Page 38 of Rescuing You

Jasmine lowered the protein bar to her lap, her head tilting to the side. “He did not look sweet. He looked fierce.”

Leila thought back to the man who’d rescued them. He had looked fierce wearing the camouflage and the helmet, holding the gun in his hand. Fierce and terrifying.

So different from the gentle man she’d known.

“He’s a soldier?” Jasmine asked.

“A salesman.”

“But he used to be a soldier.” She said the words with confidence.

And Leila understood why her sister assumed. Michael had been experienced and competent when he’d broken them out of the compound. And yet…

“He told me he was never in the military.”

Jasmine’s eyes narrowed. “You have known him months, you say?”

“I’ve known him more than a year. We’ve been dating since January.”

“Dating for ten months, and yet you don’t know this truth about him?” When Leila couldn’t refute that, Jasmine said, “He lied to you. Why?”

“He rescued us. He might have died for us.” The words were bitter in her mouth. Please, God. “We owe him everything,” Leila snapped.

Jasmine nodded, nibbling on her breakfast. But suspicion settled in her eyes. “Perhaps. But he did not tell you the truth. Why? And if it’s something he feels he can’t tell you, then…then can we trust him?”

“Of course we can.” Couldn’t they?

Leila trusted Michael with her life. Even if she hadn’t trusted him with her own secrets.

Jasmine didn’t argue. After she finished her protein bar, she lay on the sofa to rest.

When the sun went down, they would continue their trek to Baghdad and find the safe house. Would Michael’s friend still be able to get them out of the country?

Was Michael still alive?

A new worry niggled at Leila as she reclined on a chair near her sister.

Had Michael lied to her?

And if so, why? And, even though he had risked his life to rescue her, could she trust him?

There were no answers. Maybe there never would be. All she could do was keep going and pray that God would protect them and keep Baba and his men from catching up with them.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Michael woke to a strange sensation. A slithering sensation.

Only good training kept him from jerking his foot.

He opened his eyes to a brightening world and spied what he’d already feared.

A snake slid over his outstretched legs. Sand-colored. Strange black markings on its back. Horns.

Horns?

Yup.

The flat, triangular head suggested it was a viper.