Forged in Steele (KGI #7)(60)

“Where?” Rio asked tersely.

“Behind me.”

“I want to see her. And do it slowly and keep your hands where I can see them.”

“One would think given the favor I’m doing you that you’d be a little less demanding,” Armand drawled.

He sounded arrogant and utterly confident. He’d gone from somewhat quiet and reassuring to a methodical, cold-blooded-killer-sounding dude. She just wanted away from Armand/Hancock, Tristan Caldwell and Kosovo just as soon as possible.

“Maren, step from behind me and show Rio where you are,” Hancock ordered. “Keep to my side and don’t move any farther.”

Maren hastily stepped out, positioning herself beside Hancock as he’d told her. She glanced eagerly in Rio’s direction but saw he was still completely focused on Hancock. Probably a good idea since Hancock had two guns pointed at Rio.

“Maren, are you all right, sweetheart?” Rio called.

She glanced up at Hancock, remembering his order for her to remain silent.

“Tell him,” Hancock said shortly.

“I’m fine, Rio,” she called back softly, her voice wavering.

“How’s this going down, Hancock?” Rio asked, still holding his own guns on Hancock.

“She’s yours,” Hancock stated. “I’m checking out. Stay out of my way and forget about Tristan Caldwell. He’s mine.”

“That’s fine by us,” Rio said flatly. “Maren, come here. Walk slow and get behind me. Understand?”

Instead of answering, she took off at a rapid clip, measuring each step as she went. When she reached Rio, she nearly wilted on the spot, but she got behind him just as he’d told her. The two men continued their staredown, never once lowering their guns.

“After Farnsworth, we were even,” Hancock said. “Now you owe me and don’t think I won’t collect.”

“I wouldn’t ever think otherwise,” Rio said dryly.

“Stay out of trouble, Maren,” Hancock said, and then he turned and melted back into the trees, leaving Rio and Maren alone.

“Oh God,” she whispered, her knees trembling as reaction set in.

Rio turned and grasped her arm, looking closely at her. “Are you all right? Did he hurt you?”

She shook her head. “No. I’m fine. Really. Can we just get out of here?”

“Steele is waiting with his team and the rest of mine,” Rio said. “Let’s go. The sooner we get the hell out of here, the better.”

Her pulse sped up again at the mention of Steele. Shit, but this wasn’t the way she intended him to find out about her pregnancy. She’d rather give him this kind of news in private. Preferably after the furor of her rescue had died down and she could collect her thoughts.

“Do you need help?” Rio asked.

“No, I can make it. How far is it?”

“Just a quarter mile.”

She blew out her breath in relief and started forward at a fast clip. She wouldn’t rest easy until she was well away from Hancock and Tristan Caldwell.

Rio took her hand and squeezed reassuringly. Grateful for the contact, she squeezed back.

“Thank you for coming for me,” she whispered.

“Anytime, sweetheart. Are you sure you’re okay? That bastard didn’t hurt you, did he?”

“N-no. I’m good. Really. I’ll be even better when we get home.”

“We’ll get you there,” Rio said in a resolute tone.

* * *

STEELE paced in agitation, checking his watch. Rio had been gone only a few minutes, but it seemed like an eternity. He’d heard no rifle fire. All was quiet. The rest of Rio’s team stood facing the direction Rio had gone, tense and prepared to go in. Dolphin, Renshaw and Baker stood with Steele, tense and ill at ease. It chafed them every bit as much as it did Steele to be sidelined. Especially on a goddamn mission that was his.

Maren was his.

He didn’t know when the hell he’d started thinking that way, but in the last weeks of exhausting every possible avenue to find her, he’d began to think of her as his. They’d had sex. Really good sex, and sex didn’t equal possession, but they’d forged something between them that far surpassed just a physical relationship. No way in hell he was letting her out of his sight again.

A sound alerted them all. They straightened and went rigid, their guns brought up and trained in the direction of the sound. A few moments later, Rio burst into the clearing, Maren’s hand held tightly in his.

All the breath left Steele in a rush that momentarily weakened him. She was there. Safe and alive.

Her gaze rapidly scanned the area and when her gaze lighted on him, her entire face radiated relief. To his surprise, she launched herself at him, running straight into his arms. He caught her against him, holding her tightly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life.

“Thank God, you’re safe,” he breathed next to her ear.

“Thank you,” she choked out. “Thank you for coming for me. Oh my God, I’m so happy to see all of you.”

“There was never any question of us coming for you, Maren. I would have never stopped searching.”

She felt alive and soft and so infinitely precious in his arms. She buried her face in his neck, and he felt the warm slide of her tears against his skin. His grip tightened and her body molded itself to his much harder frame.