Wait what? He was serious.
"I was joking, Ben." She couldn't live with him. Could she? He was the only person she had felt safe with and she had no intention of staying with the MPs. What choice did she have? Go home, but she had promised to help Ben.
"Okay, but no women while I'm there." Hannah turned beet red realizing she just forbade him female company in his own house.
She could tell Ben was struggling not to laugh. "Any other requests?"
"I need more clothes and my own bed. You can’t lock me in. I can leave whenever I want." Her terms were non-negotiable.
"No, I’ll agree to anything else but you walking around town without someone with you I cannot. I still don’t know who set us up or if Alejandro will send men after you. I have to know your safe."
"Fine, free reign with an escort," she amended. She didn’t care what she had to agree to at that moment only if she could get out of here. If she never saw bars or concrete walls again it would be too soon.
"I can agree to those terms." Giving her one of his lop sided grins that always used to melt her insides. She hated admitting that it still did.
Benstood up to his full height and held a hand out to her. "Well then, Goldilocks, let’s go home."
Hannah didn’t know what to expect when she arrived at Ben's home, but it wasn't a two-story yellow house with white trim. It looked so domesticated for him. She would assume he was the basement apartment with a leather couch and TV kind of guy.
"What?" he asked when she just stood there staring at it.
"This is your house?"
"Yeah," he said slowly, not understanding her question.
"Yours as in you bought it or you live with your mother?"
Bensmiled and shook his head. "I bought it. My mom lives in Texas as you well know with my father. It has enough room for my gear and if any of the guys need to crash. Come on I’ll show you around."Bentook her hand and led her up the steps to the front door. She was even more shocked when his team members were already camped out on his sectional couch digging into pizzaboxes and a few six packs of beer next to them.
"Guys,"Bensaid as he shut the door behind him, "you remember Hannah."
The guys nodded at her and resumed their eating. She looked atBenfor direction, but he just rolled his eyes and guided her to a corner seat on the couch.
"Hope you like pizza."
She honestly couldn’t remember. It had been so long since she had it she didn’t know but she didn’t want to raise a fuss. "That’s fine."
Bencontinued into the kitchen and came back with a stack of plates. He handed her one and sat down and grabbed three slices for himself.
Hannahlooked at her plate in her hands and the box of pizza which was almost gone. She couldn't remember the last time she used a plate either. She always used her hands. No time like the present. Hannah leaned overBenand snatched the last slice of pizza just as Hound was reaching for it. He looked hurt she got it first, even though he had already eaten several slices and she had had none. She was lifting her plate up to him, butBenshoved it in her lap.
"He'll survive."
"Says you. I’m hungry," Hound whined.
“And she’s been a prisoner for the past year and a half and hasn't had a decent meal since before that I'm sure." It was sweet thatBendefended her, but it wasn’t necessary. She had learned from personal experience she could survive on only bread and water for two months, she could certainly survive without pizza.
All the guys sobered up and sat away from their pizza but looked at it long fully. She was sure they were hungry after rescuing her, making a fast getaway and long flights.
"It’s okay, really. I’m not that hungry," her stomach chose that moment to disagree and gave a loud growl.
"Your stomach begs to differ,"Benchuckled.
The room became eerily quiet and all eyes fell on Hannah. She suddenly lost her appetite and set her plate down. She knew the circumstances in which she came from but to hear it spoken out loud felt different. More real.
“Hannah, I’m sorry.”Benlost his gusto, his voice calmed immediately.
“I’ll get us some more pizza,” Hound stated and stood up. “Should have known four large pizzas wouldn’t be enough.”
