Page 95 of The Ranger
CHAPTER TWENTY
COLE
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“Is it clear out there?”I ask Ryder.
“Not yet.Chen has escaped, so they’re searching for him.”He tosses his jacket over Scarlett’s lower half and crouches, studying her condition.I know he did some medical when he was in the field, so I appreciate another set of eyes.
But we need that ambulance here now.
“Oh god.”Scarlett digs her nails into my skin deeper, and I suspect I have hours of this ahead, so I just say goodbye to my arm.
“You’re safe, baby,” I brush her hair from her forehead.“I’m here.Ryder and Liam are here.Marsh is out front.You have a rather impressive protective detail right now, young lady.”
I mean, it is.
Delta Force, Army Ranger and Airforce Captain.That’s a pretty decent entourage.
In typical Scarlett fashion, she’s not impressed, and I almost smile.
Then her eyes drift closed, and I worry she’s going to pass out.Whether from hunger, pain or something more serious.They haven’t fed her or provided her with water.Glancing around, I can’t find any evidence.
“Shit.Scar.Stay with me.”
Then suddenly, she lets out another scream, and I realize I should have been timing her contractions.
“Six minutes,” Ryder says, and I give him a grateful look.
“Get me out of here,” Scarlett begs, clutching at my shirt and she licks at her dry lips.
“Anyone got any water?”I ask, panicking.
“Fuck me.”Ryder and Liam share a glance and start searching for something.
A moment later, a bottle is placed in my hand, and I rip off the top.
“Sip slowly.”
She tries to chug the entire bottle down, but this isn’t my first rodeo.Overseas, I’ve shared water with many starving humans, and it's honestly the saddest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.
Then you get home and there’s such hideous abundance you wonder what the fucking point of life is.
I tighten my hold on Scarlett and let myself breathe for the first time in hours.
I found her.I found them.
