Chapter 18 #2
“It’s not weird. It’s perfect. We could save gas.
Only take one car to work. I could come over to the school and see you at lunch.
Sounds ideal to me.” And it did. With any other woman, she might have a good point.
He might’ve felt as if having her so close all the time would be suffocating.
But he liked the idea of her being on the naval base.
It didn’t guarantee she’d be safe from any kind of violence, but he thought it would at least be a little safer than if she was in one of the public schools in the area.
“Really? You aren’t just saying that?”
“No.”
“Maybe I’ll call tomorrow and see if I can put in an application, or at least talk to someone in administration about the position then.”
“Good. Have you eaten?”
She wrinkled her nose. “No. Didn’t really feel like it.”
“How about I grill us some chicken or something. It won’t take long. We can have some of that flavored rice you like so much to go with it.”
“Sounds good. I can work on putting the bedroom back in order while you cook.”
“No. We’ll do it together after we eat. For now, sit. Relax. You’ve had a hard day.”
“I can help.”
“I know you can. But you can sit and relax too.”
Mandy rolled her eyes. “Fine. Whatever. Can I at least go through my mail while you slave over our dinner?”
“By all means.” Buck didn’t let go of her though, still had his arms around her. He leaned down and rested his forehead on hers. “I’m sorry you had to go through what you did today.”
“Me too.”
“We’ll figure this out. Promise.”
“I hope so.”
He kissed her then. A loving kiss that hopefully proved how much he cared about her.
Forcing himself to let go before the kiss turned into more—he really did want to feed her, and his stomach was growling as well—Buck headed for the kitchen sink to wash his hands and to get ready to make their dinner.
Mandy went over to the edge of the counter and grabbed the letters lying there, where she’d obviously placed them when she got home. She carried them over to the table and sat, then began to go through them.
Buck was drying his hands when he heard her gasp. Looking over, he saw Mandy staring at an envelope with wide eyes.
“What is it?”
She looked up. “It’s postmarked from Venezuela,” she said in a whisper.
“What the hell?” Buck said under his breath. “What now?” Those words were a bit louder.
Showing how off-kilter she was still feeling, Mandy didn’t even try to open the letter, she simply held it out to him as he walked over to her.
The letter didn’t have a return address, and her address was typed on the front. But it had definitely been postmarked from Venezuela.
Buck hesitated. He probably shouldn’t open it. Should probably call the authorities in case it contained drugs or something that might incriminate Mandy.
But he couldn’t not open it. He needed to know if there was an immediate threat toward the woman he was beginning to think he couldn’t live without, or if it was something else entirely.
Taking a step away from the table, away from Mandy, in case there was powder or something inside, Buck pulled out the knife he always carried from one of the pockets of his cargo pants and carefully slit open the top of the envelope.
He pulled the piece of paper from inside and placed it on the counter. He held his breath as he unfolded it.
Thankfully, there was nothing inside except for the paper. The letter was also typed, and was short and to the point.
We’re watching you.
We have eyes everywhere.
We always finish what we start.
We will be victorious.
Buck’s hands were shaking at the threats. No one threatened his woman. No fucking way.
“Come on. We’re leaving.”
“What? Where are we going? What does the letter say?”
Buck didn’t want her to see it. Didn’t want the vile words rolling around in her head, as they were in his.
But she was at his side, looking over his shoulder before he could shove the letter back into the envelope. She gasped again.
“Is that from the rebels? The people who kidnapped me and the kids?”
“I don’t know. Possibly.”
“Holy shit! How the hell would they get my address?”
“I don’t know. And that’s why we’re leaving. Whoever sent this knows where you live. Go pack. Whatever you need for at least a week. I’m not going to risk you staying here and having this not be some sick prank or an empty threat.”
“Where are we going?”
“My place. It’s doubtful anyone will know my name or where I live. But even if they do, my apartment is more secure than yours. Everyone has to be buzzed into the building. You can stay with me until we figure this out. Until Tex gets back to us with intel.”
“I don’t want to be a bother,” Mandy said softly.
Turning, Buck took her face in his hands. “You will never be a bother. You don’t think I want you in my space? My bed? I do.”
“But you haven’t complained about staying here.”
“Of course not. Because this is your home. Where you’re comfortable. But things have changed. Circumstances have changed. I won’t risk your well-being, Mandy. We could go to a hotel, but my place will be more comfortable. For you and Rain.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything. Go pack. I’ll get Rain’s things together out here. Grab whatever will spoil from the fridge too.”
“I don’t like this. I mean, I love that I’ll be with you, but I don’t like being forced out of my home. Being threatened. Not knowing what the hell is going on.”
“I don’t either, which is why I’m going to figure it out. Fix this.”
Mandy leaned against him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I don’t want you to get sick of me. To resent me being in your space.”
“I won’t. I couldn’t. I want you in my space.
I’d think you’d have figured that out by now, considering how much I hog your bed when we’re in it together.
I can’t get enough of you, Rebel. I love being around you, near you, inside you.
That’s another reason I have no problem with you working on base.
Our relationship is not like anything I’ve ever experienced in the past. The more I’m around you, the more I want to be around you.
Dead stop. So this isn’t a bad thing. I hate the reason you’re moving in with me, but I love the fact that you’ll be there.
That your things will be mingled with mine.
That you’ll be in my shower, my bed, my kitchen. Okay?”
“If you’re sure…” she said hesitatingly.
The fact that she wasn’t protesting, insisting she could stay at her place, that she wasn’t scared of the threats in the letter, was telling.
She was probably terrified, but protesting because she thought it was what she should do.
He’d do whatever he needed to in order to make sure she realized he honestly wanted her at his apartment and it was no hardship for him whatsoever.
“I’m sure,” he said firmly.
“Okay. I won’t be long.”
Buck nodded and let go of her when she pulled away. He had things he needed to do. Phone calls to make. Things to pack. But he took a moment to close his eyes and breathe. They’d make it through this. They had to. The alternative was unthinkable.