Page 10 of Hayes (Voodoo Guardians #37)

Victoria went back inside the cave to see Hayes still sipping the water and eating one of the energy bars.

“They’re on their way,” she smiled, kneeling beside him. He shook his head.

“I’m so fucking proud of you. And fucking angry.” She frowned at him, tilting her head to the side. “Vic, babe, you’re a woman in the middle of a hostile country with a group of rebels ready to kill me the minute they find me.”

“I’m well aware of all of that. That’s what I think is most surprising to me.

I knew what the dangers were, and I never thought twice about it.

I only wanted to get to you, Hayes. I’m sorry.

I’m so sorry for everything I put you through.

” He shook his head, pulling her close with his good arm.

“No. I’m the one who should be sorry. I thought I could move on, Victoria, but I couldn’t. I tried. Every woman that approached me, I compared to you. I couldn’t do it. All I could picture, all I could think about, was you.”

“Oh, Hayes,” she said, pushing back tears. “This was all my fault. I mean, look at me. I’m in a hostile country, as you pointed out, and I’m not falling apart. At least not yet.”

The comms device pinged, and she opened the screen to see Cruz’s very angry face.

“Can we do the yelling part later?” she smirked.

“We will do the yelling part later,” he said. “Let me see his hand.” For twenty minutes, she held the camera over his hand, touching, answering questions, Hayes telling him what he was feeling.

“What should I do?” asked Victoria.

“You have to set the bones, honey, or he might lose that hand.” She swallowed, staring at Hayes.

“Tell me what to do.”

Hayes couldn’t believe how brave she was being. Not one sign of fear, shock, or the look that she might run from him. Nothing. She was just his beautiful, brilliant Victoria.

“Bite on this,” she said, handing him a rolled-up t-shirt. “Cruz says this is going to hurt. I’m sorry.”

Following his instructions, she did exactly as he suggested. With one final pull and a nauseating cracking sound, Hayes’ hand began to turn fleshy pink once again.

“I think that worked,” she said.

“It worked for now,” said Cruz. “I’m on the flight with the others. We should be there in a few hours. Are you safe?”

“I don’t think so. I can see them coming, or at least I think it’s them,” she said, standing at the cave opening. She felt Hayes’ hand on her shoulder and turned to smile up at him.

“Cruz? They’re about ten miles out, and she’s right. I think that’s them. My team is gone. All of them.”

“Can you get to safety?” asked Luke.

“There are dozens of caves and crevices to hide. If we descended, as they ascended, we might be able to spiral down the mountain while they come up it. I’m not sure.”

“What if we used the resonance sound machines?” asked Victoria.

“Reso-what?” asked Luke.

“The original device created by Thomas making sound bounce off objects and appear to come from other locations. We’ve refined it and used it several times.

I have some tools with me, and I think I could place small speakers in a number of the cave openings or crevices in the rock.

I could make it sound like footsteps or even us talking.

They’d be poking around the mountain for days. ”

“And you’re certain you could be clear of them?” asked Cam.

“I’m certain,” she nodded.

“You picked a damn fine time to be fucking brave and bold,” smirked Mo at his daughter. “I couldn’t be more proud of you.”

“Thanks, Dad. I’m proud of me too. But we still have to get out of here safely. I sent the horses back down the mountain. I thought if they were found, they would think we either fell off, died, or were rescued.”

“That was smart. Alright, do as you suggested with the sound thingy,” he smiled. “Your mother and I love you, Victoria. Take care of yourself, and Hayes.”

“I will, Dad.”

“Sir,” said Hayes. “Is my father there?”

“I’m right here,” said Hoot with tears in his eyes.

“Good, I want you to hear this, Dad. Mo, I might not remember this later, so if I ask twice, I’m sorry. I’d like to ask for your permission to marry your daughter, sir.”

“You would, huh? And where would she live?” he asked.

“Anywhere she damn well wants to.” Victoria laughed, shaking her head at Hayes’ sudden transformation.

“What do you say, Victoria?” asked Mo.

“I say yes. And I want to live where my husband is. I know I can do this now,” she said.

“Well, then. I think we’ve got a wedding to plan,” said Luke. “After we rescue your asses.” Hayes looked off in the distance and nodded at the screen.

“Gotta go, sirs. Time to spiral down a mountain.”