Dominance Never Dies (Masters and Mercenaries #11)(80)

She was so aware that she was surrounded by men who weren’t entirely in control of their actions. They each wore a Bluetooth device they seemed to communicate through. Was Hope McDonald on the other end of that line? Was she the one they called Mother? Her hands were shaking as she looked up at the face so familiar to her and yet utterly foreign. “Please help him, Theo.”

“Stop calling me that,” he snarled as he dropped to one knee beside her. “Why do you call me that?”

“Because it’s your name. Because you’re being lied to and used. All of you. Robert, listen to your own accent. You’re not from New York.” Tears poured from her eyes, but she forced herself to speak.

Robert ran a hand over his head, twitching slightly. “I am. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now come on. We have to get back to base. You need to keep your mouth shut or she’ll hurt you. You can stay with me.” He looked at his “brothers.” “We can hide her. We can share her.”

Victor’s eyes narrowed menacingly. “We have our orders. We’re going to follow them.”

Robert reached for her, dragging her up and against his muscular body. “No. She didn’t do anything. She can’t hurt us. I’m not going to turn her over.”

“You’re not.” Victor hefted Hutch’s still body up and over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold. “Tomas is. I’m taking this one and we’re leaving tonight. We’ve been made. We have to move and we have to do it now. The cartel is here. They’re fighting the invaders.”

So Case was at work along with Michael and Fain. How many were they up against? How hurt was he? He was definitely hurt. There was no way he wasn’t. How bad was it? Was he dying out there right now?

“Go.” Theo stood tall amongst them. “I’ll take care of the girl.”

Robert held her tight. “But I want the girl. I want a woman. I’m sick of being alone. I need someone.”

“Please take me with you.” If she could get on the inside, she could work on Theo. Case would find her. She just had to stay alive. They’d made two turns after Theo had shot Case. They’d passed a couple of doors. It would take him time to find them. She needed to stall and she knew who the weak link was. “I don’t want to die. I want to live. Please, Robert.”

His arms tightened around her. “It’s going to be okay. I’ll talk to her. She promised. She promised I could have someone. A woman.”

So Robert was horny. Or lonely. She could play on that.

Before she could make her plea, Theo’s hand shot out, gripping her wrist and pulling her to him.

“Victor, get him out of here or there’s going to be trouble.” Theo hauled her against his body, his hand gripping her throat. “Mother wants me to take care of this. Get out of here before they find us. I’ll secure the door and then follow my orders.”

Victor reached for Robert. “Let’s go before we get into real trouble.” He looked to Theo. “I’ll see you inside, brother. Robert, we have to go. You’ll feel better once you’ve had your meds.”

Theo nodded. “Go. Get out of here. Take him with you and I’ll handle the female.”

Robert looked her way, clear longing on his face. “She promised.”

Theo winced and put his hand to his ear as though he heard something the rest of them couldn’t. “And she’ll get you the right partner. This one is false. She was trying to hurt us. We’ll turn the man. He has talents we can use.” His voice went low. “You have to be patient, Robert. Everything comes in the right time. You know that.”

Robert nodded slowly and then moved to his left toward another of those industrial shelves. “All right. I’ll go. Be gentle with her. She’s innocent.”

Theo got close to her, so close she could see the line of his jaw, the stubble that was coming in. “Go. Tell her I’ll be right behind you. I hear her orders. I will obey, but I have to take care of things. Hurry out the proper exit.”

Victor touched the shelving unit and it slid out, revealing a secret door even as Mia could hear the gunfire getting closer and closer, hear Case’s voice calling out. So close. He was so close, but she felt Theo’s hand around her throat and had to think twice about screaming out his name.

“Please, Theo. Please don’t hurt me. I love your brother.” She did. Oh god. She loved Case. She’d been willing to admit she was crazy about him, lusted after his hot bod, wanted him to notice her, but she’d only just realized she was willing to sacrifice for him. Herself. Her life. Her soul. But he cared about her, too. Pushing her away was just because he was a stupid butthole. He loved her, too. He couldn’t make love to her the way he did and not love her. It went beyond sex. He was pushing her away because he cared.

She prayed he cared because she was suddenly ready to give up everything to see him one more time.

“Who are you?” Theo whispered in her ear.

“I’m Mia. I love your brother.”

“I don’t have a brother. Not the way you mean.” He took a long breath in. “Why do you smell so good? You smell perfect. I don’t want you. I don’t like blonde girls, but you smell so good.”

He sounded a little crazy, but she was willing to give him that since he’d been violated in a million ways. She needed to make him understand. They were alone now. Victor had dragged Hutch away. She had to stay close so Case could find them both. Surely he had a way to find them. “I’m not the one you want. You want Erin. I think I might smell like her. She’s my friend. She gave me body lotion for Christmas. I think it’s the one she uses. I’m wearing it now. I smell like your girlfriend, Erin.”