Page 21 of Protecting Josie
“Time to go!” Tate exclaimed, as he jogged toward them with Pyro and Kevlar at his heels. “That’s gonna be a bullseye for every member of the Taliban and other bad guys for miles.They’ll be pissing themselves to get here to see what they can find. She good?”
“She’s good,” Blink said. “And she can hear you just fine. Don’t talk about her as if she’s not standing in front of you.”
“Sorry,” Tate apologized immediately. “You got a name?” he asked Spirit.
She stared back at him without saying a word.
“She doesn’t talk,” Blink reminded his brother. “Not with words.”
To his credit, Tate merely nodded. “Got it. The way I figure it, we need to move southwest. Make sure we don’t accidentally cross into Iran. I’m guessing you’ve both had enough of their hospitality.”
Blink snorted in response.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. It won’t be easy, but there should be plenty of places to hole up if we need to. This part of Iraq is inhabited, but we can avoid any outposts. If you need a break,” Tate said, looking at Spirit, “let us know. This isn’t a matter of racing to any particular point. We just need to keep moving and watch our six for tangos. We’ll be picked up as fast as the hands of diplomacy can manage.”
Blink nodded. He understood what his brother was saying. No one would be happy with the events that had transpired. A US soldier being taken captive, then being shot down while not in Iranian airspace, then a Night Stalker helicopter crashing in Iraq. And now with both Army and Navy personnel in danger, all the stops would be pulled out to get them home safely. It was only a matter of time before someone came for them.
They just had to stay alive until then.
Pyro led them as they walked away from the crash. Looking back, Blink shook his head in amazement. If he was a cat, he’d definitely used up a few of his nine lives, but he felt as if he had the spirits of his former teammates looking after him. And he knew without a doubt that hiscurrentteam was probably already seeking permission to come after him once more.
As long as they didn’t run into any pockets of Taliban fighters—who would gladly kill a few Americans dumb enough to encroach on their territory—they’d be fine.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Josie felt like she was dying. She felt much better wearing the T-shirt, boxers, and socks that Nate had given her, but she still felt entirely too naked. And even though Nate had given her a whole canteen of water to drink all by herself—and she’d drank until the water sloshed around in her empty stomach—she still felt as though every muscle in her body was on the verge of failure.
She’d also nibbled on some beef jerky. It was extremely salty and now sat like an uncomfortable lump in her belly, but she was glad to have it all the same. Just that tiny bit was more food than she’d had in her stomach in weeks.
But it was taking all her concentration to put one foot in front of the other. The terrain they were walking through was rocky, hilly, and on top of it all,hot. Extremely hot. It felt as if every drop of water she drank was coming out her pores in the form of sweat.
Josie wanted to sit down and refuse to move another inch.She wanted a real pair of hiking boots, that hamburger Nate had promised, and an hour-long shower. But since none of those things were going to materialize anytime soon, she just kept walking. Nate was behind her, and she kept her gaze on his brother’s boots in front of her. She stepped where he stepped and did her best to keep her misery from the men, to avoid being a burden.
When Nate told her that Tate was his twin, she was surprised for a moment. In her eyes, they didn’t look alike at all. Oh, she could see the resemblance. The obvious similarities in their facial features. She figured they probably had fun playing tricks on people when they were younger, pretending to be each other. Maybe it was because she’d spent so much time memorizing Nate’s features, but she had no problem telling them apart.
Nate’s eyes had a little more gold to them than Tate’s. His ears were a touch more pointed, his hair a little longer, his beard definitely bushier. Josie guessed if they both shaved, it might be harder to tell them apart.
But it was more than just looks. With Nate, she felt as if she were…home. It was a ridiculous thought. She and this man were like ships passing in the night. They were sharing this intense experience, and when they were safe and back in the United States, they’d each go back to their own lives.
The problem with that was, Josie didn’twantto go back to her life. After weeks of captivity, she wasn’t the person she used to be. Just days ago, she would’ve said she was more frightened. Unsure of herself. Weaker. But around Nate, she feltstronger. As if she wasn’t a shell of the woman she’d been before making the impulsive decision to fly to Kuwait.
Honestly, she wasn’t surewhoshe was anymore.
And thatreallyscared the crap out of her.
But watching Nate walk away? That thought terrified her. He’d been her rock. Her salvation. She supposed she had some sort of psychological connection to her savior that a therapist would tell her will fade with time. But Josie didn’t think so. She was drawn to him in a way she’d never felt before. And not just because he was keeping her safe.
When Nate seemed surprised that she didn’t think he and his brother looked alike, Josie wished so badly that she could tell him why. Explain that something about him called to something deep insideher. That she’d know him in a room full of red-haired, freckle-faced men even if she was blindfolded.
“I’m going to need to stop soon,” Nate said from behind her.
Looking over her shoulder, Josie glanced at the man she couldn’t stop thinking about. He looked…not good. Looked like she felt. He was pale, the freckles on his face standing out even more than they had before, and he was limping.
“Roger. Pyro, find us a place to stop for the night,” Tate said.
Josie turned and stepped to Nate’s side, putting her arm around his waist. She wasn’t going to be much help if he suddenly keeled over, but she wanted him to know she was there for him, just as he’d been for her.
“Blink?” Kevlar asked, coming up to his other side. He’d been bringing up the rear, guarding them from behind.
