, they walked back to the parking garage side by side. “So what now? Dinner? Or do you want to go home?”
“I’m hungry. Let’s grab some food.”
“Sounds good to me. Up here or back in Virginia Beach?” She unlocked the car and they both climbed inside. Starting the engine, they lowered the windows. Landi shoved her hair from her face and backed out of the parking spot to leave the garage, stopping to pay the ticket.
“Does The Fisher King work for you?” Kacy asked. “I’m so craving some of Darnell’s wife’s cooking.”
“Hey, I’m not about to argue with a pregnant woman. You want The Fisher King, you’ll get it.” Landi merged onto 264 Eastbound and soon the interior had cooled off because of the breeze flowing through it.
After dinner, Landi and Kacy picked up some ice cream and made sundaes at the house. The women were out on the back porch, Kacy in the swing and Landi sitting against the railing enjoying their sundaes, when the screen door swung open.
“Ernst!” Kacy squealed, jumping up and launching herself into her husband’s arms. Her sundae fell to the deck.
A smile filled Landi’s face as she witnessed the joy and love between the two of them. Standing, Landi said softly, “Welcome back, Ernst. I’ll just leave you two alone.”
“Thank you, Landi, for taking care of my Kacy while I was gone,” Ernst said in his smooth voice. Landi nodded and slipped past 98
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the couple closing the door behind her. She sighed and headed for the sink.
Eleven
“Why so glum,
selini
?” a deep voice asked.
Landi gasped and spun around. Leaning against the doorway between the kitchen and living room was Dimitri. He wore loose-fitting khakis that only gave her a hint of the muscles that lay beneath the material. Tucked into his slacks was a solid black shirt that hugged his chest and biceps. She licked her lips as a low moan escaped from her throat.
“Dimitri,” she breathed.
He shoved a hand through his inky black hair and strode to her.
His arms closed around her seconds before his lips covered hers. She purred as his tongue surged into her mouth. He swept through it like a raging river. Landi held him as close as she could. It felt so good having him back in her arms.
“I’ve missed you, Ilanderae Nycks,” he announced after he ended the passionate kiss.
“I missed you, too, Dimitri.”
“Come home with me,” he said.
She didn’t have to think on it. “Yes. Just let me get my stuff.”
“I’ll help,” he muttered, his hand trailing over her butt.
Landi grabbed his hand and pulled him down to the spare room with her. Taking out her suitcase, she began to pack her clothes. She stared in shock as Dimitri haphazardly tossed clothes inside her luggage.
“What are you doing?!” she asked.
“You don’t need to fold them. You can take them out at my place. Let’s go.”
She cut her eyes at him and felt her body tighten with longing.
“In a rush?”
“Damn straight! I’ve been away from you far too long. And if you don’t want me to throw you over my shoulder and carry you out of here, you’ll pick up the pace.”
A wicked grin crossed her face. “Well, now, that might be fun.”
Landi reached for him and pulled him closer. “I’m ready to go.”
“You’re gonna kill me, Landi,” he groaned.
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“But you’ll go wearing a smile.”
“Damn straight!”
She shoved the final things in the bag and grinned when he took the suitcase for her. They walked into the hall and headed for the front door. “Bye; Kacy; bye, Ernst,” Landi hollered as they left the house.
He tossed her bag in the back of his green metallic jeep and grinned. “Ready, baby?”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready enough for you,
Merlin
.” She walked slowly toward him, inwardly grinning as his eyes darkened with passion and roved slowly up and down her body.
“Get in the jeep before I toss you in.”
“More of those threats?” She clucked her tongue disapprovingly and jumped into the passenger seat.
He muttered something in Greek as he hurried around to climb in on his side. “That was a promise, baby. I want you. I’ve been thinking about all the ways I am going to enjoy your delectable body.”
All kinds of electricity shot through her system. “All that sweet talk…you expecting something?”
He shifted gears and looked at her as he drove off. “Hell, yes!”
She trembled. Her nipples hardened and her pussy made its wants clear. “Good. So am I.” Landi fell silent as he arrived at an apartment complex. She saw kids running, parents chatting, dogs barking, and ducks waddling around in the waning light.
Dimitri jumped out of his jeep. Landi watched, in awe of the way he moved. Raw power. He grabbed her suitcase and his sea bag before sending her a look that skyrocketed her body temperature.
“You comin’ or staying here?” he asked with a half grin on his face.
Landi blushed. She’d been so busy examining him she’d forgotten to get out of the vehicle. “I’m coming.” They walked toward the stairs, Dimitri responding to the hellos people gave him. “They seem to like you here.
“Nice people,” he said easily. They went up to the third floor and she held him breath as he unlocked his door.
“Nervous?” he questioned softly.
She thought about it. Was she nervous? “No.” Landi followed him in and sighed. What she saw was very nice and clean. It wasn’t a huge place, but cozy.
Dimitri shut the door behind her and headed toward the small hall. “Make yourself at home; I’ll put these in the bedroom.”
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Home. The bedroom. As if they were truly a married couple.
Landi wondered what life would be like if they
had
gotten married. She walked around the living room. There was no way to mistake it for anything but a bachelor pad. No plants, flowers, or much of anything with color. On the coffee table were magazines about weapons and off-roading. There was a fireplace in the corner and went over to look at the pictures on the mantle.