Page 18 of Protecting Josie
“I’m good!” Kevlar said.
“Alive!” Tate replied. “You and the girl?”
“Same,” Blink said. He felt little puffs of air on his neck, so he knew Spirit was breathing.
“Shit, man, that was intense,” the copilot said.
Blink focused and saw they were all still sitting in the cockpit of the MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Behind him was nothing but open air. To his right, the door of the chopper was completely missing and above him, he saw sky.
“Good to see you, bro,” Tate said, turning around with a small smirk. “But I mean, maybe we could’ve met over a beer at a bar or something instead?”
Blink couldn’t stop the smile that spread over his lips. “Can’t help but be in the middle of a clusterfuck, can you?” he asked his twin.
“Heard you needed a ride, who was I to turn that down?” Tate said.
“If you’re done with your brotherly reunion, Casper, I’m thinking we need to get the hell out of here. We left a trail that tangos onbothsides of the border will be able to follow,” the copilot said. “We need to be out of here when they arrive.”
“Bro, this is Pyro, my copilot,” Tate said.
Blink nodded at the other man. “This is Kevlar, my team leader,” he said, introducing Kevlar to the pilots. “Where are we?”
“Mountains between Iraq and Iran. I tried to get us to the desert, but steering was fucked by that RPG. This was as good as I could get,” his brother explained.
“Any landing you walk away from is a perfect landing,” Kevlar told him.
“Tell that to Laryn. She’s gonna be pissed I crashed her baby.”
Blink eyed him. “Laryn?”
“She’s a mechanic on the naval carrier working as a special contractor to the Army for the Night Stalkers who was in the area when we got word you needed a lift out of Iran,” Pyro answered. “You’re lucky we were around. The Navy asked for us to join them onboard…for a mission I can’t talk about, of course. Laryn always warns Casper that if he brings this beauty back with even a scratch, he’ll answer to her,” Pyro said.
Blink nodded, then returned his attention to Spirit with afrown. She hadn’t stirred against him. He unclipped the harness then quickly released the ropes he’d used to secure her to him for their ride into the chopper. He scooted forward in his seat. The cockpit was sitting at an angle, and he marveled anew at the fact that they were all still alive. He always knew his brother was a damn good pilot, had to be in order to be a Night Stalker, one of the best of the best as far as helicopter pilots went in the Army, but this certainly proved it.
Kevlar helped him move so he didn’t have to let go of Spirit, and every muscle in his body screamed as he scooted to the edge of the chopper and stepped outside with Spirit still limp in his arms. He walked a few steps away from the smoldering chopper and went to his knees.
“Spirit?” he asked, as he lay her down on her back on the rocky ground.
“Who is she?” Tate asked, crouching beside him.
“No clue,” Blink said. “She was in the cell next to mine.” He glanced briefly at his twin. “Look at her. She’s been starved. The only reason she was still alive was because there was a fucking leak in the corner of her cell, where she was able to collect water. And she gave it to me. She had this little tin cup, and it filled up every couple of days. And after a torture session, she gave that precious water tome. She hasn’t spoken a single word. I have no idea what her name is, where she’s from, or anything about her…but she’smine.”
Blink’s words were fierce and guttural. What he was saying made no sense, but he didn’t care. He was in awe of this woman. She’d done everything he’d asked of her and more. She had no reason to trust him, and yet she had anyway.She’d been thrown away, forgotten, and somehow she’d survived. Her spirit still shone as bright as the fucking sun.
“Easy, Blink,” Kevlar said, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Blink took a deep breath. Getting emotional and worked up wouldn’t do Spirit any good. He needed to stay calm. Do what needed to be done.
Tate nodded. “Take your woman over there while Pyro and I do what we need to do. We’ll get the emergency packs and then we’ll be on our way.”
“I’ll help,” Kevlar said without hesitation.
Blink should’ve known his brother wouldn’t tell him he was being ridiculous. They were twins; Tate knew him better than anyone in the entire world.
“Tate,” he said when his brother started to walk away.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.” Blink didn’t know what he was thanking his brother for. Coming to get him. Landing the disabled chopper. Not telling him that he was ridiculous for claiming a woman he didn’t even know by name.
