Chapter 5

Never in his life had David been this relaxed. Irian was a magician. Every ache and pain in his body was gone. What in the world had this woman done to him?

She spoke softly as she rocked him back and forth. "David, I'm finished with your massage. I want you to get up slowly because you may experience a little bit of dizziness. I'm gonna leave the room now so that you can get dressed and I'll see you in the front." She quietly left the room.

David blinked awake and rubbed a hand over his face. Had it really been an hour already. He took a deep breath and slowly rose from the table. As he slid back into his pants, his phone vibrated in his pocket. After he buttoned and zipped his jeans, he checked the text message. "David, sniper spotted NNE of building, get her out now, he's lining up the shot."

He didn't bother looking at who the text was from. All he could think of was saving Irian. "Shit", he thought as she slung his shirt across his back and ran out of the room toward the lounge.

Irian saw him running at her just moments before he yelled, "GET DOWN!" and tackled her to the ground. As they hit the carpet in the front lounge, she heard glass shatter and Trisha scream as she dove to the floor. She couldn't see anything. All she could see was the colors in the area rug she was laying on with David on top of her. Dear God, he had a nice chest. She had just massaged his Pecs, but damn, it was different to have them under her hands than it was to have them pressed into her back.

She pushed the thoughts that had flashed into her mind out just as quickly as they had came. God, it had been too long since she'd been with another human being in any sort of intimate fashion. She lived, breathed, ate, drank, and slept her career and her activism, as well as her boy. Her little Malachai.

David interrupted her thoughts. "Is there a way to get you out of here through the back?"

"Yes, there's a door in the back of the clinic."

"Can you combat crawl?"

"My brother is a Marine, David. Of course I can combat crawl. Do you thing that a Marine Corps. DI is going to allow his baby sister to go through life without knowing some of the basics?"

She had him there. No self- respecting Marine he'd ever met would have allowed such a travesty to occur. He rolled off of her back and told her, "Combat crawl to the back exit." He pulled a pistol out of the back of his pants. "Hide next to your car until I get out there. Don't make any phone calls. This is way too far above the heads of local police." She didn't question him. She knew the key to being an effective leader was the ability to take orders. She did as she was told.

David waited for another shot to be fired, but nothing happened. He was tense and alert. His phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket and he jumped slightly. He pulled it out and read the message. "Sniper subdued, proceed with evac plan... Danny." David nodded to himself and put the gun away. He did have to shoot anyone today... so far. It was only 11:45. God only knew what was going to happen with the rest of the day.