The Midnight Hour - Brenda Jackson [115]
Suddenly, in the distance, the sound of helicopters and the screeching of car tires caught everyone's attention. Hawk smiled faintly as he glanced over at Drake. "I also decided to take you up on your offer and come pick up the remains."
It was over an hour later before they got back to the house. Not only did the CIA arrive, but also the FBI and the DEA. Questions were asked and Tori, Drake, Ashton, and Trevor didn't have any problems letting Hawk provide all the answers.
And it had really helped matters that the ASI, in a surprising move-probably from feeling the heat of the South American government-had contacted the Justice Department earlier that day, denouncing its ties with Cross and claiming that Cross's personal vendetta against the two CIA operatives had not been sanctioned by them and there would not be any further attempts on their lives.
Trevor and Ashton took Hawk up on his offer to personally fly them back to Houston in his private plane. It was by the time everyone had left Warren Mountain. Tori held her breath as the last car drove off, leaving her and Drake alone. She knew they needed to talk but she wanted to take a shower first. She felt sweaty and dirty.
As soon as the door closed behind Drake, he turned and tried pulling her into his arms.
"Wait!" she said, pulling back from him. "I need to shower first, then we need to talk."
Drake's brow raised considerably when he sensed her nervousness. "All right," he said, taking a step back. 'Talking isn't a bad idea since I'm dying to know how the hell you got of the basement."
He then reached out and lifted her chin with his finger. "Then after we talk, I'd like to pay our baby another visit." Tori's heart fluttered with the feel of Drake touching her as well as the look of love and desire in his eyes. "Can I ask you a question?"
He smiled. "Sure, ask me anything." "When there was a standoff between me and Cross and he ordered you to come stand next to me, why did you? Why didn't you take the chance and blow him away? You could have."
Drake shook his head. "No, I couldn't. He had a gun pointed at your head, Tori, and there was no way I was going to take a chance and risk losing you."
She looked up at him, confused. "But you take risks all the time, Drake. That's all you've done over the past five years is take risks."
He grimaced ruefully, knowing her words were true.
"Yes, but when it came to you and our child, I couldn't do it. I couldn't risk losing the two people that I love more than life itself. And because I love you, I don't want to take unnecessary risks with my life either. I want to be around to see our son or daughter grow up. I want to have other babies and watch them grow up here on our mountain, healthy, God-fearing, and strong." He smiled. "And all future marines."
Tori grinned. "Yes, future marines."
He looked down at her. "But speaking of risks, Tori, I haven't been the only person who's taken risks over the past five years. You nearly risked everything by coming to see me that night at the hospital. And later, when I needed you, you took a risk by opening your arms to me, taking my seed into your womb and binding us in the most primitive way." He lifted her chin to meet his gaze. "And let's not forget the risk you took by leaving that basement when I had locked you in it."
He leaned down and kissed her lips. "A woman's love for her man. I can't think of anything as powerful."
She smiled through the tears in her eyes. "And a man's love for his woman. I don't know of anything as compelling," she whispered.
He drew a deep breath, wanting her to know that he loved her. He had loved her as Sandy and now he loved her as Tori. And he needed to let her know how he felt, but first things first. "Come on, let's go take a shower."
When they got to the bathroom, he quickly removed their clothes and