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.

He could've easily sent a trusted lieutenant to lead the charge with smercenaries, and it would've been a done deal. No need for him, the commander, to get his hands dirty.

Still, Daniel always followed orders without question. If Joshua said jump, he asked how high.

Chris's crew might not measure up to Daniel's guys in America, but they weren't pushovers.

Daniel's team took shits, 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 alive.

The chopper ride from Sunnyvale, California, to the Oak Lake base took almost seven hours.

When they rescued Lizzy, she was out cold.

The doc on board gave her a quick once-over and found she had just fainted from hunger.

After a glucose shot, she caround not long into the flight.

The poor kid was terrified, curled up in her seat, shaking, arms wrapped around her knees. Her face was pale as a ghost, and her eyes were wide with fear, like a startled fawn.

A ruggedly good-looking young guy from Daniel's team gave Lizzy a curious look and asked Daniel, "Boss, who's the kid? Why'd you have to cpersonally to get her?" Daniel shook his head. "No clue. Joshua didn't say." The young guy's nwas lan, one of the mercenaries in the rescue.

Even though he was just seventeen, lan had been in training for nine years. He'd never botched a mission, and his skills were better than most seasoned vets, making him @top gun in Daniel's crew.

lan's arm had taken a bullet, the bandage stained a deep red, but he just smiled, no complaints. "She must be really important to Joshua." When lan smiled, his tough-guy look softened.

Lizzy peeked up at him, her fear easing.

She knew this brother.

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

Seeing Lizzy so timid, lan's heart went out to her. He remembered what she'd been through and dug a piece of candy out of his pocket, offering it to her. "Hey, little sis, want scandy?" lan had a thing for candy when he was nervous or needed to stay sharp. It kept him cool and collected, a habit from his childhood that stuck around.

Lizzy, huddled in the corner, hesitated as she looked at the candy in lan's dirty hand. After a beat, she shyl reached out and took it whispering, "Thank you." "She's got manners," lan said with a grin.

Another buddy teased, "Didn't know you had a soft side." lan looked at Lizzy, his gaze gentle, as if seeing someone else. "She remindsof my sister. I promised I'd bring her candy when I got back..." His buddy paused, an apology in his eyes. "Sorry..." lan shook his head. "It's alright." When Allison and Joshua made it to the base, the helicopter had just landed.

Lizzy was brought in for a meal.

Allison rushed over, and when she saw her sister, her knees almost gave ve out. Joshua caught her just in time. Tears streamed down Allison's face as she sobbed, "Lizzy..."

Lizzy, sitting at the table, turned at her sister's voice, her eyes filling with tears, "Sister!

Allison dashed to Lizzy's side, wrapping her in a hug, erying. Thank goodness you're back. I'm so glad... so glad you're safe..." Lizzy leaned into Allison's arms, her quiet sobs growing into loud cries.

Joshua stood by for a moment, then gave Daniel a nod and slipped out.

Daniel, along with lan and the others, followed Joshua, leaving the sisters to their reunion.