Page 35 of Hunted

Looking back at the beach, I watch Kingsley follow Weston to the edge of the jungle where they turn and wait, before I’m moved out of sight.

The three of us sit back down, Bower holding me against him as Reece continues to hold pressure on my wounds. We listen in silence as the whoomp whoomp of the chopper blades grows steadily louder. The only thing louder is the beating of Bower’s heart where my ear lays against his chest.

My own heartbeat tries to match his speed as the chopper gets closer and closer, constantly feeling like it’s about to fly over our heads.

A loud thud sounds somewhere down the beach, then the sound of the blades starts to slow.

They’ve landed.

I grip Bower’s shirt in fear, and my wide eyes meet his.What’s going to happen now?We’re like sitting ducks if they find us here.

Everything seems impossibly quiet when we hear a man call out, “Mr. Benson?”

I turn my wide eyes to Reece as his head whips in the direction of the voice, as if he can see him through the pile of wood. But he doesn't move.

“Mr. Maurice Benson? I believe you may be in need of a lift, sir?”

Reece turns to us as a smile splits his face. “It’s Arnold, my assistant!”

“Fuck, you need to give that guy a raise!” Bower says, seeming to lose some of his tension.

Reece huffs out a laugh as he looks down at his hands on me. “I need to take a look, make sure he’s not being held at gunpoint or something, but I can’t let go.”

“Hold on, I’ll put her down.” Bower slowly lowers me to the sand, then takes the shirts from Reece, allowing him to stand up and move to the edge of the woodpile.

He peeks around and watches for a full minute before he slowly steps out. “Arnold?”

“Sir! Thank goodness! Are you okay?”

Reece moves out of our sightline, but we hear their conversation. My head starts to get dizzy as I strain to hear what they’re saying.

“Who’s with you?”

“I’m insulted you don't recognize me,” a new voice pitches in, sounding amused.

“Fuck, Slade, am I ever glad to see your ugly mug!”

“What the fuck happened to your chopper? Did it explode?”

“Yeah, but we’re in a bit of a hurry, I’ll tell you later.” There’s the sound of footsteps, then I hear him yell, “West, King, it’s safe to come out!”

I hear a murmur of voices before Reece suddenly appears again. When he sees me, he presses his lips in a tight smile as he moves to lift me up.

“How you doing, darling?”

“Dizzy,” I admit.

“Just hang in there, we’re gonna get you out of here and to a hospital, ASAP, okay?” I nod my head, resting it against his chest as the two of them carry me around the woodpile.

As soon as the others come into view, I take a look at the two new people. One man is a little older and is dressed in a suit, making him look completely out of place on the beach. His eyes widen when he sees me.

A whistle from the other man has me glancing at him. “Of all the things I thought you’d find on the island, a girlfriend was definitely not one of them!”

“Shut up, asshole,” Reece grumbles, with no real heat behind his words.

“Can we do introductions later?” Weston grumbles. “She’s been shot; we need to get her medical attention.”

“Shit, sorry, of course. I have a first aid kit that might help until we get to Madagascar.” He turns and jogs towards the chopper, the rest of us following closely behind.