vittanos willow (20 page)

long and he was standing before her, the noise and the bustle of the

restaurant fading into the background. His teeth worried his lower lip

for a moment before he lifted her coat and helped her slip it on.

With his body behind hers, his strong arms around her waist,

Osten put his mouth by her ear. “I understand you are scared. I just

wish you believed as fully as I do about what’s between us. So while I

wish I could guarantee I will be around, I can see your hesitation. You

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have my numbers, Chantoya. Call me when you are ready to face your

feelings.”

Releasing enough of her so he could spin her until they were

face to face, Osten moved his hands up to cup her cheeks. “
Voglio

passare il resto della mia vita con te. Sei la mia anima gemella.”
A gentle kiss

was place on her lips before he stepped back and sent her a small smile.

“I don’t want to let you walk away from me, but I also know I can’t

force you to understand what I feel for you.”

Chantoya watched in silence as Osten took his strong body back

to his chair in an easy motion. Her eyes followed the fluid movement as

he sat down and looked up at her. His eyes held the silent question of

whether or not she was staying with him.

She blinked back the tears that had snuck up on her. What was it

about him that made it so hard to leave him? Closing her eyes briefly,

CJ opened them, glanced at Osten one last time and walked away

without looking back.

Am I doing the right thing?
CJ ran the thought through her mind

as she strode out. Regardless, she forced her feet to take her out of the

restaurant.

This was the time for her to figure out what she wanted from

life, and Osten couldn’t help her with that. However, her attraction to

him was a big problem.

Could she live and share her life with a man who held his occu-

pation? The risk, the months apart. Was she strong enough to be by his

side?

Chantoya hesitated before climbing into her brother’s SUV. Her

light gaze drifted back to the entrance of the romantic establishment.

Something about that man who still sat in there eating his dinner called

to her soul.

The tears fell from her eyes as she put the vehicle in gear and

drove away.

The assembly went off without a hitch. CJ stood near one of the

vice principals and smiled as the students left the auditorium. When the

final bell rang today, school would be out until after the New Year.

With a quick smile to Sandi Richmond, CJ walked forward and

mingled into the moving throng of high school students. She kept the

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lagging ones progressing at a decent speed back to the remaining bit of

class for the day.

Chantoya was still in high spirits as she headed from the

warmth of the school to the track. As her feet took her around the track,

her mind had her basking in the warm tropical sun of Vietnam. For that

duration of time, CJ was beyond the reaches of any fear, sadness or

anger of any past problem. She was in her happy zone and for that

reason was dangerously unaware of the dark eyes that watched her

from afar through binoculars.

CJ had just sat down at her kitchen table to enjoy a light snack

and grade some papers when a knock came at her door. Her entire body

jumped, even though she knew who was on the other side.

Grabbing one more three-cheese panetini to eat, she walked to

the door, absently clicking the pen in her hand. With ease, CJ swung

open the door and froze.

She was wrong. The person that stood on the other side of her

door was the last person in the world she would have expected to see.

Her greeting fell flat as all she could do was stare.

Marvin. Marvin Whittle stood there looking at her.

Chantoya knew her mouth was moving but there was nothing

escaping. A myriad of emotions moved through her body. As strong as

the fear was, suspicion and anger took over. “What the hell are you

doing here, Marvin?” she demanded. “And how did you find out where

I lived?”

The large man looked down at her with his dark eyes. “I needed

to talk to you.” His voice was different than what she recalled from

speaking to him at school.

A shiver of dread slithered up her spine. “No, I don’t think so.

This is highly inappropriate. I would like you to leave.”

Marvin shook his head. “No, I can’t do that.”

“I don’t really care; I have nothing to say to you.” Chantoya

shoved down her dread and faced him head-on not willing to give

away how she truly felt.

“You need to hear what I have to say,” he insisted. His strong

body stepped closer.

“Hey, Chipmunk,” Thurston’s voice broke in, bringing with it a

wave of relief. “Sorry I’m late.” The tall blond inserted himself between

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his sister and the man at her door. “And you are?” One eyebrow arched

as he questioned the man.

“Thurston,” CJ spoke his name as if he were the answer to her

prayers.

Marvin looked at the man standing before him. There was noth-

ing small about him, especially the gleam of anger in his eyes. “I work

at the school with Ms. Jackson.”

Thurston didn’t bat an eye. “And why are you here…?” he

glanced at his watch, “After ten at night?”

Marvin pursed his lips. This clearly wasn’t what he had been

expecting for this evening. Not this confrontation. He nodded his head

sharply. “I apologize for my intrusion. I will see you at school, Ms.

Jackson.” He spun around and found himself looking into two more

sets of angry eyes of men who stood there with blatant challenges

written across their faces. Another nod to them and he slipped off down

the hall and out into the night.

Marvin also didn’t notice the man sitting there watching him

leave. Had no idea that a member of SEAL Team Seventeen was observ-

ing him. And the man observing him had jumped to a conclusion he

didn’t much care for.

Osten was not entirely positive what name he would give the

raw emotions that rampaged through him. Anger, fear, rage—those

were all too mild of words for the intensity of what he felt.

The part of his brain that told him to act on his emotions and

face Marvin Whittle almost won. Somehow, the control and behavior

that had been ingrained in him courtesy of the United States Navy

prevailed.

Osten had stopped by after finishing his lonely dinner to talk to

her. He didn’t want the parting left between them as it had been. Hell,

he wanted to make sure she knew as she went off to another country

that they were a couple, an exclusive one at that. He wanted to tell her

he loved her.

As he’d pulled into the lot of her building, he remained in the

warm interior of his car and watched her three brothers go in. Deciding

not to do this with them around, he’d started to leave when Marvin

appeared. The gym teacher was obviously upset.

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Deep in his gut, Osten knew Marvin had been near CJ. Eyes

grew as hard as stone as he pictured this man terrorizing Chantoya. His

Chantoya.

A vibration at his side grabbed his attention. Muttering a curse,

Osten pulled his car door shut and looked at his beeper. After the

familiar number he saw 911 and knew he had to leave. It was Scott and

they had a mission.

Slicing his gaze back across the lot to the obviously agitated

man, Osten looked at and memorized the plate number of the vehicle

Marvin stood by. “I love you, Chantoya,” he said as he drove away.

The warm sun greeted CJ as she steeped out onto the balcony of

her hotel room. The water sparkled like it had been littered with di-

amonds. This was her last day here; tomorrow, she would be returning

to the cold wintry shores of Virginia Beach.

It had been so relaxing. She and Binh had traveled around and

visited the mission where he had lived prior to being adopted. Only at

night did she feel lonely. Osten had been the last thing she’d thought

about before sleep and the first thing when she woke. Was he safe? Was

he hurt? Was he with Abigail?

A knock at the door grabbed her attention. Walking back

through the breezy room, CJ opened the door and smiled at the atten-

dant. He had brought her breakfast. Gesturing him inside, she waited

for him to wheel the cart inside.

The young man bowed and smiled. “Enjoy,” he said in a gentle

voice.

“
Cám ón.
Thank you,” CJ responded. The man smiled again and

left. Another knock came seconds after she had placed a piece of succu-

lent fruit into her mouth. She opened the door to see her brother stand-

ing there.

Binh leaned over, kissed her on the cheek, and walked further

into the room. “I have to tell you something, Chipmunk,” he stated as

he sat down on a chair and took a slice of fruit.

Closing the door behind him, CJ swallowed her food and looked

at her handsome brother. “And what would that be?”

“I’m not going home with you.” Binh waved her down into a

seat. “I want to stay here a bit longer and—”

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Aliyah Burke

CJ noticed the flush on his cheeks. While part of her felt be-

trayed he didn’t want to return home with her, she knew it had to be a

very good reason. “No,” she interrupted him. “You don’t have to

explain yourself to me. I’ll be fine. I know I’m the baby and all of this

family, but surely I can handle sitting on a plane alone.”

Binh sent her a grateful look. “I’ll call Ajani and let him know

you are coming home alone; that way, he and Thurston can be there to

meet you.”

Chantoya noticed the way his lean fingers picked at the table.

“So, do I at least get to meet her?”

His gaze flew up to meet hers. Another flush highlighted his fea-

tures. His mouth moved but it took a while before any words slipped

out. “Well, I guess.”

CJ was well versed in observing people; and while it was ob-

vious her brother was into this person, she could easily read his hesita-

tion on her meeting whoever it was. “You guess?” She crossed her

arms. “I get the third degree from y’all anytime I have a guy over and

all I get from you is an ‘I guess’? What gives, Binh?”

Her brother ran a brown hand over his face and then through

his shiny black hair. “I just don’t want…” he dropped off.

“You don’t want me to act towards her like you have towards

men I know?” CJ asked as she ate some more mango.

Shame filled his face. “I suppose that’s it.”

There was something else but CJ wasn’t going to push it. “Hey, I

just want to meet this woman. I would never go so far as to say any-

thing to potentially harm a relationship with a friend of yours.”
Unless

she was bad for you.

“I am on my way to meet her. Would you like to come with?”

Hell, yeah!
Maintaining a demure look, CJ nodded. “I would love

to meet her.”

Binh flashed a grateful grin. “Finish your breakfast; I’ll be back

for you in a few moments.” On his way out, he snagged some fresh

apples slices.

“Okay. I’ll be ready in a few.” CJ kissed him on the cheek and

sat back down. She finished the fresh fruit and put on her sandals as she

ate a piece of coconut.

Moments later, Chantoya was walking down the street beside

her brother. She listened as he spoke Vietnamese to a few children that

ran by. He stopped at the end of the street and CJ noticed they were in

front of a hospital.

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Composing her face, CJ ignored the look she knew Binh was

sending her. She glanced up at the ragged building.
Sweet Jesus, this is

really a hospital?
It was on the other side of town from where they were

staying, and it was obvious this wasn’t a tourist area.

Binh walked up the steps and looked back at Chantoya. With an

encouraging smile, he waved her up to his side. As he opened the door,

the smell of sickness poured out.

In seconds, Chantoya was swept back in time. Back to when

they had done this as she’d grown up. Blinking back tears, CJ met and

held Binh’s gaze and saw it was filled with understanding. He took her

hand in his and squeezed. “I know,” he said. “I know.”

Together they walked inside the dank building. “This way,”

Binh spoke softly.

They entered a wide, open room at the back of the building.

There were rows of cots, not all full, but enough were. Chantoya imme-

diately zeroed in on a group of youngsters that were sitting around one

older child who was reading.

The reading boy looked up and a grin crossed his thin face.

Bounding off the stool, he ran towards her brother. “Binh!” he cried as

he leapt into his arms. “Read today?”

With a grin, Binh set him back on his feet. “I brought you a new