Flawlessly Executed (Dark Horse Guardians Book 3) (18 page)

“Geez, Mom! Hawk saved my life. I owe him my
life
! He stayed by my hospital bed for nearly two days. I’ll never be able to repay him.” Lara blurted.

Rusty intervened, “We’re not
criticizing
you, Lara. We understand Hawk did something phenomenal that day. And, we understand your appreciation for his act of valor. We are all thankful that Hawk arrived in the nick of time.”

Lara’s mother added, “But we think Ben misses the time together, with you, alone. We just got the feeling that Ben might be a little jealous of all the time you’re spending with Hawk.”

Lara’s eyes flashed, “And, what makes you think such a thing?”

Lillian calmly asserted, “We’ve stopped by the house when you’re not here. Ben misses you, Lara. You’re at the office all hours of the day and night. You spend more time with Hawk than you do with your husband.”

Without holding back, Lara told them about Abby sitting on Ben’s desk and the photographs on the thumb drive in his leather bag. She described the lunches in his office she’d walked in on. And, Abby’s motorcycle ride. Lara flushed red with anger as she recounted each event. Rusty and Lillian listened with rapt attention.

At the end of her frenzied account, Rusty replied, “We didn’t know all of this was happening. Why didn’t you say something?”

Lara looked down at the floor, embarrassed that she’d lost control, “I didn’t want to believe it myself. I kept hoping each time one of these incidents occurred, he’d tell Abby to shove off. But he didn’t. I saw Abby with Hawk today at Eliot Stone’s estate. She had her hands all over him in the botanical garden ~ you should have seen her!”

Dinner was a continuation of the escapades of Abby. Lara felt a strong tug upon her conscience to warn Hawk. However, Rusty and her mother talked her out of it. They thought it would be best to leave the relationship between Abby and Hawk alone. He might like her, they deliberated.

Lara went to bed that night wondering if Hawk was making love to Abby. She tried to put the thought out of her mind. She watched TV in bed and had a bowl of ice cream with Einstein sitting next to her. She leaned over and whispered in his doggy ear, “We’re breaking the rules tonight buddy. You’re sleeping in here with me and you’re going to get this ice cream bowl on the floor when I’m done with it. And, I’m going to make a phone call to Hawk.”

The canine wagged his tail and stared at the bowl until Lara finished. Then, she placed the bowl on the floor and his bull dog body plopped down. She could hear him cleaning it out and smiled. Ben never allowed such indulgences but tonight Ben wasn’t there. Einstein was a great comfort to her, especially when he was away. She tapped her cell phone and heard Hawk’s deep voice resonate, “Hawk.”

“Jeez, you sound so wide awake for
you
at this time of night.” Lara started awkwardly.

“Yeah, I have company. Can I call you back…in the morning?” He whispered.

“Sure. Call me early, okay?” Lara whispered back. “I’ve got to talk with you.” Then she hung up with the uneasy knowledge the spider had him in her web.

~ Ben ~ (Israel)

Landing at 5:15 AM, Ben was rested but hungry as hell. Moshe sent several armored vehicles to pick up the team and the ride to The Unit’s war room was forty nine minutes long. The good news was, of the sixty-five terrorists released from Bagram Prison, two of them were already dead. Someone else picked them off less than ten hours ago. In this part of the world, that wasn’t unusual. There were always acts of violence taking place. So, the game would be changed ever so slightly.

Moshe had a small army of male and female soldiers at the ready to make the incoming men comfortable. They would sleep in an underground barracks-style building. The men showered and got ready for the briefing. While the others were eating, Ben sat with Moshe and his second tier commanders. He wanted to talk privately with the men in The Unit. He had been strategizing with them on-line for many weeks and they had helped him in past missions.

The 3D presentation would be given in the war room by Ben and Moshe. In the afternoon they’d gear up and do some serious planning and execution in a simulated environment.

Although she participated in all of the pre-mission work-ups, Rashida slept in the section with the female soldiers. The women were particularly gracious to her.

Ben watched as Moshe pulled Rashida aside, “You are comfortable with this mission and with what you have to do?” God, he’s predictable, Ben thought. Their bond was so close, Ben read Moshe’s thoughts, or so it seemed.

Rashida’s answer was immediate, “Yes, I will do anything. This is a good plan. I can do it. We will go through the drill many times, but I have memorized everything. I know my enemy intimately. I can manipulate them for the time that you need.”

Ben listened as Moshe softly grilled Rashida in the corner of the room. He knew Moshe’s concerns. They were the same as his. What if something went wrong? Just one tiny thing? It was a constant nagging fear that he pushed back every time it emerged. He had to stay positive.

It was late at night when Ben finally sprawled across his bunk, took out his phone and thought about calling Lara. Since he’d installed the AMAG security system, he could actually watch Lara while she was in the house. He had cameras outside, too. Since the last incident with him away, he was taking no chances now.

He tapped in the security code and he immediately saw Lara in bed. She was sleeping and Einstein was on the bed, too. Ah ha! She was breaking the rules! He noticed an empty container of ice cream on the nightstand and a bowl on the floor next to the bed and smiled. No wonder Einstein liked her so much!

He scrolled through the photos on his phone with his thumb hovering over her phone number, but thought better of it. He didn’t want to wake her. Quietly, he turned off the light near his bunk and slipped Lara’s sweat shirt out of his duffel bag and covered his pillow with it. Nestling his face against the soft cotton he inhaled the musky vanilla scent that was Lara. He closed his eyes and fell into the deep slumber of exhaustion unaware he hadn’t removed his clothing.

~ Hawk ~

He wondered why Lara wanted to talk with him. It was unusual for her to call him at night unless it was important business. Lara seemed hesitant and had awkwardly asked him to call her in the morning and hung up.

In the background, Abby was coercing Hawk to go dancing, of all things. Hawk had no idea how to dance or where the hell they were going. Abby insisted on surprising him. She was dressed in a snug tank top that left nothing to the imagination and jeans that fit her shapely rear just right. Hawk was smiling while Abby chattered away in the bungalow. She was full of energy but he wasn’t really listening to a word she was saying.

Her smile was intoxicating. Hawk didn’t need alcohol; he was having a great time just drinking in Abby’s beauty. But she kept insisting he have a few before they went out. He struck a deal with her. Although he didn’t want to, he acquiesced to one beer, but told her he’d have it at the bar. He didn’t keep alcohol at home. Abby brought her own bottle and tucked it into the console of the Subaru. Before they got into the car she pushed him up against the door of the vehicle and kissed him.

Hawk was pleasantly surprised and every dormant hormone in his body came alive at that moment. With her arms around his waist she tilted her head and barely touched her lips to his, as if beckoning him. He pressed his lips against hers and a tingling sensation ran through him. She could kiss, that’s for sure. Her lips parted and his tongue danced with hers. Damn, it felt good to kiss a woman. He hadn’t since Ellen died and so missed the warmth of a female body against his. How many times had he imagined this?

Abby pushed him into the passenger seat without a word and closed the door. “I’m in the driver’s seat tonight, honey!” she joked. The Subaru pulled away and they drove for what seemed like an hour.

“Where are you taking me?” Hawk asked half-joking. He really didn’t have a clue.

“Don’t worry. You’ll love this place. It’s very relaxed and laid back, like you!” Abby spoke playfully.

Approaching the beach, she pulled into a parking spot. “Well, here we are!” Abby announced. Hawk got out of the vehicle. It was an amusement park type of town on the waterfront with a seven-mile stretch of sandy beach. The place was filled with tourists even though it was late in the season.

“There’s a really hot band playing at this place.” Abby tugged Hawk by the hand. He followed her like a willing puppy. He wondered how she could walk in those stiletto heels, but she seemed to manage. They found a table for two but had to stand. It was the sort of place where you got a drink and walked around or danced. No place to sit. Hawk ordered a fake beer and planned to nurse it slowly. Abby was drinking single-malt Scotch, a very expensive brand. She sucked down two shots at the table before she tugged Hawk onto the dance floor.

The music was good, but not outstanding. Hawk wasn’t even paying attention to it. He just let Abby lean against him and he felt her hot breath on his neck. It was a slow dance, she liked the song, and she pressed her feminine form against him. He no longer could mind his manners. His body was reacting to hers as nature took its course.

He tried to think of something else, like the baseball game he’d watched on television a few nights ago. But that distraction wasn’t going to work. He pulled Abby’s perfect body into his and moved his lips to her ear and lightly kissed her earlobe. Hawk heard her sigh with pleasure and all that was male in him went into overdrive.

~ Abby ~

As she slow danced with Hawk, Abby felt a shiver go through her. She was thinking of the look Lara Keegan had in the garden earlier, the look of envy and spite. Abby was dancing with Lara’s knight in shining armor and he was responding to her. Hawk’s strong arms pulled her tightly and she sensed he was aroused. No, she
knew
he was. As soon as the song ended, Abby hauled him to the table for another drink. Then the pace picked up. Abby, now tipsy, twirled around Hawk on the dance floor. Abby realized he wasn’t much of a dancer, but it didn’t matter. This was a night to have fun and Abby wanted to play with Hawk as a cat would with a mouse.

By midnight, the crowd was getting rowdy. Several men made overt passes at her, but Abby was used to that and she waved them away and scowled. She noticed Hawk wasn’t keeping up with her drinking-wise. He was still nursing the one beer, which was probably flat by now.

Hawk leaned in and his eyes sparkled with mischief, “Let’s get the hell out of here.” Those words were exactly what Abby wanted to hear. Hawk insisted on driving but Abby argued with him. But when he kissed her, she gave in and let him take the wheel. She had a bottle of water in the car and drank half of it. But she wanted one more drink of scotch and she put her lips on the bottle and slurped another ounce or two.

Hawk slid into the driver’s seat and she handed him the keys. They were off like a rocket heading back to her place. Abby knew Hawk had never met anyone like her before and she had plans for him tonight.

After cruising for fifteen minutes Abby squealed, I have to pee! Pull over here, quick, please!” Hawk pulled over on a dark wooded stretch of road as she slipped off her jeans and stepped outside. In a few seconds, she hopped back into the car and he turned the Subaru back onto the road. Abby was giggling while he drove and when he glanced at her he realized she was naked from the waist down. She could tell by his face he was a bit surprised. But Hawk kept his eyes on the road and she knew he was speechless. She thought it was sweet that he was so shy. She took his hand and placed it on her thigh.

“How about a little fun?” she whispered. She sensed he was intrigued by the look in his eyes.

~ Hawk ~

Hawk was now wondering what would happen next. This was a wild ride. He had a half-naked woman sitting next to him begging him to touch her. He put his hand on Abby’s thigh as she instructed and she tilted her head back and laughed.

“Don’t be so shy!” She giggled.

“Let’s pull over and do this.” Hawk timidly suggested, “ I can’t concentrate while we’re moving at forty miles an hour. For God’s sake, Abby.”

Abby moved her hand on top of his and guided it to the inner part of her thigh. He couldn’t stop the response his body was having. To say he was aroused would be an understatement. Hawk took a deep breath in an attempt to control his wildly beating heart, but that didn’t help matters much.

He was mesmerized by Abby and what she was doing. The vehicle was dark inside except for the light coming in from street lights or the occasional well-lit business. He allowed himself to glance down a few times and observed Abby’s perfect legs. They were long and lean and she seductively invited him, arching her back and opening her thighs.

“Come on, Hawk. Have a little fun!” She urged him to let his hand relax and she placed his clumsy hand in a warm wet spot. A shot of adrenaline surged through Hawk as he heard her exhale a hot breath of pleasure. He now had one thing on his mind and he was overcome with raw physical desire.

Hawk was thankful to pull into the driveway of the pink Victorian and wondered how he’d get her inside. Where did she put her pants? He parked her Subaru out back and just as he stepped out of the vehicle he felt an incredible sensation of pain searing through the center of his body. Starting in his back, it felt like a hot sharp object pierced through his upper abdomen with great force. It knocked him forward. A sound like a muffled firecracker preceded it. Struggling to breathe, Hawk fell to his knees. He didn’t know if he could speak, he couldn’t seem to take a breath.