Page 10 of Charlotte
“What are you doing up by yourself?” Hawk demands harshly. He continues before I even have a chance to respond. “You could have fallen and hurt yourself worse than you already are. What am I going to do with you? Do I need to tie you to the bed? You are going to be the death of me, woman.”
“I am fine, Hawk. I’m not an invalid. I know I am weak, but I knew I could do it and I need to get up and move around. You have responsibilities. You can’t baby sit me 24/7.” I huff. “Besides I heard you guys talking that we will need to leave soon, so I needed to see if I can travel or if you need to leave me here. I won’t be responsible for any of you getting hurt or missing your flight out of this awful jungle trying to drag my feeble ass around.”
“Hell N!” Hawk growls. “You are not being left behind, no way, no how. I will throw you over my shoulder and haul you out of here if I must. I should turn you over my knee for even suggesting such a foolish thing.”
“Hawk listen to me.” I say softly as I place my hands on each side of his face. “I was not a part of your job here. I could not live with myself if you get hurt or God forbid you died, because of me. I won’t be the reason any of you don’t make it home to your families and friends.”
“Charlotte, love, I would not survive if you were left here in this hell hole. I can’t explain why or how, but you are under my skin. You are a part of me now. I have to get you home to safety. If you want to keep me safe, you will get your ass out in that Humvee and do every fucking thing I say for you to do. Do you understand?” Hawk demands.
“Ok, Hawk. I will do whatever you say.” I whisper. I turn away from him to hide the tears that are welling in my eyes at his harsh words and tone. Slowly, I move to head out of the room.
He grabs my upper arm and spins me around to face him. I keep my head down waiting for him to finish yelling at me and to hide my tears. He places a finger under my chin and forces me to raise my eyes to look at him.
“I didn’t mean to be so harsh, but the thought of leaving you here makes me crazy. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I just need you to listen to reason. Just let us get you out of here. Then we can sit down and talk about you and me. Ok? Tell me you feel something between us too?” Hawk asks me.
“Yes, I feel it too. I will do whatever you ask, Hawk.” I say as I fall into his arms and rub my hand up and down his back. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m scared for you, for your men. I’m more afraid of losing you than the men that tortured me for months. I know that sounds insane, but you have touched me, too. I couldn’t live knowing that I was responsible for your death.”
“No one is going to die, love. I promise you that.” Hawk says. “We are getting out of here, tonight. Come on let’s get going.”
The trip through the jungle was uneventful. While the rough trail causes me some significant pain, I manage to keep it from Hawk and his men. We reach the extraction point a little early. The men set up a perimeter and wait for the choppers. I have a bad feeling about this. It is just hard for me to believe that after everything that has happened over the last few months, we will just be able to get on a helicopter and fly out of here. I sit quietly while we wait, pondering all that has occurred in the last few days since I have awakened in the care of Hawk. I still can’t believe that he plans on us being together once we are back in the States. I want it to be true, but it is too hard for me to wrap my mind around it.
The beating of the choppers as they approach alerts me it’s time to go. They are close enough I can smell the fuel from the exhaust. I always hated that smell when we would fly someone out from the hospital, but now it is the smell of salvation. It is so strong it chokes me. We move to run for the ladder, but I trip and fall hard a searing pain runs through my chest, breathing is now very difficult. Hawk sweeps me off my feet and is running for the ladder that has dropped out of the side of the chopper. I didn’t want him to send me up first, but I know better than to argue. It will only cost us precious time. I allow him to strap me in and then I am being lifted into the air.
My heart falls out of my chest in fear for Hawk and the other men when I hear gun fire. I stare down at him as he beings to fire his weapon in the direction of the enemy. The ladder sways in the down draft of the chopper blades. I can’t keep him in my line of sight. As I swing back where I can see him, he falls backward to the jungle floor. I scream as I am pulled into the side of the helicopter. It takes a sharp turn and begins to pull away from the clearing. I am screaming, fighting against the man trying to hold me back. I have to get to him. They can’t just leave him there.
“No, No, No! Go back! You can’t leave him there. He’s been shot!” I scream at the man holding on to me. He is trying desperately to secure me into a seat and put some headphones on me. I continue to fight him, sobbing and pleading with him to go back and help him. He slips headphones on my head so he can talk to me.
“Ma’am you have to calm down. I don’t want to hurt you. I was told you have several broken ribs. Settle down so I can get you strapped into a seat.” The man says calmly.
“You will not leave them! I will fucking jump back out of this damn chopper and take you with me, if you don’t go back for them right now.” I yell at the man. I still haven’t allowed him to secure me to the seat. I grip his arm firmly and move toward the open door.
“Alright, alright we will swing back around and try again. Hawk would end me if I let you jump out of the bird. We won’t leave them there under enemy fire.” The stranger reassures me. I stop struggling and let him place me in the seat belt of the seat. I close my eyes and pray with all my might, that we will be able to get him in this helicopter with me soon. I can’t survive this. I can’t lose him, now. I feel the aircraft make another sharp turn as we head back to get my saviors.
It seems to take forever after they drop the ladder for me to see his face come into the helicopter. I am out of my seat and clinging to him as soon as he is inside. I am so thankful he’s here. I just have to make sure he isn’t hurt to badly. I am trying to see where he was shot. I see blood everywhere, but I can’t find and entrance or exit wound. He is not cooperating with my efforts to find the wounds. He is saying something, but I can’t hear over the noise of the blades and with the headphones on. The stranger puts a pair of them on him and I can finally hear him.
“Love, stop, I’m ok. It’s just a flesh wound. You need get back in your seatbelt in case we have to bank. I don’t want you falling out.” Hawk says in as calm a voice as he can.
“You aren’t dying?” I plead with him to reassure me that he is being honest. My eyes search his for the truth. I just knew that it was very bad, and I would watch him die or worse would never lay eyes on him again. “Are you sure it didn’t hit a lung or your heart?”
“No, love I’m ok.” He chuckles at my medical question. “It got me in the upper right shoulder. It hurts like hell, but it’s not bad. Deadeye covered it while we were waiting for you to circle back.” I settle back into the seat like he asked. I had promised him after all that I would do whatever he said as long as we all got out of there alive. I see the other team members climbing into the chopper and another one is beside us loading up more of the team.
“Which was not supposed to happen by the way. Who the hell gave you permission to circle back?” Hawk asks the soldier that was helping everyone on board. The soldier just motions over toward me.
“She threated to jump back out and take me with her sir. I couldn’t refuse a request like that.” He says with a grin. Deadeye begins laughing and gives Hawk a look that says, ‘I told you so.’
Chapter 8
Hawk
This woman continuesto amaze me. She is so physically strong. She fights against the pain of her injuries and tries to hide her emotional pain of the hell she endured. It was all I could do to restrain myself from fucking her. God, her body was so receptive and responsive to my touch. She will be a wildcat in bed when she is healed. I am looking forward to learning all about her then.
She is brave as well. She freely discussed the gun runners plans with us. She didn’t seem to be afraid of us even though the room was full of tough, badass military men. After what she endured, she should have been terrified to be in that small room with so many powerful men. Later when I insisted, she tell me what all had been done to her in the time she was held captive, she completely opened up and reveled all. I know it wasn’t my place to question her about her torture, but I had to know if she had been raped. I don’t think I could sit here knowing that had happened. I would have to hunt those bastards down and make them wish they had never been born.
I can’t believe she thought that we would even consider leaving her behind. I appreciate that she is worried for our safety, but she needs to understand we are highly trained professionals. We will get her safely on the chopper and all of us will be going home. There is no need for her to be worried. We always get the job done.
She is the toughest woman I have ever met. I know she’s hurting as we bounce through the jungle. I can see the sweat breaking out on her forehead, yet she hasn’t made a sound. I reach over to run my fingers through her hair. She smiles at me trying to put on a brave face. I am getting edgy while awaiting the transport out of here. This has to work. I have to get her out of here. Once we get to safety, we can figure this whole thing out.
Gunfire breaks out as Charlotte is being lifted into the helicopter. What if she is hit before she can get into the chopper? I have my Mk 48 up and firing in seconds. A searing pain blasts through my right shoulder as I am thrown backwards hitting the jungle floor. Fuck! I’m hit. Before I have time to assess the damage, Deadeye is hovering over me.
