Things moved quickly now that she was free and they could move her. He and Theo dropped down between the two trees to the trail below. They each took a side of the board Lucky was strapped to and pulled her down to them as Randy and Kash dropped down and took her feet end.
The wind kicked up with the rotor wash and the helicopter dropped down, keeping above the trees, but making sure they didn’t have to raise Lucky higher than necessary.
Hawk made sure the blanket was tucked against her and brushed the stray hair away from her face, not that it did much good with all the wind created by the chopper.
Theo caught the edge of the basket as it descended into the ravine.
They quickly secured Lucky. Hawk grabbed the rope and balanced himself on the edges of the basket, making sure he didn’t touch any of Lucky’s injuries.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Randy asked.
Normally, they’d send the victim up alone and whoever was in the chopper would tend to them on the ride back.
“I’m not leaving her. She’s…” He didn’t know how to say it. “We’ve had a thing for the past two years.” That at least was true, even if he wanted a hell of a lot more now and was going to take it because you never knew when time would run out. He’d wasted enough keeping his distance from her the past two years.
His buddies all stared at him.
Theo spoke first. “I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”
“Well, now you do. I am. She’s…mine.” He’d given her his word he wouldn’t leave her and he wouldn’t break that promise. He gave the bird above him a thumbs up and they started to rise to the open door on the chopper.
“What the fuck is this?” Bryce raised a brow at him hanging off the rope, no tether, standing over Lucky.
“I promised I wouldn’t leave her and I won’t. Get her in. Let’s move. She needs surgery. ASAP,” he shouted over the noise.
Bryce maneuvered them into the chopper, released the basket from the rope, closed the door, then leaned over Lucky. “Normally, he just grunts shit out. You’ve actually got him talking and making promises. Good for you.” Then Bryce called over the radio to their pilot, Paloma, a veteran like himself. “Clear. Good to go.”
Paloma took the chopper up and away.
“You got damn lucky finding her way out here.” Bryce checked Lucky’s IV line and her shoulder injury, making sure she wasn’t bleeding any worse than she’d been when they loaded her up.
“I don’t normally take that trail.” He found Lucky’s hand beneath the blanket and held it. A soft squeeze back eased hisworry. He brushed her hair back, trying to give her what comfort he could, needing to touch her and let her know he was here. He wasn’t going anywhere. Like he promised.
Bryce spent the flight keeping her stable.
As much as Hawk wished he was the one flying the chopper, because fast wasn’t fast enough for him today, he appreciated all his buddies for doing their jobs and taking care of Lucky.
Bryce watched him as he continued to run his fingers through Lucky’s oily, tangled hair. He didn’t care that it was dirty and plucked out several leaves and twigs from it, tossing them to the floor.
“She means something to you.”
It took him a second to shift his gaze to his friend. “Yeah. She does.” How much, he was just starting to realize and accept.
And that’s why he pulled out his phone and texted his brother.
HAWK: Found Lucky naked and dumped in a ditch.
HAWK: If she was last seen at the bar, WTF happened there?
BIG BRO: WTF Is she okay?
HAWK: Too fucking close of a call. SAR helped me get her out. Landing at hospital in 3 minutes.
BIG BRO: On my way.
BIG BRO: And I didn’t see anything happen but we’ll damn well check the video footage and find out. Want me to call Damon?
HAWK: No sense bringing him back early when there’s nothing he can do.
