Their Battle for Love (The American Soldier Collection 15)

“No. I don’t need you trying to promote me or a potential career in art. I get what you’re saying. I hear you loud and clear. It’s time to expand out and meet new people and not feel dependent upon you, my rescuers. Got it loud and clear,” she said and stormed out of the room.

Lucca looked at Krane.

“What the hell just happened?” Lucca asked.

“We squashed any possibility that we could entertain an attraction to her. It’s how Star said it has to be. He’s right. She’s too young, too focused on us being her rescuers and representing a security she needed after being a prisoner. She hasn’t experienced life, or had the opportunity to know what she wants.”

“We will continue to train her, right?” Lucca asked.

“I wouldn’t allow any other people to train her.”

“Good. We’ll focus on that, and the fact that we’ll have to attend her birthday party.”

“Let’s get going. Star and Border should be finished with their meeting with Cosivan and the guys. Then we can head to The Crest and start seeing what the designer has come up with,” Krane told him and they headed out of the home gym.

Chapter 5

“Sorry to interrupt, but what do you think?” Nalia asked.

She walked into Malayna’s studio without the large boot and wearing a pair of sneakers. She was smiling from ear to ear and Malayna couldn’t help the tears that filled her eyes.

She placed the paintbrush down and hurried to her and she and Nalia embraced.

“I’m so happy for you.”

“I knew you would be. You’ve been my biggest supporter.”

Malayna pulled back and smiled wide. “I’ll always be there for you, you know that, right?” Malayna asked her.

Nalia squinted at her and placed her hands on her hips with attitude. “You’d better be,” she teased and they laughed.

“Your men must be thrilled that you’re able to move around freely,” Malayna said to her.

“Of course they’re thrilled about it, but Viktor is still insisting on carrying me around. Which I really don’t mind, and especially when it’s to bed,” she said and winked.

Malayna chuckled and felt her cheeks warm. She wondered if she would ever feel that way, or have love like that.

“Oh no, what’s that expression for? What did I miss?” Nalia asked and Malayna walked back over toward the painting she was working on.

“Nothing. So what do you think?” she asked her and turned the painting toward Nalia.

“Oh my. That is so stunning. Where is this place?” Nalia asked, moving closer.

Malayna took a deep breath and released it.

“It was a spot that I could only see partially from the window of my bedroom, but I imagined what it would look like inside.”

“Your bedroom? You mean in Lozova?”

Malayna shook her head and grabbed the paintbrush to sign the bottom of the painting.

“In Mexico, where Cornikup held me prisoner.”

Nalia placed her hand on Malayna’s shoulder. “Oh, Malayna.”

She turned to look at her friend. They were almost the same height, but Nalia was more toned, more physically fit and had this aura of confidence and attitude about her. She wished she could get some of that attitude, too.

“It’s okay, Nalia. I don’t want to be afraid anymore. I don’t want to appear helpless and weak, like I can’t accomplish anything on my own.”