Rescuing Emily (Delta Force Heroes Book 2) (7 page)

Emily could only nod. She was in shock. She’d been sure he’d tell her not to worry about the payments his friend was demanding. But he wasn’t saying
anything
about it—and it sounded as if the payments were a part of her agreement to stay on his property.

“I’m beat. I’m going to head inside. I’ll talk to you later, yeah?” She needed to get away from Fletch. She’d trusted him, enough to rent the apartment over his garage. It wasn’t as though Fletch lived in the center of town, his place was somewhat isolated. But she’d felt safe with him nearby.

She wanted to confront him. Wanted to yell at him for sucking her into his problems, but now she was scared of him. Scared that the man she’d thought she was coming to know had only been an illusion. She was frightened and discouraged. She needed to take a bit of time and go over what she wanted to say to him. If it had been just her, she would’ve had it out right then and there. But she had to think about Annie. Her daughter was her life, and if she was somehow taken away from her, Emily didn’t know what she’d do.

“Okay.” Fletch nodded and turned his back to her and headed for his front door.

Emily swallowed hard and dropped her gaze to the ground in despair. She slowly turned to her stairs and climbed them, mind whirling with what had just happened.

Fletch was a gambler, he owed his friend money, and he expected her to pay his debt.

She swallowed the sobs that threatened. She had no idea how she was going to get out of the mess Fletch had put her in, but she’d do it. She was a fighter, this wasn’t going to bring her down, and it would
not
touch her daughter. No way in hell.

P
utting down his monocular
, the man hiding in the bushes smiled. He scooted backward very carefully, not rustling the leaves and branches as he moved. He backed up until he was well away from the house—and the cameras that the soldier thought he’d so cleverly hidden.

It looked like Emily and the sergeant suddenly weren’t so buddy-buddy anymore. Perfect. So far, everything was working out as he’d planned. Soon, he’d be able to start putting the next part into motion. The sergeant and his team would regret dismissing him so easily. They’d see who the better soldiers were. Feeling in control over another human’s life was icing on the cake.

She deserves to be miserable.

He agreed. She
did
deserve it. Since the father wasn’t around she had to have denied the man access to his child. And that was wrong. His
own
mother shouldn’t have divorced his dad the way she did.

He smiled and nodded as the voice continued to praise and reinforce his plan as he walked to his car, which he’d stashed half a mile down the road from the soldier’s place. As he drove back to his apartment, going through different scenarios in his mind on how the final battle would take place, he grinned. It was perfect. He and his squad would prevail. He couldn’t wait.

“
H
ow’s
that pretty neighbor of yours?” Ghost asked Fletch a couple of weeks later during a break in their PT.

“Good, I guess.”

“You guess?”

Fletch shrugged. “Haven’t seen much of her since we got back from that op.”

“Really? I thought you guys were getting to know each other?”

Fletch had thought so too. But ever since he’d gotten back from that mission, she’d been detached. He still saw Annie every once in a while, but Emily was keeping her distance from him. He figured it was probably because of her boyfriend, so he hadn’t pushed. “Yeah, well, she has a boyfriend, so I’m guessing she doesn’t want to give me any ideas.”

“Did you have ideas before the boyfriend was in the picture?” Ghost asked perceptively.

Fletch rolled his neck, trying to get the stiffness out of it. “Doesn’t matter if I did or didn’t. She’s taken.”

“You met the boyfriend?”

“Nope. She’s not bringing him around…at least not while I’m there.”

“Really? Does that seem odd to you?”

“Not really. I saw he came by earlier this week. I’d already left for PT and Emily was leaving for work and to take Annie to school. The cameras don’t have the range I might like, but he was waiting for her at the end of the driveway. He met her at her car, she got out, they spoke for a minute or so, she gave him a letter or something, they hugged, and he followed her down the road.”

“For someone who says it doesn’t matter if she has a boyfriend or not, you watched that tape pretty carefully,” Ghost noted dryly.

Fletch ran his hand through his hair and shrugged. “I don’t poach, Ghost. I’ll never be the reason a woman cheated on her boyfriend or husband.”

“I know. I’m just making an observation.”

“Anyway, she’s only been renting the apartment for a couple months. It’s not my business.”

“It might make you feel better if you didn’t check your cameras compulsively like you’ve been doing.”

“Yeah.”

The two men were silent for a beat before Ghost asked, “Any more trouble with the infantry guys?”

Fletch shook his head. At least the colonel finally got someone to listen, and all the troops would now be taking their turns rotating through the city scenario. “No, they’ve been quiet.”

“Quiet makes me nervous,” Ghost spat, uncharacteristically harsh. At Fletch’s surprised look, he continued, “I know, I know, but something Hollywood said the other day had me thinking.”

“What’d he say?”

“Blade brought up the fact that most of the time, soldiers are hotheads, we bluster and bitch about shit, but then let it go. It’s women who let stuff sit inside and don’t talk about it. They plot and plan in their heads and come to conclusions based on information they
think
they know.”

“Yeah, and…?”

“And these guys aren’t acting like men…or soldiers. That time they ambushed us in the parking lot should’ve clued us in. They aren’t going to just sit back and let go of what they think is a diss to their manhood and skills as soldiers.”

“So they’re plotting instead of coming to us like men to work it out,” Fletch concluded.

“Exactly.”

“So we need to be on our toes against retaliation,” Fletch commented unnecessarily.

“Yup. You should talk to Emily and her daughter as well.”

Fletch looked sharply at Ghost. “They’re just my tenants.”

“Right, but they’re also women, and living on your property. What if those assclowns decide it’d be fun to burn down your garage and that sweet Charger you’ve got in there? Cameras aren’t going to keep them safe if someone wants to cause problems.”

Fletch’s face paled. Jesus, he hadn’t thought of that. He was an idiot. “I gotta go.”

“Yeah, figured you might. I’ll see you later.”

Fletch absently waved as he headed to his car, looking at his watch. Emily would be at work by now, he’d swing by the PX and talk to her really quickly, make sure she knew to be aware of strangers on his property, and to let him know if she saw anything unusual. He might not be dating her, but she and Annie meant a lot to him. He’d never forgive himself if something happened to them and he hadn’t warned her ahead of time.

E
mily tried
to concentrate on the shelf she was stocking, but it was no use. Having Fletch’s friend show up at the end of the driveway—when Annie was in the car with her—had freaked her out. He knew exactly when she’d be there, and when Fletch would be gone.

He’d blocked her car so she had to stop and walked up to her window as calmly as he pleased. Emily, not wanting Annie to overhear him, grabbed the envelope she’d been carrying around in preparation, and got out to meet him.

“Hey, babe. Got something for me?”

Emily had held out the envelope without a word.

He took it without looking inside. “Thanks. I’ll make sure Fletch knows you’ve been making regular payments for him, and that you’re doing what he expects.” He leaned close, putting an arm around her waist and pulling her into him. He brushed his lips across her cheek and then put his mouth next to her ear.

“Don’t fuck with me, babe. I can see you’re pissed by those pretty eyes of yours. Don’t even think about doing something stupid. Annie’s looking real cute in her jumper this morning. You wouldn’t want anything to happen to her, would you? I bet there’s a foster daddy who’d take a shine to her…if you know what I mean.”

Emily had stood stock still in his embrace and shuddered. She might’ve tried to convince herself that maybe the man wasn’t going to go through with his threats, but with those words, she knew she’d been wrong. She felt something shrivel up inside her, knowing Fletch and that monster were friends. That after the present he’d bought Annie, and how nice he’d been to her, and how outraged he’d been on her behalf after hearing how the little girl had been treated by others, Fletch would still knowingly put Annie’s life in danger, and wouldn’t care if she was taken away from her mother to live with strangers.

Emily sighed and sagged on the little stool she was sitting on as she stocked the shelf with bottles upon bottles of perfumed shower gel. She was heartsick. She’d misread a man…again. It had been bad enough with Annie’s father, but with Fletch, it somehow hurt ten times more. He’d been so nice and open with her daughter. Even after their first meeting, she’d gotten good vibes from him, going so far as to think he might be interested in her, but obviously her “bad man” meter was broken.

“Hey, Em.”

Emily was startled so badly she would’ve slipped off the stool if it wasn’t for the hand on her arm, catching her. She looked up into the eyes of the man she’d been lambasting herself over for the last twenty minutes. Quickly standing up, Emily took a step back and away from Fletch.

“Hey. What’re you doing here?” Her words came out harsher than she’d intended.

“I had a chat with one of my friends this morning and wanted to come and talk to you about something. You have a minute?”

Not able to help the hope that soared through her, Emily nodded quickly. Maybe he was coming to tell her that he’d talked to the asshole and he’d had second thoughts about her paying off his debt. “Yeah, you want to go out back?”

“That’d be great, thanks.”

Emily led the way through the store and passed by Jimmy’s office on the way out the back door, telling him she was taking a ten-minute break.

Fletch held the door for her as they headed outside. The day was already warm, not surprising for Texas. Emily waved at two of her co-workers taking a smoke break and led Fletch over to one of the picnic tables under some trees. Management had set them up so the employees had a comfortable place out of the sun to eat lunch or take breaks.

They sat on opposite sides of the table and Emily waited for Fletch to tell her why he was there.

“So, as I said, I was talking to my friend, and I wanted to let you know that you need to be careful.”

Emily’s brows came down in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“My job isn’t the safest, and sometimes there are others that get…irritated with me. I’d hate for something to happen to you or Annie.”

Emily could feel her heartbeat pick up and the adrenaline course through her system. Was he going to tell her that she didn’t have to worry about the other man anymore? That he’d make sure no one took Annie from her? “Annie and I aren’t safe?”

“Look…” Fletch ran his hand through his hair, clearly agitated. “I’m not saying this right, but the bottom line is that if my fuck-ups leak into my personal life, I don’t want you and Annie to get stuck in the crosshairs of that.”

“Maybe we should just go then,” Emily said, wondering if she’d be able to get out of the bind she’d found herself in so easily.

“No. You aren’t going anywhere, that’s not what I meant. Stay. I like having you guys around.”

“If you’re having…problems…maybe you should talk to your friend? Maybe you guys can work it out between the two of you and I don’t have to be involved,” Emily tentatively suggested.

“But you
are
involved, you live on my property,” Fletch said resolutely. “And I’ve talked to my friend. Believe me, we’ve spent a lot of time discussing the situation, and you and Annie. You’re better off where you are, doing exactly what you’re doing. Look, if someone comes around that you don’t like the look of, just tell me. I’ll take care of it for you.”

“What if it’s your friend?” Emily asked quietly.

“My friends won’t hurt you or your daughter. They’d rather die first.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. If they ask you to do something, do it. They have your best interests at heart.”

“Do they have yours?” Emily asked, thoroughly confused. How could Fletch sit there and say that his friend threatening to take away or shoot Annie was “in her best interests”?

“Of course. They’d do anything for me. Just as I would for them. No one fucks with what’s ours.”

Emily’s heart dropped. There was her answer. His friendship with the asshole meant more to him than a struggling single mom. Money was obviously very important to him, to both men.

Emily wanted to cry. She felt so far out of her league it wasn’t funny. Not only was she scared, but she was hungry, her savings was steadily being drained every week, and she was thoroughly disillusioned.

This was the last time she was getting involved with any military man, ever. They were all scum. No matter how they seemed on the outside, deep down, all they cared about was themselves.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah, okay. I’ll do what your friend wants. Do you think…after this is over…you’ll consider getting some help?”

“Help? Help with what?”

“You know…your situation.”

“Don’t worry about that. My friends and I are dealing with it. I know what I’m doing.”

“Hmmmm.”

Fletch leaned over the table and picked up one of her hands. He brushed his thumb against the back of it. “I appreciate you being understanding about this. All I want is for you and Annie to be safe.”

Emily almost choked on the bile that rose from her throat. Yeah right. Safe from who? “We will be. I’ll never let anything happen to my daughter.”

“I know.”

“I know you do,” she told him sadly, finally understanding that was why he’d rented the apartment to her in the first place. She was an easy mark. Lure in the single mother and get her grateful, then sic his friend on her. She was an idiot.

Fletch’s head cocked as he examined her. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. I don’t really have a choice.”

He squeezed her hand once more then stood up. “It’s for your safety. Just remember that. I’ll see you later, yeah?”

Emily nodded and sat stock still as Fletch leaned over and brushed his lips against her cheek in a chaste goodbye kiss. “Later.”

“Bye.”

Emily sat on the table in the hot Texas morning long after Fletch left. She thought through a million scenarios and couldn’t figure any way out of what was happening to her. She had held out hope that Fletch had no idea what his friend was doing, but it was obvious after their “talk” that he was fully aware…and didn’t give a shit.

Finally, she pulled herself up and went back inside the PX and to the shelves that needed stocking. She was no closer to figuring out a solution to the situation now than she’d been that morning, and she felt more alone than ever.