Hannah lay back on her cot and tried to get as comfortable as she could, which was hard being handcuffed to a bed. Itwas going to bea long night. "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 is, was Judy Snow." Hannah tried recalling other places she had lived in but they all felt a distant memory. "I'm going home," she vowed to herself.
Hannah was just relaxing when the door flew in and banged against the wall. She immediately sat up thinking it was Alejandro's men coming for them. It was too soon, she thought.None of the women screamed in terror. They were used to Alejandro’s muscle-bound men coming in and taking women away or drugging them into a stupor.
The men who filed into the room didn't look like Alejandro's men though. They looked like real soldiers. That was the vibe she was getting from the black uniforms and weapons. These were no warlords looking for Alejandro's drugs and weapons. These men had soldiers of fortune stamped on them.
"Holy shit," the one in front of the group muttered when he took in the sight in front of him. It wasn't every day someone saw eight half-naked women only in sports bras and shorts, chained to a bed. Someof thewomen were drugged and didn't seem to notice where they were or that they were about to be rescued or abducted again. "Sunshine, Cricket let’s get them out of here." The men spread out and picked the locks. Once the women were free, a few tried to run down the hall, but soldiers from out of nowhere caught them and put a hand over their mouth to quiet them.
“Shit woman," one cursed when a woman bit his hand. "Do you want to bring all the guards on the property to us?" All the women quieted down, but the damage had already been done. They could hear men yelling in Spanish from down the hall. Any moment they would come pouring in, these men would be slaughtered, and she would be sold off.
The room was erupting into chaos. Girls were quieter but still trying to run out of the room with no thought of the danger on the other side of the door. Hannah knew there weren’t many soldiers on the island, but there were several underground tunnels where the men lived and spread throughout the property. It was how Alejandro smuggled a lot of his merchandise on and off the island.
She watched carefully as the man she assumed was the leader, approached her and grabbed her chain attached to the cot. His face was covered in black paint concealing his identity. She calculated her odds of getting past him and making a break for the water. The other men had easily subdued the other women, so she knew she’d never get past all of them. Fear clogged her chest. No, she had been so close to escaping. She had planned everything so carefully this time. Alejandro’s men she could get past or knock down and make a run for it, but these guys looked trained and hardened. Were they enemies of Alejandro and stealing from him? They may look like American soldiers, but they could be anyone. They wore no insignia. They spoke perfect English. The one in front of her was eyeing her up and down and spoke with a southern drawl like he was from Texas. Something about him nagged the back of her brain but she didn’t know why.
The man in questiondropped down to one knee in front of her and immediately set to work on unlocking her.It took hima little longer than the one guy to set her free. Once free she pushed him out of the way and made a break for it. Maybe the element of surprise would be on her side.
“Ma’am, it’s okay. We're here to rescue you. I’m with the military.” He said quickly before she hurt herself trying to fight him off. She paused in her struggles butdidn’t say anything. “We're here to take you home.” She sagged against him for a moment giving up her fight but quickly pushed him again when a door down the end of the corridor opened. Alejandro’s men were coming. There was no way for everyone to escape.
"Go," she whispered to him. Hannah wanted her freedom more than anything but not at the risk of others. The women recently captured needed medical help and quickly. She could buy them all some time to get the women out. Her plan to escape was gone, but she could save the others.
The man looked at her in shock and shook his head no even as he looked back towards the empty doorway. Probably calculating the odds of them all getting out in one piece.When he turned back to her, he looked at her as if he were studying her.
"Alejandro's men will be here any second. Just go and get the girls out of here. I’ll try to stall them while you get them out." Hannah tried to reason with him. The more time he wasted the less likely he and his team would make it out alive. She didn’t want her sacrifice to be in vain.
"Ma'am with all due respect I'm not leaving you behind." He gave her a determined look he would win this argument no matter what, so she might as well cave.
"Midas," another paint covered man called to the man arguing with her. "We don't have time for your wooing right now. Grab the girl and let’s go."
"We still have to find the office,” the one called Midas yelled back at him and turned away from Hannah. “Lead the women to the truck. I'll be right behind you." Midas commanded with authority, and the golden-eyed man didn't argue.
Hannah took a moment to study the soldier in front of her. He was several inches taller than her five-nine frame. He had a strong jaw that now was clenching. His eyes looked so dark they were almost black. It struck her like a bolt of lightning she knew this man. “Ben?” Hannah asked in disbelief. Could itreallybe him? The last time she had seen him was years ago when she was still a teenager crushing on him. Was she hallucinating or just too many drugs in her system? She had always imagined Ben riding to her rescue when she was younger, so this seemed surreal, but the feel of his body felt real.
Midas whipped back around looking at Hannah in shock. “How do you know that name?” His body was tense as he watched her. Wondering if she was a possible threat now.
“Are you Ben Grant?” she asked instead. Please let it be him and not her mind playing tricks on her.
“Answer me now, woman. How do you know that name?” His eyes were wide, and his arms tightened like steel bands around her arms. Hannah winced at the pain, but he didn’t relent.
“We grew up together. Us and Adam. I lived in Portland with my parents, and you used to hang out with Adam Hart.” Her confession didn’t seem to appease the man. If anything, it made him more suspicious of her. She was disheartened that if it was Ben, he hadn’t recognized her but then again, she was mostly skin and bones and hadn’t bathed in ages. She was a far cry from what she once was. “I’m Hannah O’Connell.” She could see the wheels turning in his mind trying to place her.
“Holy shit,” was all he said. It was him. Inside she did a little happy dancethatit was him and not a figment of her imagination. Next came the feeling of sadnessthathe didn’t sound happy to see her. There was noHannah, oh beautiful HannahorHow I missed you when I went away.Just holy shit. It did a lot to deflate her ego. Maybe after a few showers and some real clothes he might see her differently. Then again who expected to see her here in Panama the victim of human trafficking?
Feeling awkward after her confession and Ben staring down at her in silence Hannah started past him when something about his earlier words penetrated her mind. The office? Alejandro's office? "I can take you to Alejandro’s office." Hannah offered. She didn't know why. She had planned to escapetonightand even offered herself as sacrifice herself to save the other women and ruin her own plans, so why now was she offering to delay her escape even more? It was simple she wanted to help Ben. She always wanted to help Ben. To show him she was a woman worthy of him. It was why she always played enemy for him. Went fishing with him when she found it boring. She just wanted his approval of her and find her worthy of him. That’s all she wanted from anyone. Acceptance.
Adam had taken her under his wing when they were kids, soon Ben followed but she always felt the odd man-woman out when she was at home. Ben had always been patient with her in teaching her to fish and play hostages. As she grew older she wanted him to see her as a woman and his last summer before he left for the military he finally did. All her dreams had finally come true only to have the rug pulled out from under her and he fled her as fast as his big feet would carry him. What were the odds they would be reunited now even if it was under less than ideal circumstances?
Ben raised a brow at her. "You know where it is?" His face void of emotion.
Hannah nodded mutely.
"Don’t fu- mess with me, Hannah," Ben said, stepping up closer to her, using his taller frame to intimidate her.
Hannah swallowed nervously. It was cute, he tried not to swear in front of her, Ben was alwaysnothing buta gentleman to a woman, but his penetrating gaze frightened her. So much raw and caged man coiled in front of her. He hadchangedsince they were younger. "I... I’ll take you there." She could have just told him where it was and left with the others but didn't. She wanted to be close to him. He had always made her feel safe.
Ben shook his head. “Your family would kill me I led you into danger. Just point the way and get out of here.”
“Please, Ben.” Hannah pleaded with unshed tears pooling in her eyes. It was disgraceful to use her tears against him, but she had to prove to herself that she could do something for others. All her life she had thought about herself and her comforts. This experience taught her that not everything about her. She had been spoiled and selfish before Paris. Thanks to her mother, but never again. She would get these women out of here and help Ben with his mission even if it killed her.
Ben seemed to war with himself for a moment, knowing time was their enemy before he gave her a slight nod, and turned to the man still in the doorway. All the women had been led out. "You heard the lady. Hound is topside now, so I’ll get the data. I'm right behind you."
