And now Paul wanted to hurt Hadley in order to get back at Bennett.
That wasn’t happening.
I’m coming, Hadley.
She’d hold on. His smart, beautiful woman would hold on.
The two teams split, Bram and the others circling around into the trees.
Then Bennett lifted his head and moved into a near silent run.Time to get his woman back.
CHAPTERNINETEEN
Hadley stumbled behind Paul, trying to slow him down.
Whatever he’d been through had broken him—and a part of her felt sympathy for him.
But he’d fixated on Bennett as the one to blame, and that, she wouldn’t allow.
She knew that Bennett would already tear himself up that they hadn’t realized Paul was still alive, that he’d been held captive and tortured.
Hadley wasn’t going to let this shattered man use her as a tool to hurt the man she loved.
God. She loved Bennett Knightley so much.
“Hurry up,” Paul snapped. He grabbed a handful of her dress and yanked.
She stumbled. “I’m going as fast as I can with my hands cuffed like this.” She held them up. “Plus I’m in high heels.”
He made a disgruntled sound and jerked her again. “Just keep moving.”
Hadley followed, purposely tripping and stumbling. She couldn’t help but worry about Bennett. This asshole had shot him three times. She knew he was in a vest, but vests weren’t foolproof, and the impact of three bullets would still hurt.
He’ll be fine. He’s tough and strong.
She blew out a breath.
And he’d come for her.
She felt a rush of rock-solid assurance. Bennett Knightley would crash through any obstacle to get to her.
She trusted him more than she’d ever trusted anyone.
“If Bennett had known you were alive, Paul, he would’ve come for you.”
“Shut up.”
“I think you know that. You’re angry, in pain, and there is no one to blame except the bad guys who hurt you.”
He growled, sounding like a wounded animal.
“I was burned from the blast and my hand amputated. They took me. I was in agony. They only gave me minimal medical attention.” His voice vibrated with emotions. “The pain was so bad that I wanted to die. For a while, I was sure Bennett and the team would come.” Now his words turned to a broken whisper. “But they never did. I still remember the day I accepted that no one was coming.”
Hadley’s heart hurt for him.
“Once I was well enough, the torture started. They wanted intel. The things they did…” He stopped, staring into the trees.
“Paul, Bennett will help you. He’ll get you help—”