Special Forces_Operation Alpha_Proteting Maria Page 6

  “The elixir of Gods,” she murmured as she took her first sip of the hot liquid. The richness of Brazilian coffee beans coated her tongue. “Damn, this is good coffee.”

  Riley chuckled. “Glad something meets your approval. I’ve got your clothes here.” He slung a bag off his shoulder.

  Maria knew better than to question how he’d done it. “Thanks.”

  “It’s five now, you need to be at work at six thirty, right?”

  She took another drink of her coffee. At this moment she didn’t want to go anywhere. She wanted to savor this magnificent beverage.

  “I can put more in a travel mug for you?”

  “It’s that obvious is it?” she said laughing.

  “Kind of.” Riley joined in her laughter and she thought he was going to sit on the bed next to her, but he stopped.

  “In comparison to the coffee at the hospital, this is black gold.”

  “Well why don’t you get yourself ready and I’ll fix you that travel mug. We’ll need to leave soon so we get you to work on time.”

  Nerves bubbled in her belly at the thought of walking into the hospital. Would she be putting her colleagues in danger as well?

  “Whatever you’re thinking, stop it. Everything will be fine. It will be just like it’s been for the last week, only today I’ll drop you at the door and then Tex will take over like he’s done every day. What I’ll need you to do is text me when you’re finished for the day. If you want, I can meet you for lunch as well.”

  “What will you do while I’m working?”

  “The less you know the better. Now, you’d better get moving.”

  He walked out of the room before she had a chance to question him further about what he was going to be doing. Hopefully he would be looking at ways to get her away from her father. Maybe she should call her father herself? Talk to him and reason with him.

  Of course, there was also the Feds and their investigation into her operating on her uncle. It was a mess. A tangled web that whenever she tried to extract herself from it the silky, sticky threads clung to her, trapping her deeper and deeper until escape was impossible.

  Stop it.

  Never before had she let her father and his actions affect her as much as she was letting them right now. She was thirty-one. No longer a child. He couldn’t control her. And no matter what Riley or even Robot thought—she knew deep down her father would never harm her.

  She’d gone to college. She lived by herself in one of the busiest cities in the United States. She was no shrinking violet. When she’d decided to train as a surgeon, she’d vowed she was going to be the best she could be. This little setback wasn’t going to alter her goals.

  Flinging the covers back she got out of bed, headed to the attached bathroom ready to start the day.

  An hour later, travel mug of Riley’s amazing coffee in her hand, Maria released her seatbelt in preparation to exit the car.

  A hand on her arm stilled her movements. She looked over to Riley and raised her eyebrow in a silent question.

  He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a slim black phone. He held it out to her. “Here I want you to use this phone now.”

  “Why? I’ve got a perfectly good one.”

  “A phone which your father knows the number of and, no doubt, is able to trace.”

  “Oh, okay.” She grabbed the phone but Riley tightened his grip and tugged her close. His free hand came up and wrapped around the back of her head.

  “This is the first step in keeping you safe. The only numbers programmed into the phone are mine, Tex’s and Robot’s. If you need anything call any number at any time.”

  Any time? What did he mean by that?

  “Does this mean I’ll be going back to my apartment?”

  As much as she’d wanted to go back to her home last night, after spending the night at Riley’s, the thought of returning to her apartment didn’t appeal. If that wasn’t a red flag that she was beginning to rely on Riley she didn’t know what was.

  “No. Until I know for sure that nothing is going to happen to you, you’re staying with me. I’ll arrange to get more clothes and other personal items moved to my place today.”

  “Okay, thanks.”

  The left side of his mouth rose in half a smile. “No argument?”

  “What would be the point?” she responded with a grin. “It would only fall on deaf ears.”

  The half grin became a full blown one and her heart skipped a beat. “Doc, is learning. Now, have a good day and if you want to have lunch, call me.” He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips. The connection was too short for her. If the car behind them hadn’t sat on their horn, she would’ve wrapped her arm around his neck and deepened the kiss.

  “Guess I’d better go.”

  “Yes you should.”

  Her hand grasped the handle and she opened the door. “Have a good day, Ash.”

  With his laughter ringing in her ears, and a lightness in her step she entered the hospital ready to face whatever the day would bring.

  If someone told her twenty four hours ago that she would put her life in the hands of a man she’d met once, she would’ve laughed in their face. Was it wrong to give her trust over to Riley so quickly or was it the best thing she’d ever done?

  Chapter Eight

  Darkness fell over the city and Riley still hadn’t heard from Maria to say she’d finished for the day. After driving her to and from work for the last week, his admiration for her had grown seeing her commitment to her job and saving lives.

  The last time he’d checked in with Tex, he’d told him she was still in surgery. Just as he was about to call Tex again, his phone vibrated, the action causing the phone to skitter across the smooth wooden top.

  He snatched it up, relief flowing through him when he saw Maria’s name flash on the screen.

  I’ll be done in about fifteen minutes.

  Short and sweet.

  Part of him was a little disappointed, and he had no idea why. Was he expecting her to finish off with xoxo? Over the last week they’d fallen into a good routine with each other. There hadn’t been any more kisses, but there had been plenty of dreams where he’d woken, hot, hard and sweaty.

  He gave himself a mental shake. He was no lovesick sap. Throwing a twenty on the table he strode out of the café and to his car. He would be at the hospital in ten minutes. Pulling out in traffic he accessed his contact list through the cars Bluetooth and hit Tex’s name. It didn’t even ring twice.

  “I’ve got her, she’s in the staff locker room, collecting her gear.”

  “I’m heading there now. I should be there in ten minutes.”

  Through the car speakers, Riley could hear the tick-tap of keystrokes. “I’ve got eyes on her until she gets in your car.”

  “Sounds good. Any news on the names I gave you today?”

  “Yeah, I’ll send you an email and you can review it all. They’re mostly low riders. Way down on the Moretti family list.”

  “Damn, I was hoping one of the names might have Giovanni’s ear.”

  “From what I’ve been able to dig up on the Moretti organization, Vitorrio, the uncle Maria operated on. He’s Giovanni’s right hand man. Hence why Giovanni had his daughter perform the surgery on him.”

  “Makes sense.” Riley tapped the steering wheel as he waited for the lights to change. “What are our chances of Moretti actually letting his daughter walk away from the family? For good?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine. But stranger things have happened. Maria’s been studying for a long time now to achieve her goals. Maybe Giovanni will have an attack of fatherly love and let her go. He would have to know she wouldn’t want to do anything he asked of her.”

  “One can only hope. Maybe Italy can find something out with his family connections. He might be able to give us some insight to the inner workings of mafia families.”

  “Not sure he’ll want to get back in touch with that part of his
life. But for you he might.”

  Tex had a point. Carlos Italy Porcelli had been a runner for one of Giovanni Moretti’s rivals. He’d saved himself from being sucked down the path to drug use and possible death, by enlisting and becoming a SEAL. He hoped Italy would help get something they could use on Giovanni to free Maria.

  The bright lights of the hospital came into view. “I’ve got to go Tex, I’m pulling up to the hospital.”

  “I see her in the foyer. Talk to you later.”

  “Later.”

  Riley disconnected the call as he pulled to a stop out the front of the hospital. Maria walked toward the double doors, her head down shoulders slumped with her hands stuck in the pockets of the jacket she wore. It was like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.

  What had happened? And why hadn’t Tex told him something was up. He grabbed his phone and fired off a quick text to his friend.

  Did something happening to Maria that you didn’t tell me about.

  A second later his phone dinged. He checked the screen and where Maria was.

  No. Why?

  The door opened so he fired off a quick TTYL response and popped his phone back into the inner pocket of his jacket.

  The pungent smell of antiseptic filled the car as Maria settled herself in.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “Hey.” Her response was quiet and she turned her head to look out the window.

  Riley had no idea what was wrong, but even he knew questioning her in the car wasn’t a good idea. He’d let her decompress and then when they got home he’d see if he could get to the bottom of what was troubling her.

  His first thought was that something happened to someone she’d operated on. He imagined it didn’t get any easier when she lost a patient. It hadn’t gotten easy for him if one of their missions didn’t go as planned and someone got hurt or died. It hadn’t happened often, but there had been plenty of times when it had come close.

  With a twist of his hands he pulled away from the curb. Using the controls on the steering wheel, he changed the radio to a classical music station, hoping the music soothed her frazzled nerves.

  Traffic was heavy so it took them longer than he thought it would to get back to his apartment. By the time he pulled into his building’s parking garage the silence in the car was getting to him. He’d restrained himself on numerous occasions from reaching out and placing his hand on Maria’s thigh. Or grab her hand as a sign to let her know that he was there for her.

  He pulled the car to a stop in his designated bay and shut the engine off. Maria didn’t move. She seemed glued to the seat. Sighing, he released his seatbelt and got out of the car. When he reached her side he opened her door. He squatted down and gently placed his hand on her arm.

  “Doc, we’re home.” He practically whispered the words. She showed all the signs of being in shock. More than she had the night she’d almost been knocked over by a car.

  “Oh okay.” With robotic like movements she grabbed her bag, took off the seatbelt and climbed out of the car.

  Riley wrapped an arm around her waist and closed the door. He kept her tight against him until they got into his apartment and he seated her on the couch.

  What would she have done if he hadn’t picked her tonight?

  She’d have gone home to an empty apartment where she would’ve dealt with whatever had happened to her by herself. That’s what would’ve happened.

  Sitting next to her he grabbed her hands in his. “Talk to me, Maria. What happened today?”

  A shudder ripped through her body and he gathered her close, baffled at what was happening to the strong woman he knew her to be.

  “It was awful.”

  “What was awful, Doc.”

  “It’s not the first time I’ve lost a patient. I mean I know I can’t save everyone it’s impossible. Sometimes their injuries are too much. Sometimes you do a simple surgery. There’s an underlying issue that hadn’t been picked up on and you lose them.”

  Not for the first time he admired her for her choice of occupation.

  “Did that happen today? A simple surgery that went wrong?”

  “No. Although it might have been easier to deal with if it had been.” She looked up at him, her brown eyes dulled with the emotional pain she was going through. “He had his whole life ahead of him. He shouldn’t have been in the operating theater today. He should’ve been at the park playing with his friends.”

  Oh fuck, a child. She’d lost a child.

  “What was wrong with him?”

  “He’d been stabbed by the sick fuck who was supposed to be his father. Oh my God, Riley, every time we sowed a laceration up and thought we had a chance, another bleeder would be found.”

  “Oh, Doc, I’m so sorry.” He pressed a kiss on her head. “I believe you did absolutely everything you could to save him.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “I did, I really did. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the sound of his mom’s wailing when I told her, her son didn’t make it.”

  He held her as the tears she’d been holding at bay poured out of her. He’d heard the type of wail she was talking about at funerals he’d attended for fallen SEALs. Even the hardest of soldiers were affected by the cries of a mother or wife, even fathers, over the loss of their loved one. Riley knew it would be a long time, if ever, before Maria could put that sound out of her mind.

  Her crying slowed down until she shuddered every now and then. What she needed was some wine and a warm bath. He wasn’t used to emotional females, but he’d heard, from the various girls that had hung of him and his team when they’d gone to bars, that baths and wine went a long way to healing hurts.

  “Hey, stay here I’m going to fix you something that will make you feel better.” He felt her nod and kissed her again on the top of her head.

  Walking into the kitchen he pulled a bottle of white wine out of the refrigerator. The cork popped out and he poured the straw colored liquid into a glass. When he walked back into the living room, Maria had moved from the couch and was gazing out the window looking at the view. He stopped behind her and lightly tapped her on her shoulder.

  “I’ve got you some wine.”

  “I don’t want anything to drink.” There was none of the usual sass in her tone. He found he didn’t like it. He wanted to see the feisty Maria back, but he also could understand the reason why she was hiding. Hopefully after her wine and bath, she’d feel a little better.

  “Well I’ll just leave it on the table.”

  Her nod the only sign she’d heard him, he backed out of the room leaving her to her thoughts.

  Was this how she always acted after she lost a patient? Or was this more significant because it was a young child and had happened while her life was in turmoil with her father.

  Once Maria was in her bath he was going to call Tex and see if he’d seen anything on the cameras. He knew his friend couldn’t watch Maria all the time, hell the guy was probably watching Wolf’s team ladies or doing the other stuff for the military. Not to mention spending time with Melody and his girls. He should probably leave it, it wasn’t like Tex could do anything anyway.

  A few minutes later he walked back into the room, Maria still stood where he left her, the glass of wine untouched.

  Okay, he’d given her space. Given her time with her thoughts. But if she was going to get back into that theater tomorrow, she needed to snap out of it. He’d seen this with some guys on base when they’d seen some of the atrocities the men in Afghanistan had done to their women.

  “Maria,” he spoke low, but firmly.

  No reaction. Nothing seemed to penetrate the shell she’d erected around herself. He marched over to her. Instead of stopping behind her, he stepped in front of her.

  “Maria, you need to come with me.” Riley took hold of one of her hands. They were icy cold. “Let’s go.”

  As they passed the coffee table he scooped up the wine glass and led her to the bathroom. While he wasn’t ad
verse to the idea of undressing her, he was pretty sure that once Maria snapped out of her stupor she wouldn’t appreciate him being so forward.

  They entered the guest bathroom. A subtle rose fragrance lingered in the air. Thank goodness his housekeeper had set up the room with everything a guest would like, including rose scented bubble bath.

  Riley placed her glass of wine on the edge of the bath, before turning to smooth Maria's jacket off her.

  "What are you doing?" Hands latched onto his, her fingernails digging into the top of his hands.

  "Taking your jacket off."

  "I can see that. Would you like to tell me why?"

  It was impossible to hold back his smile. "Ahh you're back with us, I see."

  He couldn't deny he was happy she'd snapped herself out of her stupor. He’d been worried she wouldn't be able to get herself together in time for work the next day.

  "That still doesn't explain why you were taking my jacket off."

  "I would've thought it was obvious." He pointed the foamy bath. "You can't have a bath while fully dressed."

  "You drew me a bath?" There it was, the spark that had been missing in her eyes since he'd picked her up from work was back.

  Score one for Team Riley.

  "Yes. And I got you wine." As much as he wanted to stay, to make sure she didn't fall back into her pit of despair, he backed away from her. "I'll leave you to enjoy your bath and get started on dinner."

  "You're going to cook me dinner? No take out tonight?"

  He couldn’t help but smile. Yes, over the last week it had been easier to order food. It hadn’t been his plan to cook, but when was the last time someone had looked after her? Probably a long time ago. Or never given who her father was. Tonight he was going to be the one to take care of her.

  The wetness glistening in her eyes was his undoing. He closed the gap between them. "Yeah, Doc. I'm gonna cook you dinner."

  Giving into temptation he lowered his lips until they met hers. He groaned at her sweet taste and the tentative way she opened beneath him. This wasn't his best idea, but it was one he wasn't going to argue with himself over. The need to reassure her that she was special overruled any of his self-imposed regulations of dealing with a client.