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“I’m thanking you for believing in me.”
I squeezed her to my body. I would do anything for this woman. I would willingly die for her. Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that, not when I’d started to imagine us having a future together.
We eased apart, and her gaze flitted between my lips and my eyes. Hoping I read her signals right, I kissed her. She melted toward me, opening her mouth, and kissing me in a way that stole every thought from my mind.
Moaning, she pressed her hand on my chest, pushing back. “Let’s do that again when we’re in that boat together.”
I grinned. “Deal.” I kissed her forehead. “Stay focused on that boat and let me worry about everything else. This is a good plan, Layla.”
“I know. I trust you.”
My heart swelled with those words. “Watch for my signal, then head for that boat fast, but in stealth mode.”
She saluted me. “Yes, sir.”
It took everything I had to leave her. I sprinted through the thick jungle until my lungs burned and sweat poured down my face. All I could think about was Layla—her safety, her smile. Everything about her.
The scars on my back and hip ached with each stride, but I pushed through the pain.
Gasping for breath, I reached the rocky outcrop, and crouching low, I peered through my rifle scope to survey the old church, the jetty, and the bushes where I’d left Layla. Six forty-four-gallon drums were arranged haphazardly beside the church. Flames licking from the tops of them cast an eerie glow across the rough ground nearby. Whoever was cooking something over those barrels had better stay inside or they were toast. The stink of that smoke drifted my way, making my stomach churn with dread. At least I knew the source of the smoke.
I found her amongst the dense bushes, staring right at me.
Now it’s up to me to protect her.
I waved a hand over my head. She gave me a quick nod, lowered the binoculars to her chest, and disappeared back into the underbrush.
I spotted her making her way toward the river. She moved like a shadow, silent and determined. My heart swelled with pride and fear in equal measure.
“That’s it, Layla, keep going,” I whispered, wishing she could hear me.
It killed me that I wasn’t with her, protecting her every step of the way. But my role was here, watching over her from afar, and I would kill any fucker that got in her way. My sudden departure from my Navy SEAL career might have left me scarred and broken, but I would use every skill in the book, dirty or not, to keep her safe.
“Come on, Layla.” My grip tightened on my rifle. “You’ve got this.”
I steadied my breathing as I peered through the scope on my rifle, watching Layla's movements. She snuck through the bushes toward the river in stealth mode, and my heart thundered in my chest like a fucking jackhammer.
Focus, Hunter. Focus.My rifle seemed heavier than ever, and the air was so damned hot, I could barely breathe.
As Layla moved closer to the riverbank, sunlight glinted off the water, casting a golden glow on her face. Her jaw was clenched with determination, but her eyes darted all over the place. Her fear just about wrenched my heart out.
Jungle sounds amplified around me. The rushing river. A bird that seemed to be screeching right in my fucking ear.
My mind raced with worst-case scenarios. Jaguars. Electric eels. Armed men seeing Layla’s dash for the river.
“Keep moving, Layla.” My teeth ground together as I gripped the rifle tighter. “You're almost there.”
My heart jammed in my throat as Layla slipped past a cluster of bushes so damn thick I couldn’t see her. Finally, she reached the river's edge. Squatting down, she looked toward me, and I raised my hand, but without the binoculars, I doubted she saw me.
“Get in the water, Layla.”
She looked toward the old church.
Holding my breath, I turned my scope to the building too, and focused on the abandoned church. At least six armed men were inside, all sporting military-grade rifles. I prayed they stayed where they were.
Layla slipped into the murky water until her head was just above the surface. Swimming with the current, she propelled herself toward the boat tied up to the decrepit jetty much faster than I’d expected.
“Good work.” My heart pounded in my chest.