Free Defenseless by Corinne Michaels Page B

what they need to.”
    I know she’s right, but I’ll try. Liam isn’t a child or unskilled. He knows this is important. He knows Charlie as well. He’ll come through.
    “We’ll see. I’ll check in with them when we get there.”
    “I need to know where you’re taking me, why, and what the plan is.”
    Her hand rests on her lap while her mouth sets in a pouty face. I want to kiss her lips, demand her to submit to me and just do what the hell I tell her. But that’s not her. She’d probably bite my tongue off.
    “We’re going to Bahrain to meet a buddy who’s a SEAL. The plan is—I don’t have one. We do whatever we need to do. Chances are we’re heading to Egypt too, so either you choose to work with me and do it my way, or I’ll tie you up and leave you here.”
    “The hell you will. I’ll knock your teeth out.”
    I let my voice drop. I use the one that gets all the panties dropping. “Sounds like foreplay.” She scowls. Talk about infuriating females.
    “You need to fly into another country. We’re not flying directly to Bahrain.”
    I lift my brow. “I’m sorry.” I look around. “There’s no way you’re telling me how we’re running this. I didn’t have to bring you in.”
    She shifts forward slowly on the bed. “Mark” Her tender tone goes straight to my nuts. Her tiny hand rests on my forearm. “I’m telling you we can’t fly in where anyone knows we were planning to go. I’m saying that if it’s someone we know or someone who knows your plan . . . we can’t.”
    Why does she have to be so good at her job?
    “Tell me your name,” I plead.
    Her head snaps back. “What?”
    “Tell me your name and I’ll go anywhere you want.”
    “You’re ridiculous.”
    “You’ll eventually tell me.”
    She lets out a deep breath. “Let’s go see the pilot, shimmer boy. I’ve got to plan.”
    Charlie squeezes my forearms and then stalks off toward the cockpit. She may have won this round, but we have a very long flight—time enough for another bout. Time to see who comes out victorious.

    “Rise and shine, Twilight.” She slaps my stomach to wake me.
    “Good morning to you, Chastity.” I groan, rolling over. “Sleep well? Or do blood sucking evil demons only use coffins?”
    “You’re the expert, I hear. You’re the one named after a vampire.”
    I groan while I sit up and pull the drawer open next to me. I remove the contents, and toss an envelope at her. “Here’s a passport and new ID.” She opens it, looking suspicious—as always. “Memorize it. We don’t have time to get tripped up because you’re unable to remember.”
    “I don’t have a problem keeping my cover,” she snaps. “Plus, this is from my bag! Don’t act like you did anything but retrieve what I already own.”
    “Talk to me once I’ve had my caffeine. Right now all I hear is wah, wah, wah .”
    We head into the main cabin where I smell the coffee. I grab a cup, take a few gulps, and sit at the table across from her.
    “As I was saying,” Charlie says impatiently. “I’ve heard all about the SEALs and how big their muscles are, but their brains . . . not so much. So if anyone should be worried about their cover being blown, it’s me with your tiny pea brain.”
    “There’s nothing small on me, princess.” I smile and lean back with my hands laced behind my head.
    “We’ll be landing in Egypt soon. I assume we’ll use that cover to figure out whatever we can about the issues you’re having there and then change into the new identities when we leave. You trust the pilot?”
    “I trust him.”
    “I have a plan.”
    It’s way too early to think, but no way is she leading this. I chug the rest of the coffee sitting on the table. “That’s great. I have one, too.”
    After Charlie and I talk about the missed checkpoints from our guys in Egypt, she and I decide we need to investigate it a little more. We’re in agreement that Mazir is somehow connected to Cole Security Forces. There’s