Safe Haven

5. Rescue

****Havens POV****

I didn't even check to see if he followed. All I could focus on now was rescuing eight women from the damn ravine that Rigs had left them at. Extractions were dangerous especially ones like this where you had no clue what you were driving into. The cartel were very particular about their "property" and if you'd stolen it then retaliation was not a possibility it was definite. Which means we had to get to the girls with no one seeing us. The Mezas could handle things themselves but out here was the safe haven. The place where the injured and damaged came to heal. While we had some defenses there weren't so many that it would be impossible to breach. Regardless of the risk there was no doubt I'd help them though. Id made a promise to Lindsay and I  wouldn't break that. If i helped more women along the way then so be it. 

"Hey!" Hazard yelled from behind me, running to catch up. "Hey! Slow down. It's time you and I had a little chat sweets."

 "Chat? I have no time for this Hazard! I've..Ugh! Why am I explaining this to you!! Look I've never slept with your dad! He funded this place because he wanted to not because I was here offering some part of my body! There's no drugs or illicit sex going on Except of course in my dreams because I'm too busy sewing up and rehabilitating bikers to even have a relationship of any sort!" My face heated when I realized what if just admitted. Unfortunately I had a bad habit of blurting out the first thing in my mind. Then he was smiling and I wasn't sure if My need to attack him was out of desire (because it was literally the type of smile that makes a girl melt on the spot) or choke him because he didn't look even close to leaving yet. 

"Well now sweets why didn't you just say so? I can more than help you in a few of those....areas" I rolled my eyes and went to transport van. It took everything in me not to bang my head against the steering wheel when he jumped in the passenger seat. 

"So where to now honey?" 

"No! No, no, no!" 

"Ah sweets come on. I promise I can change those screams to yes if you give me a chance." 

"Oh my goodness!" I was going to kill him. Where the hell did the asshole go because he was a lot easier to deal with than this....man whore! I swear his mood swings could give me whip lash. 

"Get out of the van Hazard! I need to leave now." 

"No way in hell sweets am I letting a little thing like you go out into the woods where the damn cartel could be waiting for you. A grenade launcher is not the same as up close and personal." He seriously looked concerned which surprised the hell out of me. 

"Fine! But I swear if you pull any bullshit I'm leaving you for the damn cartel!" Suddenly he reached over and grabbed me by the chin. 

"Listen sweets. I let your slick comments slide for the most part but don't forget whose been paying the bills here." I didn't respond...I couldn't...instead I just nodded. He was right in a sense. Although I wasn't a member of The DB I knew the significance of his position and the power it held. It would be better to work in tandem with him for the sake of everyone here.

HAZARD

I watched as she maneuvered the white van we were in to the the side of the road in what seemed like a deserted area of the highway. The van had no seats or anything in the back...just....paint buckets? 

"So what's the plan sweets? I need details and we need a plan before shit hits the fan." She let out a nervous snort which was....adorable. Geeze what the hell was wrong with me! 

"Sorry that rhymed and Cade's been on a rhyming kick lately so it just reminded me of him." Fuck. Another man? Who the hell was Cade? She must have read the look on my face because her smiling face did a 180 very fast.

 "Seriously? I've already confessed to my nonexistent sex life and yet any mention of a male has you thinking of me in the worse way! Cade would be the 5 year old you saw in the kitchen. And no before you get to thinking it he's NOT related to you or probably anyone you know!" 

"Now don't put words in my mouth kitten. Lets focus on what we're here to do for now. We can fix any sexual frustrations you have later." Her glare just had me smiling. Damned if I wasn't getting hooked on seeing that skin under those freckles flush red. 

"Fine. Here's the plan. There should be 8 girls here somewhere. Hopefully they didn't all split up and we won't be searching all night. You stay with the van and I'll go into.." 

" No way in hell you're going into those damn woods by yourself sweets. I'll cuff you to the damn bumper before that happens." 

"We don't have much time and trust me 8 kidnapped women are not going to be open to running into the first mans arms they've seen." 

"Then we go together. Stash the van further down in the brush so no one can see and work our way down." 

"Fine. But just stay behind me and don't open your damned mouth! I'm not going to have you scare anyone more than they already are." 

"Not my first rescue kitten. But don't worry I'll let you take the lead. Here anyways." She shook her head and kept driving. Once we hid the van from view of the road. I watched her pull a bucket of paint from the back and open it up. 

"Holy Shit Woman!" I stared down at the guns and Ammo stuffed in the bucket. 

"I'm assuming you know how to work one correct?" She said with that damn sassy mouth. 

"Not my first rodeo honey. Just make sure you don't shoot me please." I watched her as she loaded and cocked the gun and then stuffed it in a leg harness I was insanely jealous of right now. 

"Come on then cowboy. We got some women to round up and rescue."

***Haven***

We'd been following tracks for the last ten minutes and the woods were getting darker. If we didn't find them soon we would have to leave without them. I didn't want to do that but there was no way I would be able to navigate in the dark without lights. And lights were what the cartel would be looking for. Suddenly Hazards hand shot out in front of me halting my steps. 

"Look," he pointed ahead. I saw the flash of red hiding in the bushes and motioned for him to just stay where he was. 

"Hello? We're here to help you. You can come out now." The red didn't move. I tried one more time, "My name is Haven. Yo soy Haven. Rigs sent me."

 At the name Rigs the red moved out of the bushes quickly. A girl, maybe 19 at the most, came towards us visibly shaking. 

"Mr.Rigs? Is he okay?" I smiled and nodded my head. 

"Yes but we need to get you out of here. Have you seen the other women?" She shook her head and pointed above her. There were 6 other women, girls really, hidden in the branches of the trees. "Come down quickly we have to go before it's too dark. Is this all of you?" The girl in red quickly shook her head. 

"No. Those men. They chased us. We hid but she said they'd find us if she didn't distract them." 

"Who? What men?" It was the first time Hazard had spoken. 

"The Cartel men. They went after her instead. Her name was Sarah." I pulled the gun from the holster and looked around nervous of the ambush that could literally be around the corner. 

"We have to move and we have to do it quickly and quietly." 

"I'll go first you bring up the rear. If we're going to walk face first into danger I want you as far back as possible." His voice was rough with stress. I didn't want to point out danger could easily hit us from behind as well. My insides were twisting with nerves and the urge to kiss him? Where the hell did that come from? This was so not the time. I just nodded to him and ushered the girls through the woods.