Part 14 (2/2)
He'd come for her.
He spun her around until he looked down at her. ”Are you okay,” he whispered in a hoa.r.s.e guttural tone. ”Did they hurt you?”
She clasped her hands on either side of his head and shook her head wildly. ”No, they didn't hurt me. They didn't have time. You came, oh thank G.o.d.”
”Are you sure you're okay.”
”I'm fine. I'm so glad to see you.”
”Shh, it's okay. Be quiet. Shh. Be quiet.”
She tried. Honest she did, but it was so freakin' hard. She finally looped her arms around his neck and hugged him. Then pulled back and kissed him. A heart-wrenching kiss of loss and longing.
She felt his surprise, felt his arms wrap around her. She recognized the moment when he got over his surprise and kissed her back. She loved that about him.
Suddenly she was set back, cool air between them. She hated it. But she understood it. She smiled up at his hard face. ”It's good to see you again.”
”d.a.m.n it, Tesla.” He groaned. ”When do you ever stay out of trouble?”
”Ha, I was working alone when I was attacked. What was I supposed to do, ask them to come back later?”
”That's not what I meant.”
She laughed. Forgetting his admonishment to be quiet until his mouth came down on hers. Hard.
She hugged him hard. In joy. She didn't want to let him go. She'd felt so alone. But he'd come for her. He set her back slightly and picked up her hands still caught in handcuffs. He studied the mechanism for a long moment then released her. He pulled out a small tool set from his back pockets and got to work.
”What about the others, are they here?”
He nodded, did something, she heard the click, and he popped the handcuff open. ”Searching for you and the enemy. So far no sign of the men who attacked you.”
She rubbed her wrists in relief. ”Thank you. And as for the enemy...that was Daniel again. And his partner.” She gave him a quick description of the second man. She could see him cataloging the details to fit into the puzzle pieces in his own mind.
”Do you know where they are?”
She shook her head. ”No. Not really. When they stopped the vehicle I slipped out the back and ran. I haven't stopped since.”
She sighed and ran a hand over hair. ”I heard a vehicle go by but was turned around. It was a black SUV and I thought it was Daniel but wasn't sure. I figured they were heading to the highway.”
”Good. It's not for you to go and look.”
”I'm happy to let you chase after them and bring them down. Although I'd rather be a long way away before that happens.”
”You will be. We're taking you to town. The others are going hunting.”
”Town?” she asked hopefully. ”As in a hot bath and a bed and would it be too much to ask for some food.”
He laughed and led her out to the SUV. He knew the others were watching. He gave the signal she was unhurt and he was moving forward with the plan to retrieve the package and move her to safety. He'd be travelling with her regardless of where she went. He was on her like glue now.
It took a few hair raising hours, after making their way back to the airport they'd flown in to. But they made it.
Hours later she was flown back to her home.
Just in time for the evening's reception.
Something she had no wish to attend. But it was part of the job. If she could pull that off after the day she'd had and make it seem like nothing had gone wrong, then...
She had a shower, not as long as she'd have liked, not as hot as she'd have liked but still she was clean. There was little she could do about the d.a.m.n scratches, thankfully there were none on her face. Her arms showed the mad dash through the brush still so she went for a very simple but elegant dress with long sleeves.
A quick glance in the mirror and she ginned. She'd do, although her cheek was puffy from the last hit she'd taken.
She hoped makeup had taken care of the worst of it. She walked downstairs to find Mason in uniform whites.
She stopped, her heart beating like mad. ”Don't you look wonderful,” she said warmly.
He grinned. ”I think I'm supposed to say that to you.”
”Yes, you are,” she said pertly. ”So?”
He laughed. ”In truth, you're glorious.”
On that note, he helped her into the private car that was at her disposal and with an armed guard riding escort front and back, she was taken to the reception.
She came to a dead stop at the ma.s.sive entranceway. Chandeliers glittered all around them. Women moved a short flight of steps below her, their beautiful long gowns flowing in a sea of luxury and elegance. Brilliant colors blended and shone in a glittery display of money and people in the know.
And she'd never felt so much like a fish out of water.
”Are you okay?” Mason stood at her side, a gentle hand at the small of her back.
”A few hours ago,” she muttered, ”I was running for my life through the brush, having escaped a horrible end. Now I'm here staring at all this glittery gold...and,” her voice dropped, ”wondering if I should be looking to escape all over again.”
She felt his sharp glance.
”Any particular reason for wanting to bolt?”
”Someone here could have betrayed me. Many people are looking at my work with envy and might be tempted to sell me out,” she answered, and when she saw his nod of agreement, she added, ”And I feel like I don't belong. That I'd rather be in my sweats running the trails than trying to navigate the predators down there tonight. Not to mention, I clean up just fine but this isn't my world. I'm not comfortable in this setting with these moneyed people. I'm just me.”
He slipped his arm around her lower back and tugged her slightly closer. ”I'd put my money on you any day. You are more than everyone in here. You have created a program to save lives. You've done something special. You don't just clean up, you have set the standard. Now straighten up and walk down there as if you own them, because in truth you do.”
She grinned. ”Thanks.”
”No thanks required.” He turned and waited while they were announced. ”You got this.”
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