Page 4 of Heat Force

Damnit.

“Fine. You can keep watch while we perform the intervention.”

“Keep watch for what?” Jasper’s cheeks had turned bright pink from the humidity.

Lexi kept her voice even. “When we treat a member of a gorilla family, the head of the clan can sometimes act aggressively. They’re very protective creatures. If he goes into a charge, we want to be sure we know he’s coming.”

Jasper glanced at his boss. “Are you sure this is a good idea, Hawk?”

Lexi was enjoying herself now. “There are also the rebels that we have to watch out for. Sometimes they trespass on sanctuary land and use the roads to cut through the park. They can be a dangerous, unpredictable bunch.”

Jasper shook his head. “Hawk, I strongly feel you should rethink this.”

Annoyingly, his boss didn’t so much as flinch. “I’ll be perfectly alright, Jasper. It’s a great opportunity to see what my money is going towards.” He turned toward Lexi. “This is what you do, right? This is it—the real deal.”

“Yep.” Lexi gave a curt nod. “The real deal.”

Jasper threw up his hands. “Fine, don’t listen to me.”

Hawk patted him on the back. “Your concern is noted.”

Lexi wondered at their relationship. Jasper seemed more of a friend than a PR Manager, but it was clear Hawk did exactly what he pleased, regardless of his friend’s advice.

The task ahead was strenuous and risky. How would the pampered businessman fare? Hopefully, Hawk would get that kick up the butt sooner than she’d anticipated.

A short time later,one of the park’s all-terrain Jeeps rolled to a stop in front of the clinic. Hawk was waiting outside, but Jeremy had disappeared, along with the rest of the crew, who’d gone on a scouting mission with Robert.

The driver’s name was Edmond, one of the courageous park rangers who saw off poachers and rebels on a daily basis. He was a tough ex-soldier in his early thirties and had been working at Usala ever since she’d been here.

“Habari, Edmond.” Lexi greeted him in Swahili, his native tongue. It was one of the few words she’d learned, but in this region, almost everybody spoke it. Most locals were fluent in French, too, but she wasn’t any better at that.

Edmond gave her a friendly nod, then eyed the newcomer. “This is Hawk Anderson,” she said by way of introduction. “He’s a benefactor,” she added, unsure whether the ranger would know what that was in English.

“Bienfaiteur,’ Hawk said in perfect French. “Comment allez-vous?”

Lexi arched an eyebrow. The man could speak French. She was even more surprised when Edmond replied. He didn’t usually talk a lot, even to his fellow rangers.

Where hadhelearned that?

Going back into the clinic, she picked up the two medical backpacks. She hadn’t gotten farther than the porch, when Hawk lifted them off her shoulders.

“Thanks,” she said, her entire body tingling at the sudden connection. Out here, she’d gotten used to pulling her own weight and didn’t need the help, but the bags were heavy, so she wasn’t totally ungrateful for his assistance.

Hawk handed the bags to Edmond who secured them in the back of the vehicle. The ranger had come prepared, and wore a tactical vest, pouches brimming with spare magazines and a compact radio.

Her assistant, a junior field veterinarian called Philipe, hurried out, carrying a folded-up gurney and the rifle. These went in the back too.

Lexi nodded to Hawk. “Time to go.”

She got into the front passenger seat beside Edmond, who was driving. Hawk, much to her dismay, sat directly behind her, alongside Philipe. It was probably her imagination, but she could feel him staring at the back of her head as they set off along the muddy dirt track.

The frequent rainfall and brutal humidity had pockmarked the ground, and the Jeep danced over potholes and cracks likeit was on springs. Lexi knew to hold on, acutely aware of Hawk bouncing around directly behind her.

“Do you go out in the field often?” he yelled, over the roar of the engine.

Lexi half-turned in her seat. “Not really. Noah, our in-field vet, usually does these interventions, but he’s unavailable.”

“So your job is mainly in the clinic on the base?”