Defending Zara (Mountain Mercenaries #6)(6)

“What’s she saying?” the man asked, looking between her and Daniela.

Zara didn’t answer as Daniela continued speaking. “I’m guessing he’s going to want to go back to his friends soon, but with his injuries, he’s not going to get far. He’s going to need to stay here for a few days.”

Zara winced. He wasn’t going to like that, and she couldn’t really blame him. Turning to look down at him, she asked, “What is your name?”

“Meat,” he said without hesitation.

Again, Zara figured her English was just rusty, even after all the practicing with Mags. She had to have misunderstood him. That couldn’t really be his name. Her brows furrowed as she tried to search her mind for what he really meant.

“It’s really Hunter. Hunter Snow. But everyone calls me Meat. It’s a nickname.”

Ah, that made sense. But then Zara couldn’t help but wonder why he’d been labeled with such an odd nickname. She wanted to ask why, but with the way he was painfully squeezing her hand, she figured now wasn’t the time.

“She says that your ankle is hurt. And your head, ribs, and shoulder too. You’ll have to stay here until you’re better.”

He was shaking his head before she’d finished speaking. “No, I need to get back to my team. To Black. They’ve got to be worried about me. Give me a phone. Now.”

Zara turned to Daniela to translate Meat’s request, but he moved before any words could leave her mouth.

He sat up and wrapped his good arm around her neck, yanking her backward and holding her against his chest. The move had to have hurt, but his hold was tight.

Zara’s hands instinctively grasped his arm, and she dug her short fingernails into his skin, but he didn’t even seem to flinch. She could feel his fast breaths against her neck, but despite his obvious fear and anger, she didn’t believe her life was in any real danger. Yes, he had his arm around her neck, and she knew without a doubt he could easily cut off her air. But he didn’t.

Daniela was yelling at the man, telling him to let “Zed” go, but since Meat couldn’t understand her, the words were useless.

“Tell her to bring me a phone,” he ordered. “Teléfono!”

Daniela was shaking her head even as Zara began to speak. “There’s no phone here. No phone lines. The government tore them down.”

“Then a cell phone,” Meat growled. “Everyone has a cell.”

Zara shook her head as best she could in his grasp. “Maybe in America. Not here. They’re expensive. Look around you. Does this look like a wealthy house? It’s not. You’re in the slums. The barrio. Only people working with the corrupt police and military have cell phones. The rest of us spend our days trying to find enough to eat and staying away from those who want to do us harm.”

It was the most she’d said in a really long time, but she wanted him to understand. To know she wasn’t lying to him.

“Why am I here? Where am I?” Meat asked.

“Ruben and his gang were going to come back and kill you. They’ll search every home in the barrio to find you. Finish what they started.”

“Why not take me to my team? They would’ve protected me.”

Zara swallowed hard. She wasn’t sure whether he believed her about the cell phones, but he’d probably have a really hard time believing the military they were working with in Peru were dirty. “The men they’re with wouldn’t have.”

Meat was silent after her statement, and Zara wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or not.

Daniela took the opportunity to speak to Zara, low and urgent. “Hit him hard and fast on his bad shoulder, Zed. He’ll let go and you can get away from him.”

Zara knew she was right, but she couldn’t make herself do it. She should. Meat had sat up and was holding her against him awkwardly. She not only had access to his hurt shoulder, but she could also slam her elbow into his ribs or kick his ankle to make him release her.

Instead, she remained stock-still. Giving him time to think about her words.

“You’re saying the First Special Forces Brigade is crooked?” he asked, some of the ire gone from his tone.

Zara nodded as best she could. “Probably not all of them, but most.”

“Fuck.” Meat’s arm loosened around her neck. Still, Zara didn’t move. “My friend? What happened to him?”

“I don’t know,” Zara admitted. “Mags was going to go get him, but Ruben returned.”

“Mags?”

“My friend. She’s kind of the leader of the people I call friends.”

“I need to know,” Meat said, and Zara could hear the emotion in his tone. “He’s got a woman back home. She’ll be devastated if he doesn’t come home to her.”

Something within Zara softened. She didn’t trust men, not after what had happened fifteen years ago—and what she’d seen since—but something in Meat’s tone made her remember the way her father used to care for her mother.

How he’d pleaded for her life, not his own, on that day so long ago.

“I’ll find out for you,” she said quietly. “But if there was any way for your friend to be saved, Mags will have figured it out.”

“I don’t trust this Mags person,” Meat retorted.