Page 6 of Charlotte
“You have nothing to be ashamed of, love. Those bastards should be the ones who should be ashamed for what they have done to you.” Hawk’s face is a mix of sympathy and anger. While he can look terrifying, it comforts me. Looking in his eyes, I feel safe, knowing he is with me.
It should have seemed ridiculous. We didn’t know each other. Why would he want to protect me? It’s just because it’s his job, right? But in that moment looking into those gorgeous eyes, I felt like the most precious person in the world. There was no doubt he would be true to his word and he would keep me safe. Once the tears have abated, sleep claims me again as I feel safe in his arms.
* * *
Rough hands are groping me!The pain won’t stop. I can’t breathe and the fear is overwhelming. His fist connects with my face. Pain sears through my face at the impact. Now, He’s removing my clothes. I know with certainty he is going to rape me, there’s nothing I can do. My hands and feet are tied. I need help. I must get away somehow. Please, God help me!
As I jerk awake, I feel a warm hard body behind me. Fear consumes me and I try to get away. Where am I? My captors were never with me when I woke. Rough hands are trying to hold me down. I fight as hard as I can, but he is too strong and I’m too weak. Hearing someone calling my name, I try to focus on the words.
“Charlotte! Charlotte! Wake up, love. You’re having a nightmare.”
It’s Jordan, Hawk, he’s here with me. We’re in the safe house away from my torturers. Instantly I relax in his arms. He must have lain down on the bed with me and fallen asleep, too. He continues to try and sooth me. He pulls me closer to his warm body and rubs his hand down my hair.
“You’re alright, love. You’re safe with me. I’ve got you. I won’t let you go.” He croons as he lays his cheek on top of my head. I sigh and snuggle in. It’s been so long since I’ve felt safe and even longer since I’ve been held by someone. I know I shouldn’t do this, but it feels so good, so right. I must have dozed back off to sleep, because a little while later I am awoken to my warm blanket pulling away from me and I hear voices over by the door.
“I thought you two should eat. I have some MREs for you.” A deep voice rumbles from over by the door. “How’s she doing today?”
“Thanks, Deadeye. She does need to eat. I’ll wake her in a bit. The fever is gone, but she hasn’t slept well. She keeps having nightmares.” Hawk replies. I lay quietly and listen to them talking.
“That’s understandable after what she’s been through.” Deadeye states after a pause he continues. “What’s going on here, Hawk? This isn’t like you man. You’ve never shown this much interest in a woman before. You haven’t left this room since we got here two days ago.”
“I honestly don’t know. I’m drawn to her, her eyes, her smile. I just can’t leave her. She’s the same woman that spoke to us in the airport. Did you recognize her?” Deadeye shakes his head. “I knew the moment I looked at her on the trail who she was. I’ll never forget her beautiful eyes. It’s like it was just meant to be for me to find her again. I need to know that she is taken care of and while I know you guys would do right by her, I just need to be the one to take care of her, Ok?”
“Alright, as long as you don’t let it interfere with our mission. We are here to take out a target. We haven’t made any progress in the time we’ve been sitting here babysitting. The trail went cold and we haven’t gotten any new leads, but I feel like you aren’t concerned about that anymore. Your sole focus is that woman. She’s not our mission, man.” Deadeye declares.
“Dammit I know, Deadeye!” Hawk says sharply. “I can’t explain it. I need to make sure she is safe, protected. You know we can’t just leave her here and we can’t risk disclosing our location by using communications to get her out of here. Lopez’s men are everywhere. I can’t take the chance of them getting their hands on her again. She will just have to stay with us for the time being, until we can make arrangements for her to be evacuated from the country and back to the States.”
“Ok Hawk, I trust you with my life,” Deadeye’s voice is laced with sincerity. “You know that. Just don’t do something crazy that gets us all killed over a woman.”
“You know that I would never do that,” Hawk’s voice is a low rumble as he tries to speak quietly. “I have always put my team first. Semper Fi.”
“Semper Fi!” Deadeye replies with a chuckle. “You know that I will have your six, Hawk. I will do whatever you ask of me.”
“I know,” Hawk replies. “I am in your debt always. Help me take care of her? I trust you like a brother. She’s means something to me.”
“Ok, Hawk. I’ll help you, man.” Deadeye states. “The SEAL team is trying to gather more intel on this group. They have a satellite phone that can’t be intercepted by the gun runners. They have reached out to a friend of theirs. John ‘Tex’ Keegan. He’s a medically retired former SEAL and some kind of computer genius. Wolf said it’s fucking scary the shit this guy can do with technology. Hopefully we will know more soon.”
Hawk walks over to the bed and brushes my hair back from my face and places a gentle kiss on my forehead. He settles back into bed with me. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me close. I sigh because it feels so good. Why would this big badass Marine want to take care of me? I have no idea, but I’m going to let him for now. I’m just to tired, sore, and hurt to fight it. However, I can’t let these brave men get hurt on my account though. So, if it comes down to them getting injured or killed and me going back to my kidnappers. I will have to go back. No questions asked. As bad as it was, somehow knowing that I caused the man behind me to be hurt would be worse than anything I would endure at the hands of my captors.
Hawk gently shakes my shoulders. “Wake up, love. You need to eat.” I open my eyes and look into his intense gaze. It takes my breath to think about what he had said to Deadeye. I try to sit up, but I’m still weak and awkward. He helps me to sit and starts to arrange the food on the tray so we can eat. He takes a fork and scoops up some rice and vegetables. Shock rolls through me when he lifts it to my mouth. He’s feeding me. Opening my mouth, I take in the food. It is really good and warm. It’s the first real food I have had in months. After only a few bites nausea rears its ugly head. Pushing the food away to stifle the bile rising in my throat, I shake my head in protest.
“You haven’t eaten much.” Hawk states with a tone of reprimand in his voice.
“I just can’t. It’s making me feel sick and I don’t want to throw up what I have managed to take in.”
“Ok. We can try again later. Now we need to get you to the bathroom so you can get cleaned up.” Hawk replies. He begins to clear the food away and untangle the blanket from around my body.
“But you haven’t eaten.” I say. “You need to eat too.”
“I’m fine. I had eaten earlier while you were sleeping. I’ve had enough. Besides you will feel better after a bath and getting your hair washed. I know ladies are obsessive about their hair.” He winks and laughs softly. “I haven’t washed it since the day we got here and I’m sure you wash it more often than that, but with your broken ribs I didn’t want to have to move you too much.”
“You washed my hair!” I exclaim as my face flushes with heat wondering just how much of me, he saw.
“Yes, and the rest of you the day we got here. I had to see where you were hurt, and I couldn’t with all the dirt, blood, and debris on you. I’ve only done the basics since.” Hawk replies without any remorse in his tone. I blush profusely and make a noise of protest. “Look, I know you are probably shocked that strangers gave you a bath while you were unconscious, but I promise you that Deadeye and I were respectful of you. We only did what we had to do in order to take care of your injuries.”
I sit in silence while I contemplate what he has revealed. While my rational mind knows what he said it true, I am still freaked out that he has seen me naked. My face is flushed. My breathing is rapid and shallow. It’s like I’m a teenager again meeting a boy for the first time. His hand touches my chin and raises it, so that I’m forced to meet his gaze.
“I’m not sorry I did what needed to be done, love, but I am sorry that you are upset about it.” Hawk states in a soft voice that is filled with an emotion I can’t fully comprehend.
