Chapter 7 #2
“Because! It’s your home.”
“And I’m inviting you to share it with me.
You think I don’t get lonely, Al? You think I’m not still fighting my own demons?
I am. They’re not as strong as they used to be, but they’re still there.
Always will be. I hate to bring that up now, when you’re feeling…
off…but it’s true. You can learn to live with those demons and not give them the energy to take up much space in your head, but they’ll never go away.
Let me help you shrink them. Stay. Let the land and this place heal you. ”
He waited with bated breath. The truth was, having her here, in the cabin with him, would be one of the hardest things he’d ever done.
The more he was around Alaska, the more he wanted her to stay.
When it came time for her to move on, it would hurt.
Losing her would hurt almost as much as losing his battle buddies.
But…what if she didn’t leave?
What if he could convince her to stay?
His mom had told him years ago that it was obvious Alaska harbored a crush on him.
A woman didn’t put energy and time into a gift like the cross-stitch she’d made if she didn’t have more than friendly feelings toward him.
But back then, he’d been on a mission. To be a Navy SEAL. To make a difference in the world.
Sitting next to her now, he knew with sudden clarity that there was another reason he’d kept her gift all these years. A reason why it was one of his most treasured possessions. A reason why he’d panicked so badly upon hearing Alaska was in danger.
She’d managed to do what no other woman had…she’d gotten under his skin.
Brick’s days were better when he heard from her. His mood lighter when he got to talk to her on the phone. It should’ve been obvious, but it wasn’t until right this moment, with his friend right in front of him…
He was attracted to Alaska.
The revelation didn’t concern or shock him. Instead, it was as if a heavy, four-year weight had been lifted from his chest.
Could the feelings she’d had for him once upon a time be resurrected? Did they have a shot at possibly making a relationship work?
Brick wasn’t sure…but now that he’d identified what he was feeling, he wanted to try. Slowly. When Alaska was ready.
“It won’t be hard to get you IDs and a bank account and transfer your money,” he told her, knowing his first task was making her feel comfortable and safe. “And I’m sure you can find some kind of job in Los Alamos. When you’re healed and ready…you can move on to bigger and better things.”
Those words were tough to say, but the last thing Brick would ever do was hold her back.
“Are you sure?” she asked softly. “I feel as if I’ve barged into your life and you didn’t have any say whatsoever.”
He chuckled. “You’re wrong. From the moment I heard someone was on the phone, calling me their husband, I knew it was you. And I knew I’d do anything possible to help you. Want to know why?”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve always felt a connection with you.
Always. From the first time we met on the school bus, to when I saw you in Germany, to when I heard your voice on that phone line, scared out of your mind but being smart and doing what you had to do in order to help yourself.
I didn’t need to go to Russia, honey. In fact, I’m sure the team would’ve preferred if I stayed here and let them do their thing without tagging along.
I didn’t need to bring you back here—I wanted to.
You didn’t barge into my life, and I knew exactly what I was doing. ”
Alaska took a deep breath. “Okay,” she whispered.
“Okay,” Brick agreed, more relieved than he could put into words. “How about another shower, then we’ll sit outside on the deck while we eat lunch?”
“Lunch? It’s that late?” she asked, surprised.
“Yup. You needed your sleep. I’m sure the guys will trickle over to meet you, now that you’re not practically comatose. Don’t be alarmed if you feel like sleeping a lot over the next few days.”
“Let me guess. That’s normal?” she asked with a small smile.
Seeing the grin on her face made Brick sigh in relief. “Exactly,” he told her. “Now, how about getting your butt in gear…I’ve got some more sweats you can wear until we get you some clothes.”
“Are you gonna go all Navy SEAL on me?” she asked.
“What?”
“You know, like yelling orders, telling me to ‘hurry up, maggot, faster, get a move on,’ things like that.”
Brick chuckled. “Maybe. You can take the man out of the SEALs, but you can’t take the SEAL out of the man.”
The smile she gifted him then made his stomach tighten.
“We’ll get you some appropriate bath stuff soon,” he said, trying to cover up how that smile made him feel.
“Oh, I…it’s okay. I like yours.”
“You like smelling like me?” he couldn’t help asking.
Her simple, honest answer proved just how strong this woman was. “Yes.”
Brick’s cock twitched, startling him so much, he abruptly stood and headed for the door. “I’ll see what I can scrounge up for lunch. Take your time,” he told her as he left the room.
He wanted to kick his own ass for leaving so abruptly, but the hunger suddenly swimming in his veins, the desire that came out of nowhere after hearing she liked smelling like him, made it impossible to sit next to her without possibly doing something that would scare the shit out of her.
She’d almost been sold into sexual slavery. The last thing she needed, or probably wanted, was his erection all up in her face.
Still…he couldn’t get the image of her clinging to him yesterday and last night out of his mind. She hadn’t calmed until he’d held her. And he hadn’t missed the way she’d buried her nose in the crook of his neck.
Brick forced himself to think about something else—about the plumber that was coming later to check out a leaky pipe in one of the cabins, the menu for next week that he needed to review…
about anything other than his sudden desire to turn around and go back to the woman who’d grabbed hold of his heart without even trying.
Yong Chen glared at the messenger standing in front of his desk, shifting nervously as his eyes darted from Yong to the door and back again.
The news he’d brought wasn’t good. Not at all.
Yong had expected the man to inform him that his newest acquisition had arrived at the rail yard and was in the process of being transported to his home.
Instead, he’d learned that it was gone.
She was gone.
“Get out,” Yong barked between clenched teeth.
The young messenger didn’t hesitate to obey. He fled the office as if he’d made a lucky escape…and perhaps he had.
Yong couldn’t remember when he’d last been as angry as he was right this moment. He’d been so excited, anticipating his newest plaything. And when he got tired of her, his plan, as always, was to rent her out to others to recoup the money he’d spent.
He’d shelled out almost seven million yuan for the bitch—and what did he have to show for it? Nothing.
That was unacceptable.
Yong leaned over and picked up the phone. He’d get his money back from that fucking Russian if it was the last thing he did.
Thirty minutes later, Yong was even more furious than he’d been upon learning the woman he’d ordered was rescued before she’d even left Russia.
His contact was dead…the money he’d given him gone.
Enraged, Yong picked up the heavy stapler on his desk and threw it as hard as he could across the room.
It hit the wall and shattered on impact, sending pieces flying around the room.
The satisfying display did nothing to curb his fury.
For days, he’d been looking forward to having the American.
It was easy to get Russian, Indian, Chinese, and even Korean pussy.
Americans, though…they were a bit rare. And Yong had expected his to be delivered as promised.
He sat and stewed for quite a while. None of his staff dared disturb him.
Word would have gotten out that the newest “guest” to their household would no longer be arriving.
Humiliation swamped him. He’d bragged about the woman.
Had promised his friends and clients they’d get their turn once he was done with her, once she’d been sufficiently trained.
He’d so looked forward to that training.
It was his favorite part of acquiring new product.
They were always so defiant when they first arrived. But it rarely took more than a few sessions with him before they were eager to spread their legs and do whatever he ordered.
The thought of his American slut being rescued, thinking she was safe, that she’d somehow outsmarted him…made his gut churn with bitterness.
He’d paid a million American dollars—and he wanted what was rightfully his.
Nothing would keep him from claiming his property. She’d beg for Yong himself to keep her after a few sessions with his rougher clients.
That would be her punishment. He’d immediately give her to others…while he watched.
But first, he had to get her.
Finding her would be easy enough. He already knew the name of the man she’d called for help. The Russian broker’s second-in-command had told him everything he wanted to know, likely scared Yong would go somewhere else for his women.
The man’s name was Drake, and he claimed to be her husband. Owned some sort of business in New Mexico called The Refuge. Yong had no doubt his pussy was there, mistakenly assuming she was safe, now that she was in the United States.
She was so wrong.
Yong would take care of retrieving her personally.
For the first time in hours, he smiled. This would be fun. It had been years since he’d retrieved an acquisition personally, but he still remembered the thrilling rush of adrenaline the moment a target realized she’d been deceived.
He had some logistics to work out. He’d have to obtain a forged visa and paperwork in a false name to get into the US.
He needed a cover story to get close to this Drake asshole.
Once he’d studied the lay of the land at that Refuge place, he’d make his move.
Bring his seven-million-yuan pussy back home and break her.
No one fucked over Yong Chen. He might not be able to kill the Russian who’d screwed him over, then stupidly got himself shot—but he could still get what he’d bought and paid for.