Second Chance SEAL(170)
I headed back toward the hotel. I could see the exhaustion rolling off Tara’s body.
“We’re going to stay at the hotel for today,” I said. “We’ll leave tonight.”
“What? Why?”
“They’ll expect us to leave soon,” I said. “We’re going to throw them off our trail. Travis is already running counter-surveillance for us, so hopefully he can trip Omar enough that we can get away cleanly.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we’re going to hold tight and make a run for it when it gets dark out.”
“Okay,” she said softly. “You’re the expert here.”
We were silent for a few minutes as I drove fast back toward the parking lot. I pulled in and found a spot near the back of the lot, close to the emergency exit. I killed the engine and turned to her.
“I need to say something.”
“Okay.” Her mouth was slightly open, and she looked so fucking sexy.
“You need to listen to me,” I said. “From now on. If I tell you to run, you run. If I tell you to hide, you hide. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said. “I will.”
“Good.” I opened my door. “Come on. Bring only what you need for the next few hours.”
She got out and grabbed Mason and a single bag. I took the bag and Mason from her, and we headed back inside.
I couldn’t begin to guess what was happening inside her head. She’d just witnessed three men getting killed, which wasn’t something many people saw in their life. At least Mason wasn’t old enough to ever remember any of this.
We got inside the hotel and up to the room. I unlocked it and we went inside.
The place was just as I left it. I’d doubted that Omar would make a move on the hotel room, and I was right. I placed Mason down still in his car seat on the couch and looked at Tara.
“Come on,” I said. “You should have a drink.”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I’m still on edge.”
“It’ll calm you down.” I went over to the bar and poured two glasses of whisky. “Drink.”
She took it and sipped and then made a face. “I’m not a fan.”
“Doesn’t matter.” I knocked mine back. “Drink.”
She drank it and shook her head, making a face. “Ugh, man, that’s gross.”
“You get used to it.”
“Not sure I want to.” She handed me the glass. I put hers down and poured myself another.
“Are you okay?” I asked her.
“I guess. As okay as I can be.”
“You did good.”
“I thought you were pissed that I disobeyed your orders.”
I smirked at her. “I want you to obey me, but I’m just happy you got through it.”
“I’m obeying your orders when it comes to our lives,” she clarified, “and that’s it.”
“Oh, we’ll see about that, princess. I’m sure you’ll be begging for more orders soon enough.”
“I don’t think so.”
“When that skin is under my tongue, sweating and moaning, you’ll do what I say and you’ll beg for more.”
She gaped at me for a second and then shook her head. “I’m going to try and get Mason down for a nap.”
“Think you can?”
“He normally naps around now, so we’ll see.”
She walked hurried over to him, pulled him from the car seat, and carried him back into the bedroom.
I watched her go, grinning slightly to myself. There was nothing I wanted more after killing a man than pussy, and from the way she had just looked at me, I suspected she was thinking the same thing
After a second glass of whisky and about a half hour, she emerged from the bedroom.
“How is he?” I asked.
She sat down next to me, legs curled underneath her. “Asleep finally.”
“Seems like a good kid.”
“Yeah, he is pretty good.” She sighed, shaking her head. “I’m just afraid of what this will do to him.”
“Nothing,” I said. “Nothing will happen to him. I promise.”
She bit her lip, looking at me. I felt my blood pulse hard in my veins. “How can you say that after today?”
“They got lucky,” I said softly, “but you saw what I’m capable of.” I moved closer to her on the couch. “I won’t let any lesser man touch you or Mason. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”
“Emory,” she said, matching my tone. “I’m afraid.”
“Of course you are. You’d be insane not to be.”
“But I trust you. I don’t know why, but I do.”