Page 69 of Into the Storm

ChapterTwenty-One

“Would you consider…staying here while I search for the team tonight?”

The look Audrey gave Xavier let him know exactly how much she loved that idea. Her words made it even clearer. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding.”

“Did I sound funny?”

“You promised you wouldn’t leave me alone again.”

“That was before we had a safe place for you to hide.”

“You mean it was before you knew I was pregnant.”

He held her gaze in the rapidly fading light. Dusk was descending, and while they’d spent the last two hours making plans, now that it was time for them both to leave this haven, he couldn’t bear the idea of her being at risk.

He’d endangered the lives of too many people already. If Audrey and their baby died in these woods, he didn’t know how he could go on. “You’ll be safe here.”

“But what if I’m not? What if those bastards are out there, just waiting for you to leave me alone?”

Fuck. That was the one argument he couldn’t counter.

“I’m not staying behind. Do you have any idea how terrifying it would be for me to wait out here for you to return? Even if we had cell service, it wouldn’t work out here. I’d be stuck, waiting for you to return or for someone to kill me.”

“I’d give you my radio. Once we get the signal blocker turned off, my team could radio you.”

“I’m not staying here alone, Xavier. The fact that I’m pregnant changes nothing. I was pregnant yesterday too, and you weren’t questioning my ability to handle myself in these woods.”

“I didn’t—”

“I know these woods better than you do. I’m healthy and strong. We’ve got food, and I have the right clothing. Plus, I’ll be a hell of a lot safer with you than stranded out here alone. I would have been taken hostage or killed last night if you hadn’t returned when you did. Don’t pretend it’s better for me to hide when we both know you’re just afraid something will happen to me.”

“Of course I’m afraid! I’ve never been so scared in my fucking life, and I’m not afraid for me. I’m afraid for Paul. For Chris. And for you and Fig. I’m terrified I’ve killed you all.”

“This isn’t your fault, Xavier.”

“Oh, but it is. I planned this training from beginning to end. It was my brilliant idea to make sure the SEAL team wouldn’t have direct communication with NSWC.”

“But surely NSWC will expect to receive updates from your training team?”

“Only in the event of an emergency. Which of course, this is, but no one counted on the fact that we would lose our landlines and computers.”

“But wouldn’t NSWC know your computers are offline?”

He shrugged. “They might. And they might think it was part of the exercise—it fits with the mission scenario we’re running.”

“So at what point will NSWC start to worry that they haven’t heard from you?”

“Could be as long as two…maybe three days?”

Even in the gray light, Xavier could see her face blanch. “Two or three days before they even start wondering if something is up?”

He nodded.

She placed her hand on her belly. “I think I might puke again.”

He handed her a helmet to use as a basin.

She held it before her, taking deep breaths as she stared down at the cheap helmet with the broken clip that had saved his life a little less than twenty-four hours ago. After a long silence, she set it aside and met his gaze. “What would the Navy do if I were reported missing? Would they send someone into the park?”