Her Only Protector Read Online Free

behind. It took considerable strength to keep her breathing easy, as if she had every right to be holding this baby in her arms and taking her through the security gate and out of Colombia for good.
    Of course, she did. But if Eduardo Sanchez had anything to say about it, the law in Colombia might not agree with her.
    â€œSorry to disturb you,” she heard the stranger say to the guard. But he came up behind her, taking her arm again and pulling her back. This time the other guard blocked their progress with his gun.
    Sonny’s heart stopped cold in her chest.
    The last call was made for boarding. It was now or never. She needed to be on that plane, not embroiled in a disturbance with the local police. The baby started crying and the loudspeaker drowned out whatever the guard was barking at her. The other guards were watching them with renewed interest.
    Digging deep in her soul, she gathered up all her strength. Pasting on a smile, she reached out and kissed the strange man square on the mouth.
    Turning back to the guards, she said, “See? It’s over. Just a simple lovers’ quarrel. You know, riña? Sweetheart, our plane is leaving. We need to go.”
    The stranger’s eyes bore into her. With surprise and determination in his voice, he said, “We’ll take another flight. I forgot my ticket.”
    Sonny’s stomach churned as she caught the impatient looks from the security crew. She couldn’t see the boarding gate beyond security, but she knew the ground crew would only wait so long before they’d close the door without her and she’d miss her chance to get back to the United States—maybe forever.
    â€œI…I’ll meet you back home then. I’m sure you can get another ticket. I don’t want to miss this flight.”
    â€œLook,” the man said, bending toward her so only she could hear. “These guards are about as curious as kids on Christmas morning. You give them even the slightest reason to arrest you, they will. If you’re lucky. Otherwise, we’ll both be going home. In body bags. Again, if we’re lucky.” He smiled tightly as he pulled his head away and looked down at her.
    The guard motioned with his gun for them to move on. She wanted nothing better. But the stranger was pulling her in the opposite direction.
    She could make a fuss, but that would only give the guards a reason to detain her, check her papers and maybe confiscate her passport. She and Ellie were going to need them to board the plane in Colombia and get past customs in the U.S.
    She couldn’t risk it. Word was probably already circulating that the baby was missing. It was only a matter of time before Eduardo Sanchez rallied his men to find her. She couldn’t risk the guards looking any closer at Ellie.
    â€œCome on,” the stranger said, pulling her away from the boarding gate.
    The door leading to the tarmac closed and Sonny’s heart sank. She thought of Lucia and all that she gave up to help rescue Ellie. How could she have failed her so miserably? And Ellie’s mother, Serena. If Sonny didn’t get this baby back to the U.S. safely, how could she ever face her sister-in-law again?
    As tears filled her eyes, she glanced in desperation at the people in the terminal and wondered if it would hurt or help to try to get through the door to the tarmac and charge to the plane. She noticed that her little pretense had been enough to satisfy the guard, who had moved on to another group of people trying to get through security with a large bag.
    After everything she’d overcome in the past few weeks, the last obstacle was a two-hour flight to Miami and the nightmare would be over.
    Through the window, she saw the door to the plane close as a member of the ground crew pulled the mobile stairs away from the plane. Her father would be waiting for them in Miami when that plane landed. So would Tammie, who was Dylan’s fiancée and