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“Youaremine, beautiful.” Tank pulls back to see his love reflected in Ruby’s eyes. He kisses her deeply before letting her go. “And I’m yours. I’ll be out soon.” Looking a little dazed, Ruby nods as she turns to leave the dank room where they’d held her brother and his goons. Hawk gives Tank a grin but waits until Ruby’s out of earshot to rib him about his PDA. Tank could care less what his C.O. has to say about it. He’s seen plenty of PDA between Hawk and Charlotte. He has to admit any ribbing he gets will be well deserved because he’s dished out his fair share to the other guys as they’ve all found their women. It’s just what they do to each other.
“Twitterpated,” Hawk states with a smirk. “I knew you’d fallen the day you met her at the fundraising meeting.” Tank’s eyebrows shoot up. Hawk continues, “I saw the look in your eyes when you looked at her. Same look I had, hell, I still have, when I look at Charlotte. I knew the first time I saw her she was meant to be mine.” Hawk trails off as he’s obviously remembering their meeting. Hawk looks up at him. “We met at the airport in San Diego, the day we arrived to begin prepping for the Columbian mission where we found her. Did you know that?” Tank shakes his head, trying to remember the day. “She’s the woman who came to our table and thanked us for our service.” Recognition floods Tank’s face.
“Yes!” Tank says suddenly. “I’d forgotten about that. She looked so different when we found her in the jungle. I didn’t put it together.”
“Yeah.” Hawk’s face is marred with anger. “Being beaten and starved for months, changes you.” Charlotte had been held for over two months when the Humvee the team was in nearly ran her over on a narrow jungle path. “Fuck! I can’t stand thinking about how badly she was treated by those men. I know the lead man is dead and gone. Charlotte made sure of it, but I want to dig his ass up and kill him all over again. What pisses me off more than anything is we are once again having to stop this cartel from doing the same shit. They are like the fucking Hydra. You cut one head off and two more come back in its place.” Hawk’s gaze meets Tank’s. “We will make Ruby safe, Tank. I promise you that. We’ll end these assholes soon. Brass is ready for us to move. They’ve gotten intel on the woman who was taken, thinking she was Ruby, well Mary Catherine. They’ve got a man on the inside who was finally able to get word out where she’s being held. We’ll be sent out soon but not right away.” Hawk’s mood changes suddenly, and he grins at Tank. “You’ll have a few nights with your woman before we go.” Hawk waggles his eyebrows. Tank grins, shaking his head. The man might be in his fifties, but he still acts like a teenage boy sometimes. Tank figures Charlotte keeps him feeling and being young. “Come on, I’m calling a team meeting.” Hawk slaps him on the shoulder, and the two start out to join the others.
Tank finds Ruby just where she said she’d be, waiting in the living area talking with Lisa. The women seem to be deep in conversation. Tank is surprised, but happy to see it. More than anything, he wants Ruby to have everything she could ever want and need, which includes friends, family, and most of all safety. She’s basically written off her actual family, so Tank wants to replace them with his family. His team family and his grandparents. He can’t wait for Ruby to meet Grammy and Pop. And he’s sure Ruby and Abigail will be like sisters now that Ruby’s willing to allow them all into her life. She’s lived so alone for six years to keep herself safe, but Tank knows that’s not how she wanted to live. She’s a kind, loving person. He saw it when she helped him care for Ellie while Abigail was hospitalized. She deserves happiness.
“Guys!” Hawk calls out. “I hate to break up the party, but we need to have a meeting. Lisa can you and Ruby head upstairs for a bit? I’ll send Hack up to get you when we are finished.”
“Yes, of course,” Lisa replies as she and Ruby stand up and begin making their way to the stairs. Tank hurries to speak to Ruby before they’re gone.
“You okay, beautiful?” Tank asks, reaching for her when he draws near.
“Yeah, I’m good,” Ruby answers, melting into his arms. She tilts her head back. Tank can tell she’s as eager for a kiss as he is to give her one. Their tongues tangle as he holds her close, enjoying the feel of her in his arms. The guys will definitely give him shit, but he has no fucks to give. The ones without a woman are just jealous. The ones with a woman will just be giving him payback for the shit he’s doled out to them over the years.
“This, hopefully, won’t take long,” Tank tells her when they break apart.
“It’s fine, Tucker. I understand. Lisa and I are enjoying getting to know one another. Don’t worry about me.” Ruby’s expression is happy and relaxed. He can tell she’s telling the truth. She’s the most relaxed he’s ever seen her, and he loves it. He wants to see her this way every day, and in time, he will.
“Time to wrap it up Tank. We’ll need to get to base soon. Brass has called a meeting at 1300 hours,” Hawk calls across the room, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Are we going wheels up?” Hack asks, his gaze flicking to Lisa.
“No, not just yet,” Hawk answers. “But likely in the next few days.” Hack gives a single stiff nod. His lips pinching together, and his jaw ticks. He looks over at Lisa once more. Tank can see some silent conversation going on between them. Hack is hovering near Lisa, but the looks she’s giving the poor man is saying stay the fuck back. Tank feels bad for his friend. He can see the tension in his posture and body language. The man is begging for Lisa to let him in, but she’s being stubborn. Although, Tank can see a longing in her eyes when she looks at Hack. Tank wonders why she’s fighting her attraction to Hack so hard. The man is obviously smitten with her. Women. A man can never figure them out but will gladly die trying. Tank chuckles as he thinks this to himself. He wonders once again what’s happening between them, but he needs to focus on getting Ruby secured before he has to leave the country, again.
“What’s funny?” Ruby asks him. She’s still clinging to him, and he’s loving it, but he knows he needs to let her and Lisa get upstairs.
“I’ll tell you later,” Tanks says, giving her another quick kiss. “Head on up. I’ll be up as soon as we’re done.”
“Okay, Tucker.” Ruby turns, meeting Lisa’s gaze. The women head up the stairs with Hack and Tank standing at the bottom watching them go.
“Boys!” Hawk calls drawing Tank’s and Hack’s attentions. “You can ogle your women later. Right now, we have shit to discuss.” Both men nod and head over to take a seat to hear what their C.O. has to say.
46
RUBY
“You want something to drink?” Lisa asks when they reach the kitchen.
“Yes, a glass of water will be good,” Ruby answers. Lisa heads straight to a cabinet, pulling a glass down before going to the refrigerator to fill it with ice and filtered water from the freezer door of the very nice modern appliance. Curiosity floods Ruby. Lisa seems to be very familiar with Hack’s kitchen, yet she tries to distance herself from him when others are around. Ruby can’t keep her curiosity to herself. “So…what’s up with you and Hack?”
Lisa spins around nearly spilling the water from the glass. “What do you mean?” Her face is pale, and her hand trembles as she extends the glass to Ruby.
“It just seems like there’s some tension between you two.” Ruby takes a sip of her water, looking at Lisa over the rim of her glass as she drinks. Lisa’s posture stiffens. Her mouth pinched into a grim line, she stares off toward the living area. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business,” Ruby apologizes. Lisa looks over at her.
“You’re right,” Lisa begins. “It’s not any of your business.” Ruby tenses. She didn’t mean to make an enemy of Lisa. She’s been hoping to make friends with her since Ruby’s decided to throw caution to the wind and accept that she and Tucker are just meant to be. Ruby drops her gaze trying to come up with something else to say to lessen the tension in the room. Lisa surprises her when she lets out a heavy sigh. “I’m the one who should apologize.” Ruby’s eyes fly to Lisa’s. Her eyebrows raising in question. “Let’s go sit in the living room.” Ruby nods, taking her glass of water with her. They enter a formal living area with a plush couch and matching loveseat. Ruby takes a seat on the couch and Lisa sits across from her on the loveseat.
“Look, I don’t mean to be a bitch,” Lisa begins. Ruby starts to protest, but Lisa holds up a hand. “You don’t have to argue. I know I’m being a bitch.” She sighs again. Her eyes beginning to fill with unshed tears. “I’m just so tired.” She looks over at Ruby and gives her a sad smile. “I don’t know how this became my life; you know?” Ruby nods with a humorless laugh.
“Yeah, I sure do,” Ruby answers the rhetorical question, though no answer is required. “I have asked myself that a million times over the last six years.” Lisa sucks in a breath.
“Six years?” Lisa asks, curiosity burning in her gaze. Her own troubles seemingly forgotten. Ruby decides if she shares her own story, maybe it will help Lisa to open up about her own troubles.
“Yes, I’ve been living on the streets, basically trying to hide in plain sight, for the last six years.” Ruby begins to let the awful memories of her past flood her. “Ever since my mother was murdered right in front of me.”
“Oh God, Ruby!” Lisa exclaims. “I’m so sorry. I-I can’t imagine how awful it has been for you.”
