8

                                Stowaway

                             chapter eight

                        Aiden's point of view 

Noah asks me to help him prepare some food giving me a look as he asks, I know this has nothing to do with food he wants to see if I've found out anything about our little mystery stowaway,  I nod my head as I follow him into the kitchen area softly closing the door behind us, he instantly turns to me and asks.

"Did you find anything out?"

I run my hand over my stubble trying to control my anger my emotions running wild after everything she just told me before I reply.

"James Rutherford threatened her father, he needed a trophy wife for his son, with all the allegations around he wanted his son to look like the perfect husband?"

Noah grabs two glasses, filling them up with whiskey he hands one to me before he says, 

"What did he threaten Zoe's dad with?"

I toss the amber liquid down my throat, feeling the burn before I reply.

"He threatened to have Zoe killed; if he didn't hand her over, she was forced into an engagement on her twenty-first birthday party she knew nothing of it until that night, Zoe told him she was a virgin when Austin and his father stripped and groped her, he wanted to take her virginity on his wedding night like some grand prize."

I slam the glass down, Noahs eyes going wide.

"He was going to rape a virgin?"

I sigh as I say

"She isn't a virgin she was just too scared to tell him otherwise, as she thought he would have just taken her there and then and probably let his father have a turn."

Noah pours us both another whisky as he says.

"It still doesn't explain why she was so desperate to jump from the boat in the middle of the night out in the bay; she could have died. I just don't get it."

I clench the glass  in my hand my knuckles turning white as I say

"The Rutherfords doctor was on the yacht and told Zoe he was looking forward to her personal examination in the morning."

I watch as Noah shakes his head as he says.

"What sort of sick professional gets his kink out of examining young virgins?"

I reply.

"Probably another rich motherfucker who thinks he can buy his way out of anything."

Noah expression turns grim as he asks.

"So what you going to do, I know you like the girl it's written all over your face."

I shrug my shoulders as I say.

"I don't know, I've never felt this sort of attraction with anyone before, I'm a navy seal I can't just walk away from my job.

"Noah puts his hands on my shoulder before saying.

"Don't throw your happiness away brother because you think its what's best for her. If you both care enough for each other, then you will move Mountains to be together."

I turn to look at Noah knowing he gave his career up for his daughter, but I could honestly say I've never seen him happier, he was married to Linda for a few years before she became pregnant with Emily, Linda travelled the world to be by his side. Could I expect a woman to do that for me? He then asks me.

"What are you going to do about Austin and his father."

 I reply.

"I could be happy knowing that Zoe is safe, but is she free she'll never be able to use her own identity always looking over her shoulder wherever she goes, never seeing her family or friends again for what? For James Rutherford to get him another wife, possibly a virgin, to fulfil his sick fantasies. One that cant swim, can't escape."

Noah nods his head in agreement as he says.

"So what's the plan?"

I turn to him my expression deadly serious as I say.

"I'm going to take the Rutherfords down, they've ruined far too many lives it's about time that arrogant prick and his asshole father were brought to there knees."

Noahs face lights up before he says.

"Count me in brother, and add that doctor's name to that list, but in the meantime, that girl needs to regain her strength, you saw how weak she is, and what better way to do it than with a few days sailing in the crystal clear waters."

He raises his eyebrows at me before he carries on.

"It also gives you a chance to get to know her more, especially while your in-between missions." 

I laugh as I say.

"When did you get so wise, Noah'."

He smiles with a glint in his eyes as he replies.

"When I fell in love."

He leaves me sitting at the kitchen table, contemplating my thoughts before he shouts over his shoulder. " you'd better make that girl of your something to eat."

The door closes behind him as he walks out onto the deck. I stand up throwing some eggs in a pan, she needs the protein, and it won't be too heavy on her empty stomach I scramble the eggs while putting some bread in the toaster thinking to myself.

It would be nice getting to know her for a few days, a couple of days off will probably help clear my head before I come up with a plan to finish the Rutherfords once and for all. I plate the scrambled egg up before pouring a glass of fresh orange juice and walking back to the master bedroom opening the door I look at her laughing with my brothers my heart jolts not because I'm jealous, but the sight of Zoe laughing makes me want to take her in my arms and never let go.

She smiles when shes sees me at the door. Carter and Jack turn to see what or who shes smiling at before they both say.

"I'll leave you two alone."

"I'll leave you two alone."

 In perfect synchronisation of course!

Which makes Zoe giggle, they both leave the room with there identical, knowing looks as Zoe says to me.

"Are they always like that?"

I laugh as I reply.

"Yeah, you' ll get used to it eventually."

I place the food down on the bed, propping Zoe up with the pillows so shes able to eat I watch as she swallows every last bit as she says

"Mmmmm that's the nicest scrambled egg I've ever eaten, I think the last time I had scrambled egg was when I was a kid, and my brother and I sneaked downstairs in the middle of the night, Mark though he was so grown up making  scrambled egg for us both."

I watch as her face turns to sorrow as she desperately tries to hide her tears, I follow my instincts and take her in my arms she places her head on my shoulder, she sighs before she says

"I'll never see my brother or father again."

I stroke her hair as I say.

 "you will baby girl, Austin Rutherford and his sick excuse of a  father will pay for the day they laid their dirty hands on you."

She looks up at me with those big blue eyes as she whispers.

"You cant his father is too powerful, he will have you killed."

I laugh as I reply.

"Baby I'm a very powerful man, and you have no idea who my father is, the contacts he knows, you leave the Rutherfords to us lets just spend a few days on the ocean while you regain your strength as your going to have to tell us everything you know about your father's dealings with them."

She nods her head as use my thumb to gently wipe the tears away my hand lingering on her cheek before I turn her head to me as I take her lips in a sweet kiss. The most delicious kiss I've ever experience im my life I place my head against hers looking into those ocean blue eyes as I think to myself I've always loved the ocean.

And that's when I know I'm done for, I would do anything for this woman, this woman who has turned my life upside down in a matter of days.

This woman with her big blue eyes and soft kissable lips has stolen my heart and Im never letting go; It's hers to keep for all eternity.