|
“You okay?” he asked.
American. Relief swamped her.
More tears threatened. “I will be,” she forced the words
out, proud they didn’t shake. Too much anyway.
The other man hadn’t spoken
but she had no doubt he watched her. Unnerving actually. She
ran her gaze over him again. Tanned skin, broad shoulders,
lean hips.
“Better speak to her or she’s
likely to bolt.” The one who’d asked her if she was okay,
spoke to his companion who had the kerchief on.
“Riz?”
Her heart thudded to a stop
before struggling to renew. She pushed up from her knees,
pivoted until she faced them both and walked toward him. Are
you shitting me? Five years, seven months, eighteen
weeks, and five, no, six days since her heart had been
ripped from her chest. Yes despite the time, there wasn’t
any way she would forget that voice.
“Let me see your face,” she
demanded.
He tugged down his skull
kerchief as well and her pulse kicked up at the familiar jaw
covered by red scruff. Familiar lips and nose. She moved up
and was met by pale green eyes as the sunglasses vanished.
Ralston Dansen stood before
her.
The relief of her rescue
faded and in a second she’d swung her bound hands up, taking
both herself and him by surprise when the connected with his
jaw. Shit, that hurts. The back of her hand throbbed
painfully and the wrist pulsed even more. He stumbled back a
step, watching her as if just seeing her for the first time.
The other man whistled low
and chuckled. “I think you left a few things out when you
stated the two of you had a history.” He beckoned to her and
cut the rope binding her hands. She shook them grateful to
be free.
“F*** off, Cole.” His deep
voice brought back to many memories for her weakened mental
state to handle.
“Thank you,” she stated,
looking at the one Ralston had called Cole.
“Ready to go home?” Cole
asked.
“Yes, more than you can know,
but I can’t leave all those people there.”
“We’re here to rescue you,
not everyone.” Ralston made the comment.
Fresh anger poured into her.
She fisted a hand and refused to look at her ex. Locking her
gaze and focus on Cole, she stared into his blue-green eyes.
“I won’t go knowing they are still in danger.”
Cole nodded. “Give me a
second.” He stepped away and in the time it took her to
blink, the space had been filled up by Ralston. His green
eyes snapped fire. “It’s time to go. You can’t save them.”
“I’m not going.”
“They let you get dragged off
and almost raped. Now you want to protect them?” Sweat
glistened along his skin.
“I didn’t expect them to face
off with twelve armed men to save me. It’s not like
they’ve betrayed me.” His flinch brought a feral smile
to her face. |
