Free SEALs of Honor: Shadow by Dale Mayer Page B

don’t write him off just yet.”
    She nodded but inside she knew the chance was beyond slim. “Kevin and Linda?”
    “Kevin is fine, although likely traumatized if he saw you carried off again. We’re getting word to them…”
    She winced. That would be hard on him. “The sooner the better.”
    “Right. And it looks like you’re stuck with us,” Swede said cheerfully.
    “And what does that mean?” She tilted her head back to stare up at him and swiped her eyes. “Are we done here? Are there more assholes or did we finally get them all?”
    Cooper coming up behind them laughed and said, “There are always more assholes.”
    “Any more around here?”
    “Not likely. The man you took the picture of initially, have you seen him since?”
    So much had happened she had to stop and think. Then frowned. “I’m not sure I did actually. He was here when we landed. That’s when I snapped his picture. Then…” She shrugged. “I haven’t seen him again.”
    Shadow nodded. “That would be my guess.”
    Leaning her head back against his chest, she thought about that man. “Are they going to come back after us again? After we get home?”
    “You and your family? Not likely. Besides, they have pretty much decimated it already.”
    “Great,” she said in sad tones. “I wasn’t going to come, you know. I only came to spend time with Kevin and show him the great things to do here. The cabin was my grandfathers. My dad always used it as a getaway, but we haven’t been here in years. I don’t know what prompted it. Nor do I know why now. But out of the blue they made plans. I wasn’t asked to join,” she admitted, feeling the injury even now. “He wanted to bring Kevin, I think. Before the relationships with him and Kevin soured further.”
    “Was it bad?”
    “Yes. I wonder if Father had been threatened before the trip.” She frowned. “Maybe he figured getting away would save us.”
    “We’ll figure it out. I know his house and office are being turned upside down as we speak to find answers.”
    Right. Of course they were. And her place most likely.
    “Can we leave now? Or are we waiting for the plane to come back and pick us up?”
    “No, on the plane,” Swede answered, “We have a truck back at camp. If you’re okay to travel with us, we can take you back.”
    “Yes, please,” she said in a small voice. She didn’t have much choice but hoped it wouldn’t take long. Her leg was killing her.
    Still, she’d be with them, and Shadow. She’d take an extra hour with him. She struggled to try and get to her feet, with Shadow helping her to stand. Waves of pain rolled through her. She focused on her breathing, trying hard to keep it together. She hadn’t even put her bad leg down.
    When she could, she lowered her foot to the ground and gently put her weight on it. And whimpered. Swaying in place and still holding onto Shadow – or rather Shadow holding onto her, she lowered her head and sucked in deep breaths. She could do this. She had to do this. Why wasn’t she on that damn plane?
    Just when she was ready to break down and ask for help, she was swung up into Shadow’s arms and told, “Now lie quiet.”
    She wondered at the lie quiet comment. Was that because of the enemy or because he was tired. Or to stop her from fighting the help. Damn she didn’t know anymore. But he couldn’t carry her all the way back. That was too far. “I’m too heavy for you to carry for so long,” she protested.
    He slanted a look her way and stayed quiet.
    “Maybe you could take turns and that would ease the load for you,” she suggested.
    The only response was to squeeze her tighter.
    She subsided. Fine. Let him suffer. She planned to enjoy the experience. Or would have if it didn’t hurt so damn much. She closed her eyes and realized she’d tensed to the point of resisting him. And that she didn’t want. She needed to relax. But given her leg and her fear that he’d shuffle her and hurt her more…