Hunter is bigger than Carlos. He could really damage me if he wanted to.
He wouldn't do that.
I don't know what he would or wouldn't do. I never thought Carlos would hurt me when I first met him.
What if my judgement is off again?
Hunter's muscles could crush me in a second.
Oh my gosh, his muscles are lickable.
What is wrong with me?
He places his hand on top of mine, which is over my heart. "Vanessa, are you okay?"
Why can't I just be normal? How I used to be?
I nod, but tears roll down my cheeks.
He tightens his hold around me. I should push him away, but he feels safe, and I haven't felt safe in so long.
"You've been through a lot. Have you had panic attacks before?" His voice is full of concern.
I keep nodding.
"Let's just breathe for a few minutes, Flower."
Flower. Why did he call me that?
That's probably what he calls all women. Disappointment is something I haven't felt in months, but it spirals in my gut at the notion of him calling any other woman Flower.
I sink farther into his arms and the rhythm of his chest.
At some point, he slides his hands to my neck and gives me a massage. "I'm not hurting you, am I?"
"No."
"You're from Belize?"
"Since I was ten. I moved from Brazil."
"You're Brazilian?"
"Technically. I've lived here longer than I lived in Brazil, so I consider myself more Belizean."
He kneads my neck. "Do you speak Portuguese?"
"Yes. Spanish, too. They are similar languages."
"Say something to me in Portuguese."
"Why?"
"Just grant me my wish."
I scoff. "You should set your bar a little higher for wishes."
He chuckles. "I'm waiting."
"Obrigado por me resgatar."
"Now, tell me what you said."
"Thank you for rescuing me."
"How do I say you're welcome?"
I tell him, and he attempts it but botches it up.
I repeat it with him until he gets it.
"Yay! That was a good one."
He rolls his thumb over a knot.
"Ouch!"
"Sorry. Do you want me to work it out or stop?"
Work out whatever you want on me hot stud. Want to explore the rest of my body while you're at it?
"You can work it out."
"If it hurts too much, tell me."
"Okay."
He presses back into the knot, and I close my eyes. "Where are you from?"
"The United States. I have a place in Australia, but I'm never there."
"Why not?"
He hesitates then says, "Work keeps me busy. I travel a lot between missions."
"I imagine you need a break after these kinds of things?"
His voice gets quieter. "I guess you can say that."
He moves his hands on both sides of my head. "I'm going to move your head to each side to try and stretch it."
"You should be a physical therapist."
"I almost did that after my first tour."
"Really? That's what I am."
"You're a PT?"
"Yes. Well, I don't work anymore. I wasn't able to continue after my injury. My body couldn't handle it."
And Carlos wanted me home.
Hunter leans into my ear. "I bet you had some pretty upset patients when they recovered and it was time to say goodbye, didn't you?"
I snort.
"It's true. Your patients loved you, didn't they?"
Sadness creeps in. "Yeah. They did."
Something howls and I jump. Hunter's arms circle me. "It's not close."
My heart beats faster. "No? It sounded nearby."
"No," he adamantly assures me.
"You'd think after eight months, I would be used to the jungle noises."
"Did they have you outside all this time?"
"Yes."
"You've been sleeping on the ground?"
"Yes."
"Those—" He shakes his head for a moment. "I'm sure you're exhausted. Let's get a spot for you on the bed."
"The bed?" Please tell me you're going to be in it with me.
These thoughts aren't helping my predicament.
"Air mattress. It's not as good as the real deal but better than the ground. You will have to share with one of the other women. Interpol didn't send more than three beds."
Disappointment flies through me. I turn to him. "Where are you sleeping?"
"On the ground."
"That doesn't seem very fair."
"I had a bed last night before I flew in. It's fair."
I open my mouth then shut it.
"What is it, Flower?"
A little flutter flits every time he calls me Flower.
He calls all women that. Stop feeling special.
I cannot go back to Carlos.
"When will you find out where you're supposed to take me?"
"Tomorrow."
My chest tightens again. "I... I can't stay in Belize."
He places his hand on my cheek. I should remove it, but I want him to keep it there longer.
"Why can't you stay in Belize?"
I choose my words carefully. "It's not safe for me."
"Tell me what isn't safe."
"I can't discuss it."
A deep line forms between his eyes. His voice turns stern. "Vanessa, who is going to harm you?"
My lip trembles and tears well again. "Please. I can't get into it."
"Can you tell me why you were kidnapped?"
"No."
"You don't know why, or you won't say?"
Fear grips me that he may get angry I'm not telling him what he wants to hear.
I rise. "I need to go. Thanks."
He reaches for my biceps, and I withdraw farther away from him.
Hunter holds his hands in the air. "I'm not going to do anything to hurt you. Ever. I promise."
Carlos told me he wouldn't hurt me again. He promised, too.
Hunter hasn't hurt me.
Not yet. I just met him.
"I'm going to sleep now. Thank you again." I tell him.
His expression changes but I can't figure out what it means. "All right. I'll walk you back. Careful you don't trip in my sandals."
He escorts me into the tent. The women are already divided up. Penelope and Julieta are in one bed. Zoe is in another.
"Where are Naomi and Emilia?" I ask Zoe.
"They went with Andre to the other tent. Hop in." Zoe pats the spot next to her.
"What are you wearing?"
"Dirk gave me a T-shirt."
"Vanessa, you want one?" Hunter asks.
"Okay."
He digs in his backpack, removes one, then hands it to me. "I'll let you change and be back later. Get some rest."
I reach for his arm. "Hunter."
He raises his eyebrows.
"I really do appreciate everything you've done."
"All part of the job. Get some rest."