Securing Avery, page 13
The very first day he’d been assigned to this godforsaken place, he’d been patrolling the nearby town, and he met a man who spoke very good English. While chatting, the man had mentioned the lack of a hospital in the area, the fact that there was nowhere to go for the locals when they were sick or hurt. That conversation had given Scott the opening to ask if people had access to painkillers when they were injured.
His new friend had turned out to be a goldmine.
He’d been supplying Scott with his much-needed pills ever since.
One time, when he’d been desperate and out of money, he’d brought the man one of the old bulletproof vests the shore patrol wore while on duty. That had obviously gotten the man thinking…and before Scott knew it, he was sharing information about the activities on the base.
Soon, he’d graduated from trading MREs and old clothes and equipment, to giving the man more and more details about the operation of the base, including when and where supplies would arrive.
When the man had offered him a million US dollars for information on the exact route, timing, and the number of personnel who would be accompanying an upcoming ammunitions convoy, Scott hadn’t thought twice.
He’d worked his ass off for his country, and what had it gotten him? A demotion and a trip to this hellhole as punishment over a bunch of dogs.
Well, fuck everyone.
The problem was, that bitch nurse had seen him talking with his contact in the village.
Scott had done everything right, had made sure no one suspected anything—and he’d be damned if she would fuck up his payday.
He’d made up a bullshit story and a contractor on base helped him set up an account in Abu Dhabi. After he’d given up the details about the weapons convoy, money was transferred into that account, where it was safely hidden from authorities if Scott was ever suspected in the convoy attack.
The navy nurse was supposed to be killed quickly, and what he’d done would never be discovered. It was the perfect setup, as the clinic she worked in was along the convoy’s route.
But his contact had changed the plan. The asshole had kidnapped her instead.
A team of Navy SEALs had shown up to rescue the nurse, and now she was here, on base. Being guarded by the same SEALs.
If there was anyone he hated more than his commanding officers and the asshole judges who’d demoted him, it was the SEALs. They all thought they were God’s gift to women, that they were indestructible.
And if that wasn’t enough, he’d heard a rumor back in California that it was a team of SEALs who’d assisted the local cops in the raid on the dogfight where Scott had been arrested.
He knew he’d never be able to get to the nurse before she left the country. Not now. The only consolation was that he wasn’t already in the brig. That had to mean she hadn’t identified him…yet.
All he had to do was stay out of her way while she was at the base.
He was scheduled to go home in three weeks. Once he got back to California, he’d find her and make sure she kept her mouth shut…one way or another.
Scott also knew he couldn’t transfer the money into his stateside account now. Not while there was a chance NCIS would be checking for any out-of-the-ordinary transactions from anyone who was stationed at the base.
He just had to hope and pray that she didn’t figure out who he was before he could get home and do the job his Afghani dealer hadn’t. He’d have his money one way or another.
Leaning over the side of his cot, Scott grabbed the bottle of aspirin he kept in his duffle bag, which hid his illegal stash of pills. He shook out two codeine tablets, wincing at how fast he was going through his latest acquisition. He swallowed them down with a large chug of water; he couldn’t wait until he was back home, and could crush them up and smoke or inject them again. The high was faster and seemed to last longer that way, but he didn’t have the privacy he needed here. He was always surrounded by others. It grated on his nerves.
Three weeks. Then he’d be home…and could silence the fucking nurse once and for all and get on with his life.
Chapter Eleven
The hot water stung as it rained down on Avery’s battered and bruised body. There wasn’t a full-length mirror in the bathroom, but even without it, she knew she had bruises in places she’d never experienced before.
She hadn’t let down her guard when she’d been out in the desert because she was always afraid an insurgent would leap out from behind a rock and start firing.
She’d been on a roller coaster ride of adrenaline rushes, and for the first time, she felt as if she could simply relax. Oh, Avery knew she wasn’t out of danger. Whoever had wanted to make sure she was dead was still out there. And as long as he went unidentified, her life was still on the line.
But for now, behind the dubious safety of the canvas walls, bathroom door and the flimsy shower curtain, she was able to think about all that had happened in the last two weeks.
She’d literally been buried alive. If it hadn’t been for that water dripping into the cave, and the desire of the men who’d held her to torture her rather than just kill her outright, she would’ve been dead by now. Cole and his team would’ve found her dead body. It was a sobering thought.
For the first time in forever, she really wanted her mom. Wanted to feel her arms around her, hear her saying everything would be all right.
Avery caught a sob before it escaped. No, she didn’t have time to break down. Gumby, Rocco, and Cole were in the other room waiting for her to finish up. Then she had to get some sleep before checking on Phantom, meeting with the Delta Force team and the rest of Cole’s team, and trying to identify the traitor.
Thrusting her face under the water, she closed her eyes and ignored the sting of the shower on her cuts. Pain meant she was alive.
She finished without breaking down and turned off the water. She’d never been that much of a girly-girl. She didn’t wear much makeup. Lip gloss to keep her lips from chapping, moisturizer with sunscreen to keep the number of freckles on her face to a minimum, and some mascara on special occasions. She took quick showers and didn’t worry overmuch about what was in fashion and what wasn’t. Most of the time she wore scrubs anyway, and when she was off work, it was either jeans or shorts.
She felt kind of numb as she pulled on a pair of navy-issue sweatpants and a gray T-shirt with the word NAVY across the front. She was clean, but somehow could still feel a film of dirt and dust on her skin. Avery knew it was her imagination, but it was a bit disconcerting.
She exited the small room. Rocco and Gumby were standing nearby, talking with their backs to the bathroom. She appreciated the attempt at privacy, but it honestly was unnecessary. She didn’t feel uncomfortable in the least around them for some reason.
“Everything all right?” Cole asked, approaching her.
Avery nodded. “Of course, why wouldn’t it be?” she asked.
He gave her a look she couldn’t interpret, then gestured toward a cot. “I took the liberty of getting your bunk ready. I hope that’s okay.”
The bed Cole had prepared for her wasn’t anything special. Just a cot with a cotton sheet draped across it and a blanket pulled back, ready for her to crawl inside.
“I didn’t think you’d want a sleeping bag. I mean, I just thought maybe it would be too restrictive. Not to mention, it would be hot. So I pilfered the sheet and blanket from the hospital. We can return them tomorrow when we go see Phantom.”
Once more, tears threatened, but Avery blinked them back. It was a sheet and blanket, for God’s sake, not a romantic picnic for two. But she couldn’t help thinking about the last fourteen or so nights she’d spent on the hard-packed ground, wondering if she’d ever see the base again, let alone a bed.
“It’s perfect. Thanks,” she managed to say.
Avery could tell she wasn’t fooling Cole, but he didn’t say anything as she sat on the cot, slipped her legs under the blanket, and lay down.
“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask,” Cole told her. “I’ll be over there by the door.”
Avery looked over to where he was gesturing, and saw that he’d pulled his cot right in front of the door, so if anyone came inside the tent, they’d run right into him. Knowing he was literally putting himself between her, and anyone who might try to get to her in the middle of the night, made Avery emotional all over again.
Then she took a look at the other two cots. Gumby and Rocco had put their cots against opposite walls of the tent, again, so if someone dared try to sneak in, they risked the chance of waking them up.
She hadn’t felt so safe in a very long time.
Closing her eyes, Avery lay on her back and did her best to control her emotions. She could hear people talking nearby and the occasional sound of vehicles starting. When she’d been in the cave, it had been so quiet, all she could hear was the rushing in her ears. Knowing there were others nearby, that she wasn’t back in that cave, was reassuring.
She heard a click, and opened her eyes to see that Cole had turned on a small penlight and had focused the beam straight up toward the top of the tent. The light was enough to illuminate the small area where she was sleeping.
“In case you wake up in the middle of the night and forget where you are,” Cole said softly, returning to his cot.
That did it.
The tears she’d been holding back spilled over her eyelids and fell down the sides of her face into her hair.
Avery thought she’d been silent, but obviously Cole had figured out she was crying. His cot creaked as he climbed out and came over to hers. Without a word, he sat next to her. Before she knew what he had in mind, he’d lain down and pulled her into his side. They were plastered together from hips to chest. It was a tight fit on the cot, but Avery couldn’t muster up the energy to care.
Burying her face in his chest, she cried. Cried because she’d been so scared. Cried because she’d been rescued. Cried remembering how good it felt to put something in her belly other than water. Cried remembering how and why Phantom had been hurt. And cried because it was possible her ordeal wasn’t over. That someone would still be determined to see her dead because of what she’d witnessed.
And throughout it all, Cole didn’t falter. He didn’t tell her to hush, or that it would be okay. He just held her, lightly stroking her back as she soaked his shirt with her tears. She should’ve been embarrassed or felt awkward about how they were pressed so close, but instead, all she felt was exhaustion.
After she’d wiped her face on his shirt and did her best to get her emotions under control, she tried to apologize.
“Shhhh. It’s better to let it all out than bottle up your emotions,” Cole told her.
“I…I’m okay now.”
“I know.”
Avery didn’t want to move, but wasn’t sure it was appropriate for her to use Cole as a human pillow. “You can go back to your bunk…I’m not going to fall apart again.”
“If this isn’t making you uncomfortable, I wouldn’t mind staying,” he said a little hesitantly.
“I’m not uncomfortable,” she told him.
“Good. And, Avery?”
“Yeah?”
“Gumby wasn’t lying. I do snore,” he said solemnly.
Avery chuckled. “You know, Phantom also warned me about that. Remember?”
He hesitated for a second, then nodded. “That’s right.”
“It’s fine, Cole,” she told him. “I wasn’t lying when I said I was a heavy sleeper. Besides…after spending all that time in the cave completely alone and with absolute silence, I think it’ll be a comfort to hear something besides my own breathing…even unconsciously.”
That got her a small squeeze. “We’re gonna find the bastard who was responsible for putting you there,” Cole vowed.
His reassurance made her feel better, even though she knew it would be on her to identify the American she’d seen in the village. “I know,” she said.
“And if I do get too loud, just nudge me. It’ll shut me up.”
Avery smiled and nodded against him.
“Avery?”
She wanted to tell him if he didn’t stop talking, she’d never get to sleep. But she simply said, “Yeah?”
“You’re incredible. I just wanted to make sure you knew that.”
She didn’t feel like she was incredible. Every muscle was sore, and she was way weaker than she wanted to be, and she knew it would take quite a while for her to gain back her strength and muscle tone. But hearing that from Cole was a balm for her soul.
“Thanks,” she whispered.
“Good night,” Cole said.
“Good night.”
Rex couldn’t remember when he’d slept better. He woke up once or twice in the night, only to find that he and Avery hadn’t moved. She was still snuggled up against his side, sleeping soundly. The beam from the small flashlight illuminated the tent, and he could see that all was well. Gumby and Rocco were both sleeping and nothing seemed to be disturbed.
It had been a long time since he’d slept with a woman, but he couldn’t remember feeling as content as he had the night before.
Thirty minutes ago, he’d slipped out of the bunk and had quickly showered and gotten dressed. He packed up what little he’d brought with him on the mission and was ready to head out of Afghanistan whenever the doctor said Phantom was ready.
Rocco and Gumby had left to relieve Ace and Bubba at Phantom’s bedside, and they would all meet once Avery was up and ready.
Reluctantly, Rex crouched by the side of the cot and gently shook her. She hadn’t had nightmares last night, that he could tell, but he knew the possibility was still there for them to haunt her in the future.
“Wake up, Avery,” he said gently.
One second she was in a deep sleep, and the next she was sitting straight up on the cot, looking around in terror.
“Easy. It’s okay. You’re safe,” Rex told her.
He saw her take a deep breath. Then she looked at him. “At least I didn’t try to fight you off after you woke me up this time. Where is everyone?”
“They’re at the hospital with Phantom. We’ll head over there when you’re ready.”
Throwing the blanket off, Avery swung her legs around and stood. “I’m ready,” she declared, then swayed on her feet.
“Whoa! Slow down,” Rex chided gently. “It’s gonna take a while for you to get back to normal.”
She looked frustrated for a second before she rallied. “I’m good,” she said again. “Why didn’t you wake me up earlier?”
“You were sleeping so soundly, you didn’t even twitch when I got out from under you, so I thought I’d let you sleep for as long as possible. It’s gonna be a stressful day.”
She sighed.
“Anyway, there’s no need to rush. Take your time getting ready. We’ll head over to the clinic to see Phantom, then talk with the base general and Trigger’s Delta Force team. They’re staying here for a while longer to see if they can find that asshole who spoke to you in English.”
“I’ll just be a second,” she reassured him as she hurried into the bathroom.
Five minutes later, Avery re-entered the main tent area.
“Done?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
She smiled. “Yeah, told you I would just be a second.”
Avery had changed out of her sweats and T-shirt into the tan camouflage uniform both the army and navy personnel wore in this part of the country. He knew she usually wore scrubs back in California while on duty.
“How’re your feet?”
“Good.”
“And your ribs?”
“Fine.”
Rex frowned. He figured she could probably have an ax sticking out of her head and she’d claim she was perfectly all right.
As if she could read his mind, Avery said, “Seriously, I’m good, Cole. I have a headache, but I figure that’s probably from reacclimating to food and everything. My ribs are sore, but nothing I can’t handle. I’ve got about a hundred bruises and cuts all over myself, but I’m alive, standing here after a good night’s sleep, and not buried underneath a huge mountain or being tortured for absolutely no reason at all. I’m. Fine.”
“If you start to feel pukish for any reason, you need to tell me.”
“Pukish?” Avery asked with a grin.
“Yeah, off. Weird. Sick. Uneasy. Pukish.”
“Got it. I will,” she said.
Rex much preferred to see her smiling than frowning or stressed. Unfortunately, he knew the meetings they had to have today would mean he wouldn’t see her grin again for a while.
“Should I bring my bag with me, or leave it?” she asked.
“Leave it here,” Rex said. “Someone will come over and grab all our stuff before we leave.”
They stopped by the chow hall to grab a quick breakfast. As much as Avery wanted to see Phantom, Rex knew she needed to eat something. It would be a while before he stopped feeling as if he needed to feed her every time she turned around.
After eating, they headed out of the mess tent and instinctively, Rex stepped closer to Avery as they headed for the clinic. He hated that he didn’t know who the traitor was. It could be that army private watching them while he was smoking outside a residential tent to their right. Or it could be one of the cooks from the chow tent. Or the naval officer who held open the door to the clinic for them. It wasn’t a good feeling not knowing who the enemy was.
They walked down the hall toward Phantom’s room and, to Rex’s surprise and pleasure, his teammate was awake and alert when they entered.
“Hey!” Avery said happily.
“Get over here,” Phantom growled.
Blinking at his friend’s aggressive tone, Rex followed close behind Avery.
The second she reached the side of the bed, Phantom grabbed her hand and pulled her down to him. His arms went around Avery, and he hugged her tightly.
“Thank you,” Phantom said gruffly into her ear.
Avery pulled back a bit and propped herself up with her hands on his shoulders. “You’re welcome,” she said. “Have you had breakfast? How are you feeling? Have they gotten you up and out of bed? How’s your urine output?”
