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I understood her turmoil. On one hand, she was lucky to make it out alive; on the other, everything she’d worked for was ruined.
Two ambulances and police officers met us at the airfield. As Booker and Cody were taken care of by paramedics, we made promises to see them soon.
Neville’s body was loaded into the second ambulance and after Layla refused to go to the hospital, the police took Layla and me to the police station where we fielded questions about Neville’s death. Layla told them everything Neville had done, and how I’d shot Neville and the other armed men in self-defense when they’d tried to kill us.
It seemed like forever before we were able to leave, and we took a taxi back to Team Eagle headquarters. As I steered Layla inside the vast garage-like space, the familiar smell of oil and metal greeted us as we entered. The interior was lined with high-tech equipment, specialized vehicles, and walls adorned with maps and mission briefings.
It felt like home.
“Hey, Hunter,” Xavier called out from across the room, his voice sounding more tired than usual. He leaned against a workbench with his arms crossed over his broad chest.
“They let you out, Hunter?” Wyatt joked as he limped toward me with his hand out. “Thought they would’ve locked you up and thrown away the key.”
Gunn stood beside Wyatt, looking equally weary. “You’re one lucky son of a bitch, Hunter.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Want a beer?” Wyatt asked. “We’re heading over to the pub for a few. I think Colton and Walker will join us.”
As much as I would have loved a beer with them and more guys from Team Eagle, I wanted time with Layla more.
“Listen, guys.” I stepped closer to them. “Layla and I need some time to . . . process . . ..”
“Ahh,process. Is that what they call it these days?” Wyatt grinned like a buffoon.
“Funny.” I rolled my eyes at him. “But I promise we'll catch up soon, all right?”
“Of course.” Xavier slapped my shoulder. “We’re just glad it wasn’t either of you two that was taken away in that body bag.”
Layla eased in beside me. “I can’t thank you men enough for saving me and Cody. Without you—”
“Ah, it was nothing,” Wyatt said.
“It was more than nothing,” she said. “It was everything. You risked your lives to save me, and saying thank you hardly seems enough.”
“It’s all good.” I pulled her to my side. “This is what we do, right, guys?”
As they nodded, Layla leaned into me like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. That was when I remembered her computer.
“Hey, Wyatt.” I plucked Layla’s damaged laptop from my bag. “Any chance you could get info off this computer?”
Wyatt whistled. “Holy hell, did this thing have a fight with a buffalo?”
“Just an angry native.” Layla shrugged.
“Well, as long as the hard drive isn’t damaged, all the data should be there.”
Layla’s shoulders softened. “That would be amazing.”
“And we have this one too.” I handed Wyatt the computer we’d found in Neville’s dodgy lab in the old church. “See if you can find out who Neville, Layla’s boss in the jungle, was sharing intel with.”
“Can you also find out if Monarch Medicines who Neville said had funded his research in the Amazon actually exists,” Layla said. “I have a feeling that everything he told me was a lie.”
Wyatt flipped open the laptop. “Jesus, this thing is a dinosaur.”
Layla scooped her hair around her ear. “Any information you can find would be helpful.”
“I’ll let you know how I go.” Wyatt jabbed the start button on Neville’s computer.