“Yes, well, according to a security firm I work with, those very marines have continued their unsubstantiated activities to the tune of gang rape. Once the victim, Gloria Redman, retained the law firm of Hite, Hite, and Wellesley to represent her, several other women came forward with similar instances. I believe the attorneys are now doing a thorough investigation into the marines’ previous conduct, so I would highly recommend you locate all your records of that particular investigation, as I’m sure a subpoena is forthcoming.”
Bainbridge’s face—which went bone white at Cullen’s mention of gang rape—now slackens altogether. Hite, Hite, and Wellesley are some of the sharpest attorneys in Manhattan, known for leaving no stone unturned. “Thank you for the heads-up, Mr. Hunt,” he breathes finally, finding his voice for the other media that are watching. “The Post will, of course, cooperate fully with the investigation.”
A warm trickle of satisfaction spills into my blood. Bainbridge isn’t a bad sort, and I’m certain that the thought of having gotten it wrong scares him as much as the pending lawsuit. Gathering himself, my former editor turns to me. “Ms. Reynolds, would—”
“Bitch. Fucking slut of a bitch.” Cutting his editor off midsentence, Jaden comes at me with nostrils flaring, his eyes flashing with a wild rage. “This is all your doing. All your lies. How many good people are you going to destroy?”
Beside me, Cullen tenses. And then…then steps back, leaving me to face Jaden one on one. The confidence in Cullen’s eyes ground my bubbling panic.
My pulse settles, my thoughts returning to me as I see Jaden for what he is. Not some fierce warrior, but a hack unable to control his basic impulses. “Mr. Harris. I’m so glad to have run into you today.” My saccharine-sweet tone makes Jaden’s face turn a new shade of burgundy. “I’m in the middle of a freelance story myself. Are you aware that WorldROCK former champion Jazmine Keasley’s sponsors—that’s Arc’teryx, and now prAna and SCARPA—are filing charges against the Manhattan Post reporter who assaulted her before this year’s competition? She was unable to participate due to her injuries, and, well, I imagine some more subpoenas are coming to the Post’s legal department.”
“Do you know something about this, Harris?” Bainbridge asks in the gruff way that all newspaper editors seem to have in their genes.
“Just slander from a known liar, sir,” Jaden hisses, his hands curling into fists.
“Mr. Bainbridge.” A woman in high heels a few paces away raises her recorder, her press credentials swaying as she reads from her phone. “WorldROCK’s media roster lists only a single reporter from the Post: Jaden Harris. Is that, in fact, the man you sent to cover the event? And if so, how are you unaware of a physical confrontation between him and one of the competitors?”
“Mr. Bainbridge, over here, sir,” another reporter chimes in. “Have there been any previous accusations of misconduct against Mr. Harris?”
Feeling Cullen’s hand in the middle of my back, I realize he’s come up to my side again and is now guiding me out of the feeding frenzy surrounding the Post. “I didn’t know you were covering the lawsuit,” he murmurs appreciatively into my ear as we come to stand next to my mom and Greg.
“Neither did I,” I tell him. “But I never said when I started covering it. It just happened to be about five minutes ago.”
Greg chuckles, and I suddenly feel my face heating all over again. “Oh my God. I’m so, so sorry,” I say, my hands covering my mouth. “I’ve upstaged your dinner with this nonsense and—”
“On the contrary, you did me a favor. I get press coverage and I don’t have to be in the middle of the reporters myself. Plus”—Greg’s face grows serious—“I did not have the honor to serve my country the way Cullen did, but I do what I can. If I helped in some small way to open the right eyes to injustice, I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Greg turns to Cullen. “Now, Mr. Hunt, is there anything else you have up your sleeve that I might want to know about?”
I expect Cullen to give Greg one of his rare smiles, but for the first time since I met him, Cullen looks…frightened. “Actually, sir, I have one more thing, if you don’t mind. I was going to wait, but—”
Greg cocks a brow. “Whatever it is, son, you may wish to reconsider the waiting lest you tachycardia yourself into my professional services.”
Cullen nods, then reaches again into his inside pocket, and, with his hand still inside his jacket, turns smartly toward me.
My chest tightens. Before I can speak, though, Cullen lowers to one knee, his gaze flickering to my hand before finding my eyes.
“Skylar Reynolds. Since I’ve met you, you opened my eyes to a different world. One with kindness and decency. You taught me to be a better man. Hell, just loving you makes me a better man. And I do. More than I ever thought possible. Would you be my wife?”
I want to speak, but there’s a lump lodged in my throat.
“Honey,” my mom prods. “This isn’t a one-way conversation.”
“Let the woman think, Grace,” Greg says. “There are many things to consider. Maybe he snores. Or—”
“Yes.” The word comes not from my brain, but from my soul. “Yes.”
“Thank fucking God,” Cullen murmurs. Rising to his feet, he slides a gleaming ring onto my finger, the pear-shaped solitaire sparkling from a diamond-encased band. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my life, with the exception of the Trident now looming over me, his fresh, spicy scent filling my lungs. Everything around me goes blurry, and I realize that I’m teary-eyed as my fingers press into Cullen’s muscled shoulders, unable to pull my gaze away from his tantalizing moss-green eyes.
“A kiss for the camera?” someone calls out.
And before I can blink, Cullen’s mouth seals over mine, his strong hand gripping the back of my head in a vise that sends tendrils of heat all the way to my sex. I gasp against Cullen’s mouth, my world narrowing to the soft yet unyielding feel of him as he plunders my mouth. Fully. Unapologetically. With a primal desire that wakes each of my senses, making me drunk on him. On us.
There’s nothing like it in the world. There’s nothing like him in the world. And he’s mine. So very mine.
As I kiss Cullen back, I’m aware of someone starting to clap, then the whole world erupts in a cheer that echoes the joyful pounding of my heart. Cullen’s arms tighten around me, holding me proudly. Assuredly. I know he always will.
Now and forevermore.
Thank you for reading ENEMY ZONE. The Trident Rescue series continues with Eli’s story in ENEMY CONTACT.
Eli Mason. Powerful CEO and former SEAL. Protector. Leader. Sexy as hell.
A man who has learned the hard way to hide his wounds.
And the man I’ve been hired to destroy.
Available HERE in Kindle Unlimited.
If you are reading an ebook version of this book, please continue for a FREE preview of Alex Lidell’s best-selling reverse harem fantasy romance, POWER OF FIVE.