WAR: Disruption (36 page)

Once she was done eating, Emily changed his bandages. He’d been right, the stitches had broken open, so she used the last of their clotting gauze to stop the bleeding. Leaning back against the seat after he’d been patched up, Max rested for a long moment. Then he indicated for Emily to pass him the sat phone. “There’s a break in the trees behind us, so I should be able to get reception. Let me check in with Kris. See if he can send a team to take over.”

Emily shook her head. “Kristoff isn’t going to be able to help. Not right away.” She chewed on her bottom lip a moment, then explained why Kris couldn’t send backup.

Max shrugged off his disappointment. “I’ll still call him. Give him an update. See if he has any idea when the extraction team might be available. Then we’ll keep an eye on the buyer and Dietrich and do our best to stop them from completing the deal.”

Emily glanced at the phone in her hand. “Uh-oh. The battery’s dead. Sorry. I was on the phone a lot with Kristoff and Wil planning your rescue. I must have used up all the juice.” She twisted so she could access her rucksack in the back seat. “I think you put the car charger in my pack, right?”

“Yeah.” Figured Kris would be out of touch.

Emily grunted in satisfaction. “Found it.” She settled back in her seat, then plugged the charger into the power outlet.

“So,” Max said. “Did you say that
Wil
guided you on how to poison the water supply? How’d you end up talking to him? Just how pissed was he?”

Instead of answering, Emily’s face crumpled. “God, Max, I’ve been worried sick about you. I saw them carry you out on that stretcher and I thought… I thought…”

Tears filled her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said, sniffling.

“Shh. It’s all right, sweetheart.” Max reached for her. She snuggled against him. Yes. This is where he wanted her. Safe in his arms again.

He pressed his cheek to her hair. “I told you not to come after me. Why didn’t you listen?”

“Are you nuts?” She pulled back, her eyes shooting sparks. “I love you. I’d never abandon you!”

Her fierce loyalty broke something open deep inside of him. Hot, burning joy welled up and obliterated all his doubts and fears. He kissed her passionately, trying to express everything he couldn’t put into words.

God, he’d missed her so much. Knowing she was safe was the only thing that had kept him from losing his mind. Having her with him now, her mouth opening to welcome him inside, felt like coming home. He took the kiss deeper, needing to taste all of her. Wishing he could absorb her into his skin so he’d always have her with him.

A loud clap of thunder startled them apart. Emily gave a shaky laugh, but he could see how tense she was by the rigidity of her shoulders. “It’s almost over,” he said. “Hang in there just a little longer, hon.”

Sighing, Emily stared out the windshield. The corner of her mouth curled down. “I’m so tired and hungry.”

The dejection in her voice broke his heart.

“I was really looking forward to getting out of the jungle.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Sleeping on a real bed. Taking a hot shower and eating some onigiri.”

“I promise, once we’re out of here I’ll buy you all the rice balls you want. And we will get out of here. No matter what.”

She just gave a half-hearted shrug.

“C’mon, don’t lose that kickass spirit now. I know you’re scared and exhausted, but you’re doing a fantastic job. Honestly, I don’t know many civilians who would have held up as well as you have.”

 
He tilted her face toward him and looked into her eyes. He still didn’t understand why she had such a deep-seated belief that she wasn’t capable outside the dance world. “When I look at you, I see a woman who has a core of inner strength that allows her to keep going even when she’d rather lie down and give up.” He reinforced his words by taking his still damp sleeve and cleaning dirt off a small portion of her face, then placing a kiss on the cleaned area. “I see a woman confident enough, and loyal enough, to take on an entire camp full of professional soldiers in order to rescue me.” Another section of skin revealed. Another kiss.

Emily’s eyes remained on his, her expression so intent, he couldn’t tear his gaze away. “I see a woman who adapts. Who has kept her sense of humor. Who knuckles down and does what she needs to do without complaint.” With her face clean, he cupped her cheeks in his palms. “I see the woman I love.”

He took her mouth in a kiss that he intended to keep tender. But once she opened her lips and he delved inside, he couldn’t stop the kiss from turning carnal. He groaned. “God, I want—”

Lightning flashed, turning the world outside the Hummer silver. Emily squeaked and pulled back.

Max gave a rueful laugh and rolled his eyes to the heavens. “Okay,” he muttered. “I get the point. Stay focused.”

“Sorry,” she murmured. “I’m a little on edge.”

“That’s okay. Tell me more about how you found me and what you did to the water supply.”

As she talked, Max’s respect for her grew. She’d handled herself as well as any soldier.

“Do you think Ziegler will bring his men and try to rescue Dietrich?” she asked.

“No. Ziegler’s dead. Dietrich killed him.”

“What?” She swiveled her head to stare at him.

“Yep. Shocked the hell out of me, too. But Dietrich was angry that Ziegler continued to disobey his orders. So he shot Ziegler right in front of me.”

“Oh. Well. Good riddance. Too bad I didn’t get a chance to do it myself.”

He laughed. “I have to agree with you on that, but did you hear what you said? You’ve become bloodthirsty, sweetheart.”

She stuck her chin up. “He hurt you.”

“Yes, he did. But I survived. Thanks to you.” He kissed her. “You’ve got the heart of a warrior, Em. But it’s much better that you don’t have his death on your conscience. That’s a line I hope you never have to cross. I like you just the way you are.”

She blushed and gave an embarrassed shrug.

“Uh-uh. Don’t ever hide from me.” He kissed her again, letting his mouth express the depth of his love and his pride in her.

When they broke apart, she’d lost that embarrassed look. She cleared her throat. “So. Ah… Now what?”

“Now you crawl into the back and sleep. I’ll stand guard.” He glanced at the dashboard. Almost forty minutes had passed since she’d returned from her sneak and peek. “Once the thunder stops, I’ll head out again.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to take first watch? After all, you were starved and dehydrated. Plus, you’re hurting again.”

He cupped her cheek in his hand. “No. You’re exhausted. Have you gotten any sleep since I last saw you?”

She shrugged and glanced away. “A little. Sleeping in a tree while it’s raining isn’t particularly restful. Besides, I was too scared.”

He pressed a soft kiss to her temple. “Which is why you’re going to sleep now. I’ve been unconscious or otherwise lying down for most of the past day. Between the treatment from Dietrich’s doctor and you fixing me up tonight, my injuries aren’t hurting enough to distract me.”

Emily made a strangled sound.

“What?”

“I couldn’t figure out why the doctor was bathing you and dressing your wounds. I thought maybe he was preparing you for some bizarre religious ritual à la Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

“Nah. Dietrich just has odd views on hospitality. Plus—” No, better not to tell her that part.

But Emily had caught his self-censorship and leveled a look at him. “Plus what?”

He shrugged, but she punched him in the shoulder. “After all I’ve been through, the least I deserve is a little honesty, Max Lansing.”

“Oh, ouch.” He mock winced and rubbed his shoulder. Carefully watching her reaction, he explained, “Dietrich was going to turn me over to his buyer.”

Emily’s brow furrowed. “So what… That he could torture you?”

“Er…” Sometimes he forgot how little exposure she’d had to the darker realities of this part of the world. “No. So he could sell me into the…ah…labor or sex markets.”

“What?”

“The rebels have been selling foreigners and prominent West African officials who oppose them into slavery. Short of death, they find the humiliation of being a slave to be a fitting punishment for not supporting their cause.”

“That’s…”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Well, I have you now and I’m not letting Dietrich or the buyer get their hands on you.” Emily leaned over and gave him a quick kiss. “And I can take my turn at watch. You need rest in order to heal.”

He shook his head. “You’re our driver and scout. Our food and water gatherer. You need to be sharp. As well-rested as possible.” And he needed to feel useful, if just in a small way.

She studied him a moment, before nodding. “Okay. Thank you.” She gave him a soft kiss, then crawled into the back.

Damn, but he loved this woman.

THREE HOURS AFTER he’d started observation, with the rain gone and a half moon peeking out from behind the clouds, Max shifted position on the thick, low-hanging branch of a tree just off the road. Headlights appeared as pinpricks to his left, then gradually increased in size to reveal a convoy of two black Land Rovers and two black Hummers.

As the vehicles pulled into the buyer’s camp, guards exited the tents, weapons ready. The men who climbed out of the vehicles all wore Dietrich’s black uniforms with the small black-and-white logo on their pockets. Max expected a fight, but instead, the buyer’s men greeted Dietrich’s men politely. At a gesture from one of the buyer’s men, Johann ducked into the tent holding his boss. Other guards began unloading materials from the Land Rovers. Several began erecting a new tent.

The buyer’s men watched the proceedings for a few minutes, then retreated into their own tents, leaving only two guards to keep an eye on the newcomers.

Max didn’t spot anything that looked like a second briefcase. Instead, Dietrich’s men transferred food, clothing, and furnishings from the vehicles. One guard set up a portable shower near the edge of the jungle and it wasn’t long before Johann and another man escorted Dietrich to the bathing area. Other men began cooking a meal.

Max rolled his eyes. Ah… All the comforts of home.

Two hours later, the camp had once again settled into quiet.

Max shifted position. Damn, but this spot was uncomfortable. His butt was numb. He would have preferred to lie on his stomach, but his wounded leg couldn’t tolerate the pressure. He had a hell of a lot of respect for Emily being able to stay in a tree for hours while she’d watched Dietrich’s camp.

He was itchy to take action. Any action.

Yeah, okay, so patience still wasn’t one of his virtues.

God, he couldn’t wait until his leg was healed and he could walk on his own.
If you can walk again without a limp,
a niggling voice warned.

Nope. He refused to go there. Refused to give life to the doubts that whispered his wound had taken so much abuse he’d done permanent damage to his leg. Because he fully intended to hold Emily in his arms and dance with her at their wedding.

Whoa. Wedding?

He glanced back at the Hummer. He’d never thought about a long-term relationship, never mind marriage, before. Considering the type of work he did, it had seemed unfair to burden a woman with his extended absences and his inability to tell her where he was going or when he’d be back. Besides, Emily didn’t even know what she wanted to do with her life. But the same voice that warned him about his leg also insisted that he’d be a fool to let her go. That coming home to Emily was something worth fighting for.

It was the first time in months he’d wanted something beyond revenge and basic survival.

So, yeah. Wedding. Not that there was any rush, or anything. He had time to get used to the idea himself. Then to convince Emily that a life with him wouldn’t be so bad.

That she wouldn’t have to prop him up forever.

Day Twelve

“EMILY. EMILY, C’MON sweetheart, you’ve got to wake up.”

Emily moaned and slapped at the hand that was shaking her shoulder. “Just fell asleep,” she mumbled. “Go ‘way.”

“Uh, no, you’ve been asleep for hours. It’s dawn and the bad guys are awake and getting ready to head out. I need you alert and ready to follow them.”

She opened her eyes and glared at Max. “Are you serious?”

“Absolutely.”

Grumbling under her breath, she sat up. She checked her watch and saw that it was six in the morning. She’d actually slept for almost ten hours. “All right, I’m up.” She slipped out of the cargo compartment. “How much time do we have?”

Max had retreated a few hundred yards into the jungle, where she could just barely see him watching the activity through the binoculars. “Can’t say for sure. Probably at least fifteen minutes. They’re finishing up breakfast.”

“Okay.” She did a few quick stretches and pliés to wake herself up, then popped a handful of groundnuts into her mouth and snagged one of the last two bananas. They were almost out of food again.

While she waited for Max’s signal to start the Hummer, Emily thought about what he’d said yesterday about her strength. The warm glow from his praise still filled her, yet at the same time, a tiny part of her refused to let go of the worry. What good would being adaptable in the jungle do her once she was back in the States? Yes, she’d discovered that she had the strength to carry on despite overwhelming odds, but the only thing she’d ever wanted to do was dance professionally. Not teach. Lacking another consuming passion, she still didn’t know what she would do with her life. Maybe photography would continue to interest her once she got home, maybe not. At this point it just made her sick to her stomach that there was so much misery to document.

She sighed. Or maybe she was feeling a bit despondent because no matter what progress she and Max made, there was always one more obstacle to overcome. More injuries. More pain. More fear.

She rolled her eyes and squashed her pity party. She needed to focus on the job at hand. Stopping the transfer of the second weapon.

Right. Because she and Max were such effective superheroes.