I don't like it one bit when the guard tells nerd to get out of the kitchen. I like it even less when she says to not eat anything. Then she spoils it even more when she goes to the restroom and I don't hear anything after she shuts the door. I give her a couple minutes before I try to call her on the earpiece. Nothing!

Nobody has an eye on her. Granger takes my place in guarding Sanders. I go to the hallway with the restroom. As I approach the last door before the restroom, I see Bethany come from the room and I am instantly pissed! "Where the hell have you been? I've been calling you!" I grab her upper arm.

"We have to get the fuck outta here! I've been in an altercation. Where your hand is, there is a cut. There is two dead men in the bathroom. Now let's go! I'll explain everything when we are away."

My hand goes from her arm to her waist. "You hear that men? We are out! I have Bethany. Ticket, bring the car! Move it!" I lead my Bethany out of the front door. We get into the car as everyone else gets in. We are all here. "Drive!"

Beth lays her head on the back of the seat. I notice that there is fresh blood on her sleeve. "Fuck! OK Bethany, I am about to take off your jacket. Ready?"

"Yes, sir! Go for it." She leans up and helps me take the jacket off as easily as possible.

I see that her shirt is sliced about four inches and covered in blood. "Can someone take these glasses? Everything should be recorded."

Granger took the glasses that Beth had been wearing. I knew that there was a micro camera in the frames.

I rip her shirt sleeve off so that slice can tend to her arm. "Give me my laptop and I'll download the footage." Bethany tells me. I hand her the computer. She starts typing then waits for the download to finish. She hisses as slice hits a sore spot. Only then does she realize that he is stitching her wound.

Her nails are digging into the palm of her hand. I pick it up and intertwined our fingers. She is gripping my hand tightly. "Here is the footage." As we watch the video, Bethany translates the Arabic. We even see the poisonous herbs.

"I believe that is Foxglove. A poisonous flower." Slice says. "I'm all done, nerd! Great job!"

We all watch as Bethany enters the restroom and hangs her jacket then sits on the toilet as she places the tap. We hear her whispering where she is putting the tap. We hear everything that happens as we see all the action.

After we see Bethany shoot the second man in the eye. She leaves the room.

"Why couldn't we hear anything on her wire before it was flushed?" Sanders asked.

"Apparently there was a signal jammer in the restroom. They thought that was the best place to attack. There wasn't any way for me to get the help that I needed."

"You did an awesome job, nerd!" Decker told her. "You were prepared for any occasion."

"I'm so fuckin proud of you!" I tell her.

She looks at me. "But I killed two men!" Then passes out.

"What's wrong with her? Was it a dirty blade?" I ask slice.

Slice is checking her vitals. "Everything sounds good and strong. It is most likely shock and an adrenaline crash. Let's try to let her stretch out a little."

Granger crosses from the back seat to the back facing seat with Decker and slice. I lay Bethany's feet on the seat and her head in my lap. My jacket is her blanket.

The General is in the side seat by his aide and Marquez.

Marquez is typing on his laptop. After a few miles, he looks up with a grin. "Its working! The tap is working! She's a flipping genius!" He looks at where Bethany is still out.

We are close to the airstrip as Beth comes around. She starts to stretch her arm and gasped when it pulls her stitching. "Easy, nerd."

Beth raises her eyes to me. "I'm sorry that I screwed everything up. I guess that I'm not cut out for the trips." She says as she sits up.

"What are you talking about? You are awesome at everything you do! The taps are working perfectly. We are all still alive because of your warning." I tell her.

"We are all proud of you, Adamson! Job well done!" Sanders added.

We board the plane and I lead Bethany to the middle row of seats. We stay quiet until the plane is off the ground. "I am so sorry that I jumped to conclusions, back there. I kept trying to call you with no answer. I was worried out of my mind. Then I saw you walk out and my fear changed. I never want to feel that way again. I beg for your forgiveness."

"Please don't! I completely understand how you felt. I have felt it when you go on trips and I can't contact you for days on end. But this is what we do. We protect the innocent people. We also have one hell of a supportive family around us. They will also provide protection for us." She leans closer. "I love you, Tanner Cline!" She whispers in my ear.

"I love you too, Bethany Adamson Cline! That will be your name soon." I return the whisper. Her smile was the most beautiful that I have ever witnessed.

"I would love that very much!"

"Then it will happen! Go to sleep and get some rest. We have about six hours of flight. And you haven't been sleeping very well lately."

She agrees and closes her eyes. I look up and catch Granger and Decker looking at us. Decker raises a brow in question.

I smile and nod. He grins and closes his eyes. Granger does the same. I sit quietly until we are around fifteen minutes from landing. "Beth, sweetheart, wake up for me. We're about to land." I whisper with a kiss to her head while nobody is watching.

Beth stretches and yawns. "Where are we?" She asks sleepily.

She's so fuckin adorable! "About to land in Italy. How are you feeling?"

"Not too bad. Arm is a little sore. I'll live." She smiled at me. I return with a smile.

As we are approaching the landing, Beth looks out of the window at the lights that are lit across the country. "We can do a little sight seeing tomorrow if you want. Maybe an hour or two."

"That sounds great, but why don't we wait until we have more time to explore?"

"Like a honeymoon?"

"You know me so well!"

"Then we will come to Italy for our honeymoon. Now let's get you to the hotel. I want slice to check you out again."

We get to the hotel and my room has a connecting door to Bethany's. I have slice check her wound. "I'll change the bandage and apply more antibiotic cream." He tells Beth as he works. "So you need something for pain or sleep?"

"No. It doesn't hurt very much and I've been sleeping ok." Beth answers as she watches slice work.

"Let me know if you need anything. You did a great job back there. Do not feel guilty for those men dying. It was either you or them. You protected yourself. There is nothing that you could have done differently and continue to live. We would have all died. You are a hero to us. Rest easy, nerd!" Slice left the room but Decker, Granger, and ticket were here to check on Beth.

They started talking about going home tomorrow. "I personally can't wait to get back home. I'm just not cut out for this much adventure!" Bethany said as the guys were leaving. They all hugged Beth. Beth and I decided for me to sleep in my own room since we were on a business trip. We should keep it as professional as possible.

Later that night, I heard Beth moving around in her room. I get up and go to check on her. I find her pacing the room.

"Are you ok, sweetheart?" I ask as I see her face full of stress.

"I'm really trying to be at ease with what I did. I know in my heart that I did what had to be done to survive. But my heart is hung up on the fact that I ended someone's life. Not some one, but two, two lives! They were someone's son. Someone's brother, nephew, possibly husband or father. And I killed them!" Beth was still pacing.

"Yes! All of that is possible. Have you tried looking them up?"

"No. I'm afraid of what I might find."

"Let's try it. So you still have your laptop close?" She pulled it from her bag. We sat on her bed. Me with my back against the pillows. Bethany with her back to my chest.

Bethany runs the faces through a facial recognition program. The first pops up with his name and isis affiliation. He was wanted for bombing several businesses, killing seven men, five women, and twelve children. And countless rapes and assaults against government officials.

The second was Isis also and wanted in connection with the bombing and murders of an English embassy in Dubai. Along with an American embassy in Saudi Arabia. He was also wanted for killing a family on vacation in Germany. Plus the murders of eight missionaries in Korea.

"So I actually dealt with terrorists who killed innocent people without a second thought. They were cruel men!" She set the laptop aside. Then turned to straddle me.

"So what do you think about that? How do you feel?" I ask her.

Bethany thinks for a minute. "I think that they caused a lot of heartbreak. They both thought nothing of ending a life. They can't do that anymore. Because they are dead. Because I killed them before they could add to their body count. I killed them before they could kill the man that I love and myself."

She paused as she was lost in her own head trying to put into words how she feels. She knows that I am here for her. Now and forever.

"I think that I can feel better about what I did knowing what they have done."

I nod my head. After a few more minutes of silence, I spoke. Remember when we talked about you doing the project? You asked how many lives could be saved if you did the tap?" Beth nodded, looking into my eyes. "This is as close to an answer as we can get. They have killed many, many innocent people in just the last few years. We don't know how many they killed that they were never identified as the killers. So in the next few years,you have saved many, many innocent lives." I smiled a cocky smile. "Maybe even some not so innocent lives too!"

Beth was thinking it over. I love watching her eyes as she is thinking something through. Step by step. She smiles her beautiful smile. "You are right, Tanner! We saved a lot of innocent people's lives today!" She kissed me gently. "You are awesome! I love you!"

She hugged me and I never felt so cherished in my life! "I promise to love you until the world stops turning and the sky no longer exists!" I feel tears on my bare shoulder. "What's wrong, sweetheart? Tell me what you are feeling."

"So much love that I can't keep it inside. I feel like I don't deserve you." She kissed me again.

This time the kiss was full of love and passion. Within seconds she had my boxer briefs down enough to sit on my dick with one thrust. I hadn't realized that she was without panties under my shirt that she was wearing. She was out of control! I had to let Beth have what she wanted and needed. Right now she needed to control me. "Honey! I need....."

"Take what you need, sweetheart!"

Her movements were hard and fast. Bethany's orgasm slammed through the both of us. Bethany's lips slammed against mine as we both spent ourselves. The kiss turns slow and loving.

After several minutes, our breathing settles back to normal. My alarm sounds from my phone. It is time to get up and go to the plane. We get dressed and leave.

As we get home from the airport, Bethany's phone rings. "Hey daddy!" She answers on speaker.

"Hey baby! You haven't called this week. We are getting really worried about you. How are you, baby?" He sounds very worried.

"I'm ok, daddy. We are just getting back home. I'm sorry that I worried you. I couldn't ca...." she paused just long enough that let Brian know that she was trying to backtrack. "I mean my phone was out of order?"

"Bullshit!" Bethany winced. "You have never lied to me, Bethany. Do not start now! I want the truth!"

Oh he was getting pissed now.

"Daddy, I can't tell you everything. But I was out of the country. On business."

I pull her onto my lap and wrap my arms around her.

"Was this business dangerous?"

"It wasn't supposed to be. I was stuck with a knife and got stitches. But I'm good!" She rushed to reassure him. "Slice, the medic, was there immediately and cleaned and stitched me up. Then we left."

Brian took a deep, calming breath before continuing. "And where was Tanner, while this was going on?"

"He was there with me. Well not right on me, but very close." Beth said as she tried to answer his questions without telling him anything.

"Where is he now?" Brian asked.

"I'm here, Brian." I answer him.

"Then maybe you can tell me what the hell happened to my daughter!"

"Bethany worked on a project for a General. He found out that she spoke Arabic. He was invited to a dinner party and he insisted that Bethany accompany him. When I protested her involvement, he threatened to keep me and my team away from the dinner. If I protested too much, Bethany would be there with strangers. Nobody that she could trust. My only option was to agree to be the security and train Bethany to protect herself in case we couldn't be at her side every second. That is exactly what happened. She went to the restroom and encountered trouble. She handled herself like a dream come true. We got out of there. All of us are alive and healthy. The enemy can't say the same."

Brian was quiet for a few moments. "So my baby had another fight where she was the victor?!"

"Yes sir! She actually fought two men. And won!" I answer him. I can hear the pride in his voice.

"That's my girl!" Brian said with a chuckle.

"So you're not mad at me, daddy?" Bethany asks quietly.

"No, baby! You did what you were supposed to. You protected yourself! I am so damn proud of you, baby!"

"Thank you, daddy! I never want to disappoint you, mom, or the brothers. I love you all so much!"

"Does that mean that you are coming home when you get out of the Army?"

"For a visit. Not to live. You know that." She answers her dad.

Brian chuckled again. "Yes I know, baby. I'm glad that I was able to talk to you today. Now I have to get to work. I love you, baby. You rest and enjoy yourself."

"Ok, dad! You be safe and have a great day! Tell everyone hi for me!"

"I will, baby. Talk to you later, gator."

"Later, gator!" They hung up the call. Bethany took a deep breath and relaxed in my arms. "Thank you for having my back, honey."

"Always, sweetheart!"

We were called into the General's office the following Monday. Bethany was awarded an early release of her duty. She was honorably discharged, effective on the first of June, next month.

We start making plans to open a security agency together.

On Bethany's last day at work, there was a lot of tears and laughs. We all celebrate with a lunch with her parents and brothers. We also invited her sister and my family. We made a weekend of it.

Brian and Sherri were staying the week as their vacation.

Bethany's pov ***

It has been a month since I last worked on base. I stay so much at the lake house that I let my apartment lease expire.

Tanner is away on a trip and supposed to be back today. I am on my way home from working on base all day with Marquez. He wants me to update the tap. There is no way in hell to update that tap!

When I pull into the driveway of the lake house, I see a few vehicles that I recognize. I won't be fucking Tanner as soon as he gets home today!! Matt and Erika are her with Chris and the boys. I get out of the jeep and grab my briefcase then walk inside. "Hey everyone!" Then I notice that only women are in the den. "Mom! Angie! What are you doing here?"

I hug everyone. "Let's get you ready. Upstairs young lady!" Mom said as she turns me for the stairs.

"Mom! What are you doing? Get ready for what?" I ask as the women all put me in the shower.

"You'll find out in a minute. Wash your hair and body."

"Nice tattoo, big sister!" Angie says of the blue butterfly on the back of my left shoulder.

"Thank you!" I wash as I am told too. When I get out, I wrap in a towel as I am sat down on the chair in front of the mirror. Angie dries my hair then styles it in spiral curls in a clip behind my head. Mom brings a dress out of my closet that I knew was not there this morning.

It was knee length sky blue and would hug my every curve. There was a four inch split at the back. Erika brings a shoe box out and opens it for me. Inside is a pair of three inch, silver heels.

Angie starts trying to put makeup on my face. I lean away from her. She likes the bright, flashy colors. I don't! "I will do that." I took the brush from her hand. "I take it that I am getting married today?" I ask as I start putting on a light coating of foundation.

"Yes your are!" Erika and mom say at the same time. With the same smiles.

"Awesome! About damn time! So where is my husband-to-be?"

"He is in a guest room getting dressed." Erika answers.

"Who came up with this idea?" I ask as I finish my eyes with a light blue and silver shadow.

"Tanner asked for our help." Mom said.

"We made a few arrangements that he couldn't while he was on the trip." Erika added.

I stood and turned to get dressed. "Where did this scar come from, Bethany?" Mom asked.

"From the trip that I went on a few months ago." I had actually forgotten about the scar.

"Explain!" Erika demanded.

So I did as I dressed in the beautiful dress. "So it is nothing to be upset over. Terrorists zero, Bethany two! Now! Where do I need to go to find myself a husband?" We cover the scar with makeup.

All three women are almost crying. "Come on y'all! I want to get married! Let's go!"

"Wait! We need some pictures!" Angie said. We all pose for pictures.

"I love all of you!" I hugged all three of them. Then we went downstairs. Dad, Jaden, Braden, and Jeremy, were all there. They all hugged me.

The boys went outside with Angie and mom. Dad walks with me to the door. He stops. "This is your last chance to back out. Is this something that you want?"

"Yes, daddy! I want to be Tanner's wife more than my next breath! He is my heart and soul."

"Alright, baby! I love you most though." He kissed my cheek.

"I love you most, daddy! You'll always be the first man that I loved in my life! I owe you so much!"

"All I want in repayment is for you to be happy and healthy. That, is my reward for every sacrifice!"

I am blinded by my tears. Daddy wipes my face then walks me outside to the dock.

My man looks so damn sexy in his dress blues. This is the first time that I have ever seen him dressed up. I must say, I really really like it!

I see the General and Marquez are both present. So is Chris, the boys, and the entire team. So everyone has known about this except for me!

Throughout the afternoon, I notice how Chris and Thermo are spending quiet a big of time together. Great!