Page 14 of Depths of Destruction

His eyes widen. He leans closer to my face. His cheeks redden and his voice softens, giving me the impression I offended him. "Is that what you think? That I don't see you as a person?"

"Do you? You don't seem to care what happens to me once you hand me over to the U.S.," I cry out.

His voice lowers. "That isn't true."

"Then why aren't you digging deeper?”

“My job isn’t to question and analyze. My role is to save people, not ask why."

"And what do you do after you save them? Send them to a new reality of hell on earth?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Why does the U.S. want me? There is no obvious answer except something is going on behind closed doors."

“There’s no proof this is true. We shouldn’t assume anything.”

I jab him in his muscular chest. “I’m not ignorant. My entire career is about opening those closed doors. The only reason the U.S. would want me is to get something they don't have."

He places both hands on my cheeks, holding my head firm. "I will find out."

Time stands still. His mouth is so close to mine, I can almost taste it. Our breaths merge, and my hands open up. I palm his chest. The beat of his heart thumps faster against my hand.

Fear and panic grip me. "Please. I need to know what they want from me. It doesn't make sense," I whisper, the tears I've been holding back most of the day finally fall.

He wraps me in his arms, and I sink into his muscles and warmth, as if he's a security blanket. "Shh. Everything will be okay."

"You don't know that," I mumble into his chest.

"I'll find out. I promise you." He's a stranger, a man I just met, whom I know nothing about. But he kisses the top of my head, and I find comfort in his embrace. I slowly glance up, taking in his rugged good looks.

His eyes wander to my lips.

My heart beats faster.

"Lòpez," one of his guys calls from outside the tent. He releases me, and I instantly miss the warmth and safety of his arms.

"I'll find out," he reiterates before leaving the tent.

I try to regulate my heartbeat and breathing before I go back to be with my sister and the other women.

You can't go over there worried; Emilia will see.

I do my best to appear as if everything is fine and go back to my sister.

Andre comes in after about an hour. "Ladies, there is another air mattress in the other tent. We don't have extras, but two of you could share. We're stationed around the perimeter, but I think it's best if you all got some rest."

"Emilia and I can share."

Andre nods. We leave for the other tent, and he once again puts his hand on my back. My mind wanders to places it shouldn't go.

Why does his sweaty skin smell so good?

He's the definition of alpha stud.

But I'm not having sex with him, so I need to simmer down.

Emilia and I crawl onto the air mattress, and Andre puts a few blankets over us.