Without limits ssion and.., p.72
Without Limits: A BWWM Collection of Passion and Desire, page 72
What would they say about Conor?
I drifted back to sleep with images of Conor in my world. He had mentioned forever, but what did forever look like for us.
No. Don’t touch me.
I kick and screamed, but no sounds come out of my mouth.
His hands, his thick callous fingers penetrate me. I push, but he won't budge. I fight harder.
I was no longer in Columbia.
I was in my room, in my little studio apartment in Georgetown.
It smells like vanilla candles and fear. Sweat pours off me. I get free. I roll off the bed and drop on the ground with a thud on top of a body.
I scratch and claw at the body before it could get me, but it wasn’t moving. I pause and the world swirls around like in a dream. I stare down at the slab of man on the ground, silent, stiff, cold.
It's Conor. I scream again, but no sound.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
I duck.
My cries are muffled in Conor’s musty t-shirt.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
“Mika.”
Please Daddy. Wake up. Don’t let them take me again.
I felt hands around my neck.
I clawed at them as someone lifts me off the bed.
“Mika.”
I shuddered and clutched my chest.
“Wake up.”
My eyes shot open.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
“What’s happening?”
“Get up, Mika.” Conor yelled and sat me on my feet. “We have to go now.”
Conor ran toward the closet and pried open the door.
I sat down on the bed.
An explosion rocked the house.
I watched the door.
Conor came back out, with a handful of clothes.
“What is going on?” I screamed
“Put these on.” He shoved clothes in my hands and ran back to the closet.
I sneezed.
The smell of gunpowder and the same smell of fear from my dream lingered in the air.
I pulled on the sweatshirt and the leggings.
He threw my shoes at my feet. I pulled them on and tied them. It took me a couple tries. I was shaking so much.
Conor knelt at my feet.
Another explosion, smaller than the first, but no less terrifying went off in the distance.
Conor held my face.
He put my arms into a jacket and zipped it for me.
“Listen to me, Mika.” He caressed my face. “We are going out the balcony and climbing down.”
I shook my head.
He held it.
“Don’t worry. I've got you.” Conor nodded. “You can do it.”
He pressed something cold and hard in my hand.
I looked down.
More popping noise came from behind the closed bedroom door.
I jumped.
“I can’t.”
“Listen to me.” Conor placed my hand around the gun. “You hold it like this. The safety is right here.”
The hard steel felt foreign, cold.
“Click it off.” He said.
I pressed on it with my index finger.
Conor stood up.
He took his own gun and pulled the lever back.
I stood and did the same.
A shot of adrenaline shot through me.
“You stay close to me, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Anyone you run into in the next thirty minutes that you don't know, you shoot’em, okay. No hesitation.” Conor nodded.
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl.” He leaned down and kissed me. A small injection of his power shot into me, letting me know I could do it.
I pushed my shoulders back.
Conor took my free hand and headed toward the balcony.
He threw a backpack over the railing.
He stepped over the railing and shimmed down a column and landing on his feet.
“Now you, Mika.”
I flipped the safety back on and put it in the pocket of the jacket.
No hesitation.
I turned out the commotion in the front of the house.
I pulled myself over the railing and clung to the pole. I didn’t quite shimmy, more of a free fall into Conor’s arms.
“Whoa.” He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me to him.
When I landed on my feet, I took a breath.
I pulled the gun out of my pocket. Cocked it and looked up at Conor.
He smirked at me, took my hand and we ran.
Chapter Eighteen
Conor
One minute I was screaming through the phone at James, the next minute, bullets whizzed past my head.
Trying to figure out how we got in this fucked up situation in the first place gave me a headache, but I'd take it over a bullet to the head any day.
The job blurred the lines like no other.
Our job was to protect the subjects, with the latest from James, now we needed to protect ourselves as well.
I barely heard the first alarm sound because an explosion on the west side of the property followed by gunfire masked it.
I dropped to the ground and bear crawled into the house.
I shut the door and crouched on the ground.
“What the fuck?” Will said.
He came running in from the beach with a gun in each hand.
“No.” I held my hand out. “You go get the boat. Meet us down the beach in twenty minutes.”
Sam popped his head in.
We all cringed and turned away when a bullet came straight thorough the house and smashed the back glass door to bits.
I handed Sam a gun.
“You wait five minutes.” I placed a hand on his shoulder. “Anyone comes through that door, take them down?”
He nodded.
“I mean it, Sam.” I looked at the clock on the wall. “That clock gets to five after and you take off down the beach.”
“What about y’all?” Sam asked.
“Don’t worry about us.” I ran up the stairs. “If all goes well, we’ll be right behind you.”
I ran up the stairs and burst into the bedroom. I heard Mika scream. Never fun waking up to gunfire, but she wasn’t awake.
I touched her and she jerked away from me.
She was fighting someone in her sleep and losing.
I grabbed her around the neck and held her to me.
“Mika.” She clawed at my arms.
“Mika.” I yelled louder.
She settled in my arms. An explosion rocked the house.
She turned in my arms.
“What’s going on?”
“We are getting out of here.”
I held Mika’s hand in a death grip. We took off down the breach.
Sam was in an all out sprint a few yards in front of us.
I peeked back at Mika, to my girl’s credit, she kept up like a pro. Powered by adrenaline and fear, what ever got us all off this beach with no holes in us, I'd gladly take it.
When a bullet whizzed by my ear for the second time today, I pulled Mika in front of me and pushed her toward the left where the dunes had blown up high. I pushed her up and over the first one before I peeked over my shoulder.
Two guys ran in full stride toward us.
I jumped behind the dune. I took one of them out and dropped to the ground.
The other one dropped too.
I peeked over the top of the dune.
I grabbed Mika’s collar.
“Stay low and crawl over the dunes.”
“You come too.”
“Mika.” I shook her. “I’m right behind you, now go.”
She bit her lip and blinked.
I thought she would protest, but she ducked down and crawled up and over the next dune.
I turned back to the guy who had dropped to the sand, but he was gone.
I leveled my gun and scanned the beach.
He was nowhere to be found.
We weren’t too far away from the house, yet. They were tearing the place apart. The guy hadn’t radioed in, stupid move. He was about to die alone on a beach.
I looked one more time and saw Mika three dunes away.
She didn’t look back. She was focused.
I was so damn proud of her. She was so strong.
She was good. I had a job to do.
I got my hands under me, and pushed up.
The click in my ear pissed me off.
I dropped down and waited for it.
“Gringo.” The guy spit at me before the click and the bang.
Chapter Nineteen
Mika
My actions didn’t register. I tumbled down the next sand dune. Dusted myself off and looked up.
A man stood over Conor with a gun to his head.
My fingers instinctively flex on the gun in my hand.
I raised it, squinted, pointed, and pulled the trigger.
The kick back sent me falling backwards.
I wasn’t even sure if I hit him.
I scrambled back to my feet and experienced four seconds of dread before relief as Conor’s long stride leapt over the dune and dropped down next to me. He grabbed my hand and we took off straight for the beach.
My brain focused on forcing my legs to keep up. As we reached the water, Conor took a sharp left and slowed to a jog.
The motor of a small raft crested over the waves. I looked for any distinguishable features. Were they the good guys or the bad guys?
They came closer, and I recognized Will. He grinned and shook his head.
Conor bent over and grabbed me around the waist and hoisted me over his shoulder as he waded through the water.
I scanned the beach for the man I shot. He lay still on the dune where we left him.
I shot someone.
I shook the thought out of my head.
I saved Conor. Like he saved me.
I looked back toward the house.
A few men stood out on the back balcony. Others headed in our direction.
“Blow it.” Conor yelled and nodded his head. He held me tighter. “Cover your ears, baby girl.”
It didn’t take long for me to understand what he meant.
Thank God, I did what he said.
An explosion rocked the entire beach. The house exploded. The second floor collapsed. The bottom floor sent flames and wood outward, it reach almost to the water’s edge.
The men on the back porch and the beach front were either gone or on fire.
The few men, who had made their way toward us, stumbled from the shockwave. They turned and watch their people burn.
I turned away. The screams were bad enough.
Conor sat me on the edge of the boat and pushed me in. He climbed in himself and crawled over next to me.
I scrambled onto his lap. I bury my head in his chest.
He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. He kissed the top of my head.
Will turned the boat around and slowly coasted over the waves.
He and Sam chatted.
“How did they find us?” Will asked.
Sam mumbled something I couldn’t hear. I didn’t need to hear. I knew the answer to his question.
It broke my heart.
It was the call from my dad. He sent them here, but why?
I knew the answer to that question, too. To kidnap me again or to kill me.
I squeezed Conor’s torso tight.
I had to tell him.
I lifted my head.
Conor drew me back to his chest.
“It’s okay, Mika.” He whispered to me. “We’ll figure it out.”
I nodded.
We slid up and over another big wave before the smooth ocean water spread out before us.
Will pushed the boat into gear and we took off.
Thirty minute later, the boat slowed down and I opened my eyes.
We approached a bigger boat, a slick white yacht. I counted three stories and the captain’s perch. It was beautiful. We pulled up behind it.
A guy dressed in board shorts stood on the deck in the back. His cut muscles glimmer in the light from the setting sun.
“For fuck’s sake, put some clothes on.” Sam said as he threw a rope up to the guy. He caught it and pulled our boat toward him.
“I’m sorry.” He had an accent. “I didn’t know we had company.”
Conor grunted and stood up. He helped me up.
Sam jumped onto the deck. He reached back. I reached out and forgot I had the gun in my hand.
“Let me have it.” Conor said.
I handed the gun to Conor. I took Sam’s hand and climbed out of the boat.
“Hello.” Our host extended his hand. “You must be Mika.”
I nodded and shook his hand. I looked up into his eyes and gasped.
I recognized him.
He was Conor. Not as big and not as brooding, but the family resemblance threw me for a loop.
“Carter.” He shook my hand and held on to it.
Conor pulled my hand back and Carter let go.
“Nice to meet you.” I said and smiled and rolled my eyes.
Carter smirked and nodded.
He stepped back and ushered me toward three steps that led to the main deck.
“Hey.” Conor said to Carter.
I looked back.
He hugged his brother with genuine affection. My chest tightened.
“What are you doing out this far anyway?” Conor climbed the steps.
“A charter to St. Lucia.” Carter shrugged his shoulders.
“What did you do, leave them bobbing in the water?” Will asked.
“Naw,” Carter helped Will secure the boat. “Talked them into a two day stay on the beautiful island of St. Lucia courtesy of Invincible Security. Expect to get my bill.”
Conor grunted.
“You just going to leave them there?” Will asked as he joined us on deck.
“It's all good.” Carter scratched his perfect six-pack abs. “Mark is on his way to pick them up in Ada. It’s good to see you man.” Carter skipped up the stairs. “You talk to mom.”
“I’ve been on a job. She knows that.”
“I see.” Carter glanced in my direction.
Conor placed a possessive hand on my arm.
I slid my hand down into his and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
“Well, Ms. Mika, welcome to the Ella.” Carter went into captain of the ship mode. “I hope your stay with us will be pleasant. Let me know if you need anything.” He tipped his imaginary cap.
I giggled.
Conor shook his head.
“You two get hooked in.” Conor said to Will and Sam. “Find James. I’m going to get Mika settled and I’ll meet you guys in command in ten and I want some answers.”
The tone of Conor’s voice made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I waited for the guys to give him shit, but they recognized the tone and scattered. Carter headed in one direction. Will and Sam in the other.
I grabbed onto Conor's arm and turned towards him.
He looked down at me and smiled.
The smile warmed me up, but I knew shit had changed for the worse. I didn’t have to ask if we were in danger, I knew it. I scanned the ocean. I saw nothing but darkness.
“Hey,” Conor pulled me close. “I won’t let anyone hurt you. I promise.”
I nodded my head against his chest. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the heat from his body. I let it sink into my bones.
Part of me wanted to go to command, what ever that was, and find out what was going on. It was my life they were strategizing about, but I didn’t protest. I trusted Conor would tell me what I needed to know. The rest would most likely scare the shit out of me. I was tired of being scared.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.” He led me through the ship.
Chapter Twenty
Mika
"You have a brother?"
Conor squeezed my hand as he pulled me down the narrow hallway toward the front of the boat. Halfway down, he turned right and stepped into a room and dragged me a few more feet through an open cabin door. He shut the door behind us.
I took in the stateroom with its nautical themed decor in deep blue and black. The room consisted of one large bed facing a picture window that look out into the sea. A couch sat opposite the bed, a few bags sat on the foot of the bed.
Conor pushed my jacket off my shoulders and it fell to the ground.
"You didn't tell me you had a brother." I held my hands up as he pulled my t-shirt off and threw it on top of the jacket. He grabbed my face and turned it to the left and right.
"I thought you would have gotten that info when you Goggled me." Conor ran his hands down my neck and over my shoulder.
"Nope.”
Conor pushed my leggings down my legs and continued to inspect me.
"I'm fine."
"I'm making sure."
He pressed on the bruise on my left thigh.
I winced.
“Fine?” He peered up at me.
“Old wound.” I laughed to mask the pain. "He works for you?"
"Not really, he owns a charter boat business. Gives us an occasional ride when we need it." Conor went to the closet and left me in the middle of the room naked.
"You two look alike." I peeked in the closet. It was organized like the one at the beach house.
A chill ran up my back.
I closed my eyes and squeezed them tight.
The house, the explosion, and the man I shot. It all swirled in my head. I shook it to get it out. I heard Conor come back to the main room. I opened my eyes.
"Naw, he looks more like our mother." Conor had removed his own shirt and pulled a clean one on. He smoothed his short-cropped hair back.
I could picture him as a little kid.
"Where is your mother?" I asked.
"Philly." Conor continued his inspection.
"Are you close with her?" Something so sweet about a man who loves his mother.
"Yep." Conor didn't' elaborate.
"What is she like?" I asked.
"Mika, baby. We don't have time to get into this right now. I need to make sure you are okay and then I need to figure out what the fuck is going on and who those fuckers were that made me blow up my fucking house.”
