Password to Her Heart (6 page)

The tears streamed down her face and she gasped as she lowered the gun and hugged Keith.

She felt the hand on her shoulder.

“Let me check him. I’m Lee, Keith’s friend. Behind me is Tiek.”

More gunfire could be heard beyond the room. There were explosions and then the one called Tiek placed his finger against his ear.

“Lee, we need to move. Is he alive?” Tiek asked.

“Just barely,” Lee said.

“You get her, I’ll get him,” Tiek stated and moved his gun to the side before reaching for Keith.

“Come on, Shawna, we’re getting out of here.” Lee reached for her hand and she looked at him. She was shaking so hard now.

The big guy lifted Keith up and over his shoulder like Keith was light as a feather.

Lee squeezed her hand, and then pulled her against his side. They came to the doorway, looked out, and made their way through the courtyard and away from the continued gunfire. It looked like a war zone. There were dead bodies everywhere. The thought that Keith’s team did all this to help to save him and her stirred something deep inside her heart. She owed them her life and her brother’s if he made it.

God, Keith, make it. I have no one if you die. No one.

“Get down!” Tiek yelled. Lee grabbed her and covered her as bullets ricocheted against the wall right above their heads. Bits of concrete showered over their heads and stung against her bare skin. She didn’t even care that she was only wearing her bra and shorts. She could die here. They all could.

“Fuck, that was too close for comfort. Now what?” Tiek asked.

Lee placed his finger against his ear. “Just wait five seconds.”

Shawna pressed against Lee, holding on to him for dear life as she wondered if she would survive. The scent of his cologne, the feel of hard body, masculine and capable, filled her senses. These men were Marines. They would save them.

A set of multiple shots rang through the air. Men yelled and screamed right before another explosion rocked the ground.

“Move, now,” Lee stated. Tiek led the way and Lee held Shawna tight, covering her like a human shield as they walked as one unit against the building and out of the area. She dared not look up. She concentrated on Tiek’s black combat boots and following closely and keeping up with their pace. They headed into the darkness, only the fire from the building’s blaze lighting some of the area ahead of them. Before long they were in complete darkness, and the smell of burning building became less and less.

Lee spoke into his mic.

“Got Shawna and Keith. I need Stitch immediately. Keith is down.”

They walked through some brush and woods-like area and came upon a Jeep she hadn’t even seen. How did these men know where they were and where the Jeep was?

Tiek lay Keith in the backseat then jumped into the front driver’s side.

“Come on, Shawna,” Lee told her as he lifted her up and held her in his arms in the front seat. She clung to him, her skin now cold and fully exposed. It wasn’t until they drove out of there and she saw the other two vehicles in the distance that she sensed the possibility they would survive.

The cold air collided against her skin and she turned into Lee’s embrace. He held her tight and caressed her hair as she cried.

* * * *

Lee glanced at Tiek, who looked angry, yet determined. They had heard what the one man was doing to Shawna and were preparing to enter when they saw a figure in black enter the room. Shots were fired, and then more men came barreling inside. He couldn’t help but wonder if Shawna had killed her attackers herself.

He held her close, immediately feeling protective over Shawna, not only because she was Keith’s sister, but also a beautiful woman who had been tortured and abused. She needed medical attention, too.

The Jeep jerked and bounced a few more times and they finally came to a stop.

“Leave the Jeeps here, someone will take care of them. We’re boarding the Mi-17. There’s a medic on standby along with Stitch. How is the woman?” Mercury asked.

She didn’t turn to look, and Lee felt her shivering in his arms. As he got out of the Jeep he locked gazes with his team members. “She needs medical attention, too.” Tiek was already carrying Keith to the chopper.

Lee didn’t want to let Shawna go but he passed her to Tex and they all got into the chopper. Lee pulled off his jacket the second they began to take off and wrapped it around her shoulders. “You’re safe now, Shawna. We’re going to take care of you, and Keith.”

Stitch was looking over Keith. There was blood everywhere. On Keith’s shoulder and over his belly. Stitch looked at them.

“How is he? Is he going to be okay?” Shawna asked, voice quivering.

Stitch ran his hands over his mouth. “It’s bad, Shawna. I don’t know if he’ll make it.”

Keith was brought to a hospital near Dallas. There was a van waiting for them all when they exited the chopper.

“We’ll look over her injuries on the way,” Stitch said as he eyed the voluptuous woman in Lee’s arms.

They climbed in, all having heavy hearts as their concern for Keith intensified. There was only so much Stitch could do for him on the way to the hospital. The bullet to his shoulder was still embedded. The one to his stomach was more serious and would entail major surgery if he didn’t bleed out before they could operate.

But Stitch now focused on Keith’s sister. She clutched the military jacket and remained against Lee. He locked gazes with Lee, who seemed not only taken aback by her need to cling to him but also had a look of possessiveness.

“Shawna, my name is Stitch. I’m the medic of the team.” He knelt down in front of her. He could see all the cuts and scratches on her legs, her ripped shorts, and how she wore no shirt. Her skin was bruised and battered, her face swollen and bloodied from being struck. It pissed him off and he needed to rein in his anger, knowing that they killed the fuckers responsible for this shit. Plus the other facility where the missile was located was under US control. The only negative was that Chavez was still missing. But at least the teams were able to catch and kill Montoya and Guazipan.

“Shawna, it’s okay, he knows the password, too. Keith told us to take care of you and protect you,” Lee whispered.

She slowly lifted her head. The jacket fell slightly from her shoulders, revealing more bruises and a ripped bra. He took a deep breath and gave her a reassuring smile. At least he hoped it was reassuring.

Her eyes darted to the others.

“That’s Tex, he held you in the chopper. The other one is our team leader, Gunnery Sergeant Mercury.” Stitch gently touched his fingers to her chin. She looked at him, one eye swollen, her cheek and jaw badly bruised, but it was her ribs that appeared to be the worst.

“You’re going to need X-rays. We’ll have the doctors check you over at the hospital, too. What hurts the worst?” he asked her.

She lifted her arms, showing him her forearms and the lines of red marks.

“What did this?” he asked.

“Belt,” she whispered as tears rolled from her big ocean-blue eyes.

Lee pulled the jacket snugger against her. Stitch noticed that her hands were really shaking and he covered them with his own.

“You’re safe now. You’re shaking because of the shock of it all. It will probably get a little worse until the doctors give you something to help calm you down.”

“I killed him.” She lowered her eyes.

Stitch looked at Lee and then glanced at the others, who all looked exactly like he felt. Sick and angry.

“Who?” Mercury asked her.

She looked at him and sniffled. “Cuadrone. The man who did all this to me.”

Stitch swallowed hard. She was a fighter. She would survive all of this, and each of them would make sure of that. A protective feeling consumed him immediately. Shawna was part of their family now. They would always protect her.

“Good, then he can never hurt you again,” Lee whispered to her. She turned her face toward Lee’s chest and snuggled into his hold. Stitch reached up and caressed her hair. “We’re almost there, Shawna. Everything is going to be okay now.”

“How is Shawna doing today?” Mercury asked Tiek as he walked into her room. She was sleeping, just as she had been for the last three days. She would come in and out of consciousness and moan in pain. The tests the doctors ran showed she had some internal bleeding and they were monitoring it and debating whether surgery was necessary. But keeping her resting seemed to be helping the process. She was strong and doing well. Unlike Keith, who was touch and go after three consecutive surgeries.

“They’re going to bring her down in an hour to do more tests to make sure that the bleeding has stopped.” Tiek looked at his watch. “She woke up a few times calling Keith’s name. She’s going to want to see him.”

“I know. As soon as the testing is done, and she’s in the clear, we can see about getting her down there to ICU. Tex got the stuff moved from her apartment. She didn’t have much. Plus it appeared to me that the place was ransacked. Not sure if it was done prior to her being taken or what. Calico has men on it,” Mercury said as he walked closer to the bed. He reached out and touched her hair. “The bruises are healing.”

“What was her place like? Any info on her and the kind of person she is?”

Mercury took a deep breath and released it. “She’s in college. Almost finished. She worked at a bar, but they already hired a new bartender. The guy Mike, who reported her missing, has been asking about her. He’s coming by today.” Mercury felt his gut clench. He had this feeling that Shawna was becoming so much to them. His men were constantly figuring out a schedule to stay here with her, and were setting up a bedroom for her to stay in as soon as she was discharged, which would be way before Keith was.

“Who is this guy? You checked him out? Is he her boyfriend?” Tiek asked in his very deep voice. Mercury signaled for him to lower his voice and Tiek stood up and paced the room.

“She needs us. She needs men who understand how to deal with the consequences of war, of being prisoners, of surviving something like what she went through.”

“Tiek, she’ll need professional counseling. I already spoke to Spocko, and he can see her at the house as soon as she’s up to it. Keith is going to need a lot of rehab when all is done, and if he pulls through, he’s got a long fight ahead of him. I’m certain that Shawna will want to be here with him.”

“We’ll work it out,” Tiek stated and then walked back closer to the bed.

Shawna began to moan and then blink open her eyes. She jerked and gasped. Both Mercury and Tiek placed hands on her shoulders and spoke softly to her.

“You’re safe, sweetheart. You’re still in the hospital,” Mercury told her. He looked her over as she glanced at Tiek and then at him then closed her eyes and took a deep, unsteady breath before releasing it. He could tell even in the hospital gown that Shawna was well endowed. The feel of her muscular shoulders and arms beneath his hold caused an immediate attraction to her. It was crazy, but no woman seemed to affect him just by her eyes alone. Shawna did, as her blue eyes locked on his and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth then cringed. They were still swollen.

“Do you need a sip of water?” Tiek asked, moving toward the cup and straw. She nodded her head. As she tried to sit up, she closed her eyes and Mercury helped her.

“Bruised ribs can be just as sore as broken ones. But they’ll heal fast,” he told her.

Tiek held the cup as she took a sip and she locked gazes with him. He held her gaze and Mercury realized that Tiek was probably feeling that attraction and possessive feeling, too. He would need to talk to them when they had the chance to see how the others felt. A lot of their friends shared women and were in ménage relationships. It wasn’t uncommon around where they lived. In fact, the thought crossed their minds many times, especially over some beers and feeling like life finally had some normalcy. But Shawna had been through something really traumatic. Although, thank God, the doctors confirmed she hadn’t been sexually assaulted despite the bruising around her groin. She may have some lasting effects that perhaps may make her fearful of men. The best thing they could do was make her feel safe and comfortable with them.

“How is Keith? When can I see him?” she asked in a shaky voice.

“The last surgery appears to have gone well. The doctors said he needs lots of rest, but I think after you get your tests done today, and the doctor gives the all clear, we can wheel you down to see him,” Tiek told her.

“How long do I have to stay here?” she asked.

“As long as the doctors say,” Mercury replied. She looked at him and then swallowed hard.

“You don’t need to stay here all the time. I’m sure you have jobs and things to do. I’ll be okay alone,” she said.

“Shawna, we’re all here to watch over you and take care of you now,” Mercury stated.

“I’ll be fine alone. I just want Keith to be okay. There seems like so much to figure out. I have to contact work. I have to take care of the rent for my apartment, and the medical bills here.”

Mercury covered her hand and held her gaze. “We got it covered. We moved your things out of the apartment and into the house on the ranch. We spoke to your boss at work and told him that you won’t be coming back.”