Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
“Chase. Brother, you need to breathe.”
Chase clenched his jaw before eyeing Kash across the cabin. Nyx sat at his feet, harnessed and ready to deploy. Just like they’d done all those years in the service.
Except it wasn’t just Chase and his buddies’ lives on the line.
He looked out the window, watching the coastline rush past. Waves crashed against the unforgiving cliffs, long stretches of rugged forest terrain stretching toward the horizon. “I am breathing, jackass.”
Kash leaned back in the seat, crossing his feet at the ankles. Looking way too relaxed. “Is that what you call this? Because you’re practically frothing at the mouth.”
Kash sighed when Chase flipped him off. “She’ll be okay. She has Eli with her. Guy’s hardcore. He’ll have her back.”
“He’d better because I’ll hand him his ass if she gets hurt on his watch.”
“Annnnnd he’s back.”
“Shut up.” He fiddled with the edge of his harness. “I know Greer can handle herself, but this guy…”
Kash shifted until he had his elbows braced on his knees. “It’s all pretty dark. And we’d understand if you need to focus on watching her six for a while. We can always get Seth or Randy to sub-in if trying to divide your attention gives you a freaking aneurism.”
“Greer’s going to give me the aneurism. And I’m not tapping out. I just need her to consider her own damn safety for once. She seems to think she’s bulletproof.”
“Then, it’s a good thing she’s got the hots for a medic.”
“The hots? Seriously, Kash?”
“Don’t hate the messenger.” His expression sobered. “She’s crazy about you. You know that, right?”
Chase snorted, nodding when Foster glanced over his shoulder and gave him the one-minute sign. “She was. Not sure she’s looking for anything other than my ass in a sling right now.”
“Maybe if you keep your head out of it like when you held her back at the station, she’ll pivot again. Though, I agree she needs to take better care of herself. I swore she was going to tank before you caught her.”
“And yet, I bet she still hasn’t eaten anything.” He stood when Foster started bleeding off some speed, heaving his medic bag onto his back before reaching for the flexible litter, only to have Kash grab it first.
Kash tsked. “You can get the doors.”
Chase huffed, then opened the doors. Deep shadows engulfed the coastline, the last vestiges of light quickly fading along the horizon. He switched on his headlamp, scouring the cliffside — searching for a trace of their victim.
His comm unit crackled, then Foster’s voice. “Got her. About fifty feet down at your ten o’clock.”
Chase nodded as her limp form materialized in the strong beam. “Copy. Looks like her jacket snagged on a branch. Kept her from falling all the way down. Not sure how long she has before that wood snaps.”
Kash clicked his mic. “I can rappel to that small opening just north of her. Limit the downwash. I’ll set up anchors and send down a line.
Have Nyx patrol the immediate area just in case we’re not alone.
Once the rope’s ready, Chase can lower directly to her location then clip in.
Assess the situation. Either way, it’s not going to be pretty. ”
Foster gave them a thumb’s up. “Saylor and Zain are coming in fast. She said this area’s full of shoals and rocks, but she’ll get in close in case things go sideways. Her usual insane tactics. Just be careful and take appropriate firepower with you.”
Kash scrunched up his face as he tapped his weapon. “When don’t we.”
The rotor wash buffeted the cliff, thundering against the stone face as Foster brought the bird into a hover.
Nose angled into the wind, Kash’s rope snapping in the swirling drafts as it fell out the open doors, hitting the small patch of dirt below them.
His buddy gave a mock salute, then launched forward, sailing down the line, one hand working the rope, the other holding his rifle.
He landed a few seconds later, cleared the area, then unclipped Nyx.
A few quick movements, and the rope slipped free, curling in the spiraling vortex before Chase reeled it in.
Foster held his position until Kash had three anchor points set, the litter roped and ready with another line already tossed over the edge, fluttering in the wind a few feet from their patient.
Chase clicked his mic as Foster repositioned the chopper. “Heading down. I’ll transfer as quickly as possible, so we don’t risk blowing her off the cliff.”
“Roger, and buddy…” Foster looked back across his shoulder, not budging an inch as he held everything steady. “Watch your damn six.”
“Here’s hoping Zain’s got his game on, just in case.”
Chase took a breath, then stepped off the skid, the rope humming through his hand, his boots skimming the air. Seagulls called nearby, his headlamp cutting a circle through the encroaching darkness as he approached the narrow ledge, the beam illuminating the pale rock.
The woman slumped against a pile of branches, her bleach blonde hair glowing in the harsh light. Chase slowed his approach, timing his landing with the gusting wind. He hit the stone boots first, scrambling for a hold before the downwash compromised her safety.
It took a couple tries to reach the other rope before he had it clipped through his carabiner, releasing his tether to the chopper.
Chase clicked his mic. “I’m clear.”
Foster didn’t waste a second, banking left, hugging the rock wall before heading off — circling nearby until they needed a pickup.
Chase grabbed some gear and readied a couple anchor points, securing the woman before the damn branch cracked and she tumbled the fifty-foot drop into the ocean.
Once secure, he crouched beside her, removing enough supplies to run through her vitals — determine what level of screwed she was — before brushing back a tangle of hair from her face. “Kash? It’s Anna.”
Kash breathed into the mic. “Break it down for me, buddy.”
“Airway’s clear, but I’ve got reduced breath sounds on her right side.
Pulse is weak with bouts of tachycardia.
Skin’s pale, lips bluish.” He moved down her body.
“Visible leg deformity suggests a fractured right femur. Femoral pulse present but thready. Minimal external blood loss, but I suspect massive internal trauma.”
He secured a neck brace, then rubbed his knuckles along her sternum. “Anna? Can you hear me?”
She groaned, eyelids fluttering a few times before she managed to keep them open — look up at him.
He smiled, readying more supplies. “Welcome back. Do you remember me? Chase Remington. I’m with Raven’s Watch.”
She blinked, blacked out for a moment, then resurfaced, nodding ever so slightly. “I…”
“Don’t move your head or try to talk too much. Just stay with me, okay? I’ve got you.”
She gasped, then fisted his shirt. “Help…”
Chase snapped his gaze to hers for a moment before slipping a needle in her arm — setting up an IV. “Everything’s going to be okay. Did you fall? Or did someone do this to you?”
Her chin quivered. “A man…”
“Got it. Just stay calm. I’ll have us out of here in few minutes.” He tapped his comm unit. “Everyone have their head on a damn swivel. Anna said someone left her like this.”
Chase removed his vacuum splint and secured it around her thigh, lining up the straps. “It looks like you’ve broken your leg. I need to immobilize it before we can pull you up. It’s gonna hurt, but I need you to stay still so we don’t Peter Pan off this cliff, all right?”
She cried out as he removed the air, increasing the pressure as the splint molded to her leg — gave him the stability he needed in order to get her up the cliff.
Her grip eased for a while, before she pulled herself back. “Monster…”
Chase made eye contact. “It’s okay. I won’t let anyone hurt you. Just keep looking at me.” He adjusted the IV flow rate. “Anna? Did he give you anything? Inject anything into your arms or legs?”
Tears welled in her eyes, a few slipping down her cheeks. “No… he…”
“It’s going to okay. We just need to get you out of here.” Chase tapped his mic. “Kash, send down the SKED.”
Rocks and dirt rained down beside them, the rolled strip of orange plastic quickly slipping along the cliff face. Chase grabbed it as it settled beside him, bouncing in the gusting wind.
The anchors groaned, the rope creaking against the strain as he eased her against his chest long enough to wrap the sheet around her — snug the straps until the unit created a protective cocoon.
She mumbled something under her breath, fading in and out of consciousness as he readied everything for the main haul.
He pushed a few meds, placed some warm compresses on the outside of her clothes, then radioed in. “She’s stable. Double checking knots.”
Anna reached for him, but he tucked her hand back inside.
“I know it’s scary, but all you have to do is relax. Let us do the lifting. I’ll be right beside you.”
She blinked twice.
He clicked his mic. “Package ready. Start ascent.”
The SKED shimmied, shaking as Kash started hauling from above, the outer layer screeching over the jagged rocks.
They got her a few feet up before her eyes flashed as her breath hitched, a thin, whistling sound tightening into nothing.
She arched, clawing at the webbing, a few tears leaking down her cheeks.
“Damn it, hold the main. She’s got a tension pneumo.”
Chase ripped open the kit, bracing her with his knees as he grabbed the needle — slipped it between her ribs. Air hissed through the open tube, some of the color returning to her cheeks as she sucked in a large breath, finally easing back in the litter.
Chase checked her breathing, relaxed a bit as it slowly equalized, before taping the tube in place. “Okay, we’re good. Resume ascent. On her left.”