Page 81 of Protecting Bree
She brought the rim to her mouth and drank several gulps of the clean, cool water.
“Easy, Bree.”
She nodded as she lowered the bottle. He could see the desire to chug the entire contents, but she smartly took the lid from him and secured it in place.
Smiley reached back into the bag and pulled out the loaf of bread he’d purchased. It was still slightly warm. He broke off a piece and held it out to her.
She reached for it, and he noticed her hand shaking. It was all Smiley could do not to turn around and start breaking shit. His woman was hungry.Starving. And he could practically see her salivating.
She took a large bite of the bread, smiling at him as she chewed.
As much as Smiley wanted to stay there, waiting until she’d had her fill of both food and water, they needed to find another, hopefully safer place to hole up. If such a place existed.
Grabbing her hand to help her over the rubble, Smiley watched her closely. She wasn’t limping and seemed steady on her feet. Just another testament to how fucking strong she was. After what she’d been through, he wouldn’t have been surprised if she told him she couldn’t move. Instead, she was putting one foot in front of the other.
“I’m so proud of you,” Smiley blurted.
“Why?”
Why? She was askingwhy? Smiley shook his head in exasperation.
“Smiley, what choice do I have right now? I can’t exactly refuse to move. You can’t carry me and protect us from men like the ones outside at the same time. Later, I’m sure I’ll collapse and probably have a major crying fit. But right now, we need to get out of here and find your team. And stay two steps ahead of Mateo and his goons in the process. I don’t have the luxury of having a mental or physical breakdown.”
She was right. And that kind of sucked.
“I’m going to make this up to you,” he promised, as he continued toward the alley.
“That’s fine, but it’s not yours to make up to me,” she said calmly. “None of what happened is your fault. It was all put in motion before we even met. Besides, without you…I’d be in deep shit.”
Smiley snorted. They were in deep shit right now.
Bree squeezed his hand. “The truth is, I’m scared. I’m hurting. I still feel a little sick. But none of that mattersright now. Besides,you’rehere. I feel as if I can handle anything else life decides to throw at me now.”
She was too good for him.
Smiley peered out of the makeshift door and saw the two men still lying on the ground where he’d left them. Glad they hadn’t woken up and fled, he let go of Bree’s hand and stalked over to the closest man. He rifled through his pockets, coming up with a bit of money, a knife, and some ammunition for the rifle lying on the ground next to him.
The second man had much of the same, but he also had a packet of some sort of crackers or cookies. Neither had a cellphone, which sucked, as Smiley could’ve really used one right about now.
But he still had his tracker. Any moment, his team would come toward them in typical V-shape formation, swooping in to save the day.
But a niggling doubt crept in. Why hadn’t theyalreadyappeared? Tex should’ve tracked him by now. Had they been caught in the unrest going on around them?
He hated to think of his team in trouble, but Smiley turned his attention back to the task at hand. His team could take care of themselves. His job right now was Bree. Keeping her safe, out of the hands of desperate civilians who would see her as a payday and nothing more.
Holding his hand out, he gestured for her to come to his side. She stepped out of the rubble of the building and quickly walked toward him. The second his fingers closed around hers, a calm settled in Smiley. They were in this together.
Mateo Castillo was furious. His men had bungled the retrieval of his property from the get-go. Not only had they lost the old broads who were supposed to go to customers in Russia and North Korea, they’d let the bitch he’d been forced to personally hunt down escape!
He’d also gotten word that the Navy SEALs were in Ecuador. In the port area. Their presence certainly complicated the reacquisition of his property.
He couldn’t understand how the hell she’d been able to escape in the first place. He’d given strict orders for her to be confined at all times, yet clearly someone had fucked up and let her out of her travel cage. Now, he would have to make an example of everyone involved, so those who worked for him in the future followed his instructions to the letter.
If he was smart, Mateo would write the bitch off. Move on to other acquisitions. Those who were easier to control. Ones he could add to his stable of women without so much hassle. Bree Haynes was a huge pain in his ass—but one he refused to let go. She had to learn who was in charge.Him.
The current state of Ecuador would work in his favor. The militia was spreading fear with their stunt at the television studio. The bands of armed men looting and killing anyone they suspected of supporting the current political party. Which would make it easier for his men to move around Guayaquil, also armed…and ready to take his property back into custody.
When he got the bitch to his compound, she would never see the light of day again. He’d tie her down and keep her so weak, she wouldn’t be able to eventhinkaboutescaping. She was his to do with as he pleased—and what he wanted now was for Bree Haynes to suffer.
