Page 15 of Kidnapped By a SEAL

She surrendered to the darkness once more.

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Footsteps paced around the room as Emily began to groggily stir. Her head still throbbed, and she was lying on some sort of bed. Where the hell was she? Had she dreamt that she’d been saved, or was she really free from that godforsaken compound? From those horrible men?

“I think she’s coming to,” a female voice said, coming closer.

“Well make sure you fucking help her,” a man gruffly replied. “She looks like she’s still in pain.”

“Easy, Ryker. You shouldn’t even be in here,” the woman said. “You know that as well as I do.”

“Like hell I shouldn’t. We pulled her out of a fucking terrorist compound. I carried her onto the damn helo myself. I’ve got every goddamn right to see how she’s doing.”

Other male voices joined in the conversation, and Emily mumbled, trying to make sense of her surroundings.

“We need to stabilize her, and then I’ll see about you visiting.” the woman said. “Why don’t you go wait in the hallway while I check on the patient. You’re disturbing her.”

Emily felt something pulling at her arm, and she realized there was an IV stuck into her vein. She blinked, finally opening her eyes, to see a military doctor standing before her. “Welcome back Ms. Swenson,” the woman said. “I know quite a few people will be happy to see you. But first and foremost, how are you feeling?”

“Awful,” she croaked. “How long have I been out?”

The doctor cleared her throat. “The SEAL team brought you back to base at oh-four-hundred this morning. You’ve been asleep for six hours.”

She sputtered, trying to sit up.

“Easy now,” the doctor said. “You need to rest. You’re dehydrated and malnourished. We’ve run some basic bloodwork but will do some additional tests today. We’ve given you pain medication as well, which is partially why you’re feeling so groggy.”

“Okay,” Emily murmured. “Can I get some water?”

“Yes of course,” she said signaling to a nurse who then exited the room. “And I know this is a delicate question, but I need to ask so that we can make sure you get proper medical care—were you sexually assaulted in your captivity?”

“No,” Emily said, wincing as she shook her head. “Thank God, no.”

“Other injuries?” the doctor asked.

“My head—they hit me last night when I almost escaped. And my ribcage. Most of the time, they just moved me from place to place and didn’t really touch me thank God. I didn’t get much to eat or drink and know I lost a ton of weight. I was constantly stressed out and scared.”

The doctor nodded, making some notes. “We’ll have psychologists available to meet with you, to go over your ordeal.”

“No,” Emily interrupted. “I don’t need to talk to them.”

“Not right now, perhaps, but of course State will require it before you can return to duty. You won’t even be allowed to have your issued weapon back until they confirm you’re fit for duty.”

“Damn it,” Emily muttered. “I don’t even have it anymore—they took everything when I was kidnapped. Bastards.”

The doctor chuckled. “You’re a fighter—I can tell. Anyone would have to be to survive being held that long. You’re in remarkably good condition though, all things considered. And fortunate in many ways that it wasn’t far worse. I was concerned we’d have to transport you to a military hospital, but it’s possible we can get you on a flight home.”

“God, home. That would be amazing. They kept moving me from one dark, cramped room to another for weeks—I think they were saving me for that terrorist asshole. They wanted me to become his wife—”

“Fucking hell,” a deep male voice interrupted as a buff military man stepped through the doorway.

Emily’s mouth nearly dropped open in shock at the man entering her room. His voice sounded vaguely familiar, and despite her weakened state, she couldn’t help but let her gaze briefly run over him.

He was tall, with dark cropped hair and stubble across his firm jaw. The slight circles under his gray eyes told her he hadn’t gotten much sleep recently, but his dark gaze bore into hers. He was athletic looking, with lean muscles and tightly leashed strength. Maybe he didn’t have muscles on top of muscles like some of the other military guys she’d seen, but he looked positively lethal, almost like a panther waiting to pounce.

“Ryker, I told you that you should wait out in the hallway,” the doctor said as she moved toward him. Emily almost laughed. There was no way the slight female could get him out of her room if he didn’t want to leave.

“I’m just checking on her,” he said, glancing from the doctor back to Emily. Dark eyes penetrated hers. “Are you okay? I can’t believe that mother fucking asshole was trying to make you one of his wives.”

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