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"We need to find a place for you to stay with Grace while we scout," Diego said "That’s our first priority"
Terrence nodded his agreelanced over his shoulder but he sensed that Grace had slipped under again, no longer aware or s He knew he had toin there, Grace," he said fiercely "Don’t you dare give up"
She didn’t even stir Rio’s ain, this ti back up in elevation and away from where the SUVs were parked
Terrence fell in beside Rio and murmured in a low voice, "I can radio Sam Tell hiht take the better part of a day but we’d be out of here"
Rio knew the best thing, the right thing, was to report back to his boss If he had such a thing True, he worked for KGI His men technically worked for KGI But Rio was his own man and his men were loyal to him They here he went Followed his orders
His gut told him he didn’t entirely trust the situation at the KGI compound Resnick was involved Their CIA contact was up to his ears in the mess with Grace and her sister, Shea, only Rio didn’t knohat extent
But he had a bad feeling, a very bad feeling, and it hy he hadn’t yet reported in to Sa Grace Part of his reasoning was that he hadn’t wanted to get Shea Peterson’s hopes up She was desperate to locate her sister, and Rio had made her a promise Her Not Sam Not KGI He’d promised Shea that he’d keep her sister safe
He blew out his breath If he called in KGI, they’d most assuredly co it wasn’t as best for Grace Each tiree and tell Terrence to check in with Sa, his stomach coiled into a knot and his instincts screamed at him to stand down
"I’ll make the call," Rio finally said He had to talk to Sa on and why he was so reluctant to relinquish Grace into soht now he only wanted a place he couldprocess She wasn’t going to give in He’d bully her mercilessly if that’s what it took, but over his dead body was he going to lose her now that he’d finally taken her froe to her body and her The sun was starting its slow descent and the air grew cooler the higher they went
"There," Diego called, holding his hand up to halt the others
Diego pointed to a series of large boulders jutting upward froainst the side of a steep cliff, the boulders provided a natural shelter The cliff wall provided cover from behind with no possible access The only way in or out was the front and Rio could easily pick off anyone coet her down," Rio said, crisp urgency in his voice
Browning and Alton hurried to unwind the bonds securing Grace to his back Decker and Terrence lifted her weight and eased her away Rio stretched his aching shoulders and then hurried into the natural enclosure
Diego tossed hi medical supplies and two canteens of water Terrence pulled the sat phone fro Browning tossed down
Rio quickly arranged the bedroll, and Decker and Terrence eased Grace down on it
"We’ll do recon and find a place we can squat for as long as we need it," Terrence said "Be back soon"
Rio nodded and hishim and Grace alone
His first order of business was to make sure she was protected Then he’d see to her comfort Dead was pretty uncomfortable by his standards
He took his rifle and h the scope He took his ti the landscape
After positioning himself so he had a prime vien the incline, he propped his rifle so it would be in easy reach, and then he took out several grenades and lined theainst the base of one of the boulders
Both the knives he carried caun came last and he put it on his opposite side Satisfied that everything was close enough for hirasp in an instant, he turned his attention back to Grace
She shivered and chill bumps were predominant on her skin Her lips were set into a fine line, even in her unconscious state He wondered if she drea her treatment at the hands of her captors
Her ers flexed spas her knees up toward her chest
Knowing she’d only hurt herself further, he straightened her and pulled the top of the sleeping bag over her body He zipped it up, securing her firmly inside For noanted her immobile and war to offer what comfort her could It seemed to work because she quieted and went still He left his hand there a long retfully away
He glanced at the sat phone and blew out his breath It was time to check in with Sam
When he received no answer, Rio methodically went down his list of contacts by command It wasn’t unusual not to be able to contact one or rimace, he punched in Steele’s number Steele was the team leader for the other KGI teaether, Rio would rather eat nails than have to rely on Steele for anything The other team leader was an ice-cold bastard, more of aout trouble, which ot the upper hand on hi for the day that changed No one was blessed for long Sooner or later, he’d fall on his face, and Rio would try not to laugh too hard when it happened
When he couldn’t reach Steele, his gut started screaain Rio had left the Kelly compound just as Grace’s sister, Shea, had been rescued and brought in for safety But Rio hadn’t hung around to get details other than what he needed to track Grace
So, which meant Rio and his men were on their own and it was up to hiot the care she needed Which was fine with him He’d much rather rely on himself and his team KGI always had his back, but he had theirs just asimportant to hie with the resident tech guru, Donovan, but was purposely vague An idea--his idea--had already started for in his head