Page 31 of Maddox

I nodded although he wasn’t paying attention. With every other step, I kept glancing over my shoulder.

“I’ll know if they’re coming, Charmaine.”

“How?”

He huffed. “That’s what I’m trained to do.”

He refused to let me go, keeping me steady while holding onto two duffle bags. I felt weak, still struggling to catch my breath.While the panic had passed, I was still extremely anxious, still uncertain I could trust him.

“I’m sorry,” I told him after we’d been walking for at least fifteen minutes. My legs were almost stiff, hunger pangs returning and I was so thirsty, my throat was closing. “I don’t know you. I just…”

“What are you sorry for?”

“Panicking. I haven’t had an attack for years.”

He chuckled. “You purposely place yourself in dangerous situations and you panic now?”

“I don’t purposely place myself in dangerous situations. By the way. You have no clue who I am.”

“I know enough to know you’re pissed at the man you’re trying to crucify.”

“What man?”

“Don’t play coy with me. Fernando Alfaro.”

What the hell was this about? Why was he here? “Who sent you?”

“Commander Gray Jenkins of the United States Navy, SEAL Team Six.”

“They’re not called that any longer.” I pushed away from him. “I didn’t see your credentials. I won’t go another foot without seeing them.”

Obvious exasperation swept through him. He stopped in the middle of the torrential rain, turning toward me. “You’re asking to see my credentials now?”

“Yep. I won’t go any further until you do.”

“Fuck this. I don’t need this shit.” He shoved his hand into his back pocket, yanking out something. “Make it quick. Let’s get you some water. I can tell you need hydration.”

I lifted the flashlight, shining the beam down on his face. I’d seen hundreds of real and fake credentials during my career. The lieutenant’s identification was completely on the up and up. Only the dates had long since passed. “This was years ago.”

“Funny how time works. Do I pass?” His gruff voice held the tone of increased defiance. Not that I could honestly blame him.

I lifted my gaze, even shining the light on his face. I hadn’t been hallucinating about how handsome he was. If only I could see the color of his eyes. “Yeah, you do. You’re retired.”

“Nice work for a reporter. Have some water, but don’t drink it too fast.”

I knew the drill. As I cracked the plastic lid and took a sip, he snatched his credentials from my hand. The man was studying me so intently I was certain he didn’t believe what I’d told him. I took several sips while he waited patiently, even though he had a horrible scowl on his face.

“I’m not just a reporter. But if you knew so much about me, you’d realize that.”

He laughed and shoved the bottle into the bag. “I know everything I need to know, sweetheart. Don’t worry. The intimate aspects were left out.”

As soon as he reached out to keep me steady, I shook my head. “I’m okay. But you’re still bleeding.”

“Like I said. I’ve been through much worse.”

I did my best to keep up with his long legs as we continued walking ever deeper into the forest. Every few minutes, he stopped and scanned a full three hundred and sixty degrees of the forest. I could tell instantly when he was convinced that we weren’t being followed.

“Can we stop for a minute?” I asked, hating myself for doing so. I was having trouble focusing again, fearful another panic attack was coming on.

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