Page 8 of Reclaiming Izabel

I spentdays in solitary confinement. A room with no windows and one light bulb. A room used for captured hostiles. No way to tell time. The bastards had taken my watch. I slept on a mattress with no bed frame. There was a toilet and a sink in one corner. Food and water were shoved through an opening in the door. I hadn’t fully healed from my injuries, and missing my physical therapy sessions made me hurt like a motherfucker. I massaged my right leg where a muscle spasmed.

I regained consciousness and found myself locked in a room, but I was lucid enough not to cause myself further injury. All I could do was roar and curse. There was an overwhelming urge to hit the wall with my fists, but I had just overcome the tremor in my right hand. If I re-injured it, I could kiss shooting straight goodbye. Endless hours and days passed. In the beginning, I seethed with impotence. But through the war waging inside me, I finally saw clarity by remembering one of the best moments of my life.

The Nor’easter dumpedtwo feet of snow in Ithaca, New York, but even mother nature couldn’t stop a determined SEAL. Commercial flights were already grounded, but I got into thecity before the worst of the weather hit, hitching a ride with one of my friends who worked for the National Guard. Air travel by Black Hawk was nothing new.

I was holed up in Izabel’s tiny studio apartment, the wide windows set against exposed brick walls served as a front-row seat to the winter tempest. The wind howled balefully, and the radiator struggled to keep the dwelling warm, but there was no place I would rather be.

Stirring cocoa into a mug of steaming milk, I walked over to the dining table where Izabel was studying for an exam. She was in the final year of her architectural degree. The last thing she needed was distraction from a boyfriend, but I couldn’t help myself.

She needed to be mine.

Izabel glanced up distractedly when I laid down the hot cocoa beside her. Books, notepads, and crumpled paper covered every inch of the surface. She wore her fleece robe over her flannel pajamas, her nose red from the constant sniffles as her body attempted to stay warm.

“Thanks.” She smiled before burying her nose back into her textbook.

“That’s the least I can do.” I sat in the chair beside her, grabbed her hand that wasn’t holding a pen, and rubbed it between my palms to help circulation. “Since you don’t want me to keep you warm in bed.”

Izabel’s soft laugh made my chest contract. “I told you not to come up this weekend because I was going to be busy.”

“Nothing was keeping me away.”

“I see that.” She put down her pen and surrendered her other hand to my ministrations. “Oh my God, that feels so good,” she groaned as I massaged her hands between mine. With her eyes closed, I wanted to pepper kisses all over her face.

Staring at her unusual beauty was a habit I never grew tired of, but more than her physical attributes, it was her inner strength and determination that drew me into her orbit. A heady combination of fire and sass and a whole lotta sweet.

Izabel had stolen my heart and I didn’t want it back.

“Iza.” My voice was gruff.

Her eyes fluttered open—mesmerizing caramel irises that made words stick in my throat. When a crease formed between her brows, I found my voice and spoke, all words from a prepared speech forgotten.

“Mother nature ruined my plans,” I led in. “I’d planned to take you out to a romantic dinner.” I glanced outside and grinned ruefully. “That’s not happening anytime soon.”

Her lips parted and trembled slightly.

“But I couldn’t wait, Iza.” Not letting go of her hands, I knelt in front of her. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears and she held back the sob that rose to her throat when she realized what I was about to do. “Every time I’m away from you it’s as if I’m missing a limb. I can’t leave for another mission without worrying someone is going to steal you away from me.” At her confused gasp, I added, “I’m an insecure son of a bitch when it comes to you. Can’t help it, don’t wanna help it, deal with it.”

At her annoyed huff, I sighed. “Before I mess this up further.” I reached into my pocket and held the ring I’d purchased weeks ago.

“Marry me.” Tears spilled down her cheeks and my own heart expanded to the point of exploding. “I’m soul-deep in love with you. I never understood what that meant until you. So marry me, Iza. Make me the happiest damned bastard on the planet.”

That memory waslike a faded photograph, but I never forgot the feeling of the day she saidyes. I’d never experience that level of happiness with Izabel again until I hunted down the murderers of Fire Team. I loved her with my entire soul, but the core that held my spirit lay in ruins at my feet like the jagged pieces of rocks that buried my brothers.

An eerie calm settled over me as I regained perspective of what needed to be done.

I didn’t knowhow much time had passed when Viktor walked in. I sat up and scowled at the older man. Viktor grabbed the lone chair in the room, flipped it so the back rest was facing me before straddling the seat.

“How are you feeling, Lieutenant?”

“What do you think?”

“I apologize for your accommodations.”

“When are you letting me out?”

“Are you still planning on leaving the task force?”

“How’s Izabel?” I countered.

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