Chapter 5
Mila watched Damien stride into the jungle and her body warmed.
For those few moments when she’d sat on his lap, she’d felt safe and as if everything would be all right.
But talk of extraction and the issues with Ethan’s injury reminded her she was an extra on this mission, and they were under no obligation to rescue her.
Her mother had spoken about how unplanned events often messed up a mission.
She didn’t want to mess this up for them.
She also wanted to know what the hell Vance was playing at.
Had he genuinely been kidnapped, or had he realised she wouldn’t marry him and implemented a backup plan?
It wouldn’t surprise her if he’d faked his kidnapping.
He’d do anything to get out of doing any actual work.
But once again he’d used her and dragged her into his mess.
It was time to have words with him. Strong ones.
He’d taken away her option of staying here, enjoying living like the locals with their slower pace of life. She’d found her work deeply rewarding. The families who had welcomed her and helped her settle in had been so kind.
And now so many of them were left with nothing. How could she desert them when they needed her most?
But she couldn’t stay when Agus clearly had a vendetta against her mother.
She curled up in the passenger side seat, wincing at her aches, while Axle spoke with Ethan.
When they set up camp, she’d ask if they had anything to clean her wounds with.
The only good thing to come out of this whole mess was Vance’s father had sent in special ops, which meant even if they couldn’t get her off the island with them, someone would know she needed help.
What assistance could she offer the team?
Ethan needed medical attention fast. The medical centre in town was well stocked thanks to Agus and a famous surfer who had come for the surf and wanted to make sure they had the facilities he needed should he be injured.
The break offshore apparently had a reputation.
But what state would the centre be in now?
Only one way to find out, but they’d have to wait for the waves to stop.
Her throat closed over at the thought of going anywhere near the coast. The hairs on her skin stood up, and she waved her hands to get some air movement around her.
“Are you all right?” Axle asked.
She nodded, swallowing hard. “Hot.” That was also true. The brief relief from the humidity with the rainfall in the evening had been short-lived. The team didn’t need to know she was close to breaking down. They might decide she was a liability.
Mila slowed her breathing, and her muscles relaxed. She had to get a grip. She was her mother’s daughter. She could do this.
Calm. She knew this island better than they did. What were their other options?
There were five villages on the coast and one in the mountain. Would the villages on the other sides have been affected as badly as this one? They might have a boat.
If they got out to deep water between the waves, they should be safe.
A slight rustling in the jungle had her glance over as Damien stepped out of the darkness. “Radar and Joker are building a thinner stretcher,” he announced.
“Where are we going?” Axle asked.
“Nowhere yet,” Damien said. “But chances are good Agus will look for Vance and we don’t want to be sitting out here waiting for him.” He glanced back at the jungle. “The door is too wide and awkward for easy manoeuvrability.
“How much fuel does the car have?” Mila asked.
“A quarter tank,” Axle answered.
“That’s enough to get across the island and do recon.”
Axle’s eyebrows rose and he smirked. “Recon?”
She refused to feel embarrassed. “The way I figure it, we either wait here until they get a chopper in, or we find a boat,” Mila said. “The boats this side are either destroyed or out to sea. The other side might not have been hit as badly.”
“A boat won’t be great for Ethan,” Axle said.
“Better than being shot,” Mila replied.
“We might still have a boat,” Damien said. “How far to the other coast?”
“You need to go over the mountain, so about an hour.” She shrugged. “As long as there were no landslides from the earthquake.”
“Radar and Joker can go when we’ve built the stretcher.”
Mila rubbed her aching head. “What time is it?”
“Almost four.” Damien rummaged around in his backpack and pulled out a packet. “Here.”
Pain killers. “Thanks.” She popped two out and swallowed them dry.
“Axle, can you check her over when you’re done with Ethan?” Dobby asked.
“I’m fine.”
“I’ll check,” Axle said. “Just in case.”
Dobby smiled and helped her out of the car.
His smile warmed her insides. Now wasn’t the time to be attracted to this man. He had a job to do.
Axle shone his torch over her arms and legs.
He hissed at a gash on her forearm. “That might need stitches.” He took his canteen from his hip and cleaned the cut.
“When we get to camp, I’ll clean all the cuts and put a couple of stitches in.
” He smiled in apology. “I’d like to check under your clothes as well. ”
She closed her eyes and nodded. He was a medic doing his job.
“Dobby, turn around and Ethan, close your eyes.”
She doubted Ethan could see her from where he was, but she appreciated it when Damien turned his back to give her privacy.
Carefully Axle pulled up her top, and he winced.
“It looks as if you’ve gone ten rounds with a prize fighter.
” He gently prodded her ribs and then turned her around so he could check her back.
“You’re lucky, but I’m worried about the water you swallowed.
If you start to feel different, you need to tell me immediately. ”
She nodded. The thought of what could have been in the water was sobering and made her want to vomit again.
As Axle finished examining her, Radar returned carrying a stretcher made from wooden poles and some sort of fabric which they must have had in their packs.
“Where are we going?” Radar asked.
“We’ll stay here,” Damien said. “Close to the village if extraction comes. You and Joker can take the car and investigate options on the other side of the island.”
“I’ll clear a spot for Ethan.” Radar glanced at Mila. “Come with me. I’ll piggyback you.”
She screwed up her face. “I can walk.”
“I’m more worried about your bare foot getting injured,” Radar said. “The jungle floor isn’t the softest surface.”
Damien nodded. “If we go into town, we’ll find you something else to wear.”
That would be good. The blanket was warm, but she was conscious of the fact she wasn’t wearing a bra and her thin tank top hid nothing, particularly while it was wet. Thankfully it was still dark.
She grabbed her bag from the floor of the car.
It was likely all that remained of her possessions.
A wave of sadness passed over her thinking about everything the villagers had lost. Her possessions were nothing in comparison.
She hopped onto Radar’s back and he carried her through the jungle to where the man she assumed was Joker waited with Vance.
“Are we getting out of here now?” Vance whined as Radar walked into the clearing.
Typical.
“Not yet.” Radar stopped, and she slid to the ground, wrapping the blanket back around herself.
“Why not?” Vance demanded.
Her patience snapped. She stepped out from behind Radar and said, “Because they have a man who broke his pelvis trying to save your sorry arse, and he can’t be moved easily, so you’ll have to wait.”
Vance’s eyes widened. “Mila. What happened to you?”
She scowled at him. “What? Other than the earthquake and almost being drowned by a tsunami?”
“Why didn’t you get out of there?”
“Because people needed help,” she replied. “I couldn’t leave them stuck under debris.” Helping others wasn’t a concept he was familiar with.
“If I’d known, I would have got these guys to rescue you, I swear.” He stepped forward as if to hug her and she ducked behind Radar to avoid him.
“Did you even consider where I was?” It shouldn’t hurt, but his blank, slightly confused expression told her everything.
She didn’t wait for him to lie. “They didn’t have time to rescue me,” she said.
“You only just made it out in front of the first wave.” At his questioning look she added, “I saw you leave.”
“Mila, baby, I’m sorry. I would never want you to be hurt.”
“Other than forcing me to marry you or telling a known criminal how rich my father is?”
“I needed his help to get you back.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Cut the bullshit, Vance. You don’t care about anyone but yourself.
You don’t love me and you don’t want to marry me.
” She blinked rapidly, glad it was too dark for anyone to see the tears welling in her eyes.
She’d nearly died, and he didn’t care. Why hadn’t she seen it before?
“Sure I do. We’d be a power couple.”
“Here on this island?” she asked sweetly.
“No. In Sydney.”
“And if I want to live here?”
“No one would choose to live in this shit tip.”
But she had, and he didn’t get it. She closed her eyes. “Let me make this clear. I don’t like you, let alone love you. I won’t marry you.”
Anger flashed across his face. “Don’t be selfish. My father wants me to marry. It would only be for a couple of years. We were good together.” He took two steps towards her and Radar shifted so he was standing in front of her.
Joker spoke. “Enough. The lady has said no. You will respect her decision.”
His voice made her jump. What must they think of her?
“You’re supposed to be saving me, not her.”
“Trust me, mate,” Radar said. “We’re saving you from yourself and from her.”
Joker chuckled. “Yeah. If you can’t tell when a woman is mad, you’re going to be in a lot of trouble in life.”
“We need to clear a space for Ethan,” Radar said as if that was the end of the matter and cleared leaves and branches out of the way.
Mila exhaled and unclenched her hands. She tied the blanket like a sarong around her breasts and helped, cautious where she trod so she didn’t injure herself.
By the time Damien and Axle carried the injured soldier into the clearing, the spot was ready.
She shifted out of the way as they placed the stretcher on the ground.
Vance squeezed her shoulder so tightly she flinched. “We need to talk.”
Almost without thinking, she elbowed him hard in the guts. “Take your hand off me.”
Vance stepped away, his hands high. “Chill.”
She exhaled, not wanting to cause a scene in front of Damien and the others. Radar murmured something to Damien, and Damien glanced across at her and nodded. Then Radar said, “We’re up, Joker.”
Mila stepped over. “The road winds its way up to the village and then down the other side. You can’t get lost.”
“Does it go through or around the village?”
“Through.”
Radar frowned. “We’ll have to scope it out first. If someone sees us, word might get back to Agus.”
“There’s a sign just before you get there on the left-hand side,” she told them.
“Thanks.”
Axle handed them a key. “Use this. It’s programmed to the four-wheel drive.”
“Copy.” Joker tested the comms and then they strode out of the clearing. A moment later the car engine rumbled and then faded as the men drove away.
Axle crouched by Ethan, checking his vitals. Damien came over. “You both should rest. Nothing’s happening until the waves stop which could be a few hours yet.”
Now the adrenaline was waning Mila found herself swaying on her feet. Still she crouched next to Ethan and asked Axle, “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Ethan grabbed her hand and smiled. “There’s my guardian angel. You remind me of my Chelsea.” His voice was full of love with a slightly dazed drugged tone. “She was always so sweet.”
Was. Who was Chelsea and what had happened to her? She winced at his tight grip and patted his hand, glancing with concern at Axle.
“I’ve given him the strongest drugs and made him as comfortable as I can.” Axle smiled at her. “But before you rest, let me clean your injuries.” He moved over to his med kit and gestured to her.
Gently she removed her hand from Ethan. His eyes were closed and his breathing was regular. Hopefully asleep.
Using a small torch for visibility Axle methodically cleaned each of her wounds, applying antiseptic to each one, chatting to her as he did so, but she needed a distraction from the pain. She murmured, “Who is Chelsea?”
Axle frowned as he cleaned her legs. “Ethan’s ex. He doesn’t see her anymore.” He swiped a little harder on a cut and she hissed.
“Sorry. You’re doing great.”
It was hard to be upset at his calm, easy-going bedside manner, but she got the hint the topic was off limits.
She appreciated he didn’t want to gossip about his teammate.
When he got to the gash on her forearm, he took a little longer to make sure the wound was clean. “I’m going to put a few stitches in.”
She frowned. “I don’t suppose you’ve got any anaesthetic in that kit of yours?”
He grinned. “Sure do. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.”
Mila turned her head as he got out a needle. Over on the edge of their makeshift camp, Vance was already lying down asleep.
Dobby was sitting with Ethan, murmuring to him.
“Just a little bee sting,” Axle said.
She gritted her teeth as Axle injected the anaesthetic.
It didn’t take long for it to take effect and he sewed the gash and covered it in a waterproof bandage.
“It’s not as pretty as a plastic surgeon would do, but it shouldn’t scar much.
” He packed his equipment away. “Rest now because we might have to move fast when it’s time. ”
“All right. Thank you.” She grabbed a few of the larger, less decayed palm fronds and lay them down to make a blanket of sorts. Damien helped her and then handed her a pack. “It’s not bad as a pillow.”
She smiled. “Thank you.” It was kind of him to consider her comfort.
Vance grumbled something under his breath, so perhaps he wasn’t asleep, but she paid him no attention. Then she lay down and the moment her head hit the backpack, sleep claimed her.