Guarded by the Soldier Read online

  “You escaped?”

  “Yep. Told Jeff I was pregnant and bleeding. He panicked and when he turned to call his boss, I hit him over the head with a lamp and took his car keys.” There was a note of pride in her voice.

  His lips curved in a smile. “Good for you.”

  “I thought I did a good job of getting away without leaving a trail.” The confidence in her tone faded. “But I was wrong.”

  “Hey.” He reached over to take her hand. “Don’t sell yourself short. It’s not every woman who could escape former military special ops guys for six months. If it wasn’t for the paperwork I found at the used-car lot, I wouldn’t have found you. And neither would anyone from the Blake-Moore Group.”

  “I told that guy not to keep the paperwork!” She sounded angry now. “He promised he’d shred it. Claimed he knew someone who’d take the car off his hands even without the title.”

  “You should have made him shred the documents while you watched.” Ryker wasn’t sure why he was giving her advice on how to stay under the radar. She didn’t need it now that he was there to watch over her. “But it doesn’t matter now. You, Aaron and the baby are safe.”

  “For now.” He hated hearing the faint note of hopelessness in her tone.

  “For as long as I’m alive,” he swiftly corrected. “And I have friends who will help us if needed. You’ll never be alone.”

  He could feel her gaze on him, but kept his eyes on the winding road weaving through the dense foliage.

  A faint rumbling from her stomach caught his attention. “You hungry?”

  She looked embarrassed as she rubbed her belly.

  The corner of his mouth kicked up in a reluctant smile. Ryker knew he should have thought of food earlier. “There are plenty of places to get food around here. Just let me know what you’re in the mood for.”

  As the words left his mouth, they came upon a sign advertising Torra Tacos one mile ahead.

  “Maybe something less spicy,” she said. “Heartburn has been my constant companion over the past few weeks.”

  “There’s a burger joint in five miles. Will that work?”

  Her answer was another rumble coming from her stomach which made his smile widen.

  Ryker had to respect the way she’d taken everything in stride. The sign for the Cedar Rock Cabins indicated they were located about twelve miles away, so stopping for food wasn’t a problem. He thought about getting breakfast, too, something they could easily heat up for Aaron in the morning.

  He pulled up to the drive-through window and looked expectantly at Olivia. She was intently scanning the menu before placing her order for a cheeseburger and a bottle of water.

  The restaurant didn’t offer breakfast at this hour, so he settled for getting several burgers to go, knowing that having some food was better than nothing at all.

  “You’re going to eat four burgers all by yourself?”

  “No, just one. The others can be warmed up in the morning.” He paid for the food, then handed the bag to Olivia.

  Thankfully, they got a cabin, one that was located in a secluded area off the main road. Ryker was glad to have four-wheel drive as he headed up the rugged hill.

  He was relieved to find the cabin was clean and had indoor plumbing. Olivia brought the bag of food in, then went back out to get Aaron. The little boy didn’t wake up as she carried him inside.

  While she was busy, Ryker quickly ducked into the bathroom to examine his thigh wound, grateful to realize it wasn’t bad. When he emerged, he found Olivia pulling a fresh diaper from the bag. She went back and changed Aaron, before gently placing him on one of the twin beds and pulling the covers up over his pajamas.

  She was a good mother. Not like his who’d abandoned him at the age of ten. Ryker pushed the unwelcome thoughts away. He unpacked her cheeseburger and his Quarter Pounder at the kitchen table. When Olivia returned she washed her hands, then removed her large purse from her shoulder and set it on the table. Then she surprised him by crossing over to where he was seated. She stood over him and cupped her hands on either side of his face.

  The soft touch of her fingers made him go still. Her blue eyes, clear as the sea, stared into his.

  “What’s wrong?” He barely recognized his own voice.

  She stared down at him intently for a long moment before releasing him. “Nothing. I just wanted to see your eyes.”

  “My eyes?” He missed the warmth of her hands, wondering if she had something against hazel-colored eyes.

  “Yes.” She pulled a chair from the table and sat down. “I needed to see for myself.”

  “See what?” He couldn’t hide his bafflement.

  “I needed to see exactly who I am about to trust with my life, my son’s life and that of my unborn child.” She avoided his gaze now as she picked up her cheeseburger and took a bite.

  He shook his head, battling confusion. What had she seen in his eyes? He had no idea, but decided to let it go.

  Mostly because he’d liked the brush of her fingers on his skin a little too much. He had to resist the urge to touch the same spot her fingers had been.

  Idiot. Olivia wasn’t Cheri, and Aaron was hardly little Cyndi. He wasn’t going down the path of caring too much. He sternly reminded himself that his role was only to keep Olivia, her baby and Aaron safe.

  Getting emotionally and personally involved wasn’t an option.

  THREE

  Ryker’s hazel eyes were alive, full of caring, compassion and concern.

  He wasn’t the type of man her husband and brother had turned into and for that she was grateful.

  Yet it was pretty clear he was a soldier. The way he’d taken out the bad guy holding Aaron had left no doubt about that. She was touched by the fact that he hadn’t outright killed him, firing only because the other guy had. And she was especially grateful that he hadn’t been injured in the struggle.

  The cheeseburger congealed in her stomach. She took a deep breath. Those minutes inside Willa’s house had been the scariest of her entire life.

  Worse than being attacked on the street by that guy from Blake-Moore. Hearing Aaron’s cries, seeing that stranger gripping her son with that harsh look in his eyes, had been heart-wrenching. And poor Willa. Her eyes filled. Willa had never hurt anyone and hadn’t deserved to die.

  “Olivia, don’t.” Ryker reached out and lightly touched the back of her hand. “Don’t dwell on what nearly happened back there. Concentrate on your future. Reliving that fear and worry can’t be good for the baby, right?”

  His kindness only made her eyes burn with more tears as she tried to smile. “Right.”

  Ryker gestured to her meal. “Eat up. I’m sure the baby is hungry.”

  Taking another bite of her burger, she did her best to ignore the weird awareness that had come out of nowhere when she’d held Ryker’s face and looked deep into his hazel eyes.

  Ridiculous to be attracted to a man who was only trying to help her out of a dangerous situation. She was as big as an ox and would only get bigger as the baby grew. No man would be interested in someone who probably not only outweighed him but waddled when she walked.

  Besides, she wasn’t about to become involved with him. With any man, but especially not another soldier. The last few weeks of her marriage to Tim had been difficult. She’d known Tim since high school; he’d always been Colin’s best friend. Tim was a man she’d known for ten years, yet somehow her husband of five years had turned into a complete stranger.

  If that sort of personality change could happen to Tim, it could happen to anyone. She was better off alone, especially since she would have her hands full with a new baby to care for.

  These feelings stirring deep within must be gratitude toward Ryker, nothing more. Not only had he saved her life, but he’d helped rescue Aaron. Despite her earlier misgivings, she was thankful
that he’d come to find her.

  She risked another glance at him from beneath her lashes. Ryker was handsome. His chiseled features belonged on billboards selling anything that women might want to buy. Even something they didn’t want to buy, but would anyway once they saw him. Yet she still found it odd that he’d come all this way to find her and Aaron just because he’d feared they were in danger.

  Who did that? Who jumped at the chance to get involved in a perilous situation to protect strangers? She had no idea.

  It wasn’t until she finished her meal that she remembered she’d forgotten to pray. Attending church with Willa these past few weeks had been amazing, but she still wasn’t used to doing the simple things like thanking God for her food. She sent up a quick, silent, guilty prayer then crumpled up her empty wrapper and pushed to her feet.

  “I’ll take that.” Ryker plucked the garbage from her hand while pressing on her arm. “Just sit and relax, okay?”

  She sank back down into her seat, eyeing him warily. “Don’t worry, I don’t think all of this excitement will send me into early labor.”

  The flash of frank fear in his gaze was oddly reassuring. “Don’t joke about that.”

  Her smile faded and she rubbed her hands over her belly. “You’re right—it’s not a laughing matter. I want this baby to keep growing inside for as long as possible. My doctor says the baby shouldn’t come much before forty weeks.”

  Ryker scrubbed his palms over his face for a moment and she could tell the responsibility of keeping her, Aaron and the baby safe had overwhelmed him.

  She liked that he cared about her, and about the baby she carried. Her instincts told her Ryker was a man she could trust.

  Of course, she’d once felt that way about Tim and look where that had gotten her.

  She tried not to remember the way their marriage had slowly unraveled over time. Like a sweater, first the hem, then the sleeves then finally the entire garment until there was nothing left but a pile of yarn.

  “Would you like some herbal tea?” He held up a box of chamomile tea that must have been left behind by previous occupants of the cabin. “There isn’t a microwave but I can heat some water on the stove.”

  “That would be nice.” Liv knew that she’d need to sit and relax for a while before trying to sleep. She pulled her purse toward her and rummaged for the bottle of antacids she kept with her at all times. No matter how dull and bland the food was, the baby pushed up on her stomach in a way that caused endless heartburn.

  “Are you certain you don’t know why the men of the Blake-Moore Group are after you?”

  She glanced up at Ryker, who was leaning against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest. A small pan of water was heating on the stove, but he looked anything but domestic standing there. The gun on his hip and the muscles straining at his shirtsleeves made her mouth go dry.

  Stop it! She gave herself a mental shake and did her best to concentrate on what was important. “I’ve been thinking about that since I first went on the run,” she admitted. “But honestly, I can’t think of anything that would make anyone within the organization upset with me.”

  Ryker’s gaze was steady. “Have you met the owners? Harper Moore or Kevin Blake?”

  She frowned, thinking back to when Tim had first talked about his new job. He’d spoken of the two men, but had she met them? There had been a welcome-to-the-group party early on with other members of the Blake-Moore organization, and she thought maybe Kevin Blake and Harper Moore had been there. But for the life of her, she couldn’t bring either man’s face into focus.

  “About four years ago,” she admitted. “But I met a lot of guys Tim worked with back then, and I can’t say for sure who was who. I vaguely remember being introduced to the owners during the Fourth of July barbecue.”

  “Nothing more recent?” Ryker pressed.

  “No. Those gatherings didn’t last. Things changed within the first year Tim was with them. I originally thought it was because of Aaron and the fact that Tim hadn’t adjusted well to having a baby disrupting our lives. But over time, I got the sense that the camaraderie between the men had changed. At least as far as Tim was concerned. It seemed to be more competitive. He slowly became someone I could barely recognize.” She felt a little guilty for speaking poorly of her husband. Of Aaron’s and the baby’s father. She smoothed her hand over her abdomen, trying not to imagine how incredibly difficult it would be to raise two children on her own.

  If Willa was here, she’d remind Liv that she would never be alone as long as she had faith in God. She clung to the memory of the woman who’d loved her like a mother. Who’d treated Aaron like a grandmother would.

  A sense of fierceness washed over her. She wanted the men who’d killed Willa to pay for their crimes.

  Ryker set a steaming cup of tea before her and she thankfully cupped her hands around it, savoring the warmth.

  “It just doesn’t make sense.” She shook her head, feeling helpless. “I’ve tried to think of what could have happened to cause Tim’s bosses to come after me, but I can’t think of anything.”

  “It’s okay.” Ryker offered a lopsided smile. “I don’t want you to stress about it. For now, all that matters is that you and Aaron are safe.”

  She took a sip of her tea, enjoying the calming scent. “Thanks to you, Ryker.”

  A shadow crossed his features. “No reason to thank me,” he said in a low voice. “I should have acted sooner.”

  She tipped her head, regarding him thoughtfully. “You were the one who told me not to dwell on what happened back there, but to focus on the future. Maybe you should consider taking your own advice.”

  A ghost of a smile flitted across his features. “Maybe.”

  Liv finished the rest of her tea and set the mug aside. “Thanks again, Ryker. For everything.”

  This time he accepted her gratitude. He tipped his head in a nod. “Get some rest. We’ll likely have to find a new place to stay in the morning.”

  The idea of leaving so soon bothered her, but she didn’t argue. Pushing up from her seat, she winced at the sore muscles in her legs. Running was not a normal activity for her these days. She carried her mug to the sink then turned and glanced back over her shoulder.

  “Good night.”

  “Good night, Olivia.”

  She used the bathroom first, chewed another antacid, then slipped silently into the room she shared with Aaron.

  A wave of exhaustion hit hard. Moments before she fell asleep, she found herself secretly wishing that Tim could have been half the man Ryker seemed to be.

  * * *

  Ryker waited until Olivia was safely tucked in with her son before heading into the bathroom to further tend to his wound. He was glad that his black jeans had hidden the oozing blood.

  The gash was long and jagged, but superficial. He cleaned the wound and, since there were no bandages in the medicine cabinet, ended up wrapping a clean towel around his thigh. Then he washed the blood from his jeans.

  In his room, he laid the jeans out near a window, hoping they’d dry by morning.

  He stretched out on the bed, but knew sleep wouldn’t come easily. As a soldier he’d learned to fall asleep in two minutes or less, but that was easier to do when you only had to worry about yourself and when your team consisted of capable soldiers.

  Knowing that there were three lives in the other room depending on him was enough to have him staring wide-eyed at the ceiling, his heart thudding heavily in his chest.

  He really didn’t want Olivia to go into premature labor. The best way to do that was to stay three steps ahead of the Blake-Moore Group.

  Duncan O’Hare would help, as would any of the Callahans. Mike, Marc, Mitch, Matthew and Miles Callahan were all brothers, and their sister Maddy was married to Noah, who was also a cop. One of them should be able to help. Hawk, too, if he
wasn’t on vacation. Ryker decided he’d call Duncan and Mike Callahan once they’d moved to a new location.

  Feeling better about his plan, he tried to relax, yet thoughts whirled through his head. It was strange that Olivia had no idea why the Blake-Moore mercenaries had come after her. But he found himself believing her when she claimed to be in the dark.

  He’d helped Hawk and the Feds arrest Todd Hayes, the former secretary of defense, for selling illegal guns to the enemy in Afghanistan. Hayes had hired the Blake-Moore Group, specifically Colin Yonkers and Tim Habush, to find and kill Hawk because he’d seen too much and because they’d both been involved in the gun selling.

  With Hayes being held in a federal prison, it didn’t make sense that the Blake-Moore Group was still intact, much less that they’d come after Olivia.

  Somehow, he managed to sleep, because the next thing he knew, bright sunlight was streaming in through the window. His wound was still raw and prone to bleeding, but he tossed the towel on the floor and pulled on his still damp jeans. When there was time and everyone was safe, he’d find a place to get bandages.

  He stared dubiously at the cold burgers he’d purchased sitting on a shelf in the otherwise empty fridge. Without a microwave, they would taste awful. He decided to head to the closest restaurant that served breakfast instead.

  Aaron would be hungry, and so would Olivia.

  There was a coffeepot and just enough grounds left in a small can to make a half of a carafe, so he made coffee, then went outside to his SUV to get his laptop. No reason he couldn’t start working while he waited for Olivia and Aaron to get up.