Page 87 of Protecting Bree
He heard the woman with the baby make a noise of disapproval, and he glanced at her and shrugged apologetically. There was a gap in the cardboard boxes that were stacked around her little area, allowing her to see them, and vice versa.
“Remember what Tex said, about the group that took out Castillo’s predecessor?” Smiley asked Bree.
“That Rex guy?”
“Yeah. So, needless to say, Rex isn’t happy. He’s going to make sure Castillo isn’t a threat to you, or any other woman, ever again. Once we get home, the only thing we have to worry about is our future. Together.”
Bree looked up at him. “I want to stay with you.”
“Good. Because I want that too.”
“Don’t hurt me, Smiley. Because I think it would destroy me.”
“I’m not going to hurt you. I think you could hurtmeway worse than anything I could do to you.”
She snorted. “Whatever.”
“I mean it. You think I usually spend months looking for women I meet while on an op? I don’t. There was something about you that wouldn’t let me quit. You got under my skin, Bree. And now you’re in so deep, I can’t imagine younotbeing there. You once asked me why I was helping you.”
Bree nodded. “And you said you’d tell me after Mateo was caught.”
“Right,” Smiley said, pleased she remembered the conversation. “He hasn’t been caught yet, but he’s as good as dead. I think I loved you from the second I saw you. Which sounds impossible, but I can’t think of any other reason why I was so obsessed with finding you, making sure no harm came to you.”
Bree stared at him with an expression he couldn’t read.
He blurted, “If you come to your senses and change your mind about being with me, it would destroy me.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Why do you think I went toRiverton when I left Vegas? I could’ve gone anywhere. But for some reason, I went straight to whereyouwere. I think we were meant to be together. I somehow realized you were someone who wouldn’t let me down. I don’t know about love at first sight, but there was definitely something about you that drew me in. That’s why I found you in Riverton, why you were able to track me to Mexico, and why we’re here now. We’re going to get back home, I just know it.”
Smiley’s throat was so tight, he couldn’t speak. All he could do was gather Bree closer to his chest and close his eyes and pray she was right.
As Bree fell asleep in his arms, Smiley stayed awake and on alert. He wasn’t tired. Not even close. When he was sure they were safe, and they were on their way out of the country, he’d crash hard. But for now, he was wired.
Bree slept for two hours in his arms, but when more and more people started coming and going from the roof, he decided it was in their best interest to head out. It wasn’t dark yet, but Smiley didn’t like the looks he was getting from some of the men, and even some of the women. His analogy about the lost dog and the massive reward kept replaying in his head. All it would take was for one person making a phone call, and they’d be in big trouble.
“Bree,” he said softly.
She woke in an instant, as if his voice was all she’d been waiting for.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Smiley soothed, hoping against hope he wasn’t lying. “It’s time for us to get going. You want tocheck out the area, make mental notes so you can get us going in the right direction?”
She nodded and went to climb off his lap, but Smiley held her still. “Hang on, sweetheart. Let me get up first.”
He helped her slide off to his side, then stood. Reaching down, Smiley helped her stand as gently as he could, then stood behind her as she looked out over the city.
In Smiley’s estimation, it was probably around five or so in the afternoon. The sun was still up, but much lower in the sky.
Bree scanned the area, and Smiley could practically see the wheels turning in her head as she did her best to memorize landmarks and plot a path toward the ocean. Once the sun went down, he’d be lost, but Smiley had confidence in his Bree. He should’ve asked her way before now for help. He’d gotten used to his teammates taking charge of navigation without having to be asked.
She looked up at him. Even with the bruises and scrapes all over her body, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on. She shone with an inner strength and kindness that called to him.
The woman with the child began speaking, and Smiley turned to glance at her through the opening in the boxes. He thought she was talking to them…then he realized she was actually using a cellphone.
He was somewhat alarmed, praying that she wasn’t calling someone to alert them to the foreigners who were so out of place on the roof. But she didn’t look worried, or concerned, or shifty in any way…
The woman’s baby began to cry, and she hung up the phone to try to console the child.
