Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
H awk barreled out of the clinic. “Phoenix, where are we on that chopper?”
Phoenix threw him the sat phone. “Pat’s on the line.”
Hawk raised it to his ear. “Pat, what’s the ETA?”
The ex-SEAL Commander’s voice was tinny and sounded very far away. “I’m on it, Hawk, but this is Africa. It’s going to take some time.”
“We don’t have time,” he blurted, the tension getting to him. “We’ve got a young kid in bad shape. He’s not going to make it unless we get him to a hospital— fast. I need a helicopter out here stat.”
Luckily Pat wasn’t the type of man who took no for an answer either. They’d served together in the same unit and Hawk knew he was reliable. “Hang in there, buddy. We’re doing everything we can. Anna’s on the phone to the mining companies now. Somebody will have a bird sitting idle.”
“Get it here,” he growled.
“Stay by the phone,” Pat replied, before hanging up.
Hawk handed the phone back to Phoenix, who raised an eyebrow. “Think he’ll pull through?”
“He’d fucking better,” Hawk growled, raking a hand through his hair. His chest felt tight, an unfamiliar sensation he didn’t care for. He’d always prided himself on keeping his emotions in check, but seeing Lexi in that state—broken, filthy, sagging on the ground—had rattled him to his core. She was a fighter, but even fighters had limits. And Moyo… The boy’s pallor and shallow breathing told him his condition was serious. If he could just hang in there long enough to get to a hospital.
Phoenix stepped back leaving Hawk to stew and went to join Viper who was talking to one of the village elders.
Five excruciating minutes later, the phone buzzed. Hawk marched over and snatched it from Phoenix’s hand. “Pat, talk to me.”
His buddy was all business. “Found a bird. Private company out of Rwanda. It’s not cheap—five figures—but they’ll be there in an hour. There’s a paramedic onboard.”
“Thank fuck,” Hawk breathed.
“Send me your coordinates.”
“Will do. Thanks, Pat. I owe you.”
“You just bring them home safe.”
Hawk handed the phone back to Phoenix. “Chopper’s inbound. ETA one hour. Let’s prep for evac.”
Phoenix nodded sharply. “I’ll secure it. Viper, you send the boss the coordinates.”
“Copy that.” Viper slung his rifle over his shoulder and reached for the phone.
Hawk strode back into the clinic. The dim room smelled of sweat, illness, and despair. Lexi sat slumped in the corner, her head resting against the wall, her glassy eyes fixed on Moyo’s fragile frame. Patrick leaned against the wall next to her. They were sharing a canister of water.
“Lexi,” he said gently, crouching in front of her. “The medevac helicopter will be here in an hour. It’s going to take Moyo to a hospital. He’s going to get the help he needs.”
Her eyes flickered with something—hope? disbelief?—but her voice was barely a whisper. “Really?”
“Yeah,” Hawk said, his voice firm. He reached out and cupped her face, his thumb brushing away a smudge of dirt on her cheek. “You did everything you could, sweetheart. Now let me take it from here.”
Tears welled in her eyes, and she gave a shaky nod. “Thank you.”
“Always,” Hawk said, his voice rough with emotion. “I’ll never leave you again, Lexi.” He wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms, to shield her from the horrors she’d endured, but there wasn’t time. They had to prepare for the evac.
He stood and moved to the boy’s side. Edmond hovered nearby, his expression grim. Hawk met the ranger’s gaze. “We’re moving him as soon as the chopper gets here. Think you can carry him to the field to the west of the village?”
Edmond gave a tight nod.
“Good.” He turned back to Lexi. “I’ll be right back, baby.”
She nodded, her fingers still curled around Moyo’s small hand.
Outside, the night was pitch-black, the sliver of a moon now hidden behind thick, dark clouds. Hawk joined Phoenix and Viper at the designated landing zone—a flat stretch of grass on the edge of the village. They’d cleared the field of debris and marked the area with fluorescent glow sticks.
“LZ is good to go,” Phoenix reported. “No sign of hostiles.”
“Let’s keep it that way,” Hawk grunted. It was unlikely they’d encounter any more rebels this far up in the hills, but he wasn’t taking any chances, not with Lexi and Moyo’s lives on the line.
Finally, the faint thrum of rotor blades broke the silence. The sound grew louder, cutting through the night air. The helicopter descended in a flurry of wind and dust, its searchlights sweeping the area.
Phoenix signaled to the pilot, guiding the bird down safely, while Hawk sprinted back to the clinic.
“We’re moving!” he barked. “Chopper’s here.”
Edmond, rifle slung over his back, lifted an unconscious Moyo into his arms. Lexi struggled to her feet, but her legs buckled. Hawk caught her before she hit the ground. “I’ve got you,” he said gruffly, cradling her against his chest.
Together, they made their way to the waiting helicopter. Hawk bent over, shielding Lexi from the downdraft of the rotors as Viper and Phoenix helped Edmond load Moyo inside. The paramedic immediately hooked the boy up to an oxygen tank and began assessing his vitals.
Hawk climbed in after them, settling Lexi on one of the bench seats. She looked pale and disoriented, her eyes fluttering shut as the exhaustion overtook her.
“Stay with me, baby.” Hawk gripped her hand. She nodded weakly, her fingers tightening around his. Christ, he loved this woman. Once this was over, he was going to marry her and make her his wife. There was no way in hell he was ever letting her go again. If this experience had taught him anything, it was that life was too short to fuck around.
As the helicopter lifted off, Hawk glanced at Moyo. The boy’s chest rose and fell with the aid of the oxygen mask, his small body dwarfed by the medical equipment. The paramedic worked quickly, stabilizing him and giving him fluids.
“Hold on, kid,” Hawk muttered under his breath. “You’ve got this.”
Lexi was watching Moyo, tears streaming silently down her face. He squeezed her hand. “He’s going to make it. He’s tough. He’ll get through this.”
“I thought we were all going to die,” she whispered. “I thought I’d never see you again.”
Hawk’s chest tightened. What had he been thinking leaving her in the fucking jungle by herself? “I’m here, Lexi. And I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me, got it?”
A faint smile tugged at her lips. “I think I can live with that.”
Forty-five minutes later, the helicopter touched down at a private hospital in Goma. A medical team was waiting, and rushed forward to take Moyo into surgery.
Hawk carried Lexi inside himself, refusing to let anyone else touch her. She clung to him, her head resting against his chest, weak from exhaustion and relief. Only Patrick was still upright, and able to walk unaided.
As they wheeled Moyo into the operating room, Lexi broke down, sobbing into Hawk’s shirt. He held her close, his large hand stroking her back as he murmured soothing words into her ear.
“You’re safe now,” he whispered. “It’s over. I’ve got you.”
And he wasn’t letting her go. Not ever.