Page 15 of Cole
“Trip-triplets?” he stammered.
“You didn’t know? She’s pregnant with triplets, Cole. She’s going to have three,” she smiled.
“Oh. Wow,” he said with tears in his eyes. “Do you want that? I mean, the likelihood is there.”
“I don’t know,” she said letting out a long breath. “I’ve thought about it. I mean, I want a family but three at once is a lot. Angus just appeared, literally and I have to admit I was immediately smitten. I mean, I remember him from when we were kids but he’s different. Amazing. Strong.”
Cole held up his hand, shaking his head.
“Enough. I get it. I just want you happy, Bailey.”
“I am. I just want you safe and home. Will you have to report to Coronado?”
“Eventually but I’m sure Luke’s looking out for that. My injuries might prevent me from returning to the teams. If it does, then I’ll try to do something else. I don’t know what. The teams have been my life.”
“You’re smart, Cole. You always have been. You’ll figure this out.” He hugged his sister, hissing with pain as he moved.
“Maybe just a soft high-five,” she smirked.
“We need to find out how the hell we’re getting out of here,” he said looking out the window.
“Cole?Bailey?You both read?”
“We read Luke,” said Cole.
“You need to get the fuck out of there now. The Ranger team that was looking for the hostages is going to blow that nuke site. Someone saw the four of you and the woman’s grandfather is searching for you now.”
“Where do we go?” asked Bailey.
“Go north, toward Türkiye. Our team will meet you there. Do it now while it’s dark. The four of you stick together while we get some help to you.”
“Roger that,” said Cole.
“What are we roger-ing?” asked Angus.
“We have to leave now. They know who we are and someone saw the four of us together. The Ranger team is going to blow that nuke site and when they do, they’re going to be looking for someone to blame.”
“I should leave,” said Hala. “I’ll, I’ll tell my grandfather I was kidnapped. He’ll believe me.”
“He won’t believe you,” said Bailey, taking the other woman’s hand. “They’ve seen us together and you weren’t fighting us. He’ll know, Hala. You know he will. We have to stay together. Luke, our leader, said to head toward Türkiye.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” said Angus. “Come on, let’s pack up everything we have and get to our truck. Cole? Can you move?”
“Painfully. But, yes. I can move.” He hissed as he tried to pick up the backpack and Hala rushed toward him. He winked at her, smiling. “See. I need the good doctor by my side.”
“This isn’t funny, Cole. If we’re found, you have no idea what they’ll do to us. Especially the three of you.”
“We know exactly what they’ll do to us,” said Bailey. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
With as much as they could carry on their backs, including the leftover food, they left their hotel rooms and headed toward the stairwells to avoid the elevators. When they reached street level, they opened the side door of the hotel and into an alleyway.
Angus looked up and down the street, seeing clusters of men wandering around. That wasn’t unusual, except usually not this late at night. They were looking for something or someone. Angus stepped back, looking in the opposite direction of the alley and waved them forward. The street behind the hotel was darker, with fewer vendors to light up the street.
Crossing to the other side, they walked up five blocks, then cut back across the street toward their truck. Unfortunately when they were just a short distance away, they realized the truck wasn’t an option any longer.
“They’re searching the vehicle,” he whispered. “We’ve got to find another one.”
“Where?” whispered Hala.
