Their Battle for Love (The American Soldier Collection 15)

He looked upset but then he winked. “I appreciate your honesty,” he said to her as they grabbed some glasses but then the staff Nicolai had working for them started to help, too.

“She enjoys your company and you’ve helped her to get through this process. I know it isn’t easy for her to feel so helpless, but pushing that ankle too soon could cause more problems,” Dusty told her.

“I’m certain you’re right. Did she do a lot of exercises and things before all this?”

“She was active, but I think what is really getting to her is how things went down and how she couldn’t fight the men who took her. They were sneaky and injected her with a sedative. I think she wants to be in the gym training and wants to start working for her father,” Dusty told her.

Malayna widened her eyes and whispered to Dusty. “She wants to work with Karlicov? Is he receptive to that?” she asked.

He raised one of his eyebrows up and shrugged his shoulders.

“Nalia has a lot to offer with her business skills and a natural talent for the family business.”

She could tell Dusty was concerned.

“And how do you and your team feel about all that?”

“We just want her to be safe. We’re ready to protect her at all times and of course train with her. She needs to feel independent and it’s one of many reasons why my brothers and I love her,” he said and Malayna smiled.

“Then you need to keep doing what you’re doing and supporting her. I promise to try and not let her push too much with her ankle.”

Dusty chuckled. “Good luck with that.”

She smiled, but then she glanced away and locked onto Star standing in the large open doorway with Nicolai. She caught Star’s eyes sweep over her body. Her father looked serious as he came into the large kitchen.

“I thought for sure you would be in the studio, Malayna,” Nicolai said to her as he walked toward the enticing spread of food along the island in the kitchen.

“I was earlier, Nicolai, but then decided to assist Nalia in leaving the dungeon,” she said. He snapped his head up to look at her as he fixed his plate.

“Dungeon?” he questioned and she smirked.

“That’s what she calls her room when her men tell her she needs to stay there until they come to get her and help her walk downstairs.”

“Well, she needs to listen to them. They’re responsible for her well-being, and they nearly lost her,” Star stated in a very forceful deep tone that caused Malayna to stiffen. She glanced at him as he started to make a plate. Every time she looked at the man she remembered when they first met. How he was dressed in black, holding a large gun, looking like some giant about to kill her. Yet he was so gentle with her as he carried her to safety and remained holding her until he passed her to Border to watch over on the ride to the plane. Then Krane and Lucca were there tending to her injuries and helping with Nalia’s along with Nalia’s men.

She swallowed hard and as he made his plate of food she saw his fingers, long, thick, and tan. She could even see the veins and muscles in his wrists that led under the dress shirt to his forearms. He looked like he was made of steel.

She was caught in thought as she stood in one place, only putting some salad on her dish and a few pieces of grilled chicken.

“You need to eat more than that. Your body needs nourishment,” he whispered from right behind her. She hadn’t even heard his approach, but now that he was this close she couldn’t help but shake. She moved to choose a dressing and knocked over two other bottles. She reached for them and so did Star, covering her hand with his.

“Easy, Malayna. You’re safe with me around,” he said to her, shocking her.

She turned to look up at him but he didn’t look at her. He fixed the dressings and she realized just how big he was and older. Much older than her. Perhaps he thought she was in need of being told what to eat like some child. Maybe he should figure out that she had been starved while in captivity and her stomach had shrunk and it was difficult to eat full meals. Instead she picked throughout the day, trying to gain a little weight slowly.

When she didn’t respond he seemed to be upset with her. He touched her hand and she jerked away from him, nearly dropping her plate.

“Excuse me,” she said and walked away. She was shocked at the instant desire she felt for the man, but she wasn’t stupid. As naive and inexperienced as she was with men, she could tell that Star saw her differently than other women. He thought she was childish, perhaps immature, and in need of looking after, but little did he know she was more mature and knowledgeable of life and the capabilities of men than she wanted to be. She was a victim, yes. A woman scarred for life by the haunting memories of three years imprisoned against her will, but she wasn’t fully broken. She had her virginity, the one precious part of her that no one had shattered and stolen from her. Cornikup and Vlladim may have taken her freedom, her independence, her ability to live her life freely, but they hadn’t broken her spirit.

“Malayna?” Nicolai said her name as she placed the plate down and walked out of the room toward the hallway. She turned to look at him. “Where are you going?”

“I’m sorry, Nicolai, I’m not feeling well.”

He walked closer to her.

“Don’t be afraid of Star. He has your best interests in mind and was so worried about you. He has called on a daily basis to check up on you. He’s right about you eating better. You have to build your strength,” Nicolai told her.

She was surprised that he had done that. He had called every day to check on her, but she also knew that he and his team had been the ones to search for her for the last several years. It was more out of personal respect to Nicolai that they continued to show care for her.