Yet what future did he and a tall, gorgeous cowgirl from Montana have? After this week, he could afford to go home to Tennessee and finally buy a ranch and build a house for his mama. She didn’t need much, but she did need a spot besides her sister’s spare bedroom, and she needed her pride restored and her boy back. He’d miss helping out at Cash’s inner-city gym, but family came first and he hoped he could bring Tyler and Jack with him. Tyler was almost eighteen, so he could make that choice. At thirteen, Jack was at the mercy of the foster care program and government red tape. If they could show that Tyler was in a positive home environment and drug free, there was hope he could be awarded as his brother’s guardian, but it would take time they didn’t have. Time Jack might join up with a gang, fall victim to drugs or other addictions, be the victim of inner-city violence, or a hundred other pitfalls much worse than whatever Mercedes’ people had schemed up for this challenge.

  “Hoorah!” Mercedes called out, trying and failing to imitate the Ranger’s yell.

  It didn’t bother Bennett. He had too many things that bothered him, too many dark spots in his mind to let somebody offend him saying the battle cry wrong. Most things in life washed off his very broad back. Except the pain of his imprisonment and torture, worry over Mama, not wanting to run into Haley and her husband, and concern for Ty and Jack.

  “All right.” Mercedes rocked on her heels and looked to Shawn. Was the guy her bodyguard or boyfriend? He hoped bodyguard. It was crazy that a woman of Mercedes’ wealth wouldn’t have multiple guards, but Shawn was at least concealing weapons in his high-dollar suit.

  “What am I forgetting?” Mercedes asked.

  “Cameras, supplies, weapons, phone,” he gently reminded her.

  Bennett hadn’t been aware Shawn could be gentle. He was one of those guys who instantly set your teeth on edge and you waited for the moment he’d cross a line and you had to knock him on his butt to prove he wasn’t the big man and couldn’t bully and belittle everyone around him.

  Bennett was always the biggest man around, and usually the most highly trained. He conscientiously worked to never abuse his strength or size. With someone like Shawn around, he was grateful for both.

  “Yes, that’s right. There is a phone in one of the backpacks that you can use to call if there’s a life-threatening emergency or when you exit the main entrance and win the challenge.”

  She’d said main entrance twice.

  “We have to exit the main entrance for Rose to win the money?” he clarified, doubting that there would be any life-threatening emergency, but it wouldn’t be a walk in the park either. Mercedes had to hype the show and make it look dangerous.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Bennett cataloged the info as he reconciled it with the mental map he’d assembled on their approach of this massive structure, then nodded to her. He’d have to make certain they didn’t exit a different door and lose by a technicality. He could imagine the show’s producers had thought of that and would try to tempt or push them through the wrong exit.

  “Cameras are placed throughout the building, except for in the bedrooms or bathrooms. You can have your privacy and relax, not worry about anything for a moment.”

  Rose had visibly flinched when she said bedrooms. Was she nervous about sleeping close to some stranger? How to alleviate her concerns?

  “Supplies will be waiting for you inside the first door.” Mercedes pointed to a plain metal door fifty feet away on the roof. “Backpacks with water, snacks, a first aid kit, a change of clothes and shoes, a flashlight, weapons and utility tools. Along the way there are places to refill supplies and water—our designated safe sleeping, showering, and eating spots—food and toiletries and comfortable beds are provided.” Her teal-blue eyes twinkled like she’d given them a gift. “Safe spots are marked with a glowing pink Mercedes symbol. You know … the three point star.”

  Bennett wasn’t certain how to take their host. She seemed to be the picture of benevolent, model-perfect, happy heiress. If that was true, and she wasn’t a phony playing for the cameras … someone needed to explain Shawn. Why keep a jerk like that around when she could have her pick of good guys?

  “So we can relax for a bit while we eat, sleep, or pee?” Rose asked.

  “For certain,” Mercedes laughed. “Nobody needs a snake crawling over them while they eat, sleep, or pee. Questions?”

  “Snakes?” Rose gasped out.

  Bennett almost reached for her hand to reassure her. He’d have weapons. Add weapons to his strength, size, and experience, and he could protect her from an entire platoon. Then he remembered that she’d stepped away from his touch again a few minutes ago. So he didn’t reach for her hand. He did turn to her.

  “No worries. I’ll take care of the snakes.”

  “I hate snakes. I’ve had to shoot so many rattlers at the ranch.” She blew out a breath.

  His eyebrows went up. She was a true cowgirl. He liked it.

  “Okay,” he said. “I’ll take care of the cottonmouths, you’ve got the rattlers.”

  “You can have them all.” She smiled at him. It was a genuine and breathtaking smile. He’d kill every snake in the vicinity for a smile like that.

  “Hooah,” he murmured. He’d never said the Army cheer that softly, but he meant it deeply. He’d protect her. He’d fight for her. This We’ll Defend.

  She squared her shoulders and nodded to him. “Time to cowgirl up.”

  He chuckled at that. Mercedes’ team had researched him, they’d obviously known he was from a horse ranch in the South and would be drawn to a cowgirl.

  “Let’s do it,” he said. He did reach for her hand then. She flinched slightly at his touch but then she relaxed. Was she afraid of his size or was there something else that made her leery?

  She glanced up at him, as if trying to puzzle him out. He smiled and that may have confused her even more. Everyone seemed to be surprised by the human mountain and decorated special ops major, who always had a grin on his face. Even the Syrian warlord who’d tortured him couldn’t stop Bennett from smiling. Until he started killing his men … He shoved those memories away and somehow held his smile.

  He directed Rose toward the door.

  “Good luck! We’ll see you Saturday night if not before. Hugs and kisses and prayers!” Mercedes called to their backs.

  They both looked back and Rose waved with her free hand. Bennett tilted his chin up. He caught Shawn’s penetrating gaze and hoped he’d have a chance someday to fight that guy. It wouldn’t be an even match, but very few were that Bennett was involved in. Unless every one of his limbs were chained tightly to the ground.

  Again he had to yank himself away from the painful remembrance. Rose’s hand in his helped.

  He turned forward, walked with Rose to the door, pulled it open and held it. Air conditioned air poured out. It smelled … awful. Like raw meat.

  “Goodbye, fresh air,” Rose said mournfully.

  He laughed, though he agreed. “A country girl shouldn’t be trapped inside a building?”

  “Exactly. Blue skies, the scent of sage and pine, prairies and mountains to roam on MaryLou’s back.”

  “I’m hoping MaryLou is your horse and not your sister.”

  She laughed out loud at that. He hadn’t heard her laugh yet. It was the sound of heaven, the most soothing balm. That laugh might heal even an injured warrior like him.

  “You never know.” She winked and the tropical sun somehow brightened. “Let’s do this.”

  She started to step into the dimly lit stairwell.

  “Please let me,” he said, stepping in front of her while still holding the door ajar.

  “I don’t think something’s going to attack us on our first step in.”

  “You never know.” He didn’t want to risk glancing back at her. He couldn’t see any immediate danger. It was fancy, for a stairwell. The floor and stairs were made of shiny blue tiles, the walls a clean white, the overhead lighting bright. The landing was about six by six. Empty. The stairs descended twenty feet and then there was a solid wall and doors to the left and the right. Most of the building extended to the right so he assumed that would be the right choice but he’d have to check out both directions.

  There were two backpacks sitting on the opposite side of the landing.

  Bennett eased in front of her, guided her in next to him, and released the door. It slowly swung shut, on some kind of special hinge. He smiled and took another step, reaching for the larger backpack.

  The door closed, he heard a click, and they were plunged into darkness.

  “Bennett?” Rose squeaked, clutching his forearm. There were eerie red lights in the corners. Cameras? They didn’t provide any illumination.

  “It’s okay. Mercedes said there was a flashlight. It will be in one of the backpacks.” He cussed himself for not finding the flashlight before letting that door shut, but who knew the closing door would turn off their overhead lights? Apparently the challenge had already begun.

  He heard the clang of a door opening below and his neck prickled. The soft padding of steps, or was that paws, came on the tiles at the bottom of the stairwell.

  He grabbed at the backpack, yanked it open, and started shuffling blindly through it for a gun or knife, but he wouldn’t reject a flashlight either. The smell of meat grew stronger when he lifted the pack.

  “Bennett?” Rose’s voice was a terrified whisper.

  “Stay behind me,” he commanded. “See if you can find a flashlight or a weapon in the other backpack.”

  “Okay,” she squeaked out.

  The padding of something on the stairs grew closer and the panting of an animal. A slight clacking on the tiles accompanied every move. Whatever the animal was, it had claws. As it reached the steps directly below them, Bennett could hear or sense a weight to its steps.

  Bennett’s hands pushed past clothes, granola bars, water bottles, they’d promised him weapons.

  A growl ripped through the darkness and his skin prickled. Too close. Maybe five feet away now.

  “Bennett!” Rose cried.

  Bennett had to make a decision. If he waited on the animal, he or Rose could be dead before they had a chance. He needed to strike first.

  All the U.S. Special Forces divisions were highly trained and somewhat specialized. The Green Berets were the ones to call on for things like unconventional warfare or surviving in various terrains. For underwater basket weaving and other submerged nonsense, the Frogmen were your men. Army Rangers hit enemies head on. They were all close combat specialists, and liked to do business head on, face first, over land, in the water, or through the air, no hesitation.

  “Try to find the weapons,” he instructed, moving her up against the wall and putting both backpacks in her hands.

  If only they’d let him bring his Glock and his Trench Knife.

  No time to moan about it now. He eased away from Rose and toward the edge of the steps, waiting for what he assumed was a large species of cat to reach the stair below him—jaguar, tiger, lion—it didn’t matter. He was in for a wrestling match and his opponent had sharp claws and teeth and was almost within reach. Protecting Rose was his first priority, but the fight would be fun and unique.

  Bennett smiled, and then he leapt.

  Chapter

  Three

  Rose could not hold in a scream of horror as she heard Bennett leap away from her and ram into whatever form of monster had prowled up those stairs. The animal howled and Bennett let out a “Hooah!” as they tumbled down the steps away from her.

  Whatever she’d been expecting to happen this week, it was wasn’t overwhelming darkness, terror so strong she couldn’t catch a full breath, and peril to their lives in the first sixty seconds of the challenge.

  “No, no, no.” She fumbled through the backpack and didn’t feel anything that resembled a weapon or a flashlight. Thumps and howls and grunts sounded below. “Please Lord help him!”

  How could she possibly help Bennett, in the dark. Wait a minute. There was no stipulation they couldn’t go back out the door. She could at least open it to give them some light, but if Mercedes and Shawn were still there, she could beg Shawn for help. He looked tough. Would he have weapons on him? He seemed to be the only bodyguard Mercedes had around and they were in a third world country and resort area where someone like Mercedes would need bodyguards. He’d have to have weapons.

  She hadn’t heard helicopter rotors yet. Shawn and Mercedes had to still be there.

  Would asking Shawn to help save Bennett make her lose her money? The Ranch. The children. Frankie and Ari. Their soft arms around her neck thanking her for their soft blankets she’d made them, a cookie, a ride on MaryLou.

  She shook her head. There was no option. If it would save Bennett’s life she had to make that sacrifice.

  She clung to the backpack but edged back to where she thought the exterior door was. The landing wasn’t that big. Banging into the door with her shoulder and hip, she felt around and clasped the handle. She pushed it down and shoved.

  Nothing. She thrust and pushed and rammed her shoulder into it. Nothing. No! Was it barred from the outside? Did it automatically lock when it clicked shut?

  Then she heard it. Helicopter rotors.

  “No! Help!” She hollered against the door, banging her fists on the metal surface. The sound of her pounding and the helicopter reverberated louder than the fight down the steps from her.

  What kind of insane television show was this? Bennett was probably dead or dying and the monstrous animal who’d killed him would come for her next.

  “No, no, no!” She screamed, pounding against the door as hard as she could.

  Nothing. They couldn’t hear her over the helicopter’s noise.

  No one was coming. She banged her head against the door.

  She couldn’t die not trying to fight. She had her pepper spray, but didn’t know how that would affect the beast fighting Bennett, and if she shot that in close quarters it could incapacitate Bennett as well. Did she dare risk it? She needed a light and a knife or gun.

  The helicopter must’ve lifted off as the rotors sound faded away. She wanted to cry. The cameras seemed to be recording but either they weren’t live or no one was around to help.

  The battle was still raging below. It sounded like they’d thumped into the wall at the bottom of the long flight of steps.

  Dropping to her knees, she dumped the closest backpack inside out and felt through the items. Nothing hard enough or the right size to be a weapon. She fiddled with the backpack and unzipped pockets. In a side pocket her hands closed around something metal. A phone?

  She held on to the side button and it powered on. Yay! She could at least call for help. Surely Mercedes wouldn’t allow Bennett to die for some crazy reality show. No way.

  The phone powered on and then she heard … a door slam closed … footsteps … and no sound of battle … and … “Rose? Are you all right?”

  Bennett’s voice. He was alive.

  She scrambled to her feet, clinging to the phone. It powered on and the light of the screen gave a little bit of illumination.

  Bennett’s huge frame came up the last few steps.

  “Bennett! You’re alive!” She didn’t stop to think as she hurled herself against his broad chest.

  Bennett wasted no time wrapping her up tight. He’d smelled clean earlier today, like laundry. Now he smelled like blood and animal fur and she should be grossed out, but she’d been raised on a ranch, smells didn’t bother her too much. All she cared about was Bennett’s massive, tough arms surrounding her and the fact that he wasn’t shredded to pieces by that animal.

  She clung to the phone with one hand, but wrapped both her arms around the sinewy muscles of his back and held on. Tears raced down her cheeks and a sob ripped from her throat.

  “You’re alive,” she choked out again. There were rips in his shirt, sticky blood oozing from them. “And you’re injured!” She pulled back.

  “It’s okay. I’m okay.” He tenderly pulled her in close again, as if he needed the reassurance of her in his arms. “No worries. Just a cat fight.” He smiled at his own lame joke but then she’d never seen him not smiling.

  “Bennett! How did you survive?”

  “I was able to choke him out, open the door he came through, and shove him back in. Thankfully it stayed shut. I’m hoping he stays passed out for a minute and doesn’t come through again. I think it was a jaguar. I guess we won’t know unless we get up close and personal again.”

  “A jaguar,” she whispered faintly. She didn’t want to be anywhere close and personal with that thing. “How badly are you injured?” She could feel rips and some blood. He had to be shredded, scratched, possibly bitten, and thumping down the stairs wouldn’t have tickled.

  “Not bad. A few scrapes and scratches. Future bruises. Not a bad day at the office for me. I doubt I even earned a new scar.”

  “Future bruises? New scars?” She could almost feel his smile, and she couldn’t help the laugh that burst out of her. He was braver and tougher than any man on earth.

  He held her even more tenderly and she could’ve sworn he let out a soft moan and whispered, “I love your laugh.”

  She should regain her senses and pull away. She hadn’t let a man hold her like this in years, but Bennett … he’d survived and protected her and who knew what was coming up the stairs after them next? She needed this reprieve from the horror of their future challenges. Had they even been in the building half an hour?

  Wait! What if the jaguar came back? Her skin prickled.

  He cleared his throat and she wondered if she’d imagined his whispered words from earlier. “Maybe I shouldn’t have gone offensive so quickly, but with us trapped in here and—you remember the meat smell when we came in?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m betting they planted some meat behind our backpacks.”

  “They wouldn’t! I can’t believe this. We’re going to die for money. No. I won’t let you die for my charity. We’ll call Mercedes and tell her this is done. We’ll save the Ranch some other way.”

 

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