Page 8 of Last Chance

He chuckled. “Comes from being trained by elite military soldiers.” Sawyer stepped further into the room and crouched in front of Janie. “Will you allow me to help you to your feet, Janie?”

She hesitated. “What’s your name?”

“Sawyer.” He held out his hands. After a moment’s pause, she placed both of her hands in his. Admiring her courage, he stood and tugged Janie to her feet.

She groaned and stumbled.

He caught her against him. “Are you all right?” Was she injured?

“Sorry. I sat on the floor too long.”

“We need to go, Janie. Otherwise, I’d give you as much time as you needed. Will you allow me to carry you?”

Janie looked horrified. “I’m too heavy.”

He smiled. “No, ma’am, you’re not. My pack weighs more than you do.”

“Do you think the hijackers will come back?”

Here, at least, he could offer the truth. “It’s possible. We’d like to vacate the premises as soon as we can. If we’re followed into the jungle, we want as much distance between us and the hijackers as we can get. May I carry you?” he asked again.

She nodded.

He didn’t waste any time scooping Janie into his arms. Astonishment filled him. She felt perfect in his arms. He could so get used to this.

Sawyer angled her through the doorway and met his teammates in the hallway. “We’re ready.”

“Personal belongings?” Brody asked.

“None,” Janie said. “They wouldn’t let us take anything off the plane.”

A nod, then his team leader looked at Sawyer. He gave a slight nod. Brody didn’t have to say anything about keeping Janie from seeing the bodies outside in the clearing. He’d already planned to take care of that.

“Logan, take point,” Brody murmured. “Jesse, take the rear. Max and I will take positions on both sides of Sawyer and Janie.”

Logan led the way into the main lobby area of the building and tugged the front door open wide enough to see the clearing. After a moment, he said, “We’re clear.”

“Hold,” Brody ordered and looked at Sawyer.

He looked down at the woman in his arms. “Janie, I need you to do something for me.”

She looked up at him. “Anything.”

“Close your eyes.”

The woman in his arms frowned. “Why?”

“We faced resistance when we arrived,” he said simply. “Bodies are on the ground. You don’t need to add more nightmares to your dreams.”

She huffed out a laugh. “I have a feeling it’s too late for that, but I see your point.” She closed her eyes.

“Thank you. I’ll tell you when it’s safe to open your eyes.”

Janie nodded and rested her head against his shoulder. “Do you mind?”

He squeezed her for a second. “Nope. Take a nap if you like. We’ll get you out of here. Before you know it, you’ll be back in the states.”

“I’d like to talk to my brother,” she said as he carried her from the building.

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