Page 16 of Last Chance

Sawyer ran back to the doorway, accepted a rifle from one of his teammates, and aimed the weapon at a target outside. He began firing on an enemy Janie couldn’t see from her vantage point.

Soon, the rest of his teammates hustled into the cabin of the jet. Brody and Max raised the stairs and secured the door. Brody pressed an intercom button and said, “Go, go, go.”

He and Max dropped into the closest seats and strapped in as the jet taxied faster and faster down the runway. In seconds, the jet was airborne.

For the first time in hours, Janie could take a full breath. The jitters were still a real thing, but at least she could breathe now.

“Sawyer, let’s go,” Jesse said as soon as the jet had leveled out. “You, too, Janie.”

She frowned. “I’m not injured.”

“You’re shivering. If nothing else, you have a large case of adrenaline dump. You can lie down for a while on a bed while you watch me work on Sawyer.” He winked. “Cheap entertainment. My friend hates needles with a passion.”

“Who doesn’t?” Janie looked at Sawyer. “Do you mind? If you do, I’ll stay here and wrap up with a blanket.”

He held out a hand to her. “Come with me.”

That settled, Sawyer tugged Janie to her feet and led her to the back of the jet. He opened a door to a small bedroom with a bathroom. As Jesse laid out the supplies he needed to work on Sawyer’s shoulder, Sawyer nudged Janie to the bed and went to a supply cabinet to get a blanket for her.

When she settled back against the headboard, Sawyer draped the blanket over her, then brought her a bottle of water. “How long has it been since you ate anything?”

“Breakfast of the morning we were taken hostage.”

Sawyer and Jesse exchanged grim glances. “We’ll find something for you to eat while the lidocaine works on Sawyer’s shoulder,” Jesse said.

“Anything is fine. I’m not picky. More than anything, I’m thirsty.” But she wouldn’t complain about a sandwich or even crackers. Anything to dull this gnawing ache in her gut.

“Drink as much water as you want. We have plenty on board.”

Janie took him at his word and sipped the water in earnest. No guzzling, she reminded herself. No matter how tempting, drinking too much at once would make her sick.

“Take off what’s left of your shirt,” Jesse told Sawyer.

He reached back, tugged his shirt off, and tossed it aside. He sat on the edge of the bed near Janie. “Do your worst.”

Janie couldn’t help staring at his muscular chest and back. Good grief. How long did he work out every day?

“Oh, I intend to.” Jesse’s voice was mild. “One of these days, I’ll teach the rest of you I would rather not ply my trade.”

“Yeah, yeah. Just get it done, all right? I need to feed Janie.”

Jesse grabbed alcohol wipes and went to work. “Tell Janie about your life before you joined the police force.”

Sawyer stared at him. “Really? This is the way you plan to distract me from what you’re doing?”

“Got any better ideas? It’s a good story.”

He snorted. “It’s an old story, and I’d prefer to keep my checkered past to myself.”

“You’re chicken?”

“No, but it’s not a pretty story, all right? Janie’s been through enough trauma to last a lifetime without adding my baggage to keep her awake at night.”

Shivering, Janie wrapped the blanket tighter around herself. “Will you tell me later?” she asked. “I love good stories.”

“This one isn’t good, but if you want to hear it, I’ll tell you.” Sawyer glared at Jesse. “When we’re alone. I don’t want to provide a sob story for the entertainment of my teammates.”

Now she was really curious. What was so horrid that he felt the need to hide it from his best friends, and why was he willing to share the information with her? Good questions that she’d have answered if she listened to his tale. “Deal. Jesse, how can I help Sawyer?”

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