Read Online Before We Kiss (Uncharted SEALs Book 6) by Delilah Devlin - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Delilah Devlin
Ads: Link
shout had been more to bolster her courage and remind herself she wasn’t some scared little girl.
Pulling the cinching ribbon from the bottom hem of her pants, she used it to tie back her hair. She rolled the bottom of her pants to her ankles, because she didn’t want to trip if she got the chance to run. Rescue was on the way. She had to be ready. Light through the single dirty window was fading fast. She glanced around at the floor, picked out a spot that didn’t appear infested with ants or spiders, and settled onto the ground with her back to the tin wall. Surely, no plane would land on that narrow dirt strip at night. Wiley would have until morning to find her. Leaning her head against the tin wall, she closed her eyes.
“ Tell me a secret. Something no one else knows ,” he’d whispered in the dark after the first time they’d made love.
As she stroked a finger over his jaw. she smiled, knowing he couldn’t see, but maybe he’d hear it in her voice. “I detest Sousa.”
His chest shook against her cheek. “Does your father know?” he asked, his disbelieving tone exaggerated.
“I think so. When I had to attend parades as a child, I’d put my hands over my ears when the band struck up some awful march music.”
He tsked. “A general’s daughter who doesn’t love John Philip Sousa.”
“My mother said it was all right to hate it. Of course, she hated everything to do with being an Army wife.” A burning lump formed at the back of her throat, and she swallowed. “She counted the days until he reached his twenty years, and she hoped he would retire, but he kept being promoted. She never got a chance to enjoy retirement with him.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
She blew out a shallow breath. “Of course you would know that.”
His arms tightened, and he gave her a little shake. “Not because I’m some super-spook who memorized your dossier. I checked your Instagram account when I was flying to Miami. You posted an anniversary message.” He drew a deep breath. “Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to dredge up anything painful.”
She snuggled closer. His warmth muted the pain. “I’m okay. It’s been ten years.”
He’d gripped her waist and pulled her over his body. She’d cupped his cheeks so she could find his mouth and kissed him. With his encouragement, she’d taken him that second time—exhilaration and a heady passion banishing all her shadows.
Light flickered behind her eyelids, and she opened her eyes. She pushed up from the floor, dread in her belly, and looked out the dirty window. Pots filled with kindling and broken branches were being lit down both sides of the runway. “No, no, no.” A sob caught with her next breath. She’d hoped, all the way up to this moment, that Wiley and his friends would charge to the rescue. But obviously, a plane would land. And soon.
And unless Charter already knew her location, they’d have no way to track her after this point. Her fingernails bit into her palms. She’d disappear—to some rough drug cartel’s camp where they held their captives for ransom or to a terrorist group’s training camp. She’d fetch a fortune for a cartel, because ISIS would kill for a chance to crush her father as payback for every insult he’d visited upon them in Iraq and northern Syria.
Whatever was coming wouldn’t be pleasant. She prayed for the strength to hide her fear. Above all else, she couldn’t shame her father. Nor would she give Wiley more to regret. She might not be a soldier, but she was a soldier’s daughter, and she’d fight.
The distant sound of an engine drew nearer until it rattled the walls of her hut. She’d run out of time. Poppy moved across the hut to stand beside the door, her back against the still-warm tin wall. Bracing herself, she balled her fists and held them close to her chest.
Chapter Seven
‡
W iley sat beside Mike Espinoza in the open door of the Eurocopter Cougar, their feet hanging high above the
Pulling the cinching ribbon from the bottom hem of her pants, she used it to tie back her hair. She rolled the bottom of her pants to her ankles, because she didn’t want to trip if she got the chance to run. Rescue was on the way. She had to be ready. Light through the single dirty window was fading fast. She glanced around at the floor, picked out a spot that didn’t appear infested with ants or spiders, and settled onto the ground with her back to the tin wall. Surely, no plane would land on that narrow dirt strip at night. Wiley would have until morning to find her. Leaning her head against the tin wall, she closed her eyes.
“ Tell me a secret. Something no one else knows ,” he’d whispered in the dark after the first time they’d made love.
As she stroked a finger over his jaw. she smiled, knowing he couldn’t see, but maybe he’d hear it in her voice. “I detest Sousa.”
His chest shook against her cheek. “Does your father know?” he asked, his disbelieving tone exaggerated.
“I think so. When I had to attend parades as a child, I’d put my hands over my ears when the band struck up some awful march music.”
He tsked. “A general’s daughter who doesn’t love John Philip Sousa.”
“My mother said it was all right to hate it. Of course, she hated everything to do with being an Army wife.” A burning lump formed at the back of her throat, and she swallowed. “She counted the days until he reached his twenty years, and she hoped he would retire, but he kept being promoted. She never got a chance to enjoy retirement with him.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
She blew out a shallow breath. “Of course you would know that.”
His arms tightened, and he gave her a little shake. “Not because I’m some super-spook who memorized your dossier. I checked your Instagram account when I was flying to Miami. You posted an anniversary message.” He drew a deep breath. “Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to dredge up anything painful.”
She snuggled closer. His warmth muted the pain. “I’m okay. It’s been ten years.”
He’d gripped her waist and pulled her over his body. She’d cupped his cheeks so she could find his mouth and kissed him. With his encouragement, she’d taken him that second time—exhilaration and a heady passion banishing all her shadows.
Light flickered behind her eyelids, and she opened her eyes. She pushed up from the floor, dread in her belly, and looked out the dirty window. Pots filled with kindling and broken branches were being lit down both sides of the runway. “No, no, no.” A sob caught with her next breath. She’d hoped, all the way up to this moment, that Wiley and his friends would charge to the rescue. But obviously, a plane would land. And soon.
And unless Charter already knew her location, they’d have no way to track her after this point. Her fingernails bit into her palms. She’d disappear—to some rough drug cartel’s camp where they held their captives for ransom or to a terrorist group’s training camp. She’d fetch a fortune for a cartel, because ISIS would kill for a chance to crush her father as payback for every insult he’d visited upon them in Iraq and northern Syria.
Whatever was coming wouldn’t be pleasant. She prayed for the strength to hide her fear. Above all else, she couldn’t shame her father. Nor would she give Wiley more to regret. She might not be a soldier, but she was a soldier’s daughter, and she’d fight.
The distant sound of an engine drew nearer until it rattled the walls of her hut. She’d run out of time. Poppy moved across the hut to stand beside the door, her back against the still-warm tin wall. Bracing herself, she balled her fists and held them close to her chest.
Chapter Seven
‡
W iley sat beside Mike Espinoza in the open door of the Eurocopter Cougar, their feet hanging high above the
Similar Books
