Chapter Fifty-One
“We got one of those medical bags you medic types use. Take a look inside,” Malachi said.
Wes shifted a huge tactical medic bag into his lap. Stamped on the flap was 68W F2 Sergeant Major T. Bennett. The bag came from a high-level Army flight medic with critical care skills. He flipped open the bag and began to check its contents.
A penlight between his teeth, his hands methodically checked each item as the van rolled over scored pavement. He was again in a Humvee rolling through the gates at Bagram. The assignment was to bring back a young hostage. The Taliban had a record of rape and torture. He knew what he was rolling into. He was the team medic. She’d be his responsibility.
Eleanor grabbed his hand. “Wes, you good?” She snuggled against him.
Wes’s head jerked up. He left the Humvee and was now back in the van, Ellie’s question carrying him from one world to another. “Yeah, good.”
She whispered, “I’ve got you.”
Wes swallowed hard.I’m supposed to have you.He steepled the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. A prayer for his loved ones filled his mind.
* * *
The van pulled off the road. Tripp jumped out and unchained a gate for the van to pass through. Closing it behind them, he returned to the driver’s seat. “Lindy, wait till you see this place. You’ll love it.”
Eleanor sighed. “I can hardly wait.” Her tone was bored, but she breathed a mental sigh of relief. Tripp revealed that she hadn’t seen this home before.
When the van pulled up in front of an enormous home, Malachi opened the door and offered her a hand. She pushed against him and spat, “I can do it myself.” On the ride, she realized her scarred wrists would give her away.
“There’s my girl.” Dinah Drake pulled her into a hug.
“Hello, Mother. I’m tired and want to go to bed. Wes, this is my mother. She likes to be called Major. Mom, this is Wes. He got over Ellie real quick once he met me. He took very good care of me in their fancy clinic.” She nuzzled against him.
“Ma’am, happy to meet you,” Wes said.
The woman glared at him. “And what made you trust him, Mal?”
“He’s better than all those drugs we shoved down her throat. He kept her real sweet,” the General said. “And he’s a bona fide medic.”
Eleanor saw her mother’s face change; Wes was of value. “Major, where are the other boys?” she snarked.
“Albert and Sanford are setting up perimeter charges with their squads. Crawford is helping Nurse Frey give the shots. Conrad is dealing with Resa. All she does is cry since we took away her babies. I should say, your sister’s babies. Weaver and Howard are running maneuvers with the troops. That keeps them busy. Your people ran off Desi, and they are following her. Poor Howard. And Weaver cries. He misses his Tara.”
As she said that, the staccato of automatic gunfire coming in three-round bursts echoed in the air. “How many are out there?”
Dinah Drake gave Wes a killer look. “Come inside; I suppose you two want to share a room?”
“No, Major. I want him to sleep in a pup tent till his dick falls off,” Eleanor channeled Belinda. “Of course I want to share a room with him.”
“Look at me, baby; you’re tired. Your momma was asking a teensy question.” He lifted her chin and kissed each cheek. Eleanor swooned into his arms.
“See, Momma? He’s the Belinda Whisperer,” Tripp said.
In Wes’s arms, Eleanor clung tight, a tinge of fear running down her spine.
* * *
Dinah Drake showed them to a small room on the third floor of the house. Eleanor went to use the bathroom further down the hall. She sat on the toilet and put her head in her hands. In the pre-mission prep, Zach warned her not to drink any water except from the tap. But it was Troy’s advice she held on to:Panic gets you killed.
A deep breath let her clear her head. She washed her face and hands before drinking greedily from the faucet.
Eleanor returned to their room and closed the door behind her. Wes held his finger to his lips and tapped his ear. She sat quietly and watched him unpack the small bag they brought. He removed a large box of condoms. Eleanor turned bright red and began to hyperventilate.
Wes turned around and made eye contact with her, then spread his fingers in a patting motion. He grabbed a towel and two condoms. A few minutes later, he returned. Lifting the towel off his arm, she could see he was holding two water-filled condoms.
