Even with food and water, she might not survive.
“Dude, we’re like twenty minutes from Sagreja.”
“There’s no hospital there.” Sagreja had a small medical center with limited hours, and it was far away from the city. He hadn’t asked if she had family close by.
Rogue’s expression hardened. “We’re here for Rex. This isn’t a rescue mission.”
“It is now,” Atlas snapped.
“Hey,” Wraith said from the cockpit. “We can do both, lads.”
Atlas locked his jaw and steered his gaze to the window. Nothing but endless darkness surrounded them. If anyone besides Reaper were flying the bird, he’d be nervous.
Swallowing his pride, he steadied the anger bubbling up inside him. He couldn’t be mad at Rogue for doing his job. He was lead, after all, and it was his responsibility they got the mission done.
With Rex escaping, everyone was pissed, especially Rogue. But leaving a woman to die wasn’t a viable option. “What’s your call?” he asked.
Rogue flicked his gaze to Molly, and the hard edge in his eyes softened. “We can’t detour all the way to Panama. We’ll lose any chance of locating Rex.”
“Agreed,” Atlas admitted grudgingly.
Rogue sighed. “We’ll land in Sagreja as planned. You’ll have our ride there and can take her somewhere for the night—stabilize her. The five of us will find Rex. When we’re done, we’ll meet you in Sagreja and all of us will return to Panama City. If you can locate her family or someone in the meantime, that’d be ideal.”
Or someone.
Did she have a family? Had she been reported missing? Christ, he hoped to hell she wasn’t Rex’s plaything.
Fifteen minutes later, the bird landed and the woman still hadn’t woken. Which was alarming as fuck—the heli was loud. He carried her to their tinted-out SUV, lay her across the back seat, and shut the rear door.
Rogue waited in front of the SUV, his hands tucked into his vest, his expression grim. The headlights illuminated his best friend’s face. Strain creased the corners of his eyes. “Be careful.”
Atlas snorted. “What, you think she’s gonna hurt me? She weighs like a buck and has shitty aim.”
Rogue smirked. “You know what I mean. We know nothin’ about her. Need to stay on the offense.” He shifted his weight. “But she could be the key to finding Rex. He might come looking for her.”
Atlas cringed at the idea of that bastard getting anywhere near Molly. Not after what he’d already done to her. He didn’t know the woman, but the signs of abuse were unmistakable. And he’d be damned if he let it happen again.
“I’d better get her taken care of.” Regret ate at him. He dragged his hand over his hair. “Fuck, it feels wrong parting ways. I?—”
Rogue clapped him on the shoulder. “We can’t leave her. Either you stay, or one of the others does. There’s no help for it.”
He grunted, nodding. “I’ve got it.”
“Good.” Rogue walked a few paces toward the field were the heli waited. “Try to get some intel from her. She might know where we can find Rex.”
“I will.” He watched Rogue jog across the sun-burnt field, then hopped in the driver’s seat. He glanced at the back seat. Molly was still sleeping.
He drove to the little motel where he and the guys had stayed the previous night and asked for the same room. Travelers through here were few, so his request was granted. Five minutes later he stalked into the small room.
Terracotta tile met his feet, and an air conditioner rumbled from the window. Shit, he’d forgotten how noisy that beast was and how it squeaked before conking out once the room was cold. Oh, well. At least he wouldn’t sweat his bag off tonight.
He turned on the light and Molly winced, groaning.
Some of the tension in his chest loosened. Finally, fuck.
“Hey, sleepyhead.” He closed his eyes with a huff of annoyance at himself. The fuck was he thinking giving her a nickname?
She opened her eyes. Dazzling amber irises, glittering with alarm, widened on his. He waltzed toward the bed and laid her on the thin coverlet. She fisted the bedding and scooched backward an inch to lean against the headboard.
