And I start to laugh.

  I’m free. Free, and nothing is going to stop me from taking my wife now. If I had to swim to the States, I’m coming back for her.

  10

  Russell

  Two weeks ago:

  The base general, General Rice, looks at me like I’m dead.

  …I guess that’s because I am.

  “You’re Major Kane.” He blinks, crossing his arms over his barrel chest and arching a brow at the paperwork on the desk between us.

  “You’re—”

  “Dead?”

  He smiles grimly.

  “Five years dead. Mind if I ask where you’ve been, son?”

  I nod. I’ve already been over this with the officers who checked me in when I arrived at the joint U.S./U.K. airbase, but I’m happy to go over it again.

  “A prison camp. This little hole in the desert at the foothills of the Hindu Kush mountains.”

  He swears under his breath. “Fucking hell, soldier. For the last five years? All there?”

  I nod, and he whistles, his eyes hardening.

  “You got coordinates? I’ll send a fucking drone strike in myself.”

  I smile back. “I can give you coordinates, but the drone won’t be needed.”

  General Rice raises a brow, his mouth grim.

  “Hoo-rah, Marine.”

  He shakes his head, sitting back and rubbing his jaw.

  “Well, needless to say, you’re going home.”

  I grin. “I won’t fight you there.”

  “I’m pushing the paperwork through today, personally. We’re going to get you home and get you your life back as quick as we possibly can.” He chuckles. “Coming back from the dead ain’t easy, son.”

  “I don’t imagine it is.”

  He eyes the paperwork and shakes his head again.

  “Jesus. Well, my office is yours if you want to call…” he glances at my sheet and winces. “You wife. God almighty, son. I can’t even imagine how happy she’ll be to hear your voice.”

  He stands, gesturing to his chair.

  “Take as long as you need and make whatever calls you like.”

  I stand, and when he steps around the desk, I shake his hand firmly.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Welcome back to life, Marine.”

  When he closes the door behind him, I slowly turn for the phone. I know the obvious would be to call Jules, but I can’t. Not yet. I can’t just barge into her life after whatever she’s gone through thinking I’m dead for five fucking years. I won’t do that to her with a goddamn phone call.

  I’ll do it face-to-face, where she can reach out and touch me, and know how real I am.

  I pick up the General’s phone, and instead, I dial a different number.

  …Carlos about has a fucking heart attack when he hears my voice.

  I tell him everything—Darren, what happened after the attack, were I’ve been, all of it. He’s silent for a second, but finally, I get him to spill. And that’s when I hear about Jules.

  That’s when I hear that my wife is scheduled to marry the man who left me to die.

  I almost break when he tells me, but I hold it together.

  “How much time do I have?”

  “Three days.”

  It’s more than I need.

  “You still buddies with those guys from basic who work for that mercenary outfit out here now?”

  “The Ridgewood dudes? Yeah,” Carlos says. “They’re actually at an air base not that far from you.”

  My mouth tightens.

  “You got any favors you could call in?”

  He pauses.

  “What kind of favors?”

  “I need to borrow a truck.”

  He snorts. “Shouldn’t be a problem, man.”

  “I also need to borrow a trans-Atlantic cargo plane.”

  Carlos stops laughing and whistles lowly.

  “Hold up, man. What we found….”

  “It’s safe, Carlos.”

  He swears.

  “You’re fucking kidding me. I thought for sure there was no way it hadn’t been found by now!”

  I shake my head, grinning. “Nah, it’s safe, brother. But I’m gonna need more than my backpack to get it home.”

  He snorts. “Yeah no shit.” He clears his throat. “The Ridgewood guys are cool. They won’t ask questions. But,” he grumbles. “Dude, I don’t know about the plane.”

  “Tell them I’ll pay for it. Fuck, I’ll buy the fucking thing if I have to.”

  Carlos laughs. “I’ll talk to them and make it happen.”

  He swears again.

  “Fuck it’s good to hear your voice, man.”

  I grin. “Same, brother.”

  A low growl rumbles from his end. “Fuck, man. Darren,” he hisses. “So, when do we kill the motherfucker?”

  “Let me take care of that,” I mutter back.

  “And he’s marrying Jules?”

  I squeeze my eyes shut, gripping the phone so hard I feel like it might snap.

  “No, he’s not,” I seethe. “Not while I’m still breathing. And that’s where he went wrong.”

  My jaw clenches, eyes blazing.

  “He left me breathing.”

  * * *

  Less than twelve hours later, it’s all in place. I drive the truck out to Samir’s village, and when he sees me, the guy can’t stop hugging me. And sure enough, the whole damn pile of gold is in a hidden storage room under his house.

  I tell him half of it is his.

  He objects, like I knew he would, but I insist on it. I’ve done the math over the last five years: there’s nine hundred and forty million dollars worth of gold here. More than I could spend in a lifetime. More than Carlos and I could both spend. Samir keeps telling me no, but I slowly wear him down. Eventually, I make him see that his cut could be for the whole damn village. They could send every kid there to whatever school in the world they want to. Hell, the whole damn village could move wherever they want to, out of an active war zone.

  And when I put it like that, Samir finally agrees.

  I break bread with him and his family, including the two sons I yanked out the way of that blast years before, and then I’m gone. And a few hours later, I’m loading a truck full of four-hundred-and-seventy million dollars worth of gold onto a cargo plane.

  And then, with the plan in place?

  Then it’s time to go home.

  Then it’s time to reclaim my wife.

  * * *

  Present:

  Juliana’s asleep, her eyes closed so sweetly and her lips parted so gently. It’s quiet up here at the lake, and I lay next to her in the stillness, stroking her cheek lightly.

  Now, it’s time for the rest—time for the last part of my plan to fall into place.

  It might look like I just rolled into a church, stole the bride, ran off with her, and played it by ear from there. But that ain’t it. Well, okay, that’s half correct, I guess. I did barge right in and take her, but she was mine to take anyways. But the other part? Nah, I’m not winging it. I have a plan, and it’s happening now.

  I slip my jeans on and step out of the cabin, dialing the number on my cell as I pad down to the calm shore of the lake.

  “This is Dagton.”

  It’s go time.

  “Agent Dagton? This is Russell Kane. We spoke last week?”

  “Major Kane! I assume you’re back home now?”

  I nod. “I am.”

  “Major, I can’t even imagine what your family thinks about all of this, you coming back after so long.”

  I grin as I glance back at the cabin.

  “Look, Agent Dagton, I’m ready to hand over what I have if you’re ready to move on who we spoke about.”

  I can almost hear him grin through the phone.

  “Russell, you prove you’ve got what you say you’ve got, and he’ll be in chains in ten goddamn minutes.”

  I grin widely.

  “Will a text work?”

  “It as explosive as you said?”

  I nod, my jaw tight. “Hell yes, it is.”

  See, Darren fucked up, hard. Beyond leaving me alive, he made a devil’s deal with the world’s sloppiest, carless terrorists. The guys who held me weren’t just living in huts at the base of a mountain. They had an internet connection, cameras… the works. Remember those home movies of theirs I starred in?

  Well, they made more than just ones of me with a sword at my neck.

  They made ones of meetings—like, for instance, the ones they had with Darren. The ones where he just blabs it all out. The attack on our squad base. Telling them about our security. All of it. And shit like that gets the CIA wet.

  I made a side trip back to that goddamn prison when I went to get the gold from Samir. And I got every damn bit of that evidence. I keep Agent Dagton on the line as I text him a screen shot of Darren sitting down at a meeting table with guys who are obviously Taliban. They’ve got a map open of our Marine base on the table in front of them, and Darren is shoving some cash their way, a grin on his face.

  I give it a second, and then bring the phone back to my face.

  “That come through?”

  Agent Dagton clears his throat. “Mr. Kane, you’ve done your country a great service.”

  I grin.

  “I’ll get everything I have over to you guys tomorrow.”

  “I appreciate it, Marine. Listen, if there’s anything else we can do, don’t even hesitate to—”

  “Actually, there is something.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  I glance back at the cabin, imagining my Juliana sleeping inside, and I grin.

  “There’s a cargo plane waiting at the Ridgewood Contracting air base outside Kandahar.”

  Agent Dagton clears his throat. “I’m listening.”

  “It needs clearance to fly out and land in the U.S. no questions asked.”

  He chuckles. “You sure? Cause I’ve got a few of ‘em.”

  I chuckle, and he sighs.

  “Is it carrying people?”

  “No.”

  “Heroine?”

  “Nope.”

  There’s a long pause before he sighs deeply.

  “Mr. Kane, I think I can make that happen for you.”

  My grin widens. “Appreciated. I’ll send everything I have on Darren Wallace tomorrow.”

  “Welcome home, Marine. Hey, your file says you’ve got a wife,” he pauses. “Well, had. I mean the marriage was dissolved when you were declared dead. Fuck, I’m sorry.”

  I chuckle, and then I start to laugh. Agent Dagton probably thinks I’m nuts but fuck it.

  …My plan isn’t over yet.

  “We’ll speak soon, Agent. I’m texting you the plane ID now.”

  When I hang up, I take a long, slow breath, filling my lungs with the cool, fresh night air.

  He’s not wrong. Technically, Jules isn’t my wife anymore.

  …Technically, I’m going to fix that, first thing tomorrow morning.

  11

  Juliana

  I wake up to his tongue curling over my clit.

  Good lord, a girl could get used to waking up like this.

  I moan softly, my hips rising to meet his mouth as he groans into me. But his firm hands grip me tight, pushing me back down, pinning me to the bed as his tongue works faster. His fingers tease over my skin, yet they’re still firm in their grip on me. I gasp, my thighs clenching as his tongue drags over my clit again, making me whimper in pleasure.

  “Oh fuck, Russell…”

  He just groans into me, working his tongue over my button before sliding it down to push inside of me. My eyes roll back, pleasure flooding through me as he starts to fuck me with his tongue, making me shiver in heat. Russell groans, lifting one leg up and hooking it over his muscled shoulder before he does the same to the other one. He growls lowly, pushing my knees back to my breasts and opening me wide up for his mouth as he hungrily tastes all of me.

  Fingers tease over my skin, sliding over the backs of my thighs, the crease of my ass, the lips of my pussy. He lets one finger tease lower, and when he circles it around my ass, I cry out, bucking against his mouth.

  His tongue works faster and faster, fucking in and out of me before it drags back to my clit. He sucks the little bud between his lips, adding pressure as I moan wildly. His tongue bats back and forth across my clit, swirling around it over and over until my breath is coming in gasps and my whole body starts to tense.

  Two fingers push deep inside, and when he curls them up against my front wall and sucks hard on my clit, everything comes apart.

  I scream, the sudden orgasm rippling through me as I flood his tongue with my honey and tremble against his mouth. Russell groans hungrily, his tongue swirling over me and tasting all of me before he finally slows, leaving my pussy with a small kiss on my mons.

  He pulls back before suddenly, he’s moving into me. I gasp as he eases his swollen cock against my slick, glistening wet pink pussy. He growls, his powerful hands holding the backs of my knees, pushing my legs back against my breasts as he sinks his cock deep inside of me. I moan wildly, pleasure dripping from my lips as he pulls back and then thrusts into me again. Our eyes lock, fire sparking between us as he begins to fuck me.

  Just like I want it.

  He moves with purpose, his abs rippling, his muscled hips rolling as he pumps his cock in and out of my eager pussy. My lips cling to him, sucking him back in whenever he pulls out. I can feel my walls rippling along his length, the sheer size of him taking my breath away and making me feel so fucking full in the most amazing way.

  He lets go of my legs, and I drop them to the side, curling them around his waist and yanking him into me. Our lips crush tougher, breaths mingling as we move faster, and harder. His heavy balls slap my ass with every thrust, his big cock plunging in and out of me over and over until I see white light and feel nothing but heat.

  And when I come, I come screaming into his mouth, my tongue swirling with his as he goes tumbling over with me. Russell groans, thrusting deep as my pussy comes around him. His cock thickens before suddenly, I can feel him pulsing inside of me, pumping rope after thick rope of cum deep inside.

  Our lips don’t come apart until ten minutes later, when we flop to the bed, panting, laughing, and knowing how real this is.

  I lost him once. I never will again.

  * * *

  “Come with me.”

  I glance up from where I’ve just been lounging on the couch in the living room.

  “What is it?”

  Russell grins, twirling his bike keys in one hand, the other one mysteriously behind his back.

  “We need to go somewhere.” He winks. “So, c’mon!”

  I roll my eyes. “In what?” I giggle. “You tore my only piece of clothing off of me in like three pieces.”

  “Well, there’s this.”

  He pulls the hand out from behind his back, and my eyes go wide.

  Russell grins.

  “Remember this?”

  In his hand, hanging on a hanger, is this little white sundress of mine—one I haven’t seen in years, since maybe the last time we were here. Possibly even before that.

  “Oh my God, I loved that dress!”

  He chuckles, handing it to me. “So, put it on and we’ll take off.”

  “I don’t suppose you found any panties, did you?”

  His grin turns wolfish. “If I did, believe me, I’d have made them disappear.”

  I blush, rolling my eyes. “Is not having freaking panties on going to be a problem wherever it is you’re taking me?”

  “Beautiful, you not wearing panties is never going to be a problem, as far as I’m concerned.”

  I snort a laugh, shaking my head at him as I stand and slip the dress over my head.

  “Damn,” Russell says quietly, his voice heavy and his eyes piercing into me as they drag up and down my body.

  I blush. “Still fits okay?”

  “Fuck yes,” he growls, pulling me into him and kissing me slowly. “Now let’s get out of here before I rip this one off too.”

  * * *

  We head down the small road from the turnoff to the cabin back towards the little downtown area. I press my cheek to his strong back, grinning like an idiot and holding him so tight.

  This is perfect. Him, me, up here—the bike under us, the wind in our hair? Yeah, perfection. He revs the engine, and between that and the wind blowing up my bare legs, I gasp quietly, a little thrill teasing through my core.

  God, do I love this. For five years, I was lost. I was adrift at sea, treading water and just trying to keep my head above the surface. And yet somehow, he came back. Somehow, he found his way back to me. And through whatever miracle that is, now that I’ve got my arms around him again, I’m never letting go.

  We get to the downtown area, and Russell slows the bike until we come to a stop.

  …Outside a church.

  My jaw drops as he turns off the engine, turning to grin at me.

  “Wait, are you serious right now?”

  His grin widens, his eyes burning into mine.

  “Technically, we’re not married anymore.” His eyes blaze as he takes my hands in his.

  “Holy shit, that’s right…”

  He chuckles, shaking his head sarcastically. “Damn, baby. You forget it was dissolved? Ouch.”

  I roll my eyes, slapping him playfully.

  “No, I just…”

  “You did.”

  I laugh. “With you back like this? Uh, yeah, I did. Because it sure doesn’t feel like it.”

  “Well let’s make it official then,” he says quietly.

  My brows shoot up. “Now?”

  “Right now.”

  My heart surges in my chest, and I squeal as I throw my arms around him.

  “Yes! Let’s go in right now!”

  Russell chuckles.

  “Okay, not here, here, though.”

  I frown, looking at him quizzically.

 

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