Armored Hearts (The Town of Pearl 7)

“Aspen? Will Aspen be okay?” she asked, eyes closed and falling under the control of the painkillers he had her take before he got her out of the SUV.

“Her men will make sure that she is. Don’t worry. You’ll be safe in Pearl.”

Her eyes were closed as she whispered the word Pearl before falling asleep.

He stared at her. She had one badly swollen eye, her cheek a mess with bruises as well as her neck, her shoulders, her back and ribs. Fucking everywhere. Even her thighs were bruised. He thought about the men Silas was sending her to be protected by. Grey, Fisher, Fenton, Ford and Flynn were bad-ass men. They were retired Special Forces, but also guns for hire. They did crazy shit to protect people, and they would surely protect India.

He nodded at Victor, his main guard and medic. He was a scary looking guy and big. Dmitri knew the crazy bastard was capable of just about fucking everything, but he also had the medical knowledge of a doctor. His abilities and degree came into necessity too many times to remember. Victor, despite his roughness and kick-ass attitude, had a very steady hand, and was a pro at stitching things up. Dmitri had needed him plenty of times.

Dmitri trusted him fully and so did his associates. He would care for India until they left her in Ford and his team’s hands. They were a group of soldiers currently involved in everything from local law enforcement to freelance tracking jobs for the government. Grey was a deputy in the Town of Pearl Sheriff’s Department. Dmitri considered him the most approachable of the men. He had a mean streak in him and expected respect. Dmitri respected that about Grey. Fisher did work for the Texas Rangers. Which was kind of crazy. Dmitri knew Fisher was a man covered with tattoos that appeared intimidating like a biker, yet clean cut like some first-class business man. Fenton was a crazy bastard. He was a survivalist, tracker, and expert hunter. He did secret jobs for the right price. Both Dmitri and Storm had used his abilities many times in the past. He was the one that Dmitri feared being around India. Fenton always seemed on the edge, just on the brink of losing it. He wasn’t a man to mess with or to rub the wrong way, so avoiding him was the best way of dealing with a man like Fenton. Dmitri wished he could give India some insight into these men. But she hadn’t stayed awake long enough to listen, and truthfully, she was in so much pain, she probably wouldn’t retain an ounce of information.

Then there was Ford. Their leader, and the man Silas contacted right away for help. He was a weapons expert, strategic planning and operator for hire. Plus security and protection for high-profile individuals with bull’s-eyes on their foreheads. He’d helped to save some pretty important entrepreneurs and government officials along with Flynn O’Connor, freelance soldier, photographer, and all-around man of few words.

He took a deep breath and released it.

India would be safe with them.

“Boss, I have the files ready to send to Ford and his team. Her vitals are good, her ribs will take time to heal, and the supply of meds is more than sufficient. Would you like me to e-mail everything on India to Ford now?” Victor asked him.

“Yes, that would be great. I want them to have everything they need and to take extra care of her.”

“They will. Are they bypassing that women’s shelter, or is that still the stopover location before trekking to their estate?”

“I think they’re bypassing the shelter and going to get her right to their own residence for protection. After all, Silas and these men served together years ago in the service. They’ve worked with one another over the years from what I gathered. Our part in this operation ends the moment she’s taken from the plane. We need to fly back to Chicago and help with whatever plans Storm and his team have to take down Andrei and his associates.”

Victor smirked and rubbed his fist into the palm of his hand.

“I’m all for that. I’d like to teach Iakov a lesson on how to treat a lady.”

Dmitri smirked.

“You may just get your chance, Victor. We all may.”

* * * *

“I don’t really think that there’s anything to discuss. Silas asked us to do him this favor. It’s different, Fenton. I know you want to quit the dangerous assignments and break off from the shit, but this is different,” Ford explained as they all gathered around the kitchen.

They were having a quick family meeting though their assistance was needed pronto. Ford had given the okay immediately. For him, there was nothing to discuss. But with Fenton wanting to back out of it, and with the quick discussion they had on their flight back from the Middle East, this rush meeting had to happen.

Ford looked at Fisher as he cleared his throat and leaned over the island in the kitchen, resting his elbows on it.

“I say we do this because of Silas. Anyone else and I’d agree with Fenton about taking a break and backing down from the crazy shit assignments. After all, Grey and I can’t even go along with you on most because of the civilian law enforcement jobs we have. We worry every time you, Fenton, and Flynn leave for some assignment. Fenton’s right to call it quits,” Fisher told them all.

“I agree with Fisher. We do this. The Russian mafia aren’t going to come out to Pearl to go after the woman when they really want her best friend. And if they did, shit, like I, like any of you, haven’t faced fucking Russians before,” Flynn stated sarcastically and they all chuckled. Hell, they’d faced the Russians, the Slavs, the Iraqis, and just about any other culture that fucked with the United States of America.

“She’s in bad shape. Dmitri’s right-hand man faxed over the information. She’s going to need a lot of time to heal up,” Ford told them and passed out the files him and Flynn had made copies of for them to see.

“Son of a bitch, she’s hot,” Grey said and then turned the page.

Ford saw all their expressions change.

“What are the chances we can get Galvin, Gus, Harper, Orin, and Mace to watch over this woman while the rest of us take out the fucking lowlives

that hurt this woman?” Fisher asked.

“I know. It’s tough to look at. But they didn’t kill her,” Ford said, referring to the pictures and the woman’s condition.

“Why didn’t they?” Fenton asked quietly. Ford had a feeling that the moment Fenton got the particulars on this case and saw what these thugs did to India that he would want to help.