Page 5
“I’m so happy for you, Rod. You guys have a blast. We’ll be fine here.”
“I know you will but there are a couple of guys out for other reasons. We’re going to be short-staffed.”
“I got it, I got it,” smiled Mike. “Luke and the boys are sending over some help for us. We’ll be okay for a few days. Go. Enjoy your new wife and son.”
Roderick met Gracyn when they were investigating the death of Ms. Martin. She was a single mother, completely overwhelmed by a fussy baby and an absent father. For Roderick, he couldn’t have been happier to step into the shoes of ‘daddy’.
“Everyone, this is Jethro Lyons, Sonny Workman, and Brunson Atlas. They’re part of the Shadow Warriors team, but have been gracious enough to fill in for us. All three have been to firefighter training school with the United States Marine Corps. Respect them.”
Immediately everyone moved toward the men to shake their hands and thank them. Aurora stared at the three huge men and swallowed. They were all handsome but the one with the dark wavy hair looked familiar. Too familiar.
She thought maybe she’d said something out loud as he moved toward her, staring at her with a small smile. When he was just inches away, Aurora clenched her fists, prepared to fight if she needed to. It was ridiculous. Why would she fight this man?
“Hello, Aurora, it’s good to see you doing so well,” smiled Jethro.
“H-how do you know my name? Have we met?” she asked looking pale.
“We met in the worst possible way,” he said softly. “I’m glad to see that you’re healthy and looking well.”
“Oh, God,” she gasped. She pitched forward into Jethro’s arms and he lifted her, calling for help.
“What the hell happened?” asked Mike. Sonny smirked at the man.
“Don’t worry, Mike. Ladies fall into Jethro’s arms all the time.”
CHAPTER THREE
2 years earlier…
“Five tangoes down. Two at the door. One inside,” said Grayson softly. “We’ve got five women inside. All in their twenties.”
“Grayson? Just spotted one more at the back. Looks like a wall but it’s an escape door,” said Sonny.
“Then we don’t let them escape. Jethro? Take the rear. When you hear us begin to fire, get those women out.”
“Roger that.”
Jethro inched his way around the edge of the ridge, slowly making his way downward until he had a clear vision of the man at the back door. They were relaxed, obviously thinking there was nothing to worry about.
Suddenly, the backdoor opened and two men exited with bodies over their shoulders. They tossed two naked women on the ground, laughing and nudging one another. As they headed back inside, they were already undoing their trousers.
“Grayson. Move! We got two dead bodies at the back door and looks like they want more. I’m going in.”
The gunfire started and Jethro heard the men moving toward the front of the small building. From the back, he took the door down with one kick, shot one man inside and spotted the three women. All three were huddled in the corner, wearing only their undergarments.
“I’m an American Marine,” he said softly. “I need you to get up if you can.”
“They broke our ankles,” said one of the women. “They didn’t want us to run.”
“Piggy-back rides it is,” he said crouching, still holding the weapon. “One on my back, the other two, I apologize, I’ll carry beneath my arms.” The first woman moved slowly at first but climbed onto his back, holding his neck.
“No choking,” he grinned. “That’s reserved for my wife when I get one.” There were soft, uncertain smiles and Jethro smiled back. He stood with the first woman and heard someone at the door.
“Gotta move ladies.”
Gripping their upper arms, he pulled them to their feet, noticing that they both favored one leg. None of them weighed more than a hundred and twenty pounds. They were thin, dehydrated, and most likely malnourished. He pulled one beneath one arm, the other in the next, still holding his weapon.
“Sorry ladies, but this is going to be uncomfortable.” He went out the door he’d entered and took off toward cover. When the gunfire stopped, he heard Grayson’s voice.
