Page 65 of Wicked Suspicion

“Those weapons must be locked down tight,” she said, voice thick. “What’s going to happen to me when you can’t get them?”

“You’re going to be fine.” He tried to put as much assurance in his words as possible. It wasn’t as if he could announce he’d be back with his team to rescue her. Not with all the guards they had within earshot.

“I trust you,” she said quietly, but with her brave face firmly in place, he couldn’t read her.

The hammock forced her and Case into each other’s arms, but Nyx wasn’t complaining. She was scared and feeling his warmth, his strength reassured her. It wouldn’t last. In the morning, he’d be gone, and she’d have to survive in this camp alone.

It seemed darker than dark inside the hut. She could barely make out Case’s features although she was tucked against his side. She didn’t need to see him when she could picture him easily. The tousled blond hair, those sapphire blue eyes, his beard that didn’t grow in well over his cheeks. And of course, the slightly lopsided grin that made her heart trip every time he flashed it at her.

Case didn’t smile often enough.

It was too hot, too humid to sleep like this. Their skin stuck together whenever one of them tried to shift. It wasn’t as if she could even doze anyway, not as wound up as she was. Nyx took a deep breath and tried not to hyperventilate at the thought of being left behind.

Her dad hadn’t trained her to be a scaredy cat.

She could take care of herself. If the fight was fair. It wouldn’t be fair if push came to shove while Case was gone. She’d be on her own against any number of men, all bigger and stronger and war hardened.

“Relax, Fireball,” Case said. His mouth was against her ear, his voice barely audible. “Ramirez promised your complete safety for three days.”

“That doesn’t seem like very long.” Nyx kept her voice as quiet as his.

“It’ll be enough.” He paused. “All I need to do is show proof the weapons are on their way and then you’ll be fine. I’ll be with you.”

Nyx started to nod, banged her head into Case’s chin, and settled for a murmur of agreement instead. She didn’t believe the part about the weapons. There was no way in hell the US Army was letting the latest, greatest high-tech rifle out into the wild, not even as part of an operation. So what did that mean for her?

A few seconds of clear-headed thought gave her the answer. Case was coming back with his team to get her out. It might take them the full three days to plan the mission. The only easy way in and out was via the river, and that was heavily guarded by the raiders.

Raiders. It made them sound less frightening than what they were. War criminals. Murderers. Rapists. Arsonists. Soulless predators.

“Three days,” she said as softly as possible. “Do you trust him to keep his word?”

“He’ll keep it. I told him if any harm came to you that I would sell those rifles to the fucking Russian mob before I’d let him get his hands on them. Torres doesn’t seem to scare him, but invoking Yaromir Ivanov made him think twice.”

She didn’t know who Ivanov was, but it didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was that the name was enough to strike fear into Ramirez. She had questions for Case, so many questions, but she didn’t ask any of them, too aware of the enemy mere feet away. If the wrong word carried to their ears, it could be catastrophic.

Bottom line? She trusted Case. She didn’t need her questions answered.

“You know what I want to do when you’ve exchanged me for the weapons?”

“Go back home?” His voice might be quiet, but there was no mistaking the hopeful note in it.

“No. Well, eventually of course, but first I want to lock myself into a hotel room with you and cash it in.”

Case’s muscles tensed, she felt it and she also felt it when he forced himself to relax. “I thought you had two years left of school.”

“I do, but I don’t want to wait that long. I don’t want to miss my chance with you.”

He didn’t say anything.

Had she read him wrong? Nyx didn’t think so, but the silence left her anxious. “If you’re interested, of course.”

“Fireball, I am more than interested.” His lips found hers in the dark. “Are you sure I’m worth being the one?”

Nyx slid her hand over, found his, and laced their fingers. “No one else ever even tempted me. Only you.”

He squeezed her hand. “There’s a second luxury hotel in Trujillo. I’ll take you there. You deserve the best suite in the place, but that’s a little out of my price range.”

“As if I’ll even notice the room.”

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