Page 13 of SEAL's Tempest
Tempest nodded. She didn’t blame them, either.
“Where did the rest of your team go,” Doc asked.
“The other five went to the hotel to rest after their shift. Then the bombing got worse, and they never came back to relieve us. It’s been two days.” Grace’s eyes glistened with tears. “We don’t know if they’re even alive.”
“The rest of our team went to the hotel. If they’re alive, we’ll find them.” Josh nodded to Doc.
Tempest turned to see Josh walk toward the hallway, probably to get in touch with Quinn. She prayed they’d find the rest of the workers alive.
“Are there any doctors here?” Doc asked.
Grace shook her head. “We’re the closest thing you’ve got. Sorry. Cheryl and I are both nurse practitioners.”
A woman stopped beside Grace, then three other men walked over from where they were moving beds and cribs away from the broken windows.
“This is our team,” Grace said, “what’s here, anyway. This is Cheryl, and these three guys are our muscle.” Grace grinned, then introduced the men. “Gary, Sean, and Joe.”
“Great to meet you. And in case you didn’t know, we’re your ticket out of here,” Doc said with a smile. “But before we start moving anyone, can you give me status? Anyone terminal?”
“Not anymore. We lost two yesterday,” Cheryl answered. “I can take you around the room and give you their status. I’m sure Grace and Tempest would like a minute to catch up.”
Doc nodded and gave Tempest a look that said, “You’ve got some explaining to do.” And didn’t she know it. Thank goodness Josh wasn’t breathing down her neck, too.
“Are you okay,” Tempest asked Grace after the others moved away.
“Yes, I’m fine. I guess we were lucky it was our turn to be here,” Grace said. “I really hope the rest of the team is okay. But why are you here?”
“Like Doc said, to evacuate your team. They are Navy SEALs, and the government sent us in to get you out of here. The UN asked for assistance. It’s too dangerous to be here right now.”
“But this is what we do. What if we don’t want to go home yet?” Grace demanded, her voice rising and making the baby squirm in her arms. She shook her head and walked over to an empty crib and placed the baby inside. “Seriously, can they make us leave?” Grace whispered.
Tempest didn’t have an answer to that, but she damn well knew JSOC would have a fit if they didn’t bring this team home. “The other team is still in Bucota. The bombing kept them from coming to help. But once it settles down, they’ll come here to handle things.”
“That’s not good enough. I can’t leave these people. They need our help.” Grace stared around the room and then turned back to Tempest. “You can’t ask me to leave them behind.”
Tempest had no idea what to say; it wasn’t her decision either way.
Luckily, Josh returned, saving her from having to answer her sister.
“I just spoke to my boss,” he said, “and they’ve located the other five members of your team. They’ve been stuck behind a collapsed wall. Other than a broken bone or two they are all alive.”
“Oh, thank God. Thank you for finding them.” Some of Grace’s irritation seemed to ease when she heard Josh’s update about her team.
“Did Quinn say anything else?” Tempest asked as she glanced at Josh for the first time since they’d entered the ward.
“He put in a call to Knox to find out how to proceed with the wounded,” Josh answered.
Did that mean he hadn’t mentioned she knew one of the aid workers? Or maybe it didn’t matter that Grace was her sister. She wasn’t why she was on this mission.
Prakeiktas.How had she almost forgotten about her mission? The real reason she was there in Marikistan at all. And now she had to slip away not only from the team but her sister without anyone following.
ChapterSeven
As if Josh could read Tempest’s thoughts, he tipped his chin. “Can I have a word with you in the hallway?” He wasn’t sure she’d follow him out of the ward and was happy when she agreed.
“Sure. Grace, I’ll be back shortly. Do me a favor? Please don’t give these guys a hard time. They were sent here to help,” Tempest pleaded.
After her sister nodded, she turned and followed Josh into the hall.
