his rifle with his free hand and then charged out the door behind Sam.
The ground spun dizzily underneath her and his shoulder dug painfully into her belly until bile rose and ate at her throat. Around her the world had gone mad. Fire blazed a path across the village and beyond. Gunfire peppered the ground and trees around her, and she was sure she would die. Now, when rescue was imminent, it would all be for nothing. They would never let her go. They’d told her as much.
Suddenly she went flying through the air. Her back hit the ground with such force that all the air was forced out of her lungs. She lay there, one muscled arm banded tight around her waist as she tried to breathe. Pain, so constant, exploded in her head until dark spots danced in her vision.
She tried to turn when the nausea finally overwhelmed her, but she was trapped. Panicked, she kicked and flailed but his grip only tightened on her.
“Shhh, baby. I’m here. It’s okay.”
His voice comforted her, and she stilled beneath him. Ethan pulled her to her feet, and she blinked as she adjusted to the constant stream of sunlight.
As suddenly as he hauled her up, he shoved her back down, covering her head with his big arms.
“Son of a bitch! Where’s the cover?”
Ethan lay there, sprawled over Rachel as he quickly scanned the area. Goddamn it, Sam was pinned down several yards away. Ethan looked again in the direction he knew P.J. to be and where Garrett and Donovan would be rendezvousing.
He couldn’t leave Sam, but he had to protect Rachel. Hell of a choice. His brother or his wife.
He pushed Rachel’s hair from her face and took in the stark terror in her eyes.
“Listen to me, Rachel. I need you to do exactly as I tell you. See that slight path into the jungle?”
He pointed and waited for her to turn her head. When he was satisfied she was locked on, he motioned again.
“When I say go, I want you to run like hell. Straight down that path. Get into the jungle and hide. I have people there. They’ll find you.”
She stared at him in horror, and he wondered if she’d even absorbed his directions.
“Come on, Rachel, say something. Tell me you understand. I have to help Sam.”
Slowly she nodded. He let go of her and she scrambled to her knees, looking warily at her surroundings.
Ethan pulled the mic to his mouth. “I need cover. Sam’s in trouble. I’m sending Rachel to you, P.J.”
In response, a heavy line of fire peppered the area beyond Ethan. He shoved Rachel forward. “Go! Run!”
She didn’t hesitate. Like a colt getting its legs under it for the first time, she stumbled erratically and lunged toward the heavier growth of the jungle.
She looked back, and he raised himself enough that he could see her. Fire seared across his scalp, and he smelled the unmistakable scent of scorched hair and blood.
Rachel stared at him in horror about the time he felt the warm slide of blood down his neck.
“Go!” he barked.
He dropped down and ran his hand over the area above his right ear. It came away stained with blood. He still had most of his hair and he wasn’t missing any body parts, so it obviously wasn’t serious.
He waited only long enough for her to disappear into the greenery before he turned to find his brother.
He crawled over and Sam shot him a disgruntled look.
“Save it,” Ethan said shortly. “I’m not leaving you.”
“You should be taking care of your wife,” Sam bit out. “Not babysitting my ass.”
Another round of fire peppered the metal barrels they’d taken cover behind.
“Goddamn sons of bitches,” Sam said. “Where the fuck are Van and Garrett with all the goddamn explosives?”
An explosion shook the ground, and both men covered their heads with their arms as debris rained down all around them.
Ethan grinned. “Right there I’d say.”
Another boom rocked the area, and Ethan and Sam took advantage of the chaos to bolt from their cover. The earpiece fell from Ethan’s ear, and in front of him, Sam cursed a blue streak as they dove behind a stack of boxes.
“Cole’s been hit. Some fucking lucky ricochet. Steele’s on his way to get him. Dolphin and Renshaw are providing cover.”
“What about Rachel?” Ethan demanded. “Have Garrett and Van gotten to her yet? Where the hell is P.J.?”
He hadn’t realized he was yelling into the mic until Sam winced.