Page 25 of Her Tempting Protector

Carys flinched. She was going to die. But maybe stalling for time would allow the other hospital workers to get away.

He yanked even harder on her hair. She felt strands pulled out of her scalp. She clamped her lips shut to stifle her cry of pain.

“Somebody kill her! We’ve got to get upstairs and get with the others.”

She didn’t want to harm someone. It went against every oath she’d ever taken. But he was evil, and these men were just going to hurt and kill more people. She pressed the knife farther into his soft flesh.

He yowled.

“If you won’t shoot, come and get her! She’s killing me!” His panic was obvious.

“You keep talking and threatening me, you’ll never father a child. Tell them to back off.” Carys’ growled the words, surprised to realize she meant every one of them.

“Just walk up and put a gun to her head, you dumbasses,” the leader let out a whiny yell.

This was it, she was going to die. Would she be able to kill him? Maybe. Maybe not.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” a man said in American-accented Spanish. “Drop your weapons or I’ll kill you all.”

“Don’t do it, there are three of you and just one of him!” the leader screamed.

Who was he? Carys was going to throw up. Not because of the fear, but because of the stench. Breathe through your mouth.

“Don’t forget her. She seems to be on my side, and she has your leader by the balls.”

She let out a bark of raspy laughter.

Who was he? Where had he come from?

“Shoot him,” the leader screamed so hard that he moved, and the knife dug deeper. He yowled in pain.

“I’m supposed to take you in, and return you to the warden,” the American soldier said in Spanish. “If those weren’t my orders, you’d be dead. Now drop your weapons.”

“Shoot him.”

A shot rang out from upstairs.

Oh no, they were killing her friends. He pulled her hair again. More shots behind her. She couldn’t see as he pulled her hair and yanked her closer. She was going to die. Well, so was he. She plunged the knife and yanked. Hot blood sprayed across her face, hair, and hands. Carys screamed. She would never, ever be able to stop screaming.

* * *

She struggled as she felt a hand over her mouth. She scrabbled away from the strong grip, digging her nails into the thick wrist above the hand that covered her mouth.

“Carys,” wake up. It was a commanding voice. She recognized it…barely. She was still lost in her dreams and having trouble separating the dreamworld from reality. She blinked fast, and finally, Cullen came into view. He was holding a baby.

The baby was crying, and she could hear another voice crying out weakly.

Shada.

Africa.

Navy SEALs.

Again.

“Carys, are you with me now?” His voice was now full of empathy and caring. She couldn’t stand that. If he was too nice to her, she’d shatter.

She pulled at his wrist and nodded. Cullen let go.