Page 31 of Meaner Than Evil

I pull my eyes off Jack long enough to respond. “Yes, of course. Thank you.”

“Would you like me to have one of our agents take you home now?”

“No. That won’t be necessary.” I assure him as my eyes return to follow Jack’s every movement.

The FBI transport bus brought in to pick up the thirty-plus women rescued breaks my line of sight of Jack as it passes by. They are being taken to the hostage resolution warehouse to receive professional care and be debriefed. Fiorella is one of them.

“Okay, then. I’ll see you this afternoon.” Special Agent Wilkerson says.

“Thanks again.” I glance at him as he walks away.

I look for Jack again. His team has huddled up, but they break as a helicopter flies in and lands behind me. Watching them walk as one unit towards me humbles me.

These men, these special operators, are a different breed of man. Not only are they physically superior, but they are mentally strong. Just watching them walk towards me as one united unit of warriors humbles me.

The term badass seems so inept as a description. Even the term hero seems inadequate in today’s world where it’s used to describe ordinary people, doctors, nurses, first responders who do brave things. These men are extraordinary people and elite heroes.

Warriors who battle evil, protectors of freedom, guardians for good are a special breed of man.

As they approach, they each smile at me, and I see that these men love what they do and are honored to serve. They are the good guys, and although I’ve told them each thank you, I saw in their eyes, they don’t require thanks. They don’t do what they do for praise or appreciation. They do it because it’s the right thing to do, and they are trained to do it, and that’s that.

When Jack stops in front of me, he says, “Hammer’s taking you home now.”

I throw my arms around his neck and wrap myself around him. He laughs as he cups his hands under my ass and says as he carries me to the helicopter, “I’m afraid my shirt isn’t covering enough.”

I laugh at him. “Too bad everything else was evidence.”

When we arrive, the other guys are already seated and strapped in. Jack sets my ass down on the floor, then hops in and pulls me to my feet. He sits me down next to Zane, putting on his K9’s ear protection, then straps me in and returns to close the door. Brody passes a headset to me, and I put it on. Jack sits, puts his headset on, straps in then turns to double-check mine.

When we take off, the helicopter rises fast and then banks hard, flying toward New York City, and my stomach turns over.

Jack pulls his backpack out from under the seat and unzips it. He reaches in and pulls out a black sweatshirt, then helps me put it on. Like his dress shirt, it’s about four sizes too big.

Zane passes him one of his, and he tells him thanks, then pulls it on too.

I lift Jack’s arm and snuggle uptight. His hand rubs my arm, comforting me, just like it did all those years ago whenever I needed his strength because I was weak.

Funny how time can change some things but not others. I look up at him and study his serious face. Back then, he was a badass bouncer, but he was a boy. Now, he is a warrior and all a man is supposed to be.

When the helicopter sets down at the airport, my parents are standing arm in arm on the tarmac waiting for us. Jack pulls the door open and jumps down, reaches for his rucksack, and slips it over his shoulders. Then he reaches for me.

His beautiful smile softens his hawkish black eyes, and my heart confirms that it will forever belong to him.

As his strong arms catch me and pull me into his embrace, it dawns on me why I was so turned on tonight. My mind saw him as the ruthless killer he is, but my soul was never fooled. My heart knew who he was, and it responded the way it always has. Tuned in and turned on.

He sets me on my feet long enough to give his crew the thumbs up and close the helicopter door. Then he pulls the sweatshirt down over my ass before he scoops me up and carries me to my parents. When we reach them, they open their arms and hug us both.

“Thank God, you are okay. Thank you, Jack!”

He doesn’t say anything. He lets them vent their appreciation.

When they step back, Jack sets me on my bare feet, and my dad shakes his hand and pats him on the back. My mom puts her arm around me and tries to hide the horror in her eyes. She’s realized I’m in Jack’s shirt.

She says, “Let’s get you back to the house and into some clothes.”

“Mom, don’t take this wrong. But,” I slide my fingers between Jack’s. “Jack and I are going back to my apartment.”

“Of course.” She says, and her smile is accepting. “Of course. You two need time together. I understand.”

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