Girl Get Rid Of That Jerk by Melissa Johns

Chapter 319

Joshua's face was all business as he said, "I've brought in two teams of

mercenaries from overseas this time. Their training is tougher than those at Chris's military base. With them watching over you and your family, Chris won't be able to touch you again."

Allison blinked in surprise. "Mercenaries?"

"Yes." Joshua pressed his lips together, a hint of regret flickering in his eyes. "I slipped up before and didn't keep you and your family safe. Allie, I promise, nothing like that will ever happen again. I'll make sure you're safe."

Allison's eyes fell, her emotions a tangled mess. She wanted to throw out a biting comment, but the memory of Joshua risking his life to save her, confronting Chris alone, stopped her. The words caught in her throat, and she just couldn't say them.

Seeing Allison's silence, Joshua figured she didn't trust him. His throat tightened, and a bitter feeling spread through his chest.

...

Before long, they arrived at Joshua's base.

Lizzy had been brought back by Joshua's right-hand man, Daniel.

Daniel ran Joshua's North American operations. It was rare for someone of his rank to get involved in the nitty-gritty. He usually handed off tasks to his team unless it was a big deal or top secret.

Rescuing a little girl was not something Daniel had ever done in his ten-plus years working for Joshua.

When he first got the mission, he was taken aback.

He double-checked with Joshua and, even after getting the green light, still found it hard to wrap his head around.

Chris was a big player in America, but with the lax gun laws, Daniel's crew wouldn't be stuck in a bind. Snatching someone away shouldn't have been too tough.

lieutenant to lead the charge with some mercenaries, and it would've been a done deal. No need for him, the commander, to get

always followed orders without question. If Joshua said jump,

up to Daniel's guys

some hits, with five guys injured, three pretty badly. But they had a top-notch medical crew on hand, so the injured got the care they needed in the helicopter, keeping them

from Sunnyvale, California, to the Oak Lake base

Lizzy,

board gave her a quick once-over and found she

glucose shot, she came around

her knees. Her face was pale as a ghost, and her

from Daniel's team gave Lizzy a curious look and asked

head. "No

was lan, one of the mercenaries

He'd never botched a mission, and his skills were better than most seasoned vets, making him @top gun in Daniel's

the bandage stained a

complaints. "She must be really important

smiled, his

up at him, her fear

She knew this brother.

the one who'd pulled her out of that dark dungeon, and his injury was from

so timid, lan's heart went out to her. He remembered what she'd been through and dug a

candy when he was nervous or needed to stay sharp. It

cool and collected, a habit from his childhood that stuck

huddled in

the candy in lan's dirty hand. After a beat, she shyl reached out and took

lan said