Second Chance SEAL(48)

“Yes, sir.”

“You’re dismissed.”

I nodded at Piper then grabbed the paper. She stood up and followed me back out into the reception area. We quickly headed back downstairs and got into the truck.

I leaned back, relief flooding over me.

“That’s it, then?” she asked. “He’s going to help?”

“It seems that way.”

“Good,” she said, sighing. “I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life running.”

“I won’t let that happen.” I grinned at her. “Come on. Let’s get you a shower.”

She made a face. “You stink worse than I do.”

“Probably.” I started the engine and pulled out as she laughed.

We finally had a goal, or at least we finally had help. There was the real possibility that we were going to get through this. I had no doubt that Piper would make it, because I’d never let those bastards get her. But I was ready to sacrifice for her, and that realization hit me square in the chest.

I was willing to sacrifice anything for her.

I smiled to myself. That thought felt so damn good that I could barely explain it even to myself. I headed toward the address on the piece of paper, barely able to contain my excitement.

We were finally going to take some hot showers and clean off the blood from the night before.





Chapter 21





Piper





The cabin General Maron sent us to was gorgeous. It was situated on a tiny manmade lake a few miles outside of town, away from the hills and the farms. There were no other cabins around, or at least it felt that way. The place was small but very modern with large windows and lots of gorgeous natural night.

We put what was left of our stuff down and Gates immediately disappeared into the bathroom. I went through the kitchen cabinets and checked out the food situation. There was actual fresh stuff in there, and so I quickly made myself a small salad. I devoured it in what felt like two bites before opening a yogurt.

I didn’t trust the General, but I didn’t have any other choice. I trusted Gates, and if he trusted the General, then I was going to have to go along with that. But the General had very intense, dark eyes, and they made me uncomfortable. He looked at me like he was disgusted with me, and he looked at Gates like he wanted to destroy him.

Gates clearly didn’t see it, and I wasn’t about to say anything to him. Gates clearly looked up to the general like father, even if they had their falling out. I only saw them together for a few minutes, but that was long enough to clearly see it all.

I heard some grunting come from the bathroom, and instantly I was on the defensive. It sounded like someone was in pain. I walked toward it slowly.

“Gates?” I called out.

“Yeah,” he said.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Stay in the kitchen.”

I kept walking toward him. I pushed open the door a crack and blinked, startled at what I saw.

Gates was sitting on the toilet seat, thread between his teeth and a needle in his skin. He was slowly sewing up the wound on his arm.

“Gates!” I said, stepping inside.

He looked up at me. “I’m fine,” he said. “I’m almost done.”

“Holy shit, Gates. You’re sewing up your own wound.”

“I sterilized it.” He took a swig from a bottle next to him. “And I have some painkiller.”

“Let me finish.”

He shook his head. “I got it.”

“Seriously Gates. Just let me finish.”

He looked at me for a second then nodded. I walked over to him and kneeled down beside him. I took the needle from him and gingerly began to sew up the rest of the wound.

It was surprisingly easy, just like sewing cloth. Except it was Gates’s arm, and I was shoving a needle into it over and over.

“We should have gotten you help at the base,” I said.

“This is why I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want to get scolded.”

“I am scolding you, idiot. You needed stitches and you didn’t even say anything.”

“Like I said, I’m fine. I don’t need you worrying.”

I sighed. Gates was strong, but maybe he was too strong. “You can trust me,” I said. “I can handle some of this stuff.”

“I know,” he said softly. “But if you don’t need to, I won’t make you.”

“That’s not for you to decide.”

He winced as I shoved the needle in through the end. “Maybe not. But I’m the one protecting you.”

“I know that. Doesn’t mean you have to go through this alone.” I felt frustrated over how incredibly stubborn he could be.

I finally finished sewing the wound. He took the needle from me and finished it up, tying it off.