Page 57 of Lethal Pursuit

NINETEEN

TARIK BURST INTOthe house ahead of Sandberg, the two of them jabbering away in Pashto, and it made Jackson even more uneasy because he had no way of knowing what the fuck they were saying. He stayed right on Sandberg’s ass as he introduced himself to Haversham—who shot an incredulous look at Jackson—and headed to the back room where Maya was.

The instant Sandberg reached the threshold, Maya jerked upright with her weapon aimed at his head.

Sandberg threw up his hands in surprise. “Whoa, there. You wouldn’t shoot me after I went to all that trouble of getting you here in the first place, would you?”

Her fever-glazed eyes narrowed a fraction at his English. “Who are you?” she demanded in a rough whisper.

“His name’s Sandberg,” Jackson answered for him, “and he says he’s one of us.”

Sandberg twisted his head around to give Jackson a bland look, taking in his pistol held at the ready. “Iamone of you.” He turned back to Maya. “I’ve got a helo coming in to get all of you out of here, but it’s a long ways off and we don’t have much time. There’re at least two enemy forces headed this way, so we have to move fast.” He took a step forward, and Maya chambered a round, the sound loud in the quiet room. Sandberg stopped and sighed in exasperation.

She didn’t take her eyes off him. “Jackson?”

“Everything he said makes sense,” he answered. “I don’t think we have any other choice but to follow him for the time being.”

She seemed to process that for a few moments and finally lowered her weapon to pull back the slide. When she put her hand down to push herself to her feet, she was so weak and shaky that her arm trembled. Sandberg stepped forward again, and Maya stopped himcold with a single, cutting look. “I don’t need your help.”

Throwing Jackson an exasperated look, Sandberg turned and moved past him with a muttered, “I’ll get Haversham.”

Half turning to keep his eye on the guy, Jackson bent and slid his arm behind Maya’s back to brace her, pulling up and forward. She sucked in a breath and bent over, coughing into the bend of her elbow. He winced in sympathy. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.” She didn’t protest when he wrapped the blanket around her for extra warmth, and that alone told him just how ill she was. With an arm around her shoulders to steady her, he walked her through the doorway.

Out in the main room, he found Haversham rolled on to his hip as though he meant to get up. His eyes met Jackson’s and he jerked his chin at Sandberg, who was shrugging out of his ruck. “He’s legit.”

“How do you know?”

“He knew my code word.”

“Your code word?”

“My government one.”

Okay, that helped ease his mind a little. Actually, not really.

Sandberg was busy digging through the ruck he’d dumped on the floor. He was pulling out pieces of an M4 when he glanced up at Jackson. “Figured you could use this, just in case.”

Frowning, Jackson released Maya, handed her his pistol and went to his knees to take the pieces and put the weapon together, noting the full magazine. “You got a radio in there too?”

“No, had to ditch it after I left Khalid’s camp in case anyone intercepted me. We’re on our own for the time being, I’m afraid.”

Once he had it together and loaded, Jackson slung it across his chest and stood to gather Maya close with a hand on the small of her back. Haversham’s and Sandberg’s eyes both followed his move. If his actions looked territorial, too bad, because that’s exactly how he was feeling. Maya was his to protect and yeah, he wanted it clear how he felt about her. Surprisingly she didn’t object, rather continued watching Sandberg repack his ruck with a somewhat hostile expression on her face. A few short months ago, Jackson had been on the receiving end of that look. It felt good to know he’d won her loyalty and trust.

Sandberg’s lips quirked as he tipped his ruck onto his back and spoke to Tarik. The old man nodded and rushed away to get them another small bladder full of water. “Can you carry that?” Sandberg asked her.

With a firm nod, she took it and looped the thin leather strap around her neck so that the bladder rested against her chest. “We ready?” Even worn down and ill as she was, she still wore that natural air of authority he’d recognized in her from the first time he’d seen her at Bagram. And she wore it well.

“Let’s move out,” Sandberg said on a grunt as he hoisted Haversham to his feet, then across his shoulders.

“Fuckinghell, I hate this part,” Haversham gritted out as his wounded leg got jostled.

“Don’t blame you,” Sandberg replied.

“Then you won’t mind when I puke all over your back,” the Secretary muttered.

“It’s happened before.” Shifting Haversham to distribute the weight better and earning a choked cry from his passenger, Sandberg started for the front door. Tarik stood next to it. Jackson met his gaze and nodded his thanks. The old man placed a hand over his heart and bowed slightly. Jackson returned the gesture, grateful for his hospitality, then reached toward Maya, intending to carry her.

She pushed against his shoulder and gave a tight shake of her head. “I can walk.”

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