I've been scouting the mountainside for nearly a week now and I have caught sight of Dani every day. She runs like clockwork each day at noon with the same man tagging along behind her. From what I can tell he's a big guy. If Torey, Remy and Ram were the Albanian standard then I would say he's right alongside them in the size and capability departments. Today I will find out just how capable he is.
The plan is that Malyssa, Denver, and Luke, along with Malyssa's German associates, are going to storm the compound while I snatch Dani. The task would be tougher than originally planned as I've scouted several mountainside security outposts. They're scattered throughout and have anywhere between two and ten men depending on their location. The route that Dani takes daily has less but the path out has more. If the men don't scatter to where we'd planned them to we could run into a heap of trouble.
Pulling out my binoculars I spot her at the base of the trail, stretching alongside her constant companion. I'm able to get a better look at him this time around. There's something about him that looks familiar but I can't quite put a finger on it. They begin their ascent, her running in front of him and after a little while I notice him checking out her backside.
I let out a snort. "Get in line, buddy." I murmur to myself and thank all the gods that Torey isn't here. I can just see him and all of his bravado striding down the mountainside not giving a single fuck. I chuckle underneath my breath thinking about it. That still begs the question rolling around in my mind. "Why on Earth would Dedaj assign you to her?" Especially with Dani's history of falling for men that are employed by her father. From what I can tell, the man isn't hard on the eyes and clearly is interested in Dani. Setting him up with her would be the last thing I would think Dedaj would want to do.
I collect my things, putting my binoculars back in my bag before slowly making my way alongside the trail, not wanting to be seen directly on it. I'm a good distance from where Dani usually stops and turns around. I don't want to get too close and alert them of my presence, especially since I don't know this man's level of training. I find a good spot and I wait.
After about a half hour or so I can hear them approaching so I move slowly toward them. They stop and I can't hear what they're saying but it sounds like playful banter. Great. She's made friends with the guy. I let out a sigh and shake my head as I continue my gradual way toward the two of them. Just when I'm about to reach them she begins running back down the hill.
Fuck.
I make myself move faster, not wanting to lose the two of them but also trying to keep hidden. It's a tough go of it through the thick brush. I duck down immediately when the two of them make an abrupt stop. I can see Dani's peripheral and she does not look happy. She looks upset, extremely so. She's asking the man something but I can't hear what. I'm still too far off. She turns away from him, giving me and him her back as she looks off into the distance. He steps up behind her and then flips her around saying something in a passionate manner. She pushes away from him and starts yelling at him. I take the opportunity to move quicker, not needing to be as secretive now that Dani is completely distracting her guard with her outburst.
I'm about to make my presence known when he wraps his arms around her and she fights against him but then... she gives in. He's murmuring into the top of her hair, holding her in a way that reminds me of Torey and, before I can even formulate a proper response, she's hugging him back. He's soothing her in a way that is too close for comfort, fingers gliding down her back, and I know if Torey were here he would flay the flesh from this man's bones.
She pulls away from him and looks up into his eyes. His thumbs wipe away her tears. It's a moment that is intimate. She whispers something to him and he responds with, "I know and as such I am also your protector. Even when that means needing protection from yourself."
No. Those are my words. Words that have come directly out of my mouth before. His arms wrap around her again and it takes everything in me not to put a bullet directly into this man's skull. I step out of my cover and quietly come up behind them, standing only a few feet away from them.
"Dani?" And just as I had anticipated the large man whips her behind him and holds a gun in my direction. "I would be careful where you point that thing." I can better assess the large man now that I'm up close and personal. I let out a low whistle. "You know you're pretty close to the actual thing but not close enough. If he were here right now you best believe he would gut you like the catfish you are."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" He even jerks the gun like Torey would. I'd bet money that he has studied Torey extensively.
"I'm talking about your look, son." His features tighten and I know he knows exactly what I'm talking about. I make a show of looking him over. "Just 'cause you look like the man doesn't mean you are him and it sure as shit doesn't mean you can take Dani away from him, or me, for that matter." His face would tell me he is not too happy about that. "What? You think you can give her a little sweet talk and you're going to have her wrapped around your little finger? Gonna have to get in line, buddy. She's already spoken for."
"Brooks?" Dani peeks around the large man.
"Yeah Dani?"
"Why are you talking as if Torey is still alive?"
"Because he is." My eyes flicker to hers before going back to the man who doesn't seem to be shocked by that news. He knows Torey is still alive.
"What!?" A sob escapes her as she tries to move around the man but he holds an arm out, stopping her. "Tristan?" Her brow furrows as she looks up at him in confusion. He's your captor, sweetheart. I let out a mental sigh.
"I am assigned to protect you and to guard you, Dani. You are not to be let out of my sight which means you are not getting anywhere near him." A loud boom of a noise happens out in the distance and I know the rest of the party has shown up. Gun shots ring out, clattering off the mountain peaks.
"Let her go or I will kill you." I won't even think twice about it. This man is emotional manipulation in a physical form. "Now." I reiterate.
"Can't do that." I take a pointed step closer, gun aimed perfectly at the spot right between his eyes.
"Tristan, please let me—" She tries to get out from behind him again but he doesn't let her escape.
"You know better than that, Daniela. Your father will kill me and what about your son? There's no way they're getting him out of there. Are you just going to leave him behind?" The look on her face is devastated.
"Hey asshole, they'll get Wolf out and we will leave with the both of them. No need to guilt trip her into staying so you don't lose your life. You forfeited it by working for this scum and, to be honest, once Torey finds out about you, whether she comes with me or not, your life is as good as gone."
"They won't get to him in time. If there's an attack on the compound Tatyana has been instructed to take Wolf into their panic room. They're most likely in there already and all the men on the mountain will pick off whoever raided the compound like sitting ducks." I grit my jaw at that which has him continuing. "Dedaj isn't stupid. He knew you would come for her, for him."
"And what of Torey? Hmm? What does your boss think he will do?"
"He doesn't know Torey is alive."
"But you knew he was I could see it all over your face." He gives me a slight nod. "Interesting. Who're you working for?" Because if he didn't tell Dedaj Torey is alive and he knows then he has to be working for someone else.
"I'm not working for anyone else. I just didn't want to tell D—"
"Bullshit. I can smell a liar from a mile away and you are lying."
"I'm not lying. Torey even trained me."
"Yeah, I bet he did." I look him over. "Picked up a lot from him I can see. His habits and mannerisms. Even trying to pick up Dani." He glares at me. "She's coming with me." I watch the man's knees cave in and he stumbles before regaining his composure but it was just enough for Dani to make it behind me. She grabs a gun out of my holster and aims it at him.
"Who are you?" She juts her gun out a little bit more to emphasize her point. "Who!?"
"You better give her some answers before she shoots you, big guy."
"Alright," he holds his hands up, letting the gun hang on one finger. "You're right. I will tell you only if she comes with me."
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
"If you don't want any harm to come to your son then you will come with me. I am telling you they will not be able to get to him. He will remain here and who knows what they will do if you are taken."
"They wouldn't hurt him." Her voice wavered on that, like she was a touch unsure. Knowing her father, I wouldn't put anything past him. "They wouldn't." He gives her a sad frown because he knows, just like I know, that her father is a sick sadistic fuck. "Oh God." Dani drops the handle holding her gun with a cry. "I can't go, Brooks. I can't leave him. I can't." She's starting to hyperventilate.
"It's okay, Dani. It's going to be okay. They'll get him if they haven't already."
"Check in with them." Tristan interjects, putting his gun away. "Check in and see." Before I can even get my phone out of my pocket it goes off. It tells me they're retreating, that they didn't get Wolf.
"Fuck."
"Now, Dani, come with me." He beckons her with a hand. "I'll take you back safely and we can pretend like this," he gestures between the three of us, "never happened." I grab ahold of her arm when she goes to take a step forward. "We do not have time to fuck about. Any minute now every square inch of this mountainside will be scoured."
Dani hands me back my gun with, "I'll be alright. I will." Though the tears in her eyes tell me otherwise as she steps toward him.
"You." I aim at the man. "Give me a name. Your real name for assurances."
"They know me as Tristan Grant. My real name is Tristan Marling." I give him a nod that has him taking Daniela down the side of the mountain. I watch until she's no longer in my sight before making my escape.
A/N:
Hmm, I wonder if that name rings any bells...