Page 51 of Seal of Honor
“Yeah.” He gave his head a hard shake. He had to focus on the present, on the very real danger they were in, not on some fantasy of a peaceful, domestic life.
“I was out of line,” he admitted again, figuring a second time couldn’t hurt. “But, Aud, I do need you to tell me what happened, how we ended up here, and where here is.”
After a second, her posture relaxed, and she rolled her lower lip through her teeth. “Promise not to freak out?”
“I’ll do my best.” He held up a hand when she opened her mouth in protest. “That’s all I can promise. I told you I don’t break promises, so I never make ones I’m not sure I can keep.”
But he had made one, hadn’t he? Back in that jungle hut, after she’d kissed him senseless, he had promised to protect her. Yet he wasn’t careful enough, and now, despite their plush accommodations, she could be in more danger than ever. He had the sickening feeling he already knew where they were and who their generous host was, and ground his back teeth at the thought.
Striving for patience, he waited silently as she hesitated again. God, she was killing him.
“Audrey, talk to me.”
“We’re at Mena’s estate in Cartagena,” she blurted.
Gabe dropped his head forward and let out a long breath. Luis Mena, public enemy number one. Holy fuck. “How?”
“Those were his men that attacked the camp. But it’s not whatyou think,” Audrey rushed on. She knelt in front of him, bending to put her face in his line of sight. “Gabe, really. I talked to him over lunch, and this isn’t a bad thing.”
Luis Mena, not a bad thing. That was like saying Hitler was misunderstood. And, whoa, she talked to him over lunch? She had to be out of her fucking mind. “Do you have any idea what that man’s done? What he’s capable of doing?”
“Yes, I know. I’ve heard the horror stories, same as everyone else in the Western Hemisphere. But he isn’t our enemy.”
He gave a humorless laugh. “He’s everybody’s enemy.”
She pursed her lips. “Okay, I can’t argue that. But you know that old saying about the enemy of my enemy. Will you just hear me out?”
“No.” He abruptly stood.
Audrey lost her balance and fell backward on her butt. “Gabe!”
“Get up. We’re leaving. Now.” He scanned their lavish prison for any potential escape routes. His mind was already whirring with strategies and contingencies, the way it always did when a mission went sideways.
But this time, he wasn’t just trying to save himself.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she retorted, crossing her arms defiantly as she remained seated on the floor like a petulant child.
“Like hell you’re not.” Fear for her safety took him in a chokehold—fear that was quickly transforming into a red-hot rage that scalded everything in him until there were nothing but ashes where his composure once stood. “Get up.”
“And here we are, right back where we started with you acting like a caveman’s ass.” Audrey stayed put, her stubborn chin jutting out in defiance. “Why can’t you ever listen? Just for once?”
“Because every time I listen to you, we end up in deeper shit.” He pretended not to notice her wince, even though it cut through him like a knife. He was acting like an ass again, but he didn’t care. At this point, saving Audrey’s life was a priority; everything else could be pushed aside. “So, no, I’m not listening this time. Get up, Audrey.”
She remained unmoved, her green eyes blazing with indignation and something that looked damned close to hurt. “No. Mena can help us find Bryson. Or did you forget about my brother?”
Inwardly, he cringed because, yeah, her brother’s abduction had taken the far backseat on his list of concerns. Outwardly, he didn’t move a muscle, except for the frustrated tick in his jaw that he couldn’t control.
“We don’t have time for this,” he gritted out. He moved swiftly, picking her up off the floor and hauling her over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. Audrey squawked in surprise, kicking and pounding against his back as he strode towards the door.
“You put me down this instant, Gabriel Bristow! I swear I’ll?—”
“Quiet,” he snapped, ignoring the sharp jab of her elbow to his lower back. “Be sensible for once.”
“You arrogant?—”
The door swung open before he reached it.
In one quick move, Gabe had Audrey off his shoulder and tucked safely behind him as he faced one of the most hated men in the world.
