She felt heat rise to her cheeks, and that heat tripled in intensity when the rest of the team stepped into the small clearing.
But none of the others had a teasing look on their face when they saw Mack’s arm around her. In fact, most of them looked downright suspicious. Their team leader, Hunter James, was the first one to speak up. “You should’ve been here yesterday.”
Chapter 22
Mack stiffened. “We got here as quickly as possible. They tracked us for a while. Marley was attacked.”
Not that he owed them any excuses—he was the commander. The fact that Hunter had questioned him was an act of insubordination and Mack could drill into him for it. If Mack had been alone, he would’ve made it back here yesterday, no question, but Marley couldn’t keep the same pace he could, whether she wanted to admit it or not. But he wouldn’t call her out in front of his men like that either.
“She’s slowing us down.” Hunter said in a flat voice.
Mack pushed Marley behind him, buffering her from Hunter’s harsh countenance. The rest of his team was looking at them with blank yet grim expressions. “Like I said, we got here as quickly as possible. I want Mankel as badly as you do. As bad as each and every one of you do. Who here doubts that?”
Mack stared each man down, daring his team to question his devotion to their cause.
Hunter stepped forward. “How do you know she’s not working for Mankel too? I’ve been thinking it over. What kind of pilot doesn’t realize when the automatic pressure control has been tripped off?”
Fury blasted through Mack’s veins, but he held himself in check, not allowing Hunter to see how much his words had affected him. “The kind of pilot who was tricked just like we were.”
“Or her copilot simply cheated her out of her half of the money Mankel promised them in exchange for killing us. She’s just using us to get out of the jungle.”
“Shut your mouth, Sergeant.” Mack took a threatening step forward.
Marley would never willingly betray him. He felt it, knew it in his bones, and his instincts had never been wrong before. Mack had never lifted a hand against one of his own men, but if Hunter didn’t stop talking about Marley like that, he would shut him up and quick.
Ranger stepped in front of his brother, putting a hand on his chest. “Hunter, stand down.”
Hunter shoved his brother out of the way. “I’m only saying what we’re all thinking. She could be working for Mankel. We all know it.”
Ranger shouldered his way back in front of his brother, trying to shut him down. “Why don’t we talk to her about it. Mack is obviously satisfied with her story.”
Mack tamped down his fury and crossed to Hunter, getting within an inch of his sergeant’s face. “She’s as much a victim as we are. She only wants to get home to her daughter. End of story. And you’re going to treat her with respect.”
Hunter’s eyes widened, dark with realization. “You had sex with her. I can smell it on you.”
Mack’s arm shot out, passing Ranger’s shoulder to clamp a hand around Hunter’s throat. “What I did with Marley is none of your business. But I can promise you, she has nothing to do with that bastard. Don’t say it again.”
Hunter had four inches on Mack and maybe fifty pounds of muscle. He could’ve easily thrown his brother off in order to get at him, but he didn’t move a muscle. He stood there and let Mack squeeze his throat. Mack shoved him back with a disgusted sigh, pacing away before he did something stupid.
Marley stood about five feet away, her face pale. Fuck. Mack speared his hand through his hair and scrubbed it down his face. Their emotions and hatred for Mankel were clouding their logic. Mack was just contributing to it. He gave Marley a reassuring nod before turning back to his men, all of whom stood in a tight half circle, warily watching him for his next reaction.
This was his team. These men would give their lives for him, and he would give his life for them. And right now they needed his reassurance. “Marley, come here.”
He heard her shuffling up behind him. She paused just behind his shoulder, but Mack pulled her around to the side so that his men could clearly see her. He turned to her and tilted her chin up with his finger. “Tell them that Mankel didn’t hire you to crash the plane.”
He tried to say the words as gently as possible, tried to soothe her with his expression. He didn’t like those tight lines around her mouth one bit. His team was intimidating to fully grown men, he could only imagine how scared Marley must be with all of them glaring holes into her chest.
“It’s okay. I’m right here.”
Damn, he wished he could read her mind. But all he saw was the anxiety and worry in her eyes, and it hurt like hell to know that he was partially responsible for it. He couldn’t blame her if she broke down in tears right now.
Marley drew in a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Pride burst through Mack’s chest. Damn, he was one lucky man to have found her.
Marley faced his crew with her chin lifted, looking like a proud queen despite her torn and dirty clothes and the bruise marring her cheek. The sight was utterly breathtaking.
“He did not hire me to crash the plane or set off the bomb. Ramsey took me as much by surprise as he did each and every one of you. If I could find that bastard right now, I’d put a bullet between his eyes without blinking.” Fire blasted from her gaze. Mack wanted to take her into his arms, but he held himself away, letting his men see the truth behind her words.
Mack thought briefly about adding that Marley was a widow and a single mother, but he held silent. Saying that wouldn’t really lend anything to her credibility. As a single mother, she could probably use some extra money. Even though Mack knew she would never consider stooping to crime to get it, they were trying to convince his men of her innocence.
Marley held their gazes, unblinking.
Riser was the first one to break the silence. “Sounds to me like she’s telling the truth. I believe her.”
One down, six to go.
The Crowe brothers nodded in unison. “We believe her.”
Ethan and Merc followed suit, as did Ranger and Aaron. Hunter was the last to give her a begrudging nod. “Okay.”
Okay was the most noncommittal word he could’ve come up with, but at this point Mack would take what he could get. “Good, we are in agreement.”
All eight of his men nodded again and Mack relaxed. He didn’t want to admit it, but their opinion of Marley mattered to him. They were his family.
He wanted to put his arm around Marley and pull her close, but the defiant set to her shoulders told him she wouldn’t welcome his touch in front of his men. She had too much pride, but that was a good thing. She’d need some stubbornness to deal with his crew, and if they were going to have a future together she’d be dealing with them for a long time.
Hunter and Ranger James were the most suspicious of their bunch, so it didn’t surprise him that they’d been last to voice their grudging approval. The others were slightly more trusting. Merc didn’t really have an opinion about anything except killing, which he enjoyed. And Reaper—
“Where is Reaper?”
Merc finally spoke up. “We lost him in the gunfight. Figured he’d show up with you two.”
“We haven’t seen anyone before now. Do you think the soldiers got him?” They’d have to track down the guerrilla camp and rescue Reaper. Crap. That would put them another two to three days, at least, behind schedule.
Hoyt shook his head. “Jared and I tracked them back to their camp to make sure they didn’t get any of you. Reaper wasn’t there.”
Shit.
“He’s going after his team alone.” Mack paced across the small opening in front of his men. “I knew we couldn’t trust that scary bastard.”
And that didn’t rule out the possibility that Reaper would warn Mankel of their location in the jungle. Dammit. “I shouldn’t have let him come.”
Merc crossed his arms over his massive chest, towering above each an
d every man around him. “He won’t warn Mankel. He’s going after his team. It’s exactly what I would do.”
Mack paused in his pacing to stare at Merc. He was the one with the closest connection to Reaper. “I hope you’re right. But we have to operate from here forward under the assumption that Mankel knows we are still alive.”
Hunter pulled out a large topographic map and spread it out on the ground. “Then we need to plot a course out of here ASAP. This is our current location.” Hunter pointed to a spot on the map. There was nothing but trees and mountains for miles around them. It would take them days to walk out of this place.
“This looks like the fastest route out, but it’s pretty rough terrain.” Hunter glanced up at Marley.
Every man here could handle rough terrain, but Marley might not. She cast a questioning look in Mack’s direction and then hesitantly approached the group, kneeling across from Hunter over the map. Mack crowded in close, needing to be close to her.
“I plotted the flight path to Cameroon. There’s a small airport here.” Marley touched a point on the map about ten klicks from their location.
“There’s nothing marked,” Mack said, frowning.
“It wouldn’t be marked. It’s a relatively new airport set up by the CIA. Gives them easier access to the locals.”
Mack had never heard of an airport in this jungle. He searched Marley’s expression, but she’d gone blank, completely unreadable. Her emotions always showed on her face . . .
The back of Mack’s neck tingled.
Hunter quickly plotted the route from their current location to the one Marley had indicated. “That’s doable. We could get there in a day and a half, tops. We can contact Agent K when we get there and get a ride out of this place pronto.” Hunter gave Marley a begrudging nod. “Good idea, Captain.”
Marley got to her feet and brushed her hands down her legs, not meeting Hunter’s gaze when she answered. “Thank you. Just doing my job.”
Mack studied the map again. He had also studied their flight path before leaving. Why wouldn’t he have ever seen or heard anything about this secret airport? His neck tingled again, and he scrubbed his hand over the spot, trying to get that nagging feeling to go away.
Everyone else seemed to accept the idea without hesitation. Maybe he should do the same. Marley had probably studied the flight path more than he had, since she was, after all, the pilot. She might be privy to special information.
“What’s everyone standing around for? Let’s roll out.” Riser hefted his backpack onto his shoulders. Mack gave himself an internal shake. If it hadn’t been for Marley’s quick thinking on the plane, his entire team would be dead. She was good at her job. She was thorough. He could trust her.
Maybe his instincts were firing off about Reaper . . . “Let’s go.”
His men filed out in a single line with Marley at their rear and Mack right behind her. She kept pace with his men without complaint, and they were moving fast, much faster than Mack had pushed her.
Chapter 23
Marley bedded down that night in the middle of the wolf den. She hadn’t realized it, but Mack had set any easy pace for the two of them. Hunter led the way at such a maddening pace, she didn’t think an Olympic runner could hope to keep up.
What she wouldn’t give for a foot massage and a hot bath. Her feet throbbed, so much so that she was too scared to take off her boots to survey the damage. The balls of her feet felt like raw hamburger meat, and she was sure her blisters had multiplied. Add on to that the aching of her back, which felt strained in places she hadn’t realized could ache.
The one thing she could be thankful for was the amount of dirt that had accumulated from the constant sweat drenching her body. That thin veil would help repel the giant insects crawling around on the ground.
At that thought, Marley found herself edging closer to the men for protection. She had no desire to wake up with a cockroach on her cheek. She’d choose their veiled distrust and simmering hostility over a giant cockroach in her hair any day of the year.
Of course, Mack had taken the first round of watch. She was surrounded by warriors, but she felt completely alone. She missed the haven of Mack’s big arms and warm body. When he was wrapped around her, she felt protected and safe and loved. His team made her feel protected and safe from any attack, but more in the way an igloo protected the Eskimos. They provided cold sturdy walls but little else.
Marley lay on her back, staring up at the thick canopy of trees overhead, the leaves twined together so thickly she could barely make out the stars. Mack’s team had shared their last MRE’s with her and they’d eaten in silence. They hadn’t made a fire tonight, not wanting to risk another attack by the locals.
It made her realize how much Mack had risked to make her comfortable the night before.
Mack. She’d almost told him the truth before his men found them. Before they interrogated her. Now, she was back to feeling lost. Caught in a role she’d never intended to take.
She slipped onto her side and curled up into a ball, seeking warmth that wasn’t forthcoming. What should she do? She would do anything to protect Maddie, who was her life, but every single cell in her body also screamed for her to protect Mack. If she led the men into the trap, and that’s the only thing that this could be, she was leading them straight into an ambush. Their abilities were beyond impressive, but if they walked into that situation without any warning, most of them, maybe all of them, would die.
Of course, Ramsey and this guy Mankel would no doubt kill her, too. She was a liability, which meant she’d die with the others.
Something she was totally okay with doing. She’d willingly give up her life for her daughter, no hesitation whatsoever. But could she sacrifice all these honorable men too? These warriors who’d so proudly fought and sacrificed for their country? How could she choose between her daughter’s life and these men?
Merc was married, if she went through with Ramsey’s plan, she’d leave his wife a widow. And put his wife through the same pain she’d experienced after her husband’s unexpected death.
At least the coordinates given to her had been in a logical trajectory. They would be headed that way with or without her input. She still had time to figure out a plan before they reached the ambush. And Ramsey was tracking their movements, he would know the minute they altered course, putting Maddie’s life in danger.
Marley opened her eyes and quickly surveyed the men around her. Hoyt and Jared Crowe lay in front of her, their backs facing her. Hunter was near her head, Ranger was at her feet, and the rest of the men completed the circle behind her. Marley held as still as she could, listening to the sound of their even breathing.
She knew it was stupid, but in this moment she needed to see that picture of Maddie more than anything else in the world. Slower than a caterpillar with one leg, she inched her hand down her leg, searching in the inky blackness for the pocket holding her cell phone. She hit the Velcro holding it shut and gave an inward groan. If she ripped that open right now, she might as well blow on a horn. The only sounds were a steady buzzing swarm of insects and the occasional cry of a mystery animal. Marley yanked her hand back up to her chest and balled it into a fist, fingernails digging into her palm.
She could tell Mack everything . . . that was still an option. But she couldn’t do it here, in front of his men. They already mistrusted her; they’d sure attack her as soon as they heard the story. Proof or not, they might interpret the messages as a way for her to cover her ass instead of the truth. But Mack believed her. He trusted her.
If she could just get him alone . . . maybe he’d understand.
Yes, you have to find him. You have to tell him.
She couldn’t live with herself if she didn’t tell the truth. Besides, Mack was smart and he was vicious—if anyone could help rescue her daughter, rescue all of them, it would be him.
Marley got to her feet and slowly turned, looking for the widest gap between the soldiers to make her exi
t. It was between Hunter and Hoyt—great. She had gotten a definite I hate you vibe from Hunter. She sure as hell didn’t want to venture anywhere near him, but she didn’t have a choice. If she was going to talk to Mack alone, she’d have to cross that manmade obstacle course on her own two feet.
Rising up on her toes, ignoring the screaming agony of the pressure of her body weight on her blisters, Marley crept forward. She only got one foot past the perimeter of Hunter’s feet when she felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere.
“And where are you sneaking off to?” Hunter said in a low voice that held absolutely no hint of sleep in it. The bastard had been awake the whole time, probably expecting her to try to run off or make a move.
“I want to talk to Mack.” Not that it’s any of your business.
“Then you can wait on him to come back.” Hunter shifted and closed his eyes, dismissing her.
Butthead. Did he really think she had to listen to him? “I don’t want to wait on Mack to come back. I’m going to find him.” Marley took another step and then another, heart racing with dread, but Hunter didn’t make another sound.
Suddenly, before she could even register that the man had moved, Hunter’s hand wrapped around her ankle in a gentle yet firm grip. “You cannot go out there alone. Reason number one, I don’t trust you. Reason number two, for some reason I can’t figure out, Mack cares about you. Either way, I’m not letting you out of my sight until he comes back.”
Marley tried to jerk her foot free, but his grip didn’t give a centimeter. Dammit. If she weren’t so reasonable, she’d put the boot right in his face. “Then take me to him.”
She could practically feel Hunter smirking in the night. “What’s so important that it can’t wait?”
Oh crap, she hadn’t thought that far in advance. What was so important? Shit—she should’ve told him she needed to pee. Men were always squeamish when it came to a woman’s bodily functions.
Men of Mercy: The Complete Story Page 164