The captain nods. “I heard, and in the morning, a recruitment officer will speak with each of them. Lots of kids like them enter the service and most turn out just fine.”
“What about the rest?”
“The State Department is on it. Everyone will be well provided for in return for their silence.”
Silence?Steam busts out of my ears. “Surely, you don’t expect me to shut up about what happened? We were kidnapped and auctioned off like… like cattle.”
One corner of Suds’ mouth turns up but the other man sighs and rubs a bump in his misshapen head. “We’ve spoken with the King and he promises he’ll investigate. He’s a fair man and I believe him when he says he’ll put an end to it.”
Are you fucking kidding me?“Isn’t he the guy who made news for kidnapping his own daughters? Abusing his wife? Is that why you woke me in the middle of the night? To make sure I won’t tweet about it?” My stomach churns.
“There was one other reason. Can you come with me, please?” The Captain touches my upper arm and I start screaming.
My chest pounds and all the oxygen gets sucked out the room.Holy shit. I’m having a heart attack.
“I can’t breathe.” As my knees buckle, I’m dropped in a chair and lean over with my head between my legs.
Squatting, Suds pats my back and a few minutes later, I giggle hysterically as a silly thought enters my head.
“Sugar?” Eyes creased with concern, he catches my gaze but I hiccup and try to stop laughing, but it’s too freaking funny.
“Abduct-a-bald-a-phobia.”
“Huh?” Brows creased, his large warm hand covers my forehead, no doubt wondering if I’ve lost my mind.
I glance up at the Captain. “My apologies, sir. One of the abductors looked a lot like you. I may have an unnatural anxiety of being kidnapped by bald men.
My fiancé heaves a sigh, and standing, types on a keyboard.
He turns the monitor so I can see. “Sorry, hun. No such thing. It’s plain ol’ PTSD.”
“Nu-uh.” Holding back an ocean of chuckles, I wipe my eyes and search Wikipedia. “There. See it? Fear of bald people, peladophobia.”
“Sorry, Sir. She’s correct.” Shrugging, he swivels the screen in the opposite direction. “I’m afraid more questions will need to wait until she can be evaluated by a shrink. As you can see, she’s tuckered out and not in her right mind.”
I’m about to argue how I’m not crazy until I see the warning glare from my partner.Okay, no talking. Got it.
A medic arrives, opens a leather bag, and wraps a blood pressure cuff around my bicep. Counting to himself, he takes my pulse, then announces it to the room.
“One-twenty over eighty-five. Would you like something to help calm your nerves, ma’am?”
“It’s miss and no thank you.” I yawn so big, my jaw cracks.
“Permission to put my woman to bed, sir.” My savior lifts me to my feet and slips his hand to my lower back.
“Granted.” When the commander gives me the stink eye, I resist the urge to stick out my tongue.
Once we’re outside, I’m kissed until my toes curl and when we stop, I can’t help but ask, “Why didn’t you just do your ramble-on-saying-nothing-for-hours spiel?”
“I did, sugar. But because of it, the commander decided to wake you up. By the way, that was some amazin’ acting. I couldn’t’ve done better myself.”
“Uh, yeah, thanks.”I’ll explain later.
“Shit.” I stop at the door to the barracks. “No way I can go back to sleep.”
My tough guy grins, leans into me, and puts his elbows on either side of my head. “What do you have in mind?”
“Same thing as you, but where?” Twisting my head, I glance around where people come and go as if it were broad daylight. “Surely, in this whole damn complex, we can find someplace to be alone.”
