Page 131 of Deadly Strain

There was a long pause while Sharp and Smoke began their run to chase down their doctor.

“Say again, Sergeant?”

“We’ve lost contact with Major Samuels.”

This time, it was General Stone’s voice over the radio. “Explain that to me, soldier.”

Smoke had the balls to grunt a laugh.

“Sir, we think she’s headed back to the cave.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, sir. We’re following her trail.”

“You sonsabitches don’t come back without her. Got that?”

“Understood.” It was an order he was happy to comply with. After a few minutes Smoke said, “She’s a good runner.”

“She found her stride the night we crashed,” Sharp said. “Kept up with me and stayed on my six like a tick on a hound.”

“When’s the wedding?”

Sharp couldn’t stop the grin. “Shit, am I that obvious?”

“Yeah.”

“As soon as possible.” Sharp let his words rattle around his head for a minute. “She’d better be okay.”

***

Grace almost steppedon one of the men she’d killed earlier and had to stuff her sleeve in her mouth to keep from screaming. Now that she’d stopped, her legs felt like noodles and her knees were telling her enough was enough. But she wasn’tquitedone.

She still had to dispose of the grenade in her hand. At least the cave was only a little farther. She could even see the narrow entrance from this angle.

If she didn’t do this quick, she might lose her nerve and not do it at all.

The climb up to the entrance was almost more than she could manage, but she got there, glanced over her shoulder and saw the last thing she wanted to see.

Sharp and Smoke running toward her, only a couple hundred yards away.

“No!” She turned and showed them what was in her hand. “It’s got no pin.”

Did that stop them? No, of course not, not big, badextraSpecial Forces soldiers. They didn’t hesitate as they climbed up to stop only a few feet away.

She stared at them, utterly defeated. “You two are the stupidest people I know.”

Sharp looked at the grenade. “I wouldn’t throw stones if I were you, princess.”

“I didn’t pick this up for fun, asshole. That Afghan handed it to me right before he died. It’s got no pin, so it’s going to go off. I was trying to do it somewhere safe for everyone, but no,” she said, trying and failing to stuff the fear and horror overtaking her back inside. “You morons have to run to my rescue.” She barely got the last word out around the choke point in her throat.

She wasn’t going to make it, wasn’t going to be able to stop the tears or the howls of pain for much longer. If she didn’t get rid of them, they were going to see everything,hewas going to see every nightmare and hopeless fantasy she had. She pointed in the general direction of the base. “Not this time. Get lost. Go home, or whatever.”

“Either you have a fever again or you’re so exhausted you don’t know what you’re saying,” Sharp told her with a shake of his head. “Because we’re not leaving without you.”

Goddamn stubborn man.

Despair pulled all the starch from her bones and she sagged against the rocks lining one side of the mouth of the cave. A sob escaped its captivity deep in her chest and she hastily slammed the door on the rest. Nothing could stop the tears from coursing down her face.