Page 12 of Rescuing Josiah
“I just assumed. You don’t like anyone.” She got that it was to protect himself and not personal, but still, Chelsea believed that Josiah no longer had the ability to like people.
“The only people I hate are those responsible for killing my team. Are you responsible for that?”
“Uh-uh.” She shook her head for emphasis.
“Then I don’t dislike you,” he grumbled as he gently tugged his hand free from her hold. “I’d better go check on dinner.”
“It takes at least four hours or so to make a pot roast,” she called after his retreating back. She heard his grumble, but it was a half-hearted one at best, and she giggled in delight at the revelation he’d just given her.
He liked her.
Josiah actually liked her.
Not in the way she wanted him to, but he’d told her he didn't dislike her and mentioned his team in front of her when he usually never spoke about them at all.
Maybe things weren't completely hopeless, maybe together they really could work together to bring down the organ trafficking ring, and come out the other side as friends.
Chapter
Four
May 13th
9:53 A.M.
“If you don’t feel up to this, we can?—”
“What?” Chelsea cut him off. “We can what?”
Josiah dragged his fingers through his hair. He’d been right to want to keep Chelsea as far away from this mess as he could. This plan would have been so much easier if he was working it alone. So he didn't have to worry about anyone else. The last time he’d worked in the field with a team …
They all wound up dead.
Slaughtered.
Their bodies riddled with bullet holes. Empty eyes staring at nothing. Still. Too still.
Dragging in a somewhat shuddering breath, he forced himself to remember that Chelsea would not wind up like that. As much as he hated her being part of this in any way other than her sitting safe and sound at Prey in front of her computer, there was no way she would wind up shot to death.
It wasn't what these people did.
Both of them were wearing the same trackers Teresa had used to lead them to her when the trafficking ring had been targeting her.
Knowing Chelsea would be rescued promptly if the worst happened and they were abducted, didn't seem to still the churning anxiety in his gut.
Taking care of Chelsea last night when she felt sick had forced him to accept the fact that while maybe he was ready to be back in the field if he was alone, there was no way he was ready to deal with a team. He should never have allowed Prey to agree to let Chelsea be part of this with him.
There were ways he could have disregarded his boss’ wishes. Like disappearing, going off-grid, or taking what he knew and making his own attempts to get a meeting with Desiree Tilly. The worst that could have happened was that he lost his job, and while he didn't think that would happen because he knew he had Eagle Oswald at his back, even if he had been fired, it wasn't the worst thing in the world.
He'd already lived through that.
“Look, Josiah, I know you don’t like that I'm here, and I'm not going to lie and say I'm not scared, because I am.”
Chelsea’s soft admission had his heart rate jumping up.
Her fear …
It affected him in ways he didn't like. Didn't want.
