Seeking Love in Salvation (The American Soldier Collection 16)

He closed the space between them and she glanced at the babies, making sure they were still asleep. He shoved her up against the wall, his face next to her neck and ear. His hands held her hips and one smoothed up to her breast. “Oh, yeah, even better than I thought.”

“Get off of me,” she said through clenched teeth, trying not to wake the babies.

His forearm came up hard against her throat. She gasped and felt the instant pain to her windpipe. She also felt his hard erection against her belly and his thick thighs pressed between her legs.

“Don’t want to wake those babies, do you?” he asked and licked her cheek. She clenched her eyes closed, wanting to vomit. He pinched her breast and she gasped. “Shhh,” he warned, applying more pressure to her throat. She could hardly breathe and she started to panic.

She saw something to the right, through the window. She didn’t know if she was seeing things—shadows in the darkness, perhaps more of the bad guys showing up to make matters worse. She slid her hand into her pocket and gripped the knife. Her knuckles made contact with his crotch and his eyes widened and then he smiled. He chuckled. “So you’ve been checking me out, too, huh? I knew it. You made me this hard, and you’re going to fix it, right now.”

&nbs

p; He released her throat and tore open her blouse as he thrust against her body, slamming her hard against the wall behind her. She gasped and the sound of glass breaking and then footsteps gave her the opportunity she needed. She stuck him in the gut. He grunted and she kicked him then shoved him forward. He struck her in the face and she screamed out as she slashed the knife, hitting his face. He hollered and yelled as the room lit up and chaos erupted around her. Shots were fired. She felt them whiz by her and she lowered as he came at her again and tackled her to the ground. She used her training and rolled him again until he slammed against the cabinet and she struck him with the knife in the shoulder. She got up quickly, heard the babies crying, and looked at them to make sure they hadn’t gotten hit by any bullets. Then the guy struck her hard and shoved her from him.

She saw men in black, and then shots went past her and hit the guy, taking him down. She covered the babies with her body and hushed them, as she glanced upward, not knowing who these men were. She saw Samuel and Roxie. He pulled Roxie in front of him, using her as cover from the bullets, and she took two shots to her body, falling. Samuel kept firing an automatic weapon, but the shots came back at him until he slumped down to the floor.

“Valentina!” She heard her name, recognized the voice, and then looked up to see her men. All four of them pulled off their masks and their faces came into view. She smiled and then cried out, lifting up off the babies, pulling Grace up with her as Tye and Lena held onto her, crying hard.

“You came. Oh, my God,” she said. She saw their angry expressions as they took in the sight of her bruises and cuts. She had no blouse on, either, but she didn’t care. She saw Gunner and two other men come closer.

“Anyone else around?” one guy asked.

“Gabe West is here. In the bedroom,” she said, and they hurried that way.

“Let’s get these kids out of here,” Jace said and went to reach for Lena as Ridge reached for Tye. The kids clung tight to Valentina.

“It’s okay, guys, these men are good men. They’re here to protect you and keep us safe,” she said, and they stared at her as if unsure.

“I promise. I’m never leaving you again. Never. Let them help you,” she told them and smiled. The kids nodded and let the men pick them up.

I don’t care what anyone says. These babies are mine. I will not let them be taken away and separated from one another. I’ll do whatever I need to. I love them.

* * * *

Valentina walked into the hospital room after she’d checked on J.R. He was being released today and looking forward to getting home and resting.

She slowly pushed the door open and caught sight of Roxie. She was lying in the bed, looing sickly but fully awake. Valentina felt a mix of emotions. Surely Roxie had to realize that Samuel had never loved her or the kids. She wondered why Roxie had asked to see her and what she wanted. Valentina had nothing but disgust and anger toward the woman and what she’d done to her kids—and to herself.

“Well, I’m here,” Valentina said to Roxie, standing by the end of the bed staring at her. She was hooked up to different machines, and the sound of the heart monitor echoed beside the bed.

“I’m not going to be here much longer. Let’s make this quick,” Roxie said and then coughed.

She nodded toward the table.

“Take that.”

“What is it?” Valentina asked as she slowly walked toward the table and saw a folder.

“I never wanted them. Held onto them so Samuel would need me. He didn’t. They trust you. Love you,” she said, and Valentina opened the file and saw the documents giving her full custody of the three babies. The tears hit her eyes and she looked at Roxie. Roxie swallowed. “Right there. You got it. You feel it. I never did. I hated them and took anger out on them because I was angry at him and me. I’m going to die. Any day now. So I might as well make sure I put them first, ’cause I never did.”

She didn’t know what to say. She knew the gunshots were life-threatening, but she seemed to be pulling through. “Are you certain about this? I could help you and we could take care of them together. I can show you—”

She shook her head and said no.

“They’re yours. I’m bleeding internally and slowly dying. Let me do something right,” she said and Valentina saw the tears in her eyes. Then Roxie got serious.

“Leave now. I’m done. Go,” she said.

Valentina swallowed hard and then turned to leave, but she stopped.