by Elle James
Dash nodded. “I stopped the abduction but didn’t catch the guy who did it.”
The soldier raked a hand through his short hair. “No wonder they gave us the third degree coming through the gate.”
“We don’t know who he was or how he got on the base,” Dash said. “We need to find the guy who tried to take off with Miss Daye.”
The soldier frowned. “Is it me or is it too much of a coincidence that the man we were tasked to catch left the human auction early and Miss Daye’s abduction happened shortly after?”
“The connection did cross our minds,” the Special Operations commander said. “That’s why the base commander insisted on putting one of our guys on Miss Daye’s security detail until her tour is complete and she leaves Afghanistan.”
Dash waved a hand toward the man in front of the others. “Miss Daye, this is Rucker Sloan, our team lead.”
Sunny pushed back her chair, ready to stand.
The man held up a hand. “Don’t get up.” He closed the distance between them and held out a hand. “I love your music, Miss Daye. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Still seated, her cheeks heated as she shook his hand. “The pleasure is mine.”
One by one, Dash introduced her to his team.
“The big guy with the bulky shoulders is Craig Bullington. We call him Bull.”
Bull stepped forward and took her hand in a surprisingly gentle grip. “Miss Daye.”
She smiled. “Do I call you Craig or Bull?”
He grinned. “You can call me anything you want.”
“The wiry guy behind Bull is Dawg, aka Doug Masters. He’s the best shot on the team.”
The man stepped forward. “Pleasure.”
Sunny shook his hand. “The best shot? Are you a sniper?”
He held up the high-powered rifle with a scope attached. “Yes, ma’am.”
“You’ve met Blade.” Dash nodded toward his teammate. “The man is an expert knife thrower.”
“Aren’t knives old school?” she asked.
“Not when silence is key to an operation,” Blade said, then winked.
Sunny nodded. “I guess so.”
Dash waved to a tall man with green eyes. “Sean McDaniels.”
“Most folks call me Mac,” McDaniels said.
“Nice to meet you, Mac,” Sunny said.
“Tank, come say hello to Miss Daye.” Dash waved a big guy over from where he perched near the door.
Tank frowned and pushed his way through the others.
“Miss Daye, this is John Sanders.”
She shook the man’s hand with a smile. “Why do they call you Tank?”
The big guy shrugged.
A handsome man with black hair and gray eyes stepped up beside Tank and draped an arm over his shoulder. “We call him Tank because he’s as graceful as an M1 Abrams tank.” He held out his hand. “Lance Rankin at your service.”
She took Lance’s hand briefly.
When she released his hand, he grinned. “I can’t believe I’m actually talking with Sunny Daye. Please, ma’am, I’d be honored to volunteer my services to protect you.”
Blade snorted. “Dash got that lucky assignment.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet all of you,” Sunny said. “Since Dash saved me, I’m going to stick with him until I leave the country.” Her brow dipped. “What was it you said about a truckload of women and children?”
Rucker shook his head. “We just got back from a mission to find the source of the human trafficking in the area. We caught them in the act of auctioning off women and children.”
Sunny’s heart squeezed hard in her chest. She knew human trafficking was a problem worldwide, but she’d never actually come that close to seeing it happen. “That’s awful.” She turned to Dash. “You think these people were trying to capture me to sell to their sleezy buyers?”
Dash shrugged. “It’s possible.”
“The bad news is,” Rucker said, “we didn’t catch the man who’s been negotiating the deals. He left the auction before we could spring the trap.”
“So, he’s still out there, brokering humans?” Sunny shivered.
“He is.” Rucker frowned and turned to Dash. “So, how is it you got the assignment to protect Miss Daye?”
Dash tipped his head toward Sunny. “The base commander insisted she either add a more qualified man to her security team or go home.”
“Don’t celebrities come with their own bodyguards?” Rucker asked.
Dash’s lips pressed into a tight line. “She had four, and that guy still got to her. What’s going to happen to the women and children now?”
“They’re erecting a tent for them to sleep in for the night. From what I understand, they’re scrounging as many cots and blankets as they can find. Tomorrow, our intel people will be working with them to see if they can glean any information about the man responsible for the trade of humans. They’ll eventually be moved to a refugee containment center to be processed and returned home, if possible.”
Sunny pressed a hand to her chest. “How horrible to be treated like cattle. Those women and children must be terrified. Is there anything me or my people can do to ease their plight?”
The Special Operations commander gave her a brief smile. “Not unless you have some blankets and pillows you can spare.”
“I’ll talk with my people.” Glad to have something productive to do, Sunny pushed away from the table and stood. She was halfway to the door when the commander’s voice stopped her.
“Miss Daye, don’t forget. You’re going to have a shadow in our man, Dash.”
She frowned. “I hate to take him away from more important duties than following me around. I’d rather he spent his time finding the man responsible for this travesty of human trafficking.”
“Ma’am, Dash is good at what he does,” the colonel said. “His methods may be unorthodox at times, but his intentions are good, and he’s effective. If the man in charge of human trafficking in this area was after you for the same financial gain as he was with the women and children rescued tonight, you might be the key to capturing this guy.”
Sunny nodded. “Then I won’t feel so bad taking your soldier away from his normal duties.”
The commander gave her a brief smile. “Don’t worry. We’ll be in close contact with Dash at all times, and on call, should you need the entire team to come to your aid if anything goes south.”
As Sunny walked the gauntlet of broad-shouldered, tough-looking Delta Force team soldiers, she shook hands and thanked them for their service. She paused at the door and turned to wait for Dash.
“Dude,” Tank said, clapping a hand on Dash’s shoulder. “Let me know if you need someone to give you a break. I would gladly take your place.”
“I’ve already volunteered, and was shot down,” Blade said. “She wants Dash. Although what she sees in him, I don’t know.”
“Dumb ass,” Lance said. “Dash saved her from being abducted. Where were you?”
Blade sighed. “Obviously, in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Sunny smothered a grin as Dash’s teammates all clapped him on the back and congratulated him.
His gaze met hers.
A shiver of awareness, and maybe anticipation, rippled across her body. This man was unlike any she’d met in the music industry, including her bodyguards.
Dash was a man’s man, strong, broad-shouldered, tough as nails. A man who didn’t run from a gunfight but ran into it.
Sunny felt a stab of guilt for taking him away from his team and their important mission. She assuaged her guilt with the idea that she, too, was a target. By keeping Dash with her, they might find the human trafficker.
Having the handsome soldier at her side wouldn’t be a hardship. Not in the least.
Chapter 3
After running through the line of his teammates punching his shoulders, slapping him on the back and making rude comments, Dash followed Sunny out of the building, glad
to get out into the cool night air.
Sunny stood with her four bodyguards, talking in hushed tones. She glanced up and smiled at him as he joined them.
“Guys, this is Ryan Hayes. He goes by Dash. He’ll be with me 24/7 until I leave Afghanistan.”
As Sunny introduced each one by name, Dash shook hands.
They seemed nice enough and appeared in good shape. Why the hell had they let someone get to their client?
Dash was glad Sunny had chosen him as her own personal Delta Force protector. He vowed to do a better job keeping track of her. He understood that being in charge of her safety was a lot of responsibility.
As a celebrity, even in the States, she probably needed around the clock security. In a foreign country, where the enemy wanted to kill all Americans, she was even more of a target. The only consolation was that they probably didn’t want to kill her. She’d be worth a whole lot more alive to sell to the highest bidder. Some rich oil tycoon might want his own personal singer/songwriter to add to his harem.
Given the massive amount oil money available in the Middle East, she could generate a significant sum of cash for whomever captured and sold her.
All the more reason for the human trafficker to try again.
Feeling the weight of his responsibilities bearing down on his shoulders, he moved closer to Sunny Daye.
“Where to?” he asked.
“I’d like to get back to my people to see if we can do anything to help the women and children who’ve been displaced.” She glanced at the long row of tent quarters. “I’m not sure exactly how to get back to our vehicles.”
Dash chuckled. “The base isn’t that big. I’m sure we can figure this out.” He cupped her elbow in his palm and guided her in the direction he remembered seeing the USO vans and trucks when they’d flown back in the helicopters. Soon, they emerged from a row of buildings to find the trucks and vans with the large USO lettering on their sides.
Back in familiar territory, Sunny led the way to one of the motorhomes and knocked on the door.
A man answered. His eyes widened, and he reached for her hands. “Please, Sunny, come in.”
Sunny climbed the steps into the motorhome.
Dash remained on the ground.
She turned. “You, too. You heard the base commander. I’m not allowed to go anywhere without you.”
He nodded and followed her into the unit. Inside, the motorhome was set up like a small apartment with a fully-equipped kitchen, a comfortable living room and hallway, leading to the rear where Dash assumed was a bathroom and bedroom.
“Lloyd, this is Dash—or rather, Ryan Hayes.” She gave him a crooked smile. “The base commander assigned him to me as an addition to my security detail.” She turned to Dash. “This is Lloyd Pendleton, the USO coordinator for this tour.”
Lloyd frowned. “I don’t understand. You already have four bodyguards.”
Her lips firmed. “And yet, someone was able to get past them to bag me and carry me off without one of them noticing. If not for Dash, who knows where I’d be right now?”
Lloyd held out his hand to Dash, his eyes narrowing. “Hayes.” He gave a brief nod. “What qualifications do you have to make you a better fit to provide for Miss Daye’s safety than her four bodyguards?”
Dash took the man’s hand in a brief, yet bone-crunching shake. “Sir, bodyguards in the States might be sufficient. However, in this theater of operations, you might be dealing with the Taliban, indigenous people who will do anything for money to feed their families and mercenary contractors, who would rather steal money from the government than do the right thing. Stateside bodyguards might not be as effective against them.”
“And you will be?” Lloyd challenged, tugging on his hand.
“I’ll do my best, sir.” Dash released the man.
“Good.” Lloyd rubbed his right hand with his left. “Miss Daye is our main attraction. I’d hate to lose her.”
“And I’d hate to disappoint the troops,” Sunny added. “They work hard. They deserve a little entertainment.”
Lloyd faced Sunny. “Are you sure you want to continue this tour? Even though you’re the main attraction, if it’s not safe, maybe we should put you on the first plane home.”
Sunny was already shaking her head. “I signed on, knowing the risks. The least I can do is see it through. There are a lot of troops out there who’ve risked their lives for us. I’m not going to leave at the first sign of trouble. They don’t have that option.”
“Yeah, but is it worth risking your life when you’re an actual target?” Lloyd asked. “This isn’t the first sign of trouble.”
“I know,” she said.
“Hell, you had just barely gotten off the plane in Kabul when someone tried to snag you.” Lloyd shook his head. “It was a good thing you had the wherewithal to clobber the guy with your carryon bag.” Lloyd grinned. “I’d have given my full month’s salary to have seen that.”
“Sir,” Dash interrupted, “would it be better to fly Miss Daye to her next location? Traveling by road in Afghanistan is iffy at best, dangerous at its worst.”
Lloyd’s grin sobered. “I understand, but we don’t have it in our budget to fly our people around. Besides, the Army is providing a security detail for our convoy.”
“And you think it’s sufficient?” Dash asked.
“So far.” Lloyd glanced at Sunny. “She was attacked here in the compound. I’d say the security on the base is lax if someone was able to get inside and grab Miss Daye.”
“I can’t argue with you there,” Dash said.
Again, Lloyd glanced toward Sunny then nodded toward the door. “Miss Daye, you might want to get some sleep in what’s left of the night. We leave first thing in the morning.
He nodded toward Dash. “In the meantime, where do you want him to sleep?”
“I don’t need sleep,” Dash said.
“You’ll need it if you want to keep up with Miss Daye.” Lloyd walked with Sunny and Dash to the door.
“One other thing,” Sunny said.
“Yes, Miss Daye.”
“The Deltas brought in a truckload of women and children who’d been targeted for human trafficking. They were being auctioned as the Deltas closed in on them. Are there any blankets or pillows we can spare to give to those poor women and children. They have nothing but the clothes on their backs. They need somewhere safe and warm to sleep while they’re waiting to be reunited with their families.”
“I’m sure we can come up with some items,” Llyod said. “I think there are spare blankets and pillows in the closets. Let’s check it out. I’m sure I have two blankets and some pillows in my unit. We can check with the other trailers and see what we can find.”
Sunny glanced down at the outfit she’d performed in. “I need to grab something from my quarters before I go.”
Dash and her bodyguards, followed Sunny to her motorhome and waited outside while she threw a loose cape over her shoulders that covered her from neck to toe, hiding her sequined miniskirt and sparkly tank top.
In the next fifteen minutes, Lloyd, Sunny, Dash and the bodyguards knocked on the motorhomes, woke their occupants and collected eleven blankets and as many pillows.
“Well deliver these to the refugees,” Lloyd said.
Sunny shook her head. “I’m going with you,” she said. “I can’t imagine what those women and children felt like. I was lucky. I wasn’t taken far from familiar surroundings. Dash saved me before I was subjected to the humiliation of being auctioned.”
“I’m not sure they’ll let you into the tent,” Dash said.
Sunny’s lips thinned. “Whether or not they let us in, we’re carrying these items to those people. I’m sure they need whatever comfort they can get.”
Dash crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. “As you wish.”
“Let me get the camera crew,” Lloyd said. “This would be a good opportunity to get some PR.”
“I don’t need the PR,” Su
nny said. “I just want to help those women and children.”
“I understand,” Lloyd said. “But the USO could use the PR. So, if you don’t mind, I’d like to record you helping the people of Afghanistan. If we get footage of the troops assisting as well, then all the better. Good PR all around.”
Sunny sighed. “All right. I’ll agree with that. But I’d rather have more video of the troops helping out than me.”
Lloyd grinned. “Deal.”
With her arms filled with blankets and pillows, Sunny Daye marched across the compound to the tent that had been erected for the victims who’d been rescued earlier.
Dash followed, carrying blankets and pillows as well. He didn’t like that his hands were full. He’d have to drop everything, if he had a need to pull his rifle up to firing position or grab his handgun from the holster at his side. But the woman he was protecting had insisted that they help others. He admired her dedication to serve and assist those in need.
A perimeter had been set up around the tent with soldiers stationed in a circle, ten yards out with fifty feet between each. They were there to protect the women from intruders and to keep the women and children confined to their tent and the immediate vicinity.
After each burden was inspected thoroughly, they were allowed to go inside the tent. The videographer entered first and recorded the event.
Women and children sat on cots or huddled on the ground, shivering in the cool night air. Some were swaddled in sleeping bags they’d been provided, sharing warmth with each other.
They were happy to receive the blankets and pillows Sunny and her crew provided.
Children who were awake crowded around Sunny’s legs, eager to be close to the woman with the golden hair. She knelt beside them, allowing them to touch her long, silky tresses. Sunny spoke softly to each of them.
They couldn’t understand a word she said, but it was the way she spoke in a soothing tone that made them smile and want to hold her hand.
When all the blankets and pillows had been distributed, Lloyd leaned close to Sunny. “You did good.”
She sighed, looking at the misery all around her. “I did what any decent human being would have done.”