Risky Extraction

Chapter 2

Four years ago…

Allyson Sullivan watched him slowly walk down the beach. His eyes were haunted but usually were after a bad night. In the three years she’d known him, his nightmares came and went.

Brent, or Crash as he was known by most, worked for Newfoundland Elite Security or NES. Most of the employees were referred to by nicknames. Some received the name because of something they did in the past, but she wasn’t sure where Crash’s came from.

Crash might project the appearance of a self-confident, muscular former military man, not to mention sexy beyond belief, but the demons that haunted him from his time in the Middle East were many.

Crash saw a therapist and went religiously. He told Allyson everything about his life, and she reciprocated, for the most part. There was one thing she didn’t tell him or anyone. As a doctor, she knew it wasn’t her fault, but as a woman, it wasn’t easy to allow the words to come out of her mouth.

When he crouched and picked up some beach rocks, she approached him. He needed a friend, and she was there to lend an ear. She fell in love with him a long time ago, and if she could give in to her feelings for him, things would be easier, but he deserved someone who could give him everything a man wanted.

Brent stood up and began flinging stones into the crashing waves. He told her once it was something he did to help shake unpleasant feelings. The rocks represented everything that brought him down, and throwing them into the ocean symbolized getting rid of those emotions, if only for a short time.

“You know if you hit a seagull, you’ll get a ticket,” Allyson said as she walked closer.

“I won’t tell if you don’t,” he replied with a smile.

His smile was forced, but it still made the lines at the corner of his eyes crinkle. The strain of the day showed on his handsome face, but it didn’t matter to her. He could have mud from head to toe, and he’d still make her heart skip a beat.

“Your secret is safe with me.” Allyson smirked.

“Thank God,” he returned and then blew out a long breath.

She’d received a text from him at five that morning, and when she answered right away, he thought he’d woken her. She was due at the hospital early, so he’d caught her as she got ready for work.

Crash got news that one of the men he served with had died. She wasn’t sure how and considering the about of mental health issues that former vets faced. He might have ended his own life.

Allyson couldn’t imagine the things Crash and his team saw. At least Crash got help, but some didn’t think they could or didn’t feel they deserved it.

Another friend of Crash’s returned from deployment a couple of weeks earlier and struggled with civilian life. Crash told her that he and Wyatt went to high school together and enlisted with Axel. Wyatt’s wife was pregnant, and Crash helped him get on the right track, but now, Crash suffered because he relived his last deployment through nightmares. He wouldn’t tell her exactly what happened, probably because her late husband died while deployed, or maybe he wasn’t permitted to talk about it.

It was tough to think about Trent’s last moments, even after four years. She was grateful Crash wanted to spare her the gory details of life in a war zone, but she wished she could help him.

“Bad day?” Allyson knew the answer.

“Yeah.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.

“What was his name?” Allyson asked.

“Perry Brown.” Crash sighed.

“Do you know what happened?” Allyson assumed he’d probably taken his own life.

“He died in a fire.”

“Do you want to talk about him?” She wasn’t sure if that was the right question, but it was all she could offer.

“It’s not going to change anything.” Crash choked out the words.

“I wish I could help,” Allyson whispered.

“Me too.” He gave her a forced smile. “Otto said the place was a fire hazard and begged Perry to find another place to live. Otto and Perry were close.”

It was a cool day, but nothing was as relaxing as watching the beautiful dance of the waves as they crashed against the rocky shore and dragged the pebbles back into the Atlantic Ocean. The sound was a soothing melody. For several minutes, they stood in silence before she turned to him.

“I could use a piece of Alice’s blueberry pie. How about you?” She nodded toward the combination pub and diner not far from the beach.

“I won’t say no to that.” Crash grinned.

Jack’s Place was one of three restaurants in Hopedale. The owner, Alice O’Connor, prided herself on her traditional Newfoundland cuisine and homemade treats. One side of the building was the diner, and the other a pub. People could go to both places, catch up with friends, drink, and dance. All the residents of Hopedale ended up at the place at some point during the week.

They walked in comfortable silence along the road next to the beach and toward the diner. The mid-September wind had a fall chill, making her shiver. Allyson pulled her sweater tighter around her body as they rounded the corner into the parking lot.

“You should be wearing a coat,” Brent chastised.

“It wasn’t this cold when I left my house, Mom.” Allyson poked his muscular arm.

“It’s September in Newfoundland, and Hopedale is practically surrounded by water. Are you new here?” Brent teased.

Allyson rolled her eyes at his response and stepped through the diner door. Entering the cheery place, the aromas of fresh coffee and sweets filled her nostrils, and she sighed as they slid into a booth next to the window.

Glancing around, she waved and returned greetings to several familiar faces. Some she knew by name, others she saw around town. Hopedale was a typical small Newfoundland fishing community.

It’s why she returned to Hopedale when she left Ontario after Trent’s death. She hadn’t grown up there, but her mom was from the tiny town, and Allyson lived there until she married. She would never have left if the military hadn’t posted Trent to Ottawa.

It was different from living in Ontario, where some people didn’t even know their next-door neighbors. Being around familiar people helped her through losing Trent and gave her the help she needed to raise her son. Cameron was growing up so fast, and she was proud of the young man he had become.

“Well, hello, you two,” the owner of Jack’s Place stepped next to the booth.

“Hi, Alice.” Allyson smiled up at the woman.

“It’s nice to see you.” Crash kissed Alice’s cheek before sitting down.

“I’m so sorry about your friend, Brent.” Alice squeezed his arm gently.

“Thank you,” Crash replied.

It didn’t surprise Allyson that Alice knew about Crash’s loss. Crash and his co-workers were close to the O’Connor family, much the same as Allyson’s. Her sister married the youngest of Alice’s nephews, and because of that, she spent lots of time with the family.

“You just missed Bethany and A.J.” Alice placed the menus in front of them.

“Were they escaping the baby again?” Allyson knew her sister tried to get away at least once a week.

“I think so,” Alice replied with a chuckle. “Now, what can I get you both?”

“I’ll have some of your delicious blueberry pie and tea.” Allyson smiled.

“Same for me, but I’ll have coffee,” Crash said.

“Coming right up.”

Alice hurried off. For a woman who was sixty years old, she certainly didn’t appear as if she would slow down anytime soon. Even though she owned the pub and diner, she still worked full-time during the day.

“Do you think someday she’ll retire?” Allyson smiled.

“Not anytime soon. The O’Connor women don’t seem to know the meaning of the word slow. Nanny Betty still volunteers more hours than most people work, and Kathleen is always babysitting at least a couple of her grandkids.” Crash chuckled.

Kathleen O’Connor was married to Alice’s brother-in-law, and they may have raised seven boys, but she hadn’t slowed down either. She helped her daughters-in-law by babysitting her many grandchildren or helping with chores. Bethany told Allyson she didn’t know what she would do without the woman.

Nanny Betty, the matriarch of the O’Connor family, was in her mid-eighties and volunteered at the hospital, animal shelter, and community center. She was also always ready to cook a feast when someone needed it. Allyson wasn’t sure if the woman ever slept.

As if talking about the sweet woman made her appear, Nanny Betty stepped through the door with her companion, Tom Roberts. They were the cutest couple, with an interesting story. They’d been childhood sweethearts, but a series of events separated them. Betty married Jack O’Connor, and after he passed away, Tom came back into her life.

“Hello, me lovelies,” Betty said as she walked to their table.

“Hi, Nan.” Crash kissed her cheek.

“Hi, Nan,” Allyson said with a smile.

Nobody was permitted to call Betty anything but Nan unless she didn’t like them. To her, everyone was family.

“Are ya havin’ a date?” Betty asked with an Irish lilt.

Newfoundland had a mix of dialects that sounded similar to Irish. Each community had its own unique accent, and even though Allyson grew up in the province, she still found some places challenging to understand the people. Betty was from what was known as the Southern Shore, where most of their ancestors were from Ireland.

Allyson hated to correct the woman, but she was not on a date with Crash. They were friends, and as much as she had to keep telling people that, she had to remind herself why that was all they could be.

“Just having coffee and chatting,” Crash answered without a minute’s hesitation.

“I see,” Betty replied.

She narrowed her eyes as if waiting for one of them to admit she was right. Allyson’s brother-in-law, Aaron, once revealed it was impossible to lie or hide anything from the women, especially when she gave what they called the “devil’s glare.”

“I was very sad to hear about yer friend. I’ll keep ‘em in me prayers.” Betty laid her small hand on Crash’s shoulder.

“Thanks, Nan.” Crash nodded.

“Let’s let the youngsters have their coffee, darling,” Tom gently wrapped his arm around Nanny Betty.

For a minute, Allyson thought Betty would lecture them on the powers of Cora the Cupid and how she was never wrong. Betty’s daughter, Cora, was also the resident matchmaker, and some people truly believed the woman knew when couples belonged together. Allyson thought it was all a bunch of bull, but to be fair, Cora Nightengale had never been wrong.

Betty gave them one last look before turning and allowing Tom to guide her toward the table Alice reserved for her mother-in-law. As she walked away, Allyson heard her mutter something to Tom.

“What’s wrong wit da young ones today? Why can’t dey see what’s right in front of ‘em?” Betty shook her head.

Crash closed his eyes, seemingly hearing her remark. Cora hadn’t told Allyson directly, but she’d told everyone else. The woman was wrong this time.

“I love that woman,” Crash whispered.

“You and everyone in Hopedale.” Allyson smiled.

Crash took a deep breath and blew it out. He was obviously trying to hide his emotions, but his body tensed again when the distraction wore off. She hated that he had to go through anything so tragic.

“Want to talk about it?” Allyson asked after Alice brought their order.

“It’s the same old stuff. Hearing about Perry brought it all on again.” Crash poured cream into his coffee.

“The nightmares?” Allyson asked.

“Yeah, Axel called and said Wyatt took it hard, and he’s afraid it will cause Wyatt to fall off the wagon.” Crash sighed.

“Does he have help?” Allyson knew some of Crash’s history with substance abuse after he left the military.

“He’s trying to pull himself out. His wife is having a baby, and he wants to stay on the straight and narrow, but when something like this happens, it can send you spiraling again.” Crash took a sip of his coffee. “I have my dad for support.”

“I’m sure he’ll reach out if things get too bad.” Allyson knew people with addictions had a hard road ahead of them.

“Yeah, but this crowd he was involved with… let’s just say I know what they’re capable of. I was lucky not to get in deep because Axel and my dad had my back.” Crash turned and gazed out at the harbor across the road. “Wyatt has no other family. He grew up in foster care. He was close to Lieutenant-Colonel Gibson, but that changed.”

“He has you and your family, but make sure you take care of yourself too,” Allyson warned.

“I will.” Crash smiled.

Allyson still found it challenging to think of Crash as someone who’d associated with the type of people who sold drugs and committed crimes. The Crash she knew was dependable and law-abiding. Still, she’d seen some of her late husband’s friends slide the slippery slope into drugs and depression once they returned from a harrowing tour overseas.

“Axel lives in New Brunswick, right?” Allyson asked.

“Yes. I’ve been trying to get him to move here because he has no family there. He says he can’t leave because people need him there and his girlfriend won’t move here. Wyatt is still in Alberta, so it makes it harder to be there for him.” Crash stared down into his cup.

“I wish I could help more,” Allyson whispered.

“You do. More than you know.” Crash lifted his eyes, and they locked with hers.

She never knew what color she’d see when she looked into his eyes. Sometimes, they were hazel, and sometimes, green, but no matter what shade they were, when he looked at her, she wanted to forget everything and get lost in his gaze—to be alone and forget why they would never work out. She couldn’t do that to him.

She turned her blue eyes away and finished the last of her tea. Crash dropped some money on the table before she could pull out her wallet. He stood up and waited for her to pull on her sweater before they left the diner.

They didn’t talk as he walked her home, but when they arrived at her house, he made sure she was safe inside before leaving. When he did, she grabbed his hand.

“You shouldn’t be alone right now.” Allyson was worried about him.

“I know. That’s why I’m going to a meeting with my dad.” Crash gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Thank you for being a friend.”

He pulled her hand up and gently kissed her knuckles before he dropped it. Then he jogged down the front steps and was out of sight before she could respond. A friend was all she could be.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and when she pulled it out, she saw a message from one of the hospital nurses asking her to call. Getting a call from the hospital with questions about patients she’d treated during her shift wasn’t unusual. Allyson called the emergency department as she stepped into her house. Someone answered on the second ring, which was remarkable because the place was always a hive of activity.

“This is Dr. Allyson Sullivan. I got a message from Leah Sellers asking me to call.” She tossed her keys on the kitchen counter.

“One moment, Dr. Sullivan.” The man put her on hold.

A few minutes passed, and she was getting ready to hang up. Messaging Leah would probably be easier, but someone answered before she could end the call.

“Ally?” Leah sounded frantic.

“Hey, Leah. What’s up?”

“Dr. Davenport was looking for you. He’s slightly bent out of shape because I wouldn’t give him your home address.” Leah snorted.

“What the hell does Witt want my address for?” Allyson asked.

Dr. Witt Davenport was a plastic surgeon with whom she’d gone to supper once and realized they had nothing in common. Luckily, she was smart enough to meet him at the restaurant and not have him pick her up. He bragged about all the people he worked with through his career but never dropped names. Witt was one of the top plastic surgeons, but he was arrogant.

“Guess he wanted to come to visit.” Leah chuckled.

“Yeah, well, I get enough of him at the hospital. I don’t want him dropping by here. If he asks again, tell him I don’t want my home address given out.” Allyson sighed.

“You know I wouldn’t ever give him that, but I figured I’d give you a heads up. There are lots of ways to find where someone lives,” Leah reminded her.

“I know. Thanks for the info.” Allyson closed her eyes.

“You know I got your back, girl. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Leah ended the call.

She tossed her phone on the counter and sighed. She had no patience for Witt and his snobby attitude. She was worried about Crash and wished she could fix everything. Allyson’s heart hurt for him and herself because she could never give him what he deserved.