“Here.” A woman’s soft voice was audible, and the guardian turned toward the voice before angling his body back to her.
“You’re safe,” he repeated. “I won’t let anyone hurt you. I have a shirt, and I’m going to help you put it on. That okay?”
She nodded jerkily, suddenly ice cold despite the torturous day bound and gagged beneath the blazing sun. “So brave.” The man continued to murmur kind words as he gently moved the fabric over her head. Her arms felt heavy and clumsy as she tried to get them into the shirt, but he was right there, helping her adjust the fabric.
“I counted eleven other hostages in the boat,” Jane choked out. Some were already hostages on the catamaran when they’d been dragged into captivity. “Most are children.”
“Could you tell if any were injured?” the guardian asked.
“I-I’m not sure.” Her teeth were chattering now. As a nurse, she knew the logical explanation was shock and adrenaline. “They were restrained, lying on the bottom of the boat.”
“How did you free yourself?” another gruff voice sounded to her left.
“I didn’t,” she gasped. “They were…” Her explanation dried up on her lips. It didn’t matter how she came to be freed of her ropes, only that the girls were brought to safety. “The others need help.” She wasn’t ready to talk about the assault. If she didn’t keep her situation strictly clinical, her mind would transport her right back to her teenage years. At first, she’d thought nothing could be worse than the rape. Right up untilshe took a risk and told her mother and stepfather what had happened. In the end, they believed the police chief’s story over hers. She lost her faith in her family and gained a charge for possession—something that had nearly been a barrier to a career in nursing.
Whether the man sitting at her side sensed her distress or recognized it from the shrillness of her tone, he began to murmur softly again. “That’s where we’re headed, love. My name is Sully, and these are my friends.” Sully grasped her hand, and she couldn’t help from gripping it right back. “We’re here to get you and the other missing women and children to safety.”
“Your jump into the river was a good distraction,” someone said. How many people could be on this boat? Each voice she’d heard sounded different.
She ignored the statement and angled her body more closely to Sully. “For the ambassador’s granddaughter, right?” Her teeth chattered painfully. Sully motioned for something, then wrapped a thermal blanket around her shoulders.
“What do you know about her?” one of the men asked.
“Only that she’s on the boat. Says her grandfather is willing pay anything to get her back. Sh-she’s not going to b-bat for the others being held against their will, though.” She was shaking violently now, despite the thick, oppressive air that hung over the river and the blanket bundled around her. She knew she was dehydrated, and the tightness of her skin was concerning. She must’ve sunburned badly, but she couldn’t feel any pain.
“What do you mean?” One of the other men moved toward her with another blanket, and she flinched back. The man immediately stopped his forward motion and handed the blanket to Sully.
“Let’s get you warm,” he said tenderly and wrapped her securely in the second blanket, taking the time to cover her completely and tuck the material around her feet and back. Awedge lodged in her throat. She knew from experience she could face whatever life threw at her, but this man’s offer of kindness made her want to sob and bury her head against his chest.
She blew out a breath and continued. “She said to take the rest of us, but spare her, because she was worth millions and we were nothing.” People said and did things they wouldn’t normally when faced with pain or terror, but she couldn’t accept that the woman had been willing to put the children in more harm with her careless pleas.
“Sounds like a peach,” Sully said. “Then we have Calamity Jane here diving into uncharted Amazon waters.”
She stiffened. “How did you know?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
“Know what?” Sully asked.
“That my name is Jane. I’m nobody.” She scooted closer to Sully. It was so unlike her she nearly snorted. She hated feeling boxed in or trapped, yet she was moving right against this man’s side. Maybe she was in rougher shape than she thought.
“I didn’t.” His fingers brushed her cheek, and she wanted to lean into his touch. “You remind me of this spunky character from a film my grandmother used to love. And for the record, you’re not nobody.”
There was movement at the side of the boat and her body froze.
“My buddies, Ransom and Branch, are going in. They’ll infiltrate the boat.”
She was expecting a splash as they dove into the water, but she barely heard anything. “Those men, they’re dangerous.”
“They’re cowards. Will die like cowards.” His voice was hard. Merciless.
“Who are you?” Instead of feeling threatened by his tone, it merely made her feel safer.
“We’re Navy SEALs. You’re safe. I promise you.”
I promise you.The words sounded like an oath.
“Jane.” Her name coming from another man’s lips had her stiffening. “I’m Silver, Sully’s teammate. I need to look at his wound. Get it cleaned.”
She was about to speak, tell him Sully needed care immediately, but her rescuer’s arm came around her shoulder, drawing her to his side. “No,” he said firmly. “You can look at it here. I’m not leaving her.”
