Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
H e felt the heat of the bullet.
Park watched Olson slam back onto the deck. Jenna had shot him in the shoulder.
Olson snarled and shifted. She stepped forward and shot him in the other shoulder.
Park grinned at her. God, she was something . “I really like watching you work, Marshal Sheridan.”
She smiled back at him. Her face was swollen, and it would bruise, but she’d never looked more beautiful to him.
He moved, ignoring the pain in his body. He then took great pleasure in tightening his fist and punching Olson in the face. The man flopped back on the deck with a low moan.
“That’s for hitting her, asshole.” Park punched him again. “That’s because you deserve it.”
Olson groaned.
“Park, as an officer of the law, I have to ask you to stop hitting the fugitive. Unfortunately.”
He pulled some zip ties from his pocket. He roughly flipped Olson onto his stomach, and when the man made a pained sound, he didn’t feel a lick of sympathy.
“Can’t say I’m sorry, Olson.” He fastened the man’s ankles and wrists behind his back. He pulled the ties tight. He didn’t give a fuck if he cut off Olson’s circulation.
Jenna looked up at the helo and waved at Owen. The young marshal pumped his fist in the air.
There was a thud on the deck.
Shit, what now? Park crouched, ready for anything. He saw Jenna spin and lift her gun.
Two men in black wetsuits slid over the side of the boat.
Vander straightened, Ren beside him. Water sluiced off their bodies.
Vander eyed Olson, then looked up. “Looks like you didn’t need our help.”
Ren made a face. “You couldn’t have saved anything for us?”
Park sat back against the railing, pain flaring inside him. He was pretty sure he had some broken ribs. “You guys were too slow. More than happy for you to take it from here, though.”
Vander’s lips quirked. “Congratulations, Jenna. You caught your fugitive.”
She leaned against the boat controls. “Honestly, I’m just glad it’s done.”
Suddenly, Olson leaped up. He’d broken free of his ankle restraints. He sprinted for the side of the boat.
Ren cursed, and so did Park.
Vander moved faster than seemed possible. He gripped the back of Olson’s neck, spun him, then slammed him face first into the railing of the boat. He yelped, blood pouring from his broken nose. Vander kicked the man’s legs out from under him. He hit the deck hard.
“Ren, get a rope,” Vander said calmly. “We’ll hogtie him.”
Jenna moved over to Park, weaving across the deck. She dropped down beside him. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” He slid an arm around her. It hurt, but he wanted to hold her.
She leaned into him.
“You need ice on your face,” he said.
“And you need ice on your ribs.”
She hadn’t missed that. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
Together, they watched Vander and Ren tie up Olson. This time, he wasn’t getting loose.
It was done. It was over.
“You got your man,” Park murmured.
She looked up. Her left eye was almost swollen shut. He gently touched her temple, and tucked her hair back behind her ear. How could she still smell so good after everything they’d been through today?
“I did. I found a hell of a man. Strong, tough, loyal. A good man, even though he doesn’t think so.”
Park’s heart started pounding. “You aren’t talking about Olson, right?”
“Very funny. I’d elbow you, but I know it would hurt.” She shifted to look him directly in the eyes. “I know you don’t want to hear this, Parker, but I’m falling in love with you.”
He froze. He couldn’t move, couldn’t think. This gorgeous, smart woman loved him?
“I broke the rules. I promised you casual, but I’m not going to lie to you. I’m falling for you.” Her nose wrinkled. “I’m really close to all the way in love.”
“No.”
Her eyebrow rose. “Yes.”
Suddenly, the boat engine noise changed. He glanced over and saw Ren at the controls. The man worked on a research vessel and knew boats. He swung the boat around and pointed them back toward Valdez.
Park looked back at the woman staring at him. “You can’t love me.” Hell, his voice was shaky.
Her fingers curled on his forearm. “I do.”
“You deserve better than me.” She couldn’t love him. She’d seen all his shadows, his scars, she’d seen all of him.
She made a sound. “Are you telling me I don’t deserve a good man who respects me, likes my strength, has seen me cry, who has my back?”
Park swallowed.
“Who lights me up in bed.”
He glanced up, and saw Ren and Vander watching them. Both the assholes were grinning.
Jenna touched his cheek and brought his gaze back to her.
“I’m falling crazily in love with you, Parker Conroy. So you’re just going to have to deal with it.”
His throat was too tight to talk. He pulled her against his chest and held her tight. She rested her head on his shoulder.
“You deserve to be loved, Park. I’m going to prove that to you.”
The Valdez harbor was a zoo. There were police and state troopers everywhere. An ambulance, plus the helicopter, sat on the street in front of the harbor. Curious onlookers stood on the sidewalk, pointing and speculating. Owen was directing things as best he could.
Jenna smiled as she scanned around her. Her partner was doing a hell of a job.
Olson was now shackled. There were four armed state troopers standing guard over him.
Vander and his guys had changed. They still looked badass. She’d never forget the moment when Vander and Ren had appeared on the boat.
She turned. Park was getting checked over by the paramedic. Though he was trying to push the guy away.
She stalked over. “Hey, I got checked over, and now it’s your turn.”
He glared at her. “Put that ice pack back on your face.”
She held it up. “I will, if you let the nice paramedic check your ribs.”
Park scowled, but unbuttoned his shirt. He winced, and it was obvious the stubborn man was in pain.
She pressed the ice pack back to her face. Nothing was broken, thankfully. She kept an eye on Park, on the man she loved, as the paramedic wrapped up his sore ribs.
Park kept glancing at her, like she might disappear.
Her scarred hero loved her. She knew it. He just didn’t believe that he deserved to be loved back.
Well, she always got her man. She was going to make him realize that he deserved her and more.
Two black sedans sped down the street and screeched to a stop nearby. The doors opened, and when she saw the first man who stepped out, she stifled a groan.
Owen appeared beside her. “Incoming.”
Typical Vic. Arriving when the hard work was all done, hoping to steal the glory.
Jenna didn’t care. Olson was in custody, and she and Park were alive. That’s all that mattered to her. That, and the fact that she’d finally discovered what true love felt like.
It wasn’t all sweetness and warmth. It was intense, raw, and real.
“Thank you, everyone,” Vic called out. “Your hard work in the apprehension of Kyle Olson has been invaluable.”
Owen made a snorting sound.
The paramedic treating Park looked up. “Who’s the blowhard?”
Now Jenna snorted. What had she ever seen in the man?
Vic spotted her and headed her way. He rested his hands on her shoulders. “Jenna, your face…”
She pulled back. “I’ll live. You have good timing, Vic, as usual.”
“You captured Olson. Well done, Jenna. I never doubted that you could take him down.”
“I had help.”
Vic took her hand and pulled her to the side. She really didn’t want him touching her.
“I’m really impressed. You’re a hell of a marshal.”
“I know,” she said dryly.
Vic’s face suddenly changed. He touched her hair, a soft look in his eyes. “I miss you.”
What? Her eyebrows winged up.
“I made a mistake with us, Jenna. With Mia. Things are not…” He shook his head. “I see now what a great team we were.”
“A great team? Vic, you’re married.”
“I’m getting a divorce.”
Jenna shook her head.
“Together, we could go places.”
She made a sound. “So, I do all the dirty work, while you sit in your corner office, lapping up the credit?”
He frowned. “Jenna?—”
“Look, Vic, I?—”
She saw Vic look over her shoulder and his chest puffed up. She knew exactly who was behind her. She could sense Park blindfolded.
“Vic, this is Parker Conroy. He helped me catch Olson.”
“The Army grunt.” Vic crossed his arms. “Shame that you and your secret teams let someone like Olson loose.”
Jenna made an annoyed sound. “Park doesn’t run the entire military. He risked his life to help me bring Olson in. He hiked through the wilderness, he had my back, he protected and helped me. You know, did the dirty work.”
Vic lifted his chin. “The US Marshals Service appreciates your help, Conroy. Now, we were having a private conversation?—”
“No, we weren’t,” Jenna cut him off.
“Jenna, I messed up. I’m sorry.”
“I doubt you are.”
“That,” Vic said. “I miss your toughness.”
She crossed her arms. “I seem to recall you calling me a ballbuster.”
Vic dragged in a breath. “I mean it, I miss you.”
“Well, she doesn’t miss you,” Park said.
Vic’s gaze narrowed. “What would you know?”
“Because she’s been sleeping in my arms this week. She kisses me. She takes my cock. She loves me. She’s mine .”
Jenna’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up at him, amused. “Is this some sort of alpha man claiming ritual?”
“No,” Park said. “It’s my claiming ritual.”
She smiled at him.
“You’re sleeping with…him,” Vic spluttered. “I dated you for over a month and you wouldn’t put out. But with him , it’s only a few days.”
“That’s right, Vic.”
“He’s a killer.” Vic stabbed a finger at Park. “He’s just like Olson.”
“He’s nothing like Olson, and yes, I’m sleeping with him. I’m in love with him.”
Park cupped her cheeks. “Go away, Vic.”
Vic grumbled. “You’re making a mistake, Jenna.”
“No, you were a mistake.” She didn’t even look at him. All she could see was Park. “Thankfully, you were a short-lived, easily forgotten one.”
Her ex huffed. “You’ll regret this.” He stalked off.
“No, I won’t.” She gripped Park’s wrists. “Yours, huh?”
“Yes. I’m not really good with words, so let me show you how I feel.” He lowered his head and claimed her mouth with his.
Jenna clung to Park as he kissed her.
He hauled her closer and kissed her like he never wanted to stop.
He still couldn’t believe she loved him. Couldn’t find the right words to share how he felt.
A clearing throat made him lift his head. He looked over and saw Vander and the others standing there, smiling at them.
“Olson’s gone,” Vander said.
Park tucked Jenna against him, and they both looked at the street. The car the marshals had loaded Olson into was driving away, red taillights glowing. It was escorted by both marshals and state troopers.
Olson wouldn’t be escaping this time.
“Good riddance,” Jenna murmured.
Vander gripped Park’s shoulder. “Well done. Both of you.”
“He didn’t make it easy,” Park said. “He hurt a lot of people.”
“But he can’t hurt anyone ever again,” Jenna said.
Park knew she was thinking of her father.
“Jenna,” a voice called out.
Owen stood nearby with some state troopers, waving at her.
She squeezed Park’s arm. “I need to deal with this.”
He watched her walk over to the group. Then he watched the way they listened to her, and he felt proud as hell.
“You helped Jenna stop Olson,” Vander said. “You saved lives, Park.”
“Thanks for coming.” Vander was one of the people Park trusted most. He knew the man would always have his back.
Park realized that he wasn’t as isolated as he’d thought. He saw Boone, Shep, and Ren nearby. His friends, his brothers. Loyalty was in their marrow.
And Park would return the favor if they ever needed him.
“You didn’t really need us,” Vander said. “You and Jenna make a hell of a team.”
“She’s in love with me.”
“Then that makes you a lucky man.”
“I know.”
Park knew he could go back to his cabin. He could avoid people, avoid life…
But she’d changed him. No, maybe she’d just pulled the blinders off so he could see more clearly.
“I don’t deserve her. I’m not good enough for her.”
Vander smiled. “You’re not, but she chose you. She loves you. You think you can walk away and let her go?”
Park looked over at her. She was waving a hand as she talked. “Fuck, no.”
“Good. I was worried I was going to have to knock some sense into you. You have a lifetime to do everything you can to make her happy. All you have to do is love her.”
Vander sounded like he was speaking from experience.
Park dragged in a deep breath. “Shit.” A shot of fear hit him. A part of him would prefer to take on a pack of Olsons.
Vander’s smile widened. “I know the feeling. We’ve all been there.” He nodded at the others. “I get how it feels to think you’re not good enough for your woman, to feel that you don’t know how to love her. She’ll help you. She’ll show you.” An amused look across Vander’s face. “And she’ll let you know when you get it wrong.”
Park let out a low laugh.
“It’s good to hear that. You deserve the happiness, Park.”
“Thanks, Vander. For everything.”
He slapped Park on the back. “Always. We’re Ghost Ops. We’ve been to hell together, and no matter when or where, we’re always there for each other.”
Park looked over at his friends. Boone nodded, Shep shot him a salute, and Ren grinned.
“And if you ever want a job, you’ve always got one with Norcross Security,” Vander added.
“Thanks.”
“Now, go and get your woman.”
Park walked over to Jenna. She looked up, and he hated seeing the swelling and developing bruises on her face. She looked tired.
Most of all, she couldn’t hide the uncertainty in her eyes.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey.” He stopped, with only inches between them.
“Olson’s gone,” she said. “He’ll die in prison.”
“He will.” He touched her face. “I could’ve killed him for this.”
“No killing. I don’t want to have to arrest you.” She swallowed. “Are you leaving with Vander and the others?”
“No. Are you leaving? Going back to Virginia?”
“No.”
He cocked his head. “No?”
“I asked for some time off. To recover.”
His heart kicked in his chest. “What are your plans for your time off?”
“Well, I was hoping there might be a nice cabin somewhere, with some peace and quiet where I can relax and recuperate.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “I might know a place.”
“Really?”
“It includes decent food and amazing sex.”
“Amazing, huh?” She smiled.
He pulled in a breath. “It also includes a man who loves you.”
She stilled.
“A man who doesn’t deserve a woman like you?—”
She pressed a finger to his lips. “Quiet. This woman disagrees. She sees a hero. One she can trust in every way. One who’ll never lie or betray her.” She paused. “You didn’t want to fall in love.”
“I know. But you changed everything. I love you, Jenna.”
Warmth filled her face. “I love you too, Park.” She went up on her toes and kissed him. “Now take me home.”