Page 62 of Her Noble Protector

“Stupid not to be outside on lookout,” Clint said.

“Maybe he’s on the other side,” Raiden pondered.

“Yeah, away from the road. That makes sense,” Clint said sarcastically. He took in a deep breath. “But seriously, we’re dealing with a total novice, with our hostage in a small closed-in area. All we need is one clear shot.”

“I saw his kids today. His mother. I’d really like to avoid anyone dying tonight,” Raiden said softly.

Clint nodded. “No kill-shots, got it.”

They were ghosts as they made their way over to the trailer. Mrs. Gomez really needed to get herself a dog. Clint nodded to Raiden, and then Raiden carefully looked through the front window where there was a slit in the curtain. Lisa was curled up in a tight ball on a little pink couch that was built into the trailer. Her hands were tied in front of her, and her feet were tied. The bruising on her face was clear. Her eyes were wide open and she was staring down the hall toward the back of the trailer—that had to be where Melchor Gomez was. The door to that back bedroom was open, but Raiden couldn’t see anything in there.

The side door to the trailer would press inwards and partially block the passage between Lisa and Gomez. Raiden crouched down to talk to Clint and explain what he saw.

“Go to the back of the trailer, pop the window to the back bedroom when I bust open the front door.”

Clint nodded.

Raiden slid over to the front door. There wasn’t even a storm door, and the door itself was a flimsy piece of shit. He counted to five in his mind, making sure he gave Clint enough time to get into place.

Bam.

His boot slammed open the door, and the whole trailer shook. He turned and crouched down, his gun pointed to the back of the trailer.

“Put your weapons down or I will kill you!” he roared.

He heard shots from a semi-automatic. Clint was firing.

“Gomez, put down your weapon,” Clint yelled. “Don’t make me kill you or your woman.”

Woman?

Raiden looked over his shoulder at Lisa. She was looking at him, her eyes fierce.

“Raiden, get in here,” Clint shouted. Raiden got to the small bedroom and saw the man and a woman standing by the bed, both naked. The thirty-eight revolver was lying on the bed. Clint was hanging mostly inside the trailer, through the small window.

“Oh for fuck’s sake.” He snatched up the gun. He wanted to get to Lisa but he couldn’t leave them alone until Clint got in the trailer and watched them. “Clint, get your ass in here so I can get to Lisa. We need to take her to the hospital. Find something to secure them with so we can call the cops.”

Clint was already out of the window and on his way to the door. When he arrived by Raiden’s side, Raiden sped down the hall to Lisa and knelt beside her.

Lisa looked up at him, her eyes wide. “Why’d you say ‘for fuck’s sake?’” Lisa asked.

“Baby, look at you. Oh honey, what did they do to you? Tell me, what hurts the most?”

“Why’d you say ‘for fuck’s sake’ in there?” Lisa asked again.

Raiden looked in her eyes and saw they weren’t cloudy with pain or fear. There was actual curiosity.

“They were in there naked.”

“Nellie and Mel? Both of them?” she asked.

“Man and woman,” he confirmed, a little surprised that they were having this conversation.

“They’re idiots,” she said disgustedly.

Raiden pulled out his knife and took her wrists in his hands. That’s when she hissed in pain. “I’ve got to cut the zip-ties, baby.” He did it fast and then cradled her right hand. “He broke your finger?” he whispered the question.

“I made him mad,” she whispered back.