SEAL Team Seven Tyler: Book 4 (6 page)

Tyler

I kept my hand on her as we drove through the quiet streets; she seemed to need the contact as much as I did. Now that she was out of there and I had eyes on her I could breathe easier.

Still I fought back the bitter anger that threatened to crawl up my throat with each moment that passed. Every once in a while I would say something soothing to her, but her deathly silence was beginning to worry me.

Was it because she was hurt, or because she blamed me? And why not? I blame myself. I couldn’t help thinking that that last night she’d been at the compound had I been more receptive she wouldn’t be broken now.

Why had she been there, what had happened between the time she left us and ending up in an animal’s hands? Where did they take her? Had she even made it home? So many questions.

Shit, I didn’t even know if she had any family, anyone I should call to let them know that I had her. It seemed strange that I didn’t know. But that just goes to show how much of an asshole I’d been about this whole thing.

I knew there was danger afoot in the town and even if I hadn’t been interested in what she had to offer, which is a damn lie the least I could’ve done was research her background and make sure she was straight. I’ve done that shit for people who mattered less.

My gut was burning and my eyes were getting wet, that’s never a good fucking thing. It meant I was at that point. “Baby can you hear me?” I squeezed her thigh as I steered the car with the other hand, taking the corner nice and slow so as not to jar her any more than was necessary.

My heart, that block of ice that had only started to melt here lately, was in turmoil. For a man who prided himself on always being on top of shit, always in control, this whole day was a fucking nightmare.

I now realized why we worked so well as a unit, it was because we fed off of each other’s strengths my brothers and I. This shit right here isn’t my strong suit. I was in no way equipped to deal with this fuckery.

This is the kind of bullshit you settle with a bullet, end of fucking story. But I couldn’t do that now, had to take care of mine first. Patience, I was gonna have to tap into my reserves for that one.

She wasn’t answering me, wasn’t even making those hurt noises anymore. It’s like she’d waited long enough to be rescued, to then disappear in her head. And that I knew was a dangerous fucking thing.

Keep talking to her Tyler, where’s your fucking training? I took a deep breath and dug down deep for my valued control.

I tried to hold on to the picture of her smiling face as she laughed at something one of the others had said when they were riding my ass, but it wasn’t really working.

I had a quick slideshow running through my head of each and everyone of our encounters; from the first day we met ‘til now. From that first jolt of recognition, which was probably the thing that had scared me most. I’d seen it in her, felt those first stirrings of what could be.

I searched my heart as I drove, finally able to push the scars aside to see beneath to the person who could give her what she wanted, what she’d been begging me for with her eyes since the first day we met.

I hadn’t seen it before, that ability in me, hadn’t wanted to; I was too afraid to look too deep. Now she laid there broken all to shit and my world was fucked.

I choked back the raw emotion and cleared the lump in my throat. “You’re going to be okay, I’m taking you home, somewhere safe where I can help you.” Her breath hitched but that was the only indication that she was even awake, or that she heard me.

She looked small and lost as she huddled into herself like she was expecting another blow. How long had she been beaten, and why? Not that it fucking mattered, but I like to know what I’m dealing with no matter that I’d already made up my mind that this fucker was living on borrowed time anyway.

As far as I know, she’s never been involved in anything that would cause this. I had a fleeting thought that this may have something to do with what my brothers and I were digging into.

What if she’d been seen coming and going from our place and that’s why she’d been taken? The thought left me cold. That couldn’t be it, why would it be? We didn’t have any dealings with this Carson guy, our paths never crossed so this couldn’t have anything…

My mind was suddenly full of what-ifs. Fuck! I almost ran off the road at my next thought. I wanted to ask her but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Please not that. I could bear anything else but that.

My hand tightened on the steering wheel as I tried to come to grips with the possibility that she had been violated in the worse possible way.

If that shit turns out to be true, there isn’t a hole big enough for this fucker to hide in. And his death, instead of a bullet, will be something more horrifying than I guess even he could’ve dreamed up.

That’s when I started praying. I haven’t done that in too long to count. Not since I was a kid who believed in such things.

Not even when I was faced with some of the worse of what the world had to throw at me did I resort to calling on the God that I had long turned my back on once He’d turned his on me.

But for her I did.

***

Tyler

“Baby can you hear me?” Her silence was beginning to scare the shit outta me. I’ve seen more than my share of traumatized people in my life, and I know that the next few hours can make a difference in the way she heals.

It didn’t matter what she’d been through no matter how horrible, I couldn’t let her disappear in her head, couldn’t let her escape there though it might seem like the best thing for her.

I didn’t want her blaming herself the way I did all these years, for something that was no fault of hers. Something a monster had brought about. Of all the things I would’ve shared with her, my legacy wasn’t one of them.

How fucked was it that we now had this in common? That for the rest of our lives these memories will be a part of her, just as I’d carried mine all these years?

Right then and there I made a promise to myself, no matter what it takes, I’ll get her through this. I was through running, I hope to fuck I wasn’t too late. Fuck that no!

“I won’t let you go again, not fucking ever.” She probably didn’t want to hear this now, probably could give a shit after what the fuck she’d been through. But with all my experience, I’d never had a love one on the other end of this shit. Not since I was too young to do anything about it anyway.

Once, long ago…no Tyler, don’t go back there, not now. You’ll lose your shit for sure then. But I had the feeling that I wasn’t going to be able to hide from that particular shadow much longer.

I’d locked that shit away for a long time. Hid it behind duty and anything that would take me away from what was inside my head, but it looked like I’d reached the end of the road.

With all that had been going on lately this was now at the top of my list of priorities. Making sure that she was okay first, and then taking care of this scumbag. I wasn’t too pleased that it seemed more and more like our women were coming under fire.

First the girls had that little run-in the other day on the beach, then learning that Vanessa had been taken by that fuck in the desert…

What the fuck was it with our women and danger? Our women. Now you do this shit Ty? You’re such a monumental fuck up. Talk about bitch made, you’re the biggest bitch of them all.

At least the others had the balls to man the fuck up, and you, what did you do? Ran like a fucking little girl and drove her into this shit.

Why didn’t you stop her, and why the fuck did life always throw this shit at us? Had I known twenty-four hours ago what I do now I would’ve never let her walk off the compound yesterday. But of course that’s always the way isn’t it?

I looked over my shoulder at her. Was it only yesterday that she was giving me looks while my brothers gave me shit on the sly? Making her laugh and take even more potshots at my poor head? That sweet, infectious laugh that haunted me in my dreams.

My heart hurt when I recalled her sweet smile as she held the baby. The way she’d looked over her head at me with that look of longing in her eyes. The look that almost had me throwing in the towel. Why didn’t you-you fuck?

I remembered too the way the guys and even my sisters had kept shaking their heads at me as though I were a lost cause. Why is it that everyone knew but me? Why did I think I could watch her walk away and life would go on as usual?

All of these questions and more plagued me as I drove through the gates of home. I’d had to make sure no one was following us though it took more time, and that there were no surprises.

I went through the back so that I wouldn’t alert the girls to our return, not yet. I needed to clean her up a little first. When I was sure the coast was clear I took her into the house and stood for a lost moment in the doorway not quite sure what to do, before deciding to take her to my bed.

I laid her down gently and removed the blanket as easily as I could without jarring her too much. She barely uttered a sound as I sat next to her, and the pitiful way she curled into herself was heartbreaking.

I kept my face schooled as I took in her condition, before leaving the room to get what I needed. She made a sound of distress as I got up to leave, but I had to get her taken care of and what I needed was in the bathroom.

“I’m not going anywhere sweetheart, just be brave for me a little bit longer.” I was surprised that I could get the words past the lump in my throat. I was even more surprised that I sounded like any other rational human being, when inside I felt like anything but.

I got what I needed out of the medicine cabinet and went back to her. I didn’t know where to start she was such a bloody mess. So I took one of her little hands and tried cleaning her up the best I could.

Her eyes were black and swollen, her lip was swollen but not split and she was favoring her ribs a bit. I took it all in while my hands trembled uncontrollably for the first time in my life and my guts were tied in knots. Every wince, every whimper, I felt down to my soul.

I tried once again to remove myself from the situation just as I would’ve done in combat, until I got the job done, but it wasn’t working here either. It seems that with her all my barriers were down.

That’s one of the things that convinced me more than any other that I was in serious trouble. I know me all too well, knew what the rising tidal wave inside of me meant, and didn’t fight it this time. I’d fought long enough it seemed. Now I just gave in and metaphorically laid down at her feet.

***

I didn’t realize I was crooning to her as I took care of her, the way I’d learned to do with Zakira when she needed settling. I looked down at her poor abused face, trying to find the laughing, flirty young girl who had caught my eye, but who I was too chicken shit to acknowledge.

Why was it so easy to let myself feel now, when I had fought it from the beginning? Now when it might be too late I accepted the fact that none of it mattered, that I had been a blind fool these past coupla weeks.

I wasn’t in the market for what she was selling, or so I’d told myself. I didn’t want what my brothers seemed hell bent for leather to find. That shit just wasn’t for me, though some days I yearned.

I knew though that if I was ever going to take the plunge it would be with her. But I wasn’t there yet and didn’t know if I would ever be, until right now.

I’d rebuffed her at every turn; anyone else would probably have given up long ago. Maybe the third or fourth time I’d turned away from her. I told myself I was giving her every opportunity to move on, to find someone else more suitable, even though the thought almost killed me.

She’d tried though; even though she’d played it subtle, there was no mistaking what she’d been up to. But no matter how hard she made my dick I wasn’t about to go there.

I hadn’t been rude or anything like that, but I knew she got the message loud and clear. The boys had noticed her interest from day one and had had a few laughs at my expense. But there was no give in me; at least not where anyone else could see. Inside it had been a different matter though.

I don’t know, maybe I thought I had time, or that she wasn’t going anywhere and I could get around to it if I changed my mind. That baggage I was lugging around wasn’t meant for two, I couldn’t ask anyone to live with the darkness that was inside of me.

That’s the story I’ve been telling myself all along. But this shit just changed my whole fucking game in the space of an hour. All my hard won resolve, the building blocks, the wall I’d created around my heart and anything I perceived to be a weakness in me, had come tumbling down. Hadn’t even put up much of a fight when it came down to it.

I hated that it had taken this to open my fucking eyes, but it had, no use looking back, yesterday was long gone. Now I just have to look forward, look ahead, and pick up the pieces from this mess if she’d let me…

I stopped that shit right there before it even had a chance. There was no if about it, the decision had been made; she’s mine. Every broken bruised piece of her was now my sole property.

Tyler

She winced when I tried cleaning the blood from her face. “I’m sorry baby I’m being as gentle as I can.” It hurt me to have to hurt her. The motherfucker had really done a number on her; it made me wonder how come no one came to her rescue.

She had to have been screaming the place down. With this kind of damage there’s no way no one heard her. I’ll find a way to get the names of each and everyone who was on the premises today, anyone that was on that floor. If that shit didn’t work I’ll just burn the fuck down to the ground with every fuck in it.

I know of the man’s reputation, had heard how everyone feared him. But anyone who could stand around and see this done to a woman without stepping in bore some of that guilt.

My mind was no longer in the room with us. I might not be able to detach from her the way I usually could, but I had no problem plotting vengeance in my head. There was only one thing to do really, and that was end him.

So far our enemies had been doing their shit from afar and rightly the shit they were into had nothing to do with us personally. Except for Dani’s ex using her family’s business to launder money, but not even that shit came close to this.

I let my mind play back over every tidbit I’d ever heard about this asshole. I knew he never went anywhere alone he was always surrounded by his entourage.

Which meant for sure he wasn’t in that room alone with her. Which meant I’m going to have to fuck up more than a few assholes in this town before the dust settles.

I have no problem with that shit, and neither did I miss the little voice in my head that said ‘you first’. My conscience can be a rank bitch when it wants to be, but at least it was right. This was more my fault than anyone else’s.

***

When her face was clean I started to remove her dress to see what else needed tending to but she tensed up on me and I backed off.

“Shh, it’s okay I’m not going to look, but you have to let someone take a look at you. I don’t want to take you to the hospital, because I can’t protect you there as well as I can here, but I can’t leave you like this so we might have to go.” Why the fuck was I rambling?

She shook her head furiously until I calmed her again before she hurt herself. “Okay, okay, we’ll stay here, but I’m going to go get some help. Stay calm until I get back I won’t be gone long.”

I kissed her forehead, which was about the only place on her poor face that had been left untouched. It hurt like fuck seeing her like this, but that too I had to put aside for later. One misstep and that rein I barely had on my emotions would snap. That wouldn’t be good for anyone.

I hated like fuck to leave her but I had no choice. I headed out of the house and went in search of my three sisters to come help me because I knew they wouldn’t ask any questions. I didn’t call because this shit needed to be done in person, I had to prepare them.

I was more than a little grateful that they were all here when I needed them. How life could change in the twinkling of an eye. Just a few short months ago it was just my brothers and I here. Now we were surrounded and the way things were going, soon to be outnumbered.

It was also providence that I’d been home when Candy came looking, that it was my day to ride herd on the girls. I wouldn’t have wanted my brothers to see her like this.

Plus I didn’t want them here for what was going to come next, especially Con, he’s like the fucking Ty whisperer or some shit; the only motherfucker who’s ever been able to talk me down from going too far.

“Dani I need you.” I picked her because she was my sister the longest, well technically that would be Nessa, but that’s another story, plus she needed to stay with my niece because I didn’t want her seeing this shit, no way no how.

“You got her?” I just nodded yes as I waited. I guess Candy had called and told them after all.

They were all in her and Connor’s living room, surrounded by magazines and fabric and who knows what, planning their weddings. She just left it and followed me out the door, with the others following behind.

“Nessa the baby can’t see this.”

“Is she that bad? Oh shit Ty I’m sorry, what did they do to her?”

“I can’t really talk right now I have to get back, but she’s been hurt really bad sis.” Gaby and Dani rushed out the door after that and I kissed Nessa and the baby on the forehead and followed after them.

I caught up to them just before they entered the door. “Okay listen to me, she’s in a really bad way, I need you to prepare yourselves, no don’t cry Dani if you cry I won’t let you in there and I need you in there.”

I willed her with my eyes on hers to suck it up. I saw the struggle the two of them had as they fought back emotions. I’d forgotten how close they all were, that even though I’d been shutting her out, she was already a part of our family in her own small way because she knew the girls.

That too had changed in the twinkling of an eye. Now she had an even greater claim to us, to our home, she was mine. No longer just a friend, an outsider, but one of the fold.

“We straight?” they both nodded and I studied them to make sure they weren’t bullshitting me before opening the door and leading them inside. “Baby I’m back, I brought the girls to take care of you.”

Just as I expected, they didn’t ask any questions when they saw the bruised and battered woman lying on my bed. Dani was the one to approach while Gaby made sounds of distress before she got control as she stood back.

They both looked at me with knowing eyes. They knew what kind of men their fiancés and their brothers were, so they also knew what seeing a woman in that condition would do to me.

I saw her battle back tears as she went right to it; saw the compassion and the tender way in which she touched the young traumatized girl.

I felt helpless standing there, helpless and mad enough to kill. Neither of them should be seeing this shit, not only because it wasn’t right, but also because they were both with child. What if the strain was too much?

“Shit, what was I thinking? You two shouldn’t be here either, you shouldn’t be dealing with this.” Con and Lo would kill me if something happened to their women. I grabbed my head thinking what the fuck will I get wrong next?

They shushed me and Gaby came to stand on the other side of the bed as Dani did her thing. We both looked on as she tried first to calm Vicki’s fears. She seemed a bit jumpy still and who could blame her?

She hissed and cried each time she was touched in a tender spot, and the sight of the silent tears coursing down her face enraged me as much as the bruises on her face did.

I wanted to go hunt the one responsible, but I couldn’t leave her, it was like being torn in two. As if she sensed my inner turmoil, her eyes popped open and she stared right at me for the first time.

Pretty soon it became obvious that she didn’t want me out of her sight when I tried to leave the room as Dani started undressing her.

She started freaking the fuck out, reaching out to me; that shit broke my fucking heart. My girl is a fighter, she’s usually giving me shit, but here she was, scared, her arms reaching out for me in fear.

I sat next to her on the bed and took one of her hands in mine. “Go ahead Dani.” I held her eyes with mine until I heard both Dani and Gaby’s exclamations.

I bit back the roar of rage that started crawling its way up my chest when I got a good look at her body, at what had been hidden under the torn dress.

I looked back at her eyes, willing my strength into her. Could she see it? I can feel it but can she see what’s in me for her? Does it matter; will she let it? I knew without a doubt that she was never leaving my home again, but will she stay willingly or will I now be the one having to fight her to stay?

The sight of her bruised and battered body amped up my aggression but I held it in check. Up until a few months ago I didn’t know this girl, not really, had no idea who she was except for the few times we’d been in the same place at the same time and she’d given me those looks that every man knows means she’s interested.

I had avoided her at every turn, just wasn’t interested, until here lately she’d been wearing me down. I was still putting up a fight, even last night and this morning when I thought of her I had decided not to go there it was too risky.

But it had only taken an hour. That quickly everything had changed, now she was mine. She’d been the one giving chase while I looked the other way. Who knows how long it would’ve taken me to slow down enough for her to catch me? Now the decision had been taken out of my hands, out of both our hands.