Darci’s fingers were covered with blood now. Jack may not be scared, but she was. If he lost too much blood he’d pass out. If that happened she wouldn’t be able to move him. Just pulling him into the corner of the cellar had taken all her strength.
“We have to stop the bleeding before you bleed to death.” She forced down her fear.
“Don’t worry about me, it’s just a scratch. We can’t stay here. They’re going to figure out soon enough both of us are gone.” He stepped away and grabbed her hand, their previous intimacy shuffled aside. “Later, when I get you to safety, you have to tell me how you escaped again. You seem to have a knack for it.”
He flashed a lopsided grin before urging her along behind him. He checked the corners before leading her into the next hallway, leaving her to wonder how this man continued to stay upbeat when danger breathed down their neck like a fiery dragon.
As soon as they were in the hallway she noticed a knife in his other hand. The gun now hung around his neck by a strap.
Glancing down, she saw blood still covered her hand. The reality of their situation crashed down on her.
God help her, she couldn’t do this. She didn’t want to lose her life or Jack.
****
Jack felt Darci pull back and paused to see her face pale and drawn, her eyes glued to her blood-covered hand.
He’d blocked out the pain the instant the guard cut him. He’d been trained to ignore pain. Darci wasn’t. They didn’t have time to stick around. They were vulnerable in the open. But when he saw her tremble he knew he couldn’t go on.
Reaching out a hand, he cupped her cheek and tilted her head up to meet his gaze.
“Darci, sweetheart,” he murmured. “It’s just a scratch. I’m going to be fine.” He cracked a smile. “I have six of my nine lives left.”
Tears swam in her eyes and she frowned, blinking them away. She tried not to cry and he gave her credit; she was tougher than she looked. He watched her pull herself together and knew he’d never meet another like her again. Her grit would make any military man proud. Hell, he was proud of her. She’d endured plenty already, yet she still managed to hold herself together and not lose her head.
He rubbed his thumb across her cheek, felt her relax beneath his touch. She trusted him. He could see it in her eyes. Humbled, he realized this woman would give her whole heart with the right man, hold nothing back. Some lucky bastard would spend the rest of his life waking up with this beautiful, spirited woman in his arms.
Jack felt the impact clear to his toes. The thought of Darci with another man knocked him right off his feet. He’d only ever felt protective over his mother. Somehow, Darci O’Shea had slipped beneath his skin and embedded herself deep. Why hadn’t he tried to remove her?
She gazed at him with a fierce expression now, her blue eyes vivid against her pale skin.
“You better not bleed to death, Jack Taggart,” she said. “If you do you’re going to find out why the Irish are accused of having tempers.”
Jack chuckled, aware her bravado covered true fear and drove his respect for her up a notch. “In that case, I better make good on my promise. Wouldn’t want to bring on the wrath of an Irish woman.”
Darci grinned. “Now you’re talking.”
Jack’s eyes dropped to her lips. She had a pretty smile. Beautiful lips. Straight, white teeth. Ah, hell, he wanted to kiss her. He’d been trying to keep a lid on his attraction, but when she smiled at him like that he couldn’t help it. She was irresistible.
Darci’s smile faltered. Her eyes darkened. Jack felt her soften beneath his hand, heard her murmur his name.
He wanted to pull her closer but the AK-47 he’d confiscated hung between them like a wall, keeping him in line. If it hadn’t been there, bringing him back to the situation at hand, he would have been backing her up against the nearest wall and doing what they both wanted.
But he didn’t. Instead, he exercised restraint and let her go, stepping back and lacing her fingers through his, calling himself a fool for being distracted when danger lurked around every corner.
“We have to move.” He pulled her forward.
****
The house held a maze of hallways. Every turn took them down another with doors on each side. Jack didn’t open them, simply continued looking for a way out. He couldn’t risk opening the wrong door and alerting the twins of their location.
His plan took a nosedive when a couple guards turned down the same hallway. He shoved Darci in the first door and followed, closing the door with barely a sound. He locked it and stood, ready for battle as the guards’ footsteps pounded past.
He had two weapons. That made him feel better, but they were still outnumbered. More guards seemed to be coming out of the woodwork. It made escape and evasion more difficult. Alone, he could easily slip out undetected but with Darci he had to take precautions. She wasn’t trained for this.
In the darkness of the small room he heard Darci’s breathing, soft and shallow. He could smell the metallic scent of his own blood. He had to stanch the flow or he would break his promise to Darci. He knew the wound needed attention.
“I think we’re in a bathroom,” Darci whispered from below him.
Jack listened to the silence outside the door. The guards passed by. He lowered the AK-47 and turned toward Darci’s voice.
“I’m going to search for a light.” He slid his hand over the wall.
“Won’t they see it?”
“The hallway is well lit. They won’t notice.”
Bathroom. Good. With any luck there’d be a First Aid kit somewhere.
Sliding his hand farther down, he found a switch and turned on a light. Faint enough not to be seen through the crack under the door. Darci blinked from where she perched on the edge of a bathtub. She glanced at the door, then back at him.
“You’re sure they won’t see the light?” she asked.
“Even if they do, we’ll hear them coming. I won’t let them separate us again.”
As he riffled through the drawers he watched Darci out of the corner of his eye. She stared at his back and had wrapped her arms around her waist. She was scared, but who could blame her? The things she’d experienced and seen were enough to give anyone nightmares for a very, very long time.
He hated what this was doing to her. Hated that she had to go through it and hated the ones putting her through it. They said money was the root of all evil. He believed it. Darci suffered because of money and greed, and Jack refused to let them get away with it.
She may not realize it, but she had him in her corner and he could be a tad overprotective of the women in his life. His mother accepted it with reluctance and teased him for doing her job. He knew she worried about him every time he went on a mission, but she respected his career choice and supported him in every way possible. His mom was a great lady.
He wanted Darci to meet her. She would love Darci’s spunk.
Jack’s hand stilled in the drawer he searched. What was he thinking? He could count on one hand how many times he had taken a girl home to meet Mom. His dad had left when Jack turned fourteen, so the couple girls he’d brought home met only his mom.
As the captain of the swim team, he had been popular in high school, but he always put his mom’s welfare first. His mom supported them on a teacher’s salary. They didn’t have much, but they were happy. Jack had never been ashamed of their tiny four-room apartment or struggle to make ends meet. He was proud of his mom for having the strength to do it.
His career didn’t allow for a serious relationship and Jack had never thought much about it. He liked his life. He could come and go as he pleased. Less complicated. So why consider introducing Darci to his mom?
He looked at Darci and she sent him a tiny smile, then rubbed her hands up her arms. Then he noticed the chill in the air. They were in the tropics, but it cooled down at night.
They couldn’t risk a hot shower; someone would definitely hear them. Though the thought of Darci
naked and in his arms beneath a pulsing spray of hot water sounded good to him.
“Jack?”
Pulled abruptly from his thoughts, he set the box on the countertop. “See if there’s a towel in the cupboard beside you to wrap in. I found a First Aid kit to patch up my wound.”
Darci searched the cupboard and pulled out two towels and a washcloth. She handed him the cloth and towel then wrapped the other around her shoulders. She perched on the edge of the tub while he soaked the washcloth. He removed his shirt and managed to clean the blood but couldn’t reach around to bandage the wound.
“Here, let me.” Darci pushed his hands away. Her towel dropped to the floor as she reached around him to pick up the blood-stained cloth.
Jack let her clean the wound while he prepared a bandage. She drew in a sharp breath when she gently dabbed the edges of the wound.
“You okay to do this?” He glanced over his shoulder at her white face.
She met his eyes briefly, bit her lip and nodded.
“Queasy?”
She pressed the cloth to his back. “A little,” she admitted. “The bleeding hasn’t stopped.”
“It will with pressure. Don’t worry, it looks worse than it is. Doesn’t even hurt.”
“Liar.” She rearranged the cloth.
One of her hands rested on his waist while the other held the washcloth in place. Her touch soft, her hands tiny and delicate. Her strength came from within, because to look at her he never would have guessed it.
They were tired, hungry and hurting but she hadn’t complained once. She didn’t look defeated. A good sign. He didn’t know how long it would be before she’d get food, water or sleep and he needed her to hang in there. He didn’t doubt for a moment she would.
“Okay.” She lifted the cloth. “I think it’s stopped.”
Jack handed her the gauze bandage and tape. “Put this tightly over it. Make sure the skin is dry or the tape won’t stick.”
Darci traded the cloth for a towel, drying the skin before taking the bandage from him. She leaned over, carefully applying the bandage.
“You may need stitches.” She pressed the edges down as her face paled even more. “Oh, God, I don’t feel so good.”
Jack turned around, catching her before she toppled over. Her complexion had taken on a green pallor. She slumped into his arms. He lowered her to the floor, propping her against the wall while he grabbed a clean washcloth and soaked it with cold water.
He leaned the AK-47 against the door, within easy reach, maneuvering Darci onto his lap. He pressed the cloth to her forehead. She moaned and twisted her head away. He grinned when her eyes opened.
“Just queasy, huh?” he teased.
“I fainted?” she asked in disbelief. “I’ve never done that before.”
Jack pressed the cloth to her forehead and she sighed, her head dropping onto his shoulder.
“That feels good.” Her eyes drifted shut.
Jack knew they couldn’t stay there much longer without risking being found. He hated to move, but it was necessary. He’d give Darci a few minutes to recover first. For now he’d just hold her.
He set the washcloth aside, his head falling back against the wall.
“We can’t stay here, can we?” Darci’s breath fanned his neck.
“No, it isn’t safe. But, I’d like to take that necklace off first.”
Her head lifted. “Why?”
“So I can hold on to it.”
“Jack—“
“This isn’t open for discussion. I need to keep you safe. Take it off.”
After a moment, she heaved a sigh and messed with the clasp. It took a few seconds, but it eventually dropped in her hand. She handed it to him.
“That necklace is very important to me.”
“Your life is very important to me.”
“There’s really only one way to keep it safe,” she said.
Jack didn’t like the look in her eyes. “I won’t lose it.”
“Not if you’re wearing it. The clasp is special. Only the person wearing it can unlock it. They’ll never get it off you unless they cut it off.”
The thought of wearing a feminine necklace made him shudder. Hell, if that ever got out to his team…
“No way in hell.”
“It’s the only way to keep it safe. It’s worth a lot of money. Not to mention sentimental value.”
Jack groaned. “Ah, hell. Show me how it works.”
****
She fainted. Of all the embarrassing things to do in front of a Navy SEAL it had to be that. She didn’t swoon. She’d seen blood before and she’d never passed out. It must have been the wound--she couldn’t say she’d ever seen one as bad as Jack’s. Or maybe it was the fact that it was on Jack that got to her.
Somehow he’d become her lifeline. Especially now that he wore her necklace. It looked completely ridiculous on him, but he did it for her and she loved him all the more for protecting her. His shirt hid most of it, thankfully.
She’d come to rely on him and his skills to get them off this island. Just the thought of being here alone made her shudder. She tightened her grip on Jack’s hand and moved closer to him as they crept down a hallway.
On the positive side, waking up in his arms hadn’t been so bad. It made fainting a little easier to bear. Being held and having his strong arms wrapped around her, even better. She could have stayed there the rest of the night.
Her eyes dropped to his hand holding hers. Tanned and strong and completely engulfing hers. He’d never let go, and that gave her the confidence to believe they were going to make it.
Adrenaline kept her going and when Jack pulled her into a kitchen, she almost cried with relief. She could drink a lake.
“Is it safe to look for a drink?” she asked when they stopped inside the door. All was quiet in this wing of the house, so it must be safe. She hoped.
“Make it quick and quiet.” He eyed her gown. “I doubt you have any pockets hidden in that dress?”
A shudder feathered down her spine at the way he looked at her. She shook her head.
“I have an idea.” He crouched at her feet. With the flash of a knife the bottom two thirds of her beautiful dress fell into his hands. He put a hand on her waist and turned her around so he could cut a complete circle.
When he finished, her designer gown was ruined. The new hem ended mid-thigh instead of floor-length and revealed the scrapes and bruises on her legs.
Jack’s fingers brushed her knee and another shudder worked through her. Sweet Mary, his touch was pure sin.
He cursed softly and touched the bruise on her thigh. Darci could do nothing but stare down at him. If he kept touching her like that she might melt into a puddle at his feet.
At the same time she didn’t want Jack getting upset over her bruises. They didn’t hurt and weren’t that bad. She’d forgotten about them. Wanting to distract him, she stepped away and turned in a complete circle, arms spread.
“Well, what do you think?” She posed like a fashion model.
She watched with satisfaction as Jack rose to his feet, his eyes dark. His gaze roamed over her, lazily, from head to toe and she felt it like a caress clear through. Mercy, the man was better than chocolate.
Jack grinned. “Lookin’ good, babe.”
Darci preened. His husky, rich voice warmed her from the inside out.
“Maybe I’ll start a new trend. So, what’s that for?” She motioned toward the remnants of her dress.
Jack folded the material into a pouch. “Whatever we can find. We don’t have much time, so look for food that we can carry.”
Excellent idea. They could stack food in the center, fold and tie the ends together to keep it safe. She smiled. Good looking, reliable, strong, and resourceful.
They did a quick search and ended up with more than they’d hoped. The kitchen wasn’t well-stocked by any means, but it was evident these people had been there a few days and were planning on staying a few more.
Between them they were able to put together an assortment of fruits, bottled water, granola bars, crackers and a small jar of peanut butter.
Darci ate a banana and drained a bottle of water while Jack took inventory of their collection. He picked up the jar of peanut butter and raised a brow. Darci tossed her peel into the trash and sent him a sheepish smile.
“I couldn’t resist,” she said. “I love peanut butter.”
Jack put it back and gathered the four corners into his hand. “Eat what you can before we go. Try to choose foods high in protein. They’re good for energy.”
Darci grinned. “Peanut butter is high in protein.”
Jack chuckled and tied the makeshift pack closed. The kitchen door swung open as they were preparing to leave and they found themselves facing two armed guards.
Darci dove to the floor as bullets tore up the appliances around her. Jack covered her with his body. He thrust the food sack at her, told her to make a run for it and not to look back.
She couldn’t object because Jack leaped up and returned fire. Darci covered her ears, grabbed the sack and ran. Too scared to worry whether Jack followed, she sprinted toward the open door. The guards were advancing on Jack and didn’t see her dart past them and out the door, too busy trying to put a bullet in him to care if she escaped. So, doing what Jack told her to, she ran like the wind and searched frantically for a way out. There had to be one somewhere.
Her breath sawed in and out of her lungs, her heart pounded. Where was Jack? The exit?
Bullets were still flying behind her and she heard the grunts and shouts of men that probably wouldn’t make it out alive. Jack better not be one of them. She’d strangle him if he didn’t walk out of there.
That thought brought her to a skidding stop. What if she found her way out and Jack didn’t? What if he needed her help? What if he did and couldn’t find her?
These thoughts raced through her head as she started opening doors and frantically searching for an exit. The gunshots would alert the others to Jack’s location and she didn’t remember seeing any extra bullets for his gun. He wasn’t invincible, though she wished to God he could be.
Someone came running down the hall next to her and she heard the sharp voice of the blond woman. It grated on her already strung-out nerves and forced Darci into the first door she could find. She ducked inside and closed the door, staying only until it went silent.
A SEAL's Song Page 5