"Shadow Veil copies," Mara replied. "We're five minutes out. Package is stable but needs immediate medical evacuation."
"Copy that. Risk is ready to receive. We'll take custody at the rally point and transport directly to base medical."
Transfer custody. The words hit harder than they should have. Made sense tactically. Delta Force could get Steele back to Erbil Air Base where military doctors could treat him properly. Shadow Veil couldn't exactly walk an American operator through base security. Their part in this was done the moment they handed him over to his team.
But the thought of letting him go, of watching Delta's vehicles drive away with him in the back, felt wrong in a way she couldn't articulate.
Behind her, she could hear Kira working. Could hear the quiet sounds of medical treatment. Could hear Steele's labored breathing evening out as the IV fluids and pain medication started working.
"He's stable," Kira said after a few minutes. "Not good. But stable. The IV is helping. Pain meds are working. He'll make it to the rally point."
"And after that?"
"We hand him over to his medic and they get him to base medical." Kira's voice was professional but there was something underneath it. Recognition. She'd seen the way Mara had looked at Steele. The way Mara couldn't quite let go even though the mission demanded it. "They'll take good care of him."
Mara nodded but didn't respond. The rally point was appearing ahead. An abandoned service station ten kilometers from the target building. Both teams had agreed on it during planning. Neutral ground. Easy to find. Defensible if Nazari's people pursued.
Delta's vehicles were already there. Two SUVs parked in the darkness, engines running. Hawk's team was out and positioned, weapons ready, covering approaches. Professional. Controlled. Ready to take custody of their team leader and disappear into the Iraqi night.
Winter pulled the Shadow Veil vehicle to a stop twenty meters from Delta's position. Close enough to transfer Steele without exposing him to open ground for long. Far enough to maintain operational security.
Mara climbed out first. Hawk met her halfway between the vehicles, his expression unreadable in the darkness.
"You got him out," Hawk said. Not a question. A statement of fact laced with something that might have been gratitude if Delta operators showed that kind of emotion.
"We got him out," Mara confirmed. "He's injured. Broken ribs. Infected leg wound. Possible internal damage. Your medic needs to see him immediately."
"Risk is ready." Hawk keyed his radio. "Bring the litter."
Risk appeared from Delta's vehicle carrying a litter and a full trauma kit. He moved with the focused efficiency of a medic who'd done this a hundred times. Who knew that every second mattered when you were treating someone who'd been through hell.
Mara led him back to the Shadow Veil vehicle. Kira had the back door open, still working on Steele. The IV was running. His breathing was steadier. His eyes were closed but he was conscious. Aware.
"Steele," Risk said, his voice carrying the easy familiarity of teammates who'd worked together for years. "You look like hell."
"Feel worse," Steele muttered. His eyes opened. Focused on Risk's face. "Took you long enough."
"Yeah, well, we had to coordinate with some people who actually knew what they were doing." Risk was already assessing, his hands moving over Steele with practiced efficiency. "Shadow Veil got you out. We're just here for cleanup."
His eyes flicked to Mara. Recognition. Understanding. He knew something had happened between her and Steele. Knew this wasn't just a tactical extraction anymore.
But he didn't say anything. Just worked. Professional. Focused.
Together, Risk and Kira transferred Steele from the vehicle to the litter. He grunted in pain when they moved him butdidn't cry out. Just took it. Endured it. The way he'd endured everything else for the last three days.
Bulldog appeared to help carry the litter. He looked at Steele and something passed between them. Relief. Brotherhood. The unspoken communication of operators who'd been through too much together to need words.
"You had us worried," Bulldog said quietly.
"Sorry about that."
"Don't be sorry. Just don't do it again."
They started carrying him toward Delta's vehicle. Mara watched them go. Watched Steele being transferred back to his team. Back to his world. Away from hers.
She should let him go. Should get back in the vehicle with her team and disappear into the Iraqi night. Should go back to L'Abri Sûr and file the after-action report and move on to the next mission.
Should do all of that.
