He held her face between his fingers, his grip soft, warm, and gentler than it should be for someone his size. He dabbed the cold wipe over the wound. The solution stung, and she hissed.
“Almost done.”
“Mommy, you’re bleeding.”
A glance down revealed Emmy peering around her to watch Roarke work.
“It’s just a little cut, baby. I’m fine.”
Emmy hugged Big Bun, and her lip trembled.
“Emmy, maybe you can give me a hand. My fingers are wet, and I can’t open the bandage. Can you do that for me?” Roarke passed her the little package.
Her tiny fingers went to work peeling apart the plastic. Then she held out the bandage to him.
He took it and smoothed it over Laine’s cut. “Look at that.”
Emmy leaned closer.
“Nice job, nurse Emmy,” he said, as he picked up the garbage that’d fallen on Laine’s lap.
Emmy giggled and curled close to her side. Laine wrapped her arm around her and sat back in the seat. Warmth spread through her at how natural Roarke was with Emmy. He took to her so readily, and Emmy seemed relaxed around him.
“Two minutes,” Striker said.
Emmy’s hand reached for hers.
Laine squeezed it and kissed her knuckles. “We’re just going for a boat ride, honey. Won’t that be fun?”
Emmy lifted her eyebrows and cocked her head. “No,” she said dryly, and with a little too much sass.
Roarke snorted and Laine fought a grin. If they could find amusement at a time like this, maybe their odds weren’t that bad.
“Stay here,”Roarke said to Laine. He met Striker’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “If anything happens, don’t hesitate.”
“Copy.”
Laine’s hand caught his elbow. “Wait, what’s going on?”
Shit. He didn’t want either of them any more scared than they already were, but until they made it out of the country, anything could go wrong. “Just need to talk to my guy before we head out. Sit tight.”
Her fingers slid off his arm as he exited the car. Fuck, he hated leaving her. Even for a second.
He motioned for Viper to follow him.
His friend fell into step beside him. “So what’s the story? How much does Hassan know?”
Roarke hooked his thumb under the strap of his rifle. “He knows this is an extraction but that’s it. I suspect if he knew we were taking Cameron Azad’s future wife and kid, he’d have a problem with it.”
“Can you trust him?”
Roarke grunted. “For ten grand, I fucking hope so.”
They walked over the grass toward the dock. This close to the water, the sea air was cold on his cheeks. If he licked his lips he’d taste the salty moisture. A white yacht floated near the dock, waiting.
A shadow stood on the wooden slats, and the glittering end of a cigarette sparked the black cloak of darkness. “Marhaban ya sadeeqi.” “Hello my friend” in Arabic.
“How are you, Hassan?” Roarke held out his hand, and they shook. He understood some Arabic, but Hassan spoke English. “This is Viper. He’ll be traveling with us.”
