Chapter 25
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LUCIANA FLUSHED THE next morning as she awoke in Harrison’s arms—and in his bed.
She was naked, wrapped around him like she was really and truly his.
Her breasts pillowed against his side, her head on his chest, and one of her legs was between his.
The coarse hair on his muscled legs tickled her bare skin, and she felt surrounded by him, completely safe and adored.
They’d made love several times after returning to his home last night. While Luciana hadn’t ever thought she’d rush to bed with a man so quickly, she didn’t regret a second of it. No, she’d only felt strong and free, reclaiming her life and sensuality, doing things on her own terms.
She’d ridden him cowgirl style, Harrison thrusting upward, his big hands on her hips as he ordered her to come again on his cock.
Afterwards, he’d turned her over, taking her from behind in his bed.
He’d felt even bigger that way, his thick erection thrusting into her slick pussy, and she’d loved wildly coming apart as he claimed her.
Their final bout of lovemaking for the night had been slow and sweet, Harrison moving atop her.
He’d kissed her tenderly, intertwining his fingers with hers as he made love to her, her final release less intense but no less pleasurable.
And now it was morning, the sun just peeking in through the edges of his blinds, and she was deliciously sore. Sated. Relaxed and happy.
A quick glance at his alarm clock let her know he’d be waking up soon.
“Oh my gosh!” she suddenly cried out.
Harrison was instantly awake and alert. “What’s wrong?” His voice was rough with sleep, but he was already looking around for any signs of trouble.
“I didn’t have any nightmares. I slept all night!” she said in surprise. “I woke up nearly every damn night when I was a hostage. And even here, in your home, I’ve been getting up at odd hours for the past two weeks. I finally slept all through the night.”
“Well, not all night,” he joked, his gaze hot as it ran over her naked form. But he leaned over and kissed her, sensual and slow. “You must’ve known you were safe with me.”
“Perhaps.”
“You slept well because I wore you out?” he questioned, but she could see the amusement in his eyes.
“Maybe a little of both,” she admitted, relaxing again in his arms.
Harrison ran a hand over her, caressing her breasts, her stomach. It felt intimate and safe, like he was caring for her more than trying to arouse her at that exact moment. His lips brushed over her hair. “You finally relaxed enough to sleep well because you knew you were safe in my bed.”
“Do you have to get up soon?” she asked.
“Yep,” he said, regret in his voice. He kissed her forehead, letting his eyes sweep over her again.
“And as much as I’d love a repeat of last night, I do have to get in to base early.
” He paused, seemingly not wanting to change subjects.
“I told you a bit yesterday about what’s going on with your father and the cartel.
I want to make sure we’re taking some precautions. ”
Luciana bit her lip, worry coursing through her. “But you said I wasn’t safe in Panama City. How would they know to look for me here? Truthfully, I don’t think my father has any idea where I am.”
“Although I agree, let’s not forget that you had a tracking device in your boot.
If you somehow escaped, they planned to find you.
Now your father is going on television there with your photograph.
They know you’re a nurse. They know we’re American.
It would take a lot of time and trouble to find you, but it wouldn’t be impossible. ”
“Si, that is understandable, but I keep a low profile. I don’t have social media accounts or anything.”
“That’s good,” he said, feeling slightly relieved. “And you’re using the new phone number.”
“Yes. That reminds me, Avery mentioned yesterday that my things were arriving soon from Doctors Without Borders. She provided them with your address.”
Harrison frowned. “Maybe we should’ve set up a different address to send your things. It’s too late for that now. I’m not sure they would necessarily think to check with your former employer about any forwarding address, but that does pose a complication.”
Luciana’s face fell. “I am so sorry. I didn’t even consider that could be a problem. I feel so foolish.”
“Don’t feel foolish,” he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“This is my fault, too. Ryan and Avery both mentioned having your things shipped to Hawaii. I didn’t have concerns that Doctors Without Borders would share any forwarding address with the Gulf Clan, but now that your father is going on television looking for you, I’m concerned.
We’ll take some additional precautions. You’re already aware that I have a home security system and surveillance cameras.
” He paused as his phone buzzed with a text. “I need to check that.”
Luciana looked after him as he stood and crossed the room.
Harrison made a phone call after reading the message, speaking in a low voice, and Luciana flopped back on his pillow.
She was lying on Harrison’s bed, completely naked, and couldn’t find it in herself to care.
After being a hostage, she was surprised it didn’t bother her.
But this situation was different in every way, and she was falling for the man who’d rescued her.
He was handsome and smart, brave and bold, and when he looked at her the way he did last night, she knew she was a complete goner.
He eyed her, naked on his bed, as he set his phone back down. “That was work,” he said with a resigned sigh. “As much as I want to stay here in bed with you, I should bring you with me when I head in. I’d like to see if you recognize any of the men in the new photos we received.”
“What type of photos?”
“There are photographs of your father and a likely member of the Gulf Clan.”
***
AN HOUR LATER, THEY were driving into base together.
Harrison was certain her staying at his home would raise some eyebrows.
He couldn’t find it in himself to care. Luciana was his, and he’d protect her at all costs.
He reached across his SUV and snagged her hand, bringing it up to his mouth and brushing his lips across her soft skin.
Luciana flushed but still looked nervous.
“It’s okay,” he told her, his voice low.
“We’ve been digging around for connections, and the likelihood is, we finally found it.
There’s been no paper trail directly linking your father to the Gulf Clan, but the photographic evidence will speak for itself.
He was likely meeting and working with them. ”
“He is sickening,” Luciana spat out. “If he knew they were holding me prisoner and just left me there—my own father! Even if we were estranged, family is family. He is nothing but pure evil.”
“Sometimes family is who you choose,” Harrison said. “The men on my team all consider themselves brothers. They train and fight and have killed in battle together. It was the same with my SEAL team when I was younger.”
“Are you still in touch with them?” she asked. “Some of them must have no doubt gone on to new positions in your Navy or left the service altogether.”
“I am,” he admitted. “Being in the military as long as I have, I’ve got contacts everywhere.” He eyed her, glad to see she’d relaxed slightly. She’d been tense ever since he got word about the new photos.
“I wonder why my father would work with them,” Luciana said. “He is already quite wealthy.”
“It’s a good question. Sometimes greed knows no end. Maybe it wasn’t enough.”
She shook her head, staring out the window. “That I would believe. Nothing was ever good enough for him, but despite my leaving home, I am still his daughter. If he cast me aside just because he is more loyal to a cartel—he’s a bastard.”
Harrison flashed his military ID as he pulled up to the gate, then had Luciana show her passport.
She was still here only temporarily. If she ended up staying in Hawaii, which he hoped would happen, she’d need a driver’s license, nursing license, a work visa to remain in the U.S.
, and God knew what else. And some of that would only be good short term as well.
He wanted her here permanently. His mind worked over that thought.
While Harrison hadn’t ever thought he’d want to settle down, he also couldn’t imagine doing life without the woman at his side.
Ten minutes later, they were in a conference room on base.
Luciana wasn’t allowed in the secure areas, but the photographs weren’t classified.
Once they’d stopped trying to find a paper trail, they’d looked through local surveillance systems in Panama City, running Juan Rodriguez’s photo to get a match.
Several members of his team were with him as he spread the photographs across the table. He stood at Luciana’s side and heard her tiny gasp.
“Do you know this man?” Harrison asked, pointing at the person beside her father.
“Si. I recognize him. The man with the scar. He was one of my captors.”
“That’s Pedro Gomez, one of Santiago Garcia’s head henchmen.”
Wyatt suddenly came rushing into the room. “Commander, we received some additional intelligence. Analysts assess that Pedro Gomez and Luciana’s father were working together behind Garcia’s back. Although her father had ties to Santiago Garcia, he was withholding money from him.”
Harrison’s eyes narrowed. “Was Garcia aware of this?”
“Affirmative. Garcia knew that Luciana’s father wasn’t cutting him his fair share.”
Harrison snatched the paper from Wyatt’s hands, scanning over the newest intelligence report.
“Your father’s business dealings with the cartel turned sour,” Harrison said.
“He owed them money. When they realized you were in fact his daughter, they were using it against him. That’s why you spotted one of your father’s men at the night club.
They were looking for you, probably trying to assess if Garcia was telling the truth. ”
Luciana’s jaw dropped. “But my father’s men didn’t say anything. The one I recognized stared right at me but let me leave with the cartel.”
“I’m sorry,” Harrison murmured.
“My father is a hateful, spiteful man. He knew I was being held hostage by the cartel, and he left me there!” Tears spilled down her cheeks, and Harrison pulled her into his arms without thought, despite the fact that his entire team now stood there in the same room.
Luciana rested her head on his chest as she cried, and anger coursed through him.
He roughly ran his hands over her back, trying to soothe her. The man’s evil knew no limits.
“What else do we know?” Harrison barked.
“Garcia has threatened Luciana’s father with death. He will end his entire empire unless her father gives him what he wants.”
Harrison’s stomach dropped. “What is he demanding?” he asked, his voice urgent.
“The leader of the Gulf Clan wants Luciana.”