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.
Only then did she open the door and peek out. Clear. She slipped out and headed the opposite way she’d come. She couldn’t go the other way. Though she really wanted to go check on Jack. He’d be upset if she did. He wanted her to run and that’s what she’d do.
She hurried down the hall and turned the corner. Darci gasped when she recognized her surroundings and her heart started racing with excitement. The courtyard where they’d arrived. Yes.
Making a run for it, she slid into the night and let the cool air envelope her like a comforting embrace, and inhaled the scent of tropical flowers and rich rainforest.
Now what? Darci glanced around and to her dismay realized that the path leading to the boat was no longer lit. Which way had they come from when they’d arrived?
The kidnappers had probably turned off the lights so the authorities wouldn’t know anyone stayed on the island. This group would cover all the bases and wouldn’t make a simple mistake like leaving torches to light the way.
There weren’t many options. She could go back into the house, try her luck in the jungle or stay put. None one of them sounded promising. If she went back into the house she’d be caught for sure. If she went into the jungle she’d be lost and never found. And if she stayed here she’d be found.
The canopy of trees overhead filtered the moonlight so that once she stepped out of the light she would be in total darkness. Darci didn’t know the first thing about the jungle or surviving in one.
She needed Jack. He’d know what to do. Lights were turning on inside the house all over the place. They would soon take the search outside.
Heading for the jungle, Darci tripped over uneven ground and had only gone a few feet before it swallowed her up and the light disappeared.
She dropped down to the ground, her gaze aimed toward the shouts coming out of the courtyard.
A sharp, female voice said, “She’s out here. Find her and bring her to me.” Darci would recognize that voice anywhere and it gave her the chills every time she heard it. The next voice terrified her.
“You have who you want. She’s mine.”
“You had your chance, little brother, and you let her escape. Now my prisoner is missing and we don’t get paid until we find her. What you want is no longer important.”
“Dammit, Eva, I screwed up. It won’t happen again,” Heath snarled.
“You’re right it won’t, because I’m not going to give you the chance. Time’s running out. We have to find the woman and get that necklace.”
A muttered curse followed by the sound of a door slamming. Eva gave the order to search and her guards obeyed. Darci could see their flashlights bouncing through the trees in front of them. She ducked down. It would be light in few hours. She’d wait it out until then.
As the flashing beams grew closer, Darci squeezed her eyes shut and hoped for the best.
Chapter Five
‡
Someone grabbed a handful of Darci’s hair.
She cried out in protest and pain. “Hey. Let go of me.”
He didn’t, of course. Instead his grip tightened as he pulled her roughly to her feet. In the dim glow of his flashlight she could see his face. The same guard who’d backhanded her earlier.
Struggling against his grip, Darci tried to wrench free, but the oaf jerked her back and tightened his hold.
“Okay, okay,” she muttered, going still beneath his grip.
Lights bounced through the trees surrounding them as the jerk holding her shouted their location. Darci tried to think of something to get free, but came up empty. Tired and sore and scared, she wanted nothing more than to be off this godforsaken island. She longed for her own bed and a bubble bath. Preferably with Jack naked beside her.
Whoa. Where had that come from? She voted for fantasies, but now? How could she be fantasizing about Jack with danger staring her in the face, unsure whether he was alive or dead? She was losing it.
She could hear the others crashing through the brush now. It wouldn’t be long before they were back in the house, locked up where she’d started. Things just kept going in circles.
When the others arrived, boy, the Amazon woman fumed. Darci saw the murderous look in her eyes and figured she’d be better off taking her chances with Heath.
They led her to the courtyard and forced her to stand before the blond woman as she slowly circled her. Darci felt like a lamb led to slaughter and waited for the ax to fall. The Amazon stopped in front of her. Darci had to look up in order to meet her eyes.
“You have proved to be very resourceful,” she said.
Darci didn’t answer.
“You almost cost me a great deal of money. I don’t like to be crossed. I’m going to show you how much.”
Fear swept up Darci’s spine. She didn’t want to be here. Sadistic and painful didn’t sound like fun. She swallowed the lump in her throat.
Eva leaned down to peer in Darci’s face. The scent of her sweet perfume almost gagged Darci, but she managed to keep it down. Behind her, Heath chuckled.
“My brother carelessly trusted you. I won’t make that mis
take. Tell me, have you ever had screws pushed under your fingernails?”
Darci’s eyes widened. No, she hadn’t ever experienced that.
“Tell me where the necklace is. Now.”
She couldn’t give up her most treasured heirloom. Wouldn’t die for it either. Grammy wouldn’t want that. A shout from one of the guards inside the house stopped her from telling them it was in Jack’s hands and they would never get it.
“The other guy’s gone! And he’s got Hank’s weapons!”
To Darci’s surprise Eva and Heath began arguing, throwing insults toward each other, temporarily forgetting the necklace. The guards ran off in search of Jack.
She searched frantically for a way to escape.
*
Jack crouched low behind Darci, knife in hand. The twins were arguing over who was more incompetent and Jack seized the opportunity. He pressed against Darci’s back and slid a hand over her mouth before she could scream. His other arm slipped around her waist and he melted into the jungle with her before the guard knew what had happened.
When she started struggling, he put his lips near her ear and whispered to her. She immediately went limp in his arms. He removed his hand from her mouth. She spun around and threw her arms around him, burying her face in his neck.
“Oh, Jack, thank God.” By the way her voice wavered, she tried not to cry.
“It’s me, sweetheart, but we can’t stay here. We have to keep moving.”
The angry shouts behind them confirmed that, and when Jack heard the order given to find them he moved, dragging Darci with him.
He headed toward the ocean. If they could get to the boat, they could escape. He put his arm up to keep leaves and branches from hitting Darci, but in the darkness it proved difficult. He heard her gasp a couple times and stumble once.
Men crashed through the trees behind them and flashlights bobbed. Even if they made it to the boat they wouldn’t get far. He needed another plan, another place to hide until the search moved to another part of the jungle.
Coming to a stop, he scanned the jungle around them. Darci panted at his side.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
SEALs of Summer: Military Romance Superbundle - Navy SEAL Style Page 105