Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Buck was having a hard time keeping his anger under control.
Every word out of Mandy’s mouth had made him want ten minutes alone with Blair Gaffney.
He wasn’t a man who was prone to violence, but just the thought that she was responsible for the kidnapping and mental and physical torture of twenty-three innocent children—and could right now be on her way to Virginia to carry out some sort of hateful revenge on Mandy—was enough to make him lose his normally tightly held restraint.
Mandy was taking everything extremely well. And that also worried him. He knew how much she adored little Bibi, and the idea that the child was at the mercy of whatever mental illness Blair was suffering was too much to even think about.
He’d left Mandy so quickly because he’d needed a moment to himself. To regain control. So he could think rationally and calmly when he called Tex. Because right now, he felt anything but rational and calm.
Buck took a few deep breaths and found they didn’t help at all. He was a man of action, and without knowing where Blair was, and what she was planning, he couldn’t do a damn thing.
But Tex could hopefully find her, and then they could make some definitive plans. Call the police, get child services involved. Contact the media to broadcast an Amber alert. Something.
He wasn’t sure if he’d been talking out his ass when he reassured Mandy that Tex could find Blair.
The man was good, but he didn’t know if he was that good.
Every point Mandy brought up was valid. Finding how, when, and where she’d entered the US—if she’d even done so at all—would be tough. Could take days. Weeks.
Time Buck didn’t think they had. His gut was screaming at him that Mandy was in danger.
That Blair was coming for her. It made no sense, especially since Blair had essentially “won” whatever competition she thought there was for little Bibi.
Mandy was gone and Blair had the child. But according to Desmond, for some reason, there was a deep-seated hatred festering inside the older woman toward Mandy.
And that kind of hate didn’t go away spontaneously.
Since Blair had apparently had a mental break, that hate could be all that was driving her.
Taking another deep breath, Buck changed out of his work clothes and put on a pair of jeans and a black T-shirt.
He needed to shower, but he didn’t want to delay talking to Tex any longer than he had already.
And he wanted to get back to Mandy. Make sure she was really all right.
He figured she wasn’t, but he’d do whatever it took to make sure she got there.
He strode back into the living area a few minutes after he’d left and found Mandy sitting on the couch with Rain practically in her lap. The dog was scary smart, obviously felt the woman he idolized needed some emotional support.
An idea occurred to him then—what if they secured the paperwork to make Rain an actual support animal?
He was completely in tune with Mandy and her emotions, and it would be a comfort to them both if they could stay together everywhere she went, especially when she was back in the classroom again.
He wasn’t sure how it all worked, but he made a mental note to look into it once things settled down.
Nash went straight to her. Sat on the couch beside her, on the opposite side from Rain, and put his arm around her shoulders.
“I’m sorry I don’t have anything ready for dinner.”
“Dinner can wait. I’m more worried about you.”
“I’m okay. I just…this is so hard to believe.”
“I know. You want to listen in on my call with Tex? Or have you had enough today? You need a break from all of this?” Buck asked.
“Listen,” she said without hesitation. “I’d feel better if I was in the loop. If I knew what was happening.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.” Buck took out his cell and scrolled to his contacts before clicking on Tex’s name.
The phone rang twice before he picked up.
“Hey, Buck. I haven’t located concrete evidence of Blair’s connection to the rebels, but I will. I know it’s there, it’s just taking me a little longer than usual to find something.”
“We have news,” Buck told the other man. “Mandy is here. She talked to Desmond Williams today.”
“Give it to me,” Tex ordered in a no-nonsense tone.
Buck nodded at Mandy to go ahead. It was just as maddening, infuriating, and baffling the second time he heard the story as it was the first. But Buck stayed calm, determined to be the man she needed right now, instead of the pissed-off soldier he truly was deep inside.
“Shit. Okay. First things first, don’t worry about the school. I can take care of that.”
Typing on a keyboard was easy to hear in the brief silence that followed.
“What does that mean?” Mandy asked.
“I’ve got money I can send. And by money, I mean enough to keep the school and orphanage running for years.”
“Oh, but that’s not why we called—” Mandy began to protest.
“I know. But look, trust me when I say, I’ve got enough money to be able to fund a thousand orphanages from here to eternity.
There’s no better way to spend it, I think, than on the future of the world.
I’ve already done enough research to know that Desmond Williams is a good man.
Compassionate. Smart. Business savvy. He’s not going to just blow this donation.
And regardless, I’ll see to it that doesn’t happen.
But he’ll have enough to get more staff, build more housing, as well as hire security—which is perhaps the most important thing he can do with the money, considering the school and orphanage is so close to the border.
“Moving on to more difficult things…I can find Blair, but it’ll take time.”
“How much time?” Buck asked.
“I don’t know. More than either of us would like though. But the fact that she has a child with her will work in my favor. It’ll make her stand out more…hang on…Hmmm, doesn’t look like she’s used her passport recently.”
“Holy crap, you can see that so quickly?”
“Of course. It’s an electronic record, and it’s easy enough to check the Customs database.”
Mandy looked at Buck with huge eyes, as if to say, “What the hell?”
He wanted to laugh, but this really wasn’t a laughing matter.
“At least she didn’t enter using her real name.
I’ll keep digging, see what I can find out.
And the intel about Blair setting up the kidnapping makes sense, in a warped way, I guess.
She probably met with one of the rebels in person, which is why I haven’t been able to find an electronic trail.
But now I’m more than curious. I want to know who her connection is, and if they’re a threat to the kids still living at the orphanage. Because that isn’t acceptable. Buck?”
“I’m here.”
“I don’t like this. Don’t leave Mandy alone. Take her with you to the base. She can wait there while you work. With Blair being so unstable, it’s not safe for her to be at your apartment alone when you aren’t there.”
Mandy was frowning now—and looked as if she was ready to cry.
“I don’t need a babysitter,” she said softly, staring at the phone.
“No, you don’t. You need a bodyguard,” Tex said firmly.
“Look, I know this sucks. But ever since my kidnapping, I’m way more sensitive to this kind of shit.
I don’t want anyone to go through what I did.
And if Blair gets her hands on you, or sends someone else to do it—which is more what I’d expect her to try—things won’t go well for you.
The woman hates you for whatever reason.
Doesn’t even need to be a good one; she’s mentally unstable, so it is what it is.
You need to have eyes on you at all times until I can find her.
She could be there in Norfolk now. Looking for you. Wanting revenge.”
“I didn’t do anything to her,” Mandy said, her voice wobbling. “All I wanted was to give some children a good home. To love them.”
“I know,” Tex said gently. “And I have no doubt any kid will be lucky to call you Mom. But that can’t happen if you aren’t careful. If Blair or someone she’s paid off gets their hands on you. This won’t be forever. Just until I can find her. Okay?”
Buck hated this. Hated that Mandy was so upset. Hated that someone she trusted was upending her life so much.
“Okay,” she said after a long moment.
“I’ll see if she can hang out with Laryn in the hangar. When she hears that Mandy might be in danger, she’ll go all mother-hen on her,” Buck said.
Tex chuckled. “That’ll work. And you’re right. I can see her now, with her wrench in one hand, ready to knock out someone’s kneecaps if they dare look at Mandy the wrong way. Be safe, be vigilant, and I’ll be in touch.”
The line went dead.
Buck immediately put his finger under Mandy’s chin and turned her head so she was looking at him. “Nothing is going to happen to you. Tex will figure this out, I will keep you safe. Me and my friends. Life will go back to normal soon. I swear.”
She nodded. Then sighed. “Can Rain come to the base with me?”
“Yes.” It would probably require the colonel’s approval, but Buck would make sure it happened.
“What do you want for dinner?”
Buck shook his head. He wasn’t going to let her shy away from her feelings. “Screw dinner. What do you need from me right now?”
“This. You being here. Touching me. That’s what I need.”
“Then that’s what you’ll get. Come ’ere.” Buck pulled Mandy into his arms and fell backward onto the couch. Rain grumbled, but jumped down onto the floor and went over to his bed. He didn’t sleep though. Just kept his eyes on Mandy as Buck got them comfortable on the couch.
He rolled her until her back was against the cushions and he was lying on his side in front of her. They were face-to-face and her hands were between them, resting on his chest.
“This is nice,” she said with a small smile. “Usually I don’t get to look at you when we’re cuddling.”
Buck made a mental note to lie like this more often. Anything this woman wanted, he’d move heaven and earth to give her.
They talked for at least an hour. He asked her to tell him more about Bibi, about the other kids she worked with in Guyana.
About Desmond. Then he wanted to know more about her parents, about what she was like as a child.
Many of the stories she told him, he’d heard before, when they were in the jungle, but they felt different now that deeper feelings were involved.
Now that she was far more than a “mission.”
He did his fair share of talking too. About his sister, his niece and nephew, his parents.
Growing up in Kansas. It felt good to be “normal” for a little while, to not talk about anyone hating this woman enough that they’d arranged to have her kidnapped…
a person who, even now, could be on their way to cause more havoc in Mandy’s life.
It wasn’t until his stomach growled that Mandy insisted they get up and find something to eat.
Buck agreed, but only because he felt as if she was truly on a more stable footing.
That the time to decompress and simply enjoy being next to another human being who wanted nothing but good things for her had done her some good.
They got up, made a quick meal of ramen with a fried egg, then decided to relax in bed. Buck took Rain outside—there was no question that he would be the one doing that chore for the foreseeable future—then headed to the bedroom.
Mandy was already in bed waiting for him.
Buck paused at the doorway, watching Mandy as she read from her e-reader without noticing him.
Seeing her there seemed so natural. So right.
It was as if she’d always been with him, which was weird considering how short a time it had actually been.
But the circumstances of them meeting and getting to know each other in such a stressful situation hadn’t been normal.
Had fast-forwarded their relationship in a way that had brought them closer together.
Buck couldn’t imagine not having her in his life, which was an intense feeling. But right, nonetheless.
He quickly joined her in the bed and snuggled up next to her on his side.
She was on her back and started to put her e-reader down, but he stopped her.
“No, keep reading. I’m just going to lie here.
” His head was on her shoulder, his arm around her stomach, one of his legs over hers.
Her scent was in his nostrils and the warmth of her body seeped into his own.
He felt content and happy. Even lying with her quietly felt intimate in a way he’d never known.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” She needed to lose herself in the fictional world of the stories she loved so much. Where there was always a happily ever after and the bad guy always got what he, or she, deserved.
Buck could only hope they had a similar ending…or beginning, as the case may be. That they’d find Blair, and the older woman would get the mental help she needed, and Bibi would be cared for properly. And, of course, that he and Mandy would live happily ever after.
But deep down, Buck was more than aware that life didn’t always turn out the way you wanted.
It wasn’t a romance novel. All he could do was make sure Mandy was safe while Tex did his thing.
He’d do whatever it took to protect the woman in his bed, because he was pretty sure life without her in it would be a dark, cold, and miserable place.