vittanos willow (30 page)

It left a rotten taste in Osten’s mouth, but he moved toward the

door.
Do what’s best for CJ,
he told himself. The door shut behind him

with a loud click and the two agents took up positions on each side of

him.

Tense moments passed as Osten waited for the door to open

again. He positioned himself against the opposite wall, facing the door.

His was expression bland courtesy of his training, but inside he was

furious.

He was moving toward the door the moment it began to open.

Agent Marks stepped out, closing it behind him. “Let me in there,”

Osten ordered.

“Nope.” Marks glanced at the two guarding the door. “If he gets

in, you lose your job.” His eyes moved back to Osten. “We need to talk

further.”

His temper dangerously close to boiling over, Osten snapped his

head around to glare at the agent. “What the fuck for? You questioned

her. I gave you my alibis; let me back in there with her!”

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Aliyah Burke

Marks shrugged. “We still need to question her more. She isn’t

up for much talking.”

“You mean interrogation,” Osten snarled. His body stepped

closer to the agent. “I want to be with her.”

“Her brothers are in there.” Marks pulled out a piece of gum

and began chewing it. “You two stay separated until my questions are

answered.”

“Special Agent Marks!” a loud voice bellowed.

Osten glanced over his shoulder and almost grinned. Almost.

The group bearing down on them was led by a man who had murder in

his eyes. His commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Scott Leigh-

ton. Behind him strode Lieutenant Tyson Kincade and Chief Petty

Officer Ernst Zimmermann. Between those two men were Jayde and

Chantelle.

Not a smile to be found. Osten looked back at Marks before

standing at attention. “Commander,” he said sharply to the six-five

powerfully built man in field cammies. “Lieutenant, Chief,” he added to

Tyson and Ernst.

“At ease,” Scott growled out before turning to the agent. Look-

ing down on the man, he thundered, “Who in the
hell
do you think you

are, flying one of my men off to DC without informing me?”

“I’m Special Agent Marks of the—”

“I know who you are. What were you doing with
my
man?”

Scott interrupted.

“This is a federal investigation, you have no jurisdiction.”

“Bullshit,” Scott growled. “You goddamn feds. Think you’re so

untouchable. You took a member of
my
team almost four hundred miles

away from where he was supposed to be. For the mere reason to

detain? He didn’t get his call, and we could have written him up as

being UA when he didn’t show back up to work and didn’t answer his

phone.”

Osten easily picked up on Scott claiming rights to him. His CO

had a volatile temper when riled and this was one of those times.

“He made a call,” Marks protested.

“You never should have fucked with a member of
my team.
”

“I don’t answer to you.” The federal agent tried to look unaf-

fected by the man looming over him, but Osten knew it was hard to do

amid Scott’s anger.

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193

“And
my
people don’t answer to you. Are we clear on that? We

told you where we were. I’m sorry that it was over by the time you

finished your coffee and donuts, but don’t blame us.”

Crushing his empty coffee cup, Marks glared but Osten knew it

didn’t even faze Scott. “I have some more questions for him,” Marks

said.

“And we’ll make him available. But
this
kind of thing will never

happen again.” It was a directive, not a question. “Go with Chief,

Scoleri.” Osten hesitated one second too long. “That’s an order, Petty

Officer!”

“Sir, yes, sir. Sorry, sir.” Osten stood at attention again and spun

sharply after Scott nodded at him. Then he walked away with Ernst.

“I’m not done with him,” Marks complained.

“Actually, Special Agent Marks, you are.” Chantelle’s take-no-

shit voice reached him as he and Ernst got into the elevator.

Osten called to her. Kissed her. Loved her. She loved him. Chan-

toya stirred on the bed, desperate to hold him and be held by him.

Sluggish.

Her limbs weren’t functioning. Why? Had he paralyzed her?
Os-

ten. Osten.
“Osten!” she gasped as her left hand clenched.

“Chipmunk?”

Her lids were so heavy but she still knew Ajani’s voice. CJ

opened them slowly and saw her brothers gathered around her, concern

filling their handsome faces. “Missed you,” she said quietly. Thurston

and Ajani were on one side of the bed and Binh was on the other.

“We missed you, too, Chipmunk. We missed you too.” Binh

kissed her forehead.

“Where’s Osten?” CJ asked in a raspy voice. “I know he was

here. I talked to him, right?” Tears filled her eyes.

“Calm down. He was here, you spoke with him. You’re holding

his necklace.” Thurston’s deep voice told her.

Her hand tightened and she felt the small cross under her fin-

gers. It calmed her. Brown eyes closed as sleep overtook her again. But

this time a faint smile had kissed her lips.

It was still there when she opened her eyes again. The light in

the room was faint and it came from the lamp by the window since

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Aliyah Burke

shades were drawn. Her eyes moved slowly to the figure that sat

silently in the chair.

His eyes were tired but he smiled when their gazes met. It was

Ajani. “What time is it?” she murmured.

“Nine-thirty in the morning.”

“You were here all night?” CJ knew that without a doubt.

“Of course. Thurston will be here soon. How are you feeling?”

“Like I’m operating at quarter speed. And sore. Oh, and tired.”

She shifted and immediately Ajani got up to help her. “Thanks. How

are you?”

Ajani brushed a hand along her face before offering her a drink.

A sad chuckle left him. “You are so much like Mom. Always worried

about everyone else no matter what was wrong with you.”

“I miss them. All of them, Ajani.” CJ took his hand and felt his

love surround her.

“Me, too, Chantoya, me too.” He cleared his throat. “I’m fine

thanks for asking.”

“I do love you, despite how you treat me like I am still a baby.”

“Well, just so you know. I probably will never stop treating you

like a baby.” He smiled.

Rising up her bed, she grinned when he fluffed her pillow for

her. “Now, tell me what they told you about my condition and how

long before I can get out of here.” She picked up the spoon and began

eating the Jell-O on the breakfast tray he had moved into her reach.

“Well,” he paused, “you were given a drug to keep you sluggish

and slow. All of it is gone from your system and no permanent damage

was done.” He held up a hand. “I don’t know what the drug was.”

Pulling the chair closer to the bed, he sat down and continued.

“They said the rape kit was negative. You have a fractured rib and other

bruises.”

Chantoya closed her eyes and tried not to vomit as memories

washed over her. “When can I go home?”

“The feds want to question you a bit more—that much I know.”

Fear began to build within her. “Where’s Osten?” She didn’t

care she sounded desperate; she wanted that man beside her.

“The feds won’t let him in to see you until after they question

you. They dragged him out of here yesterday.”

She gasped.
It hadn’t been a dream. Hearing him here.
“Why would

they drag him away? Why? What did he do?” Her brother just looked at

her, and that only increased her dread and need to protect Osten.

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195

“I want to leave, Ajani. Now!” Chantoya shoved the tray away

and swung her feet over. Her legs were shaky and slow to cooperate,

but they worked. “Get me my clothes or so help me, I’ll leave wearing

nothing more than this hospital gown!”

“Okay. This man must be important if you are ready to take on

the federal government wearing a paper gown.”

“He is, Ajani. And I didn’t realize just how much until Gordon

took me. They have no right to keep him away from me.”

“I don’t question the feds, Chipmunk. I’m just telling you what I

know.” Ajani pressed the call button for the nurse.

T w e n t y - F o u r

It was six in the evening and Chantoya sat in her apartment

along with her brothers and federal agents. She wore a pair of thick

wool socks on her feet and her feet were propped up on the rung of

Binh’s chair.

“Then what happened after you stabbed Gordon in the leg and

ran?” Agent Marks asked. Another agent was also taking notes and the

conversation was being recorded.

CJ sighed and took a drink of her coffee.
This sucks. I don’t want

to keep going over this.
“Like I told you before,” she spoke in her teacher

tone, “I ran for the stairs. Before I got to them I ran into someone else. I

struggled then passed out; then, I woke up in the hospital.”

“You didn’t see his face? The man who rescued you.” Marks

questioned.

“No. How would I? It was dark and smoky. I was freaked out

and running for my life.” Her fingers tightened around her mug. “Plus

he had a face mask on. I remember scratching it when I struggled.”

“So you didn’t recognize anyone?”

“Gordon,” she snapped, losing patience. “Gordon was the only

one. Why are you pushing this?”

“Don’t cover for Osten, young lady. If he or his Team were

there, just tell me.”

“Look here, Agent Marks,” she growled, “I don’t lie. The only

face I saw there was Gordon’s. And the only other person I was sup-

posed to meet was the man who was doing the ‘marriage ceremony.’ So

do us both a favor by not insulting me. Get out, I’m tired.”

“We have more questions.”

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197

CJ slammed her mug on the table, oblivious to the hot liquid she

spilled on her hand, and her eyes shot daggers at the intruding agents

in her kitchen. “Then hurry up and ask them so you can get the

fu…heck out. I don’t want to be your pawn in this pissing contest you

are having with the SEALs. So ask your damn questions, and no more

about who I did or didn’t see. I wish I did know who rescued me, but I

don’t.”

By eight, it was just her brothers left in the place with her. “Are

you sure you’ll be okay, Chipmunk?” Thurston asked as he held her

close, mindful of the binding around her torso.

“Yes. I’m okay. I’ll be okay.” she held him tightly.

“I don’t want to leave you here alone, but I’ll respect your

wish.” He kissed her. “Call if you need
anything.
”

Each brother said the same thing as they hugged and kissed his

baby sister. Ajani was last and when he pulled back, CJ said. “Can I

have your phone?”

Understanding filled the brothers. They all knew they were no

longer her champion for comfort. Their baby sister had gone and grown

up.

Ajani handed it over without a word. “Goodnight, Chipmunk,

we love you,” was the last thing he said as they left.

Osten’s phone vibrated, waking him from a restless slumber.

The number on the screen had him wide awake in a flash.

“Ajani?” Osten said into the phone. “Is everything okay with

CJ?”

“She misses you.” CJ’s voice reached his ear.

The world stopped briefly. “CJ, honey, are you okay?” He

longed to hold her, to allow whatever scent she wore to float over him.

To let her soft curves settle along his harder body and enjoy her with

him.

“I’m home.” A pause. “Osten?”

“
Che bella?
”

“I know the feds told you to stay away from me,” she sniffed

and his heart lurched.

“All you have to do is ask, Chantoya. I’ll be right there if you

want it.”

“I don’t want you in trouble with the feds.”

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Aliyah Burke

“Fuck the feds, CJ. If you want me with you, nothing will keep

me away. Much less a bell-ringer.” He was out of bed and slipping on

sweats over his boxers as he spoke.

“I need you, Osten,” she said softly. “Please.”

“I’m on my way, baby. I’ll be right there,” he paused briefly, “I

love you.” Then he hung up and finished dressing in a flash. Shoving

his feet into some shoes, he ignored the need for socks and was quickly

on his way over to her apartment.

Osten slipped inside her complex and went to her door. Reach-

ing out, he knocked with a gloved hand. “CJ, honey. Let me in.”

The door opened immediately and Osten was blindsided by the

fear she was trying so hard to hide. Her body still seemed so frail and

delicate to him, and the crimson robe she wore didn’t help.

Osten pulled her to him. Her arms wound around his torso and

she shuddered uncontrollably. “I tried. I really tried to be brave.

B…b…but all I see is that night.”

“You have no need to feel ashamed of your fear, baby. You had

a horrible experience.” He peeled off his gloves as he made sure the