Sunshine looked at him confused. "Who in their right mind would want to stay there? Looking at her and the others it’s obvious she has been there longer,so you would think she would have been the first one out of the door."
Ben nodded in agreement."You saw her. She even showed me Alejandro's office and warned me when one of those fuckers snuck up on me. Killed a man for me. I can’t figure her out." Who was this new Hannah O’Connell? She used to run screaming when he would put a worm on a hook, and she saw it still moving. Now she killed a man without even blinking.
His teammates snickered at him.
"What?” he asked confused. But everyone stayed quiet. Ben decided to ignore them and squared his shoulders. The girl didn’t mean anything to him anymore. He was just trained to read people and he couldn’t read her. Anymore. That was it. Once again, his eyes trailed over to her as she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
They landed afew hours later, Bulldog and his team caughtthe next flight to their home base at Fort Sam. Bulldog shookhis hand before he left. "See you soon, Brother."
"Will do. I meant what I said earlier." Bulldogheaded up the ramp, the plane took off a few minuteslater.
Ben watcheda team of medics taking the women to the infirmary while he and his team left forthe commandpostto wait for theirbird to be readyto head backto their base and debrief. He didn’t know what would happen to the women after he left. Normally he didn’t concern himself with what happened to the hostages after he rescued them. Once they were safe his mission was complete, and it was time for the next one. But none had ever been Hannah before. Could he maintain his cool exterior and walk away again? That was the million-dollar question.
Cricket, Hound, Tiny, and Hawkcarried the boxthat wasintercepted and guarded it. Ben caught of glimpse of the woman of his obsession and for a moment their eyes locked. He felt guilty leaving her behind but didn’t know why. Like he was betraying her. He had his own life to lead and didn’t know her anymore. She was still the rich heiress, and he was a farm boy from Texas who loved serving his country. Theycould never make anythingwork between them.
"Sir," a medic yelled at him a few minutes later, running into the command post.
Ben recognizedhim asoneof the medicswho took the women to the infirmary. Ben's senses instantly went on alert."What is it?" he demanded. Somehowalreadyknowing it concerned Hannah.
"One of the girls you brought in, she’s demanding you come to her and she’s throwing things at the doctors. Normally,I would ignore her request, but she is threatening anyone that comes near her with a knife."
Yep, that sounded like her all right.He didn’t know why she requested him, more like demanded, but hewasn't going to ask.He handed his weapons to Houndand turned to the medic. "Take me to her." It seemed his reunion with Hannahwas going to beeven longer than he thought. Why did that excite him?
Ben knew he had arrived when he heard the raised voices and things bouncingoff the wall. What the hell had set her off? He rounded the corner and saw the objectof his lust with his knife between both her hands slashing at anyone who was stupid enoughto get too close to her. She still wore her sports bra and shortsand was covered in dirt whileseveral staff members were trying to talk calmlyto her, one held a needle behind their back. Probablypumped full of drugs that would knock her out. Hannah’seyes looked wild and watched everyone trying to box her in. She was scared and cornered.
She suddenlylooked up at him, her body eased, it was all the distractionthe staffneededto jump her at once. She didn’t fail to swing the knifebiting and scratching in retaliation. Ben had seen enough. "Let her go," he growled pushing people out of his way. No one treated a hostage like that. She was scared and confused. That’s why she asked for him. Because she knew him and trusted him. As soon as he was close to her,a flash of metal caught his eye before his blade came whipping towards his face. Thankful for quick reflexesBen caughther wrist and easily disarmed her. Staff members tried to get aroundhim, but Ben refused to move becoming a wall of protection for her.At six and a half feet tall with broad shoulders it wasn’t easy to get around him.
"What’s going on in here?" Ben demanded without taking his eyes off Hannah.
"We were trying to give her a shot to fight off any diseases she might have picked up while in Panamaand then get her set upon fluids since she is severely dehydrated."
"Lies." Hannah spat. "They want to drugme and send me off somewhere. Well, I’m not going anywhere but home." She shouted at everyone. “You promised me, Ben.” Hannah croaked while swaying before him. She was dehydrated, starved, and couldn’t stand on her own two feet anymore. If he hadn’t been holding her wrist still, she might already be on the ground.
Hannah tried to pull her wrist free, but Ben refused to let hergo. "Leave us a moment," he told the staff withouttaking his eyes off her. There was a moment ofhesitation,but everyone filed out of the room.
Once alone, Ben let go ofher wrist slowly to make sure she didn’t fall over. When she looked stable, he stepped back from her. Separation was good. Not only because she stunk to high heaven but because he had once dreamed about holding her in his arms and he needed the separation to keep a level head. "No one is goingto sell you here or drug you. You’re on a military base. Patrick Air Force base in Florida to be exact. I keep my promises, Hannah."
"No," Hannah saidin disbelief. “Tell thatto the guy who had the needle behindhis back.”
Damn, she was observant. "So why nottake the meds they were givingyou?"
"I’ve been forcedmore drugs and needles than I ever want to see in my life. I don’t care if theyhavea shot for immortality.I’m never allowing another needleto come near me ever again.”She stood straighter and tried to stare him down. The high society miss was trying to rear her head, but Ben wasn’t buying it. One, he dwarfed her height, two, she was wobbling, ready to fall over any second.
"Okay, so no needles. Howabout ashower maybe some hot food?" Ben tried coaxing her. She needed to rest, food and water. He would carry her if he had to.
"What do I owe you for that?" She asked warily as she stepped away from him.
"Owe me for what?” He didn’t understand why she would ask what he wanted in return for a shower and food and then it hit him and his stomach turned. “You don’t owe me anything," he said quickly.
"You don’t want something from me fora shower and food?" She askedslowly to make sure she understood him.
"No, I wantnothing." Ben reiterated disgusted by what had been done to her. No wonder she was unbathed. It was probably far preferable to the alternative to getting the shower.
Hannah’s shoulders dropped in what Ben could only describe was a relief and she swayed on her feet again. Ben reached out and picked her up.
"No, don’t," she protested, "I’m disgusting.”
Ben justgrunted. She was covered infilthand smelled ripe, but he would endure it to hold her in his arms. She was slight and light as a feather.He decidedto make it a personal missionto get her well. He strode into the adjourning bathroom and set her on her feet to turn on the water butkeptan arm around her waist, so she didn’t fall.
