Page 50 of Holiday Hostage
But Dad had hired them, and I’d come to trust their judgment. Still.
My bones ached from the long ride on the snowmobile, and I doubted we’d be any warmer on a boat.
I’d have to grin and bear it the same way they did.
“I’ll go talk to them.” Tarron swung off the snowmobile. “Better if they don’t see all of us.”
Maverick made a low sound that almost reminded me of a growl. “Be careful.”
“Always.” Tarron jogged into the night, his white camo slipping in and out of view.
A light burst on when he reached the edge of the village, and we all ducked away from the sudden brightness.
Reed moved off to the side, his voice a low muttering of curses against the man who’d shot him and myriad other things I couldn’t understand.
Maverick joined him, and soon a man in a thick coat walked out of the building at the end of the village and spoke with Tarron.
Fur-covered heads bent toward each other, Tarron pointing briefly in our direction.
The wind eased enough for the creak and groan of wood and the lap of water over the hulls of boats anchored at a short dock across from the buildings created a soothing lullaby.
Tarron stuck out his hand, the other man grasped it, and the deal was done.
Once Tarron gave Mav a thumbs-up, I swung to my feet and rubbed my backside, trying–and failing–to work the circulation down to my legs with a few forward steps.
Reed held out his hand. “I’ll drive.”
“Man, you have a bullet in your shoulder.” Tarron huffed and pocketed the keys long enough to grab his and Reed’s packs from the snowmobile.
Maverick grabbed a duffel and slung it over his shoulder. “Guess you’ll be taking the bullet out on the move.”
Tarron muttered a string of curses that rivaled Reed’s and slapped the keys into his hand. “You have to sit still. I’m not risking nicking an artery because you’re shit at giving directions for Mav to follow.”
“Maybe I just want to be part of the getaway.” His laughter pinched his cheeks, but even that couldn’t hide the wince when he jumped off the dock and into the small boat.
It bobbed side to side, and Reed held out his good hand for balance.
Maverick climbed in next and held out a hand for me to hold. “We’ll be okay. Once Reed has us on the water, it’ll settle down.”
I stepped tentatively onto the deck and dropped into the closest seat, where I had a view of everything.
Reed waited for Tarron to toss the lines from the dock onto the boat and join them before he put it in reverse and eased away from the dock.
Water sprayed across the hull and the air filled with the scent of snow and fish.
I huddled in my coat and did my best not to complain.
Tarron tugged Reed’s coat away from the wound and handed a flashlight to Maverick. “Hold that so I can see.”
“Aren’t you worried about someone seeing us?” I glanced all around, but the shore was too far away for the dim light to offer assistance, and even the moon had ducked behind a screen of clouds.
Guilt pricked at me once again as Tarron worked a pair of curved tweezers into Reed’s shoulder.
Neither man flinched.
I took in their stoic demeanors, remembering all they’d been through together. “I’m sorry you were shot because of me.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” Maverick shifted closer to me, still holding the light for Tarron as he dug the bullet from Reed, dropped it overboard, and created a thick line of sutures across the ugly wound.
