Page 25 of Tactical Lies

This man had been part of her entire life. She was only a few months younger than his thirty-two years, so they’d been in the same grade at school, played together nearly every day, and dated for years. He’d been her everything, and then he’d just been gone, and she was quickly realizing how not over him she truly was.

Best to keep that to herself for now, though.

They were still in danger, and getting back to the village alive, getting help for Isabella and the villagers was their priority. Not her relationship with Connor or lack thereof.

“How are you going to do that?” she asked, hovering close enough to Connor to feed off the sense of security he infused into her, but not close enough that her attacker could reach out and grab her if he tried to.

“I don’t think you want to know the answer to that, moonlight.”

Not bothering to correct him on the use of the old nickname, Becca kept her mouth shut. He was right, she didn't want to know how he was able to make injured men that he planned on killing talk.

“Now would be a good time to close your eyes if you can't handle this, Becca,” Connor warned.

Part of her wanted to, part of her wanted no part of this. But closing her eyes would be taking the coward’s way out. For better or worse, in this situation, she and Connor were partners, and partners had one another’s backs.

“I’m okay, Connor. Do what you need to do. I won't think differently of you,” she added in a whisper because she sensed that was what Connor’s biggest concern was.

Without saying anything, Connor reached out and placed his thumb on what was obviously a broken bone in her assailant’s cheek. “Why did you raid the village?” he asked, using that low and deadly tone that made her shiver.

The man said nothing, although even in the dim light of the tent Becca could see that his eyes were open and fixed on Connor. He gave a slight curl of his lips into a sneer, that quickly vanished from sight when Connor covered the man’s mouth with his other hand and pressed down with his thumb.

Jerking and bucking the man’s scream was cut off by Connor’s hand. Her ex didn't let up, pressing against the broken bone for several long seconds before he finally released the pressure.

After another few moments, he removed his hand. “Ready to tell me why you attacked the village and took Becca and me?” Connor asked.

Breathing hard the man shot him a venomous snarl.

“Easy way or hard way,” Connor reminded him. “I’d prefer the easy way since I want to get my girl out of here and someplace safe, but we can go the hard way if you choose. The ball is in your court, buddy.”

Weighing his options, the man slumped in defeat as he realized he could either cough up the intel Connor wanted or suffer more pain and then die anyway. “Boss got orders to go for the girl,” the man muttered.

“Go for Becca? Why?” There was something about how Connor asked the question that told her he already knew the answer.

What did he know that he hadn't shared with her during the hours they’d been chained up in this tent?

If he knew why they’d been abducted, why wouldn't he tell her?

“She’s important to you. You came here for her. They want to keep you silent. Said we could do whatever we wanted to the girl, but we had to set you free alive when we were done with her.”

Becca gasped. One hand flew to her mouth, the other pressed to her stomach where nausea churned relentlessly.

Someone had attacked her village on purpose.

Had planned on abducting her.

On raping her and then killing her.

Because of Connor.

To keep him silent.

Although she had no idea who “they” were or what they wanted Connor to keep quiet about.

Connor didn't say anything. Apparently, since he had the answer he’d been seeking and expecting, if the grim look on his face was anything to go by, he had no reason to keep the man alive any longer.

The snap of her would-be rapist’s neck echoed through the small tent.

Patting down the dead man, Connor must have found the set of keys to free her, because he knelt at her feet, unlocked the cuff, then stood in front of her. One of his hands hovered near her cheek for a moment before dropping to his side. Then he was moving again. Snatching up the weapons of the men escorting him back to the tent, he thrust one of them into her hands.

---