Agent S5: Jaydan (17 page)

Grabbing Jaydan’s arm, she looked for some kind of call button on his armband,
something
, to reach Mitchell.

Her hands shook as she pressed a finger to the touch screen. “
Mitchell
.”

Nothing happened.

Glancing up, Hope watched Riordan rush back into the room after taking Cyrus down the hall.  “
Mitchell
.” He squatted down beside her.

“Saint. What’s the status on Rose?  He’s off the charts.”

Riordan looked at her, his eyes sad. “He’s f’d up. His microchip is toast. The last carbs he ate didn’t work.”

“Jacobs and Monroe, I need you there ten minutes ago.”

“Roger that,” one of them said. “I’m headed your way, Monroe.”

“Roger that.”

Mitchell’s voice held a strong note of worry.  “Saint, is Hope with you?”

Riordan hugged her against his side. “Yes. She’s okay.”

“Tell her to keep talking to him. We need her to keep him alive.”

Grabbing Jaydan’s cold hand, she squeezed it, trying to infuse some warmth. He’d always been the one to take care of her. How did she save him now?

Kissing him on the lips, she brushed away clumps of hair from his forehead. “Rose, talk to me.”

He lay deathly still, his fingers limp in her hand.

“The damned idiot wouldn’t stop until he reached you.” Riordan’s soft voice made her sob.

“Dammit, Rose.” She sniffed back tears. “We had this conversation. You knew you couldn’t push yourself too far or you’d…” Laying her head against his chest again, sobs wracked her body. “Please Jaydan, don’t leave me.”

A bright light flashed in the room, followed by a green fog. Two men standing back-to-back appeared before her eyes. She could do nothing but gape.

“Move back, Sis.” Riordan helped her stand.

The dark-haired man helped the other roll Jaydan onto his stomach. The redhead wore some kind of gloves on his hands, his fingers wrapped in hundreds of metal ringlets.

Finding the microchip under Jaydan’s hair, he nodded to the dark-haired man who held down Jaydan. The redhead pressed a gloved finger to a port on the chip. A sharp zap shimmied through her as Jaydan jolted once - but didn’t wake.

The agent’s worried gaze went to Riordan, then her.

“Try it again.” Hope’s voice came out a harsh demand.

Pressing his finger to the port, the agent sent a thunderbolt of electricity to the chip, the zap lasting longer this time. Jaydan’s body quaked with spasms. Both agents held him down until the tremors gradually lessened.

Jaydan’s muscles hardened before her eyes, the body beneath the wetsuit transforming to sharp angles. Muffled curse words broadcasted against the tile in the otherwise silent room.

The tears began anew as her heart soared in elation.

Riordan grinned at the redhead. “Monroe, tell him to get his ass up off the floor.”

“Hell, do you see the size of his muscles?” Monroe pointed at the dark-haired agent. “Jacobs should do it. He can teleport. I can’t run fast enough.”

The three men laughed aloud while Jaydan moaned on the floor in pain.
The jerks
.

Dropping to her knees by Jaydan’s head, Hope ran her fingers through his hair.

“Don’t move, Jaydan. Just rest, okay?”

Grabbing her leg, he pulled her down beside him, her face inches from his. “Tell those three assholes to get the hell out of here. I know what will make me feel better and I don’t want an audience.”

Hope sat at the bar in the neighborhood pub, staring out the front window. She’d arranged this engagement party for Riordan and Natalie but she really wasn’t in the partying mood.

She hadn’t seen Jaydan in over a week. His absence made her feel incomplete, like she floated in limbo, waiting for him to fill her life again.

When she talked with Mitchell about her new position as D.I.R.E. liaison, he’d assured her Jaydan was doing fine. After they replaced the microchip at the back of his head, Jaydan was ordered to rest for several days. He’d pushed his body well beyond human capabilities, infuriating Mitchell. He asked her to give Jaydan a reprieve so he could concentrate on re-cooperating.

Now she was the one that felt beat up.

She smiled at Keegan across the room, talking to Riordan. For a woman that had always strived for her own purpose, Hope knew her thinking was awfully pathetic. Allowing Jaydan Rose to
become
her purpose probably ranked her right up there with online suppliers of imaginary friends.

“I just thought I’d make it known that if your redneck ditches you, I’m completely available.”

Dylan McCall leaned both elbows back against the bar, blue eyes shining in his handsome face. If she weren’t insanely in love with her redneck, she’d take him up on his offer.

Holding up a hand, she laughed. “I consider myself notified. Although, I’m not so sure I’d want to get involved with another D.I.R.E. agent.”

The Marine grinned with pride. “Then you’re out of luck. I’m all in with Mitchell. Especially after he cleared my record and arranged an early discharge from duty. After I visit my family next week, I head back to HQ for pre-enhancement training. Your brother’s going to work with me.” His voice took a serious turn. “I think we have some kind of
bond
after going through Altay. I really admire him.”

Placing a hand on his arm, Hope spoke with all sincerity. “You’re going to be a great asset to D.I.R.E. We couldn’t have rescued Keegan with you.”

Natalie signaled her to come over to their group. Excusing herself from Dylan, she walked over to the table where Dan Meeks sat with his daughters. Keegan had her arm looped through her father’s elbow, Natalie between her and Riordan. Taking the seat beside Dan, Hope still felt a mild animosity with him after he planted an imposter posing as Riordan at Powers International.

“The three of us girls need to do some wedding shopping,” Natalie’s voice sounded high with excitement.

Kissing Natalie on the mouth, Riordan stood up. “Time to go.”

She smiled up at him. “This is our engagement party. I think you’re supposed to talk about the wedding.”

Raising her hand to his lips, Riordan said, “No,
you’re
supposed to talk about the wedding. I’m supposed to keep the men entertained.”

The bell above the door jingled. Tristan Jacobs, Aidan Monroe, Dar Naylor and their fiancées walked in, Mitchell and his wife, Angela, behind them. If they had all managed to get away, where was Jaydan?

“Saved by the bell.” Riordan sauntered over to his boss and shook hands.

“Where’s Luke, Hope?” Natalie frowned at her. “I’m surprised he isn’t here yet.”

Hope stared out the front glass again. Yes, both he and Jaydan were suspiciously late. It wasn’t like her father to miss something like this. He loved Riordan too much.

Pulling out her phone, she opened the DNA tracker. With her father under favorites, she pulled up his location quickly. Frowning at the screen, it showed him at the pub.

Glancing around, she spotted him outside on the walk, talking with Jaydan.

A deep breath escaped her, a smile blossoming on her face. She’d forgotten how handsome Jaydan was, with his dark good looks and incredible build. His hair had grown even longer in the days apart, his backside in jeans still the best thing since peach smoothies.

What bothered her was the conversation. Both men stood with their arms crossed over their chests, their brows drawn. Whatever they talked about, worry and antagonism laced it.

On the way in from the island, Booker had told her about her father’s phone call to Jaydan. Fuming, she’d taken it upon herself to set her father and his misaligned temper, straight. Jaydan had nearly made the ultimate sacrifice for her.

So, why wasn’t he anxious to see her?

Frustration drove her from her seat. If he hadn’t missed her as much as she’d missed him, maybe he didn’t love her like she loved him.

The thought nearly buckled her knees.

Grasping the back of a nearby chair, she stopped in her tracks when he stepped through the door. His anxious gaze met hers across the room.

Swallowing hard, her queasy stomach told her it couldn’t be good. After a week away, if he didn’t want to run across the room and sweep her into his arms, he didn’t love her.

Doing an about face, she walked over to the bar and ordered a cosmopolitan. She wouldn’t cry here and ruin Riordan and Natalie’s party. She’d act like it didn’t hurt, that seeing him didn’t mean as much to her as she’d told herself over the last several days.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Her father placed a hand on her back, his voice tired and worn. “We finally got into Dad’s files tonight.”

Hope whipped around. Deep lines of grief streaked her father’s face, his blue eyes ringed with dark circles.

“Well?”

He slid into the chair beside her. “It’s all true. Every freaking word that Cyrus told you.” He held his forehead in the heel of both hands. “God Hope, everything has been a lie. Everything. Annie, Riordan, Kim, Cyrus, Dad…” He shook his head. “We’ll go over it all later. I don’t want to put a damper on the party. I just… feel like such an idiot. I thought I was one of the most successful men in the world but I’ve just been a pawn in Dad’s schemes.”

The tears she’d held in check for Jaydan, built in her eyes. She’d never seen her father so downtrodden. He looked like he’d taken a beating from Jaydan.

Rubbing his back, she stared at her wrist where she once wore her mother’s bracelets. Though she couldn’t bear to part with them, she also couldn’t bear to get rid of them.

“You
are
one of the most successful men in the world, despite what Granddad did to you. I’d say you’re quite a success.”

He spoke as if she hadn’t said a word. “He loved your damned mother and never said a word.”

Hope had no response to that. After they learned he’d paid Naylor to send away Riordan, neither of them should be surprised at Seth Powers’ actions.

The bartender set a drink in front of Luke. He poured it back in one swallow. Riordan appeared between them, his troubled gaze connecting with Hope’s. She told him what Luke had found.

“All the more reason to value family.” Riordan held out his hand to Luke. “Let’s enjoy tonight. We’ll deal with this tomorrow after we interrogate Cyrus, okay?”

Hope wondered how Cyrus was managing in the imperfect world behind bars…  

Luke accepted Riordan’s hand before pulling him into a brief embrace. Hope smiled at their rare affection, her eyes seeking out Jaydan.

He stood on the adjacent side of the bar, staring at her. Taking a drink of his beer, he left it on the counter and headed over to her. He stopped by her chair, his chocolate eyes intense and somber. Gazing at her a long moment, he didn’t speak or move.

Her heart pounded against her ribs, his nearness springing her body to life in a masterpiece of awareness. Clenching her fists in her lap, gooseflesh sprouted on her skin, her need to touch him, overwhelming. His familiar scent enveloped her in a sense of security, his silence…

So unlike him.

He clutched her face in both hands. A shower of tingles rained along her spine. Pressing his lips to hers, he kissed with longing and restlessness, his mouth hungry.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she clung to him, pouring all of the loneliness of the last week into her embrace.

Taunts and whistles pierced the air, bringing back memories of their dance in Texas.

Her father’s voice intruded into her slice of heaven. “Rose, I told you to give me time to get used to the idea.”

Jaydan pulled away to smile down into her eyes. “Sorry, sir. I couldn’t contain myself.”

Straightening in his chair, Luke held up a hand. “I don’t need to hear that, either.”

She glanced back and forth between her father and Jaydan. “You two discussed me while I wasn’t around?”

Riordan turned away with a grin. “Oh, hell. Here we go…”

Slapping Jaydan on the back, Luke climbed down from the barstool. “She’s all yours.”

Watching her family skitter away like roaches, she turned back to Jaydan.  His voice came out just above a whisper.

“I missed you.”

“Nice try, Rose. Don’t think you can distract me from my question.”

Planting his hands against the bar on either side of her, he pinned her on the stool and nuzzled the hair behind her ear. “Bet I can.”

Laughing aloud, she knew better. He
would
make her forget all about it,
and
the people in the room.

He’d already started.

His lips brushed against her ear. “I love you, Hope.”

Shock stilled her on the seat. Shoving him away, she searched his somber eyes, uncertainty reigning in their black depths.

He said, “This week away from you has been pure hell. And, to walk in here and have you turn away from me like that, just about killed me.”

Her mouth fell open, joy spreading inside her like a warm fire.

“Oh, so me suffering like that, makes you smile?” he said.  “You take joy in the fact that I have it so bad for you I can’t function?”

Throwing her arms around his neck, she kissed him hard on the mouth. “Well, yeah. I kinda like having the strongest man in the world wrapped around my finger.”

His hands rested at her waist, his smile arrogant and so smoking hot, she wanted to drag him behind the bar and take care of business.

She said, “When you walked in, I expected you to be happy. Instead, you looked so nervous, I knew the past week had given you time to realize you didn’t love me.”

He shook his head with adamancy.  “No, the past week made me realize that I didn’t want to be away from you like that again. So, I went to your father and explained what had happened in Texas because I didn’t want that to stand between us once I asked you to marry me.”

She gasped aloud, her heart soaring. “What?”

Reaching into his front jeans pocket, he pulled out a box. Opening it, he took the ring from the slot and held it up between them.

Swallowing hard, he spoke in a soft voice. “I thought you might be over diamonds, so I opted for an emerald.”

The large, square stone sparkled in the overhead light, the band a twisted vine of white gold leaves. It had to be the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen. From the most beautiful man she’d ever met.

She sat there, waiting for him to propose. He stared at her expectantly. When several seconds passed, she couldn’t hold her tongue any longer.

“Are you going to ask me?”

He shook his head once. “Not until you tell me you love me.”

She straightened on her stool.  “What? Is that a prerequisite, or something? You know I love you.”

He shook his head again. “No, I don’t. You’ve never told me. And, I refuse to ask a woman to marry me unless I’m absolutely certain she loves me.”

She couldn’t keep the grin from her face. “Really? So, let me think about this. You’ve told me you love me. You bought a ring, but won’t ask me to marry you until I say I love you. What if I don’t? What happens then?” Wrapping her arms around his waist, she said, “Can I just string you along and keep you around for sex, without ever saying the L word?”

“Oh, hell yeah.”

Laughing, she smoothed her hands up his back. “You make me happy, Jaydan Jonathan Rose. I love you.”

A brilliant smile flashed on his handsome face. “Marry me, princess.”

“
Yes
.” 

Hands shaking, he placed the ring on her finger. They shared another smile before he gave her a sweet kiss – and let out a rebel yell.

She laughed aloud.  “You’re such a redneck, Rose.”

***

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