Jordan’s fingers trembled as he tilted her chin up. She blinked and relief flooded through him. Even dirty and covered in grime, he recognized her. “Emme Lou Who? Is that you?”
Her weak slap took him by surprise, but it still stung. “That’s my girl.”
“Jordan?”
“Hey, Emme Lou.”
“Quit calling me that, Jingle Balls.”
He grinned. “You ready to go home?”
Tears pooled and spilled over, streaking through the dust and grime on her face. “Yes.” A sob wracked her body.
He brushed away a tear, wishing he had the time to gather her close and brush them all away. “Can you walk?” He stood and helped her up.
“I think so. We need to get Anuli.” She rose and swayed, but kept her feet.
“Who’s Anuli?” Jordan took her left elbow, careful of her right arm hanging limp by her side.
“The nurse who was taken with me. There’s two other girls, too.”
She stumbled and he swept her into his arms. He followed Colby and Jared, depending on them to keep the path clear. They stopped outside the room they’d found the first two girls in, where they’d told the other woman to go to.
One of the women rushed to them. “Miss Emme! You hurt again?”
“I’m okay Anuli. Just light-headed.” Her forehead tucked under his chin was burning up. He held her trembling body closer. Please let this be adrenaline crash and not something more serious.
“Follow the men.” He pointed with his chin. Anuli brushed her hand against Emme’s cheek before following the other two girls.
Westin called over the radio to Rocco for pickup. The small helo set down feet from the destroyed entrance. Colby and Cash ushered the girls toward the helicopter, but they stopped and refused to go further.
“What’s the problem?” Westin asked, impatience evident in his voice.
“They are afraid of the helicopter,” Anuli said. “They think you will take them far away.”
“We just rescued them. Why would we—? Never mind. Tell them we’re taking you back to Gao. They can either go with us or find their own way.”
Jordan carried Emme to the helicopter and laid her down on the litter they’d prepared before take-off. He buckled the straps, ensuring they were snug but not tight.
“You good?” He had to raise his voice over the engine noise. She nodded and closed her eyes as a shiver shook her body. Anuli clambered in behind him and sat cross-legged next to Emme. He grabbed the tether closest to her and snapped it onto his D-ring. Keying up his mic he asked, “What about the other two women?”
Cash answered. “They decided to walk back to their village.” He clipped in next to Jordan and tilted his head toward Anuli. “This one said she’d go with Emme.”
Westin climbed in to the co-pilot seat for the return trip. “Leonidas, come in.”
“Leonidas here.”
“Status check.”
“Good to go. All the girls are loaded up. We’re headed for the U.N. camp in Timbuktu.”
“Roger. Thanks for your help, Graham.”
“Anytime, Westin.”
The flight back to the airfield seemed half as long as the flight out. Euphoria, brought on by adrenaline and the success of the mission, flooded his veins.
He glanced over his shoulder at Emme for the tenth time. Anuli held her hand. She was in better condition than he’d expected based on the video they’d seen, but the fever wasn’t good.
