Page 9 of Her Chosen Protector

“Americans, my daughter sent me. We need your help. Come out where I can see you.” There was no mistaking the authority in the voice. It sounded a little like his maman’s.

I definitely have a concussion.

The driver’s side door opened, and a tiny woman stepped down. She wore a coral-colored pantsuit with her white hair up in a bun. Asher thought she looked like she should have been at a bridge club except for her tennis shoes. Despite the fact that she looked to be one hundred and twelve years old, she was steady on her feet.

“My daughter sent me, she is Suzanne Azua. I am her mother, Lenora. She’s the president of the Banco de la Gente and she said we don’t have much time to…what is the phrase?” She paused, then snapped her fingers. “Dilly-dally.”

Cullen snorted with laughter.

“Cover us,” Max motioned for Raiden to follow him.

“I want to go,” Cullen whined. Max gave him a hard look as he and Raiden moved out into the clearing with their rifles at the ready.

She took a long look at Max and Raiden. “Is it just the two of you?”

“Ma’am, I’m Lieutenant Max Hogan, United States Navy, and this is Chief Petty Officer First Class, Raiden Sato. More of my men will be here in a few moments. Do you mind if Raiden and I have a look inside your truck?”

“It’s not mine, it’s my great-nephew’s truck,” she gave a distracted wave. “You need to hurry.”

Then she pulled herself up to her full height, which was almost five feet nothing.

Asher’s lip twitched. He’d bet his last dollar this was legit, but he wouldn’t risk his team’s lives.

He continued to carefully monitor the scene in front of him through the scope of his rifle.

“She’s right, they’d better hurry,” Cullen whispered behind him. “I’m hungry, and I smell deep-fried empanadas and plantains.”

Ash grinned. Now he recognized the smell. He really didn’t think the little old lady was driving around members of Maduro’s secret police in a food truck. The two SEALs coordinated their swift entrance into the front and back of the truck.

“Clear,” Raiden shouted.

“Nothing,” Max said clearly as he jumped out of the back of the truck.

Cullen chuckled. “She just rolled her eyes at our lieutenant.”

“Señora Azua, thank you for your patience. We needed to make sure that everything was safe before we got started,” Max explained.

She gave a regal nod. “Can your men come out now? We need to move quickly. My daughter and the others are surrounded at the bank by that pig of a dictator’s men.” Asher snorted with laughter.

The lady didn’t have a filter.

Max gave a nod and Asher followed the others out to where the truck was parked.

“Is this everybody?” she asked. “Just eight of you are going to save everyone?” She was clearly skeptical.

Max nodded.

“You better be good,” she muttered in Spanish as she started toward the driver’s door.

At the door, she turned back to the team. “We need to get to my hacienda before sunrise. People are waiting.”

“Who would that be?” Max asked.

“My granddaughter and great-grandchildren.” She began to open the driver’s side door when Cullen stopped her.

“Maybe it would be better if I drive,” Cullen suggested as he opened the truck door for her. The smartass was gone, now he was all business.

She craned her neck to look up at him. “Been driving the streets of Caracas a lot, have you?” She had a glint in her eye.