Part 19 (2/2)
Then he turned the vessel, and its dead cargo, toward sh.o.r.e.
Tesla settled into the pa.s.senger seat beside him, curling up against the bitter wind. It would be a nice day at this hour, but on the lake in the fog there was nothing but a deep chilliness that seemed to seep into the bones.
”You saved my life,” she whispered from somewhere around her knees. He couldn't see her face, just the top of her head as it burrowed deeper against her legs. He looked around but couldn't see a blanket. And he had no intention of sending her below. Not with the men down there. He knew the one was gone and doubted the other was still alive. He'd get medical attention as soon as they could get it but suspected it would still be a good twenty minutes.
It wasn't likely that he had that long.
”Do you think this is done?”
There was no misunderstanding her meaning after all the s.h.i.+t they'd been through. ”It d.a.m.n well better be,” he said, leaning across to rub her shoulder. ”Regardless, we've got your back.”
She smiled mistily up at him, and as she lay her head back down on her knees, she whispered, ”Thank you.”
He shook his head. ”You saved my life and you're thanking me.” Who knew there were women out there like her? She was Mason's. No doubt there. But she was d.a.m.n fine. If Mason didn't want her, Hawk wouldn't mind a chance.
She was some kind of woman. He took another look over at her and realized she'd curled up like a kitten and slept.
Yeah, she was some kind of woman.
He steered the boat to sh.o.r.e. With any luck she'd get enough sleep to be able to handle what was coming.
Chapter 26.
WHEN SHE WOKE, the wind was biting and swirling through the small cabin. The sun was trying to s.h.i.+ne, but it was held back by the fog. And although lifting, the fog didn't appear ready to give up its domain.
Tesla had hoped Mason would be here by now. Wherever here was. She just wanted to get the h.e.l.l home. And even that couldn't happen. She had to go to the d.a.m.n demonstration. Looking the way she did. Great.
She could probably push it off for a few days, but then this h.e.l.l would continue. Better to suffer through the demonstration and then go hide away and lick her wounds. If Mason found her then, that was a whole different story.
Right now, they all had a job to do.
She was just so d.a.m.n tired of doing it.
Through the fog, she could see a sh.o.r.eline take shape. She smiled. Now that was a mighty fine picture. She stood up to see better. ”Any idea where we are?”
”I'm not sure.” But from the dark tone to his voice, she thought he might but didn't want to tell her.
He grabbed the radio. ”Penderson Marina. That's the name I can see.”
He clicked off and waited for a response. When it came she didn't quite understand. Until Hawk said, ”Okay, we're going to be about an hour then unless you can arrange a ride to pick us up.”
He nodded at the next response and shut down the radio. ”We have car and a helicopter on the way.”
At the word helicopter her heart sank. Then she realized after all she'd been through, how d.a.m.n appropriate this would be. She'd arrive in style and to h.e.l.l with them all. She'd come to do a job for those men. She'd do it and go home.
She sat in silence as Hawk handled the boat with enviable skill. She had no idea how long he'd been doing this, but he made it all look easy.
The weather was clear by the time he pulled up to a mooring spot and hopped off, tying the boat up securely. He glanced around and saw what he was looking for. He motioned to the dock. She gasped at the sea of uniforms racing toward them.
Hawk helped her out of the boat and stood with her as the men came and ushered her to a waiting car. She was driven to a small helicopter pad and loaded up and within minutes she was airborne.
Hawk still at her side.
She glanced down and realized she was no longer scared. She'd been through so much s.h.i.+t already, riding in a helicopter was no biggie.
”You're not worried this time?”
She grinned. ”Nah, why would I be? Mason's not here.”
He frowned, his gaze searching. ”What difference would that make?”
”Tons,” she said with a laugh. ”He's not here to throw me out.”
Hawk laughed and laughed. ”Wait until I tell him that.”
”If he doesn't like the answer, he should have been here,” she cried. ”Would that have been so hard?”
”You know he's going to blame himself for this, right?”
She twisted in her seat. ”Why would he?”
”He had to leave to make sure the security was in place for the day. When he left, the enemy moved in.”
She nodded slowly. ”I knew but hadn't considered how long he'd be gone. Figured he'd gotten busy.”
”He'd never have left without it being a direct order.”
”He was ordered to leave?” At Hawk's nod, she smiled. ”That makes me feel better, but maybe someone should be asking the hard questions as to who ordered him away.”
Hawk sat back and stared at her. ”You think military are involved?”
She laughed. ”Hawk, at this point, I suspect everyone but you and the rest of the team.”
That beautiful white toothed grin flashed. ”Glad to hear that.”
They landed soon after and were quickly transferred to another car. Inside, she caught Hawk glancing at his watch.
”How close are we?”
”They started the opening speech a few minutes ago.”
”Oh good, I'm glad to miss that. Hate those things.”
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