Rocco glanced over his shoulder to see Sebastian, Lachlan and Kane enter the room.
“We have a clear path back to the grotto,” Sebastian said. “Perimeter guards are subdued and Nomar left with the dead woman and the others in a speedboat. That should give us enough time to get off the island and for Bobby to turn the infrared and motion sensors back on.”
“We don’t know where they went or how soon they’ll get back, so we need to get a move on,” Lachlan said.
Rocco slipped lifted Jemma into his arms. Her arms and head dangled at an unnatural angle that made her look lifeless. A sight that almost killed him.
Kane appeared at his side, reaching for her arms to drape them around Rocco’s neck and press her head against Rocco’s chest. A gesture he appreciated more than the man could ever know.
Rocco leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Jemma’s head, then led the way out of the bedroom, holding Jemma tightly within his arms.
Chapter 59
Fire blazed in his lungs.
Tree limbs and leaves scraped and scratched his skin.
Muscles strained and cramped as he pushed himself faster and further.
But none of that compared to the blissful feeling of Jemma’s arms holding onto him. Her face pressed into his neck. Her breaths caressing his sweat soaked skin?—
A flash of gunfire erupted pelting off the rocks that led to the grotto. The pop, pop, pop of automatic weapons unloading onto their only avenue of escape was deafening. A woman’s cry pierced the air. Rocco gripped Jemma tighter then realized she wasn’t the one screaming.
“Tatiana!” Kane’s yell was hoarse and desperate as he broke away from them and rushed toward the attack on the grotto. Rocco recognized the pain in the man’s voice, the desperation to save a woman who meant more to him than he realized.
Sebastian sprinted after Kane, rushing past Lachlan.
Rocco felt a hand grip his shoulder and jerk him back.
Everett appeared at his side. “Lachlan! Stay here and cover Rocco.” His friend turned to him. “Wait here, stay hidden with Lachlan. As soon as we get to Tati and take out the gunmen, we’ll signal for you to come. Do not move until I give you the signal.”
“Got it,” Rocco said, understanding immediately why Lachlan was kept out of the battle. As a father to a five-year-old little girl, Rocco was surprised that he was willing to participate in the mission to rescue Jemma. It was a testament to how much being part of Stingray Security meant to him. Meant to all the guys.
And something Rocco would never forget.
Everett raced away, following the path Kane and Sebastian had taken to the grotto.
Lachlan slowed, hand trained on his gun as his gaze swept their surroundings. “We were so fucking close to getting off this damn island,” Lachlan said, then pushed Rocco further back into a dense copse of hibiscus bushes. “How’s Jemma?”
Rocco gazed down into his woman’s beautiful face. He was pleased to see some of the color coming back to her brown skin, covered in a sheen of sweat. Her breathing had increased a bit, signaling that the drugs were starting to wear off, which could be good or bad. He didn’t want her to feel the devastating effects of fentanyl withdrawal, which was far worse than the effects of being intoxicated by the drugs. Depending on how much of it had been pumped into her system, she might have a hard road ahead of her. Rocco planned to be by her side every second of it.
“She’s better,” Rocco responded as another round of gunfire ripped through the air.
“Get down!” Lachlan crouched low and peered through the leaves. More gunfire erupted in rapid succession—a choreographed symphony of a battle unfolding. “That’s one gunman. He’s outnumbered by us. As soon as Sebastian and Everett pinpoint hislocation, they’ll be able to take him out. We need to wait here and hope no other guards arrive to help him.”
Rocco nodded his agreement and as if on cue, the gunfire stopped. They waited for a brief moment before hearing Everett’s voice in the comms. “Target eliminated. All clear. Get to the grotto now!”
Sebastian’s voice followed. “Lachlan, need you to navigate the SPSS with Rocco. Everett may have been hit.”
Everett said, “I’m fine.”
“We don’t know if that’s Tati’s blood or yours,” Sebastian snapped back. “You’re coming back with us. Don’t fucking argue with me.”
Everett grunted in response but didn’t push back on the order.
Sebastian continued, “Tati’s fine but shook up. She was grazed by a bullet. Not much damage but it’s bleeding a lot and scaring the shit out of her. Kane is trying to calm her down. Need to get them both back to the Stingray compound and checked out.”
“Adonis ain’t going to like this,” Lachlan said.
