“Well, you better get over it quickly. We’re about to land and have a job to do still. Romance doesn’t work in our world. One-night stands yes. Happily ever after isn’t in the cards for us. There are too many secrets. Women don’t take that well. You taught me that, Midas.”
Sunshine wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t already know. It was why he had never tried to pursue a relationship before. He took the occasional barrack bunny to bed, but that wasfew and far between. Hannah had white picket fence and marriage written all over her. Her parents would expect her to marrysomeivy league school guy who made more money than he knew what to do with and keep Hannah in a lavish lifestyle. That wasn’t him. He was a simple farm boy with simple tastes. Once he was too old to be doing this anymore, he would either train the next generation of Delta Force or take over his dad’s farm. Somehow, he didn’t see Hannah taking care of livestock. Shefeareda worm on a fish hook.She’s not the same girl you left.His conscience reminded him. Maybe that was true but there was no way in hell her parents would give him their consent to be with their daughter.
Ben had had his fair share of one-night stands and liked that he could lie abouthis name or job and not feel any guilt. Hannah knew he was military,but Delta Force was a closely guarded secret that if she knew, then she could be in danger. Not that she already wasn't. Ben wouldn't know if Alejandro attacked the base until they landed. Jets had been on standby in case a plane came from that area, but he'drather be prepared.
Ben didn’t know how well his Commander would take having Hannah around, but she knew sensitive information that could save lives. After debriefing, he would haveto call Adam and tell him to get in contact with O'Connell and let the family know she was alive. Hannah might have reservations about informing her parents, but he didn’t. They were close enough to where her brothers lived so if one was in the area they could visit her and reassure her that her hesitation about her parents is unwarranted.
Ben froze when he feltHannah stir on his arm. He didn’t know if she was waking up or just readjusting. She mumbled something, but he couldn't hear what. He leaned down closer until his ear was next to her lips.
"I am Hannah Grace O'Connell. My older brother is Garrett Patrick O’Connell; my younger brother is Jason Peter O'Connell. I live at 2304 New Mesa Road in Portland, Oregon, I have a cocker spaniel named Cocoa. My best friend was Judy Snow. My parents are Margaretand Charles O'Connell."
Ben looked down at her when she said nothing else. Obviously, a dream. She recited it as if afraid she would forget who she was. It broke his heart. He would call Adam for sure now, the second they landed. After all, was said and done, he would take her up to Portland himself. He was due some R&R anyway.
"We land in 10. I'd start waking her up now," Sunshine said before walking away with a deep scowl.
Bendidn’t know why Sunshine didn’t like her. He liked everyone for the most part. He was a pretty easy, simple guy.Ben ignoredhim and tried to shake Hannah awake which he should have known was his first mistake.
Her head snapped up which clipped him in the chin and made him bite his tongue. "No, you can’t have me...” she screamed at him. Her eyes were wide, and her pupils dilated. She looked possessed trying to get away from him. She batted his hands away and fought to get out of her seatbelt. "You'll never take me back alive. I won’t go in that room."
Benundid his belt and helped Hannah with hers. She looked momentarilystunned she was free but quickly scrambled away looking for an exit.Bensnagged her frombehind and held her to his chest as he rolled them into a sitting positionagainstthe wall.
"Hannah, it's me. It's Ben." He cooed to her repeatedly petting her hair. She tried to struggle a few more times but seemed to relax after a minute. Her bodyshuddered before going limp. Concerned for herBenloosened his grip and turned her to face him. As soon as she was turned around, she launched at him. It had been a trick. Luring him into a false sense that she had calmed. How often did she use this ploy, he wondered?
He knocked away her hands that came flying at his face with ease. It was evident she had no practice at self-defense. He would have to teach her a thing or two.
He grabbed both sides of her face and forced her to look at him. "Hannah, it's me, Ben." He bellowed at her.
Hannah tried to pull her face away, but he held her tight. She had to be made to see reason. They couldn't land with them on the ground like this, and he needed her coherent.Benstroked her cheek and talked softly to her. "You’re with Ben. We rescued you from Panama. You saved those girls and got them help." Hannah calmed, losing the fight. Her eyes didn’t look so panicked anymore.
"Ben?" she whisperedtentatively and touched him. Seeing if he was real. She touched his faceand sagged againsthis chest.
Benwrapped his arms around her and held her close. She was back. He glanced upto see his team looking at them with concern. Sunshine just maintained his scowl. Ben really needed to know what his problem was. A rift in the team could turn into a life or death matter.
"As much as I love holding you, Goldilocks were about to land. We need to take our seats."
~
Hannah was reluctant to move. When she was shaken awake,she thought she was backunderground on her cot with one of Alejandro's men taking her to Alejandro's office. She had tried to escape the hands coming at her, but there were so many. Suddenly she had been freed and she ran without knowing where she was going or how she would get out. She hadn’t cared. She was free. Then someone had grabbed her from behind. They whispered in her ear and stroked her hair, but she couldn't understand what they were saying. An idea quickly hit her that had worked numeroustimes. She went limp. As predicted, the hands let her go and turned her around. She waiteduntil they brought her closer to them before she lashed out. The man must have been preparedfor her trick thoughbecausehe easilydeflected her blows and grabbed her face. Was he going to kiss her? She'd bite his tongue in half first. He spoke to her again, but this time a word penetrated her mind. Ben.
Her Ben? Could it be? Dare she hope? Slowly her vision cleared, and she was not in the underground tunnels but on a plane if the sound of engines roaring was any indication. Hesat in front of her strokingher face and talking to her.
"Ben?" she asked. Afraid it was a dream. The rescue had never happened, and she would wake up any moment on her cot. She reached out and touched his cheek and felt the heat of his skin. Dreams weren't warm. He was real. The rescue did happen.
Drained of energy, Hannahcollapsed against Ben’s chest. She felt safe in his arms, and she didn’t know why. Beforeshe could think too much about it,Bentold her they had to get back in their seat for landing.
Chapter Five
Hannah was embarrassed by her earlier outburst, she kept her head down as she scrambled out of Ben's lap and back into her seat. She could feel everyone’s eyes onher. Probablywondering about her outburst. Not that she would explain. She brought her knees up to her chest and watched Ben get up slower and make his way to the seat next to her. She tried to pretend he wasn't there and failed miserably. Ben commanded presence. At almost six and a half feet tall, he was hard tooverlook. He lost his black BDU jacket and only wore a black t-shirt that hugged his body to perfection and his ass fit tight in his pants. Not that she was looking. For all his strength and muscle, he had been gentle with her, as if afraid to hurt her. It shouldn’t have surprised her, but it did. Since her capture, no one had cared if she had a bruise or two. Ben may not have cared for her as a woman growing up, but he had always treated her with the utmost care.
"What will happen when we get there?" Hannah imagined chains and interrogation. Someone playing good cop and another playing bad cop.
"Nothing as drastic as I'm sure your thinking. We'll take you some placeto relax while my team and I debrief, then I'll come get you, and you can tell us everything you know about Alejandro and anyone else you and he have encounter."
It sounded so simple, but she knew it was anything but. Alejandro was ruthless and wouldn't take this attack lying down. He would find her and do far worse to her than he already had. Out of all the men who had bought her, Alejandro had been the worst.He got off on the pain he inflicted on others. Most punished her to keep her subjective. Alejandro beat women just because he could.
"Hey," Ben said taking her hand. She looked down at their joined hands. His strong tanned hands. Hands that had killed. Hands that had saved. "Everything is going to be fine. I won't let anything happen to you."
She believed him. Hannah turned her hand over in his and intertwined their fingers. She looked up at him and smiled. "I'm going to hold you to that, Ben."
