Dominance Never Dies (Masters and Mercenaries #11)(118)

Was that Case’s plan? She knew they’d been going to Sierra Leone. How far ahead of McDonald and Santos were they?

She had to trust in Case. She had to be ready for anything.

Most of all, she had to survive and get back to her man.

Theo sat down beside her, his body stiff.

But maybe, while she was surviving, she could help her man’s brother. She stared at Theo for a moment. He was so rigid, so tense. His jaw looked like it was made of granite.

“You don’t like Hutch?”

He turned, one brow rising over his eye. “He’s annoying to me.”

Likely because he reminded Theo that he wasn’t Tomas. It wouldn’t do her any good to come at the situation directly. If she did that, Theo would walk away. “Does he still like candy?”

She asked the question with a smile, with none of the seriousness of before.

Theo shook his head. “He requested sugar in the beginning. We’re not allowed sugar. It’s not proper in our diets. We have to be in top physical condition to do the work we do.”

That was the company line. She needed to go a bit deeper. She gave him a soft smile. “I like chocolate. I can’t help it. It’s an addiction. But I have a friend who loves lemon. Everything lemon, especially sweets.”

Big Tag was a sucker for lemon anything.

Theo’s lips tugged up. “Like donuts.”

Exactly like donuts. They were Ian’s favorites. No matter what Santos said, Theo was still in there. “Yes, my friend loves lemon donuts. The filled kind. He’s got two baby girls. They’re so cute. Kala and Kenzi.”

Not an ounce of recognition crossed his face. “That’s nice.”

“Have you ever thought about having a family?”

“I have a family. I have brothers and Mother. They’re all I’ve ever known.”

She wanted to argue with him, but that would only make him ache. She needed to get around those harsh barricades the drugs and therapies had created. “I love my brothers.”

And I love your brother so very much.

“You’ll be back with them soon,” he promised. “I won’t allow any harm to come to you. I’ve already spoken to Robert. He understands you’re off limits. But you need to stay away from Victor. I can try to protect you, but Victor enjoys hurting people, especially women.”

Santos was high if he thought he could ever break Theo Taggart. There was a core of honor in the man that no drug could erase.

“I’ll do my best,” she said.

He was quiet for a moment. “Did I know Hutch?”

The hair on her arm stood up and she turned to him. He was staring straight ahead. “The new drugs don’t work any better than the old ones, do they?”

“I have moments where I know I shouldn’t be here,” he admitted. “But don’t trust me. Not for a second. I’m conditioned to respond in a certain way and often I can’t help myself.”

“Do you remember Erin?” She wanted to tell him that his brothers—his real brothers—were on their way. She wanted to promise him it would all be over soon. But he was right. She couldn’t trust that any lucidity would last. He’d shot Case without a second thought. Just because he seemed to understand something was wrong now didn’t mean he would remember it later.

His face went tight and he had to put a hand on his head again. Theo’s skin flushed to a deep red and he bent over, though he made no sound at all.

She reached out, putting a hand on his leg. “I’m so sorry. Forget I said anything. Let’s talk about something else.”

Thinking of Erin physically hurt him. God, she had to pray that would go away once the drugs were out of his system. How would Erin handle the fact that just the thought of her made Theo ache?

He reached out and she thought he would push her away, but his hand came over hers and threaded their fingers together, holding her tight as he seemed to ride out the end of the wretched episode.

She held on to him, giving him as much comfort as she could.

When he sat back up, he was a little pale, but he took a long breath and a smile went across his face. “That was a rough one. I get bad headaches. Mother gives me medication for them though. I’m glad to have her. I have no idea what I would do without someone watching out for me.”

Her heart sank. It was like the previous moment hadn’t happened.

“Yeah, you’re lucky.” She didn’t want to cause him more pain. When she tried to pull her hand away, he squeezed it, holding her tight.

“I don’t love landings. Do you mind?”

Despite the scar on his face, he looked so much like her Case in that moment that she couldn’t do anything but hold on to him. “I don’t like landings either.”

“I feel oddly comfortable with you. Don’t think I’m trying anything. I’m not. It’s weird. It’s like we’re connected, but I don’t know you.”

Case had talked to her about those weird twin things. Somehow, someway, Theo was still connected to his brother. Theo could feel Case’s connection to her. “I feel the same way.”

“I’ll protect you. It’s going to be all right. What was your name again? I’m bad with names. I have short-term memory problems. Long-term ones, too. I hit my head one too many times on missions I think.”