Read Online Deadly Strain (Biological Response Team) by Julie Rowe - Free Book Online
Authors: Julie Rowe
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told her she might not like what he was about to say. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Doc.”
Who did he think he was, a superhero? “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Sharp.”
He put his hand under her chin and took a small step closer. “I don’t make those kinds of promises.”
Despite the temperature, she shivered and stepped into him so she could soak up his body heat and strength. She was going to need it. “I’m one lucky gal to have a friend who’s as badass as you.”
He didn’t answer, just stared down into her eyes as if trying to convey a lifetime of messages in just a few seconds.
The moment passed, he stepped back and moved out.
She grabbed the other pack, shouldered it and followed him away from the wreckage.
How would a rescue team find them now?
How long could they last on their own?
Chapter Six
The heat sucked every bit of moisture out of the air. Grace’s tongue felt two times too big for her mouth, and at the pace Sharp set, all she wanted to do was hang it out and pant.
He had them moving toward the nearest hills at a ground-eating trot, his head roving from side to side, watching for possible threats. After a few minutes, the terrain changed from barren stony hills to low scrub brush and washout ravines, the only sound the skitter of small creatures running for cover.
Was there room for her under one of their rocks?
Sharp came to a stop, his head poised to listen, one hand extended behind him with his palm out in a stop gesture.
She stopped.
He waved that hand toward the ground.
She crouched, the butt of the Beretta rough against her palms. Her stomach tightened until breathing was painful. It had become second nature for her to hold the weapon at ready, safety off during training, but at this moment it felt wrong. She was a doctor, a surgeon. Her muscles should remember what to do with a scalpel, not a gun.
Nausea threatened, but she beat it down with ruthless anger. No time to panic, freak out or let her inner pansy ass out to throw up on the situation. That bitch had already had enough airtime today.
There was only room for the soldier to be in control.
She closed her eyes for five seconds. Took in three deep breaths and deliberately relaxed her shoulders. They would get through this. They had to. She wasn’t ready to die, and Sharp didn’t look like he was interested in it much either.
They waited for a long time. Shadows grew and lengthened like pulled taffy, turning the desert into a moonscape of craters and valleys an eternity from home. The pack on her back gained weight with every passing second, and the sample container dug invisible claws into her side.
Finally, long after the muscles in her thighs and calves began to burn, his fingers lifted in a come-closer sign.
She walked slowly, quietly until she was right behind him, then reached out with her left hand and placed it on his shoulder so he’d know she was there.
His reaction was a subtle relaxation in the muscles under her hand. “Stay on my ass,” he whispered, the sound more of a sigh than a vocalization.
She attempted to reply as quietly. “Understood.”
He moved forward, weapon ready, the butt of his rifle anchored in the hollow of his shoulder.
She followed, keeping as close as possible without tripping over him.
They traveled for what seemed like hours, following the ravines until Sharp paused extra-long looking at a collection of prickly brush perched about ten feet up from the bottom of the ravine.
He signaled her to remain where she was, then rushed up to the vegetation. A second later she couldn’t see him at all.
Grace waited, growing unease twisting in her chest until she could barely breathe. Finally, Sharp appeared out of the darkness as if he were made of the same shadows cast by the half-moon in the sky.
He waved at her to follow and she found herself climbing the rocks, sliding behind some low brush and into the dark.
A cave.
The opening wasn’t large. She had
Who did he think he was, a superhero? “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Sharp.”
He put his hand under her chin and took a small step closer. “I don’t make those kinds of promises.”
Despite the temperature, she shivered and stepped into him so she could soak up his body heat and strength. She was going to need it. “I’m one lucky gal to have a friend who’s as badass as you.”
He didn’t answer, just stared down into her eyes as if trying to convey a lifetime of messages in just a few seconds.
The moment passed, he stepped back and moved out.
She grabbed the other pack, shouldered it and followed him away from the wreckage.
How would a rescue team find them now?
How long could they last on their own?
Chapter Six
The heat sucked every bit of moisture out of the air. Grace’s tongue felt two times too big for her mouth, and at the pace Sharp set, all she wanted to do was hang it out and pant.
He had them moving toward the nearest hills at a ground-eating trot, his head roving from side to side, watching for possible threats. After a few minutes, the terrain changed from barren stony hills to low scrub brush and washout ravines, the only sound the skitter of small creatures running for cover.
Was there room for her under one of their rocks?
Sharp came to a stop, his head poised to listen, one hand extended behind him with his palm out in a stop gesture.
She stopped.
He waved that hand toward the ground.
She crouched, the butt of the Beretta rough against her palms. Her stomach tightened until breathing was painful. It had become second nature for her to hold the weapon at ready, safety off during training, but at this moment it felt wrong. She was a doctor, a surgeon. Her muscles should remember what to do with a scalpel, not a gun.
Nausea threatened, but she beat it down with ruthless anger. No time to panic, freak out or let her inner pansy ass out to throw up on the situation. That bitch had already had enough airtime today.
There was only room for the soldier to be in control.
She closed her eyes for five seconds. Took in three deep breaths and deliberately relaxed her shoulders. They would get through this. They had to. She wasn’t ready to die, and Sharp didn’t look like he was interested in it much either.
They waited for a long time. Shadows grew and lengthened like pulled taffy, turning the desert into a moonscape of craters and valleys an eternity from home. The pack on her back gained weight with every passing second, and the sample container dug invisible claws into her side.
Finally, long after the muscles in her thighs and calves began to burn, his fingers lifted in a come-closer sign.
She walked slowly, quietly until she was right behind him, then reached out with her left hand and placed it on his shoulder so he’d know she was there.
His reaction was a subtle relaxation in the muscles under her hand. “Stay on my ass,” he whispered, the sound more of a sigh than a vocalization.
She attempted to reply as quietly. “Understood.”
He moved forward, weapon ready, the butt of his rifle anchored in the hollow of his shoulder.
She followed, keeping as close as possible without tripping over him.
They traveled for what seemed like hours, following the ravines until Sharp paused extra-long looking at a collection of prickly brush perched about ten feet up from the bottom of the ravine.
He signaled her to remain where she was, then rushed up to the vegetation. A second later she couldn’t see him at all.
Grace waited, growing unease twisting in her chest until she could barely breathe. Finally, Sharp appeared out of the darkness as if he were made of the same shadows cast by the half-moon in the sky.
He waved at her to follow and she found herself climbing the rocks, sliding behind some low brush and into the dark.
A cave.
The opening wasn’t large. She had
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