Page 84 of Keeping Laryn
“Yes, you are. Altan gave you to me. That’s how it works here. You do what he says, wealldo what he says, and in return, he gives us what we need and want. What I want is a wife. And now I have one. Walk behind me. Three paces. No more, no less,” he ordered, then turned toward the door.
Laryn was stunned. This couldn’t be happening. But it was.
Mert got to the door and looked behind him. He saw she was still standing where he’d left her, so he turned and walked back.
Without warning, his hand flew out and he backhanded Laryn. Hard.
She fell onto the bed, hitting her hip on the metal frame and crying out in pain from both strikes.
“Wives walk three steps behind their husbands at all times,” he repeated slowly, as if maybe she didn’t hear him the first time. “If they don’t obey, they are punished.”
Laryn wanted to cry, but she wouldn’t give this asshole the satisfaction. She slowly stood, her cheek throbbing. It was probably red, maybe even had the imprint of his hand. But she had a feeling no one would dare say a word about it.
He’s coming, Laryn told herself silently as she fell in behind Mert as he left the room.Tate’s coming. You just have to hang on until then.
But with every minute that passed, Laryn worried that she wasn’t strong enough. That she wouldn’t be able to do this. Shewas beginning to think that staying in the dungeon would’ve been preferable to whatever was in store for her up here.
Swallowing hard, she took a deep breath. Then another.
No. Shecoulddo this. Had no choice. She’d endure whatever she had to until help came.
Please let help be coming.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Casper was as focused as he’d ever been before a mission. Buck and Obi-Wan were in the pilot and copilot seats of their MH-60. He, Pyro, Chaos, and Edge were decked out in all black clothing, bulletproof vests, and firepower that included grenades, flash bombs, pistols, and plenty of ammunition. Edge had first-aid supplies. Pyro was in charge of navigation; he had the best sense of direction out of all of them, both in the air and on the ground. Chaos was their eyes and ears for anyone coming up behind them…
And Casper had Tex in his ear.
When he’d called Tex to tell him that they’d gotten the okay to go in and get Laryn, the former SEAL had insisted on being involved. Casper had no problem agreeing. He needed all the help he could get. To find a way into the hangar, to find Laryn, and then to get the hell out of dodge.
Tex had maps, satellite feeds, and an almost supernatural ability to see through time and space to know what was going on. It almost felt as if he was physically there. And Casper was glad for the help.
“Things got busy tonight. More movement,” Tex said inCasper’s ear as the MH-60 took off from the deck of the destroyer. This was it. They’d either return with Laryn in tow or die trying. And Casper had no plans on dying today. He had a life with Laryn to live. No way was he letting some asshole take that away from him before he’d had a chance to experience it.
“As I told you before,” Tex said, “my suggestion is that you and your team approach the hangar from the east. Getting through the security around where the building is located won’t be difficult, because there isn’t any. They do have guards stationed at the main entry points of the hangar, but on the side where the neighborhood stands, there aren’t any doors.”
“So how are we getting in?” Casper asked.
“I said there aren’t doors, but there are plenty of windows. You’ll have to find one that’s broken or open, or can be otherwise breached without making too much noise.”
Casper nodded to himself as Buck and Obi-Wan flew over the dark waters of the Mediterranean toward the hills outside the city where Laryn had been taken. All things considered, the time between when she was taken and now was relatively short. But not short enough. Casper couldn’t stop thinking about all the things that could’ve happened to her in a week’s time. It made him feel sick inside.
He did his best to shut off those thoughts. His only objective was getting in, finding Laryn, and getting them the hell out. They could deal with the ramifications of whatever had happened to her when they were all safe. He supposed this was the moment when some men would decide they didn’t want to deal with a woman who would almost certainly be dealing with some form of PTSD in the future. But not Casper. He’d never met a woman who was more his match than Laryn. Together, they’d figure out what she needed.
“You hear me?”
“Sorry, no,” Casper admitted.
“Hey…everything I’ve learned about Laryn proves that she’s tough,” Tex said quietly.
Casper didn’t love that the man had been looking into Laryn, but he supposed it was necessary…and he appreciated the assurance just then.
“I’ve known some amazing women over the years,” Tex continued. “They all went through some shit, but with the support of their friends and their men, they’re thriving today. I have no doubt Laryn will do the same.”
Determination rose within Casper. Damn straight she would. She’d probably bitch at him for losing another chopper so soon after the last one. She’d complain about the workload she’d be under trying to retrofit another MH-60 and having to endure another test flight.
He took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah,” he said a little belatedly.
