Page 13 of Emi's Hero

The bowl sank to her lap, her fingers shaking so much he had to take it back or risk sloshing soup all over his patient and the bed.

A frown pressed her auburn brows downward. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“No worries,” he said. “It’s never easy to eat in bed. Let me.”

He took back the bowl, scooped up a spoonful of soup, and, with a hand beneath it, carried it to her lips.

She opened her mouth, allowing him to pour the soup inside. As she swallowed, her eyes closed, and a moan rose from her throat.

George chuckled. “Is that a good moan or a bad moan?”

“Good.” She opened her eyes. “Thank your Grandma Lois,” she said.

He followed the first spoon with a second. “I’ll be sure to tell her.”

The second spoonful elicited the same response, making George glad he’d stopped at the grocery store the day before for the ingredients. He’d been tired of fast food. Maybe he was missing Grandma Lois. A pot of chicken soup was the comfortfood he hadn’t known he needed until he’d taken the time to fix it.

A glance at the bedraggled woman barely holding herself up against the pillows let him know his choice of a meal was right.

He didn’t talk, just spooned soup into her mouth until she’d consumed half the bowl, and her eyelids sank.

He set her bowl on the tray and started to rise.

Emi reached out and touched his arm. “You haven’t eaten.”

“You need to rest,” he said. “I can eat in the other room.”

“Please...stay,” she said in a whisper. “I’m awake, just resting my eyes.”

He snorted softly. “Right.”

“Thank you for the soup. I’m feeling better. I have to.” She sighed. “I need to get to Sara before...”

“Do you think he’ll harm her?” George asked.

“I know he will,” Emi said, her voice a little stronger. “If she’s not of any use to him, he’ll get rid of her, like anyone else he comes in contact with.” She opened her eyes. “I have to get to her.” She sat up straighter and tried to shove the sheet and blanket aside. Her legs tangled, and she fell back against the pillows. “What’s wrong with me? I don’t have time to be weak. Sara needs me to be strong.”

George laid a hand on her arm and pulled it back quickly. “You nearly died out there.” He leaned closer. “You’re in no condition to go after anyone.”

Emi shook her head, a frown ceasing her brow. “But I’m all she has. Fallon talked about getting rid of her when he knocked me off the boat.”

“If your child is in danger, shouldn’t we call the police?” he asked

“No,” she said sharply. “He can’t know I’m alive. There’s no telling what he’ll do to Sara if he thinks I’m dead. If he knowsI’m alive, he’ll use her to hurt me, to keep me silent about his compound or to get me back.”

George held up his hands. “Okay. No cops. Besides, I made a promise. I won’t tell anyone you’re alive unless you give me permission.”

Her frown slowly eased. “Thank you.”

“If you’re not willing to go to the police, at least let me help you,” he said, his resolve strengthening.

Her green-eyed gaze met his. “Why would you do that?”

He smiled. “It’s what I do. I work for an agency called Brotherhood Protectors. We help people who need help.”

“How so?”

“Most of us are prior military special operations, like me. I was part of Marine Force Recon. Others on my team were Navy SEALs, Delta Force or Army Rangers. Sometimes, we operate as bodyguards, protecting people in dangerous situations. We have technical support and can search for people or information that will help our clients. We can also conduct extraction missions like we did on active duty, freeing captives held hostage.”

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