“You here, babe?” The man who saved my life empties the magazine and places the pistol beside us.
Meanwhile my dad sounds in my head.A Navy SEAL shows no emotion.
“I’m fine, but Mack got away. For a second, I thought you were him. Shit. There may be more in the woods. We need to check it out.” As I push to stand, he tugs me back onto his lap.
“No. They’re all dead except for the one in the barn. You stay. I’ll be right back.” Standing, the man sheds his jacket, places it over my shoulders, and kisses my forehead.
His kind demeanor and woodsy scent make it hard to think straight, but somehow, I manage to snatch a pants leg. “How can you be so sure?”
“Drac’s drone has been circling overhead for hours.” At his maddening smirk, a few more of my brain cells fire.
Urged up by his rough fingertip, my chin lifts. “Wait. You’ve been out there all night? What took you so long?”
“Well, you were the one running the op. I wasn’t sure you wanted help.” His intense stare tells me he’s serious.
Jeesh. No one’s ever put so much trust in me.
My throat tightens, my eyes sting, and I force a smile. “Everything was cool until they insisted on a finger. I-I’m r-rather fond of all t-ten.”
His mouth inches toward mine and after closing the distance, I slip my hand behind his neck. The kiss tastes so amazing, I take it deeper. Groaning, he thrusts his tongue in and out. When he cups my butt cheeks, my tits harden. I need skin, but as I lift his shirt over his head a car engine roars to life.
“Shit.” Dean jumps up, unholsters his weapon, and rushes to the door.
Before he can open it, I hold him back. “Mack can wait. I think I know how to find the nukes.”
“Go on.” Raising his brows, he races to the window and curses at the disappearing motorcycle.
“Why not let Charlie convince her dad to do the right thing?”
On cue, the burner phone on the kitchen table rings and I pick up. “Hello?”
“Who the fuck is this?” The dulcet tones of Tommy’s negotiator now gone, I glance over at Dean, and hit the speaker icon.
“This is Sky. And who may I say is calling?”
“Where’s the bloke I spoke to earlier?”
“I’m afraid he’s otherwise occupied.” Sounding half-operator and half-automated-phone-call, I wink at the man rolling his eyes beside me.
“Where’s Charlie?” The negotiator has no sense of humor, so I match his irritated mood.
“Long story. Go fetch your boss. I want to talk with him, not his mouthpiece.”
A moment of mute follows, then the arms dealer gets on the line. “Sky? Where the fuck is my daughter?”
“She’s safe and if you play ball, I’ll conference her in.”
“Whatever they’re paying you, I’ll triple it.” At Tommy’s insinuation, I bristle.
I would never work for the ORA or betray Charlie’s trust. “It’s not about the money, sir. Hold on.”
Hand held out, I turn. Once Dean passes his phone to me, I place the two devices facing each other.
The girl speaks first. “Daddy? Please, let the Feds have the nukes. The terrorists want to blow up the whole East Coast. This is not the future I want to live in.”
“I’ll have to discuss it with Fran.”
“Are you fucking serious? I’m never coming home. Not until you give back the weapons. This is my world too, and I don’t want you or her fucking it up.”
