Snatched (Coronado Series Book 2) (18 page)

Max spoke from the doorway, “Sweetheart it’s just like we practiced at the gun range. Take a breath in and as you let it out squeeze the trigger. Remember the shot is in between breaths.”

“Thank you honey, that’s good advice.”

“Of course, I’m only here to help. You got this. I’m completely confident that you can make the shot.”

She let the gun lower for a second and looked over at him, “That’s the nicest thing that you have ever said to me. You totally remembered when I asked you to let me have a shot.” She gave him a dazzling smile and he returned her smile with a look of love in his eyes.

“Even if you close your eyes, you’re still going to hit something, just remember that.”

Gavin was getting ready to say something again, and she raised the gun and yelled at him to shut up. “Even if I make a lousy shot, my boyfriend was a sniper and he can make a kill shot from the next county. So don’t think you’re getting out of this - even if I totally blow it. I’m going to do it so I feel better. I think it’s fair since you have made my life a living hell for the last several months.”

“Max, I’m going to take the shot pretty soon because I don’t feel very good. I may throw up.”

“Ok, honey, I’m right here. The police are going to be here in a second to take him into custody. So if you want to shoot him, you might want to do it soon.”

She looked at Gavin and was disgusted, sad and angry. She lowered her gun, “I guess I won’t shoot him. That might involve a lot of paperwork that I’m not willing to do.” She walked over to Max and handed him her gun. She turned and walked over to Gavin, staring him in the eye, “I hope you get the help you need.” She then raised her foot and stomped on his with all the force of her anger. Before he completely slumped over, she kneed him in the groin as hard as she could. “Never piss off a woman in high heels, it will always turn out badly for you.”
 

Max slipped her gun into the waistband of his pants and slipped an arm around her shoulder and kissed her head. “I’m very proud of you -you handled that will a lot of grace and dignity.” He looked over at the guy curled in a fetal position and felt satisfied with the results. He heard the police come down the hall and moved Rory out of the way. The paramedics were right behind them.

Max recognized the lead detective. They were friends and he appreciated the guy getting here so fast. The paramedic took Rory’s hand and led her over to a chair so he could examine her arm.
 

She sat in the chair as the paramedic examined her, then all of the sudden she didn’t feel so hot and started to slump over as the paramedic caught her. She felt Max scoop her up and then it was blackness.
 

Max started cursing and took over the examination. He was a trained medic and had a lot of emergency field experience. The paramedic standing next to her was smart enough to stay out of the way. He recognized Max’s skills and didn’t want to tangle with him. “He got too close to the artery. She has lost too much blood and might be going into shock. Grab her purse and let’s get her to the ambulance and get her in.” He carried her down the hall and into the elevator and tried to stay in combat mode. He had to lock down every emotion he had to get through the next hour. He wished that he killed the son of a bitch now.

***

Many hours later he sat in the room with Rory and held her hand. He knew she was going to be fine, but the emotional turmoil he felt was starting to swamp him. This was a completely new experience for him and one that he did not enjoy. The Doctor was nice and explained to him that while the knife got close to the vein it didn’t touch it. He understood intellectually, but he couldn’t reconcile himself to someone getting a knife anywhere near the woman he loved. He felt like he failed; that he ultimately didn’t protect her well enough.

She opened her eyes and looked at him and smiled, “Hell of a last day of work. I’m now thinking of buying two pairs of shoes.”

He laughed and bent over and kissed her, “I’m sorry.”

“What in the world for?”

“I didn’t protect you well enough. I let the guy get too close.”

“That is the most ridiculous thing that I’ve ever heard. You have given me the best gift in the world: you gave me your faith. You let me handle it, and I don’t feel like a victim.”
 

He had no idea how she came to that conclusion, but wasn’t going to argue with her now. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but I have to say it. I love you.”
 

Leaning his head against hers, he took a deep breath in and felt her hand come up to his face. “Oh Max…. how can you know?”

“Because when you know, you know.”

The door opened and in walked the Basso women in full force. Her mother was speaking in Italian and so were her sisters. He watched her Mother take her daughter in her arms and gently hug her. Catalina turned to him and gave him a hug, “Thank you for taking care of this for us. I can’t tell you how happy we are that this is over.”
 

He wanted to tell her that he should have done a better job, but felt it might not be the best time. The Doctor came in and signed Rory’s release papers and gave her instructions for caring for her wound. Her Mama spoke, “I will take you to our house and that way I can take care of you.”

“No Mama, you have enough to worry about with Bob. I want to go home and sleep in my own bed. Max will be there and will take very good care of me. He’s a trained medic, so he knows what to look for.”
 

Carolina looked at him and studied him for a moment, deciding if he was qualified to take care of her daughter. She nodded her head, “Very well then. I will come by tomorrow and bring you soup and pasta.”

“Mama, can you make me the almond cake? I love the almond cake.”

“Of course cara, I would love to make you almond cake.”

The sisters talked for a bit more and kissed her and promised to see her tomorrow. After everyone was gone, she sat up and looked for her clothes. “Thank you for letting me take care of you. It means everything to me that you still trust me.”

“What are you talking about? Why wouldn’t I trust you?”

“Because I let the guy get too close to you.”

“That isn’t true and you know it. Help me get into my clothes, I want to go home and take a shower.”

“Did you mean it when you called me your boyfriend?”

“I guess, since you saved my life and protected me. I will make an exception to my policy and lift my no boyfriend rule.”

He wisely didn’t ask any more questions and helped her into her clothes. “Let’s go home and order pizza and watch a movie.”

“That’s the best idea, I’ve heard all day.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Max opened one eye and noticed it was still dark outside, he pulled up his arm to look at his watch and saw that it was only 6:00. He wrapped Rory up a little tighter and kissed her head. He felt a sense of relief that Gavin was in jail, but he still had a bad feeling about Jackson. He knew they had not heard the last from him yet. He absentmindedly ran his hands over her body and felt her stir, “I hope you’re not trying to wake me up Mr. Bishop. If you keep moving your hands like that, then I can’t be held responsible for my behavior.”

She rolled over and plastered herself against his body. “Ms. Basso, if you stay like that then I will be forced…” tilting his hips he slid inside of her in one strong thrust, “to do this.” He slid out slowly and slid back in completely as he watched her eyes close and her mouth part. “How does that feel? Am I hitting just the right spot?” Using his massive leg muscles to get the leverage he needed, he continued his assault on her senses and her body. He continued to slide in and out and quickly felt her stiffen and contract all around him as she called out his name. Just like that she fell apart and he quickly joined her as he pumped into her with mindless abandon. As he felt the last of the spasms leave his body, he hoped somehow his little swimmers did their job. He really did want to put a baby in Rory. Feeling her gentle breaths against his chest allowed him a moment of peace. He felt her move and slowly released his hold.

Rory stretched up and kissed him gently on his mouth and then ran her lips over his ears. “Good morning. That was an amazing morning performance.”

“I aim to please.” He gently ground his hips against her to let her know that round two would be happening very soon. “I think I need to stay here for about a month. You won’t mind will you?”

“No, not at all. We can just have someone leave our meals by the door. Then we can figure all the different ways to do what we just did.”

“I like your creative mind. Tell me what you would like to try next.”

She slowly rolled over and he slipped out. “Did I mention that I would like to stay in?”

“I don’t think you were that specific, but follow me to the shower and I’m sure we can figure something out.”

He growled and leapt off the bed and grabbed her hand and took her into the bathroom. “Slow down Max. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Oh yes you are. You are going…. to come. Again and again and maybe shout my name a couple of times.”

“Promises… promises.” They slipped into the shower and did not emerge for quite some time.

***

He watched her sip her coffee with a small smile on her face as she looked out the patio doors. She seemed very relaxed and content. He wanted to figure out how to keep that look on her face for a long time to come. “What are your plans today?”

Looking over, she tried to gather her thoughts and respond, “I have no idea. I have no job and no stalker. I can do anything I want. I could get on a plane this afternoon and go wherever I want.”

“Not without me.” He watched her scowl and realized that he managed to wipe the happy smile off her face in less than five minutes. “What I meant to say is …. Can I come with you?”

“No you didn’t. You said exactly what you meant. You are so overbearing sometimes.”

“I will try and work on that. I just want to spend time with you and get to know you and love you.”

“You have to give me some space - you are making me a little crazy.”

He looked at her and took her hand, “I will try.”

“See that you do! Because when I wake up from this sex coma, I’m not going to be as patient with you.”

“What if I keep you so satisfied that you never have the chance to get irritated with me?”

“You’re pretty heavy-handed, so I don’t really think that’s possible.”

“We could try.”

“I think Birdie told me that Mark was using a similar strategy. Is this something they teach you in SEAL school? You all seem to have similar traits. Is this some secret that you keep passing along to each other?”

“No, I came up with the idea on my own. I know who I am and I understand that it might not be easy to be around me. I was an excellent leader because of those qualities, but I also realize that those are not qualities that would make me an ideal boyfriend.”

“It will just take time to figure out what works. I will try not to give you the feeling that I am resisting you. Then you won’t feel like you have to possess me. Then maybe we will relax enough so we can see if we are well suited.”

“I think that’s a good idea.”

“My family is coming over later on and we have our mani/pedi appointments this afternoon. I also have to do some errands. What are you going to do?”

“I am going to the precinct to talk to the detective to follow up on Gavin’s case. I need to provide him with the Intel we gathered. Then, I’m going to my condo to get fresh clothes, and then I’m meeting with some of the guys from the office for a work out. Can I take you to dinner at the Hotel Del?”
 

That sounds very nice. I will drive down after I’m done shopping.”

“I would rather come and pick you up.”

“I know you would, but I’m stalker free. I can drive myself places and not be looking over my shoulder. I miss my independence and being on my own schedule.”

“All right, then let me have your phone and I can program the info in. Do you want me to drop off the dry-cleaning?”

“No, just put yours in that bag on the chair. I will take yours in with mine.”

“See, we really are a couple. Our dry cleaning is co-mingling.”

“It always starts with the dry cleaning… Anyways, I’m going to see if they can fix the dress that I wore yesterday. It’s one of my favorites and I’m not ready to give it up.”

“Do you want to come over at 5:00 tonight?”

“Let’s make it 6:00 just to be safe. When I get together with my sisters we lose track of time.”

“Do you realize that this is the first time we will be apart from one another in over two weeks? I think that says something about our ability to get along; it bodes well for our lives together.” He studied her as she stared at him and tried to figure what was going on in her mind. He could tell that she wanted to say something but was holding back.

“Enjoy your day of freedom. I will see you tonight.” She reached up and kissed him, “Thank you for getting rid of that nasty stalker problem.”

“It was all you baby…. it was all you.”

***

Max waited in the lobby of his building for Rory to arrive. She had texted him before she’d left and he expected her any minute. He was not looking forward to the conversation that they were going to have about Jackson. He didn’t think she was going to be too thrilled to be under 24 hour protection again. He knew Jackson was not out of the equation, and he couldn’t predict what he was going to do. He looked up and saw Rory pull in front of the building, so he walked out and jumped in the car, “Hi sweetheart.” He felt her lean over and she kissed him completely. He had missed her and felt his heart thud, because that was the first time that she had ever leaned towards him. “I missed you today. Did you have fun with your sisters?”