She appreciated that he didn’t bullshit her and say he felt fine. Just like last night when he’d given her some of his weight to get through the pain of having his wound cleaned, his response made her feel more like an equal and less like someone who needed rescuing, even though she had. She didn’t want to think about the things that had happened on the boat or the feel of punching through her attacker’s skin with a knife. Having purpose allowed her to compartmentalize what had happened with the knowledge that she’d have to deal with it when they reached U.S. soil and a hospital. There were tests she’d need tohave to ensure she hadn’t contracted an STD from the man on the boat, and she’d most likely want to talk to a professional to help her come to terms with being the victim of a sexual assault, just like she had in her teens. She’d deal with all of it, but right now, it helped to keep her focus on Sully.
“I’m not the only one who needs medical care, Jane.”
She’d never minded her name. Wasn’t one of those people who thought it was boring or plain. Coming off Sully’s lips, though? In that low, deep tenor? The sound was like a caress along her cheek.
“We need to apply something to your sunburn. It’s red and blistering. Must be sore as hell.”
She’d been so entranced by hearing him speak her name, she’d momentarily forgotten he was talking. Sully was right. The burn was tight, raw, and even the light movement of the air as the boat crept along brought her pain.
“After.” She was concerned with the sweat beading around his lips. In fact, he looked worse by the second. “May I look?” She gestured toward his leg, and he jerked his head in a nod. Jane rolled up the hem of his pants, taking her time so the thick fabric didn’t brush against his skin and cause more pain. Swelling was visible before she’d even reached the dressing that covered the wound. His skin was hot to the touch and the specialized gauze was soaked in drainage.
“Shit.” The SEAL who had cleaned Sully’s wound the night before and given him a large dose of antibiotics had come up on her side. “Let me get my bag.”
“You need your hands free with those boats so close. Get me your bag and I’ll take care of the wound.” She spoke the words, but her eyes were locked on the infection she could tell was brewing in the wound beneath the covering.
She did her best to wipe the concern off her face. Antibiotics didn’t guarantee a wound wouldn’t get infected. Althoughthe dose was high, the medication was mainly for bacterial infections. There were a host of parasites that would revel in the warm body of water they’d been in. She flinched when a blur entered her peripheral vision, then heat warmed her cheeks when she realized it was Silver returning with his medical kit. Jane was grateful when Silver didn’t call her out for her reaction but instead placed the bag at her feet and told her to alert him if she needed assistance. She didn’t waste any time opening the kit and removing the sanitizing wipes. After thoroughly cleansing her hands, she pulled on gloves and began laying out what she needed. Some of the children were starting to stir on the other side of the boat and Addy was quietly supplying them with food and water.
“So, you were in sunny California, and you got a call to sub in for another SEAL.”
“Well, I wasn’t exactly sipping a drink with a little umbrella on the beach.” His lips twitched and her shoulders relaxed when she saw it was out of humor and not pain. “I wasn’t in California at all, actually.”
“Another mission?” Even though he was a SEAL and had probably had many injuries, she wanted to keep him distracted and comfortable.
“You could say that. My teammate Red and I were on leave, but our friend needed help. He’s a retired SEAL who recently assisted a woman, Vivienne is her name, escape a forced marriage. Long story short, the woman’s best friend, Thalia, was abducted and taken over the border.”
She gently peeled the gauze away from his leg. She’d treated many terrible wounds in this region, but Sully’s had become infected at a rapid pace. Heat pricked behind her lids. He was one of the good guys. Didn’t deserve to have been shot while rescuing her.
“Did you find her?” She was afraid of what the answer might be as she opened clean water to wash away the pus that was leaking from the hole in his leg.
“Yeah,” he said with a heavy breath. Sully was hurting—that much was clear. “We found her. Crazy thing is, Red knew her from childhood. She’d saved his life when he got lost in her country.”
“I’m not a believer in fate, but stories like that make you question things.” Jane cleansed the wound and then rebandaged it. They were both silent for a moment as she sat back on her heels, disposing of the medical waste in a small bag inside the kit. After she’d removed the gloves and sanitized her hands, she closed the kit and tucked the bag beneath him to elevate his leg.
“I am.” Sully’s voice sounded choked. She was going to see about getting him some stronger pain medication.
She’d been so focused on Sully’s injury, she’d briefly forgotten what they were even talking about. “You are what?”
“A believer in fate. Yeah, I’ve seen bad shit. But I’ve also seen enough of the good to understand that sometimes we cross paths with people for a reason. I see the worry in your face, Jane. You’re taking on the guilt of a wound you had no part in creating. You should know that whatever happens with my leg, with this infection, I feel lucky because I know bone-deep, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
Her chest tightened painfully as anger rose up hard and fast, nearly choking her.Fate? Exactly where I’m supposed to be?This good-natured man with his smiling eyes and boyish freckles could very well need his leg amputated. The infection could enter his bloodstream and result in septic shock. His organs could systematically shut down. He coulddie.
“I struck a nerve. I’m sorry for that. What I’m not sorry about is being on this mission. Being in the right place at the right time in that river.”
“If you were in the right place at the right time, you wouldn’t have been anywhere near the trafficker’s catamaran when the bullets started flying.” Why was she being such a bitch to this poor man who clearly felt like hell? She was securing a pulse oximeter to his finger when she felt light pressure underneath her chin.
“Look at me.” Sully’s statement was a demand, albeit a gently spoken one.
She blew out a long breath and gathered the strength to meet his gaze.
“Not being exactly where I was would mean I didn’t get to you in time and that would be unacceptable. I don’t know who you are, but I know what you did on that boat to protect a child whose life would’ve be irrevocably marked if those men had gotten their filthy hands on her. What you did for her? It makes me want to fucking weep. For what you went through. The strength it took to dispatch your attackers knowing full well they wouldn’t take losing two of their own lightly. Jumping in the water took the attention off the children. You could’ve died, Jane, but I think you already know that. What impresses the hell out of me is you did it anyway. You were ready to die for the innocents on that boat. Then your first thought when we swam to my team was getting me to safety. Not once in my entire military career has a civilian put my needs before theirs.”
“Those girls didn’t deserve to be in that situation, just as you didn’t deserve to be hurt.”
“And you did?” His face was completely devoid of emotion, but the way his eyes narrowed combined with a crease between his brows made his displeasure known.
She stared at him for one breath then two. “I’ve made mistakes. Done things I’m not proud of. I’m telling you that because I don’t want you to think I’m something I’m not.” She checked the reading on the pulse ox and removed the devicefrom his finger. The reading was lower than she’d expected, not dangerously so, but one that indicated a more serious situation might be brewing. After taking his temperature and heart rate, she was even more concerned.
“Don’t care.” Sully flashed her a grin, and it seemed to drain all his energy. He closed his eyes and rested his head against the hull of the boat.
