The Midnight Hour (34 page)

"Drop it, Cross!" she barked. The man gasped and whirled around, which gave Drake the advantage he needed, even with Cross's size. But Drake's earlier assumption about die man was right. He was in good physical shape and he also had a score he intended to settle. Although Drake did a quick maneuver and tried knocking me gun from Cross's hand and overtaking him, Cross held the gun tightly, jerked his body out of Drake's reach and with amazing speed, shifted his aim of the gun from Drake to Tori.

"Back off, Warren, or she dies!" he screamed as he scuttled farther away from Drake. "At this point I have nothing to lose, so go over mere and join her or I'll blow her brains out now," he snarled. It was a standoff. Tori had her gun aimed for Cross and Cross had his gun aimed for her. "Don't do what he asks, Drake. Don't do it!" Drake stilled, his gaze on die scene before him. Deciding not to take any chances, refusing to put the woman he loved and die child she carried at risk, Drake slowly eased over to stand beside Tori.

"You bitch!" Cross screamed at Tori, almost beside himself in anger. "You were supposed to die in that explosion! I had planned it perfectly. You were supposed to die and now you will!"

He lifted his gun higher, aiming it straight for Tori's head. "Sandy Carroll, get ready to meet your maker."

Drake and Tori both noticed the movement in tile woods out of the corners of their eyes and then, just seconds before Cross was about to pull the trigger, a shot rang out, hitting the man, the impact jabbing him full force and knocking his body sideways-but not before he raised his gun and tried taking another aim at Tori. Drake pushed Tori out the way at the same time another shot rang out, and then another. Blood gushed from the wound in Cross's chest and he stared over at Drake and Tori, looking at them in dazed disbelief before finally closing his eyes and slumping backward.

Hawk, Ashton, and Trevor stepped from behind a group of trees. Hawk was the one holding the still-smoking gun and the expression on his face was one of sheer satisfaction.

After approaching Cross to make sure the man would never be a bother to anyone again, Hawk turned and faced his two former agents. He shrugged when he saw them staring at him, speechless. "I thought the least I could do was join the fight, not as a law enforcement official, but as a friend."

Suddenly, in the distance, the sound of helicopters and the screeching of car tires caught everyone's attention. Hawk smiled faintly as he glanced over at Drake. "I also decided to take you up on your offer and come pick up the remains."

It was over an hour later before they got back to the house. Not only did the CIA arrive, but also the FBI and the DEA. Questions were asked and Tori, Drake, Ashton, and Trevor didn't have any problems letting Hawk provide all the answers.

And it had really helped matters that the ASI, in a surprising move-probably from feeling the heat of the South American government-had contacted the Justice Department earlier that day, denouncing its ties with Cross and claiming that Cross's personal vendetta against the two CIA operatives had not been sanctioned by them and there would not be any further attempts on their lives.

Trevor and Ashton took Hawk up on his offer to personally fly them back to Houston in his private plane. It was by the time everyone had left Warren Mountain. Tori held her breath as the last car drove off, leaving her and Drake alone. She knew they needed to talk but she wanted to take a shower first. She felt sweaty and dirty.

As soon as the door closed behind Drake, he turned and tried pulling her into his arms.

"Wait!" she said, pulling back from him. "I need to shower first, then we need to talk."

Drake's brow raised considerably when he sensed her nervousness. "All right," he said, taking a step back. 'Talking isn't a bad idea since I'm dying to know how the hell you got of the basement."

He then reached out and lifted her chin with his finger. "Then after we talk, I'd like to pay our baby another visit." Tori's heart fluttered with the feel of Drake touching her as well as the look of love and desire in his eyes. "Can I ask you a question?"

He smiled. "Sure, ask me anything." "When there was a standoff between me and Cross and he ordered you to come stand next to me, why did you? Why didn't you take the chance and blow him away? You could have."

Drake shook his head. "No, I couldn't. He had a gun pointed at your head, Tori, and there was no way I was going to take a chance and risk losing you."

She looked up at him, confused. "But you take risks all the time, Drake. That's all you've done over the past five years is take risks."

He grimaced ruefully, knowing her words were true.

"Yes, but when it came to you and our child, I couldn't do it. I couldn't risk losing the two people that I love more than life itself. And because I love you, I don't want to take unnecessary risks with my life either. I want to be around to see our son or daughter grow up. I want to have other babies and watch them grow up here on our mountain, healthy, God-fearing, and strong." He smiled. "And all future marines."

Tori grinned. "Yes, future marines."

He looked down at her. "But speaking of risks, Tori, I haven't been the only person who's taken risks over the past five years. You nearly risked everything by coming to see me that night at the hospital. And later, when I needed you, you took a risk by opening your arms to me, taking my seed into your womb and binding us in the most primitive way." He lifted her chin to meet his gaze. "And let's not forget the risk you took by leaving that basement when I had locked you in it."

He leaned down and kissed her lips. "A woman's love for her man. I can't think of anything as powerful."

She smiled through the tears in her eyes. "And a man's love for his woman. I don't know of anything as compelling," she whispered.

He drew a deep breath, wanting her to know that he loved her. He had loved her as Sandy and now he loved her as Tori. And he needed to let her know how he felt, but first things first. "Come on, let's go take a shower."

When they got to the bathroom, he quickly removed their clothes and when he picked her up and placed her in the shower with him, under the warm, heated blast of water, he knew that more than dirt and grime were being washed from his body. His soul was also being cleansed. He was removing five years of pain and suffering, five years of not giving a damn and of taking risks no mortal man would take.

That part of his life was over. Now he had a lot to live for-Tori and their child. He pulled her into his arms and Kissed her, needing to hold her while his soul became cleansed.

Moments later he picked her up and carried her out of the shower and began toweling her dry. Their gazes connected and she clung to his gaze as he crouched down and dried off her legs and her feet. When he stood back up, he whispered, tenderly, "I love you."

His three words, spoken in a heartfelt whisper, touched her, emotionally drawing her in. "And it doesn't matter to me if you're Sandy or Tori. What matters more than anything is that you're back in my life."

He inhaled deeply before continuing. "I am filled with so many imperfections that I can't name them all, yet someone up there looked beyond my faults and saw my needs, and knew I needed you. I have been given the most perfect gift and I will cherish it always. I will love you, honor you, and protect you. And I pledge to make you happy and live each and every day as if it were our last; enjoy every single moment and give thanks for every second. I love you, Tori, with all my heart and with all my soul."

Tears clouded Tori's eyes. "Oh, Drake, and I love you." He wiped the tears from her cheeks with his fingers. "We've been through some rough times sweetheart; five years' worth," he said, his voice deep with his emotions. "But it's all behind us now. We'll look to the future and will tackle any problems that come our way. Together. I think anyone would agree that we're a good team."

She gave him a trembly smile and nodded. "Yes, the best."

And then he kissed her long and intimately hard in a way that intended to touch her the same way he was touched. And when he picked her up into his arms, she knew that

everything would be all right. She had to concede that there were some risks that were worth taking.

They had gone through the storm together and there would be sunny days ahead. And when the rains came again they would find shelter in each other's arms and be protected by the love in their hearts.

They had solid history on their side. They also had time. Starting tonight, they would embark on a new beginning, one stronger, with deeper meaning and more powerful because of what they had endured.

"I want you in my life, Tori," Drake whispered. "Now. Tonight. Always. I love you and have always loved you. My life won't be complete until you agree to marry me. There's no way we can recapture the past but we can build a future. Together."

He took her lips hungrily again as he shifted her into his arms to open the door. Once they got to his bedroom, there were no words needed as he dropped the towels covering them.

"Do you still want to pay our baby a visit?" she asked as her arms wrapped around his neck, savoring the feel of him touching her everywhere.

"Always," he whispered, bending his head to take her mouth hungrily.

Drake's senses soared, they flew high, and a guttural sound was released from his throat as he gently placed her on the bed. This is what he had always wanted and desired but thought he would never have.

Peace.

His tongue made a path around her breasts, latching onto one nipple and then another, drawing moans after moans from her. She was his, had always been his and would always be his.

He took his time to enjoy the sight and taste of her, to send heat sizzling through both of their bodies. The driving ache to bury himself inside of her was unbearable.

"Please, Drake."

She had begun begging for release from her sensual torment and he knew he would give her anything and everything that she wanted. He eased between her thighs and as he entered her with a single, hard thrust, he knew what it felt like to be high on the mountains, walking on clouds.

His movements quickened and he looked down at her. Their gazes connected. Held. And when he breathed in the sensual scent that clouded the room, he went up in flames and carried her with him. Shudders racked his body and went all the way through to hers, forcing a scream from her throat.

Moments later he collapsed on top of her, and then switched positions to pull her into his arms. He was still buried inside of her and wanted to stay that way forever. But it didn't take long before he felt himself get hard again and thought his desire for this woman was almost too much.

He appreciated every thing about her; including every single strand of hair on her head. "Tori."

Her only response was an exhausting moan that sounded sensual to his ears and made him even more aroused. And as he proceeded to mate with her again, he knew all his good fortune was a miracle; a special gift that could have only come from God.

And it had come to him, signed, sealed and delivered at…

Tori glanced out of the window. It seemed that everyone was present for her and Drake's wedding and more people were arriving on Warren Mountains.

Over the past two months she had gotten to know all of Drake's new friends; the Madaris family; the Garwoods; and she had almost melted in a heap at Drake's feet when she had been introduced to Hollywood actor Sterling Hamilton, and his beautiful wife Colby.

Then there had been Trask Maxwell's wife, Felicia. Tori had also gotten to know Sterling's brother, Nicholas Chenault, and his wife, Shayla, and had renewed her acquaintance with Trevor's parents and his sister Gina, and had met Gina's husband Mitch as well as their newborn son Cameron.

She couldn't help but be in awe at the number of babies everyone had. Drake's friends either had babies or were having babies, and she felt right at home being included in that number.

"I hope you aren't getting nervous, Tori. Just consider everyone as family."

She turned from the window to smile at the two women in the room, Trevor's wife Corinthians and Ashton's wife Nettie. They had been wonderful and she enjoyed building

a special relationship with them. They were exactly what she'd needed after having denied herself friendships with anyone over the past five years.

Everyone who had known of Sandy Carroll's death was thrilled to find out that she was alive. Hawk had told her that, with Solomon Cross eliminated, there was no reason she could not go back to being Sandy Carroll if mat's what she wanted. But she and Drake had decided it would make things easier if they let Sandy Carroll remain at rest and everyone would continue to think of her as Tori.

"No, I'm not getting nervous, but I am rather anxious," she answered, smiling. She glanced down at the short gown she wore and thought it was beautiful. Even with the style of her dress, it was plain to see that she was pregnant. But she didn't mind who knew. She was marrying the man she loved and was having his baby and at the moment she couldn't be happier.

"I've heard from Ashton that Drake is rather anxious, too," Nettie Sinclair said, smiling. "I have a feeling if you weren't already pregnant then you would definitely get pregnant tonight."

The three women laughed and Tori glanced back out the window when another car pulled up. She watched as a beautiful young woman with a mass of reddish brown hair that" flowed wildly across her shoulders and down her back, got out of a beautiful silver-gray Nissan 350Z. "Who's that?"

Corinthians and Nettie joined her at the window. "Oh, that's Christy Madaris, the youngest of the Madaris siblings," Corinthians said, smiling. "She just graduated from Howard University and that car was a gift from her brothers. I guess she decided to put it on the road and drive here from Houston instead of flying."