Page 15 of Hayes
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she said, touching his face again.
“Okay. It’s okay,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s in place. God, you’re so fucking brave, Vic. I was wrong. I was wrong to push you.”
“Here. Take some more water,” she said, holding up another bottle of water. He drank the water more slowly this time, staring at Victoria as she looked at his wrist.
“Hayes, we need help.”
“You didn’t come with anyone?” he asked. “There’s no one with you?”
“N-no. I-I got your message. I didn’t stop. I-I don’t know why I did it. I should have. I know that now, but I just left.”
He laughed, pulling her toward him and moaning in agony from the movement. He covered her mouth with his own, kissing her over and over again.
“You did it, babe. You went out on your own. But you damn sure picked a shitty time to get brave on me.” She just smirked at him, shrugging.
“Maybe this was what I needed,” she said. “Let me try to call for help.” She stood and started to walk toward the opening of the cave.
“Oh, shit. What am I going to say?”
“There’s no way that’s her location,” said Mo. “She wouldn’t leave the fucking property, let alone the country. Something is wrong. Someone has taken her!”
“Shit, she was worried for good cause,” said Ham, staring at the others in the room.
They’d been scrambling for seven hours, ever since realizing she was no longer on the property. At first, they thought she just needed time alone, so they didn’t pay much attention to it. But when she couldn’t be found anywhere, they started tracking her comms and tracking devices, and initially, those weren’t showing up. When it finally began pinging, they couldn’t believe her location.
“Hey, guys!” yelled AJ. “I have her!”
“Where? Where is she?” asked Mo.
“No, I have her on the line. You’re not going to fucking believe this.” He flipped the switch and spoke to Victoria. “Go ahead, Victoria. We’re all here.”
“Oh. Okay. Um, hi. I don’t have time to explain everything. Hayes and his team were attacked. They’re all dead, but he’s alive. We’re in a cave on a mountainside. Hayes says to tell you it’s near the old Camp 93 base location.” There was dead silence in the room, wondering if it was some sort of hoax.
“Hello? Dad? Is anyone there?” she called.
“We’re here, Victoria,” said Eric. “Honey, how the fuck did you get there?”
“Well, a few flights, a taxi, a horse. What does it matter? I need help. He’s hurt bad, and I can’t carry him. I’ve fixed the dislocated shoulder, but his wrist is broken, and I don’t think his fingers are getting blood flow, they’re all purple, some turning darker.”
“Gather the gear and get the fucking Osprey ready,” said Luke. “Get medical here to see if they can help her with his wrist. Victoria? I’m so damn proud of you, honey, but I fucking wish you would have found someone to help.”
“Yeah. I’m thinking that would have been better,” she giggled nervously. Then she started to softly cry. “But I did it. I’m off the property. I’m okay, but we won’t be for long. They’re looking for him.”
“How do you know that?” asked Luke.
“Because I can see them off in the distance. There’s nothing else here. I just know they’re looking for him.”
“Don’t fucking move,” said Cam. “Don’t leave that damn cave. Does he still have his weapon?”
“Yes. He does, and I have the knife Trak gave me and a rifle that belonged to one of his teammates. It must have slid down the mountain. I have enough water for a day or so and some energy bars.”
“Good girl,” smiled Cam. “You’re doing great. The team is on the way, Victoria. Stay right there.” She laughed nervously, holding back the tears.
“I’ve got nowhere to be.”
CHAPTER TEN
Victoria went back inside the cave to see Hayes still sipping the water and eating one of the energy bars.
