Page 55 of Under Fire

She shook her head. “I was afraid they would. Just before they left me crying on the floor of the bathroom, they said I was too fat and ugly for them to rape.”

“Did you report them to the police?”

Another head shake. “I was mortified and wanted to forget the whole incident. I told my mother the bruises were from a fall at school.”

“Did they ever touch you again?”

Delilah hesitated. “No.”

“But?” Matt prompted.

“They threatened to if I told anyone. They said they’d tell everyone I begged them to touch me. It would have been their word against mine. Who wouldn’t believe the sons of wealthy, prominent citizen leaders in Harmony over me?”

“They are part of the reason you didn’t go back to Harmony after you left for college.”

“A small part. I was too busy getting my degree, finding work in candle shops, and losing weight. I made a life, Matt, a good one. I might have been a victim at eighteen.” Her chin lifted. “I’m not now and won’t ever be again.”

“Good for you, Delilah,” Trent said, his voice rough and deep.

The medic slid his hand around her nape and pulled her against him. With her face pressed to his neck, Delilah couldn’t see his reaction, but she could feel Matt’s tense muscles even as his hand cupped her back of her head. “I know that was difficult. Thank you for telling me.”

“It’s a good thing the Randolphs are already dead.” This from Liam, his voice ice cold.

“That still leaves Norris,” Simon muttered.

Matt tightened his grip around Delilah. “He’s mine.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

Rage flooded Matt. The Randolphs and Norris terrorized the woman who was his heartbeat. No man should treat a woman with disrespect. For those clods to have touched and humiliated his woman was unacceptable. The Randolphs were out of his reach. Norris wasn’t.

“Matt, no.” Delilah raised her head to look at him, distress evident. “You can’t. His father is the mayor of Harmony. The police chief is in Charles Norris’s pocket. I don’t want you in jail.”

“We know how to scare people without leaving a mark,” Simon said. “By the time Matt’s finished with Norris, he won’t forget he messed with the wrong woman.”

“We have to talk to him.” The pad of Matt’s thumb brushed over Delilah’s bottom lip. “He could be targeting you.” His mind was made up. No one hurt his Delilah and got away with it.

“Don’t expect me to bail you out of jail.”

Amusement punched a hole in Matt’s anger. “Understood.” He turned to his teammates. “Have you eaten dinner yet?”

“We wanted a sit rep first,” Trent said. “You have a suggestion?”

“The Blackwood Grill on West Main,” Delilah said. “It’s family run and serves great home-cooked meals.”

“Sold.” Simon rose. “Let’s go. I’m starving.”

Liam rolled his eyes. “When aren’t you starving?”

“You aren’t any better. Who wakes up at three in the morning to rummage through the refrigerator?”

Darkness filled Liam’s gaze despite the smile. “I’m a growing boy. I need my calories because Trent runs us into the ground every day.”

While the rest of Bravo ragged on the sniper in good-natured fun, Matt noticed the same concern in their eyes he felt himself. Something dark was eating at Liam, something haunting him deep in the night and in his dreams. They’d all been there and each of them dealt with the night demons in different ways. If Liam couldn’t find a way to exorcise those demons, Bravo would lose him, either to the darkness or an enemy’s bullet.

Delilah laid her hand on Matt’s arm. “Do you think it’s safe for us to go as well? Dad used to take me to the Blackwood Grill for my birthday every year.”

Matt glanced at the sniper. “Liam?”

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