“Congratulations, Hannah.” He set down the stick and kissed her on the forehead. It wasn’t sexual, yet it still filled her with warmth. The spot he kissed tingled. If so many people weren’t here, she might be tempted to kiss him again. What was wrong with her? She told herself nothing can come of them being together, and that she needed to keep a distance. And here she was trying to coax kisses out of him.
“All right, lovebirds. We’re calling it a night,” Tiny announced.
“Thanks for everything, Hannah. We’ll be back over tomorrow to go over a plan. Hopefully, Hound would have heard something from his contact and we can shut this Fox guy down, then find out who set us up.” Hawk said with a backward wave.
Suddenly they were alone, and Hannah didn’t know what to do. Did she go to her room? Stay and see whatBenwould do next?Benplaced a hand over hers holding the stick and pulled it out of her hand. She forgot she was still holding it.
“I better go to bed myself.” Hannah rushed out. She likedBen,but she didn’t trust herself being alone with him. She responded to him in a way that didn’t make sense. She needed to focus on helping them get the information they wanted so that she could go back home.
Hannah all but raced back upstairs to her room, shut the door and locked it. What was wrong with her?Benhad been nothing but nice to her. If he were going to force her to do something, he would have done it already, wouldn’t he? He had always been calm and patient with her. He touched her, but his touch was always gentle. She was making more of this than she needed. They had been having fun playing pool. She could have stayed and played another game.Too late now.He probably thought her mental.
“Hannah,”Bencalled outside her door and knocked softly.
Hannah groaned in despair. “Yes, Ben?” she tried to sound normal.
“You okay?” He asked she could hear the concern from the other side of the door.
“I’m fine, just really tired.”
“Hannah, talk to me.”Bentried the door knob twice then stopped. “Why is the door locked?” He sounded hurt and confused.
She was confused herself. Hannah stood up and unlocked the door opening it a crack. She tried not to sigh when she saw Ben on the other side of her door. He really was too good looking for her piece of mind. “Sorry, I just wanted some space.” As far as lies go, it wasn’t the best. Ben was a trained soldier and would see through it in a second. And he did.
“Don’t lie to me, I hate lies. You want me to keep my distance, fine but don’t lock me out. I told you that before. If you have a nightmare or someone breaks in, I need to be able to get to you, not break down my own doors to get to you.” His voice remained neutral, but his words hurt. It hadn’t been smart for her to lock him out. She was having frequent nightmares and he seemed to be the only thing that calmed her. She was just paranoid.
“You’re right, I’m sorry. I’ll close the door but leave it unlocked from now on.” Hannah conceded, unlocking and opening the door.
“Did I do something wrong?”Benasked concerned.
Why would he think that? “No, why?”
Benshrugged. “We were having a good time, and when the guys left, you ran out on me.”
“I ran because…” She didn’t know why she ran anymore, how could she tell him?
“Because?” he prompted, stepping closer to her.
“Because I like you,” she told him slowly. It was such a tame word for how she really felt for him, but she would never admit that. He was probably used to women liking him and coming on to him. She was just another in a long line. She should have kept her big mouth shut.
“I like you too,” he told her matter of fact. “That’s no reason to run from me.”
“And what good would it do? I’m going back home as soon as you find Fox.” Hannah snapped, he had to see that getting close to her was pointless. She would be leaving and never see him again. What good would come of her staying? She had already given them the information they needed. She should just go even if her parents didn’t want her. The thought near crippled her.
“Hannah,”Bensaid her name as if in prayer. He closed the distance between them and enfolded her in his arms.
Hannah half-heartedly tried to push him away before clinging to him like ivy. She wanted comfort. She had been without it for, so long. Tears leaked out of her eyes, but she fought to keep them in. Tears couldn’t help her now. They wouldn’t do her any good.
“Do it,”Benseemed to know what she was fighting and was telling her it was okay to lean on him for support. “I’ll be here for you, Hannah.” The gates opened, and Hannah cried until she didn’t think she could cry anymore. When the tears subsided,Benpicked her up, carried her to the bed, and laid her down gently. “Get some sleep. We have a bad guy to catch in the morning.”
Hannah gave him a watery smile. Then he leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Good night, Hannah.” With that, he left her. Hannah sat in her room feeling bemused.Benhad done nothingwrong and she treated him like one of her captors. He had done nothing but show her kindness. He had even told her he would have her meet with one of the base psychiatrists. Everything would be fine.
Chapter Seven
Hannah had another nightmare that night. Ben had come charging into her room and held her all night long. She refused to let him go. Alejandro’s men found her, dragged her back to Panama, and were taking her to Alejandro’s office to punish her. It was his favorite place to torture his victims. She didn’t know why. As the men were holding her down to hurt her, a new pair of arms grabbed her and shook her until she opened her eyes, that’s when she sawBenhovering above her.
Hannah sagged in bed and tried to compose herself. Just a dream. Alejandro’s men hadn’t found her. She was safe inBen’shouse and inBen’s arms. Hannah fell asleep holding on to him, afraid if she let go the nightmares would come back.
The next day, Hound showed up with Tiny and Doc telling them that Blade, Hound’s informant was looking into the Fox. Apparently, he was already on FBI’s watch list and that he should have more information soon. It wasn’t much, but at least it was something.
