act of auctioning off women and children.”
Sunny’s heart squeezed hard in her chest. She knew human trafficking was a problem worldwide, but she’d never actually come that close to seeing it happen. “That’s awful.” She turned to Dash. “You think these people were trying to capture me to sell to their sleezy buyers?”
Dash shrugged. “It’s possible.”
“The bad news is,” Rucker said, “we didn’t catch the man who’s been negotiating the deals. He left the auction before we could spring the trap.”
“So, he’s still out there, brokering humans?” Sunny shivered.
“He is.” Rucker frowned and turned to Dash. “So, how is it you got the assignment to protect Miss Daye?”
Dash tipped his head toward Sunny. “The base commander insisted she either add a more qualified man to her security team or go home.”
“Don’t celebrities come with their own bodyguards?” Rucker asked.
Dash’s lips pressed into a tight line. “She had four, and that guy still got to her. What’s going to happen to the women and children now?”
“They’re erecting a tent for them to sleep in for the night. From what I understand, they’re scrounging as many cots and blankets as they can find. Tomorrow, our intel people will be working with them to see if they can glean any information about the man responsible for the trade of humans. They’ll eventually be moved to a refugee containment center to be processed and returned home, if possible.”
Sunny pressed a hand to her chest. “How horrible to be treated like cattle. Those women and children must be terrified. Is there anything me or my people can do to ease their plight?”
The Special Operations commander gave her a brief smile. “Not unless you have some blankets and pillows you can spare.”
“I’ll talk with my people.” Glad to have something productive to do, Sunny pushed away from the table and stood. She was halfway to the door when the commander’s voice stopped her.
“Miss Daye, don’t forget. You’re going to have a shadow in our man, Dash.”
She frowned. “I hate to take him away from more important duties than following me around. I’d rather he spent his time finding the man responsible for this travesty of human trafficking.”
“Ma’am, Dash is good at what he does,” the colonel said. “His methods may be unorthodox at times, but his intentions are good, and he’s effective. If the man in charge of human trafficking in this area was after you for the same financial gain as he was with the women and children rescued tonight, you might be the key to capturing this guy.”
Sunny nodded. “Then I won’t feel so bad taking your soldier away from his normal duties.”
The commander gave her a brief smile. “Don’t worry. We’ll be in close contact with Dash at all times, and on call, should you need the entire team to come to your aid if anything goes south.”
As Sunny walked the gauntlet of broad-shouldered, tough-looking Delta Force team soldiers, she shook hands and thanked them for their service. She paused at the door and turned to wait for Dash.
“Dude,” Tank said, clapping a hand on Dash’s shoulder. “Let me know if you need someone to give you a break. I would gladly take your place.”
“I’ve already volunteered, and was shot down,” Blade said. “She wants Dash. Although what she sees in him, I don’t know.”
“Dumb ass,” Lance said. “Dash saved her from being abducted. Where were you?”
Blade sighed. “Obviously, in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Sunny smothered a grin as Dash’s teammates all clapped him on the back and congratulated him.
His gaze met hers.
A shiver of awareness, and maybe anticipation, rippled across her body. This man was unlike any she’d met in the music industry, including her bodyguards.
Dash was a man’s man, strong, broad-shouldered, tough as nails. A man who didn’t run from a gunfight but ran into it.
Sunny felt a stab of guilt for taking him away from his team and their important mission. She assuaged her guilt with the idea that she, too, was a target. By keeping Dash with her, they might find the human trafficker.
Having the handsome soldier at her side wouldn’t be a hardship. Not in the least.
Chapter 3
After running through the line of his teammates punching his shoulders, slapping him on the back and making rude comments, Dash followed Sunny out of the building, glad to get out into the cool night air.
Sunny stood with her four bodyguards, talking in hushed tones. She glanced up and smiled at him as he joined them.
“Guys, this is Ryan