She shook her head, still in a bit of shock.A group of soldiers were conferring at the door, seemingly trying to decide the best way to move out.The gunfire had stopped for the moment, but they still held their weapons at the ready.
“Is that Avery’s Ryan?”Luciana choked out.
The mystery man looked surprised for a beat, then nodded.“Yes.I’m his commanding officer, Commander Harrison Madden.Those men are on my team of U.S.Navy SEALs.”
So, they were sailors then, not soldiers.It didn’t matter.They’d literally stormed the house to rescue her, and at the moment, she’d do whatever they needed to get the heck out of here.
“I’m Luciana,” she said, her voice trembling.
“I know who you are,” Commander Madden assured her.“We came here for you.”His gaze swept over her for a beat before meeting her eyes once more.“I don’t have time to explain everything now.More cartel members are coming.We need to exfiltrate you from the property and get you medical attention.You’re sure that you’re not injured?”
“I’m okay, but I—I don’t have anywhere to go,” she admitted.“I was working on assignment in the Darien Gap.I have no idea where any of my belongings even are.Avery!”she suddenly cried out, panicked.
His large, gloved hand settled over hers.Luciana looked down, realizing she was clutching the sheet wrapped around her in a death grip.He patted her hands awkwardly, then removed his, seeming to realize she might not welcome his touch.Surprisingly, it hadn’t bothered her.If he was going to hurt her, he’d have done so already.Luciana was certain of it.
“Avery is fine,” he told her.“She’s in Hawaii, happy and healthy.”
Tears smarted her eyes, and Luciana swiped one away as it rolled down her cheek.“She is?That’s amazing!”she said.“I was so worried about her all this time.We were separated after we were kidnapped and—” She cut off, choking back her tears.
A flash of anger crossed Commander Madden’s face.He wasn’t mad at her though.He seemed livid that she’d been held hostage by the cartel.“I’m sorry you had to endure any of this,” he said quietly.“And you don’t need to worry about where to go.You’ll come with us,” he said simply.
She looked at him in surprise.
“My SEAL team is working in coordination with the Panamanian military.We’re ready to—” He cut off, his hand moving to his ear, and Luciana realized he was listening in to some communications.
Commander Madden clicked his mic.“Roger that.We have the package and are ready to move out.Over.”
“Please don’t leave me here,” she blurted, suddenly reaching out to him in a panic.
“Of course I won’t leave you,” he said, his voice low and smooth.“We flew here with the sole purpose of rescuing you, Luciana Rodriguez.”
A shiver washed over her at his deep voice uttering her name.
She looked down, realizing she was still clinging to him, and flushed.He probably saved people all the time, and here Luciana was acting like some silly young girl, clinging to the man who’d come to her rescue.
“How did you find me?”she asked.
“It’s a long story, which I’ll have to explain later.We need to move out.I was serious about you coming with us.I’m not certain it’s safe for me to leave you in Panama.The Gulf Clan knows your face and your name.They’ll come after you.”
“I wish they’d leave me alone,” she spat out, suddenly growing tearful.
Commander Madden cleared his throat as he helped her to stand.He cursed as he saw she was only in a nightgown, barking out orders for the other men to get her some clothes.One of them returned with her own belongings.Luciana wasn’t sure how he’d found them, unless the older woman was around and cooperating with them.
Luciana tugged her pants on without thought, letting the nightgown mostly cover her.Commander Madden cursed and looked away, clearly annoyed that she thought nothing of changing in front of him.She still had on her undergarments, though, and if dressing quickly meant getting the heck out of here, she was all for it.Quickly yanking her nightgown off, she pulled on her shirt.Harrison was still facing away from her, and he’d ordered his men to do so as well.
It was the exact opposite of the man who’d stripped her after they’d returned from the nightclub the other evening, clearly planning to assault her.These men were doing everything in their power to protect her, even from themselves.It made her heart clench.She’d been treated as next to nothing for the past month.These men actually saw her as a person, not an object.It was somewhat surreal to suddenly feel...human again.
Luciana grabbed her boots and quickly put them on.She’d leave any philosophical thoughts for later.They were still in the home of the cartel leader, and she wasn’t missing her chance to escape.“I’m dressed,” she said in a clipped tone as tears streamed down her cheeks.
The commander looked alarmed as he realized she was crying.“What’s wrong?”he asked.
She shook her head.“Nothing.I just want to get out of here.I don’t want to stay here in this home another second.”
His eyes searched hers, and he nodded.One of his big, gloved hands reached for her again, guiding her closer to him.She let out a breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding.Part of her didn’t want to believe she was really free, but here she was, clutching onto the man who’d literally broken down doors to get to her.
“Commander!”one of the men called out from the hallway.As he paused in the doorway, Luciana saw that his hand was at his ear as he listened to an update, and then he made a circling motion with one finger, as if signaling that they needed to move out.
Commander Madden’s face hardened.He looked down at her, and she could see the concern in his gaze, warring with the tension.“Stay behind me,” he told her.“We’ll be flanked by several of my team as we exit the home and load into the vehicles.If we’re separated for any reason, you can trust them.We need to move quickly, because we’ve got company.”
