"I destroyed it. Run, Saber, stop worrying about me. In another minute we're going to have someone shooting at us with a grenade launcher."
Saber could feel him right behind her, so she accelerated her speed. She wasn't particularly strong, but she was fast. Gene therapy had seen to that. "Your beautiful house is being destroyed." She'd tried not to think about it too much, but the loss of the first place she'd ever thought of as home was devastating.
"It doesn't matter."
"It does. It's the first home I ever had. I loved it." Her vision blurred and she wiped at her eyes, the gas mask clunking against her arm.
The tunnel curved and began going up again. She could see that just ahead the thin red line abruptly stopped. "Where? Tell me where to go." She slowed, seeing nothing but a dead end blocking their way. They appeared trapped.
He put his hand on her shoulder and reached up to feel above them with one hand. Immediately the tunnel was plunged into complete darkness. There was no light coming in from anywhere to help with the unrelenting blackness.
Her breath caught in her lungs. Jess seemed larger than ever, more solid. He gathered her close and put his mouth next to her ear. "None of it matters, you know. We're all that matters. You and me. Wherever we are together, Saber, that's our home. You'll love the new house I'm going to build for you."
He reached above her again and found the latch that hid the door in the ceiling overhead. A head leaned in from above and Ken grinned at them.
"You've been having fun without us," he accused.
Jess caught Saber around the waist and lifted her out of the tunnel. She blinked as the light filtering through the forest struck her in the eye. The house was on fire a short distance away. Ken caught her in firm hands and pulled her all the way up, setting her to one side in order to reach down for the equipment Jess had.
Saber could see they were surrounded by grim-faced men, all holding rifles as if they knew how to use them. GhostWalkers. Jess's GhostWalkers. She turned to watch the house burn, her heart heavy. Mari stepped up beside her and took her arm.
"I'm sorry about your home."
The sympathy was unexpected, but for the first time, she felt as if she might really be able to be a part of these people. She didn't feel anything but sympathy and a determination to keep her and Jess safe. Maybe, just maybe, she was already home.
CHAPTER 20
"Jess, you're back." Ken Norton glanced at his watch. "Four in the morning and you're getting married tomorrow. You cut it close, bro." He was crouched low on top of the boulder guarding the entrance to the Norton land.
Jess and Saber were temporarily staying in a cabin the Norton twins had up in the mountains of Montana.
Jess paused on his way in through the twisting trail. The night was moonless and the clouds obscured most of the stars--just the way they liked it. "I didn't have a lot of choice. The meeting with Rear Admiral Henderson and General Rainer went as well as I could expect, I guess, but neither of them were very happy that we'd been investigating them."
Ken shrugged, cradling his rifle in his arms, his eyes making a sweep of the tree line below. "I doubt if you or Ryland offered much in the way of an apology."
"Hell no. We gave them our findings and a copy of the tape. The original is here and we're keeping it that way."
"You'll be happy to know the escrow went through. You officially own eighty-six acres up here. Ryland and Lily are purchasing land as well. In fact they're buying up everything they can in the hopes that more of the GhostWalkers will settle here later. I've been messing around a little with ideas for buildings we can more easily defend." Ken shrugged his shoulders. "Was hoping you'd take a look later."
Jess nodded. "Definitely. I want to start building as soon as we can. Patsy is willing to build her home near mine so I'll know she's safe as well. That means we've got to put up two homes next spring."
"I'm glad she finally agreed to come. She and Saber still talking about owning another radio station?" Ken's inquiry sounded mild enough.
Jess's smile was faint. He knew exactly what Ken was thinking. "Don't go worrying. If it comes to that, we'll do it up here. I know it would be a nightmare to protect them in town."
"Where do we stand with it all?"
"About the same. The espionage ring is still in place, and unfortunately several army personnel are involved along with a major player in the White House, which pretty much means we're fucked. Violet is on the loose with her own personal agenda and Whitney is busy manipulating everyone."
Ken grinned at him. "Yeah, well, we like life interesting."
"I've got to get back and catch a little sleep before the big event." Jess tried to sound casual when he was anything but. He couldn't wait to see Saber--to hold her in his arms.
Ken snorted. "She's a little pissed at you, my friend. Don't expect a warm reception when you crawl into her bed to--er--sleep."
Jess smirked at him and walked up the path toward the cabin, waving at one of the guards crouched high in the cliffs overlooking the property. He had spotted several of the GhostWalkers patrolling and knew they had arrived for the wedding. His wedding. He grinned like an idiot, just thinking about it.
He'd been gone seven days while he was meeting with the admiral to give him the findings of the investigation. But now he was home and determined to see Saber.
He had hated leaving her behind, and she'd been less than happy about it, but he felt she was safer under the protection of the GhostWalker team.
He slipped through the open window and just stood there a moment, drinking in the sight of her. She was so beautiful she made his heart ache. Stripping quickly, Jess climbed into bed, pulling her feminine form into his arms.
She cuddled into him, curled like a little kitten, as his larger body wrapped around hers protectively. Her blue-black curls felt like silk against his face and her soft skin invited his touch. He inhaled her, pulling her scent deep into his lungs. His body was already hungry, his mouth craving the taste of her.
He stretched, moving his legs, reveling in the miracle of being able to do so, then leaned into her and kissed the nape of her neck, his hands sliding up her rib cage to cup her breasts. He was a big man and she seemed so fragile, yet he knew there was power in her--steel in her. She would stand beside him no matter what happened.
It was a luxury to be able to touch her, to wake up to her soft curvy body. His. He smiled again and pushed the sheet from her, sliding his body over and down hers.
"What are you doing here?" Saber didn't open her eyes.
Her drowsy voice was mesmerizing, sliding through his system like a drug. "Go back to sleep. I want to indulge myself a little bit."
"You left me and I'm mad at you, so go away."
He slid his hands over her soft skin from her breasts to her belly. She didn't open her eyes but she frowned at him.
"You don't deserve me. Go. Away."
"It's our wedding day."
"It was. I was abandoned. Left behind. Deserted. I'm dreaming of retaliation right now and you're disturbing me."
He brushed the tip of her breast with his lips, feather light. "What kind of retaliation?" He felt her stomach muscles bunch in answer.
"I'm finding one of the very hot Special Forces marines to take your place. He will adore me and never leave me."
"He will get his throat slit and you will be punished severely. Go back to sleep and dream about a proper retaliation such as killing me or something. That's much more appropriate. And no jarhead could ever take the place of a SEAL, baby." He bent to bite gently, his tongue bathing away the small sting.
"Ow!" She pushed at his head. "Go away."
His mouth closed over her breast, suckling strongly, tongue dancing over her nipple, flicking and teasing until she was arching into him and the hands that had been pushing him away were pulling him closer.
"Fine," she muttered. "I guess I'll keep you."