Nick caught a flash of movement out of the corner of his left eye.
Something moved on the ground beside them.
The pilot?
Ngozi’s gaze shifted momentarily. Nick’s instinct to survive, paired with years of military training, took over. He stepped toward Ngozi, moving out of the line of fire, then struck hard above the man’s wrists, knocking away his weapon before pinning the man to the ground.
The dead pilot tossed him a pair of handcuffs. “Corporal Sam Mills, U.S. Marines, sir.”
“Nick Gilbert, but I guess you already knew that.” Nick shoved his knee into Ngozi’s back and tightened his grip. “I thought you were dead.”
Mills pulled up the bottom of his shirt. “Thanks to a bulletproof vest and the fact that you’ve got lightening reflexes, I’m not.”
Nick locked the cuffs, then jerked Ngozi to his feet, still dealing with the rush of adrenalin at almost getting shot. “And this was your plan?”
With a hand still gripping his chest, Mills nodded, then managed to stand. “Sort of.”
“Sort of? He shot you point blank.”
“I’d actually hoped I wouldn’t need the vest.” Mills pulled out the embedded bullet. The guy’d be sore for days. “And you’re right: this was too close a call. But once I realized his intention was to kill us both, I decided playing dead might be our only way out.”
“It was a very bad plan.” Nick frowned. He was getting tired of close calls. “But at least you’re alive.”
“At least we’re both alive.”
“So what — ”
Nick stopped midsentence. Two dozen uniformed soldiers emerged from the forest, guns cocked and looking ready for a fight.
You’ve got to be kidding.
“You’re late, guys.” Mills shouted at the men, then turned back to Nick. “Don’t worry. These are the good guys. The ambush was supposed to be before I even got out of the helo, but I was worried that might alert your rebel friend that something was off.”
“You did good, Corporal.” Fatigue washed over Nick. “What are the rest of your orders?”
“We’re to head for the rebel base camp to provide any necessary backup.”
“Then let’s get out of here.”
Fifteen minutes later, the camp came into view. Mills landed the helo beside a second bird and a line of Humvees and army trucks. From the looks of things, the radio report they’d received en route was correct and the camp had already been secured by the RD army and a handful of U.S. Marines.
Nick exited the helo and entered the compound. Finding Paige was first on his priority list. Rebels lay face down in the dirt, hands cuffed behind them, legs spread. Against the cinder-block wall lay a row of bodies covered with sheets.
Gunfire had been exchanged. Where was she?
He rushed past a group of women and children, looking for whoever was in charge. Someone had set up a communications center on a rickety wooden table, a contrast to the hi-tech satellite phone and other communication equipment sitting on top of it.
“Nick?”
Nick turned around. Brandon stood there, a heavy fatigue registering in his eyes. “You leaving?”
“Yeah. We just got word that the surprise attack on the refugee camp was successful. The military is going to airlift Jodi from the camp, and I’ll meet her in the capital in a couple hours. I don’t think I’ve ever been so relieved in my life.”
“You should be. I know this trip has been a nightmare for you. Get back home, then take your wife down to some tropical locale in the Pacific for a couple weeks.”
Brandon laughed. “Knowing Jodi and her stubbornness, she’ll be begging to return so she can finally climb that mountain.” His smile faded. “Something like this can only happen once in a lifetime, right?”
“Let’s hope so.” Nick’s gaze scoured the compound beyond Brandon. “Have you seen Paige?”
“I think she was in the isolation hut when the rescue started.”
“Thanks.” Nick reached out and shook the man’s hand before heading toward the familiar hut.
He found her on the far side of the compound, tending to the wounds of one of the rebel’s wives. Relief flooded through him as he stopped to study Paige’s profile. The strip of dirt smudged on her cheekbone, her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, the mark of determination in her expression.
He stopped about ten feet from where she worked. “Paige?”
She looked up, the smile on her face all for him. She pressed her hands against her thighs, stood, and walked toward him. “Thank God you’re alive. I was so worried something happened to you.”
“Actually, I was worried about you.”
“This whole experience has been terrifying, but I’m okay.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and nestled her chin into his shoulder. She smelled like campfire, smoke, and disinfectant, and he was sure all she wanted was a hot shower and a safe place to sleep for the next week, but all he could think about was how her nearness teased his senses.
Boy, he could get used to this.
“Trust me, I’m very much alive.” He caught her gaze and grinned. The scene around him faded as he reached down and kissed her. He felt her respond, cautiously at first, then more intensely as the kiss deepened.
She took a step back after a moment, breathless, but still smiling. “My emotions are already so spun out of control, I’m not sure my heart can handle falling for such a handsome hero.”
He entwined her fingers with his, realizing that for his own heart, there was going to be no turning back. “We can take things slow.”
“I’d like that.” Her cheeks turned a rosy shade of pink as she looked up at him beneath her long lashes. “I just talked with someone from the RD military. The refugee camp has been secured along with this camp, plus Jonas and most of the key rebel leaders have been taken into custody.”
Maybe this nightmare really was over.
He cleared his throat and studied her expression, unsure of what her response was going to be. “I’ve been asked to return to Bogama for the next couple days. For security reasons, the embassy wants all foreigners evacuated until they are certain the situation is under control. I can get you to the capital in time for your flight out in the morning.”
“I . . . I’ve decided to stay.”
He wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly. “You’re staying?”
“The thought of leaving has been on the forefront of my mind ever since I arrived at the camp, but now that it’s time for me to go I realize that this is where I need to be right now.”
“You’re sure?”
“You sound as if you’re trying to talk me out of extending my stay — ”
“No.” He brushed his fingers across her hair. “There’s nothing I want more than for you to stay. I just . . . I just thought that you accomplished what you came for and were ready to leave. The cholera treatment center is up and running, the mortality rate has dropped almost to normal, you have the vaccines for the camp . . .”
“But there’s still so much left I can do. It’s taken me a long time to realize that while I might not be able to save them all, it’s worth the risk for the ones I can save.” He caught a new sense of peace in her expression. “The women and children in this camp have nothing now. We’re going to transport them to the refugee camp temporarily until something permanent can be arranged. Samson will be coming back to the camp with me in hopes he can find his family.”
He cupped her face with his hands and kissed her again, savoring the moment. “Then promise me you’ll be careful, because as soon as I’m finished, I’ll come find you.”
She smiled up at him and nodded. “I’ll be waiting.”