Page 31 of Protection for Rowan

He lowered so his nose was even with hers, his eyes were wide and full of anger. “Drink it.”

She had no options, so she sipped at the tea, wishing Charles had choked on the chicken they’d eaten for dinner. She moved to set the drink down, but he forced the glass back into her hand.

“Drink it all.”

Worry filled her. What had he put in the drink? She took another sip, trying to determine if it tasted weird. She wasn’t sure if it had been poisoned or tampered with. When she finished the drink, he took the glass, his lips spreading into a wide smile.

“There we go. You need to learn to follow directions. It’s only reasonable that you do what I ask. This is one of the lessons you have to learn. I’m a good person whomakes good decisions. If only you’d seen that earlier, then neither of us would be here.”

He turned, and Rowan thought about saying something, but her head started spinning. She closed her eyes, trying to stop the room from going around and around. Heat filled her, and she leaned her head back against the couch, thinking she would just rest for a moment, then get up and try to get him to listen.

Chapter 23

Shine watched the compound,waiting for the man who’d stepped outside to head back inside. They were so close. The rains hadn’t been as heavy as they’d predicted, so their target hadn’t fled.

He and Apple were headed straight up the middle, going for the door. Squat and Griz would approach from midway around on the left. That left Sharp and Jay on the right side. They had their assignments and there shouldn't be any problems. They had overwatch on this mission and the people watching their backs were solid. The sky had cleared enough the satellite was giving pristine details. This would be an easy operation as long as they weren't ambushed.

Too many operations were being compromised, almost like the enemy had their number. How could so many operatives from foreign nations know where and when everything was happening? There had to be someone inside giving information to the enemy. He didn't think it was a SEAL. Maybe someone higher up.

“Time to move,” Sharp said.

They started their slow progress toward the compound, looking for anyone trying to escape before they hit. They were certain there weren’t any underground tunnels, so no one was escaping that way.

The night was quiet, and the stars were shining above, giving them just the right amount of illumination to approach the compound. He was at the door, ready to breach. Apple came up behind him with the two small explosives to blow the door.

He watched as Apple placed the devices and stepped back. “Charges ready,” Apple said over coms.

“Blow,” Sharp said.

Shine glanced away so the explosions didn't blind him. After the charges blew, he followed Apple in, clearing the first room. He heard the other guys entering the building. There was gunfire, but he heard the other guys clearing rooms on the other side of the building. They had the guy trapped, and there was no way he would get out. They just needed to nab him before he killed himself.

Sharp was the one who got to him first. Shine and Apple were closing in on their position when someone came at them. The guy had a knife and was about to stab him. Shine had to act fast and punched the man before knocking him to the ground. He had zip strips on the guy in seconds.

Sharp had captured their target, and Shine heard the chopper coming in. They had about two minutes to get out of the building. Shine found Sharp and their target. The guy was trying to be obstinate, but Shine wouldn’t put up with any of that. He moved quickly and administered a dose of sedative that would force the guy to calm the heck down. They didn’t have time to put up with the jerk, and they didn’t want him dead.

“Thanks, man,” Sharp said as they both led the guy outside.

The rest of their team focused on keeping them safe as they left the compound. They were on the helicopter and heading out in minutes.

Shine sat back, relief filling him. They’d accomplished what they’d set out to do. After this, they would be able to go home. Just thinking about Rowan and home made his chest tighten. They hadn’t been together long enough to ask her to move in, but he wanted her in his life.

How could he get from where they were to living together and committed to each other? Would it be wrong to ask her to move in when he arrived home? How would she take him asking the second he saw her?

It would be overwhelming. Maybe he was reacting because he missed her. Would he still feel the same when he saw her? He drew in a deep breath, checking his thoughts and feelings for her. He wanted Rowan in his life, not for a moment or two, but forever. He had fallen hard for her, and he didn't think his feelings would change.

Chapter 24

Rowan blinked open her eyes,the groggy feeling made her chest heavy like someone had placed a weight on her. It took a moment for her to sit up. When she was upright, her head swam like she had drank too much. But she hadn't drunk any alcohol. He'd drugged her.

The heavy chain pulled as she walked, but there wasn’t any pain. Wiping the sleep from her eyes, she stumbled toward the bathroom, wondering why she felt so terrible. The pressure in her head increased along with the unsteadiness of her stomach.

She sat on the toilet as she rubbed her hands over her face, thinking she needed to drink a gallon of water. When she peed, pain radiated. Panic swept in as she sucked in air, trying to figure out what was going on. Her underwear wasn't the aqua-colored panties she'd been wearing when Charles had taken her from her home. This was pink and a style she wouldn't normally wear.

She froze, and worry blasted her. What had happened? Her stomach rolled with disgust. Had he—she cut the thought and reached between her legs to feel herself. Theroom seemed to spin as realization hit. The bastard had done something when he'd drugged her.

Bile rose, and she turned to face the toilet and dropped to her knees. He’d said he was trying to build trust so she would sign some document that he thought would get him his job back. But now this?

After she shut the toilet lid and flushed, she sat with her back against the cabinet. Her ankle had a bandage around it. Like him caring for the wound dug into her flesh that he’d caused would make her feel better about him? No fucking way.

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