Page 57 of SEAL's Patience
“We need the antidote. He’s got it stashed in that metal case. He injected us all with whatever bioweapon he was creating.”
“Falcon 3, grab that case and inject everyone. Each of us too, if there’s enough. We’ll bring what’s left back with us.”
“Copy that.”
“Patience, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere else?” Quinn asked as his gaze traveled over her.
“No, I’m good. But all the villagers. He doesn’t deserve to live. We should give him his own medicine. Isn’t that what you called it, Dr. Death?” Patience screamed.
“It would have worked too, if you’d all just listened to me. We could have been rich. Working in private labs.”
Doc injected Patience first, then the rest of the hostages, as Lucky untied them. Then he gave them the antidote, too. It was time to get the hell out of there and get everyone home.
“Are all the villagers dead?” Doc asked Patience’s parents.
Her father, Clark, answered. His voice filled with despair. “Yes, he killed them all. We thought maybe some kind of weird virus. It turned out that’s exactly what happened, but it was his creation. Christenson gave it to them. He killed them all.”
“Talk about too much power going to someone’s head,” Josh murmured.
“C’mon, we’re getting you all out of here. After a brief drive, you’ll have an all-expense paid trip home courtesy of Uncle Sam,” Lucky said as he gathered everyone together.
By the time they made it out of the cave with the two tangos, a case of the viral drug and the antidote, dawn was breaking over the horizon. That made it a lot easier to get everyone down the mountain and hike back to the village. Luckily, no one suffered any serious injuries or required medical attention. Unfortunately, they couldn’t say the same for the villagers. Dr. Christenson had wiped them all out.
Two hours later, they made it to the airport. Although it was one of their stranger missions, they’d successfully rescued everyone and sent them home.
Everyone thanked Quinn and his team for saving them as they made their way onto the plane. Patience was the last.
“Aren’t you coming with us?”
“We have our own plane. It’s just how it works. I will come and find you when I get home.”
She grabbed his hand and stared up into his eyes. “Do you promise?”
“I do.” Only death would keep him from her now. She didn’t realize that, but as soon as he got back to the states, he’d never give her reason to doubt him again.
CHAPTER 30
PATIENCE
Livie and Theo were waiting for Patience when she got home. They’d decorated the whole downstairs with balloons and a big welcome home sign. She’d been on the verge of tears since she’d gotten on the plane and left Quinn behind in Swuyji. It felt wrong. But he promised. Now she’d see if he would keep his word. He had seemed different, but he hadn’t said a word about her visit. They’d never been alone, either, though. It’s not like he could pull her aside and tell her he changed his mind.
“I can’t believe you did all this for me.” Patience hugged Livie tight.
“Of course we did. It’s not every day you come home from being rescued by Navy SEALs because of a mad scientist. The disappearance of the team from Doctors without Borders was all over the news. When they said they’d been working in Swuyji, I knew it was where you were. I was so worried. Then relieved when I got your text that you were coming home.”
“It still feels like a nightmare. It was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever lived through. I thought for sure we were all going to die.”
“How does something like that even happen? He took the Hippocratic oath to never do harm, but then he developed a lethal virus that could destroy humanity?” Livie’s eyes teared up. “I thought I’d never see you again.”
“I’m home now, and honestly, that’ll be my last trip for a while. If my parents want to see me, they’re going to have to visit us.”
“They’re going back?” Theo asked.
“That’s what they said. They’re just waiting for a new assignment. My dad is more determined than ever to help the world.”
“But you were all almost killed. They don’t want to stay here with you for a while?” Livie said.
Patience had been wondering the same thing. But it had always been this way with them. She didn’t doubt that they loved her, but she wasn’t what was important to them. When Quinn had really listened to her and took care of her, it meant the world.
