Chapter Three
Jane was awake, but she kept her eyes closed, cataloging what was going on around her.
There was a heavy weight over her shoulders, but instead of feeling trapped, it soothed the fear and anxiety she’d carried for the past few days.
She instinctively knew she was in Sully’s arms and that she was safe at his side, just as she recognized the tension in the voice of the others on the boat.
She had no problem pretending to be asleep as she eavesdropped on the tense conversation.
The woman who’d literally given her the shirt off her back, Addy, was arguing with a man named Wyatt over what tributaries to take to lead them to the extraction point.
Based on his shrill whine, she’d bank on Addy’s decision any day of the week.
“Give her some space, yeah?” The deep voice was menacing, and Jane had no doubt it was one of the SEALs. She was comforted by the fact they were advocating for Addy.
“Relax,” Wyatt said. “I’m simply trying to get a look at the map. This is the right tributary.”
“What’s your reasoning?” Addy’s voice was half disbelief and half concern. “There’s an indigenous tribe along this river, and the passage is tight in some places where the vegetation is nearly impossible to get through without hacking it to bits.”
“It’s faster. It makes no sense to travel the other route.” The more he was questioned, the more Wyatt’s whine increased.
“Won’t be faster if we get stuck.” That statement came from one of the SEALs, at least, she thought it did.
“This route’s the best choice. Addison doesn’t have the experience I do on the river.” Wyatt’s voice was beginning to grate on her. Jane blinked, letting her eyes adjust to the light before taking in the scene. The men on the boat surrounded Addy as though protecting her from Wyatt.
“This is my map.” Jane winced when she got a good look at Addy.
The other woman’s arms, chest, and face were covered in red welts.
They were most likely bug bites from lending Jane her shirt.
Shit. Guilt slammed into her. Those would need to be treated along with Sully’s wound.
Addy made a small sound of frustration before beginning to speak again.
“One I sketched last year from this very spot. It’s the most current that we have. ”
“We’re not going to get stuck.” Wyatt threw his arms up in frustration. “And we’ll get there faster. The smell of this boat alone is making me nauseous.”
Grade-A dick. He had no idea the trauma they’d all gone through. She’d been able to jump in the river, cleansing away some of the piss and other fluids she didn’t want to think about. They hadn’t been allowed to move to relieve themselves, lying in their own waste.
“We can’t risk the entire mission because of your discomfort,” one of the men said, voice flat.
“Addison, can I talk to you privately?” Wyatt said, turning his body to block her from the other men.
“If you have concerns about the mission, the entire team should know,” Addy said, irritation riding her tone. Good for her. The SEALs’ agreement was clear by their varied grunts and nods.
“Anything we should be aware of with the other tributary, Addy?” another man asked. When the men angled their bodies, blocking out Wyatt, his cheeks reddened and he honest to God sneered.
“Like Wyatt said, this path takes us farther out of the way before joining with the main waterway, but it will get us around those boats.”
“The longer we spend out here, the more chance there is of someone spotting us.” Wyatt had his arms crossed tightly over his chest. “If we take the longer route, we’re all going to be sorry.”
“I understand your concern.” She couldn’t believe the other woman had the grace to gentle her tone when Wyatt was so clearly being an ass. “This way will take longer, but it’s wider and there are fewer possibilities of encountering the people you and I are here to protect.”
Jane couldn’t hold back her satisfied smirk as Wyatt stomped to the other side of the boat, looking like a petulant child.
Sully shifted at her side. “Enjoying the show?”
A low chuff escaped her lips. “What a prick.”
“Had to jump out of a plane with him strapped to my front.” His lips twitched and now with the hazy glow of the sun rising over the river, she could fully make out the details of his face.
He was a large man, but she’d known that last night when she had to look up as she oriented herself toward his voice.
His blond hair was cut short but was still long enough that it would get mussed if he raked his fingers through it.
His gold-brown eyes were framed with thick lashes that matched his hair.
The thing that caught her attention most, though, were the freckles over the bridge of his nose.
They gave him a youthful, almost angelic appearance.
She cocked her head to the side. “What did you do to get stuck with that job?”
“I’m an easy target.” He removed his arm from her shoulders and stretched.
Without his touch, she felt vulnerable. Ridiculous for a woman who had a high-risk tolerance and spent most of her adult life as a traveling nurse.
Some locations she visited were stricken by poverty or civil unrest. Others were in remote areas that were challenging to access.
Yes, there were typically a few professionals she traveled with, but the doctors tended to keep to themselves, and the other nurses were in constant rotation, so it was hard to make lasting connections.
She raised a brow. “You look like anything but.”
“This isn’t my typical team, although I’ve served with Ransom—that guy over there—a long time ago.
” He dipped his chin, and she followed his gaze to the other side of the boat where a man with dark hair and light eyes surveyed the river.
“Now I’m based out of California and mainly work on a two-person team with my buddy Red.
The SEAL I’m covering for is expecting his first child, and Addy who was just sparring with Wyatt is his twin sister. ”
“Is she a SEAL, too?”
“No.” Sully shook his head. “Civilian contractor for the U.S. government.”
She wanted to ask more questions but noticed the sheen of sweat covering his face had increased since he’d been awake. Jane immediately glanced at the rise and fall of his chest, noting his respiratory rate was too fast for someone at rest.
“Is there anything stronger you can take for the pain?” She shifted to her knees, staying crouched low.
“I need to stay alert. My wound isn’t so bad that I can’t fight if necessary. Once we get on the bird, Silver will hook me up with the good stuff.”
She appreciated that he didn’t bullshit her and say he felt fine.
Just like last night when he’d given her some of his weight to get through the pain of having his wound cleaned, his response made her feel more like an equal and less like someone who needed rescuing, even though she had.
She didn’t want to think about the things that had happened on the boat or the feel of punching through her attacker’s skin with a knife.
Having purpose allowed her to compartmentalize what had happened with the knowledge that she’d have to deal with it when they reached U.S.
soil and a hospital. There were tests she’d need to have to ensure she hadn’t contracted an STD from the man on the boat, and she’d most likely want to talk to a professional to help her come to terms with being the victim of a sexual assault, just like she had in her teens.
She’d deal with all of it, but right now, it helped to keep her focus on Sully.
“I’m not the only one who needs medical care, Jane.”
She’d never minded her name. Wasn’t one of those people who thought it was boring or plain. Coming off Sully’s lips, though? In that low, deep tenor? The sound was like a caress along her cheek.
“We need to apply something to your sunburn. It’s red and blistering. Must be sore as hell.”
She’d been so entranced by hearing him speak her name, she’d momentarily forgotten he was talking. Sully was right. The burn was tight, raw, and even the light movement of the air as the boat crept along brought her pain.
“After.” She was concerned with the sweat beading around his lips.
In fact, he looked worse by the second. “May I look?” She gestured toward his leg, and he jerked his head in a nod.
Jane rolled up the hem of his pants, taking her time so the thick fabric didn’t brush against his skin and cause more pain.
Swelling was visible before she’d even reached the dressing that covered the wound.
His skin was hot to the touch and the specialized gauze was soaked in drainage.
“Shit.” The SEAL who had cleaned Sully’s wound the night before and given him a large dose of antibiotics had come up on her side. “Let me get my bag.”
“You need your hands free with those boats so close. Get me your bag and I’ll take care of the wound.” She spoke the words, but her eyes were locked on the infection she could tell was brewing in the wound beneath the covering.