The trio made their way to her room, and Rafe did his thing and unlocked the door. Liam gestured for her to stay behind while he cleared the room.
“Come on in.” Liam motioned for her to join him.
Rafe stood guard outside while she went inside.
“Gather your things. The timetable just moved up. I want us out of here in a couple of minutes. I don’t like the fact that there were men still out in the jungle looking for you.”
Yeah, well, she didn’t either. “I never really unpacked. I laid down for a bit, trying to calm myself from the trip, then called my therapist. After that, I went for a walk and well, you know the rest.” She collected her bag and unplugged her phone that she’d left to charge before venturing out onto the resort grounds. “This is everything.”
Liam, who’d stationed himself at the balcony, nodded. “Here, let me.” He grabbed her small backpack and suitcase. “Charlie Three and Five are on their way with the SUV.”
Jade hadn’t realized, or maybe she’d forgotten, that the team was still on comms. “I’m ready when you are.” More than ready.
“Stay close.” Liam gently took her elbow and led her to the door. “Charlie Four, Charlie One.”
She couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation, but the lack of tension coursing through Liam told her nothing was amiss.
“Things are clear for the moment. Time to get you out of Mexico.” Liam motioned for Rafe to take the lead.
“Now wouldn’t be too soon. I don’t think I ever want to come back.” She hadn’t wanted to come in the first place, but Breanahad encouraged her to take the next step in controlling her agoraphobia.
They strode through the main lobby like they owned the place. A new experience for her. She normally shrank into the background, hoping no one noticed her. But not with these men.
Exiting the building, she let her gaze roam, searching for signs of Charlie Three. Tucked between a couple of trees, she spotted Dax. The man blended into the landscape. If she hadn’t been looking for him, she wouldn’t have found him.
Liam leaned in. “Walk toward the road. The guys will be here in two.”
Too focused on putting one foot in front of the other, she didn’t question his gentle command. They eased into the tree line and disappeared out of sight of the resort’s double door entrance.
God, please get me out of here. I can’t take much more of this. I just want my little house with four walls and my computer monitor.
A tingling sensation crawled up her spine. She jerked her head up and whipped her gaze side to side. Someone or something was out there.
By the way Liam went on alert, he felt it too. The quick communication with him and his team faded as her anxiety ramped up.
Jade held back the tears threatening to escape. She couldn’t survive another night out in the jungle.
Bahía Sombra, Mexico
Thursday – 1200 Hours
Call Sign: Charlie One
The rental SUVcame to a stop on the road.
Liam flung the door open. “Get in.”
His command was harsher than he’d intended, but the hinky feeling of being watched had crawled up his back and onto his scalp. He’d had those sensations before while in theater, and he’d learned quickly not to ignore them during combat zone missions. And he wouldn’t now. Raven’s life counted on him doing his job without failure.
Raven jolted but didn’t question him. She crawled into the third row of the SUV and slid down in the seat like she was trying to hide from the world.
Dax piled in after her while he and Rafe jumped into the second row and retrieved their rifles.
Rafe shut the door and slapped the back of the driver’s seat. “Go.”
Boone didn’t hesitate. The man hit the accelerator and aimed the vehicle toward the airfield where their plane waited.
“I don’t like this,” Xander grumbled from the front passenger seat.
