Page 65 of Rescue Me (Tempting SEALs 6.10)

“He won’t. It’s dark. He’s already half asleep,” Seth assured her. “Now start sawing. And don’t worry about cutting me. I’ll let you know if you hit an artery.”

“That is so not funny.”

“I’m with you on that one, darlin’. Just get it done. We’ll worry about bleeding later.”

IT TURNED OUT THAT it was Elena who was bleeding by the time she finally sawed through the ropes binding Seth’s wrists. The rope burned her wrists raw from the constant pressure and friction as she worked to free him. She toughed out the pain, knew it would be minor compared to what Clyde Devine had in mind for them.

“You’re through,” Seth whispered and slipped the knife out of her aching fingers. “Good girl.”

Amazed at the toll that small task had taken on her energy, she sagged in relief.

“What’s happening over there?”

She lifted her head, looked down the length of her body to the darkened camp area. “Jake’s still asleep. Cravets is awake,” she whispered. “And fidgeting. Wait. He’s getting up.”

“Fake sleep,” Seth ordered.

Heart hammering, Elena closed her eyes and made her body relax, made herself lay as still as stone as the crunch of Cravets’ footsteps on the rough ground grew closer.

She heard him stop at their feet, stand there for a moment, then turn and limp away.

She lifted her head, watched as he walked in ever larger circles, as if trying to keep himself awake with exercise. Then he disappeared behind a rock—probably to relieve himself.

“He’s out of sight,” she said, energized by the excitement of a possible opportunity to escape.

Seth sat up, leaned forward and made quick work of the rope around his ankles, then around hers.

“Hurry,” she whispered as he moved to her hands and quickly freed her. “He might come back soon.”

Her shoulders ached with the sudden release, her entire body screamed with pain as her stiff joints suddenly shifted.

“Are y

ou … are you going after Jake’s gun?’

“Darlin’, the way my head’s spinning I’d probably fall flat in his lap. Let’s just get the hell out of here,” Seth whispered, tucked the Leatherman back in his boot and rolled to his feet.

He immediately dropped flat on his face.

“Oh, God.” Elena bent down to help him up. “Can you walk?”

“Yeah,” he said weakly, and on a wobbly effort rose to all fours. With her help, he pushed to his feet. Staggered and sagged against her. “I … I can walk.”

She glanced back toward the boulder, certain Cravets would appear any second and level the gun on them.

“Come on.” Seth let her sling his left arm over her shoulder to steady him. “Go, go, go.”

With one hand latched onto the wrist hanging over her shoulder, her other arm wrapped around his waist, Elena moved.

He weighed a ton and she knew he was struggling to stay upright but she didn’t care. Adrenaline spiked through her body in huge, fortifying waves, giving her the strength she needed to carry not only her weight but a good share of his.

The night was dark, the ground uneven and mined with rocks, spindly clumps of brittle bushes and barrel cactus. More than once, she tripped, caught herself then rushed ahead. She had no idea where she was going. Away. All she could think about was getting away from them.

Then she heard it. A foul curse. The echoing anger of a heated argument and she knew that Benny had returned to the camp, found them gone. Awakened Jake.

“So much for our head start,” Seth said, sounding winded. “Head for the river.”

Elena swallowed hard. The river. Her stomach dropped like a skydiver in free-fall. She had an awful feeling she knew where this was going.

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