Brawn - Laurann Dohner [48]
Hot tears seeped out and she muffled a sob. She was afraid and hated it. The fact that Brawn was acting so distant made it worse. He was being a shitty teammate.
“Becca?” A firm hand gripped her hip.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not. Look at me.”
“No.” She sniffed. “I’m just being emotional. I’m okay. Go eat.”
He softly growled and forced her to roll onto her back. She opened her eyes, had to blink a few times to see him through her tears and he leaned over her until his nose nearly brushed hers.
“What is wrong? Are you hurting? Still hungry? You should eat more.”
“I’m scared,” she admitted, whispering. “They should have found us by now and they haven’t. I don’t think they are going to.”
Shock didn’t register on his face and it sank in that he might have already considered that possibility. It just made the horrible possibility more real and fresh tears spilled out.
“I’m going to die here and you…” She reached up and cupped his face. “You could fight. You could get away if they weren’t using me to keep you in line, couldn’t you?”
Anger sparked in his eyes. “I won’t do anything to put you in danger.”
She rubbed his cheek. “We have to be realistic. I’m a military brat. Sometimes you have to sacrifice one life to save the rest. You have a real chance of escape if you take them by surprise. The next time they come for us, act like you’re not going to fight and take those fuckers down. Get out of here. You could save yourself and maybe those other New Species. It will take them some time to move your guys, they need to keep them alive for the money they are making, but I’m just a pawn with limited use.”
“Becca,” he snarled.
“It makes sense and my dad would totally get it. Tell him what I said if you get out of here. We’re fucked and we both know it. Do you really want to end up in Europe in some place that could be far worse than this hellhole? They want to use you and those other Species to make babies to sell on the black market. They are planning on kidnapping a primate Species and you have someone who works at Homeland who will set it up the way it happened when you left. You can’t allow that. I’m dead either way, Brawn. They aren’t going to ship me off with you. There’s nothing special about me once my use with you is done here. They’ll drug you, take you away and I’m dead. Period.”
He gripped her arms, his hold nearly bruising. “You are very special and I won’t allow you die just to gain my own freedom or that of those other males.”
“They are your kind, Brawn. Your men. You’ve got to save them. You’re the only one who can do this.”
“I don’t care.” He lowered his face until their noses pressed together and anger sparked in his eyes. “I won’t let you die.”
Fresh tears blinded her as she slid her fingers into his hair. “You’re a stand-up guy and terrific if anyone hasn’t ever told you that but you need to be smart.”
He jerked back and released her. “This conversation has ended.”
He stormed across the cage and gripped the bars, his back to her. Becca sat up, her own anger flared and she stood. Her gaze drifted to the camera, she remembered that she needed to keep her voice very low and marched after him.
“Brawn?” She tapped his shoulder.
He turned his head and glared down at her. “Go to sleep. You are tired and not rational.” He looked away.
“You know I’m right,” she whispered. “It’s fucked up but true nonetheless. Face me, damn it.”
He released the bars and slowly turned. Becca should have been afraid at seeing his rage but she knew she made sense. He had a real chance to escape by taking the goons by surprise the next time they tried to move them from the cell to get more samples from him. She stepped so close their bodies brushed.
“Here’s the plan. The next time they come, offer to hold me again. Pick