Page 36

Hunt

Kelly squats by my side, unzipping my coat. “How bad is it?”

“Well, I’m not dead.” Yet . Teeth clamped, I embrace the excruciating burn as she cuts away shirt fabric, then yanks off her hat.

“Dumbass.” Her hands press into my side so hard I see stars.

Not too far away snowmobiles rev their engines. Those hungry wolves will be upon us in minutes. Useless, I can’t let her die trying to save me.

“Me and Betsy will be fine. Leave.” Leaning back against the tree, I pat my weapon.

“Like hell, I will.” Voice firm, she slides her arm around my waist.

A fog settles, turning the forest to boot camp. Sergeant Lewis crosses his arms, face fierce. “On your feet, soldier.”

Standing, I stumble toward the trucks. “Yes, sir.”

His angry spit hits my face as he shouts, “Are you a Marine or a wuss?”

“Marine, sir.” While I wobble, he morphs into Kelly, who points at the Skidoo seat. “You’re hallucinating. Sit.”

A stinging slap to the cheek wakes me from a blessed blackness. “Dammit, Scott Hunter. Stay awake.”

Nose inches from mine, her steady green eyes narrow. “There’s a ranger station a few miles away. We’ll hole up there. No more sleeping.”

“Miles? I’ll never make it.” I can barely remain seated, and the vehicle isn’t moving yet.

“You fucking will, you hear me?” She pulls a stapler from an orange medic kit.

My skin pinched between her fingers, she clicks until the bleeding stops. Without warning, a needle sinks deep into my thigh. The sharp sting is followed by a wave of cold sweats.

Wide awake, my heart jackhammering, I catch the roll of gauze thrown at me. “An EpiPen? What about painkillers?”

“Wrap it up, Wildlife. We leave in two.” She dashes off to the flatbed’s cab.

By the time she’s returned, I’ve bandaged my wound. After she ties a canvas sack to the rack behind me, I grab her hand, pointing to one of those we shot.

“Grab his comm unit.”

“Good idea.” She digs it from his ear, then snatches loops of plastic from his utility belt. As I clamp my arms around her waist, she makes a long string of zip-ties, belting me to her.

No way. If I tumble, I’ll take her with me. She’s signed both our death warrants.

When I struggle to break free, she swivels her head, handing me the tiny listening device. “My mission. My call. Put that in. Keep me apprised.”

The snowmobile rumbles under my ass as she puts it in gear. A second later, we lurch forward. Eyes closed, face pressed to her back, I concentrate.

Stay on the damn seat, soldier.

Every so often, the mercenaries looking for us check in. Nothing like kicking the nest to piss off the hornets.

Time slows. An eternity passes. I can’t drift off. I can’t let go.

When she shuts off the engine, a wave of relief engulfs me. We’re alive?

Cutting the plastic ties, she glances over her shoulder. “I knew you could do it.”

Unable to speak, I nod . Babe, for you, anything.

Arm over her back, I lift my feet and drag myself inside the ranger’s shack. No longer cold, sleep beckons while O’Malley watches out the window. It would be so easy to simply shut my eyes…

No. Not a coward, I force my brain awake and drink from the straw she places in my mouth.

Still alert as the sun starts to set, some part of my mind registers the wop-wop of Black Hawk blades. No doubt, another hallucination, I decide to keep quiet.

“Helicopters!” The border guard sprints outside.

When she doesn’t return, I pick up my weapon, clutch the windowsill, and pull myself vertically. What if those birds belonged to the mercenaries?

Trembling, I take two shaky steps.

“They’re here.” Face bright, she bursts back in, carrying a ringing package tied to a parachute. After extracting the SAT phone, she answers and switches it to speaker.

“What took you so long?” My face breaks out in a grin. I can’t believe they found us.

“You missed me, sweetheart?” Wulf’s chuckle makes it official. We endured, we never gave up, we survived.

Grabbing my brave woman’s arm, I tug her to my lips. Lightheaded, half-frozen, I hold on until nothing else matters. I almost lost her. Now, I’m never letting go.