Page 52 of Black Bay Enforcer
He’d been looking at her cheek, his expression scarily angry as his jaw worked, but when she said his name, his face softened. “Hello, little human.”
Tears blurred her vision as she let out a wet laugh and then she was bawling – messy, ugly crying – as he pulled her into his arms and hugged her close.
“I thought I lost you,” she raggedly gasped out, squeezing her arms around his neck so tightly she would have choked a smaller man.
“Never. I love you, Katherine. I willalwaysfind you.”
Katherine sobbed against his shoulder. “I love you, too Kong. So much. When I thought…” She choked up, unable to finish.
Kong rubbed his big hands over her back in soothing strokes. “Shh. It’s okay. Everything’s going to be all right now.”
She nodded as her tears continued to flow. It would be all right because Kong was alive. The universe had given them more time. Time she refused to waste.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Kong kept Katherine closeas he walked her out of the shack. It pissed him right the fuck off that Godwin had hit her. That cheek was going to have a nasty bruise. But it could have been so much worse. So. Much. Worse. He thanked every deity known to man that he’d gotten to her in time.
Now that he had Katherine safe, back in his arms, could feel her warmth, and see the steady pulse beating in her throat, he felt a million times lighter. He also felt like strutting. Katherine loved him.
Godwin was trussed up like a turkey on the ground outside where someone had dumped him. His hands were zip-tied behind his back, his ankles bound, and some lovely soul had duct-taped his mouth to keep him quiet. Orquieter, rather. Hewas still grunting and making noises in his throat as he fought against the restraints.
Kong went to shield Katherine from the sight of him but she surprised him when she yanked away and delivered a swift kick to Godwin’s side. “Honk!” Kong stared dumbstruck as she kicked him two more times, yelling, “Honk! Honk!”
He had no clue what the honking was about, but those kicks were well deserved.
Finished, she straightened her shoulders and let out an adorable little, “Humph.”
His woman was stronger than she knew. She could have completely broken down and he wouldn’t have blamed her – no one here would. She’d endured a traumatic experience, would have been entitled, and he would have held her and supported her as much and for as long as she needed. But instead, her first thought was to get a little payback.
Kong’s lips twitched. “Do you want me to hold him up so you can get a couple more hits in? Maybe kick him in the nuts? Trust me. No one here will mind.”
She looked like she was considering it for a second before she shook her head. “No. I’m good, thanks.”
Turning away from Godwin who was making quite the ruckus, gagged or not, she snuggled in close to him and he happily wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
“Be still,” Perrin hissed as she knelt beside their captive, roughly rolled him, and slapped a bandage on one of his wounds. “Or I will let you bleed out right here.”
Godwin had taken a couple of bullets. All non-lethal, more’s the pity, but he’d be functional when they interrogated him, so that would make General Davies happy.
“I’m going to punch you in the head,” Perrin griped, and Kong nearly chuckled. They all had basic field medic training, Perrin was the least patient, nor was she known to be gentle. Good. The bastard didn’t deserve gentle.
Kong had fully intended to rush into that shack and kill Godwin with his bare hands, but as soon as he’d seen Katherine curled up in a ball on the floor, trying to make herself as small as possible, his need to protect her had superseded anything else. He’d let his team take down Godwin while he shielded Katherine with his body.
Erik and Leo approached with matching frowns on their faces. “What the fuck was that piece of shit doing so close to Black Bay? That’s what I want to know,” Leo growled as he glared at Godwin.
A question Kong would be asking when they had him in an interrogation room.
“He was there for me.”
All three of them looked at Katherine who had said that but her eyes stayed on Kong. “He took me to threaten my father. He made a video.”
Lark, having overheard, held up a cell phone. “I’ve got it. Looks like a video attachment was sent just moments before we breached.”
Kong nodded but he didn’t ask Lark to play it for them. He could go over any evidence later. Katherine was his priority and he didn’t want her reliving whatever bullshit threats Godwin had made. She was safe now. All he wanted was to get her as far away as possible – back to Black Bay where her safety was guaranteed – where he could wash away the fear scent that clung to her and was currently testing his resolve not to go over there and kill Godwin.
“Radio the pilot, let him know we’re ready for a pickup.” When Lark nodded, he looked at Leo. “Go through that rental, see if you can find anything.”
Katherine stiffened in his arms. “There’s a body in the trunk,” she blurted, her voice cracking under the emotion. “A woman.”
