“No.” She looked at him in earnest. “No, you don’t.”
“You mentioned an auction. These guys deal with all kinds of trafficking. Drugs, weapons...”
“Human,” she finished for him.
Jake gave her a single nod. “My guess is you were the only one in the group who fit what they were looking for.”
“Lucky me,” she whispered.
It still gutted him to think of how close she came to being sold.Too close, baby. Way too fucking close.
For a solid minute, all he heard was her breathing. When it slowed to a steadier pace, she asked, “So, the hotel you mentioned. Where is it located?”
“Near the town of Uriman. It’s on the other side of the Rio Caproni. A boat will be waiting to take us over, and then, we’ll meet the team at the hotel.”
“So, we’re what, taking the scenic route there?” She forced a smile.
Jake smiled back, but only for her benefit. “That’s one way to put it.”
Scenic, his ass. Thanks to the two fucknuts who’d chased them, they’d been forced to travel south from Cetro’s camp and then west. The complete opposite direction of Jake’s team and their chopper.
Before stopping for the night, they’d changed course and had moved north for about two hours. Tomorrow, they’d turn and travel back east, toward the river. Jake just prayed they’d be able to make it there without incident.
“So, your guys were going to go back to your helicopter and fly it to Uriman, but what about Coop? He was the one who got shot, right?”
Jake schooled his expression. Sean knew what he was signing up for, as they all did. That still didn’t keep Jake from feeling guilty as fuck that the guy had been injured on his watch.
“We flew over on a private jet. Coop, and I’m assuming one of the others, would’ve used that to get back to the States, where he could be treated.” She still looked weary, so he added, “We have protocols in place for this sort of thing, Liv. I’m sure he’s fine.”
They sat silently in the quiet night. Jake was just beginning to think Olivia had fallen asleep when heard a soft, “Thank you”.
He turned his head, looking at her questioningly. “For what?”
“For being honest with me. For not sheltering me from the truth. I know you always think you need protect me, but something like this...I needed to know the truth. So, thank you.”
Jake sensed more than saw her shivering again. Without a word, he opened his arms as he’d done earlier, and she scooted in against him once more. He ignored the magnetic pulse from where her body met his, and tried to forget how good it felt to hold her like a lover would. To kiss her like he had every right to.
“I know this is a lot to take in, Liv. You doing okay?”
He felt her nod against his chest. “Yeah. Thanks, Jake.”
Tipping his chin, he kissed the top of her head before resting his cheek there. “Get some sleep, sweetheart.”
