vittanos willow (29 page)

because if something happens to her while I’m being ‘detained’, so help

you…”

“After you,” Marks said as two other agents appeared to flank

Osten.

Osten muttered in Italian as he pulled his phone out of his pock-

et. One agent reached for it. “I’ll take that,” he said.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Osten had the agent pinned

against the wall, immobile. His phone was against his ear and uttered

simply, “Feds have me.” Dropping his arm from where it rested against

the skinny agent’s throat, Osten snarled, “Don’t
ever
do that again.”

Then he dropped the phone in the man’s hand.

Not giving a single look behind him, Osten strode out into the

cold. He missed the look that passed among the agents, but he didn’t

care. His only concern was the woman he was forced to leave in the

hospital room.

T w e n t y - T h r e e

The car ride to the plane was full of tense silence. Special Agent

Marks rode next to Osten. The agent Osten had slammed into the wall

kept searing him with angry eyes during the whole flight. None of it

mattered.

Osten struggled to rein in his emotions.
It’ll not do CJ any good if

you get locked up.
Closing his eyes, he conjured up a serene picture of

her. It was an image of CJ with a sparkle in her eyes doing what she

loved to do more than anything—teach. Osten found that look and held

onto it, using her light to keep himself from venturing into the dark.

Not a single word was spoken as the agents escorted him

through the lobby of their building. Four men and one woman moved

across the tiled floor to a holding room. The second the door closed

behind him, Osten groaned softly.
This is such shit!
Having surrendered

his phone, the only thing he could do was wait.

He scanned the room, taking in the scarred table, faded gov-

ernment-issue carpet, two chairs, and, of course, the one-way glass. No

expression visible on his face, he was stoic as he sat in one of the chairs,

and waited. After thirty minutes he said, “Coffee would be nice, or a

cold drink.”

Three minutes later the door opened. Agent Marks walked in

holding both a cup of coffee and a bottled water. “Here you go.” Marks

put them both down and took a seat across from Osten.

Taking the water, he said, “Thanks. Finished checking my story

yet?”

“Not just yet. Why don’t you tell it to me again, from the begin-

ning?”

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187

A swallow of the cool liquid ran down Osten’s throat. “How

about you apologize and give me a ride back home?” Osten counter-

offered.

“Give it up. I know you were there. That is how you work.” The

tone turned scathing. “You SEALs.”

Osten halted the bottle at his lips. “You rang the bell.” It was a

statement. Any man who got tired of the hellish regiment they endured

to become a SEAL only had to go ring a bell and he was done.

Marks’s nose flared, the first sign he was losing control, then he

regained it back. “When she wakes up and says you were there, I’m

gonna be all over you like—”

The door swung open. Osten and Marks watched as a beautiful-

ly intense black woman entered. An aura of power surrounded her, one

only enhanced by the professional pants suit she wore.

Osten saw a small scar on her right jaw, but it was her eyes that

snared him and apparently Marks too considering the expression on his

face. Dark brown eyes were cold, business-like. They demanded re-

spect.

She looked directly at Osten. “Not another word. My client has

nothing to say,” she said in a crisp tone, barely glancing at Agent

Marks. “We’re leaving and y’all will be billed for the transportation to

get him home. Mr. Scoleri, shall we?”

Osten stood and found that in her heels she was almost as tall as

he was.

“Wait a sec, who are you?” Marks demanded. “You JAG?”

“No.” Her calculating eyes landed on the man questioning her.

“I’m his attorney until the time he receives military counsel. My name is

Chantelle Porter.” With a flick of her wrist, a beige business card landed

before the agent. “If you have any more questions for my client, I’m

sure you’ll go through me.”

Osten followed her out of the interrogation room and out of the

building. He had tried to say something but she’d shushed him even as

she’d handed him his phone.

At the top of the steps, she stopped. Osten zipped up his coat as

winter’s chill bit into him. He recognized Jayde Kincade, wife of his

Executive Officer, XO, approaching them. “Jayde,” he said, going to

meet her, “Is Cade here?”

“No. Sorry.” Her eyes landed on the woman beside him. “Chan-

telle meet Osten. Osten, meet Chantelle Porter, my sister.”

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Aliyah Burke

Grasping Chantelle’s hand, he bent over it. “
Grazie
, for helping

me.” Facing Jayde, Osten leaned in and kissed her cheek. “
Grazie
, Jayde.

But why?”

“Let’s go,” Jayde said. Taking Osten’s offered hand, they moved

up the street. “Chantelle and I were up here shopping when Tyson

called furious with a message he got from Ghost.” She looked at her

sister. “That’s Ernst. I told Chantelle and she offered to help. Hope you

don’t mind going back with the two of us.”

Osten grinned. “Not at all. Thank you both. I insist on buying

dinner for us.” He placed a call to Ajani and got updated on CJ’s

condition. Then he headed off with the two women.

The sisters were a lot of fun. Chantelle drove a Toyota Prius and

despite her earlier coldness, was a very warm and funny person. He

and Chantelle spoke on the ride back as a pregnant and exhausted

Jayde slept.

“I can’t believe she hasn’t told Tyson,” Osten said as he checked

over his shoulder on the slightly snoring woman.

“Well, she just found out. She wants to tell him face to face, and

it didn’t help that when he called today he was less than pleased.”

“I understand. That’s the way I’d want to be told.”

Chantelle smiled in the increasing dark. “You’ll have to give me

the name of the hospital so I can type it in the GPS.”

“No problem. Thanks again for helping me out.”

“Jayde said you’re family. I wasn’t the best sister when we were

growing up. We’ve just started to bond more. When I heard her say

with such confidence that she believed in you, I couldn’t say no.”

Chantelle chuckled. “I had to get a power suit. I didn’t think jeans

would cut it; otherwise, we would have been their earlier.”

“I owe you one. If it is within my power to grant it, I will.”

Chantelle flicked a glance back to her still-dozing sister. “You

don’t owe me anything. If you are family to Jayde, then you are mine as

well.”

Osten smiled. “
Grazie.
That doesn’t change the fact I am in your

debt.”

Chantelle remained silent and focused on the road. After a few

moments of companionable silence, she pointed into the night. “What

looks good to you for dinner?”

“Wherever you and Jayde would normally go. It doesn’t matter

to me.”

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189

“Well, okay. If you’re sure.” Chantelle pulled into a Red Lobster

and shut off her vehicle. Turning in her seat, she said gently, “Jayde.

Wake up, it’s time to eat.”

Osten watched silently as she woke, stretching like a cat.
Damn,

Cade would keelhaul my ass for looking at Jayde.
He quickly got out of the

car and called Ajani for another update.

The Italian SEAL escorted two beautiful women into the restau-

rant and sat across from them in the booth. When their waiter came,

Osten deferred to the women, letting them order first.

Chantelle and Jayde kept him entertained with questions and

stories of their own. It was a welcome relief from the stress he had been

feeling. He smiled as he dipped his lobster in the melted butter and

placed it in his mouth.

Jayde met his eyes briefly and Osten was again drawn in by the

kindness in her gaze. “I think, Chantelle, we should get him back to his

woman. I’m sure he wants to see her again today.” He opened his

mouth, but Jayde continued, “Besides, I should tell my husband I’m

preggers. You know, he might like to be the…um…fifth person to find

out.”

She flashed Osten a conspiratorial grin. “Don’t tell him you

knew about this first.”

“No, ma’am. I will act surprised when he comes in and brags

about it to all of us.” He waved for the bill.

“Cheeky man, Baby Boy. I’ll tell him it’s yours.” Jayde reached

across the table and smacked his arm. “Damn,” she murmured and felt

his bicep, “I can see why it was so easy for you to carry him. You’re all

muscle.”

Osten fought down a blush as he signed the slip. “If you say so,

ma’am.” It was one thing to joke with the men about their women, but a

whole other thing entirely to joke with the women about their men.

As they stood, Osten helped both women into their coats before

slipping on his own. Jayde slid her arm through his. “I didn’t mean to

make you feel uncomfortable. I was only teasing.”

He smiled down on at her. “I’m fine. Not used to being teased

by my XO’s wife, that’s all.”

Chantelle took his other arm. “Thank you for a wonderful din-

ner.”

“My pleasure, ma’am. Thank you for saving my six.”

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Aliyah Burke

At the car, Osten opened the passenger side door when Jayde

whispered in his ear, “I know you’re exhausted. Sleep. I’ll get Chantelle

to the hospital.”

Osten kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Cade is one
hell
of a lucky

man to have you in his life.”

Jayde squeezed his hand. “So is your CJ.” Osten climbed into the

back, buckled himself in and allowed the soft beat of the music to guide

him to sleep.

He woke the moment Chantelle pulled into the hospital lot. His

body, while tired, still felt much better than it had; even a tiny bit of rest

had done wonders for him.

“Here you go, Mr. Scoleri,” Chantelle said.

“
Grazie,
thank you, for everything you’ve done for me.” He

climbed out after Jayde.

“Take my card and call me if you need anything from me. Any-

thing at all. In fact, whomever you get from JAG as your counsel, have

him or her call me and I’ll fill that person in on whatever that Marks

character has told me.” Chantelle held it out to him.

“Will do.” Osten put the card in his pocket and assisted Jayde

back into the car. Kissing the back of her hand, he whispered, “Congrats

on the baby.” Raising his head, he looked at the driver. “Chantelle it

was an honor. Drive safely.” He shut the door and headed into the

hospital after the women drove off.

Hurrying through the halls, Osten knocked once on the door be-

fore he entered. All three brothers were around the bed. He could see

Ajani and Thurston with tears on their cheeks. His heart sank.

Thurston looked up at him and smiled sadly. “She’s awake,

groggy, but awake. She’s been asking for you.”

The news very nearly floored him.
She asked for me.
Stepping up

beside Binh, he nodded at the brothers before his dark eyes dropped to

the woman who owned his heart. “Welcome back, gorgeous,” he

murmured as he kissed her lips tenderly. The bruise still made him

furious but her being awake tamed him.

The most beautiful voice said, “Osten.” Her eyes were still a bit

unfocused as they moved over his face. “You came.”

“Of course I did.” His heart lurched at the tears her eyes ac-

quired.

“Have to tell you something,” she rasped, exhaustion apparent

as her eyes drifted shut.

“I’m all ears, baby.”

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191

“It was you who saved me.” Her eyes opened again. “You were

who I latched onto. I love you, Osten Vittano Scoleri.” She sighed. “I

wanted to make sure I told you.”

Cupping her face tenderly, Osten kissed her lips. His heart was

pounding so loudly he was sure everyone could hear it. “
Ti amo,
CJ,
Ti

amo.
”

“Remove that man from this room!” a voice commanded. Spe-

cial Agent Marks had returned.

Osten’s gaze hardened.
Bastards!
CJ turned her face and pressed

her lips against his palm. Her eyes showed her fear of being without

him.

“Step away from the witness, Mr. Scoleri. You are still a suspect

in our investigation.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Osten held CJ’s gaze and

mouthed, “I love you.”

“We haven’t questioned her yet and don’t want you helping her

story along.” The tone was snide.

Running his hand over her cheek, Osten stepped back, knowing

he would hurt them if CJ was injured in a tussle. “Then you should

have left a man here,” Osten snapped. “Ask your questions and leave.”

Special Agent Marks shook his head. “You have to leave. Oh,

and if you resist, we’ll arrest you.” His eyes were full of challenge.