Page 5 of Rescuing Nathaniel

Because that was what he could be doing if he stayed.

There was a chance that her boat would drift to shore without anyone on the ship finding her first. It was possible that once she got to shore, she would still be alive and that medical treatment would save her. She’d go to the cops and tell them her story, so in the end, his team would still wind up with the intel from her anyway.

But that was leaving so much to chance.

There was every chance that he could get them both out of there on the boat without them being spotted. And it was only if he was seen that the mission would be compromised. If he could get himself and her out of there quickly enough, no one from the boat would be any the wiser.

The one thing he struggled with in his job was the greater good idea. That sometimes a few people had to be sacrificed to save a lot of people.

This woman deserved to live. Especially with how hard she’d obviously fought for her freedom. Leaving her behind just to ensure he wasn't caught would be wrong, her life was just as important as anyone else’s. Maybe even more so because if she perished anyway after she’d worked so hard to live it would be cruel.

Deciding he could definitely do both, tag the ship, and save the woman, Nathaniel was just leaning down to check her wound and begin performing first aid when the woman suddenly bolted upright and let out an ear-piercing scream that sounded far too loud in the otherwise quiet night.

Far too loud with their proximity to the ship she’d just escaped from.

CHAPTER2

February 29th

9:13 P.M.

A dark figureloomed above her as Ava swam back to consciousness.

Instinct had her fists swinging as a scream fell from her lips.

Too late she remembered that the doctors and nurses here didn't like it when you screamed. Some less than others. Some would even punish you for it.

Like this one apparently planned to.

A hand clamped down over her mouth, muffling her screams, and fiery pain burst through her body when she was jerked about as the figure manhandled her into a different position.

“Shh,” the soft voice edged through her pain-filled terror. “I’m not going to hurt you. I just really need you to stop screaming.”

It was a new voice, one she didn't recall hearing before. While she had likely seen almost two dozen doctors and nurses since she’d been kidnapped, there were about half a dozen who were her regular carers.

This guy wasn't one of them.

Someone new?

The hand that covered her mouth lifted slightly, and fingertips gently caressed her skin.

The soft gesture had tears springing to her eyes. No one had touched her with anything that wasn't clinical detachment and cruel pain since she’d been abducted. Now here was a man being kind to her and her scrambled brain didn't know what to make of it.

“You escaped, do you remember that? You got into a life raft, and that’s where I found you. If you keep fighting me, I'm worried I'm going to hurt you. That’s not what I want, but I also don’t want us to be spotted. Do you think you can relax for me?”

Could she?

To be honest, Ava wasn't even really aware of the fact that she was still fighting against the man.

Now that she took stock, she found he’d shifted her so they were both sitting in the bottom of the life raft with her back to his front. He had an arm locked around her torso, right under her breasts, and carefully avoiding the no doubt open wound on her stomach. His fingers still caressed her jaw, and the soothing motion did actually help to calm a little of her raging fear.

Of its own accord, her body must have decided to do as he said because she slumped down against him, and his hold on her shifted slightly, loosening some while still holding her up. Without that arm across her middle, she was pretty sure she would slide back down to lie in a heap on the floor of the boat.

“Good girl,” the man praised, and his hand slowly moved from her mouth, remaining close enough that he could clamp it back down if she started screaming again.

She wouldn't.

Not only because she was too exhausted, but because something about this man made her feel safe.

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