AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A loud groan. Aolani, I think, then realize it’s too close to be coming from her. A second sound escapes from Charlie’s lips. I nearly cry in relief, cupping his cheeks with my hands.
“Come on, you crazy bastard. Wake up!”
A fresh moan from him as Aolani slides into place beside me, med kit in hand. I grab the warming blankets and start spreading silver foil thermal wraps over Charlie’s inert form while she digs through the kit for bandages.
I’ve just reached Charlie’s waist with the blankets when his fingers suddenly snap around mine.
“It’s okay,” I murmur into his ear. “We got you. You’re safe now.”
“Frankie—”
“Shh…” I wipe smears of dirt from his face with my thumb, trying to soothe him with my touch. His gray eyes flutter open. I can’t tell if he’s actually conscious or floating somewhere in between.
“Don’t let them take me off the atoll,” he whispers hoarsely. His words are hard to catch over the noise of the storm. I lean closer.
“It’s okay—”
“I can’t leave.”
“Everything will be just fine.”
“Promise me.” His voice is stronger, demanding. I glance over at Aolani, but she’s still playing with bandages.
“You’ve been hit in the head,” I try to explain.
But he’s shaking his head in agitation, his grip now an iron clasp around my wrist. “Promise me!”
Aolani looks up.
Charlie peers straight at me. “I can’t leave. Not before she gets here. She’s the key. I know it.”
Then his eyes drift shut, and I’m left wondering what the hell he just said. And what it means that he spoke without a single trace of an Australian accent.
“We’re going to need help to get him out of here,” Aolani states. “Run back to the UTV and see if you can radio base camp from there.”
I do, slipping and sliding through the wet greens, ignoring beady eyes and snapping claws. And when Vaughn’s voice finally crackles over the airwaves, I dig my fingernails into the palms of my hands to stop the shudders of relief racking my body.
MUCH LATER, WE have Charlie back at camp. Ronin and Vaughn take over inspecting the damage. Charlie’s eyes are open again. He almost seems alert. But he remains silent as he slides an arm around each of his friends’ shoulders and lets them assist him back to his cabin.
With him tended to, Aolani and I finally have our turn in the showers. We don’t talk. We are soaked to the bone, covered in mud and leaves, and streaked with salt from the ocean spray. A three-minute Navy shower isn’t nearly enough. With the water off, I scrub and scrub. But it’s all so sticky, and my hair… good God, my hair. I hear sounds from the stall next to me. Aolani crying. Frustration? Rage? Relief?
I’m having a hard time choosing myself.
A final rinse of cold water that still feels better than the rain, then I do the best I can to wrestle a dry T-shirt and cotton shorts over my still damp skin. The material feels so soft and warm, I choke back my own sob.
I’m running on fumes by the time I stagger back to my cabin. As I crawl onto my bed, hair still dripping, I hear a chime.
My cell. It takes me a minute to remember where it is, what I’ve done with it.
Charger. Nightstand. I fumble around till I manage to get my phone in hand, peering tiredly at the screen. Against all odds, a text has managed to get through.
It’s from Victoria Twanow. A single-word reply to my earlier message: Sorry.
I have no idea what that means.
I collapse back onto the bed, and within moments I’m sound asleep.
CHAPTER 21
