That Memory

Nicholas’s POV

I raised my gloved hand into the air, waiting for Luigi to get into position. Jace and John are sprawled out on the couches, beyond beat from sparring with me earlier.

“Pierce, you’ve been at this for over three hours.” Luigi shakes his head. “Your body needs a break, and God knows we do too.”

“Again,” I grunted, still reeling from the decision to come home. It was the hardest decision, but we need to regroup and find what resources we can use.

Luigi sighs, and we continue to box for the next fifty minutes until I finally call it quits. I still have the energy to burn and hit the free weights until I am physically exhausted.

After a cold shower, I finally head to his office and pour myself a double. I try hard to pretend Eloise is in my bedroom waiting for me to join her, her eyes wild with excitement as she peels off my clothes like it’s the first time.

The thought nearly brings me to my knees. God, I love her…and now…I let my mind slip back to the very start…

The tension is thick as we lift off into the air and watch the lights of Guardians become smaller. The cars look like Hot Wheels on a track as we weave down the mountain.

Blackstone is well prepared for this case, mainly because I was obsessed. The men never question me. They understand what it’s like to get wrapped up in the evidence and know an innocent life is slowly disappearing into the wind.

The trip to TJ is long, but it gives us time to rehash the plan at least several times with every possible scenario that could happen.

Our weapons are raised the moment we touch down, and we race across the desert. The laser beams cut through the dust and help guide us to the three SUVs that await us.

Gregory’s Eagle Eye team is in front and behind while we travel in the middle. Once the engine turns over and we take off down the road, so does the safety of their helicopter, leaving us to do the impossible once again.

“Locked and loaded, boys.” I hold my gun up to flip the safety off. “Shoot first; ask questions later.”

“Copy that.” Edson rubbed my hands together, excited by the protocol Gregory gave us.

We barely park before the doors shoot open, and the madness starts.

“Go!”

The team exits the vehicle like the mission is put on mute. We hurry up the stairs, and within half a second, we blow the doors open to start the journey inside.

“Two down, left room, clear!” Edson shouted, and we scattered like rats to clear the bottom half of the house.

“Move! Move!” One member from Eagle Eye grabs a woman by the arm and moves her out of our way as I zip by.

More men shout as we clear the rooms, and Edson joins me as we climb the rickety stairs.

Shots are fired as Blackstone covers my back and hurries down to the room where my informant said Eloise was held.

The doorknob won’t turn, so I back up and drive the sole of my boot right below the lock, blasting it inward as if I had blown it off with an explosive. Three lasers skim over my shoulder and around the room before I spot her.

Everything stops as I move closer. Her tiny body is wrapped in a huge sweater, and her hair is sprawled around the dirty mattress.

Please be alive!

Somehow, she manages to acknowledge my presence by turning her head. Once her gaze locks on my goggles, I feel a tug right in the center of my gut.

It doesn’t matter how long she’s been in captivity. Her beauty is still there like a dull star trying to shine as brightly as the rest.

“I got you,” I whispered, forgetting for a split second that we don’t know one another.

Without another thought, I scoop her up, hold her to my chest, and order the men to clear their way back downstairs.

She cringes in my arms as we meet the cold, heavy air.

“Just hold on for me, Eloise,” I whispered behind my gear, needing to grant her comfort.

Blackstone quickly scans the perimeter before I draw closer to the road.

Edson opened the back passenger door, and I eased my body into the armored SUV with her still in my arms. It takes all my willpower to let go and buckle her in.

Edson hands me a blanket, and I carefully ensure she is warm. Her nose gently presses into the fabric before her eyes shut momentarily.

I tapped John on the shoulder, and we took off, leaving hell behind them.

Once we know it is safe, I remove my helmet and run a hand through my hair. Eloise gives me a look that tells me she is curious about what is going on but still too weak to care.

“Eloise? You’re okay now. You’re safe,” I murmured in a steady voice.

Her dark eyes held mine, and I saw a cut to her head. Without thinking, I reached out, but she pulled back like she was afraid of me.

My stomach twisted into a knot, angry that I had forgotten my training.

I pointed to her forehead. “Looks like that hurt. Are you all right? Do you hurt anywhere else?”

I fight my anger and the urge to go back and blow the house to nothing but dust and bones. How could someone do this? Why is the world laced with monsters and villains?

I love my job, but some days are harder than others.

I sneaked a glance at Eloise before John spoke up.

“The jet is standing by, sir.”

I nodded once. “Good. Tell them we’re ten minutes out.”

“Yes, sir.”

I watched as her head flopped toward the window. No doubt this trip exhausted her.

The private plane Gregory ordered was ready to go the moment we arrived.

Edson goes to move Eloise, but I shoot him a look that says I had her, and Ed moves aside and joins the others rushing toward the airplane's steps.

They need to get out of here.

Hot air blasts as I ducked inside the private jet. The couch was heated, so I placed her fragile body on the leather sofa and ensured she was fully covered. Her deep, dark eyes follow me around the cabin. I tried not to notice, but just like her photo, she is captivating.

“Colonel.” John hands me an iPad and shows photos of her room and house that Eagle Eye took after we left.

Savages.

I glanced over and saw her eyes roll back. In two strides, he kneels and whispers, “Stay with me, Eloise.”

Her eyes flutter open, and he feels that warmth spread throughout his stomach.

“Crosscheck,” the captain says over the speaker, and Eloise loses her strength and falls asleep.

I moved to sit next to her but kept a careful distance. I caught Edson’s smirk before he settled into the warm leather while the team made calls and filled out paperwork.

I should be doing the same, but for whatever reason, I don’t want to leave her side. I know I need to be the one who protects her.

I shook my head, trying to clear it. Then I let out a long breath and made a call.