Compromising Love (The American Soldier Collection 10)

“Holy shit, Dmitri?” Reid asked.

Winter nodded.

Porter whistled and looked toward the living room where Silas was with Aspen talking.

“What about Aspen? How does she feel about moving out here completely?” Porter asked.

“We haven’t discussed it entirely yet. There’s all this shit to figure out and handle about Andrei. The bosses aren’t looking like they’re ready to eliminate him quite yet even after all he’s done in the past. Getting Aspen here and offering her the job retraining our staff and becoming part of Pro-Tech will help her become comfortable here. At least that’s what we’re hoping for.”

“She needs to remain under your protection constantly, Storm. Renoke cannot get his hands on my sister.”

“I know that. She is under our constant protection and will never be left alone.”

Porter felt his anxiety rise. “Silas is worried about his sister. We think it may be a good idea to get India out of Chicago, too. We’re thinking about sending her into another town with some of our friends from the SEALs.”

“Who?” Weston asked.

“Flynn, Ford, Fenton, Fisher, and Gray. Gray’s a deputy with the Town of Pearl Sheriff’s Department. The others do protective details like this for good friends. Silas trusts Gray, and Fisher is a Texas Ranger. Pearl is a pretty unique town and with all the retired military around it would be a safe place to put her,” Reid stated.

“There’s also the women’s shelter there. Blade, Beau, Avery, Asher, and Cason could set things up with the sheriff and the women who run the shelter to hide India there for as long as needed. Then Gray and his team could watch over her from afar. Knowing India, she isn’t going to take something like this lying down. She’ll fight Silas tooth and nail,” Winter told him.

“I know. Silas knows that, too, but he’ll personally deliver her to Pearl and make sure she understands the seriousness of the situation,” Porter replied and they chuckled.

“Good luck with that. Have you seen India in action lately? It’s going to take a hell of a lot to slow her down and keep her under wraps. The woman is a spitfire,” Weston said and they chuckled.

“Let’s grab some beers with the guys and sit out back,” Winter suggested.

“I’m going to check on Silas and Aspen,” Storm said.

“No need, commander, I’ve got her right here. We were just catching up,” Silas said with his arm wrapped around her shoulders.

“Well, maybe you can catch up without touching her. I know I’d feel a lot better,” Storm said, and Silas removed his arm and saluted Storm. They laughed and Storm immediately pulled Aspen against him and kissed her.

“There are consequences for flirting with other men,” he teased.

“Other men? You mean Silas and the gang. That’s funny, Storm. They’re like brothers to me,” Aspen stated.

“That’s interesting, I thought you referred to Storm, Winter, Weston, York, and Zin as brothers to you, too, in the past,” Silas said, and they all started laughing, but Aspen gave Silas’s arm a smack.

“Don’t go causing any trouble, you,” she said as they started heading into the kitchen. Porter took his sister’s hand and Storm stopped then winked at Aspen before he released her to her brother.

Porter knew that Storm and his team would protect her, just like always.

* * * *

Aspen took Porter’s hand and they headed out to the front porch.

They were a few years apart. He helped to raise Aspen when she was little and their dad was sick all the time. They lost their mom when Aspen was only a few months old. It weighed a toll on the family from what Porter had told her. They had extended family that helped out for years. Their father died when Aspen was three. She didn’t even remember him. It made her feel more like and orphan than someone who had parents but died before she even got to know them.

“How are you really doing?” Porter asked her as they sat down on the bench.

“I’m hanging in there.”

He smiled. “So the guys finally made a move on you. I thought it would never happen. But I guess seeing your life in danger again kind of changed things for them.”

“Again?” she asked.

“Aspen, when you were abducted.”