Page 54 of Heat Force

A tall, broad-shouldered giant of a man entered the room, moving with military precision. His sharp eyes scanned the room for threats. “Yeah?”

“We need a medevac for the boy.”

“On it.” He reached into his pack for what she assumed was a sat phone. “I’ll let Pat know.”

“Edmond,” she breathed, as the ranger walked in behind them. He rushed over with a water canister and offered it to her. “Here, drink.”

Her hands shook as she took the canteen, the weight of it almost too much for her weak arms. Hawk placed a steadying hand over hers, guiding the canteen to her lips. The water was cool and sweet, and she drank greedily, the liquid soothing her parched throat. The haziness started to recede.

“How long will they be?” she asked, biting her lip.

“Not long.”

She hoped he was right.

“The rebels,” she murmured, resting her head on Hawk’s shoulder. She still couldn’t believe he was here, that he’d come looking for her.

“Don’t worry about them,” he said. “We took care of that.”

“You mean?”

He nodded.

Tears welled again, but this time they were of relief. They were safe. Well and truly safe.

Now, if only they could get Moyo to a hospital in time…

“He’s going to be okay,” Hawk said, as if reading her mind. “We’ll get him the care he needs.”

“Are you sure? He’s in a bad way.”

“I won’t let anything happen to him,” Hawk muttered, against her ear. “Trust me, Lexi. I’m not going to let anything bad happen to either of you ever again.”

CHAPTER 26

Hawk barreled out of the clinic. “Phoenix, where are we on that chopper?”

Phoenix threw him the sat phone. “Pat’s on the line.”

Hawk raised it to his ear. “Pat, what’s the ETA?”

The ex-SEAL Commander’s voice was tinny and sounded very far away. “I’m on it, Hawk, but this is Africa. It’s going to take some time.”

“We don’t have time,” he blurted, the tension getting to him. “We’ve got a young kid in bad shape. He’s not going to make it unless we get him to a hospital—fast.I need a helicopter out here stat.”

Luckily Pat wasn’t the type of man who took no for an answer either. They’d served together in the same unit and Hawk knew he was reliable. “Hang in there, buddy. We’re doing everything we can. Anna’s on the phone to the mining companies now. Somebody will have a bird sitting idle.”

“Get it here,” he growled.

“Stay by the phone,” Pat replied, before hanging up.

Hawk handed the phone back to Phoenix, who raised an eyebrow. “Think he’ll pull through?”

“He’d fucking better,” Hawk growled, raking a hand through his hair. His chest felt tight, an unfamiliar sensation he didn’t care for. He’d always prided himself on keeping his emotions in check, but seeing Lexi in that state—broken, filthy, sagging on the ground—had rattled him to his core. She was a fighter, but even fighters had limits. And Moyo… The boy’s pallor and shallow breathing told him his condition was serious. If he could just hang in there long enough to get to a hospital.

Phoenix stepped back leaving Hawk to stew and went to join Viper who was talking to one of the village elders.

Five excruciating minutes later, the phone buzzed. Hawk marched over and snatched it from Phoenix’s hand. “Pat, talk to me.”