That never ended well.
“Just that. No one needs to know about Reed and Ashley.”
One eyebrow lifts. “I was going to skip that. And the other promise.”
Hargrave nods. “Hmm. Think she’ll change her mind?”
I remember the feel of her in my arms, and the taste of her on my tongue, and the way she’d wanted me last night, even if it was only to take her mind off everything. At the time, saying no had been the right thing to do. Right now, it felt like I’d missed a chance. Still, I’d rather do the right thing and regret it than do the wrong thing and regret it. Which I would’ve, if not today, then tomorrow. I’d learned those lessons the hard way. “I guess we’ll have to wait until Reed gets back to find out.”
CHAPTER25
Ashley
I lieon my side watching Reed. He hasn’t woken. Colton was sitting next to him. Now he’s resting his head on the bed and sleeping. He’s still in his wet clothes. While the lines of tension have eased, he looks exhausted. Maybe it’s the pallor of his skin, as if the rain washed out the color.
I want to go to sleep, but I don’t think I can. What if I close my eyes, and when I wake up Reed is gone…dead. Not that there’s anything I can do. Reed was there for me; he risked his life so I could escape. And while Colton hasn’t said anything, I suspect that when they found him it wasn’t good.
I didn’t know he’d been shot during our escape.
The guilt nibbles at me. That’s the real reason I can’t sleep. I should’ve helped him more. Done something so we both got out. We could’ve hidden in the jungle, or something. I don’t know how it could’ve played out differently. And he’s the expert, so I trusted him to make the best call.
Maybe what we did was the best thing.
But I don’t want his death to buy my life.
Colton lifts his head. He pauses for a moment, as if listening.
Then I hear it. The heavy beat of a helicopter.
Colton kisses Reed’s cheek. “Your ride’s here. Don’t do anything stupid like die, okay?”
Reed doesn’t respond, not even a twitch. With a sigh, Colton releases Reed’s hand, carefully placing it on the bed. Then he stands there as if not sure what to do.
The nurse comes in and tuts. “Still wearing those wet clothes? Do you want to end up in here?”
“No ma’am, just as soon as he’s on the chopper I will get dry.” He moves out of the way to let her check Reed and ends up next to my bed. He glances at me and gives me a small smile.
I move over and pat the bed so he can sit.
He drops onto the edge to wait.
Two paramedics stroll in, they confer with the nurse. Check on Reed again and within a few minutes, he’s rolled out the door.
I tell myself that he needs to be in hospital. That he needs more than what this place can offer him. But I miss him already even though he wasn’t saying anything.
“He’ll be back before you know it,” I try to sound confident.
He nods, but his expression is grim. “I hope so, but you didn’t read his chart.”
“Not good?”
He winces. “Not impossible.”
I bite my lip, not knowing what to say besides sorry, and that seems so inadequate. I put my hand over his. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. He did what he was supposed to do. He’d have run through dozens of options before picking the best one.” He closes his eyes. “We did what we could. We got him out. Now the rest is up to him.” He opens his eyes and looks at me. “You should be resting.”
“So should you.”
