Page 121 of Possess Me

To see the way she was handling everything was impressive. She was stronger than I was at this point.

Bella followed me to the door, but before I opened it, I pulled out my weapon. I refused to take any chances.

Exhaling, I let her out, carefully heading toward the surrounding trees. Carlos had found himself a jungle, a perfect hiding place for his stash. The one problem was the lack of cell phone coverage.

Although Carlos was keeping a close eye on any other planes coming in from the United States. But once again, it felt as if we were sitting ducks.

I couldn’t see the soldiers, but one had checked on us from time to time. They remained on the outskirts, keeping a close eye on the dirt road that led directly to the building. This trip had certainly taught me I’d never take another one without having at least a couple of men with me.

What I’d done had been reckless.

Bella sniffed the air, looking up at me as if asking permission.

“It’s alright, girl. Go do your business.” As she trotted off into the foliage, I thought about what Fallon had said. Maybe one day I would make a good father. But not now. I couldn’t do that to a child.

I needed to be settled.

After snorting, I laughed to myself. I was thirty-nine years old. When the fuck did I think I’d be settled? When I was fifty and could no longer chase after a kid? My profession aged you faster than almost any other. That was certain.

Still, I had to admit I wouldn’t mind the opportunity.

After a few seconds, I realized Bella hadn’t returned. What was taking her so long? While I might not know dogs that well, I realized that puppies liked to explore.

“Bella. Where did you go, girl?”

There were no sounds but the rustle of leaves on the trees from the wind. I held the weapon in both hands and followed the path she’d taken, heading deeper into the jungle.

A sharp crack caught my attention and my hackles were immediately on edge. At this point, the worst thing I could do was to draw attention to my position. Just in case. As I continued the path, I shifted from one side to the other, keeping a watchful eye.

Where the hell were the soldiers?

Another crack and I swung around to face the other direction just as I heard exactly what I didn’t want to hear.

Bella growling. It was the same low-slung sound she’d made when we’d been compromised before. Fuck. I followed the sound, ensuring the safety was off.

The moment I moved through a clump of vines, Bella’s growl sounded closer. I crouched lower, trying to keep the anger from allowing me to do my job.

Which was to protect Fallon at all costs.

If she was taken, there was a good chance I’d never get her back.

But I would burn a pathway to Moscow if necessary.

I took quicker steps and suddenly Bella bounded out, almost jumping into my arms.

Another crack and I almost reacted on instinct, firing off my weapon.

Thank God, I hesitated.

“What the fuck?” I hissed. “Don’t you know any better than to sneak up on a man?”

Alessandro Costa stood wearing fatigues, bending down to stroke Bella. “A woman and a dog. That’s quite the rescue.” For an Italian, he wasn’t a bad guy and his skills were exemplary.

“They sent you, huh?”

“Well, Mikhail had important business, so you got the B-squad.”

I scanned the jungle once again. Bella’s growl shouldn’t have been directed toward Alessandro, even if I he was a lousy Italian. I snickered from the thought. I wondered if I should tell him he was a character in an erotic romance. Nah. I’d keep that secret to myself.