by P D Miller
He drove half a mile and pulled up behind his big rig. Turning off the engine he turned and faced her. Since they were in some light, she could see his face.
“Gonzalo has an enemy who wants to get him Melissa, and they told him they were going to get you because getting you would hurt him most. I’m taking you somewhere safe so no one can hurt you. Do you understand?”
Tears spilled down Missy’s cheeks. “Ye—yes.” She still shook. She didn’t know why, but she believed what Ben said.
“I promise, oh how I promise I won’t hurt you.” Ben fought tears too. “I’m doing this as a last resort, and I promise I won’t ever hurt you. Will you believe me?”
“Ye—yes.” She tried to stop shaking but her teeth chattered.
He tugged at her to follow him. “We have to get in my truck. Still shaking, Missy allowed him to carry her to the big rig and stood until he climbed up and pulled her up to him. She was barefoot and in a cotton nightgown which revealed her perfect body underneath. Fighting the way his own body reacted, he started the engine.
She’d already moved over to the far right side, but he reached out for her hand, pulled her back to the middle and started talking with his hand again between shifting gears.
“In a few minutes when I see your brothers coming home, I’m going to signal them to tell them you’re all right. You’ll know it Missy.”
“Ben I’m not Missy, she—” She looked away.
He pulled her chin around to face him. “I want you to trust me. I promise I won’t hurt you. I’ll show you, okay?”
“Y—yes.” Missy leaned back feeling confused and tried to fight the shaking going on inside her. Her teeth chattered, but when she clamped them tight, her whole body shook more.
Ben swallowed hard, worried and watched until he saw the two cars with angry drivers zoom down the freeway. As he’d hoped, the drivers were so furious they didn’t see his truck parked near the freeway entrance. Within seconds Ben pulled out. There was no light in the cab of the truck now, so he alternately used his right hand to shift gears to gain speed and told Missy how he’d show her she’d be safe. He was going nearly ninety when Marco, driving the first car with Gonzalo in it, saw the truck looming behind them. Ben swung out in the left lane as he approached the last car. With a wide grin he glanced at Missy as he reached for the horn and flew past two cars honking all the way. At first she jumped at the sound and then looked up with a small tear filled smile.
“Do you believe me now?” His fingers asked, seeing the tears in her eyes.
“Yes, I—I be—believe you.” She nodded. She’d recognized her brothers’ cars.
He reached up and wiped away her tears. Still she shook. “Now I’m going to take you someplace safe until Gonzalo’s out of trouble.”
“Y—yes, I—I know.”
“You trust me?”
She nodded and clamped her teeth shut to stop their chattering. Again she shook all over.
Ben picked up his phone and ordered someone to be ready for him. As he drove he kept a worried eye on her and saw she hadn’t calmed. Thinking she might be cold, he reached over in the sleeper and pulled a blanket down for her to use. Still she shook, and then he understood it was all fear. As often as he could he reached for her hand to reassure her she was safe.
Spotting the proper exit, he pulled off the freeway and swung the truck into a rich residential section of a neighboring town. He slowed the truck as he went through the streets and stopped in front of a gate. A waiting man opened it, so Ben could go through. Missy still shook while Ben waited for the guy to jump up on the truck, and he then drove to what looked like a huge warehouse. Doors were wide open waiting for him. Inside Missy saw another big rig, several expensive cars and a helicopter. As soon as the truck stopped inside, she closed her eyes and shook more.
Ben opened his door when his outside passenger jumped off. Gently he pulled Missy over and handed her to the man. Then Ben jumped from the truck and took Missy into his arms. He carried her outside and across a patio. Once inside the house, he took her upstairs and placed her gently on a huge bed.
“You’ll be safe now.” He smiled. “No one will hurt you here.” Sitting beside her on the bed, he held her hand and tried to quiet her shaking, but it was useless. He reached for the phone on the nightstand and punched a number. “Susan will you come up?”
When the door opened, he looked up with a smile; Missy glanced up too and saw a beautiful woman about thirty.
“Problems Ben? You need me?”
“Not me. I’ve got a very tiny and frightened little girl here though. I just had to kidnap her, and it’s happened to her before. The last time she was hurt very badly. I’ve tried to reassure her, but she’s still not sure. I think I’m causing her fear. Stay here okay?” Ben looked down at Missy. “Susan’s a doctor, and she’s going to stay with you. I promise, no one’s going to hurt you. She won’t let anyone hurt you. Okay? I’ve got to go downstairs and check on some things to be sure Gonzalo’s all right, but I’ll be right back. Okay?” Ben watched for Missy to nod her understanding before he rose and started for the-door.
“Hello Missy.” Susan smiled.
“I—it’s Melissa. Missy insisted. “Mis--Missy died.” Fear still showed in her eyes and she shook uncontrollably.
“Yes of course, Melissa.” Susan smiled.
Ben was facing the doorway, but he heard the exchange. “She’s psychologically deaf Susan, and lip reads. She was severely hurt when they kidnapped her before, so she wants the teen age victim dead. Sometimes I think she’s still the seventeen year old she was when it happened. Take care of her for me; will you?” He braced himself to control the pain waving through him.
“Melissa, no one’s going to hurt you here.” Susan pretended not to hear him. “Ben won’t allow anyone to hurt you. Do you understand?”
“Y—yes—B—Ben’s b—been g—good to me.”
“You can rest now and sleep if you like. Here, I’ll sit with you and hold your hand.” Out of the corner of her eye, Susan saw Ben finally leave the room. She brushed back Missy’s hair. “Everything’s going to be all right now Melissa. Ben’s taking care of everything.”
Chapter Six
Ben paced in the library waiting for the phone. One of the agents would call any minute since he’d blatantly signaled Gonzalo he had Missy. But Missy, upstairs shaking like a leaf, was what really worried him. Being forced to kidnap her could only hurt her more psychologically. He sure as hell hoped Susan could get through to her and help her believe she was safe. Deep in painful thought Ben was staring into a glass of scotch when Wanda came into the library. He looked up curious about her silly grin.
“Man the things you ask me to do. That Gonzalo guy was suspicious as hell. He made me drive him to his shop and walk around before he or his brothers got out of the car. What the hell’s going on? I mean besides my being a decoy while you kidnap their kid sister? You don’t usually get so uptight”
“He and I have a personal score to settle as soon as all this crap is cleared up.”
“Over his sister?”
“Yeah, over his sister.” Ben dropped his glass on the table. “Look Wanda, you need to be dressed sexy tomorrow morning and pick me up at nine.”
“Sure boss, no problem.”
He smiled as he watched Wanda leave. Damn she had no idea how she was going to help him set up everything. His nerves were so shot, when the phone rang, he jumped. “Yeah?”
“What the hell are you doing kidnapping girls?” Davis yelled.
“Had to for her own good.”
“Yeah, well her brother called the office and said he was going to kill you.”
“Nothing more?”
“Yes, but it’s one of the nicer things he said. Does this have something to do with the coke they’ve been carrying?”
“Yeah.”
“He thinks you took her to get back at him. Sure you’re not letting personal things control you?”
“No
way! I’ll know she’s safe this way.” Ben rubbed the back of his neck. “One of the people we’re after has reasons for wanting this girl besides getting back at the family.”
“Well, I sure hope you know what you’re doing. Her brother’s threatening charges.”
“Let him. It might even help. Just don’t let anyone know where I am. Look, let’s get started on this as soon as possible now.”
“Tomorrow all right?”
“No the day after. I’ve got to set up something.”
“Then you’ll get back to me?”
“Yeah, I’ll call you. First, call her brother and get him to change drivers.” Ben smiled a little at this unexpected break. “Having to look for their sister and me will give them plenty of reason to let someone else drive their trucks.”
“And you’re still planning on being the fifth man?”
“Yeah, I don’t need to be in Dallas.” Ben dropped the receiver, reached in his desk for some playing cards, buzzed the kitchen and asked Mrs. Diaz if she’d take some coffee and sandwiches up to his room.
When he slipped in his bedroom, it pleased Ben to see Missy had finally stopped shaking. She was sitting Indian style in the middle of the bed talking to Susan and looked like a ten year old. Waves of heat raced through him as his heart pounded. He could see her toes peeking out from under her nightgown. A slight trace of fear crossed her face when she saw him.
“Hi.” He towered close to the bed. “Wondered if you might be wide awake like me and want to play cards or something. Know how to play Slap Jack?”
When Missy nodded, he sat on the side of the bed. It surprised her when Susan made no attempt to leave the room. Missy glanced at the clock and saw it was after midnight. When she turned back to Ben, he was looking at the door and talking. A heavyset woman came in carrying a large tray with sandwiches, cups and a large pot of coffee. She put it down on the coffee table with a smile.
“Melissa this is Mrs. Diaz my housekeeper.” He smiled.
“My, my, you are a beautiful young lady.” Mrs. Diaz glanced at the bed. “I see why Ben worries about you. Eat now, and if you want anything, call me.” She frowned at Ben. “You should have ordered milk for her, not coffee.”
“No it’s all—” Missy started.
“Bring her some then.” Ben grinned at the heavyset cook. “Oh, and Susan will need some bed linens for the sofa tonight.” He pointed, then lay back and shuffled cards. “Want to join us Susan?”
“No thanks, I never was much for cards.” She went to the sofa, smiled, curled up and reached for a magazine.
Before long Missy was laughing and having a good time. Susan saw how Ben’s eyes never left Missy and how his expression was relieved as she was able to relax. At one in the morning Susan rose and quietly spread out the bed linens Mrs. Diaz had brought. She could hold her eyes open no longer. Ben saw a hint of nervousness flicker through Missy, but they continued playing cards. No damn way was he going to leave her tonight, and she might as well accept it. Somehow or other he had to find a way to get her to not be afraid of him, or she’d never able to marry anyone. At two when he saw Missy could hardly stay awake, he told her to scoot on up and crawl under the covers.
Standing beside the bed he held the covers up for her; he then pulled the covers up to her chin. The muscles in his cheeks rippled as he clenched his jaw to fight against arousal. Slowly he turned down lights until there was only enough to allow her to see movement. Still dressed, he went to the empty side of the bed, loosened the covers, adjusted the pillow against the headboard, took a deep breath and dropped slowly onto it. He saw Missy stiffen. Gently he sat back, reached out and pulled her up into his arms. She began shaking again.
“Missy, Missy, Missy—” He whispered. Reaching for her hand he reminded her Susan was there and she was safe. With tears in his eyes he kept repeating over and over Susan was there to protect her and she was safe. Gradually her shaking stopped, and her body relaxed. Long after she was asleep his hand still told her she was safe. The last time he looked at the clock before he fell asleep it was four in the morning.
At six thirty Missy opened her eyes to see a white shirt and smell Ben’s clean male scent next to her. Trying to figure out where she was, she squirmed a little, but an arm held her close, and her hand was locked securely in his. Slowly she shifted and saw him sleeping beside her, holding her. She saw his lips move, and her eyes clouded as she remembered the night before.
He was warm holding her this way and she felt secure. Carefully and slowly she tried to pull away and turn on her other side pulling covers as she went; his body followed hers until he somehow slid down and her backside was up against the front of him. When he mumbled, his breath on the back of her neck scared the daylights out of her. His arm circled her possessively, and his hand nearly touched her breast. He bent his leg touching hers and she stopped breathing. She held her breath until her chest hurt and then let the air out slowly. For over half an hour she lay there nearly afraid to breathe and totally conscious of his breath on the back of her neck, his fingers dangerously near her breasts and his leg molded against hers. Oh, he was warm like sunshine against her. He smelled so good too. Slowly she let her hand slide down his arm. He mumbled again and reached for her hand. Her breath caught until she felt him trying to talk to her with his hand while he was still asleep. All she could make out from his fingers was “Susan—safe” over and over. Sighing, she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.
At eight Susan rose and gently shook Ben’s shoulder. He opened his eyes, smiled and slowly lifted himself to sitting. He put his face in his hands, and then grinned at Susan.
“She’s special to you?” Susan smiled.
“Yeah.” Ben nodded and looked at Missy. He reached out and carefully covered her exposed leg. “Yeah, and she’s scared to death of everyone.”
“You’re the one who taught me it takes time to recover.”
“I know. It’s why I wanted you here. She wants to bury it, has a kind of amnesia about it which I think is causing the deafness, but she needs to learn to—”
“I’ll talk with her Ben.”
“It’s all I can ask.” Slowly he rose. Susan would understand. Blinking he wandered to the bathroom, remembered he needed clothes and went to the walk-in closet. He rubbed the back of his neck as he came back with what he needed. For a moment he stopped and stared at Missy, his face flooded with desire, and then he shrugged. “Guess I’d better shower in one or the other bathrooms in case she wakes up.” He smiled sheepishly.
“Before you go, tell me something. Was she awake or asleep when you lay on the bed?”
“Half awake I think. She shook for a little while and I talked with my hands until she went to sleep. Is it important?”
“It might be a good sign. Just be patient, Ben. I’ll talk to her.”
“Yeah, I know.” He forced a smile.
Ben wandered into the kitchen and was greeted with a hot cup of coffee and Mrs. Diaz’ warm smile.
“Is your young lady still asleep?”
“I think so.” He looked up. “You like her?”
“Oh yes, but she’s so young.”
“Oh?” Ben buried his grin by ducking his head. “Too young?”
“I don’t know.” Mrs. Diaz frowned. “Why was the doctor there?”
“Chaperone!”
“Chaperone?”
“Yeah, I kidnapped her.”
“You didn’t!”
“Yeah you know, ladder at the window while her parents slept. She’s got nine brothers named Sanchez.”
“Oh my!”
“Know why Susan was there now?” He grinned at the cook.
“Chaperone.” She nodded her head. “But you’re still in trouble.”
“Tell me about it.” He chuckled and got up to look out the window. “She might be here a few days while I go on a job.”
“Oh I see, then she’s just here because of the job and not what I tho—”
“Nope, you’
re too smart for me.” Ben grinned. “She’s here because of the job and for a very personal reason. In fact, if I can get around all those brothers, she may be telling you what to cook for dinner.” He winked at Mrs. Diaz as he left the kitchen.
“Oh my! And you dared to kidnap her!”
“Yep!” He laughed. “So if I come home all beat up again, you’ll know what happened.” Ben sauntered out of the kitchen and went to the library. He made a couple of calls and paced impatiently until Jon, his handyman came in to tell him Wanda was outside. Grabbing a briefcase, he quickly left the house.
“Well I wore the sexiest thing I could think of; is it okay?” Wanda pulled onto the freeway.
“Yeah, it’s fine.” Ben wasn’t thinking of Wanda. He was reliving sleeping with Missy, holding her in his arms and feeling her warm body next to his, enjoying her smell.
“So what’s the first thing we do?”
“I’ve got to work with the drivers and coordinate our plans. You’re going to meet three guys.” Ben smiled.
“Three?”
“Yeah, the first one, you’ve met, Raul Tijerina; remember him?”
“Yeah, he made my skin crawl.” Wanda made a face.
“Well, Davis wants pictures, so you have to take this camera.” Ben handed her a small case looking like a compact for makeup. “He’s staying at the Sheraton, and I want you to plant seeds.” He chewed his finger. “Let him know Fernandez is suspicious, so is going to follow the trucks and Moreno is planning to go along.”
“What’s it supposed to do?”
“I hope it will get Tijerina to go along too. Then there’s a guy named Mario Moreno staying at the Granada Inn; he’s just as bad as Tijerina. They’re cousins by marriage and both work for Fernandez. I need for you to play up to him, get pictures and plant the same seed.”
“To make him go along too?”
“They’re supposed to be working together, but they have different agendas. Moreno made plans to stay behind to do something else, so you really have to emphasize he must go.” Ben’s cheek muscles rippled. “Let him know Fernandez doesn’t trust him and wants to replace him, but also allude to the possibility Tijerina has double crossed him.”