“Rowan, he’s almost out.Access hatch on his nine.Tell him exactly that.”
“Justin, there’s an access hatch on your nine.Go.”
“Moving…” He sounded dreamy again.A harsh, racking cough, too wet to be healthy.
“He’s out.Move down the hill.Rowan, move him down that goddamn hill.We’re running out of time!”
“Justin, down the hill.Come on.”
“’Kay.”He even sounds pale,Rowan thought, her entire body cold.Waves of gooseflesh spilled through her body.“Rowan?”
“I’m here.Keep moving.”
“Lights—”
“We’ve got him, Ro.Tell him not to fight us.”
“Justin, don’t fight them.Listen to me,don’tfight them!”
“What if they’re Sigma?”The dreamy tone began to frighten her.Rowan swallowed hot bile, wished she hadn’t.
“They’re not.Trust me.”
“All right.”He coughed again, the sound sending wet static over the comm-unit.
“Jesus Christ,” Henderson said.“Good work, Rowan.We’ve got him.Get us out of here, Yoshi.”
“Ten-four.Lifting off.Good job, everyone.”
“Rowan?”Justin sounded faint, he coughed again.
“I’m here,” she said, numbly.“They have you, so relax.Just relax.You’re coming home.”
“He’s passed out.”Henderson sounded grim.“Took a few bullets.We’ll do what we can.Get Med down as soon as we get there.”
Rowan gasped.“Bullets?”
“Relax,” Henderson snapped.“He isn’t going anywhere.Get us out of here, Kenwood!”
“You got it,” Kenwood said, and Rowan dropped the commlink.
Justin,she thought, but there was no answer.None at all.
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
Pain.A lot of it, but he was used to agony.His chest was on fire.Why couldn’t he get up?Why couldn’t he open his eyes?
“Rowan…” His own voice, quiet and breathless.
“Stay still,” she said.His angel.The electricity of her nearness roared through him.It’s her.Where is she?
“Still,” he said.“Rowan…”
“I said, stay still.”She sounded irritated, and his heart stuttered.
Thunder.Don’t you dare.Don’t you dare leave me!Now she was frantic, her breath coming high and harsh.Justin!
“Shock him.Stand back, Rowan!”Henderson, barking orders.Delgado would have lashed out, but something weighed his arms and legs down.“Clear!”
