Brantley snorted. Did you just fall off a horse in Texas?
Diesel chuckled. How did you know I was from Texas?
Lucky guess. She inhaled, her back rubbing against Diesels chest. Letting the breath out in a long stream, she laughed. I dont suppose you know of anyone whod hire a bodyguard who couldnt keep her client safe?
Not off the top of my head. But then the odds were stacked against you on this assignment, from what I know.
Damned guide was in on the kidnapping, she stated. I should have seen it. Hell, I should have shot him when I realized he was taking us the wrong way. She shook her head. But I didnt.
You might have had an international incident on your hands had you killed him.
Yeah, and he was driving when I considered it, at a breakneck speed, with Klein out front on the hood.
On the hood?
You know, in some kind of seat they rig up for the hunter. He was going after a leopard.
I thought they were protected.
Ferrence paid a hefty price for a real safari hunt. I think the guide assured him he could shoot just about anything. The disgust in her voice was evident.
You dont much care for Mr. Klein?
Not really, but that doesnt mean I wish ill on him.
Then why work for him?
Im not. I workworkedfor his father, Matthew Klein. He hired me to protect his son. And a lot of good that did. I wouldnt be surprised if he demands a refund.
Dont be so hard on yourself.
Why not? I didnt do my job. She snorted. I cant even get down out of this tree.
Well worry about that in the morning, when we can see what were doing.
Hell, Im putting my trust in a stranger. I dont even know you.
We can fix that. Hi. Im Dalton Samuel Landon, but my friends call me Diesel. He reached around her, peeled her hand off the tree and gave it an awkward shake. And you are? As soon as she let go, her hand found its way back to the tree.
You must already know who I am since you were sent to rescue us.
Reese Brantley, he supplied. How did a girl like you end up as a bodyguard to Ferrence Klein?
She stiffened. What do you mean a girl like you?
He chuckled. Sorry. I meant how did you get stuck as a bodyguard to the Klein legacy?
Her body remained rigid for a few seconds longer, and then she relaxed. His father didnt want him to know hed hired a bodyguard. He told Ferrence I would be his assistant while he was in Africa. Had he hired a male, Ferrence would have guessed.
Diesel nodded. And Ferrence didnt want daddys protection?
No. Not when hed made plans to hunt endangered species. Again, Reeses body tensed. Had I known hed come to hunt anything but some plentiful deer, Id have told his father where his son could go.
I take it he was more interested in a trophy than food?
He was hunting a leopard when the driver veered off course. She half-turned toward him. By the way, where are we? I have a feeling we arent in Zambia anymore.
Diesels arms tightened around her. Were not. Were in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The woman sat stiff. Okay. Well. Well just have to get the hell out of here. I dont suppose your team is coming back anytime soon?
They will. He couldnt say when. Since they had Klein to get out, the powers that pulled the strings might not want to redeploy the team to extract one SEAL and one civilian. Not in a hostile country. And not when they werent supposed to be there to begin with. With current tensions between the new presidential administration and international trade relations, Diesel wasnt sure theyd risk a second insertion into the DRC.
In the meantime, Reese said, well have to get out of this area, or risk being caught.
A sound alerted Diesel. He touched Reeses arm. Shh, he said softly. I hear someone coming.
Chapter Three
Reese froze and listened. The animals and insects were suddenly silent. A slight breeze rustled the leaves around her. Then the snap of a twig alerted her to movement below.
Someone whispered in a language she barely recognized, and didnt understand. Then shots rang out, and the rapid report of a semiautomatic weapon filled the air.
Diesel pressed his body against her, smashing her against the tree trunk. Something hit close to where her fingers dug into the bark, splintering wood fragments over her hand.
As quickly as the burst of bullets began, they ended. Voices below spoke in rapid-fire anger. Then they moved away, heading back toward the camp where Reese and Ferrence had been held hostage for several days. As much as she hated being high up in a tree, shed rather face the heights than her former captors.
Diesel remained pressed to her back for a couple minutes after the sounds of movement below had dissipated.
The solid strength of his body was unexpectedly reassuring. Reese frowned. She didnt like that she needed reassurance. Having spent the last three years rebuilding her life and confidence, she didnt need a man to reassure her about anything. She was the bodyguard, not Diesel.
Then again, shed failed in her first real assignment as a bodyguard and had fallen into a situation shed sworn shed never allow herself to be in, ever again. Shed been captured. This time, her captors hadnt been as quick to torture and rape her. Had they tried, shed have died fighting them off. Never again would she allow anyone to violate her, to abuse her like shed been abused at the hands of the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The mere thought of what theyd done to her had the usual effect on her. She broke out in a cold sweat, her heart raced and she felt as if she might explode if she didnt get away and suck more air into her lungs.
I cant breathe, she whispered through tight lips.
Immediately, the man behind her eased back. Were you hit?
No, she said and dragged air into her lungs. The desire to move, to get away, took hold of her and refused to let go. At that moment, she had the uncontrollable urge to throw herself out of the tree. But she couldnt. The enemy could return. They might be lying in wait just beyond the clearing around the tree, hoping to capture them as they came out of hiding.
Instead, she bit down hard on her lip, clenched her fists and started counting to one hundred. Her body shook with the effort to control her reaction.
Are you sure you werent hit? Diesel asked, his voice quiet, his mouth close to her ear, his body leaning into hers.
Reese couldnt respond, couldnt utter a word. She remained focused on not losing her cool.
Diesels hands gripped her arms and pulled her back against his chest. Youre shaking like a paint mixer. Its okay. Theyre gone, he said, holding her close.
Im okay, Reese said, forcing the words out from between her teeth.
Diesels arms wrapped around her midsection and held on tightly. Clearly, you arent.
You dont have to hold me, she insisted, hating herself for her reaction and the need to feel his arms around her. I can manage on my own.