Chapter 5 #2
He took the box from her fingers, moved to the mini fridge, and tucked it inside. Then he cleaned up the table before he took the chair across from her again. He wanted to get her some clothes. Couldn’t have her walking around in the intense heat in his sweats.
Later. Right now, he had to get down to business before Rogue called and pressed him for information.
“You wanted to talk to me?” she asked, seemingly reading his mind.
“Yeah, I—”
Ring, ring, ring
“One sec.” He dug into his pocket. Rogue’s name lit the screen of his phone. “I’ve gotta take this.”
She nodded as he swiped to answer.
“’Lo?” He slid out of the room and closed the motel door behind him. The humid air washed over him.
“Hey. We’ll be back in a couple hours.”
“Status?”
Rogue’s long exhale told him everything he needed to know. “Negative. We flew over miles of jungle, got out to investigate several times. Nothing. I don’t understand how he escaped. We fuckin’ had him.”
“He got a head start.” Because they’d found Molly. He didn’t say that, but he knew Rogue was thinking it as well.
Rogue grunted. “We’re returning to the motel. Just landed.”
“Shit, I’ve got our ride here. We can come get you.”
“It’s fine. Viper knows a local nearby. He’ll give us a ride. Reaper’s taking the heli back to Panama City and will meet us there. I don’t want all of us to fly out just yet in case something comes up and we locate Rex.”
“All right.” He threw a glance back at the door. A chasm of unease opened in his chest. He’d have to take Molly home. Wherever that was.
“What’d you learn about the woman?”
Atlas dragged his palm over his face. “Nothing yet. She slept a lot. Just got her some food and—”
“We need to find out whatever she knows about Rex. She could have information on other places he might have around here.”
“I’ll talk to her now. Why don’t you guys stop for food before you come to the motel? Give me a little more time with her.”
“We can all question her,” Rogue said.
“I realize that. But she’s going to feel a little intimidated with five men interrogating her, don’t you think?”
“She trusts you?”
Damn, leave it to Rogue to not let anything slide. “I think so.”
“All right,” his friend grumbled. “Guess we’re all sick of eating rations. You’ve got ninety minutes.”
“Thanks.” They ended the call, and Atlas shifted his weight back and forth. He sighed. Stalling wouldn’t get him anywhere.
He returned to the room. Molly had migrated to the bed. She leaned against the headboard with her legs curled under her. Exhaustion had put a neat wrinkle in her brow.
He snagged a chair and set it next to the bed. “You all right?” he asked, sitting. As much as he wanted to follow through with the questions, to not let Rogue down, her well-being came first.
“Okay,” she said, squishing her hands between her knees. “Just really tired.” She chortled. “Which is ridiculous. I’ve done little more than open my eyes and eat.”
He smiled reassuringly, resting his elbows on his knees. “You’ve gotta keep up with the fluids. I think I’ve got some juice in the fridge. Want some?”
She nodded.
He leaned over and took out a small bottle of orange juice, cracked the lid, and passed it to her. The sugar would help.
She drank half the bottle. “Wow. That was good.”
He placed the bottle back on the nightstand. “Look, Molly. The guys are on their way back. We’ve got about an hour and a half before they get here and we need to head back to the city.”
Worry filled her face and her eyes darted to the door. His insides twisted. He wanted to erase the pain etched on her porcelain face, to steal the haunted look and put her at ease.
He reached out and took her hand on the mattress. “What has you scared?”
She bit her bottom lip, shaking her head. “I-I’m not. I just . . . I don’t know.”
“No one’s going to hurt you. Those guys you met last night, if you even remember, they’re my team. I’ve known them for years and trust ’em with my life.”
She lowered her gaze, but some of the tension left her hand.
“Why don’t you tell me about your family first? Is Panama home?” She had an American accent, but that didn’t mean she didn’t live here or have family in the country.
She shook her head. “No. I moved here a few months ago.”
More questions buzzed in his head, but he’d keep things simple for now. They had time to peel back layers and move at her pace. “Where are you from?”
She swept her hair behind her ear with her free hand. “Illinois.”
“Any siblings?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m an only child. I’m close with my parents, though.”
“Do they know you were missing?”
“We have a weekly chat every Sunday. I’m sure they were worried when they didn’t hear from me.”
Since it was Wednesday and she’d mentioned she’d been taken two weeks ago, he’d bet they were out of their tree with worry. “All right. How about when we’re done you give them a call?”
She nodded. Her fingers tightened around his, as if she didn’t want him to let go.
“What brought you to Panama?”
“Work. Sun.” She flashed him a smile. “Just wanted a change.”
“You said they took you from a parking lot after your shift. Where were you working?”
“Dunne International Exportation. I’m an accounts manager.”
“What do they export?”
She shrugged. “Various goods. Produce, coffee, sugar. Things like that.”
He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. “And Rex. Why do you think he took you? What did he want?”
“At first I assumed it was a random kidnapping. That he wanted to traffic me. But . . . but he started asking about Willy Dunne, my boss.”
Atlas’s senses prickled. “What’d he want to know?”
Her eyes, lost-looking amber orbs, focused on his. In them he saw uncertainty, but more than that. Fear. As if she believed that speaking the words aloud would somehow allow Rex to find her.
“You’re safe, Molly. No one’s going to find you. Rex is—”
“I don’t even know you,” she said with a nervous laugh. “What were you doing at Rex’s house? How do I know this isn’t some elaborate plan to get me to talk?”
His senses sharpened further. So there was something else. Something she was hiding. Was she protecting Willy?
Nonetheless, she was right. He hadn’t told her a damn thing about them or why they were there.
If he wanted trust, he had to give a little, too.
“Are you with the military?” she pressed, sounding hopeful.
He sandwiched her slim hand between both of his.
She glanced at their joined hands and blinked heavily. Her lips were full and pouty.
Something stirred inside him. She was so feminine, so delicate and so goddamn pretty. “I was, yes. I no longer wear a uniform. But my work now is similar.”
She cocked her head. “I don’t understand.”
He weighed his words. Goddammit, he’d probably already said too much. If he wasn’t careful, not only would their mission be compromised, but also their whole team. Phantom Ops wasn’t just his paycheck. It was his brotherhood. His purpose.
However, he couldn’t backpedal now. Couldn’t lie to Molly’s angelic face.
She hiked up her eyebrows expectantly.
“We’re a covert team, Molly. Hired for our skills. Off the books. But not wrong. If that makes sense.”
Her eyes rounded. “So what were you doing at Rex’s?” she whispered, her palm dampening in his hold.
“Our mission is to capture him.”