Dominant Deception [Black Ops Brotherhood 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) (25 page)

“Yes, I need to get ahold of the commander of 1427 Communication Group. This is BAMC ER. We have an employee of his here,” Cheryl said.

Cheryl filled the duty officer in on what was going on. She looked at the phone with some satisfaction. If the asshole wanted to play that game, she would play. Besides something about all of this stunk to Cheryl.

Husband, my ass!
We’re
gonna find out real quick
.

Brooke Army Medical Center, Texas

Trauma Surgery Recovery Room

August 21, 2008/0330 Zulu

Anna was weightless and warm as if she were floating. Someone called her name and she tried to respond. Everything seemed to go dark, and then there was a small white light that seemed to get bigger as it moved toward her.

“Mama?” Anna heard Alyssa.

“Lys?” Anna asked.

“Mama, we’re waiting. Come on. Hurry!”

Anna could see Alyssa’s long, curly brown hair. Alyssa was running in front of her, almost within her reach. She reached out to touch Alyssa but couldn’t quite catch her daughter. Something was pulling her away from Alyssa. She was fighting to follow her daughter.

“Alyssa, come back!” Anna cried.

“Anna?” a gentle voice called out. It was a voice she didn’t recognize. “Anna?”

Anna wanted to open her eyes, but they were so heavy. It was very windy and she was having a hard time breathing in all the wind. She reached up to try to brush the wind from her face as she moved her head away.

“No, no, honey. Don’t grab that,” Anna heard the gentle voice say.

Anna was drifting back to where she’d last seen Alyssa.

“Mama? Come on, we’re waiting,” Alyssa said more urgently.

“Anna, your husband is waiting,” the gentle voice said again.

Anna’s eyes opened, she was having a hard time breathing again. She tried to speak but couldn’t, so she concentrated on breathing. A man dressed in green appeared next to the angel who was talking to her.

“She’s fighting the tube. Let’s go ahead and take it out. You say her husband’s out there?” someone asked.

“Yes, doctor,” the gentle voice responded.

Anna lost consciousness again. This time there was no light and Alyssa was gone.

* * * *

The nurse worked quickly as he removed the breathing tube as well as all of the tape that was holding it to Anna O’Malley’s body. She seemed restless as she tried to speak. The nurse touched her shoulder, attempting to calm her. The surgeon turned away and went to the surgical waiting area.

“Family for Anna O’Malley?” the doctor called out and someone stood.

“Captain O’Malley? Dr. Frank Wong, I was the attending surgeon,” Dr. Wong said.

“Yes?” Jack asked.

“Your wife is resting. She’s in critical condition, but if she can get through the next forty-eight hours, she’ll be all right. It’s touch-and-go right now.”

“How bad was it, doctor?” Jack asked.

“Well, relatively speaking, not too bad. We took so long because I had to clean up the broken bones in her shoulder and for some reason we had a hard time controlling the bleeding. There was also some tissue damage. But while she was in, I called an orthopedic surgeon and we went ahead and did the reconstructive surgery on her shoulder. You can go and see her in a little while. The ventilator tube is being removed. The nurse will come and get you. Do you have any questions, sir?” Dr. Wong asked.

“No, thank you, doctor,” Jack said.

* * * *

Jack watched Doctor Wong leave for a moment and then returned to his seat next to Doc. “Alex, did you hear all of that? What’s he talking about?”

“Her organs and her body need to stabilize from double trauma. The gunshot wound as well as the surgery. I heard what he said about the tissue damage so there might be a risk of infection. If anything goes wrong, it’ll be in the next forty-eight hours. She’ll probably be in ICU for a few days, maybe a week. They’re not letting you stay there, Rock,” Doc said.

“You think?”

“I know. I’m surprised they let us stay in the emergency room as long as they did,” Doc said, looking at the TV.

Jack turned his attention back to the TV as well, not really watching but thinking.

“I just can’t see it,” Doc said without looking at Jack.

“What?”

“You doing dishes, wearing an apron, and flipping hamburgers and weenies on a grill. You know, all domesticated.”

Jack tried not to smile. He just shook his head and looked back at the TV.

“Captain O’Malley?” a nurse called.

Jack stood and followed the nurse without a word through double steel doors. He was led back into an open area with several closed-off curtained bays. The nurse opened one of the curtains to a bed and led Jack inside.

“Anna, would you like to see your husband?” the nurse asked.

Jack held his breath. Anna knew nothing of her new
status
, and he wasn’t sure how she would react. He was hoping she was so drugged that she couldn’t understand what was happening to her.

* * * *

Anna felt the soft, gentle touch again. Someone was talking to her. The blackness was fading and she detected dim light through her closed eyes. She wanted so badly to wake up now. She opened her eyes as best she could and looked in to the angelic face.

“What?” Anna slurred.

“Would you like to see your husband?” The angel smiled.

“I would love to see my husband. Is he here?” Anna asked dreamily.

Marc?
Marc is here! How?
Anna tried to comprehend what was happening. She knew something wasn’t right. For some reason she knew Marc shouldn’t be here but couldn’t remember why. She was trying to think, but blackness kept taking over. Anna felt Marc’s gentle touch on her upper cheek. She melted because Marc was such a gentle soul. He always touched her as if she were a delicate piece of spun glass. Anna fought the blackness that threatened to envelop her once more. She had to see Marc.

* * * *

“Okay, Captain O’Malley. She’ll be drifting in and out for a while. She’ll be here for another hour and we’ll get her into ICU,” the nurse said to Jack

The nurse left Jack and Anna alone. He noticed a bruise had formed on Anna’s cheek. He guessed it was where she’d fallen after being shot. He always felt responsible every time someone placed under his command had been injured, or worse, killed. But, they were SEALs and other special forces. Those members of his group understood the risks they were taking. This was doubly painful because Anna hadn’t signed up to be in harm’s way and he’d promised her that he would keep her safe. In a rare display of emotion, Jack reached and gently touched the bruise. Anna’s eyes fluttered open.

“Marc?” Anna whispered.

Jack quickly withdrew his hand as if he’d touched fire. He knew the name.
Marc
was the name of Anna’s dead husband. Jack involuntarily closed his eyes at the pain that shot through him. He knew physical pain, but this was different. It was a hurt that went deeper than anything he’d ever known.

“No, Anna, it’s me
Jack
,” he whispered.

Jack looked away for a moment. The nurse returned and asked him if he wanted a chair so that he could wait with Anna until she was moved to her room. He watched her sleeping quietly and took a deep breath.

“No. She doesn’t even know I’m here.” Jack turned and left.

Brooke Army Medical Center, Texas

Trauma Intensive Care Unit

August 22, 2008/1322 Zulu

Jack watched Anna sleep and had even managed a cat nap after she’d been brought into the ICU. He tried to leave and stay away. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became with himself. What kind of SEAL was he? He decided no fucking ghost was keeping him from what he wanted.

While he watched Anna sleep, Jack considered all the devious ways he would make her forget
Marc
ever existed. Instead, he focused on getting her healthy enough to take home. The staff tried to tell him he couldn’t stay, but he wouldn’t be dissuaded. He very concisely informed them not only was he staying, but they might want to find him a more comfortable chair, or else. He closed his eyes again and tried to relax.

* * * *

Anna woke in a dark room surrounded by machines and IV poles. As she turned her head to try and get her bearings, she felt a jolt of pain run through her body. She blinked and saw someone who she knew to be familiar sleeping in a chair next to her bed. She couldn’t move her right arm because she was tied to something. She closed her eyes again and fought the confusion and fear that threatened to send her into full panic.

What’s going on?
Anna’s mind was muddled and she felt strange. She just knew this was a nightmare and wished she could wake up but didn’t dare try to move because the pain was unbearable. She focused on the person sleeping in the chair. He was wearing a dark blue T-shirt and jeans. This man was so familiar. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, attempting to control her fear when she heard someone come into the room. Her fear began to spiral out of control again.
Why am I so afraid? It’s okay, breathe. Just calm the hell down.

Anna focused on the sleeping man in order to control herself. She was reassured when he opened his eyes and looked at the unknown visitor. She concentrated on the man watching the visitor move in the room. She felt a slight pressure in her left arm.

“I’ll give her some more pain meds. Her blood pressure is going up pretty fast,” the visitor’s voice said behind her.

The man in the chair looked at Anna and smiled. He had gentle green eyes.
Jack!

Anna wanted to smile. How could she ever forget Jack? She continued looking to him for reassurance and tried to speak.

“Anna?” Jack asked.

The visitor came around and smiled also.

“Good morning, angel!” a tanned, muscular, blond-haired, blue-eyed man greeted her.

Anna stared at these two men. She was confused again but not fearful anymore. The blond man left and Anna continued staring at Jack. She heard shuffling behind her and suddenly felt very sleepy. She relaxed and gave in to a very warm and comfortable sleep.

* * * *

Alex walked in to check monitors as well as medications. He looked at his sleeping boss and smiled.

Jesus Christ! Married? Jack? To, of all women, the geeky computer babe! What a pair! Although, when I took off her clothes, she had a hell a figure—curvy in all the right places.

Alex shook his head, trying to lose the image of Anna in the red dress she’d worn to the JCS chairman’s reception. He went through the routine of checking the chart and monitors once more. Alex never figured Jack would do what he’d done yesterday in the ER. That was the Rock. He never did what anyone expected. Alex looked at Anna’s sleeping face
. Damn! Without the glasses, she’s pretty cute.
Alex watched Anna’s chest rise and fall.
Yup, curvy in all the right places.
He started to chuckle.

“What the hell are you laughing at?” Jack asked without opening his eyes.

“Nothing.” Doc turned more serious.

Alex walked to the bed, sat on the edge, and gently traced Anna’s cheek with his fingers. Latin blood did her justice. Anna had perfect light olive skin. He recalled her doe-shaped dark brown eyes and how she’d smiled at him when she took the seat next to him at the reception. Her skin seemed to glow that night. She was soft, Alex noted, as she responded to his touch. He was trying to gently rouse her so he could take her temperature.
Rousing
Anna was starting to
arouse
him.

Alex could see himself lying next to Anna, his hands running over those curves and kissing her awake. Her big brown eyes looking passionately at him, wanting him to finish what he was starting. Alex could almost feel that luscious, curvy body moving against him, those hips gently moving up and down. He would reach down and grab that nice perfect ass and fuck her senseless.

Whoa! Shit!
You’re supposed to be a professional here!
Get a grip, man! She’s the geeky computer chick, remember? And she’s in a freaking ICU bed. She ain’t in no shape for this fantasy!
Alex scolded himself. Lack of sleep and a long dry spell was starting to get to him. Alex took the thermometer from the basket attached to the blood pressure monitor.

“Hey, angel, wake up,” Alex said gently. He frowned as he felt her cheeks and forehead. Anna was hot and not in a good way. She was
very hot
to the touch. She briefly opened her eyes. “I need to take your temperature, open up.”

Anna complied and fell promptly asleep. Jack was roused because Alex’s concern was almost tangible. They’d learned over the years to read each other and their team members without saying a word. Jack knew something was wrong. Alex read the concern on Jack’s face.