Whispers in the Dark (KGI #4)(17)

Shea, are you still with me?

Nathan’s worried voice cut through the anxiety she felt for her sister. She sucked in a fortifying breath and focused all her attention back on Nathan.

I’m here. Get Swanson up and get moving. We’ve already wasted too much time.

Nathan reached down, pulled Swanson to his feet and half dragged, half carried the other man farther into the trees.

“I can walk,” Swanson ground out. “I have no goddamn idea what went on back there, but I can make it. Let’s get the f**k out of here.”

Swanson gripped a handgun in one hand and a rifle in the other. He didn’t grimace when he walked and his step had quickened.

Shea breathed a sigh of relief and concentrated on helping Nathan.

They cut a path through a narrow gulch, and in some places it was so narrow that they had to turn sideways to edge through. Rocks cut into Nathan’s feet, but she shielded him from the pain. It was doubtful he even knew that the soles of his feet were dripping blood.

The terrain leveled out when the gulch opened up into a wider valley. The men kept to the edge, moving stealthily through the brush.

Just before they could slip into another dense path of trees, the whine of a bullet reached Shea’s ears and pain exploded through Nathan’s leg.

He stumbled and went down.

Oh God, oh God. He’d been shot.

Without thinking, she used every bit of her flagging strength to draw the pain. Agony pulsed down her thigh and blood seeped into the material of her pants.

She flooded him with hope, determination. She took away the pain, gritting her teeth against the urge to scream out as fire coursed through her veins.

Get up! You’re okay, Nathan. Keep going.

This time it was Swanson who reached down and pulled Nathan to his feet.

Shea. Thank you.

She closed her eyes as she began the slow slide into oblivion. She had to hold on. She had to keep him strong. She couldn’t falter. Not now. She’d made him a promise not to leave him until he was safe. She wouldn’t fail.

They charged into the wooded area and then both men took cover behind a tree as they pulled out their guns.

Shea sensed Nathan’s grim determination that they wouldn’t take him alive under any circumstances. He would die fighting them and take as many of the bastards with him as he could.

Blood ran more freely down her leg and the pain had become unbearable. She was further weakened by the fact that not only was she shouldering his pain, but she was also shielding him from picking up on her agony.

Her head pounded. Nausea rose in her throat and the walls of her hotel room spun in rapid circles.

Shea, my God. You have to stop this.

Get the hell away from me, Grace. You’re distracting me.

At once warmth and strength poured into Shea, bolstering her when she so badly needed the reinforcement.

Don’t bother trying to hold our link. I’ll do what I can. Focus on your guy. I need to stop your bleeding.

Shea didn’t argue. She didn’t have the strength and she couldn’t afford even the tiniest slip where Nathan was concerned.

“Make your shots count, Swanny. When we run through this ammo, we’re SOL.”

Swanson nodded, a fierce scowl etched across his face. “Bring it on, motherf*ckers.”

More bullets slapped the trees and ground around them. Nathan ducked behind the broad tree and looked over at Swanson. “They’re still a good distance away. Don’t shoot until you’re sure you’ve got a good shot.”

Swanson nodded.

The valley went quiet. Wind whistled eerily through the trees. Leaves rustled. Chills raced down Shea’s arms. She was Nathan’s only barrier to the cold. His only protection from pain that should have had him unconscious on the ground.

In the distance, the bastards crept forward, drawing closer to Nathan’s position. He held a finger up to tell Swanson to hold off.

“Wait,” he mouthed.

Swanson nodded and tightened his grip around the rifle.

They were about four hundred yards away when the world exploded in a series of gunfire. Several of the men who’d been pursuing Nathan and Swanson hit the ground. Others broke and ran, shooting wildly left and right, completely away from where Nathan and Swanson stood.

“What the f**k?” Swanson demanded.

As Nathan stared, mystified, the valley swarmed with soldiers. Holy f**king hell. American goddamn soldiers.

His heart raced and damn near beat out of his chest.

“Oh my God,” Swanson breathed. “They’ve come for us.”

CHAPTER 8

NATHAN had never been so happy to see someone in his entire life. It was all he could do not to run out, waving his arms, but he remained in his position and told Swanny to do the same.

It was clear by the number of Tangos hitting the ground that snipers were picking them off on either side. What was left was taking heavy fire from the swarm of soldiers coming at them from all sides.

A few Tangos got close enough for Nathan and Swanson to squeeze off shots. In a matter of minutes, what few remained turned tail and hauled ass back the way they’d come.

Swanson let out a whoop and hoisted his rifle into the air.

Jubilation filled Nathan as well. We did it, Shea!

Nathan waited for the reassuring response from Shea but she was silent. Dread gripped him until finally he felt her stir and warmth traveled through his body again.