Cover of Darkness by Kaylea Cross Read Free Book Online Page B

something resembling a cracker, which she accepted hungrily.
    She wolfed it and two others down, keeping an anxious eye on her father. "Has he woken up at all?" Even with her limited knowledge of first aid she knew enough to be afraid he would lapse into a coma. By the look of him right now, he might already be there.
    "He woke a couple of times during the night," Dec said.
    "His speech was a little slurred, but that's to be expected.
    We'll get you both out of here on those choppers ASAP."
    He said it with absolute confidence before heading out into the storm. He had a steady, competent air about him, a certain calmness that came from being very sure of himself.
    Even if she hadn't known his rank she would have figured him to be the leader of the group. Bryn felt perfectly safe, despite being in a tent in the middle of a sandstorm with a bunch of special ops soldiers. She only wished there was something they could do for her father.
    After she had eaten, Spencer removed the IV needle from her arm while she looked pointedly elsewhere, lest she bring up her breakfast, and bandaged her before helping her into a sitting position. While everyone else packed their gear and got ready to move she hunkered down next to her father, passed a hand over his hair and down the side of his pallid face. His skin was clammy and cool. Bryn's heart turned over.
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    Cover of Darkness
    by Kaylea Cross
    What would she do if he didn't make it? They might not have been as close as she would have liked, but he was her father and she loved him anyway. The sight of such a powerful, intelligent man lying there so still and quiet broke her heart.
    Someone put a hand on her forehead, and she looked up into Spencer's blue eyes.
    "You're still a little warm," he told her, pulling a camouflage jacket over her and doing it up as though she were a child. "I gave you a shot of antibiotics last night, but you'll need more once you get back to Beirut. Some of the cuts on your arm were pretty deep, might be infected."
    She studied the scratches and little holes already scabbing over. She felt like Alice down the rabbit hole. A bomb blast, a kidnapping, nearly dying of dehydration, then rescued by Navy SEALs in the middle of the night. Certainly more exciting than her average day as a social worker, given the sad cases she had to deal with.
    Dec stepped back inside, pulling off his goggles. "Can't see much out there, but it's better than it was last night. Think you can walk, Miss Mc—"
    "Bryn, please, and yes I can walk. Thanks again, all of you, for coming to get us." To her horror, a lump formed in her throat and tears burned her eyes. It was nice to know she was hydrated enough to make tears, but damn it, she would not cry like a helpless female in front of these brave men.
    They might think she was weak.
    "Believe me, it was our pleasure."
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    Cover of Darkness
    by Kaylea Cross
    She forced a small smile and dropped her eyes to the ground, biting her lip to stop from crying as she rolled up her bedding. Spencer took pity on her and patted her shoulder.
    "Don't worry about it," he whispered so no one else would hear. "You've been through a lot. Nobody would think less of you for it."
    She nodded. "I'm fine, just tired. Don't worry about me falling to pieces or anything. I'm tougher than I look." She cast an anxious glance over her shoulder at her father.
    When she turned back, Spencer grinned as he picked up his rifle. "You single?"
    She gave him a startled glance and laughed. "Yeah, why?
    You want to take me out on a date once this is all over?"
    He merely widened his grin and made his way out of the shelter.
    Outside, Dec organized the team and gave the signal for two of the members to lift Jamul on a stretcher. "Okay, lady and gentlemen. Let's move."
    Day 4, Syrian village
    Morning
    In disbelief, Farouk Tehrazzi stared down into the empty cellar. How had they escaped? Not by themselves, he knew that much. A molten rage swept through him. His plan was