“Are you hurt?” Now she’s closer, I scan her for injuries. I don’t think she was shot. There’s a graze on her head and she’s a bit bruised, but then she was wearing a seatbelt. I wasn’t.
I should be grateful I’m not dead.
I’m still working on that.
Colt always tells me I’m not appreciative enough of the small things. He just wants me to say thanks after he’s sucked my dick. He always says something nice when I’m blowing him. If he was here, we’d be finding a way to blow some shit up.
He’s my best friend and occasional fuck buddy. He’s going to be pissed if I don’t make it back to report on the situation. Hargrave will tell me off for half-assing the job and Priest will shake his head and walk away. He doesn’t need words to express his disappointment.
There’s another half a dozen guys in the security team, all ex-military. Some guys leave the forces, but it never leaves them. Are any of them in on this? They’d be fucking fools…but then people will do dumb shit hoping to get rich.
“I think I’m okay.”
“Good.” I’m not wearing my body armor anymore, which is a pity because I had all kinds of weapons in it. It’s a lucky shot that clipped above my hip, and while some of my supplies are lost, I’m not a fool. “In my thigh pocket there’s a trauma kit.”
Her mouth opens. I can’t make out the details of her facial expressions, but I don’t want to her freak out and I don’t know how much time we have.
“I need you bandage it for me.”
She stares at me. “Are you hurt?”
“Yes,” I hiss. Why else would I be asking? “Get the kit.”
There are no drugs in it, but I don’t give a shit about anything beyond stopping the bleeding at this point.
It’s as awkward as fuck with her hands tied together, but she pulls it out of my thigh pocket. I’ve been out for five years, but we’re in the jungle, hours from the nearest big hospital and there are a lot of guns, which means a lot of bullets. I like having the kit handy. It’s my safety blanket.
It might save my life.
Though that depends on how long we sit here.
Is Priest already looking for us?
I gave them a heads up that shit was about to happen, but the rain will wash away any tracks…
I know how this goes. I know the risks on both sides. If gets too close to dark, they’ll call it off and start again at first light. The approaching storm isn’t in our favor either.
Even if they find us, a chopper won’t fly in the storm. I’m not getting an evac anytime soon. More for the not good list.
Colt’s right. I need to the thankful for something.
I’m still breathing, and Ashley has the trauma kit. And damn, I didn’t make any jokes about her groping me a bit higher up. I missed the opportunity to have a laugh.
“I’m going to roll onto my back, and you’re going to patch the hole. Then I’ll roll onto my front, and you check if there’s another hole and patch that too.”
“How bad are you hurt?”
“It’s not that bad…just a bleeder.” Which will become bad if it’s not treated. I need to stop thinking about that. “Can you do that?”
She nods.
“There are enough bandages there that you can pack it if you need to.” If my hands were free, I’d do it myself.
“My hands are dirty.”
“There are gloves.” Also glue, but that’s more for a cut that a bullet wound. “Just do your best.”
If we’re here in a couple of days, infection is going to be my main concern, assuming I make it that long.
