Hot SEAL, Midnight Magic by Reasor Teresa & Authors Paradise

Author:Reasor, Teresa & Authors, Paradise
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, SEALs, Military
Publisher: Teresa J. Reasor
Published: 2021-09-28T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

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Mama Bet’s face remained badly bruised, but the swelling had abated, and her features had returned to their normal structure. Her eyes looked sunken in a face ravaged by the beating, followed by a week without solid food. For the first time, she looked every day of her sixty-seven years.

After a brief visit earlier in the morning, when they saw how weak Mama was, the detectives had postponed the questioning until later in the day.

Mama seemed stronger after having the first solid food in days. If one could call Jell-O, soup, and applesauce solid food.

The female detective, Detective Olivette, had a brisk, all-business way about her that Gage appreciated, while her partner Detective Romero had the charm. His grandmother was currently eating it up, and she actually smiled twice. But her eyes kept straying to Gage, as though for reassurance. He kept her hand in his, giving her what support he could.

“Can you describe what happened step-by-step, little Mama? Whatever you can remember,” Romero urged, his warm brown eyes focused on her face as though she was the only one in the room. He patted her arm gently. “Just take your time.”

Her voice was a hoarse whisper. “Dark as pitch, but I saw a tall shadow.” She raised her hand to demonstrate the word “tall.” “He jumped on me. Hands around my throat.” She motioned to her neck, where the darkest bruises colored her skin like ink. “Gloves and a knitted mask. Saw white spots. Couldn’t breathe.”

She sucked in an audible breath. “Then I crushed his balls until he screamed.” There was a touch of satisfaction in her tone.

Gage gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

“He went crazy and started punching me.” She didn’t shake her head so much as rock it back and forth, like the muscles were stiff.

“Did you smell anything?” Romero asked.

She fell silent for several seconds. “Whiskey. Sweat.”

“Anything else?”

“Oil.”

“What kind of oil?”

“Motor oil.”

A tear rolled down her cheek. “He cried.” A single tear ran down her cheek. She’d begun to flag.

Rage brought a flash of heat to the back of Gage’s neck. He exchanged a glance with Romero and reached for a tissue to brush the tear away. He kissed Mama’s hand. “You did really good, Mama. I think you need to rest now.”

Romero rose from his seat next to the bed. “I’m going to leave you my card, and if you think of anything else at all, you call me…any time. Okay?” He patted her hand.

“Okay.”

“I’m just going to have a word with the detectives, Mama. I’ll be just outside.”

She waved him on, probably too exhausted to speak.

Once outside in the hall, he faced both detectives. “I’m staying with a friend until Mama comes home from the hospital, but I’ve put in an alarm system at her house. If you need to reach me, you can use my cell or call this number.” He gave Romero Mia’s number.

“How long will you be here before you return to San Diego?” Detective Olivette asked.

“Three more weeks. I’m on emergency leave, but four weeks is all I could get.

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