Page 72 of Rebel Protector
As expected, there was a small body of water a couple of miles ahead. One thing you could always find in a tropical country was a lake.
He shifted the SUV into four-wheel drive and veered off the dirt road onto a barely visible trail. After ten minutes of bumping uphill, the trail ended, and he found himself facing the dark, glassy surface of a lake.
He grabbed the map, the rifle, and a spare cartridge from the glove compartment, then drove the SUV as close to the water’s edge as he dared. The lake looked deep and uninviting—the perfect burial site for the SUV.
Leaving the car in neutral, he released the brake and pushed it into the water. It gained momentum thanks to the slight slope, and soon it was gone. A few loud glugs and the black vehicle disappeared into the depths.
Good luck finding that one.
Ghost turned and began hiking back to the main road. The night air was cool against his skin, although technically, it was almost morning. The sky was starting to glow faintly in the east, signaling daybreak was about an hour away.
He picked up the pace, settling into a gentle jog. It reminded him of rucking through Afghanistan or Iran during ops, hours spent moving out of enemy territory. This wasn’t much different—he had to make it back to the clinic before the sun fully rose.
By the time he reached the village, dawn had broken. The streets were light enough that anyone passing by would notice him, but so far, the village seemed still asleep. Thankfully, the locals weren’t early risers.
He rang the buzzer, and the doctor’s voice crackled through the speaker. “Coming.”
A few moments later, Ghost stood in the clinic reception while the doctor eyed the rifle warily.
"It's just for protection." He ejected the magazine and checked the chamber before setting the gun down, well out of reach.
He must’ve looked like hell. The shirt he'd thrown on a few hours ago was now covered in dust, dried sweat, and blood seeping through his bandage. The doctor, now dressed and no longer in pajamas, gave him a quick once-over.
“How is she?” Ghost asked.
“Sleeping,” the doctor replied with a nod, as if confirming it was the right thing. Ghost agreed.
“Good.”
An awkward pause followed.
“Mind if I use your bathroom to freshen up?”
“Sí.” He pointed down a sterile corridor. “There’s one for the patients. You can use that.” His eyes lingered on Ghost’s dirty, blood-stained shirt. “I’ll find you some clean clothes. They might be a little small, but I’ll see what I have.”
“Appreciate it.”
In the small bathroom, Ghost scrubbed every inch of his body, even washing his hair. The tiny space didn’t allow much room, but it felt good to get clean. Water pooled on the floor,so he used paper towels to dry himself and tidied the bathroom until it was spotless.
God, it felt good to be clean.
His body ached from exhaustion, and his bicep was sore around the wound. The doc had slathered it with antibiotic ointment, so he hoped it would heal without further trouble.
When he emerged, he saw a pile of clothes on one of the waiting room chairs. The doctor, a tall man—probably about five-ten or five-eleven—was much slimmer than Ghost. The sweatpants fit, but were tight across his thighs, and the T-shirt clung to his chest and biceps, pressing against his wound. Ghost ripped the sleeve at the back to loosen it. That was better. It wasn’t perfect, but it would do.
He checked on Becca. She lay motionless on the steel table, a blanket draped over her. She seemed to be resting peacefully.
Ghost gently touched her pale face. “You’re okay now,” he whispered.
A wave of exhaustion swept over him, and he glanced around for somewhere to sit. The doc had a comfortable-looking leather chair tucked under his desk. He pulled it out, stretched his legs, and sat down. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, his body was ready to shut down. As the village began to stir, Ghost drifted off into a deep sleep.
CHAPTER 29
“Where am I?”
Becca opened her eyes and saw the sterile white walls of a hospital ward. She was hooked up to a machine that beeped intermittently, while a nurse hovered around her bed, checking her vitals.
“Welcome back,” the nurse smiled at her. “You’ve been out for quite a while.”