Page 20 of Marked for Execution

It took me a while to understand how these men mentally operated. Samuel always had sexual innuendos, Gunner was the quietest of the bunch, Reed was the most levelheaded, and Eliseo…

I turned to look at him with a sour expression. “You know how he is.”

Reed and Gunner both laughed as Eliseo chuckled and put his hand on my head, digging his knuckles into my cap. I hated it when he did that, and he knew it.

“Alright, where’s Samuel? Is he rounding up the groups?”

“Yup, he should be done any minute.”

“Alright, listen up! Team A is taking the Humvee, Team B the truck, and Team C the jeep. We’re heading out of Ashborne in the next fifteen minutes. This trip is going to be one of our longer ones, since we’re heading farther up north than usual. It gets cooler up there guys, so make sure you’re dressed appropriately. I don’t need shivering fingers getting trigger happy,” Samuel hollered. “Take note that we’ll be close to Clan Shaye territory, so keep your eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary. Stay together, safety in numbers.”

When he got down to business, he had a commanding presence. Everyone started to break up and murmuring amongst themselves about what they might run across.

“Whose team am I on?” I asked the men.

Reed smiled and opened his mouth but was cut off by Eliseo. “Mine. Get your ass in the Humvee.”

Frowning, I gave Reed an apologetic look. He stared at Eliseo’s back as he waved me off and headed towards the jeep.

“Sili!” Eliseo snapped, and I stood at attention, running towards him.

“Fuck, calm down. Samuel said we’re leaving in fifteen,” I retorted.

I grabbed the handle to the back passenger door, pulling it open, when Eliseo slammed it shut and caged me in. I turned with wide eyes, staring at his chest. He was so close that I could feel the heat come off his body. His scent enveloped me, and I breathed harder through my mouth as I tilted my head up to look at him.

“Sili.” There was that tone again. The one he was always using when he wanted me to know I was testing him.

Was I?I was just annoyed he didn’t let me go with Reed’s group. At least he was fun to be around. His eyes bordered with fire and mirth. I didn’t know how to read him. He confused the hell out of me.

“You’re going to have to move if you want me in this Humvee,” I told him.

“Is that right?”

Wasn’t that what he told me to do?He needed to make up his damn mind. I scrunched my face in confusion, and he chuckled before opening the door for me. I hopped in and pulled it shut so I didn’t have to see his damn face anymore.

The rest of the group climbed in, and I realized Eliseo had sat next to me in the back. I turned to him and frowned. “Who’s driving?”

“It doesn’t matter. Strap yourself in.” He reached over and pulled the belt across my body as he told me this.

The drive was longer this time around.Good thing we gassed up last week in preparation.A bump in the road made Eliseo’s thigh hit mine. I knocked it right off me, and he laughed under his breath.

“What’s so funny?”

“You,Sili. You.”

“Whatever.”

“Stick with me when we make it to the destination, alright?”

“Why? What are we expected to run into?”

“It doesn’t matter. Just stick with me so I can keep an eye out on you.”

I turned to look at him in disbelief. “You don’t think I can handle myself?”

His eyes sharpened on mine as he leaned in, our noses almost brushing. “I didn’t say you can’t. I need you to stick by my side for my peace of mind. I don’t need to be distracted, wondering where you’re at if we run into shit, you feel me?”

I bared my teeth and turned to stare out the window. It seemed like the moment he found out I was a girl, he started treating me with protective gloves, and I was tired of it.What the hell was all that training for if he’s going to be this way?