Uniformed officers had arrived by then and took charge of the ambassador.Conor was able to reassure the officers that Karolina had no part in her father’s dealings, and that in fact she had helped to bring him down.There had never been any doubt about that in the commanding officer’s mind, the man told him.
As the vehicle containing her father pulled away, Conor was relieved for Karolina.This was the start of a new chapter for her.“Better now?”he asked, putting an arm around her shoulder.
“You have no idea,” she assured him, a weary smile creeping into her eyes.
The rest of his team had melted into the night, and there was nothing more to do here.“Home?”he suggested to Karolina.
“That sounds so good,” she breathed with feeling.“But first—”
“First?”
“You carry field dressings, I presume?”she pressed.
“Of course.Why?”
She raised a brow.“You’re dripping blood all over me.”
He glanced down at his arm.Blood had trickled out of his cuff and was smearing his hand and hers.
“Dressing?Antiseptic?”she prompted before he had chance to speak.“That wound needs dressing.”
“How did I ever doubt you’d make a great member of the team?”
“You doubted me?”Karolina challenged, but there was laughter in her eyes.“Okay, let’s take a look at it…”
She was quick and efficient.He wondered how many other injuries she had dealt with.The life Karolina had been forced to lead made him all the more determined to change things for the better for her.“I hope this means you’ll join the team?”
“If that’s an invitation.”
“We could certainly use you.”
“That’s good to know.There.You’re done,” she declared, examining the dressing with satisfaction.”
“Home now?”
“Home now,” she confirmed.
He took the drive back slow and steady.Leaving the Kawasaki to one of his team to retrieve, he used the sleek black muscle car Karolina had driven to the embassy.She was exhausted, both emotionally and physically, and fell asleep on his shoulder.He thought about carrying her into the house when they arrived, but as soon as he stopped the car, she was wide awake.He should have predicted her first words.“There’s still work to do,” she said, sounding anxious.
“The ambassador and his thugs are in the hands of the authorities.You stay there in the car while I come around to get you.”
“I’m quite capable of standing on my own two feet.”
“Don’t I know it,” he agreed when he reached the passenger side.
“You don’t need to worry,” he reassured her as they walked up the steps.“You can check on the women tomorrow.They need a rest tonight, and so do you.They’re being well cared for and will have access to counseling.Some will be repatriated.We’ve got a long list of missing persons to work through.”
“I need to see that list.I can help—”
“And you will,” he promised.“But not until you’re rested and at your best.You owe them that much, don’t you think?”
Shaking her head, she gave a wry smile as Sanderson came to greet them.“Why do you always have to talk so much sense?”
“Force of habit?”he suggested, swinging his uninjured arm around her shoulder.
“Modest too,” she remarked with a grin as they entered the house.
“One of our team members is an investigative journalist,” he explained as they headed upstairs.“And Amber’s one of our most effective operatives.You could work on that list together.With your background knowledge and Amber’s experience, you’d make the perfect team.”
