“As much as I hate to say it, he doesn’t have a choice.”
Reaper’s hand closed around her arm, his fingers completely circling her wrist. “She’s right. We’ve wasted enough time here. We have to go now.”
“But, you were almost unconscious thirty minutes ago.”
“And I was unconscious earlier today. I got all the rest I needed then.” He swung his legs around the edge of the table and let his feet dangle above the floor.
“I can get you out of the hospital, through the back, but you will have to take it from there,” the nurse said. She crossed to Reaper’s other side, and together she and Caroline managed to hoist him to stand. “I know it’s not much, but I managed to steal some water and a little bit of food,” the nurse said, gesturing to the satchel. “I’m sorry, but that’s as much as I can do.”
“It’s more than I could expect. I hope to one day repay the favor,” Reaper all but grunted out as he struggled to maintain his balance.
With most of his bare chest and abdomen showing now, the muscles she’d spent the day imagining were now on display. His shoulders were even wider than she’d thought, his waist narrower, and yet his almost impossible physique fit him perfectly. He was built just like the predator that he was, made to attack his enemies and defend those he loved.
No way would she ever strap him into a suit.
“Maybe one day you will, but any resistance you pose to those men is payment enough. Here, this is the robe and head covering you wore. Miss, you must cover your face again. Whatever you do, don’t make eye contact with any soldier. There is no woman in this place who has eyes as bright blue as yours. They are a dead giveaway.”
The nurse went to the door as Caroline fixed her costume and shouldered the small satchel. Moments later, their guardian angel was back, gesturing for them to follow her. “We must go now. If anyone catches us, run.”
The nurse, who’d never told them her name, Caroline realized, stepped out into the hall and hung a left, her pace brisk yet unremarkable in the setting. Caroline hugged Reaper’s side and they went out together. Was it her imagination or was he putting more weight on her than before?
They hurried past flashes of light as the nurse maneuvered them back to another door. “Peace be with you. Good luck.” She shoved open the door.
Caroline couldn’t leave without saying something else or doing something. It just didn’t feel right. “If it’s ever within my power to do so, I will return to this place and find you.”
The nurse offered her a brittle smile, one that was devoid of any hope. “What can you do? Only an insane person would return to this place after living in freedom. You would be best to forget you ever saw or knew me.”
“Wait! At least tell me your name.”
“You’re just as stubborn as your man. It should serve you both well to forget, but my name is Mira Abdul. Here take these and go. Now.” Mira shoved a pair of sandals into Caroline’s hands and pushed them out the door, leaving them in the semi darkness of the alley.
“Caroline, we’ve got to get back to the jungle now,” Reaper said, his voice urgent. “It’s our only cover. We can skirt the edges of the village as we make our way out.”
Caroline quickly pulled on the sandals and then allowed Reaper to take the lead once more, though his arm was still around her. She helped support him as much as she could, feeling inadequate and tiny all the same. Once more, the gigantic growth of the jungle loomed ahead, its wild tangle of uncontrolled leaves just as scary as it had been before. This place filled with every nature of threat was their only hope of salvation.
