Free Before We Kiss (Uncharted SEALs Book 6) by Delilah Devlin Page A

the plane. Pffts sounded, and he crumpled to the dirt.
    Rotten Tooth shrugged. The point of his knife dug into her skin, stinging her.
    Poppy hissed as a trickle of blood ran down her neck to soak into her tee.
    “Think I care that I am the last man standing? I have what you want.” He moved backward, toward the open door of the plane, the sound of the engine growing louder as she drew near, dragging her feet to impede his progress.
    “Here,” a man shouted to him.
    Rotten Tooth shouted back, his head turning.
    An opening. Her only chance. With her heart pounding, she hoped he didn’t pierce her jugular, but she’d be damned if he handed her inside that plane. She relaxed limply against him, forcing him to bend with her. The knife scraped along her skin. But as she fell, she reached behind her and shoved up his chin to get him off her.
    As she wriggled against him, a dart hit the side of his neck. The hand holding the knife fell away as his body slackened. A heartbeat later, warm spray exploded above her, coating her hair and face. His body slumped harder, taking her the rest of the way to the ground.
    The door to the plane slammed shut, the engine growled as it rolled down the runway. But toward the end of the strip, just as the small plane bumped upward and lifted into the air, it exploded.
    Poppy screamed and huddled beneath the body draped over, as debris rained down. Then the weight lifted, arms enfolded her, curling around her on the ground. Wiley.
    Shaking, she remained there, until the sound of many running feet approached. She rubbed blood from her eyelids and looked up as Wiley unwound himself from her body and knelt to help her up. Flashlights beamed, raking her and Rotten Tooth’s body.
    Wiley flung aside his helmet and goggles, and then pulled off his jacket and his tee, using the soft tee to wipe her face. He pressed the fabric against the side of her neck to still the blood still seeping from her wound.
    Another man knelt beside her, and he removed a kit from his web gear, opening it and drawing out bandages and a bottle. When Wiley pulled aside his tee, the man swabbed her wound then bandaged it. Her gaze remained locked on Wiley as she tried to still the chattering of her teeth.
    His expression was stark. His hooded eyes dark. She couldn’t read either.
    The man working over her pressed tape to her skin to hold the bandage. “You’ve stopped bleeding. A helicopter will be here in five. It’ll take you to the airport in Cancun where we’ll put you on a plane to D.C.”
    She blinked and turned to stare at the man. “No. I want to rejoin the cruise ship. My work’s not done.”
    He shook his head. “My orders are to get you on that plane.”
    “Well, you can tell my father I’m fine. That I won’t leave the ship until it docks in Miami.” She cleared her throat and reached out to place her hand on his shoulder, then slowly rose, surprised her wobbly legs could support her. She straightened, knowing she had to look like a nightmare, but she lifted her chin. “My father may be paying your bills, but I’m my own person. I will rejoin the cruise.” Her gaze held steady while the man’s jaw tightened. She looked at Wiley who stood a foot away, his face still hard, his eyes glittering. Would he understand what she was really asking for?
    Wiley cleared his throat. “I’ll accompany her.”
    Another figure stepped into the light. Mike Espinoza gave her a small smile. “I’m heading back to the boat. So’s my team. If she promises to stay put, we’ll be able to keep her safe. We can catch up with the boat at Key West and sail the rest of the way to Miami. Day after tomorrow, she’ll be on a plane. My promise.”
    The whomp-whomp of a helicopter’s blades sounded in the distance. She glanced toward the man who appeared to be in charge of this mission, waiting for his decision. Not until he nodded, did she allow another tremor to shake her.
    And then Wiley’s arm was around her waist, and he