Page 94 of Bastard

“My relationship with that hothead is different from mine with you. He’s a soldier. You’re ... not.”

I blink. Because for the briefest of seconds, I thought he was going to say something else. Something about being the woman he loves.

“My enemies can hurt me by hurting you,” he says instead. The truth is there in his words. But he doesn’t use the L-word often. Actually, the last time he did ended with me being shoved inside a helicopter and sent away.

“You had a fair chance at a normal life.”

“Is that what you call it? You had me watched. You had men killed on my behalf.”

“I kept you safe. Problem is there’s not a man alive who can look the other way when you walk by. Factor in that stubborn streak of yours, and trouble becomes your kind of normal.”

I roll my eyes. “And what’s your normal?”

“You.”

“How so?” I squeak.

There’s a short silence, like he’s contemplating his words. “You’re the person I feel most grounded with. You’re the woman I dream about when the loneliness sets in. You, Luciana. No one but you.”

Like surprise raindrops from a sun shower, tears trickle down my cheeks. “Hayden,” I whisper, so overcome by his admission I’m at a loss for words.

“This is the wrong time for this discussion ...”

He’s going to say it.

He’s going to tell me he loves me.

The ground begins to rumble.

Hayden stiffens, swearing beneath his breath. “Fuck.”

“What is it? Earthquake?”

He holds his hand above his eyes to block the sun’s glare and scans the horizon. I come onto my haunches to do the same, but he already has us racing the short distance toward the elephant corpse. I’m pushed beneath the long tusks extending away from its lifeless form. He rolls up next to me and positions his body over mine.

The rumbling grows louder.

“Zebra stampede. They’ll go around us or be speared by the tusks. After they pass, be prepared to act.” He places a gentle, reassuring kiss to my earlobe. “It’s what’s causing the stampede that concerns me.”

The galloping sound amplifies as the surrounding air becomes thick with dust. I imagine this is what it would feel like to be in the path of a tornado. I hold my breath as the herd passes around us on both sides, ducking my head into my armpit to avoid the smog of dirt-filled air around us.

Several minutes pass, but as Hayden predicted, the worst is still to come.

Gunfire erupts and men begin shouting.

Hayden lifts off me and I look to him for answers. “The militants sent reinforcements.” A cool handle of a gun is pressed into my palm. “Stay here. If I don’t return, remain hidden and wait until my men terminate every one of them. Listen for five shots fired, then a pause before four more. It will be the signal it’s over. Use the gun if anyone gets too close.”

I frown. “Your men are outnumbered.”

“Did Diego ever mention Hell Camp?”

“No.”

“They’re trained killers, Luciana. Even more deadly than the Lobos you remember.” He leans down and kisses me. It’s sweet and meant to reassure me. His action in direct contrast with his words.

Then he’s off.

I roll onto my stomach and watch as he fades into the dust storm.