Chapter 2 #2
“In the morning, I’m going to call a former SEAL named Tex Keegan.
He’s a computer genius. Get him on this.
Try to figure out who your fucktard ex sold you to.
Get a tracker or two, so if the worst happens and you do get taken, Tex’ll be able to tell us where you are and we can come get you.
Need to get your car detailed too, even though you aren’t going to be driving it for a while.
“As soon as possible, I’m going to introduce you to Addison and MacGyver, to set up a meet-and-greet with Ellory and Yana.
I’m sure all the other women will want to meet you too.
And I want to call Fiona and Cookie. Maybe Julie and Hurt.
Both women were kidnapped by human traffickers and taken to Mexico quite a few years ago.
I feel like talking to them might be of some use to you.
And Josie, Blink, Remi, and Kevlar are getting married in a couple weeks, and they’re having a huge shindig at Aces Bar and Grill.
We’ll go to that. You can meet and get to know everyone. ”
“To each other?”
“What?” Smiley asked.
“The four of them are marrying each other?” Bree joked. She was overwhelmed with Smiley’s plans for her. Not upset about meeting his friends officially, but overwhelmed all the same.
It was his turn to smile. And when he did, Bree’s world shifted.
Broody and angry-looking Smiley was hot. But smiling? The man was lethal.
“No, not to each other. They decided to have a double ceremony. Blink and Remi are really close after an ordeal they went through, and since both couples would be inviting basically the same people to their receptions, they figured they might as well have the ceremonies at the same time. And I have it on good authority that Kelli and Flash are gonna go to the courthouse and tie the knot, so it’ll probably turn into a triple wedding reception. ”
“Why?” Bree asked.
“Why what?”
“I don’t know them. Not really. I mean, following you and your friends around doesn’t really qualify me to go to the most important day of their lives.”
Smiley tossed back the blanket he had over his lap and stood.
Walking over to the couch that Bree was lying on, he sat next to her hip.
She stared at him as he braced himself with a hand by her shoulder and leaned in close.
She should’ve been alarmed at the way he was all up in her personal space.
But after that smile, it was taking all her control not to tackle the man and have her wicked way with him.
“You should know something.”
Bree waited, but when he didn’t continue, she got up the courage to ask, “What?”
“You’re under my protection now. And where I go, you go.
To the store, to the base to work, to Aces—everywhere.
Until we catch this asshole who’s after you, I’m not leaving you alone.
I’m not going to take the chance that he’ll get his hands on you.
And since I don’t want to miss my friends’ reception, you’re coming too.
But even if you weren’t in danger, you’d go anyway, because Addison would insist on inviting you.
As would Kelli, Remi, Josie, Wren, and Maggie.
And when you meet Caroline’s crew, they will too.
“You’ve entered a whole new world, Bree. One where friends have each other’s backs. Where we don’t look the other way when shit goes south. Until this asshole is caught, you aren’t going to be alone. Ever.”
His words soothed a part of Bree that she didn’t even realize needed soothing. “Even to pee?” she joked with a smile.
“Fuck…that smile. It slays me,” Smiley muttered.
Then he shifted, brushing a lock of hair off her forehead.
“Even to pee,” he confirmed. “Never know when someone will slip through the window. Desperate people will do desperate things. And I’m not willing to risk anyone putting one fucking finger on you. ”
Now Bree wanted to cry. How had she invoked such…intense loyalty in this man?
“That okay?” he asked.
She nodded, speechless.
“Good. Can we sleep now?”
Bree had a million questions. About Tex, trackers, why he was so sure all his friends would want to meet her. But instead, feeling overwhelmed, she simply nodded again.
Smiley stared down at her for a long moment, long enough that Bree thought he might actually lean down and kiss her. But to her disappointment, he sat up, nodded once, then went back to his chair.
Damn. The sexual tension between them was larger than life. Bree wanted nothing more than to find out if what they had was a fleeting thing, caused by the tension of her situation…or if it could be something more.
But in the middle of the hell that was her life wasn’t exactly the best time to start a relationship, if that’s what this even was.
She didn’t think so. Smiley felt responsible for her, that much was obvious.
But could he feel more? After this was over—and please, let it end sooner rather than later—would he even want her around?
He might send her back to Vegas and her old life without a second glance, satisfied that he’d tied up all the loose ends from the night he’d met her, once and for all.
Sighing, Bree snuggled back down under the warm fleece blanket Smiley had given her. “Can I say one more thing?” Bree asked, after Smiley had gotten comfortable once more.
He sighed as if irritated, but she could see his lips curled into a small grin. “What?”
“Thank you—”
“Nope.”
Bree frowned in confusion. “Nope what? Words, Smiley.”
“You don’t get to thank me. I’m not helping you for your gratitude.”
“Then why are you?”
“You don’t know?”
“Obviously not,” she told him, a little miffed.
“Then I’ll tell you after.”
“After what?”
“After this is done. After the asshole is caught and you’re safe.”
“You’re annoying,” Bree blurted.
Smiley chuckled. “I know.”
“And cocky,” she added.
“It’s not cockiness that has me so sure whoever is after you will pay for terrorizing you, and however many others.
Or has me knowing that whoever is ultimately behind this—not the goons after you, but the man at the top of the chain—will regret his chosen path in life.
It’s the bone-deep knowledge that we were meant to meet.
To be right here, right now, at this moment in both our lives.
And that we have a future together. We can’t have that with this threat hanging over us. So we’ll resolve it and move on.”
Goose bumps broke out on Bree’s arms. She’d never met anyone like Smiley before. He didn’t beat around the bush. Went after what he wanted. And it seemed as if he wanted her. Little nobody Bree Haynes.
The truth was, she wanted him too. More than she’d wanted anything in her life.
She’d do whatever she had to do in order to survive this.
Whatever “this” was. She’d wear a hundred trackers, let him stand in the bathroom door while she peed.
Meet all his friends. Whatever he asked, she’d do it.
Because the truth was, she was terrified.
And she wanted to make it to the other side of whatever was happening, if only to experience one night in Smiley’s arms.
“Sleep, Bree. Tomorrow’s going to be busy.”
Instead of worrying about exactly what that meant, Bree dutifully closed her eyes.
She thought she’d lie awake thinking and worrying, but instead, she fell asleep almost instantly.
And had dreams that alternated between terrifying images of her being thrown into a trunk of a car, and standing on the sand by the ocean, staring into Smiley’s eyes as they said their marriage vows.