Page 4 of Playing Hardball
“She seems scared. She’s trying to be brave about it but the vibe I was getting was fear,” Ritchie says. He’s always been the compassionate and kind-hearted one.
“I agree with Ritchie. The poor thing dozed off as soon as her head hit the couch,” Joseph says, walking back into the room.
What is going on with my teammates? Frustration builds in my gut. Why are they so ready to trust her?
“Why would she fall asleep so easily in a house filled with men?” I ask. Joseph shrugs.
“It just goes to show how exhausted she is,” Thomas says and I groan.
“You all trust her?” I ask bewildered.
“Trust is another thing, Ben. I just feel like we should help her,” Miguel says.
“You probably just want to fuck her,” I say harshly and he gives me a hurt expression before crossing his arms over his chest.
“Why are you so ready to condemn her?” Thomas asks.
“Because she seems like she has a very dark past. We can’t just help her without knowing what we’re getting into and she’s unwilling to tell us.”
“Probably because she’s scared, Ben,” Ritchie says. I blow out a breath and slouch in my chair. I’m not winning this conversation.
“Let’s put it to a vote. If you think we should help her, raise your hands,” Thomas says.
I glare at all of them as their hands go up.
“Sorry Ben,” Ritchie says.
I shrug.
“It will be good to say, I told you so, when this blows up in our faces. So what’s the plan?”
“The plan is to get her out of here until she’s ready to talk, or whatever is chasing her pops up. Of course, she’ll be paying for our time. I’m thinking Fairfield in Iowa. It’s a small town and very inconspicuous. She could disappear there. One of us will have to go with her,” Thomas says.
“I volunteer,” Miguel immediately says.
“No. Benton will accompany her.”
“WHAT! Why me?”
“Because you have the most reservations about her. And I think you would be the best man for the job,” he says. I sigh, rubbing my hand over my face but I don’t argue.
“You’ll leave tomorrow morning. Ritchie and I will get everything ready,” Thomas says.
I stand up and walk out immediately to pack. The mission shouldn’t be more than a few weeks but I have a feeling it’s going to be the longest few weeks of my life.
Chapter 3
(Kimberly)
______
“The least you could do is talk to me, you know?” I ask the silent, grouchy man beside me.
Ever since we got in the van that’s taking us to the airport, he’s been nothing but moody. I greeted him with a cheery good morning and he barely answered. While I was briefed by the other men about what was going to happen, he stubbornly refused to look me in the eye. They told me he would be protecting me for the next few weeks. I have a feeling it’s going to be a disaster.
One of the men is driving us to the airport. Strangely, I don’t know any of their names. Except the one called Ritchie and that’s because they asked him to dig into my past. I don’t even know the name of the man that’s supposedly going to protect me for the next few weeks.
“Oh right, before I forget. Here are your passports,” the man driving says.
