Sweet Affliction [Sweet Awakenings 4] (Siren Publishing Classic) (23 page)

They knew Commander Broderick came from money. His father having retired an admiral and also a frugal man who had invested wisely left his son a large amount of cash reserves. Obviously he chose to use his money to hire professional mercenaries to take out those he blamed for his failed career.

For the first time in days his thoughts went back to that night a week ago when Tom sat before him. Drinking, sitting on the boat, and a moment later a hole in his forehead with blood trailing from it. Tom Drake was a damn good man, a good friend, and an outstanding SEAL. The idea that he was killed because he did his duty and never left a man behind caused a roiling in his gut. He wanted this son of a bitch Broderick alone in a room for one hour. If he thought losing his career was bad, Nick would show him just how fucked his life could truly be.

There was no way in hell he was going to get away with this. If it was the last thing he did he would see to it that the former commander never saw the light of day again. He wished Alcatraz was still open. One of the old dungeon-like cells that were used for solitary confinement would be perfect for the son of a bitch.

His thoughts went to AJ. He looked across the room and saw the three women talking to her, making her feel at ease. He was so glad to see her relaxed. This whole thing was a lot for anyone to take. She must have felt his eyes on her because she glanced up and met his gaze. A half smile crossed her face, and he winked at her. He was amazed at how well she was handling all this.

The four of them were on their way out to meet up with a man who could provide them with some weapons without having to deal with the hassle of identification, licensing, or paper trails. It was sad that there were such people out there who could provide such options, but at the moment he was glad the option was there.

As Jack, Rex, and Adam said good-bye to their wives he pulled AJ into the bathroom for a moment of privacy.

“How you holding up, sweetheart?”

“I’m okay. They’re all so nice. I can see why you’re friends.”

Her sweet smile caused his heart to thump out of rhythm. He held her face in his hands and pulled her to him for a soft kiss.

Dropping his forehead against hers, he whispered, “When this is all over we’re going to bury your father. Together.”

A small tear trailed down her cheek, and he kissed it away. Hugging her and giving her another kiss, he told her to listen to the other three women and to not leave the room. He hated leaving her, but professional mercenaries were nothing to procrastinate about. If they were going to get this son of a bitch they needed to go in hot.

The best defense always is a good offense.

AJ listened to Chelsea tell her about Nick and how she first met him at his mother’s recent funeral just months before. She knew all she or any of them were trying to do was distract her and calm her nerves, but the story just brought back to reality the fact that her father had probably arrived at the airport and she wasn’t even able to claim his body.

The fear that they’d be holed up for so long that his body would go unclaimed and buried in an unmarked grave sickened her. She had been so willing to do whatever Nick said that she hadn’t stopped to think of her father.

“AJ, are you okay?” Tamara asked.

With her arms crossed, she rubbed her hands up and down each arm. A sudden chill rocketed through her. This wasn’t her. She didn’t hide from professional hit men and avoid her family obligations. She was always responsible and did the right thing.

“I’m okay. Just a bit frazzled is all.”

She assured her with a polite smile, but the truth was, when Nick got back she was going to have to talk with him. The thought that her father’s body may go unclaimed made her physically ill.

It should have surprised her that she even felt she needed to discuss it with Nick. It was her father and her life. She only met Nick a week ago. Actually, meet was a bit of a stretch of the truth. Technically they only met after his fever broke and he started to gain his strength back. That was mere days ago. Her loyalty to Nick was obviously something she was unable to control, and the fact of the matter was she wasn’t sure she even wanted to.

There was one thing that was nagging at her. One question that she knew if she asked Nick he would give her a reassuring answer whether it was the truth or not. It wasn’t that she thought he was dishonest, quite the contrary, in fact. She believed Nick to be very honorable. So honorable that he would probably lie to her just to keep her from worrying. She had to know though. It had been eating at her ever since he left with the other three men.

She turned her attention to her three newest friends. “Are we going to get out of this? I mean…is it even possible? Nick is dead. At least officially. How can something this bad be fixed?”

Whenever she was nervous, she used wild hand gestures. It proved to her and the others just how scared she was as she looked down at her shaking hands.

“Oh, sweetie, come here and sit down.” Shelby put an arm around her and walked her over to the bed.

Chelsea knelt down in front of her. “It’s okay to be scared. I understand.”

“You do? But…you don’t look scared.” AJ looked at all three of them. “None of you do.”

“I’ll take this one, girls.” Tamara sat on the bed and put her arm around AJ.

AJ looked at the girls nervously. What on earth could they say that could explain their calm demeanor after being shot at and on the run, she wondered.

“AJ, what you have to understand is that all three of us have been put in dangerous situations by some bad people. We were lucky enough to have these wonderful men, our husbands, in our life. Not once did they allow anyone to hurt us.”

“My God, what happened to you guys?” It might have been a rude question to ask, but the question just sort of came out before she was able to stop herself.

Tamara shook her head. “Those will be stories for another time. The important thing to remember is that Jack, Rex, Adam, and Nick aren’t just your average men. They were Navy SEALs. Highly trained and it’s ingrained in them to live by the motto that the only easy day was yesterday. We feel safe because we are safe. Not one of them would let anything happen to any of us.”

“That’s all well and good, and I don’t doubt that they are just as noble as you claim, but they don’t know me. They have no reason to protect me or worry about me.”

AJ was surprised when all the women started to laugh at her. Sure she wasn’t used to their world, but it hardly seemed fair to laugh at her.

“What’s so funny?” she asked them, annoyed.

Chelsea put a hand on her knee and composed herself. “Sweetie, don’t you know yet?”

“Know what?” she asked.

“We’ve seen the way Nick looks at you. We’ve all felt that look before. Whether he’s said it or not, in his mind you are his.”

AJ shook her head. “I don’t think…”

“None of us did. But we know the look. Short of you running out that door and never coming back, you are Nick’s, and one thing is for certain. Those men come as a package deal. You get one to fall in love with you, the others will follow suit.”

In love with her? They were crazy! Nick Slater, Commander Nick Slater, could not be in love with her. He barely knew her. He was just grateful that she helped save him and care for him. That’s all it was. He felt a connection to her because of all he’d been through.

“Are you finished?” Chelsea asked.

“I’m sorry? Finished with what?”

“Trying to convince yourself that there is no way Nick Slater has fallen for you.”

“I–I wasn’t…” She sighed. What was she, telepathic?

Chelsea gave her a soft smile. “We’ve all been there, AJ. Every single one of us. So when we say we understand.”

All three of the women spoke at once. “We understand!”

AJ couldn’t help but burst out into laughter at the way they all three spoke in unison. It was completely crazy to think he did love her, but the truth was she secretly hoped it to be true. She was crazy about Nick. He was the first man she’d made love to in years. She had all but given up on men ever since her ex-boyfriend had broken her heart. Never did she think she’d meet a man that was worth chancing her heart to again. Nick was though. Nick was worth that and so much more.

Nick was anxious to get back to AJ. He’d been away from her for nearly three hours, and it seemed like days. Just knowing that there was a hired killer out there with an itchy trigger finger waiting to take them out made him nervous enough. Not being able to see her and protect her should something happen did nothing to calm his normally steady nerves.

The dirt road they were on was rocky and uneven. Small pieces of gravel were flying up from under the tires and hitting against the metal of the car. It was making sounds that reminded him of small automatic rifles echoing somewhere in the distance. He checked his watch for at least the tenth time and caught a glance from Jack. They had precious cargo stored away back at the hotel just like he did, but his precious cargo meant more to him than he thought anything ever would.

Rex hung up the phone and turned in his seat. “It’s all set. Just talked to Shelby, and they’re en route. A driver is taking them to the house. They’ll meet us there, should be there within a half an hour.”

“A driver?” Adam asked.

“Would you relax? You think I’d arrange for anyone to pick them up if I wasn’t sure they were safe?”

“Sorry. Just…I worry about Chelsea you know. It wasn’t that long ago I almost lost her to that bastard, Bianchi.”

“I know man. I get it. Trust me. No way in hell would I do anything that would put any of our wives in danger.”

Jack placed a hand on Rex’s shoulder from the seat beside Nick. “And we thank you for that, brother.”

Nick breathed a small sigh of relief. If they were on the way to the small house in the hills that Rex had arranged for them all to stay at then she must be fine. Still, he wouldn’t be totally convinced of this until she was in his arms. He hated that he left her in that hotel room.

“How much longer until we’re there?” he asked Adam.

Adam shrugged. “Twenty, maybe thirty minutes tops.”

He caught another glance from Jack and wondered why he kept getting that look. Jack Peyton was a good guy to have on your team on any day. They’d shared missions together, beers, even a few brawls, but the truth was outside of the teams he didn’t really know the man that well. Adam was the only one he was ever that close with. Well…Adam and Tom Drake. Damn he wished he could’ve done something, anything to change what happened. Broderick wouldn’t get away with it. Not as long as he drew breathe. One way or another that son of a bitch would pay for killing his brother and nearly taking out the rest of them.

Adam went over a dip in the road too fast. Without warning, he felt his whole body slam into the side door. A slicing pain hit his side where his stitches still were. He huddled over and muttered an expletive to Mario Andretti behind the wheel.

“Damn, Adam. You trying to kill our boy back here? Slow down.” Jack leaned over. “You all right, man?”

Nick gave him a thumbs-up to keep himself from knocking Adam in the back of his head. He made a mental note to sit on the opposite side of the SUV. That door handle wasn’t nice to a recovering wound. If he was going to be driven around by speed demon up there, he better be sure to use his good side to cushion any blows.

* * * *

Adam’s navigational skills sucked in the Hollywood Hills. Nearly forty-five minutes later they pulled into the driveway of a house that looked to be built in the 1950s and abandoned shortly thereafter. The blue paint, which was probably a lot brighter some time ago, was now faded and peeling in more places than it remained. The windows were dark and looked dirty, but surprisingly none were broken. Lying inconspicuously on the ground by the front door was a sign that read “Condemned by City.”

They pulled the SUV around to the back and parked it beneath the shadow of a large weeping willow tree. It was an odd place for the tree to be. So close to the house it was completely overgrown to the point that Adam had to literally drive through its drooping branches to park. Yet it was almost perfectly trimmed to keep from damaging the house. The thought amused him. The house was a shithole, and that was being generous. A good strong wind could probably even knock it over.

They got out of the SUV and went around to the back, unloading the various weapons and gear they’d picked up from the man referred to as Mr. Johnson. Nick just shook his head at Rex when they met the man. He was dark skinned, his hair thick and wavy, and he had a thick accent, but he passed himself off as an American businessman just trying to help those honest working folks cut through a little red tape here and there wherever he could. If his life didn’t depend on getting the weapons from good old Mr. Johnson he would’ve kicked his ass and given him his version of patriotism and his opinion on those who break the laws, but instead he was forced to smile and nod at the low life. When this was all over, Mr. Johnson would be getting a visit from the fellows with the ATF.

Nick rubbed his side, which still burned from the impact against the door handle, as he hoisted a large duffle bag of weapons over his opposite shoulder. Rex opened the door and ushered the three of them inside before closing it shut.