“What’s wrong?” Sean asked immediately.
“My brother didn’t like my suggestion. He believes everyone is out to kill me. Probably because I’m a pain in the ass,” Rubin said easily, giving Sean a faint smile.
You are a pain in the ass. Rubin, you never think about security.
He thought about security all the time. Just not for himself. He thought about it for Diego. Now he’d be thinking about it for Jonquille.
“Tell your men to stand down, Major. We’re going to let that plane land, if he’s able, in the meadow, and see what the pilot has to say. Then you’re going to your island and I give you my word as an officer in the United States Air Force that my unit will come to you and bring your men aid if we can in any way help you.”
“We’re running out of time. We have two men that are pretty sick. Chandler abandoned seven men that he determined were defective from the last batch he had enhanced. He thinks they were executed and buried. We took them to the island. They aren’t in the best of shape. I’ve got a couple of my men pretty sick.”
Rubin didn’t react, but Jonquille did. Her hand went to her stomach, pressing deep. “This Chandler, the man you’re assigned to guard, just ruthlessly ordered seven soldiers executed? How is he going to explain their deaths?”
“The way they make all soldiers disappear. They were on an operation and ambushed. Or their vehicle went over a mine. Their plane went down. There are so many ways now to explain the deaths of multiple soldiers.” Sean sounded bitter again.
Rubin, maybe I should go with him now. I’m not great at healing, but I might be able to give them time until you can get there. Couldn’t some of your team meet me there?
He could hear the plea in her voice. Feel the compassion in her, that healer rising to drown out every other part of her. She ignored the way her hair was still reacting to Diego’s dark energy swirling aggressively through the valley, and Sean’s men’s reactive emotions feeding into that same stream. Her body was lit up like a white-hot candle. She was used to her core temperature rising and the sparks running in a wild dance of beautiful fireworks around her rib cage. He leaned closer to her, their thighs touching, allowing his energy to slowly drain the excess from her. Just a small bit at a time, so Sean and his team wouldn’t notice.
You will not be going with them. You will be going with me. I told you, Lightning Bug, you took ten years off my life. No more scaring me like that. Stick close for a while until I get over it. Rubin looked at her face. That beloved little pixie face. She wasn’t a woman who liked being told what to do. Please. She smiled at him unexpectedly, turning his heart over.
Would the two of you have a moment some other time when I’m not holding a rifle on a potential enemy? Can’t you take anything seriously? Jonquille, I thought you’d have some sense. One of you has to. Don’t look at him like that.
Like what? She sounded dreamy, and Rubin knew she deliberately sounded that way on purpose to tease Diego.
Like you worship him or something. You look goofy. Pull it together. We’re not out of the woods yet, even if Sean is one of the good guys.
“Sir, I believe the plane is about to make another call. He’ll be looking for clearance to land. I’d like to talk him into trying to land in the meadow in spite of the fact that there’s no landing strip. See if he’ll do it,” Sean said.
I was looking at him like he’s hot as hell, Diego. There is a difference.
If you’re supposed to have Sean in your sights, how come you’re looking at Jonquille? Rubin asked.
She’s prettier than he is. And much more interesting. And she was glowing. I’m tired of looking at him, Rubin. Call this off and send him home.
I did already.
I know, that’s why I’m looking at Jonquille.
Rubin sighed. “Will he be able to land in the meadow? It’s full of holes and bumpy at present. The grass and rocks alone will make it difficult.”
“If he’s any kind of pilot, he should be able to set it down. Whether he wants to or not is another story.”
“Major, once more, I’m giving you an order to have your men stand down. We’re finished here. We need to get into position to allow the plane to land. He needs to see Jonquille as a prisoner. I want to see a clear signal to your men to lower their weapons.”
Sean winced, but he lifted his hand in the air and signed to his men in every direction to lower their weapons.
Rubin waited for confirmation that Sean’s men were obedient to the command before he rose, stretching as he did so, taking his time, presenting a target, putting his body in front of Jonquille’s as a shield. He was very careful to leave his brother a good line on the major. Jonquille started to stand.
Wait. I’ll let you know when I think it’s safe enough to get up.
You’re making yourself a target. She wasn’t in the least happy with him.
She didn’t sound angry like his brother, or feel angry, but she was upset and for some unaccountable reason, his heart clenched and then ached. He didn’t like that she was upset. He’d never cared much when others were distressed when he knew he was doing the right thing. He figured they’d have to get over it eventually. His woman was concerned for his safety, the same as his brother.
Get used to it, Jonquille. Rubin’s an ass. He’s one of the most talented men on the planet, but he’s a total ass. Think twice about looking at him with adoring eyes. He’s going to make your life hell, Diego weighed in.
Sean stood up as well, and one by one his men came out from behind the trees they were secreted in. Only when Diego signaled it appeared all were accounted for did Rubin extend his hand to Jonquille.
Are you telling us you wouldn’t protect your lady, Diego?
Get out of there. Tell Sean to get his men out of the open. I’ve got this gut thing going on. Don’t much like it. Thought it was Sean and his men. Now I’m not so sure. Might be that plane coming in. There was no more joking in Diego’s voice. He was all business.
“Sean, get your men back under cover. Might be nothing, but when Diego says he’s got a gut feeling something’s not right, we act on it. Nine times out of ten, he’s dead-on.”
Rubin tightened his fingers around Jonquille’s hand. He had no intention of being separated from her again. “Let’s get to the meadow and see if the pilot will bring that plane in. It’s up to you to talk him into it, Sean. He’s going to be leery. Chandler’s spy, Barry, hasn’t been talking to him for a while now.”
“Yeah, I got that.” Sean was still bitter over the traitor in his unit.
The three of them jogged from out in the open to the relative cover of the woods. Rubin and Sean blended immediately. Jonquille stood out like a sore thumb. She began to pull a gray, black and olive green hoodie from her pocket. It was folded into a very small square, almost the size of a handkerchief, but when she opened it, it fell nearly to her knees. The minute she put it on, it adhered to her body, pressing any clothing she had on under it tight so it was like another layer of skin. She instantly blended as well.
Sean spoke into his radio and it took only a couple of minutes after the three of them making it to the edge of the meadow for two of Sean’s men to join them. Sean immediately contacted the plane.