He stopped and turned to her. “This is the spot. Here’s hoping Thor and Greer aren’t too far out.”
She smiled wanly. “I’ll pray for that.”
He studied her, wanting to tell her how incredible she was, but then he heard the low thrum of chopper blades. That was good. He turned and looked into the predawn sky. He could see some lights coming their way. He was excited to see his brothers and get off his feet, and eating some decent food after his long swim would be great.
Any minute now and he and Melene would be safe, headed for a safe location, and he’d have help to protect her. He loved being her hero and being alone with her, but he was used to being part of a team. His flesh and blood brothers were every bit as qualified, tough, and reliable as his SEAL brothers. Maybe he could relax a little … and kiss Melene. That wasn’t the smartest, or most rational, plan he’d ever had, but it sure was the most exciting one.
He risked a glance at her. She was looking up at the sky as well, but she dropped her gaze to his and an enchanting smile blossomed on her face. He couldn’t stop his body from swaying closer to her, as if he’d already given himself permission to kiss away. Her dark eyes beaconed him closer and he knew resistance was futile.
Another sound had him yanking away from Melene and pivoting toward the west. Lights were coming up the road, a truck rumbling straight for their location. He didn’t know if whoever was in that truck was a danger to Melene, but he was taking no chances after two innocent boys may have unknowingly caused the past seven hours of stress. He wrapped his arm around her and ushered her back to the coverage of the trees.
She trembled against him.
“It’s okay,” he whispered against her hairline. “Probably nothing to do with us. They’re probably workers coming to work in the sugar cane fields before it gets too hot.” It wasn’t yet five a.m. and the Jamaicans had a reputation for being laid-back. It worried him that this truck might not be any workers but someone who was looking for them.
If the men who’d attacked the villa figured out they’d swam away in the ocean, they would probably guess he’d take one of the river tributaries up into the mountains. It made him ponder if a worker at the resort had actually put the pieces together and not the little boys. Someone could’ve been watching them at their pool or their beach and gotten a picture. Maybe a resort security camera had gotten an angle on Melene’s face and a guard had figured out who she was. That actually made more sense as those men had come at the villa with guns a-blazing only two hours after the interaction with the little boys. Also, they’d known Melene’s name. He and his team would’ve snuck in and incapacitated their target, but obviously those mercenaries didn’t know the meaning of subtlety.
What other options were there for their discovery? He might never know. The little boys may have saved their lives, as he’d been packed and ready to go the moment they needed to escape.
He pushed the unanswered questions away. The focus of the moment was the truck stopping next to the fields and the handful of men spilling out. Thankfully, Aiden had backup. The chopper was coming in hot.
The men started screaming and waving off the olive-green military chopper. They didn’t pull any weapons out, so that calmed him a fraction, but they may have just been waiting to see who they were dealing with before they revealed their firepower.
The Blackhawk descended and touched down. The doors opened and Thor and Greer leaped out. They each held an M240 machine gun like they meant business, pointed straight at the men in the truck.
The men scrambled back into the truck, pushing, screeching, and elbowing each other to get there first. The driver popped it into gear and the older truck was spinning around and flying back down the road before the passenger door was shut.
Aiden laughed out loud. Man, he loved his brothers, and their timing had been perfect.
Who knew if those men were dangerous to Melene, or simply unfortunate workers who were crapping down both legs right now? Aiden was just relieved they’d bugged out so easily.
He kept his arm around Melene and ushered her back out into the clearing.
Both Thor and Greer turned as they sensed the motion. Aiden hurried into the circle of light from the chopper so they could see him. The wind created by the chopper’s blades whipped Melene’s hair around her face and sent stinging dirt at their faces and any exposed skin.
His brothers both immediately lowered their weapons. Thor’s face broke into a huge grin, and he hurried toward them. Greer’s smile was a lot slower and more reluctant, but Aiden could see their next younger brother was ecstatic and relieved. Greer never showed much emotion or talked more than a few words at a time. As kids, they’d teased him a lot and had rarely riled him. Then he reached six-five and the fact that he had the twins by a couple inches and was as muscular and fit as both of them meant they didn’t tease as much, but they still wrestled and fought.
Thor reached him and slung his free arm around Aiden’s neck, yelling, “Yes! There is the ugliest twin brother in the world.”
“Good thing we’re not identical or I’d have to wear a mask night and day. The world can only handle one face that looks that bad,” Aiden hollered back.
“You mean the women can only handle one face this irresistibly handsome.” Thor laughed. “Hi, Melene. Let’s get you out of here.”
Thor released him and gestured toward the chopper. Aiden hurried Melene through the artificial windstorm and lifted her into the cabin. He jumped in himself, extending his hand and pulling Thor, then Greer in, getting a backslap from Thor and a nod from Greer.
Greer slammed the door behind them. They all took seats and strapped in as the pilot lifted off. Aiden tugged on the headset and the rest of them did the same.
Aiden wanted to reach for Melene’s hand. He wasn’t sure if it was to reassure her or to reassure himself. He liked having her close. It comforted and strengthened him. And he couldn’t remember ever needing either comfort or strength from anyone but heaven since he’d left home and his mama’s endearing worries.
“Pilot is on this frequency too. Our friend Captain John. Great guy,” Thor said in what sounded like a friendly, informative voice, but Aiden caught the meaning. Don’t say Melene’s name or anything else that we might not want to leak. Captain John is most likely the best of the best and wouldn’t leak information if they pulled off his toenails, but just in case …
“Thanks for coming for us, Captain John,” Aiden said.
“My pleasure.”
Thor was still grinning at him. “Man, it’s great to see you. Does this mean you’re bringing that ugly face to my wedding? I have a tux all lined up for you, but even dressing you up might not help much. Would it be offensive if your backside was to the crowd as the best man? Since we all know that’s your only tolerable side to look at for any length of time.”
Greer only shook his head at Thor, but the pilot gave a surprised chuckle and Melene smiled.