Chapter 19 #2
With Wraith in bad shape, they couldn’t walk to the small field where Viper would land the chopper.
Rogue had retrieved their bags from the jungle and returned with their vehicle, which they’d parked away from the road. Atlas had helped load Rex and Kat, and Rogue and Havoc had left to hand over the prisoners.
At least that part of the mission was done.
Now, they had to get Wraith to safety before he lost too much blood. Reaper was rummaging through the pockets of one of the dead guards.
With a satisfied smile, he stood and brushed back the few sweat-damp curls that’d fallen from his ponytail. He rattled the keys in the air. “Found us a ride.”
“Took ya feckin’ long enough.”
Atlas stretched out his hand to Wraith. “Come on. Viper will be here soon.”
Reaper approached, and they got the Scot to his feet and half carried him to the jeep. Reaper swung open the door, and they helped him into the back.
Wraith’s eyes flickered before jerking open, then lost focus.
Atlas glanced at Reaper. “You drive.”
Fear pinched his chest. He hopped in the back next to Wraith and pulled out his medical bag. Reaper got into the driver’s seat and moments later they were cruising down the dark, dusty road.
Atlas pulled a pack of electrolytes from his bag and opened it for his friend. Wraith accepted the package and tossed the liquid back.
Next, Atlas took out rations. His goal was to keep Wraith from passing out.
“Thanks.” Wraith took a bite of the coconut-flavored bar.
While Wraith chewed, Atlas peered at the shirt Rogue had tied around the wound. Despite the torniquet, blood seeped through.
Reaper met his gaze in the rearview mirror. “How long till Viper gets here?”
Atlas glanced at his watch. “Ten minutes or so.”
“Good. We should be at the field in a few,” Reaper clipped.
Atlas reached for his canteen and started to unscrew the cap.
Wraith took the bottle from Atlas’s hand and scrunched his eyebrows together. “I ain’t gonna die. You can stop fussin’.”
Atlas lifted a hand in surrender. “Well, you fucking look like you died and came back, so there’s that.”
Wraith pulled off the lid with his teeth, then took a long gulp. “If Viper is coming, where’s Molly?”
“She’s waiting behind for us.”
Wraith widened his eyes. “Are ya stupid? Feck, man. All because I got a graze?”
“That’s not a graze,” he and Reaper said in unison.
“Still. It’s too dangerous.”
“Rex is caught, remember? Hell, he can’t even call any of his men to tell them to go after her—and he doesn’t know where she is.” As he spoke, doubt piled up on his chest. He couldn’t pretend he hadn’t hated leaving her. That Wraith wasn’t echoing his own fears.
He swiped his hand over his face, then dug out his satellite phone. Hearing her voice would settle his nerves—and hopefully get Wraith to stop making him feel like a douchebag.
He dialed her number. The line rang in his ear. Once. Twice. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Come on, Molly.
The call cut out on the sixth ring.
He cursed and dialed again. Tension wrapped around his neck like a goddamn noose. No, she was fine. Had to be. He’d just talked to her forty-five minutes ago.
Reaper bumped onto the open field. Cutting the engine, he looped his arm around the headrest. “Did she answer?”
Atlas exhaled. Two sets of judgmental eyes charred his skin. “No.”
Silence. He dialed again, his gaze locked on the passenger seat ahead of him.
Ring, ring, ring.
He hung up. “She’s not answering. She wouldn’t fucking not answer.” His breath came out stale and strangled. He inhaled sharply through his nose, balling his hand into a fist.
Wraith gripped his shoulder weakly. “Maybe the ringer’s off. Don’t panic.”
He pressed his tongue to the back of his teeth. Don’t panic. That was exactly what he was fucking doing. Without a word, he redialed.
Once again, the line rang in his ear. Bile rose up his esophagus. He kicked open the car door and stepped into the long, unkempt grass. Thick, humid air skimmed over his face and heated him from the inside out.
He paced, hooking his wrists on the back of his neck. A headache pushed to the surface and pulsed behind his eyes. His heart rate kicked into overdrive.
Suddenly everything became too much.
Animals screeched, and the high-pitched sounds clawed at his ears. The grass, trees, and vines were too close. The weight of his vest pulled at his shoulders and seemed to tighten around his lungs with every breath he took. He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t—
Whomp, whomp, whomp
The chopper blades carved the night air. Lights as ominous as a UFO appeared in the sky. Wind attacked the trees, sending creatures scurrying for safety. Branches bent and leaves blew as Viper landed square in the field.
Tearing his feet from the earth, Atlas returned to the car and helped Reaper get Wraith out of the back seat. His friend blinked heavily, and his face was even paler than before.
Viper hopped out and ran across the grass. He helped them get Wraith comfortable in the back of the aircraft, then everyone buckled into their seats and put on their headsets.
Viper lifted off the ground smoothly, then barreled over the treetops. Once they were in the sky, Atlas asked Viper when he’d left Molly.
“What do you mean she didn’t answer?” Viper cried through the speaker. “She was fine when I left her. We had no fucking tails either.”
“Just get us back.”
He had forty minutes till they landed, and if Molly didn’t answer then, he’d lose his fucking mind.