Loretta lay motionless on the dirty mattress that took up most of the floor space in what she’d come to regard as her cell. Curled in a ball, shoulders rounded, knees hitched up to her chin, and shivering with fever, she’d lost all concept of time. The days and hours merged into one. The last coherent memory of leaving her dingy prison had been early that morning when she’d been awakened and taken outside to relieve herself.
The rising sun had foretold the earliness of the hour as the armed guard had escorted her to the privy. The dawning of another day indicated another night had passed since she’d first been taken captive, and her hope of rescue dimmed.
She rolled over and groaned. A sour taste assaulted her mouth as she tried to swallow, but her throat was thick, and her teeth began chattering as another bout of chills wracked her aching body. When light spilled across her face as the door swung open, she screwed her eyes shut and rubbed her temple, her head throbbing with the brightness.
“Who is it?” The weak croak was barely recognizable as hers. Movement inside the cell prompted her to turn toward the light. “Who’s there?” she asked again as the room darkened. The only light now came from the gaps between the timber slats, but it was enough to make out the figure looming over her.
“Carlos?” As recognition dawned, anger flared and burned deep in her soul. “Come to gloat, have you?” Her sassy response lost momentum as she wheezed and lapsed into a coughing fit.
“Not quite the accommodation you’re used to, querida?”
“No, it’s not.” She sneered at the sound of the familiar voice. “I’m seriously considering complaining to management.” Her attempt at bravado was shaky at best, but her iron will would not allow this jerk the pleasure of intimidating her.
“You rich gringos make me sick, but look around, you are all alone.”
“Not for long, asshole.”
“Be careful who you call names; I will not tolerate your insolence.”
“You don’t scare me. My brother will come for me, and when he does it’s you who’ll be sorry and begging for mercy.”
“Do not delude yourself, little fool, no one is coming. Your friend Beth has the ransom and is being escorted here by one of our men as we speak. She is quite alone, I assure you. We had her watched for hours before Hernandez made contact, so you see, your life is in my hands.”
“How can you do this? We were friends, you kissed me and told me you cared.”
He leaned down closer to her and hissed. “How conceited you are. Did you seriously think that I would be interested in a stuck-up little whore like you?”
His words cut. Though it took much of her strength, she drew deep down on her resources and did something she’d never thought to do in her life. She gathered the phlegm in the back of her throat and with one almighty effort spat the offensive substance into Carlos’ face.
“Puta! You’ll pay for that.”
His reaction was swift. His hand lashed out and struck her hard across the cheek. Her head snapped back with the force and she saw stars, but it was worth it. “Drop dead, asshole.”
“Not before I give you what you’ve been begging for.”
That was confusing. She shook her head and blinked. Was he going to let her go?
She had her answer when he grabbed her shirt and tore it from top to bottom and then threw it aside. Her scream was hoarse. She made a fist and struck out, but in her weakened state she was no match for him. It didn’t deter her though, she kept lashing out with her arms and legs.
Carlos lunged at her, spitting profanity. Her feeble attempts at self-defense did not impact one iota, and he pushed them aside as if she were a small child. In a blind frenzy he clawed at her bra. The flimsy lace fabric disintegrated under his rough hands. When she tried to cover her nakedness, he pushed her back against the mattress.
She kicked out ineffectually and cried, “Stop, Carlos, don’t do this.” Her sobbing had no effect. Immune to her pleas, he wrenched down her panties.
“You’re going to get what’s coming to you, and when I’m done the rest of the men can take turns fucking you.” He spewed the filth like the foul creature he was.
She twisted and turned trying to knee him in the crotch, but he held her down easily, her strength was almost gone.
When she opened her mouth to scream, he taunted her. “Go ahead, there’s no one here who gives a shit.”
His knees forced her legs apart, but she bit down on his fingers, drawing blood. He jerked his hand free and cursed before slapping her again.
*
Hawk moved through the greenery like a ghost, silent and unseen, and it was with extreme caution he edged closer to the shack. He’d made the decision not to inform Zach of their suspicion until he was sure, and the anguished sounds emanating from inside signified Carlos was not alone.
He shot a quick look over his left shoulder before pushing the door open and stepping inside. What met his eyes set his blood to boil and fired his rage as sunlight fell across the man and girl struggling on the floor.
“Get off her, you fucking little maggot.”
The other man’s head whipped around, but before he could spring up, Hawk reefed him off the distressed girl and flung him against the wall with force.
His head split like a melon as it cracked against the timber, blood sprayed from the gaping wound like a fountain, but Carlos clambered to his feet and came at him like a runaway train.
Hawk readied himself for the assault. He would have liked to give the asshole the hiding he deserved, but there was no time to indulge in self-gratification, so instead, he whipped the concealed knife from his boot and with a double flick hand movement embedded the lethal blade into Carlos’ jugular without a glimmer of remorse.
Black eyes stretched wide. Shock, confusion, and finally disbelief crossed his face as the inevitability of his fate registered.
Hawk retrieved his weapon and wiped it on Carlos’ shirt before letting him crumple to the floor in a heap. Checkout. It was over in a nod. One minute the scumbag was attacking a defenseless girl, the next he was dead in a pool of his own blood.
Justice had been served.
His gaze swung to the girl cowering on the floor, with black hair and big blue eyes as round as saucers. He took two steps forward and then, dropping to his haunches, found himself looking straight into her pretty sapphire-colored eyes. Her terror was a visible thing. It was in her eyes, her face, the way she held herself tense. Thin arms hugged her body, dried blood caked her legs amid the dirt and grime.
When he stretched out his hand and she cringed and fell back, his gut tightened. “Don’t be afraid, Loretta,” he murmured, lowering his voice to a soothing cadence and giving her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “I’m Hawk, and I’m going to take you out of here.”
“Get back, stay away from me.”
“Easy, sugar, I’m not going to hurt you.” She’d whipped up her panties but was bare from the waist up, and while at any other time he’d have enjoyed the view, he was sensitive to her needs. He peeled his T-shirt over his head, ready to hand it over, but she blanched, misinterpreting his action.
“You’re no better than him. Get away from me or I’ll…”
“I’m a friend of Wolf’s.” Her attempt at bravado made him smile, and she may have been believable except for the fact that she shook like a tree in a storm. “I’m here to take you home.”
Her jaw dropped. Motionless, he waited for the few seconds it took for her brain to catch up.
“Really, you’re Zach’s friend?” It came out sounding somewhere between a gulp and a yelp.
“Yes, really. Now let’s get you covered up and out of here.” The shirt was still clutched in his hand and he pulled it over her head. “Arms up, sugar.”
The gentle command got no response. She sat immobile, frightened eyes locked on Carlos. Hawk didn’t have time to pussyfoot around, so picking up her hands he threaded them through the sleeves one at a time. “Did he rape you, sugar?” It was an ugly word for a despicable action, but the scumbag had been either just finishing or just about to start, and he had to know which.
“No. You killed him before he could.”
Thin shoulders jerked up and down as violent shudders took her, and tears rained down her face as the enormity of the last few minutes must have registered.
Shee-it. He’d grown-up in a family of women where PMS and tearful scenes were commonplace, and he’d learned to take it in his stride, but this girl’s tears cut him to the quick. His protective instincts kicked into overdrive, and he pulled her against his chest and soothed as he rubbed her back. “Shush, don’t cry, sugar. He was a worthless piece of shit not worthy of your tears. Now, come on, buck up, we’ve got to get you out of here.”
The convulsions slowed and she wiped the tear tracks with the pads of her fingers.
“Ready?” he asked.
When she nodded, he took her hand, and pulling her to her feet he moved toward the door and snuck a look out. He checked left and right, then pressed his hand to his throat mic. “I’ve got her, guys. We’re on the opposite side of the compound to you.”
Wolf’s response was clipped and immediate. “How is she? Do you need help?”
“Nah, she’s shaken but holding her own. We’re going to make a run for it now.”
“I owe you, buddy. But where’s Beth, is she with you?”
The fear in his friend’s voice hastened Hawk’s reassurance. “Relax, man, the cavalry’s arrived. I left her with her brothers. I’m taking Loretta there now.”
“Roger that.”
“Was that Zach?”
“Yep.” He turned from the doorway and faced the distraught girl cowering behind him like a frightened sparrow. “Listen up, sugar, the coast is clear, so we’re going to make a run for it. It’s not far, but can you make it on your own?”
If looks weren’t deceptive she’d collapse at any given moment, but she nodded and squeezed his hand.
“Good.” He transferred his gaze from Loretta back to their escape route.
“Stay right on my tail,” he instructed and made a beeline with her in tow into the jungle and back to where Beth and her brothers were waiting.
*
“I told you, I’m not budging until the others are back,” Beth repeated to her oldest brother for the third time. Nick was not used to her exercising her free will, and he threw up his arms in exasperation. But she was a Carmichael, and Carmichaels could be as stubborn as mules when the mood took them. And it took her now.
“I give up.” Nick crouched alongside Christian. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her,” he muttered, swatting a bug on the back of his neck.
Christian’s brow creased but he didn’t respond.
“Any sign of them?”
“Yep, he’s got her. They’re making their way here along the fringe.”
“Thank God.”
Beth edged closer and knelt alongside her brothers. “How does she look?”
“See for yourself.” Christian moved aside as Hawk broke through the foliage followed by a wan and disheveled Loretta.
Beth shot to her feet and wrapped Loretta in her arms. “Thank God you’re safe. I thought I’d never see you again! Did they hurt you, are you okay?” The words tumbled out between laughter and sobs.
“Let me…catch my breath.” Loretta wheezed and struggled to speak.
Nick took bottled water from his pack, unscrewed the lid and held it to Loretta’s lips. “Here, drink this.”
She took a sizeable gulp, then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “I can’t believe you’re here, Beth, and you guys too. I don’t deserve such good friends.” Tears spilled over her lashes, carving a path through the grime on her cheek.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself.” Christian patted her back as she began to cough.
“Yeah, now’s not the time for recriminations.” Nick was on his feet when Loretta’s coughing subsided. His urgency to get moving was a tangible thing. Beth, of course, was not about to be swayed. Zach and Havoc were still out there.
“Right, we’ve wasted enough time. On your feet, Beth, you too, Loretta.”
“Give her a minute,” Hawk countermanded as Loretta began coughing again.
Beth studied her face. Her usually bright eyes were dull and listless, beads of moisture glistened on her brow, and her breathing was harsh and rough. She was anything but fine.
Ignoring Nick’s bark, she took the bottle from him and held it to her friend’s mouth.
“Ta.”
“Easy does it, sweetie,” she advised as Loretta gulped the liquid, trickles running off her chin. Her throat must be very parched indeed to make her voice sound so raspy.
“Where’s Buchanan?” Nick addressed Hawk. “Does he know we’ve got his sister?
“Affirmative, they’re on their way.”
“Getting the women to safety is our priority, we can’t cool our heels waiting for them.”
*
“You’re right, Carmichael. I’ll make a head start with the girls, you two follow when the others arrive. Unless you guys can’t handle that.” It was a deliberate attack on their soldiering ability if not on their manhood, and the Carmichaels acted predictably. Sure, Hawk should have stayed with the Marine and sent the civilian with the women, but something prevented him from handing Loretta into another man’s care. Wolf would be the exception, and until then she was his responsibility. And wasn’t that weird, this savage protectiveness he felt toward her. Eerie, like their lives were connected in some strange way. It was crazy, but hell, he’d never killed for a woman before, so that must explain it.
“Don’t you worry about us, sunshine, either one of us is more than capable of covering your ass with one hand tied behind our back.”
“Glad to hear it, pal.” Hawk helped a wobbly Loretta to her feet. “Come on, sugar, let’s head for home.”
“You too, Sis, we won’t be far behind,” the Marine said when Beth failed to move.
“No, I’m waiting here with you guys.”
Hawk pivoted on the balls of his feet and snapped, “The hell you are. Now get on your feet and follow me, and before you say another word let me tell you, your man will paddle your ass and sit me on mine if you’re still here when he gets back, so move it.”
Christian and Nick exchanged bewildered glances, but hell, he wasn’t about to waste time cluing them in.
“He’s right, Sis, you need to go.” Christian hauled Beth to her feet.
“Stay safe, and as much as it gripes me to say it, do what he says.” Nick cocked his head in Hawk’s direction, and he responded with a single nod.
The seam of Beth’s mouth parted as she went to speak, but then clamped her lips tight. She must have thought better of it as she picked up her backpack instead. Good.
Likewise, he hoisted his kit onto his back, and then settled Jacinta comfortably into her usual spot. It was a bit of a trek back to the bridge, but he set them a brisk pace. He wanted to put as much distance between them and this place as possible.
Beth had linked her arm around Loretta’s waist, and together they plodded along. The return journey was quicker, or seemed so. He was beginning to feel complacent when Beth’s voice intruded.
“We need to stop.” Her words were followed by a burst of gunfire from behind that shattered the air. The guys’ cover had been blown.
“We can’t stop now, we have to push on!” he shouted as he spun back to face the women. At the sight of them he roared, “Fuck me.” The expletive slipped out over the sharp rat-a-tat-tat of weapons being discharged in the distance. He bunched his shoulders and lunged for the girls.
Beth was supporting Loretta’s weight, and she looked on the verge of collapse. The pallor of her skin was concerning as were her raspy breaths. He caught her under the arms and took her weight from Beth, what little there was of it. She was hot, and his T-shirt hung from her frame like a voluminous tent, and he was a blind fool not to have noticed before just how sick she was.
“Hawk, we have to do something, they’re shooting at them.”
“Yeah, but right now you need to get to the ravine, so pick up the pace, and I’ll take care of Loretta.”
“But, Hawk…”
“I said move, so move, damn it.”
Beth bolted like a scared rabbit and didn’t look back. Yeah, he’d been a bit harsh, but hell, he needed her to get a move on without giving him lip, and that girl was over-fond of arguing.
He turned his attention back to Loretta. “This won’t be comfortable, sugar, but we’ve got to get the hell out of here,” he told her as he swept her up in a fireman’s hold and took off at a trot.