Page 14 of North

“North, get to their position.” Ham, in his ear.

Roger that.

Ranger and the ladies reached an enormous kuka tree, and North was up, running hard for their hiding spot.

“We have a problem,” Ranger said into the comms. “One of ours is missing.”

North paused, crouched, and searched the darkness. There⁠—

Four soldiers started in her direction.

He sighted one, and the man went down. The others shrank into the elephant grass.

North got up and kept running.

“I see her!” Jake’s voice, and Ranger ducked among the acacia bushes, following his direction.

North kept running, burst into the opening behind the tree.

Out in the grasses, the soldiers had found the woman—please, let it not be⁠—

“North?”

Selah’s voice stopped him from running out after Ranger. He spotted her in the dim light of the moon, and⁠—

Her eyes found his in the darkness. The fear melted into recognition, relief, and something that stole his breath. Something that had haunted him for months afterward.

If he hadn’t been there…

Frankly, the sense of it still haunted him.

“North.” She said his name, barely a whisper.

Then she flung herself at him, arms around his neck, sobbing.

Ranger returned, empty-handed. “We gotta go.”

He couldn’t agree more. North grabbed Selah’s hand.

But Ranger was waging some kind of war with the other aid worker about going back for the lost girl. Meanwhile, Ham’s voice clogged North’s ear as he communicated with the others.

“We have to go, Range,” North said.

Ranger turned to him. “Thirty minutes. If we’re not at the checkpoint, leave. I’ll find you.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Me either.” Then he said something quippy about carrying the woman.

Whatever.

“Don’t be late.” North turned to Selah. “Move, move!” He pressed Selah ahead of him, one hand on her back as they ran for the cover of the trees. Her bare feet stumbled on the rough ground and he caught her, steadied her.

More shots, closer. She flinched but kept moving.

They reached the extraction point, a couple cars waiting. He helped her in, and she collapsed against him.

“I’ve got you,” he said, and her fingers curled into his vest.