Someone held her wrist, but she didn't have the strength to wrestle free. "No hospitals," she murmured.
"There are no hospitals here, ma'am. We're going to get you some help."
Taylor looked over to where Kam lay on a litter. Two men were working on him. Her eyes were so heavy, but she needed to fight to keep them open. Kam needed her. He was alive and she had to make sure he stayed that way.
She dug her arm out of the blankets wrapped around her and clamped onto the shirt of the Guardsman helping her. "Nothing happens to him. He has to survive."
"We will do everything we can to save you both." He tucked her arm back inside the cocoon. She was lifted as she watchedthe two working on Kam ready to carry him too. Two more men joined them as they hoisted Kam's still form from the small boat.
"Where are we going?" Pinpricks were starting in her fingers and toes. The pain was welcomed this time. It was a sign she would make it and she'd get to keep all of her appendages.
"There's a clinic at Dutch Harbor. They are considered a trauma center even though they aren't technically a hospital. You were lucky that you happened to be close."
Taylor knew it wasn't luck that saved them today. God was watching out for them. "What about the helicopter?"
"It turned tail when we blew our horn." Taylor closed her eyes and thanked God for protecting them today.
The Guardsmen clipped Taylor into a winching rig and hauled her aboard the cutter. When she got past the rail of the ship, they lowered her onto the deck and unhooked her.
"I can walk." Taylor tried to sit up, but the strap held her in place.
"You need to stay still, ma'am," another Guardsman, whose jumpsuit said Rodgers on it, said.
"Look, Rodgers, you can either unhook me or I'll call Senator Schulz as soon as I'm free to log a complaint about how I was mistreated by the Coast Guard."
The man mumbled under his breath and shook his head, but loosened the straps holding her.
"Thank you." Taylor slowly pushed to her feet, feeling every one of the bruises, cuts, and injuries she accrued over the last few days. Rodgers steadied her with a hand around her waist.
She attempted to glare at him. "These waters make it hard to walk on a good day. Let me get you to your partner."
Taylor nodded and took a few steps forward swaying with the boat. The winch was lowering Kam's litter into the hands of waiting crew. She saw an orange-and-white helicopter being unhooked and checked over past where they stood.
Rodger nodded towards the bird. "They'll fly you to Dutch Harbor. It'll be faster." He didn't say it, but she could fill in the blank. Kam needed every second of this rescue. Tears burned her eyes as they loaded him into the bay and strapped him in. She stumbled into the hold, trying to make it to Kam's side. Rodgers pulled her back, guiding her into a seat where he secured her with a harnessed seatbelt.
He pulled the straps taunt. "I'll be praying for you." Just like that, he was gone, replaced by two medics who moved in tandem working on Kam. Taylor closed her eyes. She couldn't see Kam from here so she would do the only thing she could. She'd pray.
CHAPTER 11
Something was lying on Kam's arm. The explosion had flipped their truck. He needed to get to his men. Where were they? Kam tried to open his eyes, but the lids refused to lift. The weight on his arm shifted, and he heard a faint voice.
"Kam. Can you hear me?"
Taylor? What was Taylor doing in Russia? He needed to open his eyes. His mind couldn't be trusted if it was tormenting him with Taylor's voice. Where was his team?
The smell of burning rubber seared his nose. Kam just needed to crawl over Preston's body. His vision wasn't in focus, but he knew that Preston was there as he dragged his legs behind him. He shook his head and coughed. Blood sprayed the ground, and Kam wiped his mouth with his hand. No strength left to go another foot, Kam rolled onto his back. When he blinked his eyes, the night sky was replaced by a concrete ceiling.
What in the world was going on? The convoy carrying the Russian mob defector just blew up. How did he get here? Realization washed over him, and Kam slowly rose. The concrete surrounded him, and the faint drip of water pinged through the room.
A tortured scream echoed off the walls. Kam knew that voice. Max. How did he get back to Ian's bunker? Something wet dripped on his face.
"Kam. Please wake up. Please." Taylor's voice drew him out of that dark place.
"No!" Kam roared. Ian couldn't have figured out who Taylor was.
"Whoa, there, King Kong." Two hands stopped him from launching upwards.
Kam's chest heaved for a few more breaths, then he blinked to bring the room into focus. The space was small, the walls a clean, unforgiving white. A single window high on the wall spilt a thin stream of daylight across the room. Kam stared at the man holding him still. Those features looked familiar, but his bunkmate from basic was KIA. How could he be here in his hospital room? Kam closed his eyes and lay back down.
