Page 62 of Nikolai
Parker shook her head.She didn’t want a medal.She wanted Nick, alive.
She felt Dylan’s touch on her arm.
“There’s one thing that has to be made clear, though, Parker.Look at me.”
His voice turned very deep and serious.Startled, Parker raised her eyes from Nick’s face to look at Dylan.His features were as serious as his voice.
“Listen to me very carefully, Parker.If you and Nick get medals, they are the kind that can never be shown to anyone and have to be locked away.Nick’s got a lot of those.You’re a public figure, but you can never talk about this.I was told that the mobsters who were sent out belonged to the de Luca clan and they are vicious and vengeful.If it got out that you two were responsible for saving the nukes, and thwarting the de Lucas, your life wouldn’t be worth living.They’d put out contracts, and when you least expect it, killers would come for you.So, I’ll need your word of honor that you will never discuss this publicly, ever.”
Parker shuddered.The idea of having mobsters after them… “You have it.Oh my God, yes.I wouldn’t want to relive this, anyway.”
“Swear to it.”
“Oh yes.”She held up her hand.“I swear I will never speak a word of this to anyone.”
“There would also be legal consequences.For betraying state secrets.You can’t be court martialed, but you could be tried for treason.”
Still with one hand up, she mimed zipping her mouth with the other.Completely serious.If Nick survived, she’d never speak of it again.If he didn’t survive, she’d be so devastated she’d spend years in mourning.Never wanting to relive what had cost him his life.
“Okay,” Dylan said, and she turned back to Nick, on his back, wounded, being transfused.
She took his hand again and his eyes fluttered.Yes!She bent, put her cheek next to his.
“Live, my darling,” she whispered.“Live.”
ChapterTwelve
They made it to the Naval Hospital as the sun was setting.Lights were switching on around the helipad as they landed.The pilot brought them in gently, and Parker could see paramedics waiting with a proper gurney, ducking from the backwash.They moved in the instant the pilot switched off the rotors.
In a minute, Nick was gently removed from the floor of the helicopter, placed on the gurney together with the IV tree and bag of blood, and they took off at a run.Parker wanted to follow, but Dylan kept her back with a hand.
“Just a minute, Parker.You won’t be able to follow him into the operating theater.There will be a waiting room, we’ll go there.He’s in good hands.”
What he said made sense, but Parker had the horrible feeling her presence was keeping Nick alive and if they were separated, Nick would pay horrible consequences.But that was her panic talking.
A female officer appeared, tall, slender, dark brown hair in a tight bun, walking quickly toward them.“Dr.Donovan?Mr.Gardner?This way please.”
Parker walked down the steps onto the tarmac and almost fell.Her legs could barely keep her upright.Dylan reached out a steadying hand until she was stable.“Sorry,” she said.
He shook his head sharply.“You’ve been through hell, Parker.I’m surprised you’re still standing.”He looked her up and down.She was filthy with blood-encrusted clothes.“You look like you’ve been through a war.”
Yeah.Buried by an earthquake, crawling through rubble, finding an arms cache with nuclear weapons, a shootout.She’d also shot and killed a man.Maybe.Maybe she’d shared that experience with Dylan.“I have.”
“If you’ll follow me,” the female officer said.They followed her into the hospital facility, down a corridor and up two floors.She stopped at a door and ushered them into a small but welcoming room with upholstered armchairs.“I’ll have beverages and some sandwiches sent up.”
Parker’s stomach revolted at the idea of food.
“Where’s Mr.Garin?”she asked the officer.
“My understanding is that he is being prepped for surgery.The surgeon is Dr.Bernard Crowley, who is an excellent surgeon.He’s in very good hands, ma’am.”
Parker nodded.She’d acknowledge that Nick was in very good hands when he was out of surgery, and she could see that he was alive and well with her own eyes.Until then she was going to seethe in anxiety.
They took their seats.Parker sank into herself, inside her a maelstrom of terror and exhaustion.Dylan didn’t even try to talk to her.He must have sensed that she didn’t want to talk.All she wanted was for the surgeon to come down and say Nick was out of surgery and was going to be fine.
Anything else was unthinkable.
The female officer returned with a cart filled with sandwiches, soft drinks, tea and coffee.
