Chapter 17 #3
He had no socks, but amazingly, the shoes fit reasonably well.
They were slip-on Keds. At one time they’d probably been white, but now they were a dingy gray, stained from the dirt and filth of the city.
They were just a touch large, but Bree obviously didn’t seem to mind.
“Thank you,” she breathed, staring at her covered feet.
Again, Smiley had to force himself not to show any emotion.
He was ready to scorch the Earth for what Bree had been through.
She’d been to hell and back, and the security of shoes on her feet and a covered body was enough to make her extremely grateful.
When they got home, Smiley was going to pamper the hell out of his woman.
“We need to go,” he told her, after he put his shirt back on, still warm from her body, before handing her a bottle of water from the bag.
Her eyes lit up again, and she grabbed the bottle without a word, but she didn’t have the strength to crack the seal on the lid. It was one more thing to blame on Castillo. Smiley reached over and, without taking the water from her, twisted the top off.
She brought the rim to her mouth and drank several gulps of the clean, cool water.
“Easy, Bree.”
She nodded as she lowered the bottle. He could see the desire to chug the entire contents, but she smartly took the lid from him and secured it in place.
Smiley reached back into the bag and pulled out the loaf of bread he’d purchased. It was still slightly warm. He broke off a piece and held it out to her.
She reached for it, and he noticed her hand shaking. It was all Smiley could do not to turn around and start breaking shit. His woman was hungry. Starving. And he could practically see her salivating.
She took a large bite of the bread, smiling at him as she chewed.
As much as Smiley wanted to stay there, waiting until she’d had her fill of both food and water, they needed to find another, hopefully safer place to hole up. If such a place existed.
Grabbing her hand to help her over the rubble, Smiley watched her closely.
She wasn’t limping and seemed steady on her feet.
Just another testament to how fucking strong she was.
After what she’d been through, he wouldn’t have been surprised if she told him she couldn’t move.
Instead, she was putting one foot in front of the other.
“I’m so proud of you,” Smiley blurted.
“Why?”
Why? She was asking why? Smiley shook his head in exasperation.
“Smiley, what choice do I have right now? I can’t exactly refuse to move.
You can’t carry me and protect us from men like the ones outside at the same time.
Later, I’m sure I’ll collapse and probably have a major crying fit.
But right now, we need to get out of here and find your team.
And stay two steps ahead of Mateo and his goons in the process.
I don’t have the luxury of having a mental or physical breakdown. ”
She was right. And that kind of sucked.
“I’m going to make this up to you,” he promised, as he continued toward the alley.
“That’s fine, but it’s not yours to make up to me,” she said calmly. “None of what happened is your fault. It was all put in motion before we even met. Besides, without you…I’d be in deep shit.”
Smiley snorted. They were in deep shit right now.
Bree squeezed his hand. “The truth is, I’m scared. I’m hurting. I still feel a little sick. But none of that matters right now. Besides, you’re here. I feel as if I can handle anything else life decides to throw at me now.”
She was too good for him.
Smiley peered out of the makeshift door and saw the two men still lying on the ground where he’d left them.
Glad they hadn’t woken up and fled, he let go of Bree’s hand and stalked over to the closest man.
He rifled through his pockets, coming up with a bit of money, a knife, and some ammunition for the rifle lying on the ground next to him.
The second man had much of the same, but he also had a packet of some sort of crackers or cookies. Neither had a cellphone, which sucked, as Smiley could’ve really used one right about now.
But he still had his tracker. Any moment, his team would come toward them in typical V-shape formation, swooping in to save the day.
But a niggling doubt crept in. Why hadn’t they already appeared? Tex should’ve tracked him by now. Had they been caught in the unrest going on around them?
He hated to think of his team in trouble, but Smiley turned his attention back to the task at hand. His team could take care of themselves. His job right now was Bree. Keeping her safe, out of the hands of desperate civilians who would see her as a payday and nothing more.
Holding his hand out, he gestured for her to come to his side. She stepped out of the rubble of the building and quickly walked toward him. The second his fingers closed around hers, a calm settled in Smiley. They were in this together.
Mateo Castillo was furious. His men had bungled the retrieval of his property from the get-go. Not only had they lost the old broads who were supposed to go to customers in Russia and North Korea, they’d let the bitch he’d been forced to personally hunt down escape!
He’d also gotten word that the Navy SEALs were in Ecuador. In the port area. Their presence certainly complicated the reacquisition of his property.
He couldn’t understand how the hell she’d been able to escape in the first place.
He’d given strict orders for her to be confined at all times, yet clearly someone had fucked up and let her out of her travel cage.
Now, he would have to make an example of everyone involved, so those who worked for him in the future followed his instructions to the letter.
If he was smart, Mateo would write the bitch off. Move on to other acquisitions. Those who were easier to control. Ones he could add to his stable of women without so much hassle. Bree Haynes was a huge pain in his ass—but one he refused to let go. She had to learn who was in charge. Him.
The current state of Ecuador would work in his favor.
The militia was spreading fear with their stunt at the television studio.
The bands of armed men looting and killing anyone they suspected of supporting the current political party.
Which would make it easier for his men to move around Guayaquil, also armed…
and ready to take his property back into custody.
When he got the bitch to his compound, she would never see the light of day again. He’d tie her down and keep her so weak, she wouldn’t be able to even think about escaping. She was his to do with as he pleased—and what he wanted now was for Bree Haynes to suffer.
Making a split-second decision, Mateo leaned forward and tapped on the glass separating him from his driver. The soundproof window rolled down, allowing Mateo to talk with the man. “Turn around.”
“Yes, sir.” The limo immediately pulled to the side of the road as the driver prepared to make a wide U-turn.
This was the kind of obedience Mateo insisted upon. How he trained both the men who worked for him and the women he owned to act.
“Back to Guayaquil. I have unfinished business I need to attend to.”
“Yes, sir,” the driver said again, with no emotion whatsoever.
Mateo rolled the window back up as the vehicle headed toward the city.
He’d left the retrieval of his property to others, and they’d fucked it up time and time again.
This was one job he obviously needed to continue to do himself.
He’d let his men find her, then he’d personally escort her to his compound.
The long trip—in the trunk of his car, naked except for a ball gag and cuffs—should make her a little more compliant.
Then he’d introduce his most loyal employees at the compound to their new toy.
Within a week, the bitch would be calling him Sir and doing as he ordered with no disobedience whatsoever. Then he could turn his attention to fulfilling the orders of customers around the globe that he’d been putting off for far too long.
Bree Haynes had taken up way too much of his time, but that was about to change. Once she learned her place, things could go on as always. He’d continue bribing government officials to look the other way, paying off the locals around the compound, and living his best life.
Reaching into his pocket for a cigar, Mateo lit the end and took a deep puff. Yes, things were about to go back to normal, which meant pussy whenever he wanted it, however he wanted it, and money rolling into his bank accounts. Life was good…and was about to get much better.